Cyber Monday Deals

Origins – Get $10 off plus free shipping on any order of $25 or more with code TENOFF.  You also get 2 deluxe sample with purchase over $45.

The Body Shop – 50% off site wide and free shipping with any $30 purchase

b-glowing – 20% off sitewide with purchase of $50 or more, code CYBRTWNTY

For those who love Anthropologie (like me), they are having an additional 20% off sale items; discount price will be automatically reflected at checkout.  This is rare; they hardly have coupon code, etc.

For little ones, The Children’s Place is having 30% off and free shipping, code SAVECYBER30

Happy Shopping!!!  Also, you can enter my giveaway for a chance to win a free JAX headphones from Sol Republic, here.

Sol Republic JAX In-Ear Headphones Giveaway

Update

This giveaway is now closed!  Congratulation, the winner is Brian Baylon.

Can you believe it, next week is Thanksgiving already!  Aside from great time with family, it also mark the beginning of holiday shopping for most people.  Perfect timing, Sol Republic is giving away a pair of JAX i2 Sound Engine In-Ear Headphones (MSRP $39.99) to one lucky BC's readers.

Immediately, I love the array of colors that these comes in.  I am talking turquoise, green, pink...a rainbow of colors.  Another thing I like about the JAX is the fit and how comfortable it is for my ears.  My biggest issue with most in-ear headphones is the fit.  The traditional mushroom shape hurts my ear after 5 minutes and they keep falling out.  Whereas, the cylinder, slender shape of the JAX fit my ears more comfortably.  It also comes with 4 set of interchangeable different size ear tips for better fit.  Other features include tangle free cable, Remote+Mic that allow you to play, pause or answer phone calls, and i2 Sound Engine that delivers powerful, high quality sound.

TO ENTER (It's really simple):

Simply leave a comment, it could be about anything and your email so that I can contact you later.

For an extra entry, Pin this giveaway or anything else from this blog and leave the link in your comment.

Very simple, right?  Remember to leave your contact and the link to your pin.

Giveaway is open to US residents only and end on December 4th, 2013 (EST).  One winner will be selected using Random.org.


Disclaimer:  This giveaway is sponsor by Sol Republic.

How to Care for Dry Lips and Favorite Lip Balms Review

Hi there!   Remember how I mentioned I am always battling with dry lips in the colder months in my
Favorite Lip Glosses  post?  Well I am here today to share with you what I do to keep them soft and comfortable.

When my lips get flaky, after I brushed my teeth, I take a soft cotton towel, wrap around my finger and gently massage my lips to remove dead skin.  Remember to be gentle, if a flake does not come of then it is probably not ready, leave it alone.

Afterward, I nourish my lips with hydrating lip balms, preferably natural or organic.  Some of my favorite are:

100% Pure Organic Lip Balm:  I have the mint and cherry flavor.  I love the simple, organic ingredients (oil and beeswax).  They glide on easily, hydrating, I don't have to keep on reapplying.  Fairly price, $6 each.  Love these!

Bobbi Brown Lip Balm:  I love the packaging and I know some of you will dislike it for being in a pot.  Moisturizing, smell great, feel good, add a nice sheen.  It is not hard but on cold days, I need to rub it in a bit with a clean finger to warm it up.  ($19)

Badger Organic Cocoa Butter Lip Balm:  Not pictured but this is another great one that make a difference for me.  Again I love that these are organic, safe ingredients and that they come in a variety of flavors.  I am digging the chubby tube, not only do you get more product but it really feels good while applying.  ($3)

The great thing about all the lip balms I mentioned is that I don't have to keep reapplying every hour.  On a few occasions, for what ever reasons, my lips were uncomfortably dry and cracked, I experimented with argan oil.  I would gently scrub, apply lip balm, then top it off with a drop of argan oil.  Oh wow, the next morning, my lips were all nice and soft...I was shock.  The argan oil I use is 100% organic argan oil.  This is something I tried on myself and it works, for you, please check with your doctor or dermatologist before trying.


Disclosure: All of the products being review was purchased by me. 

My Favorite Lip Glosses Review and Swatches

Hi there.  Are you enjoying all the beautiful color of Fall?  

I have pretty chronic dry lips and the cooler, dryer air just make it more of a challenge.  Hence, I naturally gravitate toward lip glosses.  Today, I just want to share with you my favorite that I am currently using.  Lets start with Korres, they are my favorite brand when it comes to natural lip products.

(L to R) Pomegranate, Quince, Raspberry, Light Purple.

Korres Lip Butter Glaze in Pomegranate:  The lip butter glaze texture is thinner than their original lip butter (the one in the pot) hence slightly less moisturizing, but is still more hydrating than most lipglosses out there.  I prefer the lip glaze because it is easier to apply and more hygienic.  Pomegrante is a true coral. 

Korres Lip Butter Glaze in Quince: Quince is a warm red; a very wearable red for those who are timid.

Korres Lip Butter Glaze in Raspberry:  It has more red and brown than purple, like a deep burgundy.  Perfect shade for Fall.

Korres Cherry Lipgloss in Light Purple:  I so adore this color, it is a very wearable purple.  It does not make you look dead or clash too much against my warm skin.  It is actually a very pretty, semi sheer pinkish lavender.  (Lip Swatch)

(Swatches L to R) NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Tokyo, BareMineral in Wild Honey, Revlon ColorBurst Lipgloss in Peony, BareEscentual Buxom in Bambi, Smashbox Lip Enhancing Gloss in Lust

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Tokyo:  Remember how I said I battle with dry lips?  This one will accentuate any dry flakes.  Aside from that, it is still one of my favorite for it pigmentation and shade.  Tokyo is an opaque neutral baby pink that does not clash against warm skin tone, it actually brighten my face.

BareMineral in Wild Honey:  Wild Honey is a beige with warm golden sheen.  It is pretty on it own but when you pair it with another lipstick...wow!  It makes everything look so much better especially those unimpressive lip color.  My favorite pairing is with a warm red lipstick or to tone down a too cool tone lipstick.  (Swatch of Wild Honey layer over MAC Sheen Supreme in Full Speed)

Revlon ColorBurst Lipgloss in Peony:  Peony is a sheer peach with micro gold glitter.  It is easy to wear, great for everyday, goes with almost anything.

BareEscentual Buxom in Bambi:  I love Bambi not only because it is a beautiful true, bright coral but it is also very pigmented and long lasting for a lipgloss.  However, if you are strictly against sticky lipgloss then you might find it sticky.  Personally I don't mind because it is what make it long lasting. 

Smashbox Lip Enhancing Gloss in Lust:  Lust is like the most beautiful dark red.  When you apply it, there is a tiny hint of raspberry and gold shimmer.  Unfortunately I think this is a limited edition color but I have seen it on ebay.

Phew, there you have it, all my favorite at the moment and most of them are great color all year around.

How to Choose the Right Scent For You

Hi there.  Today I want to share with you a guest post written by Grace Nolan on behalf of Essential Fragrances, specialists in both men and women's fragrances.  I learned a thing or two from her tips and I hope you will enjoy them as well.  (This is not a sponsor post)

There are many people who choose a fragrance by having a quick smell of it whilst in they’re in a shop and then purchase it straight away. But it’s not as simple as this. If you want a perfume which is perfect for you, here’s some advice:

Start with a blank canvas
Before you go shopping for a new perfume, avoid using any other fragranced product. This will clash with the scent of any fragrances that you try on and make them smell different from what they actually smell like.

The Terms:
Perfume - Perfume is often available in small bottles but is very expensive because it is created from perfume oil and alcohol. It has a very strong scent and is most likely to last throughout the day.

Eau de Cologne - This type of fragrance is made from a mixture of perfume oil, alcohol and water. Eau de Cologne is usually light and very refreshing as it usually contains citrus oil. Perfect for wearing during the day.

Eau de Parfum - Eau de Parfum is usually a heavy fragrance as it has high amounts of oil mixed with alcohol. It is always lighter than perfume meaning it’s less expensive but still just as refreshing.

Eau de Toilette - This type of fragrance is also made from perfume oil and alcohol, to give it a strong scent to make it last throughout the day.

Seasons
As the year goes on, the weather changes meaning your perfume will change. Each fragrance, which has been designed and created by top end designers and celebrities, most probably has a certain time of year when it should be worn. Scents last alot longer during warmer months because your skin is hydrated and the moisture helps hold the fragrance on your skin. We advise you wear lighter fragrances during spring and summer and heavier scents during autumn and winter.

Notes and scents
Most fragrances have a range of notes running through them which are released throughout the day. Some fragrances could smell spicy one hour and sweet the next. If you’re unsure about what types of scents you’re
interested in, here are some terms which can help:

Floral Scents - Floral scents are created by using sweetly smelling flowers such as lavender, rose, carnation, orange blossom, violets and many more.

Fresh Scents - Fresh scents include orange, lemon, lime, fresh grass and apples as well as many others. These ingredients are clean and crisp making them perfect for a fragrance.

Oriental Scents - These types of scents are warm and spicy, including, incense resins, amber, vanilla and musk. They make a perfume inviting and sexy.

Woody Scents - Woody scents add depth to a fragrance and give it an earthy scent. These include oakmoss, bergamot, labdanum and patchouli.

Top Tips
Some of the things you need to remember are:

1) Let all scents linger before you smell them. Some scents need time to settle before their top notes emerge. And always spray it on your skin and not on paper as it smells different on different surfaces.

2) To keep the scent around for the day, lightly spray some on your hair and the back of your neck. You could also spray some on your coat and clothes giving the fragrance something to grip onto.

3) Don’t buy the same perfume as your best friend just because you like the smell of it. Every person is different and suits different scents.