Category: Makeup and Skincare

The Dos and Don’ts of Online Shopping

The Dos and Don’ts of Online Shopping

by Engineered Mama ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

 I. Love. Shopping.  I don’t like how much time it takes now that I’m a working mom.  I have become a GREAT online shopper.  Great deals and even greater products in a fraction of the time.

The key to a great online experience is to find what works for you.  Once you nail down what you’re really looking for don’t get distracted by a “great deal”.  I’ve been there… so that funky shirt was only $5.  Doesn’t really matter when you don’t wear it!  $5 down the drain.  Here are some tips to help you avoid the pitfalls of online shopping.

Clothes. Clothes.  More Clothes.

Where to Go

What type of clothes are your favorite?  Chances are you have that go-to store that you absolutely love.  You know how all of their clothes fit and can pretty much pull an item off of the rack and know immediately if it will look good on you.  Well, there are online stores that have the same safe and familiar feel.Two of my favorites happen to be Gap and Old Navy.  I know how their clothes fit, what cuts flatter my body type, and I know the price range I have to work with.

Once you have your go-to sites, keep your cart full at all times-you never know when there may be a pop-up sale… you’ll be ready!  The clothes aren’t going anywhere, so it’s time to have a spending strategy…

Price Tag

I usually have an idea of how much I want to pay for certain items in my mind.  I never pay much for clothes because I tend to favor trendy pieces over traditional lately because I can find great deals.  When I start to feel like I’m starting to be not-so-trendy, I ditch them for some new trends at minimal cost.

Always look for promo codes.  Always.  There are usually great promo codes out there and I rarely settle for anything less than a 30% promo code in addition to items being on sale.  This is when having your cart full comes in handy-once you see a sale and have promo codes, you can decide what items are worth purchasing and which items are still a little too pricey and you can purchase them later.

Shipping

There are very few sites I will pay for shipping.  Most of the time if you purchase $50 or more in merchandise or have their credit card (Gap/Old Navy, Victoria’s Secret, Target).  Sometimes being able to have items shipped directly to your door outweighs the cost of taking the time to drive to the store to purchase items.

Cosmetics/Beauty Products

Promo codes. Promo codes. Promo codes.  There are frequently promo codes or free item promotions for cosmetics from Ulta and Sephora.  Target also frequently has gift card promotions for purchasing a dollar amount of beauty products.  I normally don’t purchase beauty products online unless there is a large giveaway in addition to a coupon.

Although some higher priced products such as Too Faced or Benefit at Ulta are excluded in coupons, they frequently have free item promotions for those product lines.

Amazon

Amazon is one of my favorite go-to online shopping options.  However, I have found that sometimes deals aren’t so great for some items.  Always do a quick Google search on the item you’re considering to make sure there isn’t a high markup.  You never know… another site just may beat Amazon’s prices.

Credit Cards

I’m normally not an advocate of store/company credit cards, HOWEVER, they can be extremely beneficial for online shoppers.  Here are some of the perks they provide:

  • Free shipping
  • Cardholder exclusive sales, promotions, and coupons
  • Loyalty rewards

I never carry a balance on any of my credit cards, so these benefits really help me out when finding the best online deals.  Here are some of the cards that have great benefits to online shoppers:

  • Gap/Old Navy/Banana Republic
    • Free shipping
    • Bonus promotions/sales
    • Loyalty rewards
  • Amazon
    • Free Shipping (with Amazon Prime)
    • Credit applied after application
    • Rewards points on purchases on Amazon.com and anywhere Visa is accepted
  • Kohl’s
    • Bonus promotions/sales
  • Victoria’s Secret
    • Cardholder promotions/sales
    • Rewards for purchases
A Makeup Routine Even the Busiest Moms Have Time For

A Makeup Routine Even the Busiest Moms Have Time For

by Engineered Mama ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

 

 Makeup-we have a love/hate relationship.  I love makeup and I hate that I have hardly any time for it in the morning.  With a few amazing products, I have refined a routine in the morning that even the busiest moms will have time for and still look put-together.

First, the basics.  If you’re a new mom (you know who you are… yes, you… the one with spit-up in your hair who hasn’t showered in a week-I’ve been there), you may only have time to hit the basics.  If this is the case, here are a few awesome products for you:

The Beauty Balm is a great foundation that blends well and doubles as a moisturizer.  Moms get the shaft when it comes to catching Z’s-fortunately bareMinerals Stroke of Light Eye Brightener helps keep the dark under eye circles down to a minimum. Follow up with shadow insurance that is used as an eyeshadow.  It’s easy to apply, very forgiving with no blending needed, and lasts all day.  The Too Faced Lash Injection Mascara and Benefit Roller Lash Mascara both curl lashes-forget those eyelash curlers… these products have you covered!  The Lash Injection mascara acts as a tubing mascara and extends lashes.  The Roller Lash mascara has a similar concept, but doesn’t have quite the tubing effect the Too Faced mascara has.  I’ll also note that sometimes the Benefit mascara leaves a black shadow below my lower lashes, where the Too Faced mascara does not.  Burt’s Bees Lip Crayons add subtle color to lips to finish off the look.

Sometimes getting little sleep creates dark under eye circles and , let’s face it, sometimes you have to choose between actually washing your face or getting a little more sleep.  I’m always in favor of sleep!  These products have helped me save time, but still look a little more well rested by eliminating puffy eyes, dry or oily skin, and remove makeup, dirt, and oil quickly:

If you’re the mom with a little more time, there are a few other products that save time, but provide a little more coverage:

All of these products provide great coverage and enhance features.  The greatest part of most of these products?  Ultra frequently has free gifts with Benefit and Too Faced cosmetics.  They also have gift bags frequently-the best time to purchase these items is when there is a free gift bag and free gift with Benefit or Too Faced cosmetics.

 

Pixi Dust & Bees

Pixi Dust & Bees

by Engineered Mama ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

  I’ve tried so many skincare routines I should probably become a professional test subject.  After trying everything from ingredients I can’t even pronounce in Proactiv to trying to keep things natural with a Burt’s Bees regimen (don’t get me wrong, I still love all of my Burt’s products), I have finally found a simple routine that actually works.  The best part?  You can find them ALL at Target!  Here are all of the products I use in my skincare routine:

My morning routing consists of the Pixi Nourishing Cleansing Balm, Mud Cleanser, then Glow Tonic.  If my skin is fairly dry (which is usually the case in the winter months) I apply Burt’s Bees Day Lotion.  In the evening, I use the Pixi Nourishing Cleansing Balm, Mud Cleanser, Glow Peel Pads, Glow Tonic, and the Burt’s Bees Intense Hydration Night Cream. If I’m in a pinch or want more sleep (who doesn’t???) I use Burt’s Bees Cucumber and Sage Facial Cleansing Towelettes to remove makeup, dirt, and oil before bed.  This is one of the only products I’ve found that works well without actually washing your face, applying a toner, and moisturizing afterward.  It also doesn’t cause breakouts, which is always a win in my book.

Most of the Pixi products contain Glycolic Acid, which acts as an exfoliant and helps aid the creation of new skin cells.  This has left my skin smooth and appears to have a much more even tone.  I have acne prone skin and some acne scarring and these products are slowly eliminating both of these issues.