Ebates: My New Found Respect

This is so awesome I have to share it with everyone.

I've been raving about ebates and how it's a good way to save money. However, I actually had an issue I was waiting to clarify before I shared this experience. So I signed up for ebates and I went shopping at Sephora, but for whatever reason, I did not see any cash back transactions in my account. I kinda forgot about it until I went shopping at Sephora again, and I didn't get my notification, so I went snooping around and there's a form to fill out in case you haven't received your cash back yet. All you do is fill out some information about the day you clicked through, and it will generate your "ticket number" and you can verify that too (it keeps track of your click throughs). After that, it took less than an hour for my first one, and less than a day for my second one.

I was actually shocked. I really didn't expect ebates to give me anything because I actually thought I must have took to long to shop (I actually do take a while to shop...online, in store--it doesn't matter, I'll take FOREVER!). So by making the inquiry, I was able to get my almost $7 from one Sephora purchase (they offered 14% at the time) and a little over $10 on another...that's almost $20 I'm going to get just for shopping online!! I LOVE it!

If you click any of my ebates links, sign up, and make a qualifying purchase (I think it's like $25 or more), then I get $5. Yes, I want people to sign up through me, but hey, you can do it on your own too, you aren't required to sign up through an invite. Either way you sign up, you'll get $5 back after you make your first purchase (I believe the same $25 minimum). I would so appreciate you using my link though!!!

But the conclusion to my story is I am now sure that ebates is thee way to shop online. If you're thinking about purchasing ANYTHING, look to see if the store is on ebates. Even if cash back is like only 2%, it can add up, and it's money you didn't have before, or like a sale. Of course I do have to wait till August to get paid, but after hearing a bunch of other people talk about it, I'm sure I'll get my money!

This post contains affiliate or invite links that I am able to earn commission from. I would not support any company that I didn't like. What I earn from affiliate programs are going to be used to improve this blog, and bring more things for my followers.

My ebates Shopping Spree

Wowzers...this past week was beauty week on ebates, and I believe it's still going on right now, where certain beauty vendors are giving double cash back. I took advantage of the 14% that Lancome was giving and the 8% that Sephora was giving. I normally do not buy Lancome stuff because it's super expensive, but since the cash back was so good, I thought I'd browse. So, I got a Definicils Waterproof for myself and a Hypnose for my aunty that did me a favor last month (she likes the stuff but can't imagine spending the dough to buy it).

I am so excited about the good deals I got. I got tons of cash back, and also a lot of deluxe and coupon code samples. Be on the lookout for reviews on these products:

• Lancome Definicils Waterproof mascara
• Lancome Genifique Concentrate (sample)
• Lancome Color Design Lipstick (sample, not too sure what color)
• Lancome Juicy Tubes in Moulin Rose (sample)
• Lancome Bright Expert (sample)
• Lamcome Juicy Tubes in Touched By Light (sample)
• Shiseido Skincare 1 2 3 Pureness Oil Control Set
• MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Microfinish Powder
• Stila Smudgestick Waterproof Eyeliner in Stingray
• Bumble and Bumble Seaweed Shampoo
• Dior Best in Show Mini Mascara Duo (Diorshow in Black & Diorshow Maximizer)
• Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm Duo in Black Tea & Blackberry and Grapefruit & Ginger
• Urban Decay Afterglow Glide-On Cheek Tint in Quickie (sample)
• Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Packet Trio (sample)

I'm really interested in the Dior mascara (I've heard a TON of people, especially people I know personally, rave about this stuff), and the Bobbi Brown foundation. These are two products I didn't purchase a full size, but they're so expensive that I don't think I would feel very comfortable purchasing.

I got a bunch of samples from Lancome, and that goes to show the greatness of coupon codes. And the best part was I found that particular code on the ebates' website, not the Lancome one. So even if you're not interested in cash back (sorry, I think you'll have to be nuts to not be), the site is a great resource for coupon codes :D

One more note/piece of advice: since Sephora is such a great place to find all kinds of department store brand makeup, if you're interested in a certain product, go to the store and ask for samples. Now don't go off asking for samples of all the products in the store. It's suggested that your "limit" should be 2-3, or else the staff may not be too nice to you. After sampling these products, you can buy more confidently, especially if you like buying things online.

This post contains affiliate or invite links that I am able to earn commission from. I would not support any company that I didn't like. What I earn from affiliate programs are going to be used to improve this blog, and bring more things for my followers.

Beautylish

So I found this website, that is sort of like the facebook for beauty enthusiasts, called beautylish. I just signed up, and I've been snooping around, and they have great articles, also tips for those who do tutorials. They also feature different gurus and looks that they do. It's a bit like an interactive magazine. This is also a good place for new gurus to get noticed.

I haven't really interacted yet on this site, but I do have a profile. Come follow me if you want!

New Product Curiosity: INGLOT Freedom System

I've been reading about this brand called INGLOT that is based in the UK that has this eyeshadow palette like MAC and MAKEUP FOREVER that you can customize with eyeshadows of your choice. I've been contemplating getting a Zpalette, and getting MAC and MAKEUP FOREVER eyeshadows, and de-potting my Urban Decay eyeshadows. And after doing a little looking up, it seems that I think the INGLOT route is right for me.

At first, there were a few problems, one was that INGLOT was only a brick and mortor store...only a product listing was available online. Now that they finally have an online store, shipping is quite redonkulous-it's based on the price you're paying (the more you buy, the more you have to pay for it to be shipped). Anyway, there are stores in the US, including one in Vegas and a bunch on the east side of the country. This excites me because I would like to travel to New York (where they have a store) in the winter...just waiting on one of my friends to confirm so we can start planning our adventure there.

Anyway, I would like to point out a few things that make this company rise above the rest:

• SIZE: The size of the INGLOT eyeshadow pans are 2.7 grams. MAC and Urban Decay ones are 1.5, MAKEUP FOREVER comes close at 2.3 grams, and stila comes even closer at 2.6 grams (not too sure if these are the same size as the pans they used to sell-they're now sold in a pot)
• PRICE: When bought in bulk (>10), INGLOT eyeshadow pans are $4.50, even when you buy only one, the price is $7. MAC ones are $11 (for the pan only, in the pot it's $14.50), Urban Decay is $17, and you do not have the option to buy just the pan, also no pan only, stila at $18, and MAKEUP FOREVER at $19.
• FREEDOM: INGLOT comes in many varieties. You can choose from the duo eyeshadow palette for $1, 3 pan for $7, 5 pan for $10, 10 pan for $20, and 20 pan for $23. They will be releasing a 40 pan palette, which I'm not too sure about the price for. MAC Pro Palettes come only in the 4 and 15 option. The empty palettes (without the eyeshadows) are actually cheaper than the INGLOT ones. The quad is only $5 and the 15 pan (which can hold up to 22 I believe) is $14. MAKEUP FOREVER also has a palette you can put their eyeshadows in that holds 10, for $20. I thought they had another one (that holds less), but I can't find it. stila has empty palettes: 3 pan for $13, 4 pan for $16, 6 pan for $24, and 8 pan for $30.

So, if you get together with some friends and go to the store, you can get a good deal on eyeshadows. I've seen swatches on Temptalia's, Beautezine's and Xsparkage's blogs, and the color payoff looks great. Also, it seems after reading that the glitter in these are better at staying on your eyelid, instead of your cheek, which is something I really think Urban Decay should look into working on.

All you need to do is buy 10 pans, and you can get them for cheap. For me, that's just enough to get colors for natural look, a black, a gray/silver, an eye color enhancing look (for me a few purples), and a pink (which I like to use with neutrals). I think that could easily fill 10 pans. If I buy in the near future, I think I'm gonna pick up a 20 pan palette, and a few of the colors I mentioned. One thing I would like to do, if possible is make a dupe for the naked palette. However, in actuality, the Naked Palette is actually a good deal ($4 an eyeshadow, plus a free brush and primer potion), but I don't like the fallout from the glitter shades