The Wednesday Question

I've got a bit of a head-cold right now (sniffling and sneezing) but nothing's going to stop me from posting my Wednesday Question, darnit! If you're a new reader of Nouveau Cheap, Wednesday's my favorite day of the week because it's the day I get to her from YOU! Even if you don't ordinarily comment on this blog, this is a chance for you to contribute to the conversation and share you wisdom with the rest of us. I love to read your responses to my Wednesday Question because I learn SO much from you ladies--you give me wonderful ideas for future products to try and review. That said, here's this week's question:

What's your favorite Holy Grail drugstore product?

For some it might be hard to limit it to just one product, but try, ok? I want to hear your #1 Holy Grail product that can be found at the drugstore. So let's hear your answers! Right now, mine has GOT to be Maybelline SuperStay Concealer (which I reviewed a little while ago). Love love love it!

And with that, I'm going back to my hot mug of Theraflu and taking a nap. I'll be back soon to see your responses (and also reply to comments)! xo

PS: In my stuffy-headed stupor, I almost forgot to mention that I would LOVE for you to check out my latest We Heart This review for the e.l.f. smudge brush (my review is not the featured review so you'll need to scroll down to the comments to see what I wrote--click here). If there is just one brush that I could recommend you to buy from e.l.f. (aside from the $1 eyeshadow brush) it would be this one. So definitely check out the review if you're itching to buy some e.l.f. stuff. :)

Sale info galore!

I've got so much sale info that I want to tell you about right now that I can hardly keep it all straight! So let's get right to it:

1) The infamous Bath & Body Works Semi-Annual Sale ends this SUNDAY, 1/17. So if you haven't popped into your local BBW lately to check out all the crazy deals (the deals are ALWAYS better in-store than they are online), now's the time to do it.

2) The Yankee Candle Semi-Annual Sale ends this MONDAY, 1/18. There are tons of deals to be had and if you order online, it's $5 flat rate shipping.

3) The Victoria's Secret Semi-Annual Sale is still going on (in-store and online) but for some reason I can't seem to find an end date. I get their emails and mailers but they seem to be very mysterious about when it ends. If you know, please leave a comment here because I have a feeling it should end right around the same time as the others...but I could be wrong.

4) Every time I post about BeautyTicket.com, I get an overwhelming response from you ladies about how you looooove Smashbox (and of course you love BeautyTicket's insanely low prices on Smashbox goodies!). Since I love Smashbox too, I wanted to remind you all that BeautyTicket has a code right now for an extra 15% off on any Smashbox purchase:

Happy bargain shopping, and of course I'd love to hear about any and all great deals you snag! I'm trying really hard to be good but this lippie is calling my name!

Calgon, Take Me Away (with your new products and packaging!)

Most good recessionistas already love Calgon, right? Aside from being super affordable, their bath and body products are just downright fun. There's a reason why "Calgon, take me away!" has been a saying I've used more times in my life than I can count.

So I'm delighted to share with you some very exciting news about what's in store for us this year! Aside from snazzy new packaging, Calgon is going to be introducing new products and fragrances this year, and I'm tickled pink to be able to give you the scoop.

First of all, look at this new packaging!

(click to enlarge)

Ooooh, aren't these new labels pretty??

Here's more info about the body mists, as well as info about the brand new Calgon products that we can expect to see in stores this year:

Calgon Body Mists will come in newly repackaged 2oz and 8oz bottles and will be available in the following fragrances:

Morning Glory

Hawaiian Ginger

Tahitian Orchid

Perfect Bliss

Tropical Dream
Coconut Sorbet

Cotton Candy

Vanilla Swirl

Marshmallow

Passion Fruit & Hibiscus

Paradise Flower & Brazil Nut

Moon Petal Musk

Cherry Blossom

Peach Blossom

And here is more info on some new products for 2010!

Calgon Ultra-Moisturizing Bath Beads will now be available in 26oz cylinders. Fragrances include: Lavender Vanilla, English Garden, Ocean Breeze, Powder Fresh and Island Escape.

Calgon Bubbly Bath Fizzy Set (NEW) includes for bath fizzies and a sea sponge. Fragrances include: Morning Glory and English Garden.

Calgon Relaxing Mineral Salts (NEW) will come in a 30oz cylinder. Fragrances include Morning Glory, English Garden, Hawaiian Ginger and Ocean Breeze.

I am super excited to get my hands on some of these new products, so stay tuned because I'll post a review once I get them. I can't wait to slather myself in some Vanilla Swirl Nourishing Body Cream and then lightly mist my skin with Marshmallow Refreshing Body Mist. Who says smelling like a vanilla-marshmallow cupcake is a bad thing?

Oh, and for all you loyal Calgon fans out there, are you a member of the Calgon Club? If you sign up, you'll get an instant $1 coupon, plus you'll get advance notice about new products, contests, free samples, additional coupons and more. Fun!

Do you have any favorite Calgon products? Are you looking forward to these new goodies? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Halle Berry, you're so sneaky!

If you've been reading this blog for a while, you know that I loooove me some Halle by Halle Berry perfume. The day after Christmas, I took advantage of Rite Aid's post-holiday clearance blowout and scored myself a Halle by Hally Berry gift set (retail: $16.99) for just $8.50, and believe me, I've been coveting it ever since. Halle by Halle Berry smells unbelievably amazing so I try to reserve it for special occassions (going grocery shopping is a special occasion, right?).

But that beautiful, sneaky Halle Berry almost slipped one past us! Did you know they've quietly rolled out a new Halle Berry fragrance called Halle Berry Pure Orchid? Yep, and from what I can tell, it's being sold exclusively at Walmart for the time being.

From the Walmart website:

The Halle Berry Pure Orchid EDT retails for $16 (0.5 oz) and according to the Walmart website, the notes in this fragrance sound absolutely divine:

Beauty blooms within. A seductive, sensual experience awaits you with Halle Pure Orchid, the floral, woody fragrance from Halle Berry.

• Notes: Jungle Cactus Flower, Italian Lemon, Blackberry Creme Concentre, Star Anise, Masdevallia Orchid, Giant Sequoia, Patchouli Leaf
  
• Style: Exotic. Mysterious. Intensely sensual.

Blackberry cream concentrate? Lemon? Cactus Flower? Halle, you are bringing me to my knees with this one! If Pure Orchid is even half as good as the original Halle by Halle Berry, I'm afraid I'm not going to be able to wait for a post-holiday clearance to snatch one up.

So what do you think about Halle Berry fragrances? Do you own the original? Are you tempted by Pure Orchid?

My blog is The Worst Beauty Blog Ever!

I received an interesting comment today on the "My Dance with the CVS scanner" post I wrote recently, and I really wanted to share it with you:

Anonymous said...

I think that you have never worked in retail, otherwise you wouldn't criticize the hourly workers who are paid a pittance to label each and every product in the beauty department while dealing with picky, demanding scavengers like yourself. The employees are not LAGGING, as you say. They are overworked, underpaid, and probably had no one in the store to affix the stickers because the register had to be manned at the front of the store to ring up beauty looters like yourself. SO before you criticize "lagging" CVS employees, remember that most make minimum wage and have to support families in a recession on $8 bucks an hour, all so you can get tingly about your "score."

In addition, the clearance items are DISCONTINUED to make room for the new items, so why stock up on items that will never again be available?

I am sure you will be one of those rude customers who shouts at the hapless cashier for the inaccurate register scan. Yet you relish low prices in a drugstore for your own selfish means.

Worst beauty blog I have ever read.

I'd like to take this opportunity to respond to this anonymous blogger. Many of you are probably going to say, "Why bother?" or "Just delete posts like that" but I am all for free speech, and if you've got something negative to say here, I'm MORE than willing to give you a thoughtful response.

So here I go, dear Anonymous commenter:

First of all, when I said that CVS employees may be "lagging" when it comes to affixing stickers to the clearance products, I never meant for anyone to interpret that negatively. I lag on doing important tasks on a daily basis, and I also understand that when someone "lags" on a task, it doesn't mean that they don't have very good reasons which cause them to "lag". You're painting a picture that is just not true. I don't think the CVS employees are sitting around doing nothing when they could be affixing clearance stickers to products. I clearly understand that they have other things that need to be done, so when I said "lag" I simply meant that they have not gotten to this task yet.

I take personal offense to the fact that you think I am a "picky" "scavenger" who has no empathy or sympathy for hardworking, underpaid employees. Several members of my family are the hardworking, underpaid employees of which you speak. And I also think it's quite an assumption to make on your part to assume I have no experience in retail, or that I may come from a privileged background and don't know what it's like to work hard for your paycheck. I've worked many a retail job in my life and if you were to ask ANYONE who knows me, you'd know that I have more empathy than a lot of people out there when it comes to people who work hard at jobs that earn them little to no recognition monetarily or otherwise.

Just the other day, at CVS, I asked a gentleman to get off his cell phone while paying for his purchases because it was hard for the cashier to speak to him. After that gentleman left, I told the cashier that he had the patience of a saint, and that I really wished people remembered that he was a human being who is performing a SERVICE for YOU. No matter what your job, nobody deserves to be treated like a robot. I get upset on a daily basis when I see the utter lack of respect that people give their friendly Starbucks employees, gas station attendants, grocery store cashiers, etc. It truly makes me sick. We are all human and everyone deserves to be treated with respect and decency, regardless of occupation or social standing. Period. End of story.

And because I am NOT rich (not even close), what's so bad about getting, as you call it, "tingly" at scoring a bargain? Honestly, I would really like to know what you find offensive about that! Should I demand to pay full price for everything? If you were looking for a beauty blog that only talks about high-end products, then you really did come to the wrong place. I will continue to get "tingly" about scoring bargains forever, precisely because I was one of the people you mentioned in your comment. And when I get that tingly feeling, it is NEVER at the expense of others. In fact, the entire reason I started this blog was because I want hard-working women out there to get that tingly feeling right alongside me. I'm trying to HELP people who don't have a lot of money (myself certainly included), which is something you obviously missed while perusing Nouveau Cheap.

Regarding your statement about the products on clearance at CVS being discontinued, WE ALL KNOW THAT. Which is precisely why we want to STOCK UP! If you love something and you know you'll never be able to find it again, doesn't it make sense to buy a few so that you can enjoy the product for as long as possible?

As for you declaring that this is the "worst beauty blog you have ever read", well you are certainly entitled to your opinion. Believe me, I realize that Nouveau Cheap is not for everyone, but that's the great thing about the internet. If beauty on a budget is not your cup of tea, there are a million different blogs out there to suit your needs.

But one thing I really want to stress is that, for someone who tries to come across as compassionate for the hard-working person, you seem very full of anger and bitterness, which you have directed toward me. It's ironic that you've chosen me to unleash on, given my background, understanding and the deep respect that I have, and have always had, for the people who are stuggling to stay afloat by working honest jobs for low wages. Man, if you only knew...

I'm tired of even attempting to try and defend myself here, so I'll stop now because I highly doubt you will even read this. But if you do, I welcome your response.

Sincerely,
The Recessionista

PS: And how dare you call me a "beauty looter"! I have never looted anything in my life. Sure, I'm guilty of digging through bargain bins to find good deals, but I PAY for those deals with my hard-earned money.

Review: New L'Oreal Go 360 Clean Deep Facial Cleanser with The Scrublet

Well, it's been a little while since I wrote this post about being completely seduced by The Scrublet (it was love at first sight when I saw the display at CVS!), so now I can finally present you with a proper review after having used this product for seven days straight. I purchased this cleanser at CVS for $6.99 (6.7 oz), but of course I had a CVS.com $1 off coupon plus a L'Oreal $1 off coupon so I only paid $4.99 for it.

First, if you have no idea what the new L'Oreal Go 360 Facial Cleansers are all about, let me quickly tell you that they are a new line of facial cleansers (four different formulas) and the twist is that these cleansers come with a built-in, removable facial cleansing tool called "The Scrublet".

I purchased the Go 360 Clean Deep Facial Cleanser for Sensitive Skin because, as I explained in my previous post, I had some conflicts with the ingredients in the other formulas.  The Deep Facial Cleanser for Sensitive Skin is one of two cream cleansers in this collection, and the only formula to contain just ONE form of SLS (the other three formulas contain two forms of SLS each) and it's the only formula of the four to be free of menthol (menthol is fine for a lot of people but for me it sometimes causes breakouts).  Plus, I also liked that the Deep Facial Cleanser for Sensitive Skin contains shea butter, which is something that's not found in any of the other formulas.

First let's talk about The Scrublet itself.  Oh my dear little Scrublet, how I adore thee!

How cool is it that The Scrublet is completely self-contained within the bottle? It's super easy to remove and just as easy to replace when you're done. And it's great that it fits snugly inside the hole in the bottle, which means it will be a snap to travel with.

The Scrublet itself has the coolest consistency of any cleansing tool I've ever used. It's this super soft (I'm talking baby-soft) rubbery plastic gel material and it's super flexible and bendable (or as I like to say, "squishy") which means you can really get it into the nooks and crannies of your face (like the nose area) with ease.

The "handle" part of The Scrublet also contains a suction cup which means you can stick this on your countertop, medicine cabinet, shower wall, etc. if you'd like.

So how does The Scrublet perform with the actual cleanser? This is what really surprised me, folks. I was totally expecting the cleanser to be "meh" while the star of the show would be The Scrublet.  But I've got to say, after using this for seven days straight, I am LOVING both The Scrublet and the cleanser, almost equally.

Let me begin by reminding you of my skin type: I have oily skin (with a very oily t-zone) and during the winter my cheeks are prone to dry patches. I suffer from TOTM (time of the month) breakouts and sometimes my skin can be a bit sensitive or react oddly to certain ingredients. That said, here's how I've been using it:  I wet my face, then I wet The Scrublet. Then I squeeze a bit of cleanser directly onto The Scrublet and I apply it to my face in circular motions. For me, I can see my makeup just immediately dissolve with no effort at all. It's as if the cleanser, combined with the circular motion of The Scrublet, literally makes my makeup (even my long-wear foundations) melt away with ease.

So after I"ve scrubbed my face with The Scrublet and enjoyed watching all of my makeup melt away, I put The Scrublet down and use my fingers to wash my eye area.  I've found that all I have to do is use the exisiting cleanser that's already on my face, gently cleanse my eye area (with eyes closed, of course) and my eye makeup is GONE, folks.  Usually after I wash my eye area with a new cleanser, I open my eyes and get bummed because I can still see traces of mascara under my eyes.  But not with Go 360 Clean! Every single night I am still stunned that this cleanser consistently removes my eyeshadow, under-eye concealer, eyeliner, washable mascara and eyebrow pencil with no trace of product left behind.  I'm still stunned right now when I think about it.

Now, of course I can't speak for every formula in this line because I have only used the Deep Facial Cleanser for Sensitive Skin, but I have to tell you that my skin does not feel dry or tight after I use this cleanser combined with The Scrublet.  My face just feels amazingly clean--I mean, this is a clean I have never felt before. I almost want to say it's squeaky-clean but that implies tightness and I in no way experience dryness or tightness when I use this product.  My face is just incredibly clean and I swear it's improving the texture of my skin as well. Everything just feels extra soft...and again, clean.

So far, I am giving L'Oreal Go 360 Clean Deep Cleanser for Sensitive Skin a very surprising five stars. It's gentle, it's extremely effective, it hasn't caused me any breakouts, and, most importantly, it's FUN. If you're in the market for a new cleanser, I'd definitely consider giving this one a try (but of course wait for a sale and use coupons. In fact, there's even coupons right on the L'Oreal site!). And remember, even if the cleanser doesn't end up working for you, at least you've got The Scrublet, which you can definitely keep and use with any cleanser you'd like.

Oh, and one more tip I'd like to share with you!  I've found that when you're using The Scrublet, it works best to hold it a certain way.  If you hold the handle with the tips of your fingers, the minute the water and cleanser drip down onto the handle The Scrublet will fling itself right out of your grasp faster than you can say "Mama!"

So after using this several times now, I've found that the best way to hold The Scrublet is by wedging the handle between your index and middle fingers, and sliding it all the way down to the base of your fingers, like this:

Trust me--you can try it any way you'd like, but THIS is the method that works the best, unless of course you want to be bending over every few seconds picking your Scrublet off the ground. :)

So what do you think of L'Oreal Go 360 Clean and The Scrublet? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Important Wet n Wild update

Hello my lovely readers! As you probably know, my exclusive first look at Wet n Wild's new 2010 collection caused a bit of a stir on my blog, so I want to take a minute to give you some answers to the various questions that have been asked regarding the fate of Wet n Wild's existing line of products.

First, the MegaEyes Creme Eyeliner is NOT going to be discontinued, so we can all breath a big sigh of relief there. Whew! I want you to know that Wet n Wild is, for the most part, looking at the new 2010 collection as an enhancement to their current product lines and it's not meant to totally replace the products you currently know and love.

BUT, there are some things that I'm afraid we'll have to say "bye-bye" to in the near future.

The old blushers are going away, but the COLORS and NAMES will remain the same. The new blushers are a reformulation of the old blushers, and I've been assured that the texture, blendability and staying power are what have been improved. Yay! So you'll still be able to find your favorite shades but they'll be even better.

As for the bronzers, I am sad to report that Acapulco Glow is going to be discontinued. So if you really love it, get it now.  BUT, don't be too sad because I've been told that  "Princess" and "Goddess", the two new bronzers (Princess is the light shade while Goddess is the med/dark shade) are a WONDERFUL alternative to the old bronzers, and that if you like Acapulco Glow, you will LOVE Princess. I've been told that the formula of the new bronzers is far superior to the old formula, so I have a feeling we won't be sad about Acapulco Glow for long!

Also, Wet n Wild's Natural Wear line will still be available, so those of you who have fallen in love with those products can breath a sigh of relief. :)

If you have a specific question about the fate of an existing product that I have not mentioned here, please leave a comment on this post and I'll do my very best to get you an answer.

I hope this helps put some of your fears to rest, and also gives you more to look forward to this month!

A Nouveau Cheap Exclusive: Your FIRST LOOK at Wet n Wild's 2010 makeover!

I'm trying REALLY hard to not freak out right now, so let me take a few deep breaths and start again. Phew! OK, here I go:

I am humbled and honored to tell you, my lovely readers, that I am the first person on the web to have the honor of posting the following image of the new Wet n Wild 2010 Cosmetic Collection! Beginning this month, Wet n Wild is launching a massive makeover with new products, new formulas and new, sleek packaging. Thanks to my wonderful contact at Wet n Wild who was kind enough to share this photo with me, I can confirm that no one has posted this pic on the internet yet--ANYWHERE! This is my first Nouveau Cheap Exclusive and I am skipping in circles with both hands in the air right now, I'm so giddy!

So without further ado, allow me to present to you the new Wet n Wild 2010 Collection:

(click image to enlarge)

Can you hear me "oooh-ing" and "aaaah-ing" from there?

Directly from Wet n Wild, here are details:


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GLAMOROUS EVERYDAY. FABULOUS EVERYWAY.

wet n wild^® introduces new products and an updated look

City of Industry, CA (December 3, 2009)— Style, beauty, and value unite as wet n wild® introduces a bold new change. The brand known for its top-quality products at an everyday value is undergoing a complete makeover for 2010! With 3 brand-new fabulous franchises, more than 70 new items will be launched in sleek, modern packaging with new advanced formulas.

The new color authority in beauty, the Color Icon^TM franchise introduces new eyeshadows, blushers, and bronzers in longwearing, stay-true, fashion forward shades. The MegaLast^® collection delivers the most glamorous lip and nail colors in hours and hours of stay-put wear. And for those lovers of fringe, the lush MegaMascaras collection provides formulas for every lash effect imaginable.

Along with the product changes, wet n wild^® is also unveiling a brand-new tagline: “Glamorous everyday. Fabulous everyway.”

New Additions for 2010:

Color Icon Eyeshadow Single - $1.99 SRP

Satiny-smooth eyeshadows boast a new formula that includes a jet-milled base and silicone technology to allow for hours of crease-resistant, longwearing, stay-true color. A versatile collection of seven classic and trend shades can be easily worn alone or playfully combined for a variety of looks. Color is showcased in a chic pressed design.

Available in Sugar, Brulee, Nutty, Lagoon, Penny, Envy and Kitten.

Color Icon Eyeshadow Trio - $2.99 SRP

Each trio contains three complementary shades in longwearing, blendable colors. Each unique palette is created to highlight, define, and accentuate a specific eye color. Shades are embossed with “eyelid,” “crease,” or “browbone” to provide an easy “how to” guide.

Available in Walking on Eggshells, Sweet as Candy, Cool as a Cucumber, Knock on Wood, On Cloud Nine and Don’t Steal My Thunder.

Color Icon Eyeshadow Palette - $4.99 SRP

Each palette contains six ultra-pigmented, high-definition eyeshadows that are sure to please the shade sassy minimalist and enthusiast alike. With three matte and three highly-pigmented effect shades, it’s easy to mix-and-match to create a variety of day-to-night looks.

Available in Greed, Pride, Lust and Vanity.

Color Icon Blusher - $2.99 SRP

Silky-soft blush glides smoothly over cheekbones. Same great shades but this new improved oil-free formula contains special complex powders to provide longwearing, creamy-smooth, blendable color. With shades for all skin tones, this buildable blush offers light-to-medium coverage. Dermatologist Tested

Available in Pearlescent Pink, Heather Silk, Mellow Wine and Berry Shimmer.

Color Icon Bronzer - $2.99 SRP

Add a golden glow and a touch of luminosity to any complexion for a healthy, sun-kissed look. Special blend of oil-free, complex powders provide longwearing, creamy-smooth, blendable color. Colors are showcased in a chic pressed design and are perfect for all skin tones. Dermatologist Tested

Available in Princess and Goddess.

megalast Matte Lip Color - $2.99 SRP

4-hour, longwearing lip color leaves a semi-matte, crème finish. Glides on easily with rich, velvety color that doesn’t cake, feather, or bleed. Made with hydrating skin-care ingredients: Hylauronic Microspheres provide extraordinary adhesion to lips, an exclusive polymer complex offers cushion-like feel and texture, and natural marine plant extracts Coenzyme Q10 and Vitamins A & E help smooth lips.

Available in Pink Suga’, Think Pink, Bare It All, Just Peachy, Rose-Bud, Smokin’ Hot Pink, Wine Room, Mauve Outta Here, Sugar Plum Fairy, Coral-ine, Red Velvet, Stoplight Red, In The Flesh, Sandstorm, Mocha-licious, Spiked With Rum, Ravin’ Raisin, Cinnamon Spice, Cherry Bomb and Vamp It Up.

megalast Nail Color - $1.99 SRP

Long-lasting opaque color provides 5 days of chip-resistant wear. This revolutionary resin polymer system creates exceptional color adhesion to nails, while a proprietary mineral and calcium complex fortifies and rebalances. New brush design allows for precise one-stroke application.

Available in Hush Hush, Break The Ice, 2% Milk, Private Viewing, Sugar Coat, Undercover, Bite The Bullet, Through The Grapevine, Candy-licious, Tropicalia, Club Havana, Heatwave, Red Tape, Caught Red-Handed, Haze of Love, Under Your Spell, Disturbia and Blackmail.

megaplump Mascara - $3.99 SRP New Improved Formula

Get 5X the volume! New dramatic mascara amplifies and plumps lashes, providing instant volume without clumping.
Available in Very Black.

megaplump Waterproof Mascara - $3.99 SRP

Get 3X the volume! New dramatic waterproof mascara delivers thicker lashes in an instant. Waterproof formula stays put through tears, humidity, rain, and swimming and can be easily removed with wet n wild’s Eye Makeup Remover.

Available in Very Black.

megavolume Mascara - $2.99 SRP New Improved Formula.

Control your lash look with this buildable mascara that enhances the thickness of each and every lash.

Available in Very Black.

megaprotein Mascara - $1.99 SRP New Improved Formula.

Nourishing mascara conditions lashes with soy and wheat proteins for fuller, thicker lashes. Contains healthy ingredients of Açai Oil and D-Panthenol that are known to help protect and strengthen hair.

Available in Very Black.

megalength Mascara - $2.99 SRP

Get up to 80% longer-looking lashes! Superior lengthening mascara delivers lavishly long and perfectly defined lashes. Special blend of waxes delivers maximum length and definition with amazing staying power. Specially-designed brush visibly lifts for lash-by-lash definition.

Available in Very Black.

Wild Shine Nail Color - $0.99 SRP

Try 11 of the latest new color trends of the season without the guilt of buying pricier polishes! This nail color provides rich, vibrant color with brilliant shine in a variety of colors, effects, and finishes.

Available in Tickled Pink, Sunny Side Up, Lady Luck, Casting Call, Jezebel, Rain Check, Wild Card, Blue Moon, Night Prowl, Metallica and Hallucinate.

The wet n wild 2010 Cosmetic Collection will be available at mass market retailers nationwide beginning in January 2010.

About wet n wild^®

For more than three decades, millions of women around the globe have discovered their wild side using wet n wild^®, makers of affordable, prestige-inspired cosmetics. A division of Markwins North America., wet n wild^® fuses high-performance formulations with the hottest color palettes to offer women a full range of department store-quality cosmetics at an unbeatable value. wet n wild^® cosmetics are available in Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Rite Aid, CVS, Walgreens, Albertsons, Brooks, Longs, Duane Reade, Meijer, Fred Meyer, as well as other drug, mass and food markets nationwide.

As you know if you saw my post from yesterday, I have already spotted the ColorIcon palettes, MegaLast lipsticks and MegaLast nail colors at my local Rite Aid, and I purchased and reviewed the lipsticks and nail polishes here.

I will be receiving samples of everything else from this new collection by the end of the week, so please check back next week because I am rushing these to the top of my review queue, for sure.

As I've stated many times here on this blog, I have been a loyal user of Wet n Wild products since the mid-80s (I bought my first bright red lipstick from Wet n Wild when I was a sophomore in high school back in 1985 and I have never looked back!). So I cannot tell you how much joy it brings me to be able to present you with this Nouveau Cheap Exclusive. To be the first one to have this picture is like a dream-come-true for me since I can honestly say I'm one of Wet n Wild's biggest fans.

So...are you as excited as I am about these new products? I would LOVE to hear what you're the most curious about, so leave a comment here and let me know what you'd like me to review first!

Important CVS, Walgreens and Rite Aid info!

First off, I want to apologize for falling behind on responding to comments again this week. If you have taken the time to leave a comment on one of my posts lately and you have not received a response, I apologize from the bottom of my heart and I promise I'll be back to responding very soon. I am grateful and appreciative that you've taken time out of your busy lives to comment here and I never want anyone to feel like I've consciously ignored what you have to say. You all contribute SO much to this blog and it wouldn't be nearly as fun, interesting or informative if it weren't for your comments. These crazy drugstore sales have taken up a lot of my time in recent days, and I've found myself scrambling to post helpful info as soon as I can, so that's why I'm behind. If you have posted a question that you have not received a response to, I am SO sorry and I'll try my best to respond asap!

That said, I have some more important info that I want to tell you about regarding all of these crazy drugstore beauty sales we've been talking about lately!

CVS: By now you've seen all of my crazy 75% off beauty sale posts but I want to be sure that before you go, you not only print out the $1 off L'Oreal coupons available at CVS.com (located on page 8 of the coupon section) but also be sure to print out the $3 off 2 L'Oreal products coupon that's available at lorealparis.com. There's also a $1 off any Color Riche lipstick on the site, so print that one out as well if you want to buy one of the 75% off Color Riche lipsticks (there are TONS of shades available). Thanks to several of my lovely readers for telling me about the lorealparis.com coupons!

Walgreens: Starting TODAY, all Rimmel products (yes, EVERYTHING) is 50% off. Thanks to the lovely cashier at my Walgreens for giving me this heads-up a few days ago when I tried to buy one of the new Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipsticks. She told me to wait, so guess who is going back to Walgreens today to get one? Also, be sure to shop around and look for other clearance items (I listed what I was able to find here). And if you have any extra Register Rewards lying around, now is the time to use them! You can snag yourself some free stuff!

Rite Aid: As the lovely Jeweled Thumb pointed out a few days ago, it appears that not all Rite Aid cashiers are remembering to hand out game pieces for the Rite Aid Game of Life game that's currently underway (click here for my previous post about Rite Aid's The Game of Life). So if you buy anything at Rite Aid, be SURE to ask for your game pieces! If you don't get them, you're missing your chance to win several amazing prizes, plus little INSTANT prizes too. Last week when I was at Rite Aid I purchased enough items to snag five game pieces without even trying, and inside my game pieces I got two 50-cent off coupons for any Rite Aid brand items, plus I was an instant winner of two additional game pieces! Every penny counts, so definitely be sure to remember to ask for those game pieces!

Happy shopping, and of course I'd love to hear what you get if you take advantage of these deals!

Review: New Wet n Wild MegaLast Lipstick and Nail Color (and pics of the new ColorIcon quads!)

If you're a fan of this blog, then you know that I'm probably one of Wet n Wild's biggest fans. I've been a loyal user of WnW products for over twenty years now and I am always SO excited when they launch new collections.

I had been hearing about the new nail polishes and eyeshadow palettes for a few weeks now, so I was freaking out when I spotted this display at my local Rite Aid last week:

MegaLast is a collection of lip and nail colors that are long-wear and, as with all things WnW, super affordable ($2.99 for the lipcolor and $1.99 for the nail color).

The first thing I noticed about this collection is that almost all of the colors are pretty classic and safe-for-work (reds, nudes, pinks and purples), which is always nice. But I did notice that there is one VERY dark purple lipstick which I'm curious about because, if it goes on as dark as it looks, it might rival something from the MAC Style Black Collection. If any of you have this shade, please leave a comment--I'd love to hear about this one!

The next thing I noticed was the sleek packaging. Let's take a look at the lipstick first:

Wet n Wild MegaLast Lip Color "906D Wine Room"

with flash

without flash

If you're a fan of this blog, then you know I always gravitate toward the soft pinky-brownish-rose shades in any lipstick collection, so that's why I purchased Wine Room. I also love cremes, so this one looked right up my alley (from what I could remember, I don't think there were any shimmers in this lip collection but I could be wrong).

One of the first things that attracted me to this lipstick was the unique shape of the actual product. I kind of like how the product itself is not shaped like a regular lipstick, which usually has a pointy tip, but more like a lip balm or tint (a flat, angled tip).

So how does Wine Room look on?

Ladies, the pigmentation of this lipstick is superb! One swipe on your lips and it's completely opaque! And just as the display states, this lip color really is "long lasting", "petal-soft" and has a "matte finish". Oh I am just jumping for joy that my beloved matte lipsticks are coming back around in style this year!

As for the moisturization, I was fearful that because of the thickness of the texture (it's very creamy), the long-wear properties, and the matte finish, this lipstick would dry out my lips in no time. I was VERY pleasantly surprised to find that it's not drying in the slightest, and it definitely doesn't fit the characteristics of your typical long-wear lipstick (heavy, drying, prone to caking).

I do want to tell you that when I first applied Wine Room, it did not glide across my lips in that feather-light effortless way that sheer lipsticks tend to do. This lipstick is on the thick and creamy side, but once you put it on, you'll noticed that it's different than other thick and creamy lipsticks. When you rub your lips together, it's got almost a balm-like feel to it. It's hard to explain, but it makes your lips feel coated in a very nice way, and it doesn't feel heavy--just moisturizing. So far this formula is amazing for me because the color lasts....and lasts...and lasts without drying or caking. Who can ask for anything more?

I also want to add that this lipstick has no fragrance or flavor. Just creamy, matte, long-wear goodness! I'm loving it and I definitely think you should check it out if you're a creme/matte lipstick lover.

Next up, I also purchased a MegaLast Nail Color:

Wet n Wild MegaLast Nail Color "217 Disturbia"

Disturbia is one of those pesky little purples that is so gorgeous in real life but impossible for me to capture in a photo. It's a deep amethyst purpley-plum with a super subtle, baby-fine touch of pink and violet shimmer running through it. It's just enough shimmer to give it that lit-from-within quality that I love.

Here's a pic of a very quick mani I did with Disturbia a few days ago (pre-cleanup):

I'm wearing two coats in this pic with Orly Bonder base coat and Sally Hansen Mega Shine top coat. It's really hard to see in this pic but when you're in full sunlight the shimmer comes out a bit more and really adds to the richness and depth of this shade. It's one of those chameleon shades that can change depending on the lighting. Sometimes it looks dark and vampy, other times it reminds me of a fresh plum, while at other times it's got a royal purple feel to it. If you're a purple fan, I think you're going to love it.

Also, I want to talk to you about the brush! For those of you who have issues with Sally Hansen's Insta-Dri and Complete Salon Manicure brushes (flat, wide and firm), I am VERY excited to tell you that the WnW MegaLast brush is like a petite version of the Sally Hansen brush. YAY for me, because I find the Sally Hansen brushes big and hard to maneuver on my nail bed. But the MegaLast brush? It's perfect if you, too, find the SH brush too big to work with (WnW, did you make this brush just for me? lol!).

Check it out:

Top: SH Complete Salon Manicure brush

Bottom: WnW MegaLast brush

Front view

Side view

I also want to report that I'm going on day three of this mani and I've got minimal tip-wear and no chips so far. Yay!

And before I forget, I want to show you some pics of the new Wet n Wild eyeshadow palettes, in case you haven't seen them yet:

Wet n Wild ColorIcon Eyeshadow Palettes

[UPDATE: Literally right after I posted this review, I looked at my blogroll to discover that Yummy411 just posted a review of these quads about 30 minutes before I posted mine! And, as always, she's got much better in-store pics than I do! So if you want to see her terrific review of ColorIcon, just click here.]

These lovely little 6-pan eyeshadow palettes retail for $4.99 each and I spotted them at the same Rite Aid that had the MegaLast display. As you can see, there are four different palettes:

According to the display, these are "longwearing", "crease-resistant" and have "stay-true color". I am SO excited to try one of these I can hardly stand it. Here are the colors that are available:

From left to right: Vanity, Lust, Pride, Greed

What you cannot see in this pic is that each of these palettes has one shade that is crazy shimmery and gorgeous. In the "Lust" palette there is a smokey plummish purple shade that has red microglitter and looks unbelievable gorgeous in the pan. I neeeed this, especially since I'm always trying to find the perfect shade of plum to work with my skin coloring. Also, in the "Greed" palette there is a gorgeous little taupe minx that I am really anxious to get my hands on. So please stay tuned because I will get this collection for review as soon as I can!

So what do you think about these newest offerings from Wet n Wild? Do you already own anything? Do you have your eye on anything in particular? I'd love to hear your thoughts!