What's New at the Drugstore | Winter 2017

Hey there, friends! Is anyone else as excited at I am about all of the new launches from the drugstore? After months of feeling not very enthused by anything in the affordable makeup realm, the shelves of Walgreens and CVS have essentially exploded in the last couple of weeks with products I could not wait to try. Over the past week on my YouTube channel I've put together a couple of videos sharing all of my new loot and putting it to the test for you guys. Curious to see how everything worked out? Keep on reading!

Fall Haul First Impressions

If you guys saw my recent fall beauty haul, then you're already well aware that I've acquired a boat load of new makeup to review. Between a trip to the new NYX store in Union Square, goodies sent from a friend in the UK, and my own inability to restrain myself, I've ended up with a whole lotta loot. Life has been a little crazy lately, which ultimately translated to the majority of my new beauty ending up in a pile waiting to be loved. This weekend finally afforded me the opportunity to get some blogging hours in, and I stared at said pile feeling a little overwhelmed with my options. Where the heck should I even begin? And then I had a brilliant idea. Why not try it all and let you in on the process? I'm all about being real with you guys and sharing my honest thoughts on beauty. So why not capture my completely unscripted, entirely unpredictable first impressions on camera? Not gonna lie, filming this video was a whole lot of fun, and I don't think the look I created in the end was too shabby. So if you're curious to see how these new goodies worked out for me, keep on reading!

Fall Beauty Haul

I'm not going to lie. I'm ever so slightly embarrassed to have a haul to share before the holiday shopping season has even ramped up.

Back in September I acquired a massive amount of new beauty to play with from my trip to Generation Beauty. That haul alone had more than enough newness to keep me occupied for the rest of the year. But as any beauty blogger will tell you, between PR samples, promotions, and an unwavering curiosity about all things new in beauty, it always seems like its only a matter of time before you've ended up with another pile of product to test out.

So, as unnecessary as it all may be, I've got a ton of fun new stuff to show you guys that I'll be testing and reviewing in the next couple of weeks. Curious to find out what? Keep on reading!

Generation Beauty NY 2016: My Experience & an EPIC Haul!

You know that surreal feeling you get when you realize something you've been anticipating for months and months is finally coming to fruition? That was all of this past weekend for me. I headed out at the crack of dawn on Friday morning (legit, it was 5 am) to New York City for Ipsy's Generation Beauty event. I'd been planning this trip since March and as I was sitting on the train I almost couldn't believe it was actually finally happening.

If you aren't familiar with Generation Beauty, it's a large beauty expo hosted by Ipsy, and has grown to be a bit of a phenomenon in the last couple of years. The first Gen Beauty event was held in LA near the Ipsy headquarters, and now they've expanded to NY, Toronto, and San Francisco. Anyone can attend these events, and they usually draw in crowds of more than 4000 people. As someone who's goes day-to-day surrounded by people who aren't on my wavelength about beauty, it was kind of incredible to be in a room full of others who share my same passion.

This weekend was exhausting, exhilarating, and incredibly fun. I finally got to meet so many of the blogger friends I've made over the years in person, I got to connect with a ton of amazing brands, and I took home a stupid amount of swag. Curious to see more of my Gen Beauty experience? Keep reading!

Summer Beauty Haul | Birthday Goodies, 4th of July Deals & More

When I was a little kid, I used to hate the fact that my birthday was a. in the summer and b. the day before the 4th of July. I never got to bring cupcakes into school or have my birthday announced over the loudspeaker, and every time I tried to throw a party to celebrate, all my friends would be away for the holiday weekend with their families. I basically decided that the universe had cursed me with the worst birthday ever.

Twenty years later, my opinions have done a total 180.

I love my birthday. There are always amazing deals happening right at the time where I might have some newly acquired gift cards to spend, I never have to work the morning, AND I get fireworks. I mean, seriously. Thank you mom and dad for bringing me into the world on what I have determined is essentially the perfect weekend.

As you can tell from the title of this post, I've done a little damage recently in the shopping department. How could I resist picking myself up a few birthday goodies at a time where so many sweet deals are to be had? I suppose I could have had more restraint...but really, since when are birthdays about denying yourself? I always love sharing what I'll be testing and reviewing next with you guys, so I've rounded up all my new loot and filmed a little haul video.

Spring Ulta Haul | 21 Days of Beauty and More

I don't know about you, but it's basically impossible for me to resist a good sale. Whether it's on eggs at the grocery store, or makeup at Ulta, I'm usually all about getting the best price I can. Ulta recently just wrapped up their 21 Days of Beauty promotion, which I ended up taking way more advantage of than I anticipated. For those of you who might be unfamiliar, 21 Days of Beauty is a thing Ulta does a few times a year. Every day for 21 Days they have different beauty steals that are each available for 24 hours only. These products are usually up to 50% off their usual price, making them incredibly enticing to snag. On top of that, anyone with Platinum status had access to additional steals and free shipping on most orders during that three week period. I personally also ended up getting multiple 5x points opportunities throughout the promotion, sweetening the deal even futher.

TLDR: I bought a whole bunch of new stuff and it cost me a lot less money than it should have (yay!).

LUSH-Tastic Bath Haul

Friends. Have you SEEN all of the new bath time launches at LUSH?! Maybe it's just me being a diehard Lushie/bath enthusiast, but honestly these new bath bombs and bubble bars are truly a spectacle to behold. Between holiday themed wonders, and extra colorful and imaginative additions to their permanent collection, there was no keeping me away from my local LUSH shop. While it was incredibly hard to choose, I ended up taking home these six lovely bath goodies, all of which I've never tried before.

Mini Ulta Haul

Who loves sale shopping? Lauren loves sale shopping. Is it true? Mhmmm. I do I do I do-ooo.

I don't get over to Ulta all that often because it's a little out of the way for me in my day-to-day wanderings, but last weekend I found myself in the area and couldn't resist poking around. If you've never been to an Ulta, it's basically like a beauty wonderland (complete with its own salon and a Benefit Brow Bar). Drugstore makeup, prestige makeup, hair styling tools, bath, body, skincare...you name it, you'll find it. Aside from the awesome selection, Ulta also always has coupons, special offers, and sweet gifts with purchase available to give you the most bang for your buck.

As I was shopping around I noticed that there were a TON of amazing sets for purchase, and it took a whole lot of will power not to buy any. It was also the very start of the Ulta 21 Days of Beauty Sale, which means every day for three weeks a different product will be on crazy discount for you to purchase. I'm thinking I might just have to do a "What's Hot at Ulta" shopping guide kind of post just to share with you guys all the amazing stuff that's available right now.

In the meantime, let me show you what I DID actually buy. I'm quite proud of myself for keeping my haul down to these four little goodies, and for only spending $17! That means I basically got everything here at a 50% discount (woop woop!). Let's take a closer look.

Target is My Weakness (A Non-Beauty Haul)

So, I don't know about you guys, but I swear it is impossible to buy just one thing from Target. On Friday I needed to pick up a few groceries, and since I'd been in the house working on blog stuff all day, I felt the need to stretch my legs and wander a bit. Naturally, one of my favorite places in the world to peruse is Target. They seriously don't do a single department poorly, and I can honestly spend hours just browsing from one aisle to the next. Feeling a little spendy (cause it was pay day after all) I picked up a few odds and ends that made me smile. And of course, in the excitement of bringing home some new loot I had to film a little video to share it all with you.

Summer Fashion Haul

So, I thought I'd bring you guys a little something different today. While I wouldn't ever consider myself to be a high fashion fanatic, I definitely enjoy adding new clothes to my wardrobe. Lately I feel like I've been trying to refine my style and incorporate pieces that mix, match and layer well so that I can create an endless number of killer outfits. Yesterday my mom and I went to the new Tanger Outlets at Foxwoods and I picked up a few really great things that I thought might be fun to share with you all. I love bargain shopping, and I got some pretty crazy deals while I was there. Let me show you what I got!

Birthday Haulin'

When it comes to birthday presents, I'm one of the easiest people on the planet to please. If it smells nice, tastes good, or looks pretty I'm probably going to love it. And when in doubt, the gift of shopping never fails to put a smile on my face. It also so happens that by being born on a holiday weekend, there are almost always amazing sales that I can take advantage of during my self-gifting birthday binge. While I did do some serious damage at the mall earlier this month, this haul is truly a collection of all the beauty shopping I've done both since and before my birthday. After all, if I'm going to write up a haul post, I might as well show you everything new I've been trying and loving as per late. If you caught my wish list post from a few weeks back you'll probably recognize quite a few familiar things in the picture above. I really don't waste any time when it comes to making good on said types of lists, apparently. So, without more rambling from my end, let's dive right in.

New in at the Drugstore (Summer 2015)

I can never stay away from the beauty aisles of the drugstore for too long. With amazing deals and lots of coupons it's hard to resist new beauty at a fraction of the price! This time around I picked up a small assortment of things to try, most of which are relatively new to the shelves. I've got two recent styling products from my favorite drugstore haircare brand, Not Your Mother's, one of the uber hyped La Palette Nudes from L'Oreal, a multi hued-blush from Physician's Formula, and a gorgeously mattifying foundation from Maybelline.

Spring 2015 Lush Haul

You know what is the best cure-all for a bad day? Taking a trip to LUSH. A magical land of bath bombs and bubble bars, the LUSH shop is a cheery, heavenly-scented place to visit, and always seems to brighten my mood. Amidst the insanity that has been my life as per late, I was totally in need of of retreating to said happy place, and (to the surprise of no one) also decided to splurge on a few new pampering products.

Two Year Birchbox Anniversary & Haul

If you're a regular reader of my blog, you're probably aware that I'm a huge fan of Birchbox. I review my boxes religiously, frequently make amazing purchases from their shop, and get maybe a little too excited each time a new Limited Edition box launches. Heck, I even have a Birchbox T-shirt. Needless to say, I'm never afraid to show my love for a company that I think is pretty flippin' great, and Birchbox is perhaps at the top of my list. As of this month I've officially been subscribed for two whole years. That means 25 Birchboxes have graced my mailbox. 25 boxes worth of little treasures and disappointments. That being said, my Birchbox experience in these past two years has definitely extended beyond my monthly subscription, and I thought it might be nice to take a look back and share some of my favorite moments, features, and other Birchbox related things with you!

VIB Chic Week Haul 2015

One of the perks of spending an embarrassing amount of money at Sephora each year is that you get elevated to VIB status (Very Important Beauty, that is). Being a VIB comes with a number of special little perks, including early access to new product releases, specials sales and promo codes. One of the most buzz-worth VIB happenings in the year is Chic Week (typically held in the spring) where all VIB and VIB Rouge members can get 15% off their Sephora purchases. Even though it's not a huge discount, everyone tends to go nuts splurging on long wanted items and everyday essentials. I myself tried not to go to overboard, but I did pick up a few things that I really wanted.

Spring 2015 Drugstore Haul

I had a little episode of spring cleaning fever over the weekend and completely reorganized my beauty product stash. Maybe it's just me, but something about the process of pulling things out of drawers and boxes, sorting through it all and putting it back is incredibly enjoyable and stress relieving. As I was going through stuff I realized I've acquired quite a few new products that I haven't had a chance to blog about yet. I've picked a few things up here and there over the past several weeks and am in various stages of trying everything out. So, I thought it might be fun to give you a glimpse at my most recent discoveries and see if there are any products that you'd like to read a more in-depth review about.

Birchbox Aces Sale Picks

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you probably know how much of an avid Birchbox fan I am. Being a subscriber has so many amazing benefits, and I never regret the $10 I spend each month to stay one! In the last year Birchbox rolled out a new loyalty program, called Birchbox Aces. Becoming a Birchbox Ace comes with all kinds of perks - from having early access to your monthly sample choice, to getting special gifts and treats, to receiving exclusive promo codes you can use on your shop orders. To obtain Ace status all you need to do is earn 500 Birchbox points in a calendar year, which you can do from referring friends, reviewing the products in your monthly box, or making purchases from the Birchbox shop.

Last week Birchbox had a special Ace exclusive sale, with over 300 products available to purchase at 40% with free shipping! I mean, seriously. How could I not resist picking up a few things?

ULTA & CVS Haul

When you write a beauty blog, there is ALWAYS something out there you can't wait to get your hands on. Whether it's that cult favorite eyeshadow everyone's been raving about for years, or a brand new product launch, you've just got to find out for yourself how it measures up. Of course, us bloggers do have budgets, so we're always on the lookout for coupons, discounts, and other ways to get the most bang for our buck. Between a 20% off coupon at ULTA, an in-store sale on Rimmel, CVS Extrabucks and manufacturer's coupons, I was able to get this stash of beauty goodies for less than half the price. Here's a closer look at what I bought for testing and reviewing!

Goulishly Good Bath Time Treats From LUSH

It's hard to believe that Halloween is only a week away! Aside from stockpiling candy and practicing my favorite spooky makeup looks, one of my favorite ways to get in the holiday spirit is by jumping in the tub with a Halloween themed LUSH bath bomb or bubble bar. Every year brings a new collection of seasonal goodies that I can't wait to get my hands on. Let me show you what treats (and hopefully not tricks) I took home with me!

Fall 2014 Drugstore Beauty Haul

Retail therapy. It's most certainly my favorite form.

It seems I've done quite a bit of it in the past month. Arguably I needed it (or at least that's what I'm telling myself). After several doctor's appointments and a round of allergy testing (57 needle pokes…was not pleasant) I treated myself to a few new goodies. On a related side note, I was able to score all of this stuff for ridiculous prices, thanks to some shopping know-how. I've had plans to write a post about all of my money saving secrets for what seems like a good six months now. This is my public promise to all of you that it will happen.

ANYWAY. Fall. Beauty products. Back to that! I've hit up a little bit of everything in my rounds at Target and CVS, from haircare, to skincare, and makeup. Let me show you a closer look.