Thrifty Thursday # 5 | Big Lots

 

THRIFTY THURSDAY # 5 | BIG LOTS

Recently, Big Lots has been stocking some great fragrance mists from brands I know and trust- like Calgon, Parfums du Coeur, and Bodycology.  I typically only shop sales, so I'm not sure if these fragrances have been around and I just missed them, but they all looked new to me!

I was especially excited because there was a huge diversity in the scent profiles: sweet, floral, musky, tropical, herbal, marine - literally a little of everything!  I held back on the lotions, but grabbed one of each fragrance mist I was interested in trying.  I'm going to try to test them out over the next week or so, and if one or two really strike my fancy, I'll be heading back for backups.  :)


Here's a high-level look at a few scents from each brand.  For a look at everything I hauled, check out the YouTube video.

From Parfums du Coeur:

NOTES: sparkling raspberries, juicy apples and succulent peaches




NOTES: wild strawberries, succulent peaches, and voluptuous vanilla

 

Both scents pictured above are currently available for sale - the retail price is $5-10 per full-size (8 ounce) bottle.  Check out the Body Fantasies website for a list of locations where these products can be purchased.


From Calgon:

NOTES: lush tangerine, crisp water lily and creamy sandalwood.

NOTES: sweet florals

Both scents pictured above are currently available for sale and retail for about $5 per full-size (8 ounce) bottle.  Check out Walmart online for tons of Calgon bath and body products.

Instead of sharing additional information about the Preferred Fragrance brand, just a heads-up that this brand has apparently gone through several lawsuits due to their dupery.  Check out First Nerve's post on this topic, here.


Next up, from BioSecrets:




NOTES: refreshing bergamot, soothing rose, and ylang & ylang on a sweet and exciting bed of vanilla & musk.



 

 

 

NOTES: exotic papaya, pomegranate, kiwi and pear on a beautiful floral blend of mimosa and jasmine with a heart warming drydown of musk and amber

These fragrances are currently being sold for $7 each online.  At Big Lots, however, you can find the full-size bottles for just $1.50 apiece!


There's more in the haul video, so be sure to check that out.  Thanks for reading- I'll see you next week!

Thrifty Thursday # 4 | Dollar Tree

 

THRIFTY THURSDAY # 4 | DOLLAR TREE

This week, I found such a random assortment of items, I'm not even sure where to start.  So, let's just focus on beauty items.

First up:  I purchased two Greenbriar products.  The jumbo elastics don't have any metal pieces to get stuck in hair, so I love using them for hair styling, like bantu knots.  I'm going to be doing a tutorial on this, but bottom line - it's a great way to "cheat" effortless curls. 

I haven't yet tried the Sassy + Chic beauty blender-style sponge, but since I'm not familiar with the official Beauty Blender, my standards are lower.  ;)  I'll be sure to come back with a review.

 

Next, I found a couple of LA Colors products.  The first were Color Craze nail polishes.  These are a standard fixture at Dollar Tree, but this was my first time seeing these shades.  They swatched beautifully, and I'm so glad they came home with me!

 

I also found several LA Colors Glitter Pop polish kits.  It looks like I'm missing one, and I'm not sure whether I'll go back for it.

 

 
As you can see from the swatches below, these swatched pretty sheer in one coat.  They did build up nicely after a second swatch, and I'm curious to see the coverage on an actual nail.

Above, I swatched one coat of polish and dusted the top with the corresponding glitter for each shade.  The glitter-topped swatches are just one coat.

Next up, I found several Milani products!

As I shared in my Swatch Sunday video, I found several Shadow Eyez eyeshadow pencils in neutral shades. After doing some research with Miss Clearance, we determined that  09/Café Au Lait is a good cheapie substitute for Mac Stone.  It's not quite as deep, and it does have a different finish, since it is matte and Stone has a sheen.  All in all, I think it's a great way to get the look for less. :)

 
I also found one lone Milani Smoothé base coat. I've been looking for this product for years, and now that I've fallen in love with Revlon's base coat, I'm on the hunt for similar products.

 

Smoothé is a milky polish that dries clear and helps to fill in ridges on nails to provide a smooth surface on which to paint. 

According to Milani, Smoothe is “A ridge-filling base coat designed to prime your nails for the perfect color application. This formula was created with a combination of Okoumé AE and Botanical Extract of Bamboo to fight ridged weak and aged nails.”

 

I also hoped to find the Glossé top coat, but I didn't see any.  I'll continue to keep my eyes peeled- it got rave reviews and was compared to Seche Vite because of its high-gloss finish and staying power.

 

Next up from Milani, I found several lip products from different collections: Haute Flash, Crystal, and Glitzy.

 

 

 

My favorite of these three are the Haute Flash lip glosses. They are on the thicker side, but the pigmentation and shine is amazing.  Perfect if you want to make a bold statement.

 

The Crystal lip glosses are great all-purpose glosses in a variety of finishes (jelly, frosted/shimmery, cream) and opacities.  However, you're taking a bit of a risk with these because some of them can skew close to the sticky side of the spectrum.  Just a warning!

 

Last, these Glitzy lip glosses are my runner-up faves of the bunch.  The packaging is adorable, and the pigmentation is good, but not too bold.  Perfect as a standalone lippie for understated- but glossy- color.

 

I haven't yet tried these mini perfume and lotion sets, but let me just tell you why I'm excited.  Typically these Dollar Tree fragrance sets are packaged as mini lotions and rollerballs, and it's really the only negative thing I've had to say.  I've had some issues with rollerballs not dispensing the perfume properly, so I'm really hopeful about these! 

 
 
I picked up just a couple more Revlon Nearly Naked foundations - a couple for me (Caramel), and a couple for a YouTube buddy who is looking for backups in her shade (Chestnut).

 

I also found another satin pillowcase to add to my stash.  I currently have these on my bed's pillows, and I've been super happy with them.

 

I also found the following Studio C products:

This ID pouch is labeled "Rock Star" and is a textured quilted faux patent leather entirely in black.  It has a key ring (to attach to a lanyard or retractable badge hook), and- in addition to the ID window- has a zippered pouch to put in a few essentials.  The zippered section is just slightly too small to hold my iPhone 4.

I also received the middle pattern from my good buddy @thriftysaving and the black pattern from my YT homegirl Miss Clearance.

These Yes to Carrots facial wipes typically retail for $2.99 per 10-count package (this is the travel size), so I purchased a few. 

As soon as I got home, I used one to remove my makeup and it did an awesome job of retaining its shape while still removing tons of makeup. It was also nice and moist, and thick enough that you can actually use both sides. 

Check out the YouTube video to see the pull-test in action.



Next up, I found a few NYC Liquid Lipshine glosses.  I've purchased these at Dollar Tree in the past, and I know that the pigmentation varies based on the collection. 

I'll be swatching my updated (to include these) NYC gloss collection in a future Swatch Sunday.

The last beauty item I found were from Maybelline.  There were tons of these Perfect Pastels eyeshadows, but just in these two colors. 

I have purchased Maybelline eyeshadows at Dollar Tree in the past, so I'll include these in a collective switcheroo in the future.  Stay tuned to my channel for more!

Thanks for reading - I'll see you next time!

 

Thrifty Thursday # 3 | Big Lots Beauty Haul

 THRIFTY THURSDAY #3 | BIG LOTS

  

In the last few years, I've become a big fan of Big Lots.  In fact, it's among my top 5 discount makeup haunts (the others being Dollar Tree, Walgreens, Target, and ShopMissA).  Although the stock typically consists of discontinued- or as I call them "don't fall in love with me"- products, they occasionally carry items that haven't yet been pulled from production.  Typically, these are products that went through reformulation or repackaging.

 

Well, this week, I hit the nail polish jackpot!  I found some well-received nail products, including polishes and nail strips from Sally Hansen, Revlon Parfumerie polishes, and more.

 

First up: Sally Hansen Salon Complete Manicure nail polish.  These retail $7-12 and are currently in stores.  These were just $1 each at Big Lots.  I don't know how many polishes are in the complete collection, but I found over twenty shades. 

 

 

Here are swatches of all the shades I found, including the shade name and number:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next: Revlon Parfumerie nail polish.  These retail for $5-7 and are currently in stores (they've been spotted on clearance at Walgreens- $1.79 and Rite-Aid- $1).  They were just $1.50 at Big Lots, so I picked up one of each shade.  I'm not sure how many are in the complete collection, but I found 16, some of which are pictured below.

 

 

 

 

These scented polishes actually do give off a scent that's specific to the shade name.  I think my favorite (based on swatch alone) is Autumn Spice.  I don't know how long the scent lingers- again, I am basing this off my experience through swatching these polishes.  I was very impressed with the formula, but the brush seemed a little dinky after using the Sally Hansen polishes.

 

Here are swatches of all the shades I found, including the number:

 

Next, I found Revlon Gel Smooth Base Coat.  There were only three on the shelf, so I got all of them.  I've been using this as part of my nail strip application process, and I wonder if they might be partially responsible for how well my nail strips have applied and lasted.

I found four different Love & Toast body lotions. 

I went out to the website and found that these have been repackaged, which could explain how they got to Big Lots.  They retail for $10, but were only $2 at Big Lots, so you can get all four scents for less than the price of one!

Lastly, my beloved Clairol hair products are still on the shelves for just $1.50.  I only use the leave-in conditioner, but I can confirm that it's excellent.  If you see these in your store, pick one up and give it a try.  If you'd like to know more about the leave-in conditioner, check out my July Empties blog post.

Have you tried any of these products?  Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!  And don't forget to check out my YouTube haul video and thumbs it up.  :)

 

Thrifty Thursday # 2 | Dollar Tree

 THRIFTY THURSDAY #2 | DOLLAR TREE

  

There are lots of reasons that I love the Dollar Tree.  It started off just being a great party planning resource, then a makeup treasure trove, then a surprise couponing haven, and then an amazing book store.  It's hard to choose which of these categories is most exciting to me.  Until I see makeup.  :)

 

This week's haul features nail products and cosmetics. First, for the odd one out:

 

 

 

I was able to find my shade of the Revlon Nearly Naked foundation, so I purchased several.  Additional information about this product can be found in yesterday's Wish List Wednesday post.

 

I also found the complete list of shades from the vendor's product pamphlet.  Those are all shown in my YouTube haul video, so be sure to check it out!

 

 

Next up:  Kiss Gel Dress nail strips. 



$1 per box at Dollar Tree

 

 

I tried these out, so I actually have some pretty clear feelings about the quality and value.  Overall, I would say they're worth a dollar, but you really do have to insinuate them onto your nail.  To me, it's worth trying again because of all the positives, but it's really a matter of personal preference.  If you're willing to spend a little extra time on the front end to save time throughout the week, then definitely give these a try.  Mine lasted a week before I removed them!  I'll share my one-week update video in the next Mani Monday video on YouTube.  If you're not already subscribed to my channel, please check it out!

 

 

 

Next up: my beloved Sally Hansen nail strips.

 

First: the brand's Insta Gel strips are marketed to be used with a gel topcoat and an LED lamp (which cures the topcoat and increases the shelf-life of your manicure).

 



Left to right: Get Juicy, Commander in Chic, Back to the Fuchsia, Punch Drunk

 

I've actually always been afraid to use gel polish because of how damaging acetone can be to natural nails.  I've also heard way too many stories about literally pulling off bits of the nail when the polish won't come off easily.  So, I didn't use the (included) gel topcoat.  Instead, I used a regular cheapie topcoat.  And the nail strips still held up wonderfully!  They didn't buckle when the topcoat was applied, they didn't chip off within days of application, and- best of all- they removed easily with non-acetone nail polish remover.  Super win!  I'll continue to purchase these and will definitely use the gel topcoat when giving myself pedicures (I don't update my toenail polish often, anyway).

 

Next up: my holy grail nail product!  Sally Hansen Salon Effect nail strips. 

 



Left to right: Mod About You, Sweet Tart-an, Kitty Kitty, Check Please



Left to right: Stripe Tease, Hear Me Roar, Wild Child

 

 

These are made with real nail polish, which means that they'll remove with non-acetone nail polish remover.  It also means that they are very easy to manipulate on the nail and they tend not to react negatively with topcoat is applied.  The negative is that, once opened, these dry out very quickly.  Otherwise, I find these to be a complete game-changer for me.

 

 

Finally, I found (and swatched!) a bunch of polishes across different brands. I was really happy with the selection.  Take a look at what I found.

 

 

From LA Colors:

 

 

From Milani:



Left to right: Fast Fuchsia, Power Periwinkle, Sugar Coated




Left to right: Move on Mauve, Blue Zoom, Bet on Red



 

 

From Revlon:

 

 

 

 

 

From Maybelline:

 

 

What do you think?  Have you tried any of these polishes?

 

Please let me know your thoughts about these products in the comments below.  And don't forget to check out my Instagram and YouTube pages. 

 

Thanks for reading - see you next time!

 

Thrifty Thursday #1 | Burlington Coat Factory

THRIFTY THURSDAY #1 | BURLINGTON COAT FACTORY BEAUTY HAUL

Happy Friday Eve! As I'm posting Thrifty Thursday videos each week, I want to be sure to provide additional information about the items I hauled.  If you haven't already seen the video, jump on over to The Glossary on YouTube.  Otherwise, read on!

First, I found lots of polishes! Among other brands available at the store were Revlon and Orly. 


From Revlon, I saw packs of four nail laquers for $5.99; the sets included toppers, polishes, and even a nail treatment. 

The nail treatment is called Treat & Boost.  I haven't yet tried it, but it's got rave reviews on Amazon and the interweb in general.  :)
Read more reviews on Ulta.

The next two polishes pictured above are Revlon Rio Rush Nail Enamels in (middle) Gold Goddess and (right) Oi Beautiful.  The gold polish looked like a topper to me, but it applied pretty opaque in two coats.  The purple polish is beautifully vibrant and creamy.  I'll be doing live swatches on the blog in an upcoming #SwatchSunday, so be on the lookout for that.  In the meantime, swatches of all these finds are below:

Swatches  - left side is one coat, right side is two coats.

I can already confidently tell you that the formula on these is a dream to work with.  I swatched on copy paper and still managed to get precise little swipes.  Not too thick or runny, and great coverage.  Of course, I can't yet speak to staying power, but at an individual cost of $1.50 per polish, I would already call these a good purchase.


From Orly, I found a pack of three mini-polish six-packs for $16.99.  It's designed so that you can gift as one big set, or separate out to make three gifts.  I'm not sure whether I'll want to gift any, so I didn't do swatches, but here's a look at the set: 

 

I also found an eyeshadow palette from Measurable Difference, which is a brand with which I'm not familiar.  Since it was just $1.98 and I don't have any glitter shadows in my collection, I decided to give it a try.  Here's a look at the palette:

I did a little research about the brand and found that they have a fully-functional website and appear to be affiliated with the brand Chrislie Beauty.  They had the exact same palette available for sale for $6.99- still a very decent price.  Here's the stock photo that's posted on the website:

Photo courtesy of MeasurableDifference.com



 

Lastly, I found quite a few Physician's Formula sets for sale for just $1.98 and $2.98.  Here's a look at all the ones I found; prices will be listed in the captions.

$1.98 at Burlington Coat Factory

$1.98 at Burlington Coat Factory

$1.98 at Burlington Coat Factory

$1.98 at Burlington Coat Factory

$2.98 at Burlington Coat Factory

$2.98 at Burlington Coat Factory

$2.98 at Burlington Coat Factory

$2.98 at Burlington Coat Factory

$2.98 at Burlington Coat Factory

$2.98 at Burlington Coat Factory

$2.98 at Burlington Coat Factory

$2.98 at Burlington Coat Factory

Finally, I wanted to compare packaging between the set found at Burlington Coat Factory and what is typically found in stores.  It appears that, for the most part, the packaging was stripped down to a basic black compact devoid of any Physician's Formula branding.  On a few of these, the silver "PF" on the front of the compact is the only difference (For example, the CoverTox Ten and Shimmer Strips Blush & Highlight).  However, there are a couple of slight changes to compact style (i.e. from bulbous silver to sleek black) seen in the Shimmer Strips palettes and Les Botaniques bronzer. Overall, the packaging found in these sets is exactly what was sold at Dollar Tree, which might explain how they ended up at a $1 price point- in other words, they may have been parceled out from these sets. 

Take a look at the photos below for individual comparisons:

Have you been to your Burlington Coat Factory lately?  If so, what did you find?  Comment below or on my YouTube video to share your finds.

Thanks for reading!  Follow me on Instagram and subscribe to my YouTube channel for more.

See you next time.  :)