I need your help (pretty please)

Thanks to the lovely Elvira over at Pink Sith for posting this info, which then led me to this info posted by the lovely Kenoki about how to maximize your Sephora Beauty Insider $15 coupon code (which, if you're a Beauty Insider, you have received by now).

At first I thought this was a "You have to by $35 worth of product to get $15 off" code, so I tossed it into my trash folder almost immediately upon opening it. But thanks to Elvira and Kenoki, I dug it out of my trash folder and now I cannot WAIT to use it.

So after you read Kenoki's post, you'll understand why I must use this code on something that costs exactly $9. If you buy something in this exact amount, you won't have to spend a penny of your own money, even for shipping (ok, well *maybe* you might have to spend 56 cents, like Kenoki did, but heck, it's worth it!).

So take your time and read Kenoki's very informative post, but when you're done, please come back and tell me which product you'd like to me order for myself. Whatever product gets the most comments is what I will order, and of course I will review it right here within a week of receiving it.

Choice #1:

Sephora by OPI Nail Color

(If you want me to order this, please indicate in your comment what color you want me to get)

Choice #2

NARS Silent Night Eyeshadow Single

I'm torn between the two (I've never been good at making decisions!) so I thank you in advance for helping me out! xoxo

PS: This code expires 12/14 so please respond soon--I want to place my order by Saturday. :)

Last chance to enter my Sunsilk Waves of Envy Giveaway!

I just wanted to remind you that you've only got a few more hours to enter my Sunsilk styling products giveaway (contest expires 11:59PM Pacific tonight)! If you've got curly or wavy hair, you don't want to miss this one! Click here for details. :)

Yardley of London goes Natural (but stays insanely affordable!)

You all know I'm a big fan of Dollar Tree, and one of my favorite Dollar Tree treats is Yardley of London Soaps (also available at YardleyLondon.com, and just about everywhere else including Kroger, Meijer, Publix, Shop Rite, Rite Aid, Stop & Shop, Walgreens, Wegmans and 99 Cent Only Stores).

So when I heard the news that Yardley of London had launched a Natural Line, I just could not have been happier. The affordability of Yardley combined with natural, skin-friendly ingredients? Not to mention that Yardley Natural Soaps are cruelty-free and come in eco-friendly, biodegradable packaging. Now that's a winning combo in my book!

Now let me stop right here and say that I'm a huge bar soap connoisseur. I have used hundreds of bar soaps in my life, ranging from soaps made by large manufacturers to small one-woman etailers to the kind you can only buy at local street fairs and farmers markets. It's a huge passion of mine, and such a quick and inexpensive way to buy something nice for your skin that smells great and is fun to use. But for my lovely readers who prefer body washes, let me share with you something: You can get the exact same effect of a body wash by simply rubbing a good bar soap into your wet bath pouf for about 30 seconds. You'll get a rich, creamy lather and enough suds to cleanse your entire body! So remember that, body wash gals, before you turn your noses to bar soap!

I was lucky enough to receive the following two soaps for review, and honestly, I'm having hard time deciding which one I like most. Let's start with Yardley London Natural Soap Almond Milk (retail: $2.49, 4 oz):

First of all, look at these great ingredients! Organic shea butter, organic honey, oatmeal...it's fantastic! Plus, Yardley of London Natural Soaps are paraben, SLS and phthalate-free.

So what does it smell like? Um, fabulous! Warm and creamy almond milk with just a touch of jasmine--I can't get enough. The lather is incredible--thick and creamy and I looove how clean my skin feels after I use it. My skin is squeaky-clean but yet it feels moisturized at the same time. I am loving this soap in this cold weather we're having because it never gives me a case of the itchies (like soaps with SLS tend to give me when my skin is dry). Honestly, I have been using these soaps every single day since I received them and I can't get enough. Plus, even though I've been using them every day for several weeks now, the bars don't seem to shrink too fast--my bar is about 75% its original size after weeks of use.

Next up is Yardley of London Natural Soap Honeysuckle Citrus (retail: $2.49, 4 oz):

Again, look at these fabulous ingredients! And the scent? I literally want to EAT this soap every time I use it. Honeysuckle and citrus is SUCH a winning combo in my book--you get the bright, uplifting grapefruit and orange, but it's tempered with smooth honey, which makes it warm, soft and sweet as well. I'm addicted and I need more of this one asap. And not just for the scent, but for how it makes my skin feel too. Just like the Almond Milk, this soap provides a thick, rich lather and keeps my skin feeling clean and moisturized all day long. Love love love!

One more thing I'd like to mention is how cute this packaging is--when you open the box you get a little inspirational saying inside each soap:

I am really amazed by the affordability of these soaps. If you're a bar soap lover like me, you know it's nearly impossible to find a bar soap that's packed with such great ingredients and that retails for under $5 or $7 per bar. It's almost impossible, so that's why I'm just thrilled about this new line by Yardley.

While you can find the regular line of Yardley of London soaps at most every dollar store, drugstore and grocery across the nation, the Natural Soap line is little bit more challenging to find at the moment, but WELL worth the search. Currently you can find Yardley of London Natural Soaps at Rite Aid, Publix and Meijer, and of course YardleyLondon.com. I really hope these soaps get wider distribution soon, because they're fantastic and I want you all to have a chance to experience them.

So tell me, do you already use/love any products by Yardley of London? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

A sample of this product was given to Nouveau Cheap for editorial purposes, either directly from the manufacturer or from the agency that works on behalf of the manufacturer. All reviews on NouveauCheap.blogspot.com are the honest opinion of its author and gratis samples do not, in any way, affect the outcome of product reviews.

This is it: My Best of '09 Giveaway Series Grand Finale from Auric Blends!

[NOTE: THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ENTER. THANKS!]

This is it, my lovely readers! The Grand Finale to my "Best of '09" Giveaway Series, and what a finale it's going to be! Not only is this the 10th and final giveaway for my "Best of '09" Series, but this giveaway is also extra special because I'm presenting it to you in honor of my birthday, which just so happens to be next Sunday (a shout-out to all my fellow Sagittarians out there!).

So to honor all of you, and to celebrate my own birthday, I am absolutely thrilled to present to you this fabulous giveaway sponsored by Auric Blends, one of my all-time favorite budget-friendly perfume companies! If you'd like to read up on my love for Auric Blends, please click here and here for my past reviews. This company is amazing and they make some of the loveliest (and most affordable) perfumes on the market today.

For this giveaway I'm doing something different. I'm letting YOU choose which prize packages you want to try to win. So in the comments, you'll need to tell me if you want to win prize package #1, #2 or #3. You may choose whatever packages you like, and if you want to try for a chance to win all three, that's fine too! Just indicate the prize packages you're interested in winning!

I will select three winners TOTAL, and each winner will receive a different prize package. So be sure to tell me which package(s) you want to win! Here are your amazing choices!

Prize package #1:

Auric Blends Divine Opium Perfume Oil (retail: $5.95, 1/3 oz)

From my original review: Are you a lover of the spicy-sweet scent of fresh carnations? Is the carnation note in YSL Opium the thing you love the most about that fragrance? Well instead of shelling out 100 bucks for something like Comme des Garcons Carnation why not try Auric Blends Divine Opium which, to my nose, smells like a bouquet of fresh carnations mixed with a sweet warmth that isn't too heavy on the patchouli but warm and sensual enough to keep things interesting.

Auric Blends Naturals Pele Perfume Oil (retail: $11.95, .22 oz)

From my original review: To me, "Pele" smells as if you were standing on the rim of an active volcano with the ocean breeze at your back. It is an incendiary fragrance that is spicy and ever-so-delicious. This would be the perfect scent to wear on a sultry summer night as you dance a passion-filled tango with your lover. Oh it's getting hot in here just thinking about it!

Temple Essence Amber Butter (retail: $8.99, 4 grams)

From the Auric Blends website: A velvety perfume that blends a special amber oil with beeswax. Packaged in a beautiful, hand carved wooden container.

Prize package #2:

Egyptian Goddess Perfume Oil (retail: $5.95, 1/3 oz)

From my original review: Arguably Auric Blends' most popular fragrance, the ladies on the MakeupAlley.com fragrance board have much love for this fragrance and I completely understand why. If you've tried other Egyptian-type musks in the past, let me assure you that this is the best of the genre. It's a white musk that is blended so expertly, I defy you to try and pick out the other notes. They all blend together so beautifully that what you're left with is a soft, clean scent that brings to mind warm, fluffy sweaters and clean skin. That's about the best description I can give you. For you non-perfume-wearers out there, I say give this fragrance a shot because it goes against any preconceived notion of what perfume smells like. Also, it's great to use to layer with other scents.

Love Perfume Oil (retail: $5.95, 1/3 oz)

From my original review: One of Auric Blends newest scents and an instant classic. I wore this the other day and a lady stopped me in a parking lot to tell me that I smelled "amazing". Love is Egyptian Goddess blended with some extra musk and woods notes. Now you might think that would equate to a stronger, more heavy fragrance but you'd be wrong. Love is light, ultra-clean, super soft and it encompasses you like a snuggly blanket. To my nose, this smells a lot like Narcisso Rodriguez for Her, which will set you back $160 a bottle.

Monsoon Rain Perfume Solid (retail: $8, 1/5 oz)

From the Auric Blends website: White musk and woods blend with a floral mix touched with hyacinth and hints of green. Perfume Solids are blended with beeswax and coconut oil to create a unique perfume. Approximately 1/5 ounce of perfume in each hand carved soapstone container.

Prize package #3:

Honey Almond Perfume Oil (retail: $5.95, 1/3 oz)

From my original review: Do you use the iconic Jergens Original Cherry Almond Lotion just because you love the smell? And have you ever thought to yourself, "I wish they made this scent in perfume form"? Well, my lovelies, wish no more because Auric Blends Honey Almond smells exactly like the classic Jergens lotion to me! Seriously, it's got that real almond note blended with a bit of cherry and a bit of honey. It's such a soft and comforting scent and it instantly brings me back to Jergens and being a kid again. Love it.

Vanilla Musk Perfume Oil (retail: $5.95, 1/3 oz)

From my original review: OK. I'm going to speak to the hardcore fragrance junkies out there for a minute so bear with me. Fragrance junkies: If you love/own Etro Heliotrope (which retails for $90 a bottle) you must give Vanilla Musk a try. I personally am a huge fan of that candy-like, powdery vanilla quality of heliotrope, and this scent's got tons of it. I am in heaven here. Sheer bliss. So if you like your vanillas candy-sweet and powdery like me, you simply can't go wrong with this one.

Ambrosia Perfume Solid (retail: $8, 1/5 oz)

From the Auric Blends website: A sweet, flirty and fun fragrance with notes of black cherry and vanilla. Perfume Solids are blended with beeswax and coconut oil to create a unique perfume. Approximately 1/5 ounce of perfume in each hand carved soapstone container.

The approximate retail value of these prize packages is as follows:

Dark & Mysterious: $26.89
Clean & Cuddly: $19.90
Yummy Gourmand: $19.90

THE RULES (PLEASE READ BEFORE ENTERING!)

1) There will be THREE separate drawings for this contest. I will draw one winner for Dark & Mysterious, one winner for Clean & Cuddly, and one winner for Yummy Gourmand. To enter this contest, leave a comment on this post telling me which drawings you want your name entered into. If you want to try for a chance to win all three, just say "All of 'em!". If you leave more than one comment on this post, you will be disqualified.


2) You MUST leave your email address in your comment. If you do not leave your email address in your comment you will be disqualified.


3) This contest is open to residents of the continental US only, ages 18 and up. Void where prohibited.


4) This giveaway begins today, December 6th, and will end Monday, December 14th, 2009 at 11:59PM Pacific. I will select three winners via random.org's random number generator and notify the winners on Tuesday, December 15th. The winners will then have 24 hours to respond. If a winner does not reply within 24 hours, that individual winner will forfeit their prizes and an alternate winner will be selected via random.org. If you are going to be unable to access your email on December 15th, 2009, please do not enter this giveaway.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation, and I wish you all the best of luck! :)

A sample of this product was given to Nouveau Cheap for editorial purposes, either directly from the manufacturer or from the agency that works on behalf of the manufacturer. All reviews on NouveauCheap.blogspot.com are the honest opinion of its author and gratis samples do not, in any way, affect the outcome of product reviews.

What brands and products have you spotted at YOUR Dollar Trees?

Due to the great response I received to my Dollar Tree haul post from yesterday, I decided to start this post so that we can all contribute and help each other out.

Dollar Tree shoppers: If you would like to help, please leave a comment on this post and list the brands and products that you've spotted recently at your Dollar Tree! It would really help if you could also list your city and state (or even just your state, if possible) so that others who are reading this can get an idea of what to look for the next time they're looking to make a DT haul.

Here's the list of drugstore products that I've spotted at various Dollar Trees in San Diego, CA as of Dec. 6th, 2009:

CoverGirl:

Eyeshadow singles (packs of two)
Shadow Squeese Shimmer Cream Eyeshadows

L.A. Colors:

6-pan and 12-pan eyeshadow palettes
Art Deco nail art polishes
Lip Glosses
All-in-One Color Sticks
Loose Shimmer Eyeshadows

L'Oreal:

Colour Fresco Creme Eyeliners

Maybelline:

Various limited edition and discontinued shades of nail polish
Dream Mousse Blushes
Dream Mousse Eyeshadows
Dream Mousse Bronzer
Great Wear Waterproof Eyeliners
Line Stylist Eyeliners
Moisture Extreme Lipsticks
Forever Metallics Metal Shine Lip Colors
Cool Effect Eyeliners

Sally Hansen:

Various limited edition and discontinued nail polishes
Natural Butter Lip Shines
Lacquer Shine Lip Colors

Thank you in advance for contributing to this post! If I receive a good response, I'll add this post to my sidebar for easy reference so that we can all keep checking back to keep up-to-date on our latest discoveries! (And I will continue adding to and updating my San Diego list.)

I almost forgot! A lot of you have told me that you haven't been able to find *any* name-brand drugstore cosmetics at your local Dollar Tree. I can't stress this enough: visit multiple locations within your city/town! Dollar Tree inventory varies GREATLY from store to store, even within the same city. So while the store closest to you may completely suck, you may hit a goldmine at another location!

And a big thanks to Eyeliner Klutz (femputer) for getting this whole ball rolling! :)

PS: Here's a swatch of all of the nail polishes I bought yesterday in case you were curious:

All swatches are of two coats, except for the light green (Sally Hansen Money Bags Frost), which was taken after FIVE coats and it's still very streaky. Definitely a sheer!

I found the infamous Dollar Tree nail polishes (and scored at Big Lots too)!

After so many of you told me about these limited edition, discontinued and hard-to-find polishes that are surfacing at Dollar Trees across the nation, I just couldn't stop until I found at Dollar Tree in San Diego that had a stash. And I finally found one today (San Diego girls, I found these at the Dollar Tree in Casa de Oro in Spring Valley, on Campo Rd.--they are not in the regular makeup section but on an end-cap in the back of the makeup section).

So I pretty much freaked out, and not over the Sally Hansen polishes that everyone's been raving about, but at the Maybelline polishes! OMG, I freaking love Maybelline polishes (for me, their staying power is almost as good as OPI) and this Dollar Tree had some colors I have NEVER seen before (um...I didn't even know they ever came out with a matte collection! Hello!). Here's what I got:

From left to right: Blue Chill, Khaki Fringe, Matte Sapphire, Bronze Aluminum

You can't really see it in these pics, but I think that Blue Chill is close to my most favorite icey blue violet shade EVER, China Glaze Purple Rain, which is a limited edition and long-ago discontinued shade that I found at a "dusty" beauty supply about a year ago. I will do a comparison of Blue Chill and Purple Rain if anyone wants to see. Just leave a comment and let me know.

I'm not even a matte polish person but I couldn't pass up this purple suede shade. I can't get it to photograph to show the true shade, but trust me that it's a deep purple. Also, you can't really see it but Bronze Aluminum is a dark chocolate-reddish bronze with silver micro-glitter. I really hope it's prettier on than in the bottle.

I also picked up these goodies at Dollar Tree:

I have never tried the Dream Mousse blushes so I hope this one works out. The color is "Whipped Strawberries". I also bought just one of the many, many Sally Hansen polishes they had--this one's called "Money Bags Frost" and it's a mint green shimmer with TONS of silver micro-glitter.

Now, the reason I didn't buy more Sally Hansen polishes is not because they didn't wow me--believe me, they did--but most of the colors really reminded me of shades I already have at home from other manufacturers. There were tons of pretty baby blues, pinks, nudes, khakis, golds and greens and they each had shimmer or micro-glitter. So if you live in San Diego, get over there ASAP before they're all gone!

If any of you would like to see swatches of these shades, so that you can determine if you want to go out and look for them at your local Dollar Tree, just let me know and I'd be happy to post some pics tomorrow.

Before I forget, here are the goodies I bought at Big Lots today (thanks to my awesome reader, dangerkitty, for telling me that Big Lots currently has e.l.f. kits!!):

From left to right: e.l.f. Candy Shop Lip Gloss Trio ($2.50), Calgon Marshmallow Body Lotion ($1.50), e.l.f. Super Glossy Lip Shine Trio ($2.00)

I am a sucker for anything marshmallow-scented, and I remember a few years ago this Calgon scent was all the rage on the bath and body message boards, so for $1.50 I just couldn't resist.

I also snapped some pics of the other e.l.f. kits I spotted at Big Lots:

I have NOT seen these kits at Target, have you? I'm wondering if they're exclusive to Big Lots??

Oh, and I also snapped a pic of one of the many Lotta Luv lip balm sets I saw today. I wanted this one SOOO bad because I'm sucker for any balm that comes in a non-traditional tube. But I resisted because I just didn't want to pay $6 for it (even though that's quite the bargain for 8 lip balms):

I reeeeeeally want to know what the Vanilla Pepsi balm is like--if any of you own it, please let me know!

That's it for my little shopping spree today. For a total of $12, I'd say I didn't do too bad! I'll probably give the e.l.f. products away as Christmas gifts, but as for the nail polish, it's all mine, baby!

What have you been finding lately at your local dollar stores and Big Lots? I'd love to know!

Review: Hair One Cleanser (Wen Haircare knock-off)

There's been a lot of buzz about lather-free, sulfate-free hair cleansers lately, so when I saw the Hair One Hair Cleanser and Conditioner at Sally Beauty recently, and noticed they had trial-size packets, I knew I had to buy one and give this product a whirl. Hair One is VERY similar in concept to the Wen by Chaz Dean haircare products, but for far less money.

After watching many, many demos of Wen products on QVC, I knew I had to try this affordable version (for the record, I have never tried any products by Wen, and I am in no way comparing Hair One products to Wen products in this review).

Hair One is a line of sulfate-free haircare products with the main concept being a combination cleanser and conditioner that does not lather. Hair One products are made with olive oil and other good-for-your-hair ingredients, and no sulfates or parabens:

So, armed with my trial packet of Hair One Cleanser and Conditioner for Dry Hair ($1.50 at Sally Beauty), I decided to give this experiment a try.

The first thing I noticed was the extensive directions. If you add up the minutes required for each step in the cleansing process, you need to be in the shower for a total of 11 minutes, and that's just for washing and rinsing your hair. And that doesn't include combing the product through with a wide-tooth comb, which is also required and adds several additional minutes to the process. I don't know about you, but that's a LOT of time in the shower devoted just to hair cleansing, don't you think?

Nevertheless, I was determined to use this product exactly as directed, so I started with fully saturating my hair with water and went from there, following every direction above to a "T".

What I noticed about applying this product to the hair was that it took A LOT of effort. Considering that my hair is very long (it goes to just below my bra strap), any product I apply takes effort. But since Hair One doesn't lather, and it doesn't have a lot of slip, it was difficult to get it down into the roots and scalp area and then along the back of my head. The product itself smells quite pleasant (sort of clean and sweet) and the texture isn't too oily (I was afraid it would be very greasy given the olive oil). But again, it was difficult to apply half the package as directed.

The next step is to apply the second half of the package to the mid-section and ends. After that's done, you need to comb through with a wide-tooth comb. Well...that was a REAL challenge because this product does not provide any type of de-tangling effect. At least for me it didn't. So combing it through meant detangling for several minutes. Ugh.

Finally it was time to rinse, and the directions make it very clear that you must rinse for 1-2 minutes by massaging your scalp and running your fingers through your hair from roots to ends. Again, this product takes A LOT of effort, folks!

So...what did my hair feel like when I got out of the shower? It sort of reminded me of the feeling and texture that I would get from using a basic shampoo with a basic conditioner (not a conditioner for very dry hair, but a regular conditioner). It was soft and relatively easy to comb (thanks in part to me having to painstakingly work out all of my tangles while in the shower).

How did my hair look after I styled it? Well, I used my blow-dryer and a round brush, and when all was said and done, I was pleased with the shine of my hair (shiner than usual) and the texture of my hair felt light and bouncy. Very light, actually. More light than it usually feels. I have a feeling that I would have probably really liked how my hair would have looked had I let it dry naturally and allowed my natural waves to take form.

So how do I like my hair, almost 24 hours later? This is the weird part. The hair near my scalp is still shiny and feels clean, but my ends feel...greasy, and they are not shiny at all. Did I do something wrong here? I mean, I have oily hair by nature and it's very oily at the roots. My ends are extremely dry due to years of color-treatment and abuse. So why would this product, that's made for dry hair, leave my roots clean, soft and shiny but my ends, the driest part of my hair, feeling greasy, coated, dull and icky? I totally don't get it. Did I not rinse this out long enough? That can't be possible because I rinsed and rinsed and massaged like crazy, just as directed!

Another thing I'd like to point out is that my hair is one tangled MESS right now. Even though I thoroughly brushed it twice today, I can't seem to go more than a few hours before I've got a small rat's nest building up behind my neck. What gives?

I don't know...maybe I did something wrong here. Have any of you used Hair One products before? I'm hoping they work wonders for some of you, but as of now, they just aren't cutting it for me. As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Breaking News: new and interesting Maybelline products for 2010

This just in from Happi.com:

Maybelline Combines Nature and Technology
New additions to hair care and makeup for 2010.
 

Technology infused with natural ingredients is how Maybelline New York-Garnier executives explain their launch strategy for 2010. For example, on deck are Garnier HerbaShine Color Creme with Bamboo Extract, its first ammonia-free hair color; Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Radiant Firming Makeup SPF 18, which uses goji berry to help fight the signs of aging.  

HerbaShine ($7.99) promises fast, easy color that won't damage hair. Garnier will support the launch with a $30 million campaign. Also new from Garnier are Triple Nutrition Creamy shampoo, which is said to complement the clear version that launched in July, as well as a Triple Nutrition Nutrient Spray, formulated to add nourishment and shine. Garnier Fructis Bamboo Flexihold Hairsprays will extend into nonaerosol versions, under both the Sleek & Shine and Full Control collections.

Meanwhile, the reformulated Instant Age Rewind Radiant Firming Makeup SPF 18 line contains goji berry, which boasts 19 amino acids, more than 500 times more vitamin C than oranges, and a complete spectrum of antioxidants.

New to the collection is The Eraser, a foundation with a micro-corrector applicator that dramatically reduces the appearance of wrinkles, according to company executives. It is available in 12 shades and will retail for $12.99. Also new is Primer Skin Transformer, which is to be used prior to foundation application. It will sell for $9.99.

So...we're looking at a new ammonia-free hair color, new Fructis haircare products, a reformulated Instant Age Rewind Radiant Firming Makeup SPF 18 (now with goji berry!), a new foundation called "The Eraser" and a new face primer that will retail for $9.99.

I don't know about you, but I'm pretty darn excited! What do you think?

Review: Jelly Pong Pong Lip Sorbets (yum!)

I know I sound like a broken record when it comes to my love for BeautyTicket.com, but darnit, this site just plain rocks. Take for instance these Jelly Pong Pong Lip Sorbets. Amazon is selling them for $16 each. And BeautyTicket? Oh, try $12.99 for a set of THREE! Why pay $48 for these when you can get 'em for $12.99? See, I told you BeautyTicket.com was awesome. :)

I was lucky enough to receive a set of Jelly Pong Pong Lip Sorbets recently for review, and I've got to tell you these things are not only adorable, but the colors are so pretty and they smell and taste yummy too. Let's take a look.

If you order them from BeautyTicket, they'll arrive in a USPS box, and inside that box they'll be carefully wrapped inside a cute pink and white striped bag. Inside that bag, they'll be tucked into a pretty black lace bag:

I am all about packaging and presentation and I've got to say, this presentation is too cute for words. And look at these things! They are so tiny and cute! Each gloss is about 2 inches tall, making them ideal for your pocket or small purse.

The first color I tried is "Buttercream" which, you guessed it, smells and tastes just like delicious buttercream frosting. The shade is a warm, slightly reddish copper shimmer and it goes on sheer but not too sheer:

The next color is "Blood Orange" which, of course smells and tastes like a delicious, ripe, blood orange. This is a shimmery rose gold shade that is just stunning in person. It's definitely my fave of the three:

And lastly, we have "Spiced Pear". This one smells insanely delicious--just like a fresh-baked pear that's been covered in cinnamon. The shade is a deep, super shimmery bronze:

Here are some close-up swatches on my hand.

In all of these pics, Buttercream is on top, Blood Orange is in the middle and Spiced Pear is on the bottom:

If you need a good stocking stuffer for the lipgloss lover in your life, this is it! I'm telling you, from the packaging to the colors to the flavors, these glosses are awesome. Also, the staying power is great and they're quite moisturizing as well. I think these colors, due to their sheerness, would work on a variety of skin tones, and also a variety of ages. You can easily wear these alone, for the daytime, or over a lipstain or lipstick for a more dramatic nighttime look. And for the price? You can buy one set for yourself and one for a friend. :)

Do you own any Jelly Pong Pong products? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

A sample of this product was given to Nouveau Cheap for editorial purposes, either directly from the manufacturer or from the agency that works on behalf of the manufacturer. All reviews on NouveauCheap.blogspot.com are the honest opinion of its author and gratis samples do not, in any way, affect the outcome of product reviews.

And the winners of the Nailene giveaway are...

The five lucky winners of my Nailene giveaway, sponsored by Nailene, are:

zachsgran
StardustStephanie
Michaela
Amber (hurdler4eva)
Erin (erin.larson4)

Congratulations to all of you!! I've just sent you emails, so please reply within 24 hours to claim your prizes!

If you didn't win this giveaway, you've still got plenty of other opportunities at the top of this page, plus one more very special giveaway coming soon. :)

Holy Cow! Where have I been?? Have you seen the new L'Oreal Lash Boosting products?

OK so I went to my local Rite Aid today and I was absolutely floored by this huge display for the new L'Oreal Lash Boosting Technology products. Have I been living under a rock? I've never even heard of these products before! When did these hit stores?? I haven't even seen any ads or commercials for this line yet. Have you? Check it out:

(click images to supersize)

Apparently there are three different products in this line:

The first is the Double Extend Lash Boosting Serum, which is a clear, concentrated serum that you can use alone, or under your own mascara.

The second is Double Extend Lash Boosting Mascara, which is a double-ended tube. One end of the tube is the "Serum-Infused Primer" and the other end is the special mascara that gives you "Instant 80% Length".

The third product is a "Special Value" twin-pack called the L'Oreal 24-Hour Lash Boosting Power System which includes both the concentrated serum and the double-ended mascara products.

I just googled these products and discovered that you can pre-order the Double Extend Lash Boosting Serum on Target's website (odd that they don't have it in stock yet) for $12.79 and it will ship to you in 2-4 weeks. Here's a pic of the serum from Target's website:

After more research, I found that you can order the Double Extend Lash Boosting Mascara on the Walgreens Website and it retails for $12.99. Here's a pic from Walgreens:

And finally, I found that the "Special Value" 24-Hour Lash Boosting Power System is now available on the Rite Aid website. The retail price is $24.95. Here's a pic from the Rite Aid website:

Personally, I think I would be most inclined to purchase the clear serum on its own and use that with my existing mascaras. It seems like the most economical way to see if this product truly works.What do you think?

Have any of you seen or purchased these new L'Oreal products? I'd love to know your thoughts!