Summer Savings

I went to Target and Ulta and stayed within budget...said no one ever. Lol! However, because these items are steals, I felt less guilty. Summer is all about festivals, outdoor concerts, vacations, and adventures. Splurge on experiences and save on non necessities such as:

1. Foundation and lip colors.

Revlon's Photoready Airbrush Effect Foundation (pictured above in Mocha) is awesome and only $13.99!   My makeup artist used this on me to contour and it blended beautifully with my skin tone! For only 14 bucks, it is definitely worth a try.

L.A Girls, COVERGIRL, and NYX make great lip products that last and are full of color! I am a huge fan of L.A. Girls concealer so I decided to give their matte flat finish pigment gloss a try and I love it! The color is great and it lasted all day without reapplication! I had to use a lip scrub to get this stuff off. Best of all, it is only $4.99!

If you prefer a glossier lip in the summer, try COVERGIRL's Melting Pout gel liquid lipstick (pictured above in Raspberry Gelly). It is glossy but not sticky, has a shockingly rich color, and $6.99 at Target.

Last but surely not least, NYX lippies are a must for any beauty babe. They have a plethora of finishes and a massive color spectrum. I own a ton of NYX lip products. NYX Lingerie (pictured above in Exotic) is a newer line that is a liquid matte that last longer than the soft matte lip cremes. Because of the long lasting formula, it is a little more expensive but still a steal at $6.99

2 and 6. Summer Slides.

Summer 17 is all about the slide. I found these cute embellished slides at Target here and here. The blue Merona diamond studded "Mina" slides are $22.99 and the DV "Adrianna" black slides with silver grummets are $24.99. I have been wearing these slides every where! Cute and comfortable! "You gotta feel it. It's electric! Boogie woogie, woogie!"

3. Makeup Wipes.

I typically purchase makeup wipes from TJ Maxx and Homegoods...you get more for less. These Shea Moisture wipes caught my eye because they are made with African black soap. I have read up on the benefits of African black soap and they are plentiful. According to the packaging, African black soap helps address imperfections while gently exfoliating and softening skin. You can find these wipes at Target here for $5.49.

4. Face masks.

It is very important to keep your face moisturized in the summer. This Nügg hydrating face mask claims to hydrate skin for a fresh, dewy, and smooth complexion. It is made with 94% natural or naturally derived ingredients including camellia seed oil, spirulina extract, and aloe juice. Nügg sample sized face masks can be found in-store at Target for $3.99 or a box of five here for $17.99.

5. BB creams.

If you are like myself and don't like wearing a ton of makeup in the summer, BB creams are the way to go. Last summer I bought an expensive BB cream by NARS and returned it due to the shiny finish. This Black Radiance True Complexion BB cream is oil free and SPF 15. I purchased it in honey amber and brown sugar. I have only worn the darker shade, brown sugar, and I love it! I felt makeup free and beautiful! These BB creams are available at Target here for $4.99!

7. Body wash.

One of my favorite things to do at Target is to shop for body wash. With so many options, I don't know how anyone can stick to the same brand. Raw Sugar is a new line of body wash made from a natural coconut and plant-based blend. The lemon sugar scent smells AMAZING; a great combo of fresh and sweet. The best part isn't the $6.99 price but that for every product you buy, a bar of Raw Sugar soap is donated to a family in need.  Find it here.

8. Hair masks.

We spend more time outdoors in the summer and the sun can very harsh on not only our skin but our hair. My hair has been angry at me for the lack of tender loving care. I vowed to treat it better and will be deep conditioning with Shea Moisture's treatment mask from Target for $2.49. Find it here.

9. Soap.

It's not being used for what you think.

Celebrity makeup artist Tatiana Ward (BeatFaceHoney on Instagram) stated on her Snapchat that Dial's gold antibacterial soap is great for cleaning your beauty blenders. For $1.97 from Target here, I had to see for myself!

10. Mini beauty blenders and mascara.

I randomly bought these mini beauty blenders because of its claim to blend, buff, and erase makeup mishaps. I can not apply my makeup without smudging eyeliner or mascara on my face. I am hoping these blenders will not leave a trace of my application clumsiness. I only own the Beauty Blender brand from Sephora so I'm am excited to see if the Real Techniques blenders from Ulta are just as good. Check them out here for $5.99.

I  recently listened to a podcast featuring a veteran beauty blogger who stated the best mascara was the original pink and green Maybelline Great Lash mascara. She said this is what is being used backstage at all the fashion shows and photoshoots. I use some of the newer Maybelline formulas but for $5.99 from Ulta here, it is worth revisiting this oldie but goodie.

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11. Brush cleaner.

I am guilty of not cleaning my brushes as often as I should. Recently I did my makeup and it was a hot streaky mess and I knew it was time for a deep cleaning of my brushes. When I spotted this Ecotools makeup brush shampoo from Ulta for $7.99, I quickly tossed it in the basket and raced to the register as I was already over budget. Find it here.