Weekend Shopping Edition

It's the weekend again and that means more sales and steals to look forwards to on your days off! This is a particularly excellent weekend with many stories offering additional savings off already reduced prices. Here are the best sales this weekend:

Additional 20% Off all Clearance Items- Tilly's
Additional 40% Off all Permanently Reduced Items- Dillard's
Additional 30% Off all Permanently Reduced Styles- bebe
Additional 50% Off All Redlines- Hollister Co.
Additional 50% Off All Redlines- Abercrombie & Fitch
Drop It Like It's Fall- Urban Outfitters
Additional 40% Off Clearance & Additional 20% Off Markdowns (Plus Extra 15% Off Online)- PacSun
Additional 30% Off Clearance Online- Aeropostale 
Up to 85% Off Clearance with New Items Added- dELiA*s
Semi-Annual Clearance Sale Up to 70% Off- Express

Weekend Shopping Edition!

The weekend is the best time to grab your friends and go on a shopping trip. It's also an excellent crunch time to pick up last minute items for life's occasional requirements: shoes for an interview, a dress for a party, a gift for a friend, you name it, the Weekend Shopping Edition will bring you the stores that have the best sales that weekend!

Additional 50% Off Clearance and Sale + 25% Off Entire Purchase through September 23- A&F
Extra 40% Off All Sale and Clearance Styles- Loft
Stock Up Sale- Urban Outfitters
Additional 20% Off Clearance-Tilly's
New Items on Clearance- Sephora 
Additional 50% Off Clearance and Sale + 25% Off Entire Purchase through September 23- Hollister Co.
Markdown Mania Sale- Aeropostale
Free Shipping + Up to 50% off Sale- American Eagle Online
End of Season Sale Up to 80% Off- dELiA*s
60% Off Sale + Extra 30% Off- bebe
Semi-Annual Clearance Sale- Express
Ulta 21 Days of Beauty Ends Tomorrow!!!

The best deals going are the A&F and Hollister clearance events as well as the Aeoropostale, dELiA*s, and Express sales. Have a great weekend; stay glamorous!

Quick Updates

Extra 50% Off Redlines In Stores- Hollister Co.
Extra 50% Off Redlines In Stores and Online- Abercrombie and Fitch
Extra 40$ Off All Sale and Clearance- Loft
Up to 70% Off Summer Sale- Tilly's
Many Items on Sale In Stores and Online- Sephora
Ulta 21 Days of Beauty Ends September 22!- Ulta Beauty
Up to 60% Off Sale- Victoria's Secret
Up to 70% Off Sale- Aeropostale
End of Season Sale Up to 80% Off- dELiA*s
Extra 40% Off Fantastic Finds- Aldo
Sale Up to 60% Off and Extra 30% Off Already Reduced Styles- bebe
Up to 90% Off Leisure Watches- Fashion Vault
Lasts Days of Summer Blowout- HauteLook

Quick Updates

The Final Sale-Rue La La
Extra 30% Off Sale Items- Loft
Up to 70% Clearance- Chinese Laundry
All AE Jeans Under $30- American Eagle Outfitters
Up to 70% Off Sale- Tilly's
Ulta 21 Days of Beauty Still Happening!!
50% Off Womens Clearance; Extra 25% Off Mens Clearance-Aldo.com

The Inexpensive Products That Actually Work.

Though Sephora beauty products are expensive, they are destined to be of the highest quality and caliber. The drugstore-type brands are inexpensive and always on sale, but don't always satisfy. Here are beauty products that work well while also being affordable:

• Rimmel London Lasting Finish 25 Hour Foundation- I used to use this foundation when it was only 16 hours. This foundation is transfer resistant, blends well into the skin, oil free, and mineral enriched. It is about $7.29 for 30 ml. I have tried many drugstore foundations and this was my go-to for long high school days.

• Avon Magix Face Perfector- No matter how many new primers I buy, I will always have this perfector in my makeup bag. This reduces the appearance of large pores, lasts all day, SPF 20, can be worn alone or under makeup, and is very light. I feel this is an excellent prep for foundation and it makes my skin stay matte all day long. I do not have a problem with oily skin when I use this perfector and know some people who do not need foundation with this product. It is regular $10, but I always seem to find it on sale for about $7.50 (and it lasts a long time).

• Eyes Lips Face Mineral Eye Shadow- Hands down, e.l.f. makes the greatest inexpensive eye shadows out there. These eye shadows are off of their mineral line and come in 28 shades. They are just as reputable as a bareMinerals eye shadow or expensive palette eye shadow. The loose powder combined with a good eye shadow primer delivers bold, lasting color. For only $3 you get .85 grams (bareMinerals gives you .57 grams in their small size). With .85 grams and its nature of being an eye shadow, I guarantee it will last you forever. 

• Neutrogena Healthy Skin Brightening Eye Perfector- This is the greatest concealer for dark under-eye circles. This is SPF 25 and comes in a twist brush package. Brushing on the concealer and blending with a dab motion makes the sleepless of nights disappear off of your face! This even works great with discoloration and redness because of the great blend-ability of the product. (I find it works better than most concealers.) This is $11.99 for .17 oz and also lasts a long time.

• Ulta Beauty Brand Lipstick- The Ulta Brand of lipsticks bring bold color that lasts throughout the day. I have found that I like this brand better than the regular drugstore lipsticks like Covergirl or Maybelline. The lipsticks in the darker colors of pinks and reds deliver strong color. (The Ulta workers said the lighter pinks and light colors are more sheer.) This is not a moisture lipstick, so I find it lasts longer throughout the day as well. The lipsticks are regular $8, however, they are always on sale and are currently $4 during the Ulta 21 Days of Beauty!! 

• Wet 'n' Wild Megasparkle Confetti- This is a great brand if you are looking for pure glitter used as body glitter or eye shadow. For $2.99 you receive 2.6 g of glitter which come in various colors. This is great if you want a solid patch of glitter on your eyelids for a fun night out.

• Eyes Lips Face Eyelid Primer- E.l.f. makes a great eyelid primer to go along with their amazing eye shadows. I have used many primers including the Urban Decay Potions, and I can tell you that this primer is very reputable and very worth the price. E.l.f. makes a $1 primer off of their Essential line and a $3 primer off of their Mineral line. To me, both are excellent, but people have told me that the extra $2 is worth it. They come in different shades and can be purchased online or at Target.

• Clinique Brush-On Cream Liner- This is an excellent eye liner that lasts forever. Though not a drugstore brand, it is pretty affordable. If I could only use one piece of makeup every day, it would be eyeliner. I have gone through all the eyeliners and have found that the Clinique Brush-On Cream Liner is the best. I do a thick wing, cat-eye effect and need a reliable liner that won't smudge and will last from 8am-7pm.  For $15, you receive .17 oz and a brush.  I use this every single day, use a lot, and this lasts literally forever. 

The Insiders Have It All.

You may have noticed over the past couple years, many stores have begun membership programs for their loyal customers. It did not take me too long to notice the new weight of my wallet from all the loyalty cards I have been lugging around. With so many out there, which membership loyalty program delivers the greatest value? I have mapped out my favorites and a list of popular ones out there right now.

• Sephora Beauty Insider and Very Important Beauty Insider (V.I.B.)- Members receive 1 point for every $1 spent.  One can use 100 points to receive a deluxe size gift or use 500 points to receive a special makeup kit with exclusive products. An exclusive gift is given to members during their birthday month as well. Though 100 points seems like a lot, you will be surprised how much you rack up if you are a makeup junkie.  I highly value this membership program because I already purchase inexpensive clearance and sale items at Sephora, receive samples, get points, and receive a sweet birthday gift for free. The V.I.B. status is obtained if a member spends $350 in a calendar year and will retain V.I.B. status through the following year. This is also very rewarding with frequent special deals, free shipping during certain time periods, and other events and deals.

• American Eagle's AERewards- AERewards members receive 1 point for every $1 spent. During a three month period, members rack up their points and will receive a corresponding coupon for the amount of points they have. 100 points = 15% off; 200 points = 20% off; 350 points = 30% off; 500 points = 40% off. Members receive the corresponding percentage off of their total purchase during the next three month time period.  I admit, this membership used to have much more value a few years ago with smaller point goals.  When I was younger, American Eagle was one of the only stores our family purchased clothing from; so as you can see, this was an excellent deal. This deal is excellent when you obtain the points during clearance season when the store has extra savings on top of their clearance. The coupon also holds the greatest value when used on top of extra savings on clearance items. (So that would be getting something on clearance, getting money off of that clearance, then getting more money off of that clearance.) Members also receive 15% off during their birthday month and have access to exclusive clearance and sale events.

• Sally Beauty Club- The Sally Beauty Club is one of the greatest memberships out there for salon beauty items and hair care. Members receive special prices on every non-sale item in the store, receive a catalog and coupon in the mail every month, and free products when renewing the club card. It cost $5 to join for a year, but the $5 is given right back to you to spend the next time you visit. There are always inexpensive sale items in the store and the club card discounts from the catalogs make them even more worth while. The products sold are all salon professional quality and with the club card, they are sold at a discounted cost.  While it cost me $100 to dye my hair at a salon, it only cost me about $8 to dye it at home and look the same. Just sayin'.

• Aeropostale P.S. Rewards Program- This also works on a 1 point for $1 basis. Members will receive $5 for every 75 points, a free birthday gift, and members-only sale and clearance events.  This is also a very great rewards program if the points are received through seasonal clearance events with extra percentage savings off of clearance items. 

• Godiva Rewards Club- Never have I been a part of such a satisfying rewards program. Members receive a free piece of chocolate every month, a free 2-piece gift the following month for a $20 purchase, free standard shipping for one online order, and exclusive offers. I love this rewards program because I literally stroll into the Godiva and pick my chocolate. Though I am not sure if this is proper Godiva etiquette, I feel I have been a loyal patron of Godiva over the years. The 2-piece gift is also a very sweet deal.

Here is a list of my other favorite rewards programs:

• Ulta Beauty ULTAmate Rewards- 1 point for every $1 spent; 2x's and 3x's points are frequently available along with weekly coupons and clearance items
• GUESS List for GUESS and GUESS by Marciano- 1 point for every $1 spent; 200 points = $10; gifts with purchases, special offers, 2x's points during your birthday month
• Hollister Co. Club Cali- Birthday gifts, special offers, free shipping with $100 or more, and other benefits
• Abercrombie & Fitch A&F Club- Pretty much the same as Club Cali (as A&F owns Hollister Co.); special offers, free shipping with $150 or more, band birthday gifts
• Victoria's Secret Angel Card- a free membership that acts much like a credit card. 1 point for every $1 spent; $10 = 250 points; 6 months of offers worth $100; a surprise birthday gift; early access to special events
• bebe's clubbebe- 1 point for every $1; 50 free points for signing up; $10 = 250 points; free shipping from bebe and 2bstores upon reaching 1,000 points; free magazine subscription upon reaching 1,000 points
• Panera Bread My Panera Member Card- A great restaurant after a long day of shopping! (Seriously.) I feel like this membership gives you random free food when you order meals. I have received many free pastries and drinks with this card.