wNw 8-Pan Palettes Have FINALLY Arrived!

This is not a test. REPEAT. This is not a test.

I've been lurking around my local Walgreens almost everyday waiting for the new wet N wild 8-Pan palettes to drop. I swear the store manager knows me by face: the weirdo who takes a spin around the beauty aisle and leaves 30 seconds later, looking disappointed. :P

Anyway, tonight I was walking in SF (I have the best drugstore luck there!) and popped into Walgreens to see if they maybe just maybe would pop up.

And there they were:   

Just ignore the ludicrous markup they have for the Color Icon Trio (It is the city after all)

Still untouched, a full set (two of each), calling out to be mine.

Here's a close-up:

WANTED: New or Used!!! Just kidding, I'm going to need them new. :P

So did I haul them? Empty the shelves, then smuggle them to my dark cave, where I would caress the cases and purr unceasingly: Precioussss, My Precioussss?

Unfortunately (or rather, fortunately) no. I've set a beauty budget of $40 a month and I've already blown through $22. I don't know what sales await me this month so I'm hesitant to purchase right now. I'm hoping for a good wet N wild sale at Walgreens (50% off, pretty please?) before I'll decide to partake. Even though they're still quite affordable at $4.99 apiece (I'm shocked that the SF Walgreens didn't put a crazy markup on it), these palettes' spots in the permanent rack let me know that they'll be restocked, so I can bide my time for increased savings!

Read Gianna's epic review on these palettes and you'll understand why people are lemming these like rabid groupies (i.e. me)!

How about you? Will you purchase right away or wait on a good sale? Your thoughts!

My Haul Under $20

Today I walked into CVS hoping to take advantage of the amazing Physicians Formula deal (Buy $10 worth, get 7 Extra Bucks). 

Little did I know the stars were aligning for me. 

My treasure trove

When I scanned my CVS card, the machine spat out a Physicians Formula $3 off coupon. Sch-weet! I also saw that my local CVS stocked the PF Happy Booster and I picked up the last blush in Natural. That had a $3 off coupon stuck on the package. So I paid $5.99 plus tax for an $11.99 blush! And I still qualified 7 Extra Bucks offer. With the Extra Bucks, I only paid a few cents for the blush overall! 

Then I went back to the cosmetic aisle and hauled like a maniac, because Elle raved about these Sally Hansen eyeshadows which are 75% off for $2.19. I picked up Sally Hansen Instant Definition Eye Palette in Ocean, Mountain, Amethyst, Stone, Earth, Metallic, and Quartz. Then I went back to the checkout and paid for part of the cost with the EB's I just got. The cashier looked at me like I was a god and I was high-fiving people up and down the line.

Ok, that didn't really happen, though the cashier was mildly impressed that I knew the shadows were on sale even though they didn't have stickers on it (lol, it's the secret drugstore club we all belong to b/c of Gianna).

In total, I spent $16.98. I'm more happy about the savings than the products, haha. 

Have you ever had hauls that come about like this? Tried any of these products before? Your thoughts!

Collective Sightings at CVS, Haul, and Swatches

I'm back from the cruel experience that is finals week and I survived! :P
 
I've walked through CVS a few times this past week, but haven't been able to post it until now. 

Last Saturday night I've walked through the beauty once again, because that's my most exciting activity during finals week, lol!

I spotted the Milani baked eyeshadows I've been lusting after!

Milani Marble Baked Eyeshadow, the aqua/powder blue one is lust-worthy! Retails $6.99.

Milani Metallic Baked Eyeshadow, with the red one I love! Retails $6.99 too.

The price is a bit high for drugstore, so wait until CVS has the BOGO1/2off sales! Check out both displays, because sometimes the eyeshadows are misplaced! Also, I've been having trouble finding the purple baked one in the metallic display. I wonder if they forget to bring it out or it's super popular.

They are really ramping up Almay for 2011, look at all the displays!

Almay Get Up & Grow Mascara ($8.49) and Eye Makeup Remover ($5.99)

Almay Dial Up Mascara, retails for $8.49!

Almay Smart Shade Smart Balance Pressed Powder, retails $13.99.

I haven't used Almay since they launched eyeshadow palettes for different eye colors a few years ago. If I see something cool launching this year, I'll give it a try!

I don't know how recent it is, but I noticed they changed the packaging of Maybelline's uber popular Stylish Smokes eyeshadow quads. 

Stylish Smokes in Emerald Smokes, That's my friend Wilson's hand! He wants the credit, lol.

Stylish Smokes in Natural Smokes, his hand too. :P

As you may notice, they changed the proportions of each shade. Before, each shade was equal size. You now get more of the "Brow Bone" shade, which is now called Base and less of the Outer Corner shade now called Liner. I think it's a great change, I end up using most of the Base color and less of the Liner shade anyway. What do you think of the change?

As you may have guessed, I hauled the Milani eyeshadows! I hauled a red from the metallic line and a fabulously complex looking one from the marble collection.

I couldn't wait for a sale this time, but I'll wait next time to get my hands on the purple and aqua!

Tops off, so gorgeous! I do hate the packaging though. It was so difficult to get the top off. I took a bit off the red eyeshadow with my nail when I opened too hard. *Tear*

The photo does not truly capture the multicolored amazingness that is Famous Duo. I spotted red shimmer, silver shimmer, in a black-brown base. It'll probably be great for a holiday smoky eye. The red eyeshadow isn't a true red, comes off a bit orange-red. I love it, never thought I would look good with red eyeshadow. :) I think it would look great on warm tones!

Spotted these displays in your stores yet? Any lemmings? Your thoughts! :)

P.S. I promised myself that I would write a post everyday during winter break, now that I have time to do so. So watch out for more coming soon! :D 

At Long Last! Pixie Holiday wet N wild Collection Sighted!

After much anticipation, the limited edition holiday collection from wNw has finally arrived in my neck of the woods.

My visual proof/haulage

wNw coloricon palettes with eyeliner in (L-R) Night Elf, Sugar Plum Fairy, Golden Goddess, and Snow Sprite.

It finally arrived at my local Walgreens today. I bought them for $5.29 apiece and I used a $5 off $10 wNw purchase found in November's All You mag. I think they are supposed to retail for around $4.99, but Walgreens always has jacked up prices. For now, I will reserve my judgment on prices until I can compare it to the price at Rite Aid. 

The display was already missing nail polishes when I got to it. There are only two palettes in each shade in the display, so grab them quickly if you're interested! Check out great swatches from Rai here. Let me know if you would like me to do swatches!

Good luck, y'all! :) 

Update: Darn! Gianna just said that there will be a wNw 50% off sale at Walgreens next week. Wait until next week to get your haul on to save some money!