Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Shop Miss A haul

If you've made purchases from ShopMissA.com before, have been to the site but are leary, or even if you've never heard of them...you'll like this blog! Shop Miss A is a website that sells cosmetics, jewelry, hair accessories, nail products, and a few miscellaneous products and the best part? EVERYTHING IS $1 with $3.95 flat rate shipping. I made my order Wednesday, September 23rd and it arrived Monday, September 28th. Here's what I got!


  • 2 packs of hair bows 
  • Kleancolor powder puff
  • Fashion jewelry hair bands
  • Kara "dark" eyelash glue
  • (3) E.L,F all over cover foundations in Spotlight, Ivory, and Honey
  • Santee concealer stick in shade #5
  • (2) Kleancolor "True Self" foundations in Ivory and Beige
  • Kleancolor dual eyeshadow applicators 
  • Amuse eyeshadow palette
  • (3) Eye lash sets. (L-R) Kleancolor 502, Kleancolor 33, and Kara 2.

These little things are dreadful. I applied them one day to try them out and after a lot of greasy feeling and not being able to blend them in, I finally wiped it off with a makeup wipe and started over again with my usual foundation. I definitely do not recommend them. ELF has a lot of great products, these are not one of them.


These three on the other hand, I did find to be good quality, especially the Kleancolors! Kleancolor Ivory was perfect for my complexion. It didn't look cakey or greasy, and it was a good coverage. I will definitely be buying more!

This is my second order from Shop Miss A and I would recommend the site to anyone. You can find great prices on makeup, get affordable gifts, and much more. If you've shopped on the site, what are your favorite items?

-Sammi Cupcake


Sunday, September 27, 2015

Monday Freebies 9.0

Hey cupcakes! I don't want to be the bad guy but this may be the last Monday freebies post. :( Last week I explained that these freebies take an hour or more to create, with all the time spent researching for good freebies and ensuring that all the freebies listed aren't scams and are still available at the time of redemption.

 I know everyone enjoys these posts (obviously, my freebie posts collectively have almost 5,000 views) but I need something small in return from you guys to make it worth while! I just need you to click the "follow" button in the right hand corner. It helps me in so many ways. Speaking in terms of sponsorships, item reviews, and paid ads...unfortunately the views do not count for much. These companies/people want to see subscribers. So I ask that you please do this one little thing for me, and I'll continue making these freebie posts for you! Win win! So go ahead and hit that follow button.


So now that we are past the unpleasantries, let's get to the free stuff! 


Yin Yang skincare samples



Lancome Foundation Sample



Request Zest body wash


Dry spray antiperspirant 


I hope you enjoy this weeks freebies and please hit that follow button up top so I can keep these coming! I hope you have a great week cupcakes. 

-Sammi Cupcake



Monday, September 21, 2015

Monday Freebies 8.0

Sammi Cupcake here to sprinkle some happiness on your otherwise dreary Monday via FREE STUFF! Enjoy, cupcakes :)

Centrum Vitamints


Loreal Nutri-gloss


Equate Ultra-Thin pad kit


Poise Pad and liners (2)


Biotrue contact solution
(Select what brand you currently use and the next page offers your sample)

Also, I need to ask you guys a favor! There are only 39 people subscribed to this page, however well over 2,000 people have viewed this series of freebie posts. Help me help you! Please hit that "follow" button on the right side of the page to keep these freebie posts coming :)


-Sammi Cupcake

**Please note: These freebie offers close quite suddenly due to a limited supply of samples. I can only guarantee that when this blog was posted, all offers were still live. I apologize if anyone misses out on a deal**











Saturday, September 19, 2015

September Ipsy review

Face Fashion
by ipsy

Fall is almost here...there's a slight chill is in the air...and makeup gets AWESOME! Today I am bringing you my September bag review-the first fall bag of the year! I'll be honest with you, my September bag wasn't all that great, but I have high hopes for the upcoming fall bags. Let's get started!


Yes, it's September and my Halloween decor is up. I'm a Halloween-a-holic. Don't judge me.

  • Formula X nail polish in the shade "Ignite" [$3.50] SAMPLE
I really love this deep cranberry wine shade for fall. Right now my fingers and toes are already done, but this may be the one item in my bag I can't wait to try!

  • Ipsy NYX 3 shadow palette [$6] Made for Ipsy-FULL SIZE
While I am not a fan of NYX eye shadows, these shades are very fall. They don't list names for the shades but I would say...#1-Shimmery golden taupe. #2-Shimmery bronze. #3-Matte black. I also think it's neat this palette is only available through Ipsy.

  • Vasanti "Brighten Up" exfoliating cleanser [$5] SAMPLE
I won't use this product and it's the 3rd time I've received it from a sub. STAAAAHP!

  • First Aid Beauty (FAB) ultra repair cream [$5.76] SAMPLE
Another product I won't use. Hooray.

  • Tre'Stique mini matte lip crayon "Nantucket Nude" [$10] SAMPLE
I think this product might get some use. This year I've really been reaching for nude shades a lot. Perfect for toning down a bold eye :) And since it's a mini, it's great for throwing in your purse for on the go use.




BONUS:
I redeemed my points for this product, 250 to be exact, and it's a total bummer! It's a Luxie eye shadow pan in #290. [$6]
The left was the photo Ipsy displayed when advertising the product. It looks like a cranberry plum right? The photo on the right is the stock photo from Luxie's site and the true color of the item. It's a grayish purple. And to quote my husband, it looks like a bruise on. haha. 

This bag contained 2 products I will use, and only one full sized product this time. The bag isn't ugly, but it's certainly not my favorite they've put out. 

Total bag value: $39.26 (with $3 figured in for the bag, which is what they normally sell for)

Considering I only paid $10, this is still a pretty great deal, but I've certainly had better months. On to further fall bags! Tell me what you got this month and how you felt about your Ipsy bag as a whole. I love hearing from you guys!

-Sammi Cupcake

Monday, September 14, 2015

Cupcake Q&A

September Q & A



Hey cupcakes! So about a month ago, I asked you guys what kinds of blogs you would like to see this month and overwhelmingly you said a Q&A. So here it is...the first ever Sammi Cupcake Q&A.

"What is your go to to eliminate or reduce razor burn that won't break the bank?"

This is actually something I used to deal with a lot. The solution I found may not be practical for everyone, but this is what I do. I dry shave and I make sure no liquid touches my legs for about an hour afterwards. However, there are some other home remedies that will cut down on razor burn. You can apply aloe vera to the area after shaving, or make aspirin into a paste and apply it to the area for 10 minutes then rinse off.

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"What top 3 items can you not live without?"

Black eye liner pens, Dr Jart BB cream, and dry shampoo. OBSESSED.

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"You write a lot about Fortune Cookie Soap. What is your relationship with them?"

I am not employed or sponsored by them, I'm mostly just a huge fan. I do receive their seasonal soap boxes to review, but any other posts you see about them on my blog are just me "fan girling" lol. They are a company that really cares about their customers and the world as a whole, plus (in my humble opinion) your money can't buy better bath and body products!

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"I love your brows. What product(s) do you use?"

Thank you! I use two different products, depending on the amount of time I have and the look I am trying to achieve. If I need it done quick/want a bold brow, I use the brow wax from ELF's brow kit in "dark brown." If I have more time to play around/want a more natural brow, I use IT cosmetics brow powder in the shade "taupe."

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"What beauty subscriptions do you currently have, and what would you recommend to a makeup newbie?"

Currently, I am only subscribed to Ipsy and Fortune Cookie Soap. I recently went through and cancelled a few because I was just getting a lot of things I couldn't use and it was cluttering up my vanity/blog space. The subscription I recommend to everyone, either new with subscription services or new with makeup, is Ipsy. It's $10 a month, you get a makeup bag and 5 items that are generally mostly makeup.

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"What made you want to be a beauty blogger?"

SO many reasons. One is, I actually went to college to be a writer. It was always my dream, but I am a terrible student and dropped out. Blogging allows me an outlet to write and express myself. Another reason is, I am a stay at home Mom of two girls and I just needed something for me. A place to go that is just mine where I can be a writer...a makeup enthusiast...just a person, and not "Mommy" for a minute :)

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"Are you a fan of contouring, highlighting, strobing, etc?"

For me personally? Not really. I do a little highlighting if I am dressing up but not often. I am really pale, and I really haven't found a contour shade that doesn't make me look orange.




That's it cupcakes. Those are your questions for my first ever Q&A. I hope you enjoyed reading this and that you can get some use out of my answers to your questions. It was a lot of fun answering them. If you haven't already, please hit that "follow" button on the upper right hand corner of the page! We'd love to have you :)

-Sammi Cupcake

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Jesse's Girl review (and deal!)

I love when I get to show you guys awesome products I personally use, and that is only made better when I can tell you about a great deal about the products I love. The product I have for you this week is the Jesse's Girl liquid liner. I wear it literally EVERY DAY. I have tried every liner you can think of, from super high end to store brand and nothing even touches this liner. It applies flawlessly and stays on all day long-you have to really scrub to get it off. Just to show you guys how amazing this product is, here's a video.


Seriously, let it dry for less than 30 seconds and it won't budge. So here's the good news...Ipsy is offering an IpsyMe deal today where you can get three of the liquid liners (black, blue, and dark brown) and a set of fashion lashes with glue for $16 with free shipping! That's a savings of about $10, and shipping if you order directly from Jessesgirl.com, their shipping is kind of steep. If I remember correctly, it's like $6 or 7. So yeah, if you are a liner girl, definitely check out this deal!

https://www.ipsy.com/offers/jesses-girl-dramatic-eye-essentials/?sid=fb&cid=ipsyOffer_jesses-girl-dramatic-eye-essentials

-Sammi Cupcake

**Note, I am not sponsored by Ipsy or Jesse's Girl. I just love this product, and saw a great deal I wanted to bring you guys!**

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Fortune Cookie Soap fall haul

"Old Hollywood"


  • American Royalty
Rose milk, thick honey, tobacco blossoms, caramel, and mandarin.

[Pomade] I ordered this scent in wax tarts, body wash, and whipped cream. The scent translates well into all products. (Note: if you loved The Hound from Winter is Coming, you'll love this one!)

  • Glitz & Glamour
Wet moss, polished wood, creamy vanilla.

[OCD] I purchased this scent in a wax tart and whipped cream. The hand sanitizer and whipped cream smell the same, however in the wax tart the "wet moss" is a lot more predominant.

  • Famous
Warm amber, wild orchid, white cotton, sundried herbs. 

[Wax tart] I actually ordered this in another wax tart because I loved the smell so much, but the wax tart I got smells slightly different than the one from the box. It smells a lot more like bubble gum.

  • Scandal
Creaking woods, wind blown leaves, rose thorns.

[Bath powder] I ordered this in a wax tart, it smells the least like the item in the box of all I ordered. It smelled so yummy and fall-like in the bath powder, in the wax tart it just smells like Big Red gum.

  • Pearls & Girls
Vanilla, wild jasmine, pear.

[Perfume oil] I bought this in a Fortune Cookie Soap, and it smells identical to the perfume oil.


  • Items I purchased not in the fall line
    -In The Loop wax tart.
    -Sally whipped cream
    -Mother of Dragons whipped cream


I am really happy with all of my purchases except for the Scandal wax tart. I can't imagine my whole house smelling like cinnamon gum, haha. But yeah, definitely look into this collection for fall. The collection is full of non-traditional fall scents. If you are new to Fortune Cookie soap, click the button below for $5 off your first purchase of $30. Happy fall, ya'll. 


-Sammi Cupcake







Monday, September 7, 2015

September Target Box

That's right, cupcakes! Tomorrow (likely at 8am) Target will release their September box which appears to have a predominately hair theme. Here is a sneak peek we've received so far of the items that will be offered:


The Products:
Dove Quench Absolute Creme Serum (FULL SIZE! Value $5.99)

So if this sounds like something you would like, follow the link below tomorrow morning around 8am to grab yours! These almost always sell out within 24 hours.

Click here to get your box tomorrow (Tuesday)

-Sammi Cupcake

Saturday, September 5, 2015

How to wear purple lipstick

Purple lipstick


If you keep up with trends, you've probably noticed purple is going to be a very popular lip color this fall. Every popular makeup brand is pumping out the color-from Nyx, Covergirl, Revlon, Colour Pop, MAC, to Kat Von D. You will have no issue finding purple this year. The problem is, purple can be such an intimidating lip color to wear. How do you wear it without looking like a clown or a member of the Addams family? Sammi Cupcake has your back. Here at my top 5 tips for wearing purple lipstick this fall.

  • Tip #1: This is definitely not a BB cream/tinted moisturizer kind of day. When wearing a purple lip, you want a full coverage foundation that is preferably matte. 
  • Tip #2: Skip highlighting, contouring, and heavy blush. You want everything but your lips to be minimal. 
  • Tip #3: Keep your eye makeup neutral. This is a pretty standard makeup rule. Eyes and lips- if you are going bold on one, go natural on the other.
  • Tip #4: Explore your options with shades of purple. There is no one shade fits all. With purple being a trend this fall, there will be lavender to deep purple and everything in between...find the one that works best for you!
  • Tip #5: Make sure to really clean up around your lips and keep your lines smooth, as your lips will be the focal point of your face.
Thanks for reading, and feel free to comment below your favorite purple lippie, or any other tips you guys have for wearing purple. If you haven't already, make sure to hit the "follow" button on the upper right hand side of the page.
-Sammi Cupcake

**Additional Information** The lippie I am wearing in the photo is Colour Pop's ultra matte in "Be Dazzled" available online only for $6. 


Wednesday, September 2, 2015

September Avon Review

Avon Review





Hey cupcakes! As most of you know by now, I am being sent Avon products to review for a few months. This month I received these two products:

  • Avon Ultra Glazewear lip gloss in "fiery red"

  • Avon Eye makeup remover lotion 





While Avon does have a couple products I love and use often (Dry ends serum and bug spray) the products I received this month were pretty disappointing, in my opinion. I am definitely a red lippie kind of gal, but this gloss was one of the worst I've tried. It is very thick and sticky, and it was uncomfortable to wear. Also, the color payoff wasn't what I look for in a lip product.  The eye make up remover lotion was very moisturizing and took off my face makeup, but I had to really scrub to get my eye liner and mascara off. In Avon's defense, I have tried A LOT of eye liners and use the one that I found longest lasting. I imagine if you use a regular pencil liner, it would do a good job removing it. Thanks for reading this months Avon review, and don't forget to check out the e-store, where 100% of earnings are donated to breast cancer awareness.


-Sammi Cupcake

**DISCLAIMER: I received these products complimentary from Avon for testing purposes, however you can trust that I have given my 100% honest opinion. -SC**

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Monday Freebies 7.0

Monday Freebies 7.0


I'm so sorry that we've missed a couple weeks of Monday Freebies, my cupcakes. As I've mentioned before, this post takes by far the longest to write of all the ones I do, due to the fact that I test out each sample before I post about it and make sure it's still valid and not spam. But you all have been asking for it, so here it is! A delayed Monday Freebies for all my lovely readers. Enjoy

Philosophy sample



Always Discreet 




U by Kotex

(Warning-you do have to complete a short survey from Target to get this one)


Quest Protein Packs





Nexcare Waterproof Bandaid



And finally, I'd like to direct you to Avon's sale page where you can find a lot of great deals, including buy one, get one for $1.99 Avon "Foot Works" products! 

(Just hit the "sale" page to view all the great deals!)


-Sammi Cupcake

**Please note: These freebie offers close quite suddenly due to a limited supply of samples. I can only guarantee that when this blog was posted, all offers were still live. I apologize if anyone misses out on a deal**