Spotted at Costco: Great deals on Borghese Brush Set, Maybelline and Nuetrogena

Oh, how I love you Costco! It's a place where you can buy things in bulk for a really affordable price and save a lot of money. My family and I come here once every 2 months to get our supply of meats, juices, paper towels, toilet papers, shampoo and conditioner and etc. They also have a big beauty and wellness section and I want to show you all the cool stuff I found.

Borghese Professional Select makeup brush set $23.99

If you are not familiar with this brand then you are really missing out. In my opinion, Borghese makes the most softest, most amazing quality brushes. They're better than ELF, MAC, yes I said MAC and all the highend brushes I've ever tried. The bristles are amazingly soft, tightly packed, doesn't shed or bleed and the handles are very sturdy. I own their Holiday brushes from 2 years ago and they're still awesome. The only thing I don't like about them is that they have a huge blending brush that doesn't fit my eyes and the handles are quite bulky, but for $23.99? I can't complain.

Costco always carries Stila makeup that comes in a set just like in the photos. You get 3 products for the price of $12.97. That's a steal!

Cover Girl Lash Blast Fusion mascaras. You get 3 mascara for only $14.99. That's enough to last you a year or more depending on how often you use  them.

Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes. They're usually $5.99 to $7.49 for 25 towelettes, but at Costco you get 144 wipes for only $14.99. That is such a good deal!

Have you been to Costco lately? 

CoverGirl LipPerfection Transformation Challenge - Final Thoughts

This video is the final installment in my COVERGIRL LipPerfection Transformation Challenge series. If you're late to the partay, be sure to check out part 1 and part deux before watching the video.

COVERGIRL LipPefection is available at drugstores and mass market retailers.

*COVERGIRL is compensating me for my time and participation in the LipPerfection Transformation Challenge; however, all opinions shared are my own.

Spotted: MAKEUP on Clearance 50-75% off at CVS Pharmacy

Do you guys remember when CVS had their end of the year Clearance 50-75% off sale? Click HERE to see my haul. Well, if you missed it, then you're in luck because it's back!!! If it wasn't for my girl G of NouveauCheap, I wouldn't have found out about it. She truly is the "Drugstore Queen". ^_^

So today, I went to my local CVS after work hoping to find a lot things, but it was too late.This sale just started yesterday if I'm not mistaken and everything on clearance were almost gone....noooo! There were still some left, but nothing really perked my interest except for the Almay Base and Under Eye concealer.

Here are some of the makeup on clearance at my CVS Pharmacy

NYC Color Minute Quick Dry nail polish

Rimmel GlamEyes eye shadows

Rimmel Stay Matte liquid foundation

Revlon Color Stay lip gloss

Revlon New Complexion makeup

Revlon Color Stay Finishing Powder



Revlon Double Twist Volumizing mascara



Revlon ColorStay Eyeliner in Teal



Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer

Maybelline Stiletto mascara

Sally Handen HD nail polish



Almay One Coat Dial Up mascara



Revlon Age Defying Concealer

Almay Bright Eyes Eye Base/Concealer

Cover Girl Outlast SmoothWear lip gloss



 So what are you waiting for? Hit up your CVS Pharmacy NOW! before they run out. And if you find your favorite makeup on clearance, this is the perfect time to stock up! I was told by one of the associates that most of these are being discontinued.

Visit G's blog NouveauCheap for a list of all the clearance items.

CoverGirl LipPerfection Transformation Challenge Update

I'm back with with an update to my CoverGirl LipPerfection Transformation Challenge. It's day six, and I've already noticed an improvement in the texture of my lips. I haven't applied lip balm since the I started this challenge, and my lips don't miss it. And this speaks volumes because I am a lip balm addict, usually slathering it on several times daily.

Since I started wearing CoverGirl LipPerfection exclusively, my lips have been slightly more hydrated - and MUCH smoother. Typically, before I apply lipstick, I have to exfoliate my lips because the lipstick exaggerates every flaw. But this lipcolor lets me skip that step.

Day two was a warm Spring day in Philadelphia, so I was thinking pink. I chose "Delight," a sparkly pink that wore nicely all day long and made me smile when I caught glimpse of my reflection that afternoon. On days three and four, I rocked a red pout - LipPerfection shade "Hot Passion" (seen below). I think that this may become my signature scarlet lip. I kept the rest of my face relatively bare and let my lips be the main attraction. I usually reserve a red lip for special occasions, but this shade looked so pretty (not to mention juicy) that I've added it to the regular rotation.

After two days of channeling Gwen Stefani, I decided to play it a little more low key - and opted for more natural shades...so I wore "Hypnotic" and "Captivate" on days five and six.

LipPerfection's "Silk Moisturizing Complex" promises to improve lip condition in just 7 days, but I've seen and feel a noticeable difference already. I'll be back soon with a recap of my week-long love affair with LipPerfection. Watch out, Angelina.

*COVERGIRL is compensating me for my time and participation in the LipPerfection Transformation Challenge; however, all opinions shared are my own.

CoverGirl LipPerfection Transformation Challenge

Back in February, I had an opportunity to test COVERGIRL's newest lipstick, LipPerfection lipcolor. LipPerfection does double duty – while drenching your pout in rich, creamy color, it performs like a treatment. Silk therapy moisturizers hydrate and smooth dry lips. So, the more you wear it, the better your lips look and feel. COVERGIRL promises the product's "Silk Moisturizing Complex" provides smooth gorgeous color and sustained levels of moisture to actually improve lip condition in just 7 days.

After testing it out for a few days, off and on, I was so impressed by the flattering shades, staying power and unique formula that I included it in a Beauty Breakthroughs article I penned for Philadelphia Magazine.  But, to be honest, I didn't test it for seven days straight, so I really couldn't verify the better-lips-in-a-week claim.

But a few weeks ago, I was contacted by COVERGIRL – and they asked me to do just that. So I agreed to take the "LipPerfection Transformation Challenge" and wear nothing but LipPerfection on my lips for a week. Over the next seven days, I'll be chronicling my experience here, sharing my experience with the product. And this time, next week, I'll let you know whether or not to believe the hydration hype.

So for the first day of the challenge, I decided to go for the something out of my comfort zone. When I wear makeup, nine times out of ten, I wear lipgloss – and a nude/neutral one, at that. COVERGIRL sent me all 44 shades of LipPerfection, so I had a plethora of pretty shades to choose from.

Siren (left), Tempt (right)

I opted for a richly pigmented, bright pink called Siren. It applied very smoothly and felt comfortable on my lips. But after seeing my reflection in the mirror, I felt that it was a little light for my complexion. I was running late for work and didn't feel like taking it off and starting over – so I grabbed a wine shade, called Tempt, and layered it on top. The result was a gorgeous fuchsia that garnered a handful of compliments at work, and made me feel like a more polished version of myself.

My lips didn't feel or get dry, and I didn't feel the urge to swipe on lip balm throughout the day, like I usually do. And it gets better: my lipstick looked freshly applied all day long (even after lunch!) and even when it faded in the late afternoon, it left behind a uniform, intentional looking stain.

So far, so good. I'll be back in a few days for an update.

*COVERGIRL is compensating me for my time and participation in the LipPerfection Transformation Challenge; however, all opinions shared are my own.

New Years Beauty Resolutions on the NBC 10! Show

Good day, miladies! This morning, I made another appearance on the NBC 10! Show.

I love that they post the videos online so that - whether or not you live in Philadelphia - I can share my beauty tips and product picks with all of my spoiled pretties.

In this morning's segment, I named five common beauty resolutions for the new year and featured fabulous products (from MAC, CoverGirl, GO SMiLE, Dermalogica and NARS) that will help you keep those resolutions.

Give it a looksee...

Get Party Perfect With P&G Beauty and Grooming

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. The holidays are a time to do for others. But just because you’re busy showing others how much you care doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t take the time to spoil yourself pretty.

You don’t have to worry about looking less than lovely this holiday season. P&G Beauty and Grooming brands like COVERGIRL, Clairol, Olay and Pantene offer the following dependable (and affordable!) products so you can look fabulously festive for any occasion – planned or impromptu.

Olay Regenerist Anti-Aging Eye Roller is a concentrated anti-aging treatment featuring a pen-shaped applicator that gently massages skin to fight the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in the delicate eye area. It sends your under eye bags packing in 30 seconds, so you look fresh and radiant all season long.

When the occasion calls for looking beautiful at a moment’s notice, makeup should never disappoint.

COVERGIRL’s Simply Ageless Foundation provides a flawless finish without settling into fine lines and wrinkles throughout the day. The lightweight yet buildable formula goes on sheer - making imperfections seem to disappear while improving skin condition over time.

Shopping, cooking, decorating and entertaining rarely leave time for hair color throughout the season. Clairol Perfect 10 by Nice ‘n Easy gives hair high gloss, high shine and gorgeous color in just ten minutes. Got grays? No problem, silver belles! Perfect 10 delivers 100 percent, long-lasting gray coverage.

The holidays are prime time for unexpected photos, and you shouldn’t hide behind dry, frizzy locks. Pantene Pro-V Restore Beautiful Lengths Shine Enhance Replenishing Mask has an advanced formula to treat rough, dull hair and leave it looking and feeling smooth and silky.

So even when the weather outside looks frightful, thanks to P&G Beauty and Grooming, you’ll look and feel delightful.

For more holiday beauty tips and enter to win a luxe NYC getaway, visit MustHaveIts.com.

This post was sponsored by P&G Beauty and Grooming.

Makeup Mondays With Mario: How To Do Drugstore

Celebrity makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic is answering your burning beauty questions!!! Every Monday, he will answer a beauty/skin care question as part of a weekly column on Spoiled Pretty, Makeup Mondays with Mario.

Hi Mario,

I don't have a big budget for cosmetics, but it seems that most of the inexpensive products I buy don't look very good. Can you recommend some drugstore makeup that is comparable to department store makeup?

Thanks, Kourtney

Hi Kourtney,

When using drug store cosmetics, you should try switching up your technique and tools during application. An extra step or two should have you satisfied with the way your makeup looks. For example, a eyeshadow color that you love at the drugstore looks great in the package but when you bring it home and apply the color, it probably doesn't glide smoothly or evenly stick to your lids. In this case, make sure your lids are primed with a shadow base or a bit of your foundation/concealer and set them with loose powder. This will ensure a smooth and even application. Your brush should not be too "fluffy" unless you are blending so choose a shadow brush with shorter, firmer bristles and dab/press the shadow onto the lids a few times. Using a cream shadow first followed by a powder also works well and gives a richer look.

A tip for making inexpensive, hard liners easily glide on to give you nice pigment is to first heat them with a blow dryer or a lighter. You'd be surprised at how the texture of the pencil becomes rich and emollient. If you try this, please wait a few seconds before you apply the hot pencil to your face.

Drugstores do carry so many great makeup brands and products that are comparable to department store brands. L'Oreal True Match Foundation, Revlon lipstick, NYX shadows and blush and CoverGirl concealers are just a few of many, many good products that can be found in drugstores. Just like with inexpensive clothing or furniture, it takes more effort to make it look good but you learn so many tricks along the way.

Thanks for visiting Makeup Mondays with Mario!

xo,
Mario


Got a question for Mario? Email your makeup and skin care queries to spoiledprettyquestions@gmail.com, and check back next Monday to read Mario's expert advice!xo,

Top 10 Bridal Beauty Tips

Today, Mr. Spoiled Pretty and I celebrate our third wedding anniversary. With our recent move and all of the craziness that's going on in our lives right now, we almost forgot. But after remembering, we booked reservations at Supper, an excellent restaurant in our new 'hood.

This year is particularly special, because we celebrate the occasion with our son. Though Westley isn't scheduled to make his grand entrance until August, he'll enjoy a delicious dinner.

In honor of my nuptials, I'm taking this opportunity to pass along some beauty knowledge to brides-to-be. Back in 2007, I stressed myself out something awful trying to make sure my makeup was perfection; I wish someone wiser had taken me under her wing and saved me some major frustration. So I'm hoping that this post will serve that purpose and help a new generation of brides vow to be beautiful on their wedding day.

Here are my top 10 tips:

1. Don't get too trendy with your makeup or hairstyle. You want to look like a knockout on your wedding day, but you should still look like you. Years from now, you don't want to look at your wedding photos and think, “Who is that?”

2. If you're planning a pre-wedding facial or similar treatment, make sure you schedule it at least a week before. The last thing you need to deal with is an allergic reaction or an extraction-happy esthetician that leaves your face a marked up mess days/hours before your nuptials.

3. If you can, hire someone to do your hair and makeup on your wedding day. I'm not doubting your abilities…you might be the second coming of Kevyn Aucoin, but having someone to help means that you'll have one (or two) less things to worry about on the day of. And it needn't cost a fortune, either. You don;t need to hire a celebrity makeup artist to look like supermodel. Find a local beauty school and ask if any of the students are available for special events. Or go to the mall and get a makeover at your favorite makeup counter. If the salesperson does a good job, ask him/her if she makes house calls. My longtime friend/mane man, Erik, did my hair at my parents' house…and then attended our wedding as a guest.

4. Whether you're paying someone to do your hair/makeup or you’re a DIY kind of bride, always do a trial run. And take photos – from different angles and in different lighting. You might love the reflection in the mirror, but the pictures might tell a different story. And better for you to figure out what works (and what doesn't) in the months/weeks leading up to your big day – when you actually have time and the means to fix problems.

5. Don't rush to remove your veil. If you decide to wear a veil on your wedding day, wear it for the entire day - from your walk down the aisle until the end of the reception. A veil is that one element that transforms you from a woman in a white dress into a bride. Looking back at my wedding photos, I wish I hadn't been in such a rush to take off my veil and show off my hair. I much prefer the photos of me wearing the veil; they have a much more romantic quality.

6. Invest in some waterproof mascara, even if you're not the emotional type. At some point, someone is going to make you cry and you'll be happy you dodged a Tammy Faye Baker bullet.

7. If your hair has behavioral issues, I would recommend not washing your hair on your wedding day. Freshly shampooed hair doesn't hold a style as well as second day hair. And if your hair has a serious case of ADD, invest in a can of Elnett.

8. If your skin is on the oily side and you're afraid of looking shiny in photos, make sure to have blot papers handy on your wedding day. Powder does cut down on shine, but it can also get cakey-looking and settle into lines. Blotting papers are a better bet. Or you can do like I do and just grab a bunch of Starbucks brown napkins next time you get a Frappuccino; those suckers work better than most blotting papers I've used – and when Starbucks charges you $4-5 for some coffee, milk and sugar, they owe you some damn napkins. So take a handful and put 'em in your purse.

9. Invest in good makeup primers to keep makeup from sliding off of your face. I'm partial to Laura Mercier Foundation Primer and Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion.

10. I wore Giorgio Armani Silk Lipstick topped with Armani Lip Shimmer on my wedding day (click here to find out what else I wore). I asked one of my bridesmaids to hold my gloss for me - but when I needed it for a mid-reception touch-up, she didn't know where it was. To this day, she still insists that I lost it. Um, as if! I would never misplace a brand new Armani lip gloss. Anyway...I digress. Though this was a minor snafu, I'm often reminded of my mistake when I look at my photos. My lips are almost the same color as my face, so in some of the pictures, my mouth kind of just disappears. It still irks me to this day. So do yourself a favor and use a lip stain (like CoverGirl Outlast Lipstains) before applying lipstick and/or lip gloss. And don't ask your flighty friends to hold nuthin'.

Drugstore Beauty Must Haves!

After a brief television hiatus, I'm back on the tube again...this time, dishing on my favorite drugstore beauty must haves.

We all know that it doesn't actually cost a million bucks to look like a million bucks. But there are thousands of skin/body care products and cosmetics at your local drugstore...and choosing what should go in your basket and what should stay on the shelf can be overwhelming.

So reporter (and fabulous style blogger) Lilliana Vazquez asked me to share my beauty expertise with Philadelphia's NBC10 viewers and name my top drugstore beauty buys. Some of my current faves include:

L'Oreal Paris Ideal Skin Genesis Complexion Equalizer Day/Night Cream, $19.99 (comparable to Clinique Even Better Skin Tone Correcting Moisturizer SPF 20, $42.50)

Revlon PhotoReady Makeup, $13.99 (comparable to Make Up For Ever HD Invisible Cover Foundation, $40)

CoverGirl LashBlast Fusion, $9.99 (comparable to Diorshow Mascara, $24)

Maybelline Shine Sensational Lip Gloss, $5.99 (compare to Lancome Juicy Tubes, $18)

Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Blush and Highlighter, $12.99 (compare to Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick, $38)

What are your favorite drugstore finds? Spill your must haves in the comments section...

Makeup Mondays With Mario: Blemishes Begone!

Celebrity makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic is answering your burning beauty questions!!! Every Monday, he will answer a beauty/skin care question as part of a weekly column on Spoiled Pretty, Makeup Mondays with Mario.


Hi Mario,

I have a question about concealing blemishes. How exactly do you do it? I am so confused. What concealers are the best? Do you apply the concealer before or after foundation? And what do you apply it with? Every time I try to cover up a pimple, it winds up looking really obviously and kinda cakey. If anyone knows how to create a flawless face, it's you - so please help, Mario. Thanks a lot!

Your biggest fan,
Keisha

Hi Keisha,

Concealing blemishes shouldn’t be so stressful. Follow these steps and you'll have flawless skin in no time!

First, apply foundation as you would normally, followed by a cream concealer applied directly on the blemish. Choose a concealer shade that's a bit lighter. Blend the product with your finger or damp sponge – then, with a translucent loose powder, set the blemish only. Now you can go ahead and powder the rest of the face as you would normally.

When choosing a concealer, look for one that is not oily. I really love La Mer's concealer for blemishes. Benefit and CoverGirl make great cream concealers too.

Try this technique and I'm sure you will be a pro in no time!

Thanks for visiting Makeup Mondays with Mario.

xo,
Mario


Got a question for Mario? Email your makeup and skin care queries to spoiledprettyquestions@gmail.com, and check back next Monday to read Mario's expert advice!

CoverGirl LashBlast Fusion Mascara Coming Soon!

Today, COVERGIRL introduced its newest LashBlast mascara – LashBlast Fusion. It's COVERGIRL's first ever volume and length mascara, so now lashes that want it all, can have it all! COVERGIRL Global Creative Design Director, Pat McGrath previewed LashBlast Fusion exclusively during Fall/Winter 2010 New York Fashion Week.

LashBlast Fusion will be available in-stores nationwide this April, but you can get it before anyone else staring March 12th during the exclusive online pre-sale.

LashBlast Fusion has a suggested retail price of $8.99 and pre-sale customers can take advantage of free shipping from March 12th – April 5th, limited quantity while supplies last.

Visit Facebook.com/COVERGIRL beginning March 12th to find an e-retailer.

Oscars 2010 Beauty: Paula Patton

Makeup artist Mylah Morales used the following products on Precious star Paula Patton:

"For Paula Patton's Oscar beauty look I started by applying Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil to clean up her skin and create an ideal canvas for foundation application. Next I applied Giorgio Armani Foundation and set the foundation with a sheer layer of COVERGIRL Queen Collection Natural Hue Minerals Pressed Powder, followed by COVERGIRL Queen Collection Natural Hue Minerals Bronzer for a gorgeous, bronze glow. To accentuate and enhance Paula's stunning orange dress, I focused on gold and brown shades for her eyes. I applied gold powder shadow in the corners of her eyes followed by a layer of COVERGIRL Smoky ShadowBlast in Bronze Fire over her lid for a gorgeous red carpet eye look. I completed her eye look with a few swipes of COVERGIRL LashBlast Length Mascara for dramatic, ultra-long lashes. For Paula's lips, I kept them pretty natural and used a peachy shade of gloss that matched her natural lipcolor. To complete Paula's overall look I applied NARS Blush in Taj Mahal followed by Shu Uemura Facial Hydration Mist to lock-in Paula's makeup and help it last her through the night."

Oscars Beauty 2010: Maggie Gyllenhaal

Maggie Gyllenhaal's Oscar beauty look, by COVERGIRL celebrity makeup artist, Molly R. Stern.

"Maggie is the muse of spring. Her Dries Van Noten gown is a swirl of bright colors that fades into white. For her makeup I wanted to bring out the color of her eyes with some depth while keeping with the brightness of her overall style. We started off the look by refreshing the skin with Jurlique Rose Water spray. Then I prepped the skin with Shu Uemura red:juvenus vitalizing concentrate and lightly moisturized with La Mer moisturizing lotion.

"For a flawless complexion I primed Maggie's skin with COVERGIRL & Olay Simply Ageless Serum Primer (out in July!!). Then I lightly applied some Chantecaille future skin foundation in the color 'cream' only where she needed it. Then lastly I dusted La Mer powder foundation in 'Ivory' to set the skin for the big night.

"For her amber peachy cheeks I used COVERGIRL & Olay Simply Ageless Sculpting Blush in Rich Cinnamon. And dusted some NARS Dolce Vita blush on the apples.

"For Maggie's eyes of layered copper smoke I based her eye with COVERGIRL Smoky ShadowBlast in Bronze Fire. Next I deepened her lid with NARS soft touch shadow pencil in Skorpios. Then I blended into the crease Shu Uemura pressed eye shadow 'p brown 810' and lastly I lightly dusted Shu Uemura pressed eyeshadow in 'n me brown 860' all over the lid for a golden finish. For the undereye, I resmudged the COVERGIRL Smoky ShadowBlast under her lash line to bring out the blue of Maggie's eyes. Finally I defined her lashes by combining brown and black mascara. I painted the lashes with both colors using COVERGIRL LashBlast Length for perfectly flirty long lashes.

"On Maggie's lips I applied NARS 'Schiap' lip color – it was the perfect shade to finish off the look. Its bright hue matches Maggie's vibrant sense of style and confidence."

Oscars Beauty 2010: Queen Latifah

Queen Latifah's Oscar beauty look was cerated by makeup artist D'Andre Michael.

"For Queen Latifah’s Oscar's look I decided to go with a plum smoky eye, soft mauve lip and bronzed skin. Queen Latifah's wardrobe was a beautiful, custom-designed lavender gown. I used a foundation brush to apply COVERGIRL Queen Collection Natural Hue Liquid Makeup in Warm Caramel and set it with COVERGIRL Queen Collection Natural Hue Minerals Pressed Powder in Brown Bronze 1.

"For Queen Latifah's eyes, I started by applying COVERGIRL Queen Collection Natural Hue Minerals Pressed Powder in Brown Bronze 1 to the brow bone. I do this to achieve a more natural look to the brow bone. Secondly, I used COVERGIRL Smoky ShadowBlast in Purple Plume on the entire lid from the lash line to the inner crease. I then used COVERGIRL Smoky ShadowBlast in Onyx Smoke in the inner crease to blend up on the brow bone. For depth and intensity, I used COVERGIRL Outlast Smoothwear All Day Eyeliner in Onyx on the inner bottom eyelid. To give lashes the oomph that most women crave, I applied COVERGIRL LashBlast Length Waterproof Mascara in Very Black.

"For Queen Latifah's lips, I wanted to compliment the plum eye by doing a beautiful mauve lip to balance out the various purple hues of the entire look. To start I used a base coat of MAC Lipstick in Midimauve and then lined her lips with Kevyn Aucoin Flesh Tone Lip Pencil in Deep. I recommend rubbing your lips together after lining lips to blend the line. I added luster and shine to Queen’s lips by applying a dab of COVERGIRL ShineBlast Lip Gloss in Aglow.

"To complete Queen’s look I used CARGO Blush in Siena on the apples of her cheekbones for a hint of color and glow. To complete the overall look I used COVERGIRL Queen Collection Natural Hue Minerals Bronzer in Brown Bronze for a soft and subtle glow on her upper cheekbones, forehead, nose, neck and collar bone."