My Evening Skincare Routine...FINALLY! (updated)

Hi.  My name is Alice, and I'm ready to admit that I've been SOOOO M.I.A!!!!!!


This video is dedicated to all those who continuously remind me to post on my blog.  Virtual hugs to each and every one of you!!!  Seriously, you guys have no idea how much it means to me!

WHY I HAVE BEEN MISSING (out on the blog fun): These past few months have been so hectic for me!  I'm still in the process of balancing out my schedule, but currently I'm pretty tied up in my Masters program, an intense prep course, and 3 jobs.  Yes.  3 jobs.  I miss having the luxury of updating this blog, but my free time is precious, as you can only imagine.

WHY I NEED TO PRACTICE IN FRONT OF A CAMERA LENS: I was recently accepted to do a practicum in Telehealth!  I'm super STOKED about this unique practicum opportunity and can't wait to start in May 2012. If you're confused as to what telehealth is, telehealth is where doctors use a communication tool to easily communicate with patients (in my case, patients living in rural areas that often lack needed specialists) at the doctor's office/hospital setting.  These patients may need an extra expert opinion, like the specialists, or may have hard-to-diagnose symptoms.  Instead of spending extra money to travel all the way to a major hospital (which often can be far away and costly to Medicaid/Medicare), the patients can conveniently communicate through the TV/camera/microphone set up with any doctor in the world to help resolve their case or to help them choose their next step.  One of the biggest concerns from the doctors on Telehealth is not being able to connect with your patients as well as meeting them in person.  Talking to a camera lens is WAY different than talking to a live person, so to have the skill to communicate effectively and personally through a camera lens definitely needs practice.  My way of practicing is through making youtube videos!

Without further ado....here's the video!  I absolutely LOVE where my skin is right now, and I hope you guys do/will too!  Hope this video is helpful to some of you ladies and gents!


(ignore the ugly thumbnail)

Products I covered in order:

Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Lancome Bi-Facil Double-Action Eye Makeup Remover (Target's is better!)
Philosophy Purity Made Simple
Biore Pore Unclogging Scrub
Neutrogena Deep Clean Cream Cleanser (I do NOT recommend this product)
Clean & Clear Continuous Control Acne Cleanser
Mario Badescu Strawberry Face Scrub
Clean & Clear Persa-Gel 10
Kiehl's Photo-Age Activated Toner
Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum
Shea Terra Moroccan Argan Oil (HOLY GRAIL)
Lancome High Resolution Refill-3X SPF 15
Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado
C.O. Bigelow Rose Salve (HOLY GRAIL)
Mario Badescu Whitening Mask (HOLY GRAIL)


UPDATE: I forgot to tell you guys a very important step!  I use a regular ole face/hand towel after my face-washing step (includes 1 deep cleaning face wash and 1 acne face wash) to remove all leftover residue.  I find that a hand towel gently exfoliates the face everyday and works great to bring the extra dirt/oils out of your skin.  I've used this technique all my life, ever since I was 4 years old, and this technique has never failed to deep clean my skin.  It's kind of like my super duper cheap version of the Clarisonic haha...

Outfit in the intro of the video:

Silver Metallic Silk Tank Top...............................................J. Crew
Rusty Brown Open Cardigan....................................................H&M


Outfit in the rest of the video (filmed on a different day):

White Silk Blouse with Black Accents..................................Ann Taylor
Metallic Gunmetal Blazer.............................................Nordstrom BP

Face: MISSHA M Perfect Cover BB Cream No. 23; CoverGirl and Olay Simply Ageless Eye Concealer; Maybelline Dream Matte Powder
Eyes: MAC Rubenesque Paintpot; MAC eyeshadow in Quarry; Too Faced eyeshadow in Nude Beach and Silk Teddy (from the Natural Eye palette); MAC gel liner in Blacktrack; Waterproof Maybelline Full and Soft Mascara in Very Black
Blush: Jane blush in Blushing Earth Sheer
Lips: Revlon Lip Butter in Lollipop


I hope your holidays have been magical and amazing.  You probably deserve it ;)


Can I <3 you guys forever? - Alice


P.S. What skincare products do YOU love?  I'd love to hear and try new recommendations!

Kate Spade Supercalifragilipstick Review

The fact that I don't wear lip products on a daily basis until now with Kate Spade's lipsticks is saying a lot about this product!!!!

I realize that the video does not do the colors justice.  I will update this post with pictures if my camera takes good pictures of swatches (I don't have a nice fancy camera).


Here's 2 screenshots from when I was editing the video from my computer, which actually shows true to color what the Fuchsia Fete lipstick looked like that day:

The Supercalifragilipstick colors I talk about:

Fuchsia Fete

Bashful Blush

(I bought 2 of the Bashful Blush ones since this color was my favorite everyday, go-to color)

My makeup in this video:

Face: Sonia Kashuk Concealer Palette (Target); MISSHA M Perfect Cover BB Cream No. 23; CoverGirl and Olay Simply Ageless Eye Concealer; Clinique Stay Matte Sheer Pressed Powder

Eyes: MAC Rubenesque Paintpot; Too Faced eyeshadow in Silk Teddy mixed with Nude Beach (from the Natural Eye palette); MAC eyeshadow in Quarry; Lancome single eyeshadow in Color Du Jour; MAC gel liner in Blacktrack; Waterproof Maybelline Full and Soft Mascara in Very Black

Bronzer/Blush: Lancome blush in Rose Fresque

Nails: China Glaze nail polish in Fifth Avenue

Lips: Kate Spade's Supercalifragilipstick in Fuchsia Fete

My top is from H&M.

This was my first review video ever, but since no one has done a review on these lipsticks yet, I decided this might help others who might be interested in them.  I'm soooo in love with Kate Spade's supercalifragilipsticks, and the Fuchsia Fete one is right on trend this Fall with its raspberry, fuchsia color.  I personally think the Bashful Blush one is also on trend since it's a darker (but wearable) medium blush color.

<3, alice

career development day

I thought I was going to attach this to the end of my skincare routine video (which will come out soon), so that explains why at the end I say "real goodbye".  Sorry for the camera being so shaky!!!!

Face: Sonia Kashuk Concealer Palette (Target); MISSHA M Perfect Cover BB Cream No. 23; CoverGirl and Olay Simply Ageless Eye Concealer; Clinique Stay Matte Sheer Pressed Powder; Rock and Republic Exhibition Pressed Powder in Chiffon

Eyes: Revlon Illuminance Cream Shadows in Precious Metals; Too Faced eyeshadow in Heaven, Honey Pot, Sexpresso, Silk Teddy, and Cocoa Puff (from the Natural Eye palette); MAC gel liner in Dipdown; Waterproof Maybelline Full and Soft Mascara in Very Black

Bronzer/Blush: Lancome blush in Pink Chic; Jane bronzer in Sunkissed Bronze

Nails: Orly nail polish in Rage

heart, alice

(fail?) outfits of the day ft John and PJ

Jerry's iphone became handy this past weekend in taking these high quality amazing photos.  :P  haha just kiddin.

Something a little different by featuring my friends' outfits I liked A LOT.

PJ didn't know I was doing a photoshoot for John....fail

I kept trying to take photos and every time I swear someone would walk in front of the camera right when I call "3".....fail.  I caught John laughing, but did you notice that PJ is also posing unintentionally?

Muscle show-off

PJ's outfit is a sneak peek of the clothes I bought him....I bought 3 of the items in this picture

On John:
Dove Grey Fitted Top......................................................Express
Black Skinny Fit Jeans.........................................Levi's by Target

White Sneakers............................................................Converse

Black Leather Watch.........................................................Fossil

Black Skinny Tie................................??? somewhere from Korea???


On PJ (last photo):

Indigo Mini Stripes Top............................................American Rag
Black Jeans.....................................................................Levi's
Grey/Brown Leather Laceless Boat Shoes............Polo Ralph Lauren

Can I feature YOU on my next blog post?  :D


heart, alice

out to dinner during restaurant week! ft. Mango Restaurant

Free Sangria!

Tilapia with Ceviche....to die for

Torta de Chocolate

Oatmeal Flowy Poncho-like Top......................................Forever 21
Brown Leather Skinny Belt.................................................J. Crew

Dark Wash Jean Leggings......................................................Levi's

Khaki/Espresso Carlie Flats...................................................Crocs

Gold Farrah Necklace & Rose Gold Mesh Bracelet..........Jewelmint.com

Brown Leather Bracelet with Gold Charms................................H&M
Black Rivet Rubber Bracelet.....................................Wilson's Leather
Blue Purse............................................................................Zara

Gold Earrings................................................................Francesca's

Face: Sonia Kashuk Concealer Palette (Target); MISSHA M Perfect Cover BB Cream No. 23; CoverGirl and Olay Simply Ageless Eye Concealer; Clinique Stay Matte Sheer Pressed Powder; Rock and Republic Exhibition Pressed Powder in Chiffon

Eyes: MAC Rubenesque Paintpot; MAC eyeshadow in Naked Lunch; Too Faced eyeshadow in Push-up, Silk Teddy, and Cocoa Puff (from the Natural Eye palette); MAC gel liner in Dipdown; Waterproof Maybelline Full and Soft Mascara in Very Black

Bronzer/Blush: Jane blush in Blushing Earth Sheer
Lips: Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss Pink Pop

Nails: Orly nail polish in Rage


You wouldn't think Crocs would carry cute shoes, but I'm obsessed with these Carlie flats.  I bought these for rainy days because I needed waterproof shoes that aren't stuffy like rainboots, and these are perfect!  They are super comfy to walk in since every step is cushioned, and I like how the soles have small bumps to increase blood circulation to your feet (circulating blood is always a good thing, especially in cold classrooms).  I think these might be my new go-to shoes for this coming fall season when I start school.  I am considering buying the black version and the leopard print version (Carlie animal wave in bronze) to spice up my wardrobe.  I don't have any animal print, but the Crocs leopard print flats are subtle enough for me.
I had an amazing meal from Mango, as always.  The mango ceviche added a nice flavor to the usually boring tilapia.  But I can't spend too much time thinking about yummy food because I have to wake up super early tomorrow for community service day.  So I'm going to catch some zzz's.


stay chic, alice

1st day of Orientation! (outfit of the day)

I was hesitant to put these photos up because the quality of the photos are horrible (I don't know what was up with the camera that day) and 1st day of orientation was 4 days ago, but for the sake of the cute outfit, I'll post it :)

Blush Pink Ruffly Sleeve Top..................................................Gap

Dark Blue Jean Leggings.....................................................Levi's

Nude Kitten Heel Pumps.......................................................Zara

Chartreuse Studs.....................................................Anthropologie

Brown Leather Skinny Belt................................................J.Crew

Brown Leather Purse with Gold Hardware...............Wilson's Leather

Rose Gold Mesh Bracelet.........................................Jewelmint.com

Face: Sonia Kashuk Concealer Palette (Target); MISSHA M Perfect Cover BB Cream No. 23; CoverGirl and Olay Simply Ageless Eye Concealer; Clinique Stay Matte Sheer Pressed Powder

Eyes: MAC Rubenesque Paintpot; Too Faced eyeshadow in Silk Teddy (from the Natural Eye palette); MAC eyeshadow in Quarry; Lancome eyeshadow in Color Du Jour (from a limited edition palette); MAC gel liner in Dipdown; Waterproof Maybelline Full and Soft Mascara in Very Black

Bronzer/Blush: Jane bronzer in Sunkissed Bronze; Jane blush in Blushing Earth Sheer

Nails: Orly nail polish in Rage


I love how every person in the MPH program (every 35 of us haha) is incredibly nice and really motivated to eliminate health disparities.  I'm so pumped up to bring social justice to the world! :D


to social justice, alice

dinner with friends (quick outfit of the day)

Upside Down French Braid!

White Burnout Low Back Top.......................................Forever 21

Lace Taupe Brown Tiered Shorts...................................Marshall's

Rose Gold Flats..................................................................Gap

Gold Farrah Necklace (wearing it backwards)..........Jewelmint.com

Brown Leather Bracelet with Gold Charms............................H&M

Brown Leather Purse with Gold Hardware.............Wilson's Leather

Gold Earrings............................................................Francesca's

Face: Sonia Kashuk Concealer Palette (Target); CoverGirl and Olay Simply Ageless Eye Concealer; Clinique Stay Matte Sheer Pressed Powder

Eyes: MAC Rubenesque Paintpot; Clinique eyeshadow in Lucky Penny; MAC eyeshadow in Quarry; Lancome eyeshadow in Color Du Jour (from a limited edition palette); MAC eye liner pencil in Smolder; Waterproof Maybelline Falsies Mascara in Very Black

Bronzer/Blush: Jane bronzer in Sunkissed Bronze; MAC beauty powder in Blush of Youth

Nails: Orly nail polish in Rage (matches exactly the rose gold color of my flats!)

Rose Gold is my new favorite color!  I apologize for the boring background of my bathroom wall haha.

Adeetee is back in town, so Jerry and I went out to dinner with her and 5 other friends.  We went to the Fountain on Locust and their malt butter pecan shake is the most amazing yummy-on-my-tongue dessert I've ever had in St. Louis (besides gooey butter cakes).  MMMMM I'm totally thinking about going there again this week.....

heart, alice

timeless pieces (with the fall season in mind)

Boys. Their closets are SO freakin simple, with clothing and accessories that are re-worn over and over until I'm sick of seeing them (at least the boys I'm mainly around).  Yet being around them so much lately has actually inspired me to re-discover my appreciation for timeless pieces -- pieces that are forever staples to your everyday outfits and which can be worn again and again, every year until you wear them to death.  These pieces are just no-brainers: you put them on and you know they'll look good on you all day, all night, and best of all, you don't really need to purchase anymore similar items throughout the lifespan of the timeless pieces.  With that said, I believe that these items are worth the investment and splurging, if you run out of discounted/sale options of course!

I wanted to share my top 10 timeless pieces for fall I can not live without (but really, I can wear these items in any other season, weather permitting) and pictures of pieces from my wardrobe I already staked out.  They are in no particular order.  I plan to do outfits of the day on my blog in the near future once school picks up and motivates me to actually wear nice outfits, instead of my pajamas:

1) Trenchcoat

Anthropologie Tiered Trenchcoat

Lightweight but can be layered for extra chilly days, waterproof (I think most are?), put-together, a statement in of itself, and chic.  I absolutely love this unique coat and how practical it is for St. Louis weather!


2) Jeans

Levi's Outlet Jean Leggings

I think a nice pair of jeans that fit well is a worthwhile investment, but I personally don't like to spend +$100 on jeans.  If you have my body type (wide hips, big butt (relative to my frame/size), small waist, and stocky legs), I find that the skinny jeans or skinny jean leggings from Guess and from Levi's make my butt and legs look amazing.  They are my go-to brands!  Skinny style of jeans de-emphasize the stockiness of my legs and balance out my short legs + long torso. I think people with long legs can wear bootcut and flared jeans much better than I can, so lucky you if you're one of those people.


3) Flats

Isola Britt Flats

My toes are the ugliest pieces of nasties, but I'm obsessed with wearing flip flops and sandals since I like my toes to be freeeee :)  Lately I have been slowly giving up on my flipflops in order to look a little nicer and less scrubby/cavewoman-ish (my toes just don't help to make me look done-up).  I've been obsessing over good quality flats since 1) they hide my nasties and 2) they're versatile (can be paired with shorts, my skinny jeans, skirts, dresses, tunics, leggings..etc) and 3) can be made to dress up any outfit.

4) The Go-to Bag

Wilson's Leather brown bag with gold hardware

This is the first purse I have ever owned, and there's a silly story behind this bag.  My dad bought me this after being frustrated with my resort to storing EVERYTHING in my pockets.  And ladies, you know how freaking tiny our pockets can be.  Thanks to my dad, I've had my go-to purse for +7 years now and it still has many years before it breaks/tears/gets gross.  I'm glad I chose brown since it matches almost anything, but I would have gladly chosen a black or other neutral colors.

(fun fact: My sister and her good friend have the exact same go-to bag except in different colors and different hardware color)

5) Simple Studs

Kate Spade Clear Square Stud Earrings 

I'm loving these high quality studs and how they don't weigh down my ears even though they are pretty decent-sized (covers the majority of my earlobe).  They're so simple yet are still a statement, especially when exposed to sunlight.  Fall is my favorite season, but unfortunately, cloudy, rainy days become more common.  Thus, a bit of bling to capture some light for an outfit is necessary for me.  :D

6) Chain with Single Charm

Replica of a Tiffany and Co. Crown Key Necklace

Close-up of the real deal

Sorry Tiffany and Co., but I'm cheap so I got a "knock-off" version.  I like this key on a short silver chain as shown above or a long silver chain paired with a flowy, over-the-shoulder top and shorts (this summarizes the majority of my summer outfits).  I feel like I won't ever need another necklace anymore I love this one so much.  There are so many charms out there, but I like keys and dog tags with messages/quotes the most.  Keys are in many ways mysterious since they can mean different things to different people.  Dog tags not only have meaning behind the message/quotation but also (if it was a gift) tell a story about the awesome person who gifted this to you, along with the memories you had with that person.  It makes me giddy when pieces of my wardrobe have a story to tell like that.  As well as it should be that way for timeless pieces since they will last you a very long time.

7) Cocktail Dress

I haven't really found my "timeless" cocktail dress yet (the dress below is currently my favorite, but when I get older or when my body goes through unfavorable changes, I don't think I'd be able to pull this dress off haha).  Dresses are one of the most expensive items, so I think I'll wait till I have a steady income to invest in a timeless dress.  But while I'm thinking about this future dress, I will probably naturally gravitate towards neutrals and blacks, as they are timeless colors in my opinion.  Plus, you can add fun accessories and shoes with them to make the outfit more interesting if you want to be trendier or spontaneous for an occasion.

Alexander Wang Fitted Corset Dress (I have so many good-lookin friends! :)

Alexander Wang Fitted Corset Dress in better lighting

I thank ebay for this crazy find.  I don't even know if my dress is real or not, but it is a dang good fake if it is a knock-off.

8) Boots

Left: Urban Outfitters lace-up cognac boots | Right: Banana Republic black boots with silver hardware

My favorite type of shoe on those cold days!  Because I have short legs, tall boots elongate my legs, so I gravitate towards tall and over-the-knee boots.  I can't wait to bust these babies out in the fall. (Tip: stuff them with rolled-up magazines to keep them standing up!)

9) Blazer

Gap Navy Blazer

Zara White Blazer

I don't know why I love blazers so much, but I think it has to do with the fact that I love dressing up outfits in the fall.  I think it has to do with the fact that in the summer, I dress down practically everyday with a flowy tee, shorts, and sandals; thus, by the time fall comes and school starts, I become more motivated to change up the usual summer routine.


10) Scarf

Forever21 Grapes Scarf in Grey


My number 1 accessory is definitely a scarf!  Especially when they are ruffly and have cool textures/prints on them.  You can tie them in different ways, take attention away from a low neckline, keep you warm, flatter your collarbone (which I think is the sexiest part of a woman) with an off-the-shoulder top (which I have a lot of), or add a pop of color to an outfit. Seriously though I want to wear them every day if it wasn't so dang hot.
_______________________________________________________________________________


The reason why tops, sweaters, shorts, skirts, sandals, etc. did not make my top 10 list is either because 1) I like varying the style/colors too much that picking a favorite is impossible and 2) I couldn't find an item timeless enough to make it to the top 10.

With all this said, the best fashion tip I've ever gotten and will always remember is this: If it looks bad on you, don't buy it no matter how cute it looks by itself or on someone else.  It seems simple, but many times people forget that, including me, which means that the brands' ads work on suckers like me haha


Thank yall so much for reading my blog and ramblings!  I really appreciate everyone's support!!! :D


heart, alice

Review on itailor.com AND New Project ft. PJ

For ALL you men and women (though there's more stuff to design on the men's site) out there looking for design-your-own tailored dress shirts, blouses, suits, pants, vests, ties, etc. at an affordable price, I highly recommend itailor.com.  My friend PJ introduced me to this website 2 months back, and I admit that I was a bit skeptical at how inexpensive some of their items were (knowing that the colorful Express men's dress shirts can run $60 a shirt!).  PJ, being the tall, slender and lanky (yet swoll) man he is, was willing to give this site a try for their dress shirts after numerous shopping fails (the sleeves would be too short, the dress shirt wouldn't be fitted enough, the dress shirt would be too short, etc.), and I was willing to help him design his dress shirt. If it turned out well, then he discovered a great find and would order more from the company; if it turned out to be horrendous, then he would have an ugly ill-fitting shirt at the bottom of his closet for the moths to eat till the end of time. Fortunately, it was the the first!

We initially wanted a minty pale green dress shirt, but itailor.com did not have that option and they should have that option so I can complete my project (mentioned below in my New Project section). PJ's next choice was a pale pink dress shirt.  We ended up finding on a pale pink "print" fabric (kind of has a sheen), and PJ's ideal design featured a dress shirt that could be worn to work or out, had a modern look, and was unique. What we specifically chose on the site were the baby pink herringbone fabric, long sleeve roll-up, box placket, center pleats, tri-tab, French collar 1-button, no pocket, 2 button angle, bright pink inside contrasts (I thought I chose the pale pink option, but it came out as bright pink), white thread and charcoal buttons, and no monogram. The website was super user-friendly, easy, fun, and visually attractive. I loved playing around with the various options and wanted to design my own blazer from the men's site haha.  (want to see my design? look at the bottom of the post!) Here are the results!!!! (excuse the lighting/camera issues):

This is the only picture where you can see the inside contrasts. In reality, the inside contrasts peek out often...I swear I picked pale pink, but whatever.

For business wear...

...and for those late night parties

DZhu checkin out PJ

PJ <3s him back

What do yall think? Is this PJ's ideal shirt for work and for going out, etc?
According to PJ, the quality of the work and materials is very good and was worth the buy. I went out with him the other day, and I admit the dress shirt made PJ look mighty fine.  I hope he doesn't read this.


NEW PROJECT ft. PJ


I am SOOOOOO excited about this new project I'm gonna do.  So get this.  PJ asked me to put together 2 going out outfits and 1 casual daywear outfit, and I'll be given $400 to work with.  Supposedly, whatever money I don't use I get to keep (thus, as an incentive, I would look for the best deals), but honestly, this is just way too much fun for me and I'll probably end up sneaking back the extras into his shoe or something. Is this a dream come true for me or what???  If you know me, you know the answer :)


So I'm asking YOU to leave a comment below or on my facebook wall/message me what do YOU want to see on PJ for 2 going out outfits and 1 casual daywear.  Who knows, I might snag some inspiration from your ideas :)  I already have a few ideas in mind, like that pale minty green dress shirt that I LOVE on guys, but I'm not gonna tell more than that because I want PJ to be surprised :P  Come on itailor.com....you can do it.


As always, <3 alice


PS Here's what I would design for a suit jacket/blazer for Jerry or even for me lol.  Let me know if you want to know my options:

How to Score High Quality Clothing/Beauty Products for Guaranteed Cheap (+ Current Deals)

I admit it.  Maybe I am guilty for being addicted to shopping and wanting to find THAT ONE dress I have always wanted (but it ends up being multiple "THAT ONE" things).  Maybe I am guilty for watching 15+ makeup gurus consistently (meaning every video they put up, I watch it.  unless I could care less about the topic, like hair products).  But you know what, that just makes me an experienced shopper.  Right?  Right.

Here I want to summarize (not just for yall, but to keep track for myself too) EVERYTHING i've learned not only from my own experiences, but from all the makeup gurus, fashion blogs, and magazines I religiously follow.  Think of it as summarizing a bunch of expert opinions along with my own frugal motivations:

1) Buy SUPERSIZED beauty products: I calculated on average how much I spend on drugstore facial cleansers, divided it by fluid ounces.  Turns out that the high end brand Philosophy Purity Made Simple facial cleaser (AMAZING BTW) in SUPERSIZE at 32 oz. was actually CHEAPER per fluid ounce than the drugstore face washes.  All because it is supersized.  Though buying the supersized versions will bust your bank temporarily, I haven't bought new face wash in 2 years and i've only finished ~1/4 of the supersized bottle, MEANING I have ~6 more years left of this amazing, high quality face wash (total of 8 years).

Sephora used to have the supersized Philosophy Purity in stores, but I don't think they have them anymore.  I'm sure it will come back because it has in the past.  Otherwise, I know Amazon (eligible for free shipping with Amazon Prime, which yall should have if you are a student at a university.  If you don't know about this, look it up) and QVC.com has it.

2) Buy High End Name Brands IN Dept Stores: NOT online department stores, online name brand stores, or in the actual physical name brand store itself.  Unlike the name brand online/phsyical stores and online department stores (which frequently don't show/update on ALL the items they carry), department stores need to move merchandise as quickly as possible.  This means when the name brand items are on sale, they are usually discounted more than if you were to buy the items on sale in the name brand stores.  Evidence: Today, I just scored a blush pink French Connection bandage dress 90% off from original price tag for a total of $17 (as you read further, you'll see why it's cheaper than usual).  It was on sale on top of another sale going on, which frequently happens at dept stores.

In case you were wondering, this is the dress I scored today.

3) Buy Clothing/Shoes With Fixable Defects: Don't be bummed out if you see a tear, button about to fall off, straps of shoes about to detach from the base of the shoe, etc. If you feel you can alter it with some needle/thread or superglue (minimal alterations), you can score MAJOR discounts by buying the items damaged while still getting them as good as new.  Sometimes, especially dept stores, the stores themselves can do alterations for FREE for you since it is their damaged product.  The dress above was such a case (which is why I got it for super cheap), so the lady at the cashier is putting this dress up for alterations for me.  For free.  And at a discount for being damaged in the first place.  hollerrrr.  (UPCOMING DEAL: Belk, where I got this dress from, is having major discounts on already discounted items starting this Friday, June 3)

4) Drugstore/Non-name Brand Products with Better than or Equal Quality as High End/Name Brand Products: I cannot tell you how much I absolutely love drugstore/non-name brand makeup.  They're affordable and can be just as amazing of quality, if not better, as high end stuff.  Here are some makeup products I recommend to buy at the drugstore (and one that is online, but not name-brand):

a) Mascaras.  If you have stumpy stick straight eyelashes like I do, you will love drugstore mascaras.  They are typically a drier formula, meaning they hold curls better (if you use an eyelash curler, or if you have naturally curled eyelashes.  Dang you long eyelashed people), but you have to buy the waterproof version of the mascara (they usually hold the drier formulas).   I find that high end mascaras are too wet of a formula, so they make my eyelashes I worked so hard to curl...droop.  There are a few high end mascaras that hold curls, BUT read the next 2 sentences. For hygiene reasons as well as the fact that mascaras dry out pretty quickly, it is recommended that you switch out your mascaras every 2 months.  (I personally extend it to maybe 3 months of use) Mascaras, thus, generally have a short shelf life.  So I would rather save my money buying the mascaras at the drugstore while still getting the same or better quality I want in a mascara.  I recommend Maybelline, the KING of drugstore mascaras.  (My personal favorite: Maybelline Falsies)

b) Lip Products.  Many drugstore lip products have amazing color payoff and are not drying on the lips!  My personal favorites are Maybelline Pink Please lipstick, Revlon Smooth Nude and Peach Colorburst lipstick, Revlon Colorburst and Super Lustrous Lip glosses, and Revlon Just Bitten Lipstain in Flame (I don't wear lip stuff often).  Other brands I know are amazing quality (but I personally haven't tried on myself) are NYX lipsticks/lipglosses, E.L.F. lipsticks and liquid lipsticks, other Maybelline and Revlon lipsticks, L'Oreal's infallible collection, Rimmel lipsticks, and Wet n' Wild lipsticks.


c) Liquid Foundation: I can see where people may want to invest in a high end liquid foundation since products for the face may be something worth investing in.  But I recommend checking out Revlon, the KING of drugstore liquid foundations.  (Side note: If you're looking for a good mattifying powder/setting powder, I am loyal to the Maybelline Dream Matte Powder.  Otherwise, I personally am not a big fan of powders in drugstores.  But I do recommend one brand online....look at letter "f")


d) Eyeshadows and Eye liners: I live off of my Maybelline quads and NYX single shadows.  AMAZING pigmentation for a great price.  For gel liners, Maybelline (Eye Studio Gel liner) and L'Oreal (H.I.P. cream liner) came out with great ones recently.  For liquid liners, L'Oreal Linear Intense Felt Tip Liner is famous among the makeup gurus.  For pencil liner for your waterline, Milani Liquif Eye Metallic Eyeliner will stay on forever (at least for me).


e) Concealers: for under eye area, I love the convenience of Maybelline's Instant Age Rewind Double Face Perfector and the non-cakiness of Covergirl's Simply Ageless Concealer.  For the face blemishes, Sonia Kashuk for Target makes a great concealer palette that color correct different types of blemishes.


f) Powder Foundation: everydayminerals.com is comparable to the overhyped Bare Escentuals brand, and you can even get free samples from the website!  The only downside is that you have to purchase online :(


If you want great quality, fashionable leather products (handbags, belts, gloves), I am obsessed with the non-name brand  Wilson's Leather.  The store that used to be in Knoxville (went out of business...so sad) knew me by name because I went there for gifts so often.  In-store deals and styles are better than online, just to give you a heads up.


5) Buy Collaboration Stuff: I'm talking about when a luxury brand pairs up with a dept store or Target, which means you can get cute designer items for less.  Some collaborations going on right now (that I know of) are CALYPSO St. Barth for Target, Vera Wang for Kohl's, and MANGO for JCPenny.  If you know anymore, leave it in the comments below!



6) Score Free Samples: You can go to the department cosmetic counters and get free samples, especially if you're not sure whether you want to buy the item or not.  I know Lancome is great about this, and I even have lived off of only samples and never have bought the full-sized products (don't advertise this to Lancome).  Also, many beauty sites, like Sephora and Ulta, give great samples if you make a purchase online.  If you get free shipping, it's kind of like you went to the store and bought what you wanted PLUS you got free samples.


7) Free Products from Free Gift Sets: If you plan to buy high end department store skincare/makeup products (or in my case, if your mom plans to buy high end stuff), wait until they have special deals with free gifts.  Usually with some purchase, you can get numerous free items including free cosmetic case/tote bag, eyeshadow palettes, lipsticks, anti-wrinkle lotions, foundations, serums, mascara, etc.  Lancome is launching their Riviera Gift Set from 6/14 to 7/4 with a purchase of $32.50, and you can even reserve your items now before it's launched!



8) Shop Off Season (Check), Shop on Holidays/Post Holidays (Check), Shop Mainly in the Summer and Winter (...What????): So I'm pretty sure yall know about major discounts on winter clothes in the summer and vice versa, and to shop on memorial day, after Thanksgiving, and after Christmas.  But did you know that many stores discount the most during the summer and winter months (especially when the season is about to end)?  This is because summer and winter are major break seasons, meaning people vacation and relax during these months.  Stores know that statistically, more people come out to shop during these months, so that means more sales and discounts!


9) Target:  I think I'm just biased (if you can't tell that I friggin love Target by now, ....), so ignore this tip if you feel like.  They have (and have had) so many collaborations lined up, so keep your eyes out for them in the future (Missoni is coming out this september)!  I know they had William Rast (ahhh I can't believe I got a well-made, super soft leather jacket for $69.99!!!! <3 Target), Rodarte, Mulberry, Dolce Vita, Alice Temperley, Isaac Mizrahi, Temple St. Clair, Tucker, Proenza Schouler, and Zac Posen collaborate with them before.  They also have cute jewelry, bags, scarves, belts (neon skinny belts!), shoes, dresses, tops, and more from their own permanent lines.


10) Buy Makeup from Walgreens, CVS, and Sally's Beauty Supply: If you're already a CVS member and buy makeup, you're automatically enrolled in the Beauty Club, and you can get HUGE discounts on beauty products.  (Testimony: If you know DulceCandy87 on YouTube, she paid $30 for $100 worth of stuff through the CVS Beauty Club!)  All 3 of these stores sometimes have deals like buy one get one free, buy one get one half off, buy 2 sets of Ardell lashes and get a free China Glaze nail polish, etc.  So keep your eyes out for them, because you can get makeup for cheaper than Walmart or Target.

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Some of these tips may be ones you know already, but hopefully you learned at least one thing :)  This post was not meant to turn yall into shopping frenzies but to be aware of deals around you.  Great quality, budget-friendly buys (or freebies) DO exist.  Guaranteed.
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I have some other tips, that did not quite make my list but (some) are worth mentioning.  I'm just going to breeze through these:


Tips for High Quality Clothing/Beauty Products for Not-as-Guaranteed Cheap


1) Marshall's, Kohl's, TJMaxx: It's a hit or miss for me.
2) Hautelook, Ideeli, RueLaLa: They have deals on designer clothing/makeup for a certain time frame, but I never found it to be cheap enough for me.  You can sign on with the links I gave or go on the actual website to sign up; it doesn't matter.
3) Ebay: if it's a highly desirable item, it may not always be budget-friendly
4) retailmenot.com: if you online shop, this is your best friend.  They don't always have discount codes.
5) Outlets: I highly recommend the Cosmetic Company Store/Outlet, where they have name brand beauty products at ok discounts (brands I've seen at my CCO: Bobbi Brown, MAC, Origins, Clinique, Estee Lauder, Elizabeth Arden).  The clothing stores are ok too.  I love the Wilson's Leather, J.Crew, and Banana Republic outlets!
6) Sign Up for Store Email Lists: Usually when you sign up, you get a discount bonus for signing up or being a first time online customer.  I recommend getting a separate email account especially for this because the amount of emails they send can be hefty.
7) Victoria's Secret Semi-Annual Sale: occurs mid-June and early January.  still kind of pricy sometimes.
8) H&M and Forever 21: their quality is hit or miss so I wouldn't completely call it "name brand", but their stuff is freakin cute and cheap!
9) When you go shopping, Bring a Friend Who Has a Lot of Luck: No seriously.  Someone who is always lucky.  I think this is the main reason why I got that French Connection dress for cheap today.  Thank you WENDY!!!!!


<3, alice