Free Every Day Shipping & Returns at Nordstrom!

Great news y'all! Nordstorm has just introduced free shipping and returns everyday! Yup, no code needed and no expiration. When I saw this, I was definitely really excited. First off, I live in NYC, where there is no Nordstrom nearby. I love to shop their site but hate spending money to ship things back that don't fit. Secondly, I'm a fickle shopper, so I can make my decision later with free returns. Thanks Nordstrom for this one! Now let's hope Bloomies, Macy's, and the rest of them follow suit.

Spring Cleaning for Your Makeup

Memorial Day is coming up this weekend, bringing in the unofficial start to summer! I can't believe June is almost around the corner and in preparation for warmer weather, it's time for some spring cleaning. My makeup stash in particular needs some attention. I'm a bit of a hoarder. Hence, the baby blue eyeshadow still sitting in my drawer. But I do need to go through my makeup bag and toss away a few things. Particularly since I have sensitive skin, it's important to throw away old or expired makeup which can cause irritations, breakouts, or eye infections. It's hard to keep track of when to toss because products do not have a expiration date (unlike your milk or bread). Here are some general rule of thumbs:

When to Toss..
Mascara 3 Months
Foundation 1 Year
Concealer 1-1.5 Years
Powder 1.5 Years
Blush/Bronzer 1.5 Years
Eyeliner 1.5 Years
Lipstick / lip gloss 1.5 Years
Lip liner 1 Year

Of course, if you're makeup is changing color, consistency, or smell, it's probably safest to just toss. After all your cleaning, you'll have more space in your collection for brand new stuff!

Steal Alert: Kat Von D Eyeshadow Palettes @ Sephora

If you can't get your hands on a Naked by Urban Decay Palette (where can I find one!?!), try these palettes by Kat Von D. I've heard great things about them and to my surprise, they are on sale this month at Sephora. At $24 for 8 high quality shadows in one easy to use compact, they are quite a deal. Choose among 4 different palettes:

Check these out, along with more great finds, in Sephora's sale section here.

Here's to another week of great shopping!

Review: Everyday Minerls Brushes

I am a big fan of mineral makeup. For everyday wear, I'm a pretty minimalist kind of girl. Who really has 20 minutes to spare in the morning for makeup when you can be getting some extra ZzZ's? I find mineral makeup to be the easiest to apply. No need to blend- buff away and you're ready to go out the door. While I've never really been a big fan of Everyday Minerals foundation (sorry but Bare Escentuals for the win here), I have to say that I really do love their brushes. It's hard to find a good quality brush without paying a whole not- I'm really the kind of person ready to shell out $50 on a makeup brush. Yes yes I know they will last you for years and years- but really, $50? (Yea, it's the cheapo in me talking) So when I fell upon these Everyday Minerals face brushes, I knew I was onto something. I own two of their face brushes- the flat top and the long handled Kabuki. I use the flat top to apply mineral foundation and it worksbuffs like a dream. The bristles are very soft and dense (check out the picture above- sorry for the dirty brush). It also provides great coverage (for a lighter coverage I would suggest using the Kabuki). It also works great for a powder. It costs $11 dollars- $8 more than the ELF Studio Powder Brush (which I also love) but you get the better quality. Now, I haven't really used the long handled Kabuki (and I'm also confused as to why its called a LONG handled Kabuki) so I'm kinda hesitant to give any review on it but its just as soft as the flat top so I think I will be very happy with it once I put it to good use. It will also cost you a dollar more. These brushes are also really great for traveling- they fit right in the palm of my hand and probably in any makeup. For more information about how to purchase, check out www.everydayminerals.com.

FYI...all purchased by me!

Clarisea Giveaway Winner!

Sorry for the delay...but congratulations to Julie, the winner of my Clarisea giveaway! I have sent you a email with further instructions. Thank you to everyone else for entering...more giveaways to come!

Last weekend of the summer, enjoy it! Have a happy Labor day weekend!

-Little Miss Savvy

Affordable Bags for Back To School

It's that time of the year again- some of us dread it while others look forward to it- going back to school. While my back-to-school days are over, one of my favorite parts to the start of a new school year was shopping for it. And by shopping, I don't mean for school supplies but for clothes and accessories. Look good, feel good, do good, right? I think one of the essential things every fashionable back-to-schooler needs is a good bag- not just one that can hold your books but also match your outfits. Something roomy enough to carry all your textbooks and versatile enough for a day at the mall or hanging out with your friends. Here are some of my picks for affordable bags for school:

(from left to right)
ASOS, Pieces Diana Shop Bag, $53.92
Forever 21, Twist of Fate Bag, $28.80
Harajuku Lovers, Pastel Girls Candy Bar Tote, $88.00

PacSun, Kirra Vidette Bag, $32.50
ModCloth, Get a Handle Shoulder Bag, $44.99
Urban Outfitters, Kimchi Blue Canvas Backpack, $68.00

Good luck to everyone this school year!

P.S. Clarisea winner to be announced this week...thanks for participating!

Review: Clarisea + Giveaway

I've been blessed with good skin on my face...I've had my problems here and there but generally I've been blemish free, especially during my teenage years when everyone else was desperately looking for acne solutions. But apparently, since I don't have pimples on my face, I have to get them somewhere else. Back acne, otherwise known as 'bacne', has plagued me since high school. It's ridiculously hard to get rid of and prevents me from wearing cute tops and bathing suits without being self conscious. I've used tons and tons of products to treat it and have even visited dermatologists, but to no avail. I recently stumbled across a line of products by Clarisea and decided to give it a shot- nothing to lose but 50 bucks right? Included in the Clarisea line of products are salts, both for your face and body (this will mainly be a review for the body but I'm sure many of my thoughts will hold true for the face products as well). So I'm not exactly sure why soaking your body in salts will do it good but here's an interesting excerpt I found from the website-

" The sodium chloride fights bacteria on the surface of skin while deeply exfoliating pores so existing blemishes heal more quickly and emerging breakouts are brought to the surface and flushed out....Different types of sea salts contain different percentages of sea minerals. The mineral content in most salts, including dead sea salt, is too dense and potent for sensitive facial skin. Clarisea's blend is different. It is specially formulated with a clarifying balance of ocean and mineral sea salt that leaves skin looking as clear and healthy as it does after a dip in the ocean. An optimal amount of sodium chloride deeply exfoliates pores and eliminates bacteria without stripping skin of its natural moisture while potassium, magnesium and calcium work to tone, soften and smooth out skin without causing redness or irritation. "

Cool stuff right? I've been soaking in the salts for about a month now and I definitely see a difference. While not all of my back acne has disappeared, it has gradually gotten less and less. It's also given me reason to relax and take a bath- can't remember the last time I did that as opposed to a shower before using this product. Their line of body products also include an exfoliating cleanser and salt scrub. As you can see, I'm really intrigued by these salts and how it can help my skin- hopefully I will keep seeing results. There is a lot more to learn about these products so visit www.Clearisea.com for more info. FYI, the complete starter set (including face and body products) will cost you $73 and make sure to look out of their promotions!

Since I found myself really liking these products, I decided to contact Clarisea and see if they would be willing to offer something up for giveaway. And voila, the wonderful people at Clarisea are gracious offering one of my readers the Clarisea Face Collection. Here is how to enter:

Steps:
1. Follow this blog (Click "Follow" on the right side of this page)
2. There are 3 ways to enter, you will receive one entry for each:

• Becoming a fan of Clarisea on Facebook
• Following @Clarisea on Twitter
• Signing up for Clarisea's Newsletter

3. Leave ONE comment on this post and include you first name, email, and every entry that you have made.

Please feel free to shoot me an email at littlemisssavvy@gmail.com with any questions (please don't leave a comment in this post). This giveaway will be open until August 22, 2010, 12AM EST. The winner will be chosen randomly and will be sent the prize directly form Clarisea.

Good luck everyone!

How to Treat Your Sunburnt Skin

First off, yesss...I am still alive! Sorry, I have been MIA as of lately but I've been a busy bee.

As for the CSN Stores and Skin Care Rx Giveaways, I just want to quickly thank those who have participated....Congrats to the winners, Colleen and Victoria!

Now onto my thought of the day, after spending a considerable amount of time out in the sun these past couple of months, I've encountered a sunburn or two. Spending a few hours outdoors may be fun, but that can equate to days of misery if I forget the sunblock- especially since I have fair, sensitive skin. So I did my digging online and I found a few helpful tips to treat your burns (courtesy of Wikihow):

• Use the succulent aloe vera plant. Cut it down the length of the leaf and open it, revealing the inner portion of it. Rub the clear gelatinous part, over the burned area. Repeat as often as you like.
• Wear loose-fitting cotton clothing that will not irritate the affected areas.
• Noxema facial cleanser, sold in blue tubs, is extremely effective at removing the heat and the sting from a bad sunburn. Rub as much as possible onto the burned skin. Do not wash off; allow to soak in. Reapply as often as possible.
• Use a cool, damp cloth with skim milk and rest it on the spots where you are burned. The coolness takes out the initial fire, and the milk creates a protein film that helps ease the ensuing discomfort.
• You can also try taking a bath with green tea. The tannin in the tea draws out some of the pain and can soothe the redness.
• Hyrdrate your body!....Drink water, juices, etc.
• Above all, the next time you are in the sun, Wear sunscreen!

So, enjoy the hot (and sometimes disgusting) temperatures....but remember to keep your skin safe and lather on the sunscreen!