First Macy Beauty Purchase Order Review

In my last post, I shared the amazing deals for the Macy's Black Friday Sale in July. I anxiously anticipated for the order to arrive and finally it came five days after I ordered it. 

I purchased the Tarte Cheeks stain for only $15. It originally retails for $30 so that's half off original retail. This is a major steal in my opinion and I've wanted to try it for forever. There are lots of raves for it's lasting ability and it supposedly makes it look like you are flushing from within. I'll review it after I've fully tried it out.

So what prompted me to write this review was the amounts of freebies I got from this order. Usually at Ulta or Sephora, you'd have to look for special codes, emails, links etc. After I added my items and proceeded to check out, there was a box to click if I wanted a free  Clinique 3 step card sample. Of course, it's free so I checked it and completed the whole check out process. I thought I was only getting the clinique samples because there was no mention of other samples during the entire checkout process.

I was so surprised when the order came, on top of the Clinique 3 step card sample, I got another bag of assortment of samples. 

a closer look at the clinique 3 step card sample

 I got 3 deluxe perfume samples, 2 perfume card samples, and 1 foundation card sample. I remember I bought 12 deluxe perfume sample at sephora for $50. So these are definitely worth some money. 

If it was at sephora or ulta, in order to get the samples, I would have had to hunt down the codes or used points to get samples and then remember to put the codes in during checkout. 

But with macy's beauty purchase, it was so much more simple. Just check the box if you'd like the sample. And they automatically send perfume samples.

Another perk at Macy's is that beauty items ships free so I did not have to find other products (and over buy) to meet the minimum required for free shipping.

I will definitely look out for beauty sales at Macy's going forth.

What recent online purchase that you made were you very satisfied with?

thanks for reading,

Macy's Black Friday Sale in July Special Sale

Macy's Black Friday Sale in July Special is supposed to take place on July 13 through July 17 both in store and online. It's live right now and  I quickly made an online purchase. All purchase are comes with a free gift. You don't get to choose it but I got the clinique three step skincare card sample. All beauty orders has free shipping.

I was interested in the Tarte Cheek stain as it's 50% of retail price. Since I missed it during the ULTA sale, I quickly placed my order.

Certain urban decay brushes are also 50% off.

If you are also a member of ebates, Ebates currently has 10% cashback.

You can check out the full list of beauty sale items here.

Happy Shopping

Victoria Secret Pink Giving Away Headbands

Today only. Members of Victoria Secret Pink Nation can get a free headband.

If you have not signed up for Pink Nation yet, you can sign up here. They usually give out a free panty or item once a year so it's  nice to join.

If you're already a Pink Nation member just sign in and find the free headband banner and either show it on your phone to the cashier or print it out and give it to the cashier.

 

I was there this afternoon and it was quick and hassle-free. I liked the black color more but since my friend got black I decided to get the pink one. However if I still had to choose, I would still get black.

One to each member. Ends tonight.

Just a reminder that this giveaway is at Pink stores and not Victoria Secret store ;)

What freebies have you been getting ?

Beauty Sale Deals for Week of June 19

I always find myself browsing the sale section on Ulta and Sephora.

Once in a while, I would come across a sale deal.

There were a lot of colors before but right now only Tarte's Cheek Stain in Blushing Bride is on sale for $16. I think it's a good deal if you want to try the cheek stain cause it's like 50% off.

There are also many other tarte palettes and Nude skincare has sets that are also on sale.

I've never seen an EOS lip balm for $0.87 before. Not even when the lawsuit was making waves so if you're one of those that has to have every color the Honeysuckle Honeydew flavor is on sale. Right now ULTA has all EOS lip balm on a BOGO1/2 so even better.

Any exciting sales happening this week?

Benton's Snail Bee High Content Essence Review

please ignore the dilapidated Snail Bee High Content Essence bottle, my salicyclic acid spilled over it when traveling

I bought the Snail Bee High Content Essence about 2 years ago when the concept of snail mucin in skincare was all the rage. Of course I ended up getting swept up into the hype and after thorough researching, I decided to settle on the brand Benton.

Benton's Snail Bee High Content Essence is the first "essence" product that I've tried. Prior to this, I've only used toner and moisturizer. It's only been 2 years since I've incorporated layering of skincare in my routine and I don't think I can turn back to just using a moisturizer and toner. Using only two products in my routine seems so foreign to me now.

from left to right: Benton Snail Bee High Content Essence, Mizon Multi Function Formula All in One Snail Repair Cream, Benton Snail Bee High Content Steam Cream, Benton Aloe BHA Skin Toner

I've had the essence for about two years. I use it on and off so if you use it daily, it probably won't last you a year but since I have so many products, I tend to mix and match different products depending on my mood, weather and if my skin is sensitive.

Most essence products tend to be watery and liquidy. The Snail Bee High Content Essence has a texture that's more like a gel and less like a liquid. I would sort of call it a liquidy gel. When you pump this onto your finger, the liquidy gel does not drip down your finger. However this doesn't mean that it's sticky and dries to a hard shiny finish like other gels that I'ved tried in the past. It feels lightly moisturizing once it's smoothed over the face. After drying, it's shinier just like how a moisturizer would look like and it feels just slightly tacky but it's not bothersome like other gel finishes.

I love the packaging for this essence. It's one of the few aspects that distinguishes Korean skincare from American skincare and I wish all American skincare would come in an airtight container with a pump like this one.

Benton Snail Bee High Content Essence

For those who are sensitive to fragrance, this is scentless with no added fragrance.

What makes this essence special compared to other essence is that it is made up of 90% snail extract and bee venom instead of water. The two ingredients are supposed to help heal acne, fade scars, brighten skin tone, improve wrinkles and maintain hydration.

Putting snail secretions on your face sounds disgusting but that slime contains a number of components that's beneficial to the skin. It contains 1) enzymes that gently exfoliates to remove dead skin cells and reduce inflammation 2) hyaluronic acid that holds moisture in skin cells and 3) glycoproteins that improve skin cell communication.

One thing you need to make sure of before using this is to make sure you are not allergic to bees because this essence contains actual bee venom. Bee Venom when used in large amounts can paralyze you but when used in small amounts it causes microscopic tears in cell membrane which stimulates the body to repair itself. That in turn stimulates the production of collagen that strengthen the skin's structure.

You can check out SkinandTonics' post to see the breakdown of ingredients about this product because she definitely does it better than I do.

For me, I felt Benton's Snail Bee High Content Essence helped with healing my acne and reducing my post inflammatory hyperpigmentation. When my skin's all under control, I have no idea if this product would work or not. However last year, on vacation, my skin started breaking out badly from the combination of excessive sunscreen, sweat, increased sun exposure, and sensitivity towards the cruise's complimentary toiletries. The sides of my face  and my chest was all covered in acne. I thought, I am definitely going to scar. So I took specific care to apply the essence on the problem areas daily. At about month later, I suddenly tried to look for the scars and I couldn't find them. I can't even pinpoint where the acne occurred.

The only products I brought with me on the trip were Cerave PM lotion, Benton Aloe Skin Toner, Paula's Choice's Clear Anti-redness Extra Strength Exfoliating Solution and this essence. Of course they all contributed to clearing and helping my skin, but I felt the Snail Bee High Content Essence truly helped reduced all the scarring. Prior to using the essence, my skin always scarred when I get acne. But after using this essence, I found that the post inflammatory hyperpigmentation from acne scarring was reduced. I find that it doesn't help with scars that has already formed but prevents new acne scars from forming.

This product worked for me but since everyone's skin reacts differently. It may not work for you. This is a blogger who got bad results from benton  and I encourage you to check out the opinion on both sides. Skinandtonics says that the natural preservative in the essence is not strong enough during the summer and she advises consumers to not purchase it during the summer months due to unknown storage conditions during warm weather while it's being delivered.

I purchased the Snail Bee High Content Essence with a High Content Steam Cream together at a reduced price on ebay. I tried to look up who the seller was but couldn't the history that was that old.
I will repurchase this if my next snail cream and bee venom cream doesn't work as well as this one. I am planning to purchase Benton's Snail Recover Gel next.

expiration date on the back of bottle

I like how they have an expiration date on the bottle. Benton's site say to use the product within 6 months of opening. Of course I used the product for two years and thankfully nothing terrible happened to my skin.

Quick Summary:

This is clear fragrance-free liquidy gel that has healed my acne and prevented post inflammatory hyperpigmentation. It has a pump to easily get the product out and the gel stays on your finger without it dripping. It feels slightly moisturizing, makes my skin a tiny bit more shiny. It does not feel oily nor tight on my face. If you want something to heal your acne, this is the item that works.

Let me know if you've tried Benton's Snail Recover Gel or if you've tried any of Benton's product or want me to review any of the other products in the photo above. Is there an essence that you're in love with?

thanks for reading,

Vote For Victoria Secret and Get A Forever Sexy Rollerball

The Fragrance Foundation is currently conducting their 2016 Consumer Choice Award. It was announced at certain VS stores that if you vote for VS and show the last confirmation page at the cash register, you would get a free Victoria's Secret Forever Sexy Eau De Parfum Rollerball. The rollerball is worth $18.

I don't know when this deal lasts and if all stores are participating in this giveaway.

Victoria Secret is Giving Away Free Mystery Gift!!! Ends Tomorrow

So I just found out about this Victoria's Secret Mystery Gift offer in my email and made a visit to the nearest store. I'm usually skeptical about these email to pull you into to the store but this is really free- no questions asked. The store associate was really nice about it too unlike my recent trip to another company who were giving away mystery dollars but tried to get me out the door ASAP.

Here's the screenshot of the email below.

You either get a free bra, panty, scent spray or pants.

You don't need a $75 purchase. All you have to do is head to the cashier and ask for a "game piece".

They will give you a card and if you peel the sticky open, you see your mystery prize. There are some restrictions to the prize like for the scent sprays it was limited to only select scents but for the bras there were no restrictions as long as it is under the price stated.

This was such an amazing offer and made me feel better after spending ~$62 purchasing a sports bra and swim bottom during their online sale.

So what are you waiting for? Head straight in and grab a mystery piece before they run out. This promotion ends 4/6/16. By the way, this is only at the Victoria's Secret stores and not the Pink store because my friend went into the Pink store but they aren't doing the promotion there. Although I believe you can bring the card into the Pink store and use it there.

And of course, I can't wait to show off my free bra- the new Body by Victoria Perfect Coverage Bra. It has this ultra soft memory foam and was the only one left in the store with that color in my size.

 I was chatting with the store associates and apparently, the pants are the hardest to come across. So if you got the pants, you're one lucky person.

What goodies did you score at Victoria's Secret?

thanks for reading,