Spotted: new Black Radiance Eye Appeal Shadow Collection (8-pans!)

A HUGE thanks to reader Marsha for this sighting! Marsha spotted a new eyeshadow collection from Black Radiance at her local Walgreens recently and was kind enough to share.

NOTE: Wet n Wild and Black Radiance are both owned by Markwins. I want to make sure that those new to Black Radiance are aware of this BEFORE looking at the following photo.

image credit: Marsha for Nouveau Cheap

Black Radiance Eye Appeal Shadow Collection

(retail: $6.99 at Walgreens)

Left to Right: Downtown Browns, Posh Plums, Urban Jungle

It probably goes without saying that these new Black Radiance palettes look A LOT like the Wet n Wild 8-pan palettes, but some of the colors are different; specifically the brown/nude palette. I literally cannot stop staring at that one! Oh Downtown Browns, you WILL be mine.

Over the past year, one thing I've heard repeatedly from readers is that you want Wet n Wild to release an all-nude or all-brown palette. Well, I would say that Downtown Browns is the next best thing!

As many of you know, I'm a long-time fan of Black Radiance (their face primer is my holy grail primer and I adore their lipglosses more than probably any other glosses at the drugstore). So I'm beyond excited to see 8-pans from this brand. For those new to Black Radiance, this brand doesn't tend to have the wide distribution that Wet n Wild does, but in my area (San Diego) I can find Black Radiance products at select Rite Aids and Walmarts. I know that they can be found at select CVS locations and, of course, at select Walgreens locations as well. Walgreens.com has a nice selection of Black Radiance products as well (with free shipping on orders $25+). HOPEFULLY these 8-pans will be on the Walgreens website SOON!

 Thanks SO much, Marsha, for the great scoop and pic!

Have you spotted the new Black Radiance Eye Appeal 8-pans in your area yet? If so, have you purchased any of them? I would love to hear from you either way!

Review: Maybelline Baby Lips Moisturizing Lip Balms SPF20

I've had my eye on Maybelline Baby Lips lip balms for months now, so I was thrilled to receive all six shades for review recently. I have been testing these out for a few weeks and I'd love to share my thoughts with you in case you have yet to try these yourself.

Maybelline Baby Lips Moisturizing Lip Balm SPF20

(retail: around $3.50 each, 0.15 oz)

A closer look at the new Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blushes

I want to thank everyone who has taken time to send pics and info my way regarding all of the new products now hitting our local drugstores, and I want to apologize if I have not gotten back to you. I usually don't post display pics of things I have already covered on this blog, but even though I already went over these blushes here,  I just HAD to share with you a few of the photos I've received over the past few weeks. I've been hearing very good things about these blushes so far, and the color selection looks fabulous.

First up, a huge thanks to reader Jocelyn for this sighting at her local CVS:

image credit: Jocelyn for Nouveau Cheap

Spotted: new Soho makeup brushes

You might already be familiar with the brand Soho--they're probably best known for their super-cute beauty cases (their Pretty in Pink collection is adorable). Well I'm excited to tell you that they've expanded their brand to include cosmetic bags AND makeup brushes, and the new brushes have recently been spotted at both Walgreens and Walmart.

Reader Heatherann spotted this display at her local Walgreens and was nice enough to share:

image credit: Heatherann for Nouveau Cheap

London Soho New York Ergonomic Brush Collection

After-Christmas Sales!

 Here's a quick wrap-up of some of the after-Christmas sales that have hit my in-box.

These sales are online only unless otherwise specified:

Avon: enter code SPREE2011 for free shipping on order $10+. Sitewide sales up to 60% off

Bath & Body Works: Semi-Annual Sale now online and in-store. Up to 75% off select items. Select shower cream and body cream $3 each. Select Wallflower single bulbs and starters $3 each. Many additional sales online and in-store

Big Lots: 30% off cosmetic, bath and fragrance gift sets (in-store only)

CVS: enter code GET20WINTER for 20% off sitewide (expires 1/2)

Lush: BOGOFREE all holiday products and holiday and year-round gifts and soap made before November 2011. 

Rite Aid: enter code 10OFFA50 for $10 off $50 purchase; 50% off Rite Aid brands; 50% off personal care items (expires 12/31)

Sally Beauty: enter code 555367 for up to 70% off red tag clearance items

Sephora: enter code EXTRA for an extra 20% off sale items (expires 1/3)

Victoria's Secret: Semi-Annual Clearance now online. VS Fantasies 7/$35. Extra 20% off swimwear clearance: enter code 20SAND

Walgreens: enter code NEW5 for $5 off $30 purchase. Enter code NEW10 for $10 off $50 purchase. Codes can be applied to sale items. Everyday free shipping on orders of $25+

Yankee Candle: Semi-Annual Sale now online and in-store. Select candles 50% off, select items 75% off

Yves Rocher: enter code BOX1060 for $10 off $50 purchase + 50% off entire site (expires 12/27). Free shipping with $25 purchase

Know of any other great after-Christmas sales? Leave a comment and let us know!

Ulta, Target and Kmart beauty sales (12/25 - 12/31)

As always, this is not a comprehensive listing, but more of a "best of" post featuring what I believe to be the best sales of the week. For a complete listing of the sales at each retailer, consult your local weekly ads.

As with the drugstores, now is the time to get to your local Ulta, Target and/or Kmart locations to check out what beauty-related products are on clearance. Also, at Target and Kmart this week, there seem to be a lot of home organizational products on sale, which of course translates to MAKEUP organizational products in my mind!

The Lipstick League – week of 12.19.11

Lipstick League Question of the Week: 

Do you have a beauty-related New Year’s resolution? What is it?

G's answer: I'm really going to try to use makeup towelettes less often at night and actually wash my wash (and moisturize) before bed. I'm usually so tired that I'm lucky to even use a towelette, but then I end up skipping my nighttime moisturizer, which is something I do NOT want to do so often in 2012. 

Lipstick League Links of the Week:

Gouldylox Reviews – Sure, I can tell you how to improve your skin, make your hair shine or your eyes pop, but how about some good old being beautiful from the inside out? Try one of these ideas this holiday season!

Krasey Beauty – Didn’t get what you want this holiday season? No worries, pick one of these amazing beauty items for yourself at the Gaga Workshop, exclusively at Barneys New York.

Nouveau Cheap – has been waiting MONTHS for L’Oreal Infallible Eye Shadows to hit the US. Were they worth the wait? Come find out!

Prime Beauty – always aims for a flawless complexion— the Make Up For Ever HD Complexion Perfection Starter Kit helps her achieve just that! See what you think of the before and after pictures!

Phyrra – My Independent Spotlight for Christmas is with Femme Fatale Cosmetics! Learn more about Sophie and her Australian-based makeup company.

Vampy Varnish – Has the scoop on the new Too Faced Natural Flirt Makeup Collection for Spring 2012!

we heart this – our John Frieda makeover commercials have finally been released! Watch Stef’s and Tyna’s and learn the scoop about Precision Foam Colour.

Beauty Junkies Unite – Don’t miss this sneak peek of the latest from Bare Escentuals’ BUXOM lineup of products, the new True Hue blushes!

Clumps of Mascara – is a woman that hates shopping. Somehow she managed to pull together a few outfits for only $75 at Sears. Score!

Do you have a beauty-related New Year's resolution?

Spotted: new nail, eye and lip products from Wet n Wild!

Does the thought of new Wet n Wild crackle polishes, lip butters and amped-up eyeshadow singles make you happy? Well if so, I'm about to make you VERY happy with this post because I've got that and more to show you today!

Let's start with this sighting from reader Marissa, who spotted the new limited edition Wet n Wild crackle polishes at her local Walmart recently and was kind enough to share:

image credit: Marissa for Nouveau Cheap

Wet n Wild Limited Edition Craze Nail Color All Broken Up collection

(retail: $2.88 each at Walmart, 0.27 oz)

 "It's all that it's CRACKED up to be!" 

For the holidays, a special message to you

The view from Mt. Helix

San Diego CA, fall 2011

Dear readers,

I just wanted to take a moment to thank you, from the very bottom of my heart, for making this year a very special one for me. I know that 2011 has been incredibly difficult for so many of us, and the fact that you've chosen to spend even just a minute or two visiting this blog, sharing valuable information, insights, thoughts and opinions means the world to me.

I'd like to personally thank everyone who has ever taken a moment out of their day to email me, send me a tweet, leave me a Facebook comment or comment on this blog. Without your input, this blog would be NOTHING, and I mean that more than I could ever express to you in this letter. I may not always respond to every message I receive, and I'd like to take this opportunity to personally apologize if you have ever reached out and not received a reply from me. I never anticipated when I started this blog that I would sometimes receive more information than I can process in any given day, and believe me--I am NOT complaining about that. I just want to explain that I am one person with a life outside of blogging and sometimes I can't respond to everything that comes my way. I do my best, but please believe me when I say that I realize that sometimes my best falls short.  Just know that I do read everything that comes my way, and I am filled with nothing but the best intentions.

So with that, I want to let you know that I would like for 2012 to be all about showing my gratitude to you. For everything that YOU do to make this blog the resource it has become for some many of us, I am going to fill next year with fun giveaways and some special little surprises that will, hopefully, make up for my shortcomings and express to each and every one of you how much I truly value you as readers and, most importantly, as friends.

I hope that, however you spend tomorrow, you have a peaceful day full of laughter, love and lots of promise for the new year.

All of my love,

G. xo

PS: I'm not done blogging today! I have a few surprises coming up that I know will put a smile on your face.

Weekly Drugstore Makeup Sales (12/25 - 12/31)

For a listing of the weekly beauty sales at Ulta, Target and Kmart, please click here.

December 26th is always a great time to stock up on fragrance and cosmetics gift sets at the drugstores. A few years ago I managed to get some AWESOME deals at Rite Aid the day after Christmas, so if you have some time, get out there the day after Christmas and look for 50% off clearance tags! Also, if you wait a little bit longer, some of the drugstores will reduce holiday sets down to 75% off after a while (or even 90% off), but of course the selection won't be as great. ALSO, be sure to check out the "new product area" at your drugstores soon, because all of those holiday gift sets will go bye-bye and all the new displays that I've been showing you this past month will take their places. This is always such a fun time of year!

PS: The week after Christmas the drugstore beauty sales are always a little thin, so don't be surprised to see how few sales there are this week (below).

CVS shoppers: Now is the time to pick up some of those new Physicians Formula products I've been showing you on the blog this week! CVS has extended the sale once again! If you spend $10 on Physicians Formula cosmetics (excludes clearance), you'll get $5 Extra Bucks (limit 1). PLUS, many of these new products have $2 off peelie coupons on them, bringing your final total down even further. Oh, and there's a good deal on Revlon lip and eye products this week too: buy 2 Revlon lip or eye products get $5 Extra Bucks (limit 6).

Rite Aid shoppers: For those truly last-minute shoppers (or those who don't celebrate Christmas), you'll be happy to know that Rite Aid is open from 9-5 on Christmas Day. Rite Aid is making it easy on us this week by making most brands of nail enamel and lip cosmetics BOGO1/2OFF (see below for brands and exclusions). Oh, and remember that coupon I told you about last week for $3 off 2 John Frieda Color Enhancing haircare products? As of the time of this post it's still available, so you can print that out to use with the BOGO1/2OFF sale this week. Lastly, for you CeraVe fans: all CeraVe products are $2 off this week and you can click here for a $1 off coupon to use during this sale.

Walgreens shoppers: Not much going on at Wags this week (see below), but they do have gift sets (fragrance and beauty) for 50% off.