Spring Cleaning for Your Makeup

Memorial Day is coming up this weekend, bringing in the unofficial start to summer! I can't believe June is almost around the corner and in preparation for warmer weather, it's time for some spring cleaning. My makeup stash in particular needs some attention. I'm a bit of a hoarder. Hence, the baby blue eyeshadow still sitting in my drawer. But I do need to go through my makeup bag and toss away a few things. Particularly since I have sensitive skin, it's important to throw away old or expired makeup which can cause irritations, breakouts, or eye infections. It's hard to keep track of when to toss because products do not have a expiration date (unlike your milk or bread). Here are some general rule of thumbs:

When to Toss..
Mascara 3 Months
Foundation 1 Year
Concealer 1-1.5 Years
Powder 1.5 Years
Blush/Bronzer 1.5 Years
Eyeliner 1.5 Years
Lipstick / lip gloss 1.5 Years
Lip liner 1 Year

Of course, if you're makeup is changing color, consistency, or smell, it's probably safest to just toss. After all your cleaning, you'll have more space in your collection for brand new stuff!

Steal Alert: Kat Von D Eyeshadow Palettes @ Sephora

If you can't get your hands on a Naked by Urban Decay Palette (where can I find one!?!), try these palettes by Kat Von D. I've heard great things about them and to my surprise, they are on sale this month at Sephora. At $24 for 8 high quality shadows in one easy to use compact, they are quite a deal. Choose among 4 different palettes:

Check these out, along with more great finds, in Sephora's sale section here.

Here's to another week of great shopping!

Review: Everyday Minerals Brushes

I am a big fan of mineral makeup. For everyday wear, I'm a pretty minimalist kind of girl. Who really has 20 minutes to spare in the morning for makeup when you can be getting some extra ZzZ's? I find mineral makeup to be the easiest to apply. No need to blend- buff away and you're ready to go out the door. While I've never really been a big fan of Everyday Minerals foundation (sorry but Bare Escentuals for the win here), I have to say that I really do love their brushes. It's hard to find a good quality brush without paying a whole not- I'm really the kind of person ready to shell out $50 on a makeup brush. Yes yes I know they will last you for years and years- but really, $50? (Yea, it's the cheapo in me talking) So when I fell upon these Everyday Minerals face brushes, I knew I was onto something. I own two of their face brushes- the flat top and the long handled Kabuki. I use the flat top to apply mineral foundation and it worksbuffs like a dream. The bristles are very soft and dense (check out the picture above- sorry for the dirty brush). It also provides great coverage (for a lighter coverage I would suggest using the Kabuki). It also works great for a powder. It costs $11 dollars- $8 more than the ELF Studio Powder Brush (which I also love) but you get the better quality. Now, I haven't really used the long handled Kabuki (and I'm also confused as to why its called a LONG handled Kabuki) so I'm kinda hesitant to give any review on it but its just as soft as the flat top so I think I will be very happy with it once I put it to good use. It will also cost you a dollar more. These brushes are also really great for traveling- they fit right in the palm of my hand and probably in any makeup. For more information about how to purchase, check out www.everydayminerals.com.

FYI...all purchased by me!

Clarisea Giveaway Winner!

Sorry for the delay...but congratulations to Julie, the winner of my Clarisea giveaway! I have sent you a email with further instructions. Thank you to everyone else for entering...more giveaways to come!

Last weekend of the summer, enjoy it! Have a happy Labor day weekend!

-Little Miss Savvy

Affordable Bags for Back To School

It's that time of the year again- some of us dread it while others look forward to it- going back to school. While my back-to-school days are over, one of my favorite parts to the start of a new school year was shopping for it. And by shopping, I don't mean for school supplies but for clothes and accessories. Look good, feel good, do good, right? I think one of the essential things every fashionable back-to-schooler needs is a good bag- not just one that can hold your books but also match your outfits. Something roomy enough to carry all your textbooks and versatile enough for a day at the mall or hanging out with your friends. Here are some of my picks for affordable bags for school:

(from left to right)
ASOS, Pieces Diana Shop Bag, $53.92
Forever 21, Twist of Fate Bag, $28.80
Harajuku Lovers, Pastel Girls Candy Bar Tote, $88.00

PacSun, Kirra Vidette Bag, $32.50
ModCloth, Get a Handle Shoulder Bag, $44.99
Urban Outfitters, Kimchi Blue Canvas Backpack, $68.00

Good luck to everyone this school year!

P.S. Clarisea winner to be announced this week...thanks for participating!