I'm thankful for YOU!

Happy, happy, happy Thanksgiving to all my cupcakes! Today I just wanted to express that I am so thankful for all of you! For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be a writer "when I grow up." (Still waiting for that day to come! haha) I even went to college briefly for a writing degree. However, when I got married and became a Mom, my priorities changed.

I don't address this too much on my blog, but I have two daughters. One is seven and the other is two. My seven year old has Autism and my two year old was very premature and has severe asthma. Because of all of that, going back to work was never really an option.

This blog, however, has given me the best of both worlds. I can write and interact with all of you about something we enjoy (the world of beauty!) and stay home and be there for my girls.

So all that being said, THANK YOU! Thank you for allowing me all the amazing opportunities I've been afforded thanks to this blog and thank you for supporting me. I am so thankful for you guys and I hope you have the most amazing Thanksgiving thus far.

-Sammi Cupcake

P.S. Comment below and tell me your favorite Thanksgiving food! I am so anxious for my Mom's dressing and my pumpkin cupcakes! MMM.

Hard Candy "Glamoflauge" review

Hard Candy Glamoflauge

Hey cupcakes! I am a 29 year old mother of two, who is a morning person with a night owl husband. Needless to say, sleep is sometimes hard to come by and my genetics betrayed me in the under eye area from the get go. My adult life wearing make up has been a constant search for something that would actually make me look my age and convince the world I got more sleep than I actually did.

I have been looking at concealers, brands like Kat Von D, Too Faced, and Urban Decay...but let's be honest. Those prices really aren't one income stay at home Mom friendly. At several points in time in the online beauty community, I have heard about Hard Candy's Glamoflauge. It's drug store available and under $10, so I thought it would be a good place to start before breaking the bank on the more expensive products. It absolutely blew my expectations out of the water.

 I purchased the Glamoflauge concealer in the shade "Ultra light" and much to my surprise, it was light enough for my pale skin (#palebeforetwilightmadeitcool) and the coverage is nothing short of AMAZING. It's a heavy duty coverage without being cakey. And SIX DOLLARS you guys. I am blown away. Here is a before and after shot:

 

These photos are completely untouched. It took me from deep blue/purple under eye circles, to completely smooth, young, and awake under eyes. 

After I fell in love with the concealer, I went out and got the matching foundation. While the color is a good match, the consistency is not comparable to the concealer at all. It's thin and streaky. I probably would not purchase it in the future, which is sad because I have such a hard time finding foundations light enough.  I wouldn't recommend the foundation, but the concealer more than makes up for the Glamoflauge line of products.

I'll leave you with my finished makeup look that day, using the Glamoflauge concealer and foundation. Let me know what you think and if you guys have tried any of the Glamoflauge products! Cupakes, vodka, and hakuna matata!

-Sammi Cupcake

 

November Ipsy Review

It's that time again, cupcakes! My Ipsy arrived today and it is by far the best "fall bag" this year. It definitely gives me hope heading into the winter bag months. So the theme this month was "Beauty Blast," and was a nod to the galaxy print that has been so popular this year.

 

Here was my bag this month:

• SL Miss Glam Boutique Blusher Brush [$14.50] FULL SIZE

I hadn't heard of this brand before so I did a little research. They are famous for their vegan mink lashes, but they also sell brushes and candles. It's a really soft, luxurious feeling synthetic brush. I can't wait to use it. [Use code SLIPSY for 20% off any purchase]

• Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara [$7.38 appx] SAMPLE

I only got the chance to try the mascara once before writing this review, but I love the large brush and it is very volumizing.  Also, it has been given 4 out of 5 stars by users on Sephora.com. Good pick, Ipsy.

• ModelCo Highlighting Trio [$22] FULL SIZE

In the shades Champagne peach, bellini, and bronze- a must have! I was in a rush today to get ready for an appointment and this kit was a life saver. It's definitely going in my "on the go" makeup bag. [Use code Ipsy20 for 20% off and free shipping]

• INSPR Beauty eye shadow [$13] FULL SIZE

All Ipsters received the shade "Carnival." While I am a Colour Pop fanatic, I really love this product. It's soft and the color is beautiful. It's a shimmery champagne with a touch of pale neutral brown. I'm really happy I got it in my bag. [Use code Ipsy2015 for 50% off your purchase]

• Coolway Stronghold spray [$3 appx] SAMPLE

The one product in my bag that was a bummer, I can't tell you how over Coolway products I am. Definitely won't be using this one. [Use code only4Ipsy to get 35% off and a free gift]

Bonus

I cashed in some of my Ipsy points for this yummy product, Jersey Shore's pumpkin spice balm. As amazing as it smells and feels, this will be my only one. These bad boys retail for $10. Holy. crap. That is legitimately the most expensive lip balm I have ever heard of.

Total bag value: $62.88 (with $3 figured in for the bag, which is what they normally sell for, and not counting my points reward)

This is the last "fall bag" of 2015 and Ipsy definitely stepped up their game! I am totally throwing an adult temper tantrum they partnered with ColourPop and I didn't get any...but over all it was a great month! Three full size products and the actual bag itself? TOO CUTE. Let me know what you guys think this month. Was your Ipsy bag awesome this month too? I love hearing from you guys! See you for next month's WINTER Ipsy bag review :) Also please let me know if you like that I've started adding promo codes for all the products I got. They are good through November at least.

 

-Sammi Cupcake

P.S. Don't miss out on next month's Ipsy bag! I got $72 worth of product for $10! CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR IPSY BAG!

FCS Winter Box "Welcome Santa"

Buddy the elf...what's your favorite color? OH how I love the Elf movie and Fortune Cookie Soap. For me, it's a match made in Heaven. Since the collection launch is tonight, let's jump right in!

Buddy Fortune Cookie Soap: Holiday fruits, candy, crushed vanilla, and a hint of mint.

First of, the fact that it looks like Buddy's Elf costume is SO CUTE! The smell is a lot like another FCS scent I can't place but with, as the description says, a hint of mint. It's a real nice muted candy scent. (Oh, and my fortune says "Son of a nut cracker!")

World's Best Cup of Coffee whipped cream: Vermont maple syrup, fresh brewed coffee.

This one is seriously amazing and the most fragrant of the entire box. I rubbed a tiny amount on my arm just to test the sample, then took my daughter to therapy and a woman there starting looking around saying "OKAY! Who has the amazing smelling coffee and why aren't you sharing?" I think that's the best compliment Fortune Cookie Soap could ever get. 

Yellow snow bath bomb: Ripe plums, caramel, vanilla jasmine, and exotic woods.

A really fresh, fruity smell that is really hard to put my finger on. All I can say is, it smells SO good and it would rock your world in a body wash, whipped cream, or even shampoo bar. 

Swirly Twirly Gum Drops OCD hand sanitizer: cotton candy, lemon drops, pear nectar, cranberries, black currant. 

If the game "Candy Land" had a scent, this would be it. It is sticky sweet with a hint of citrus.

Christmas Gram face plant: air, lavender, sea salt spray, woody earthiness, sage, dark vanilla. 

I don't love the scent of this one, it is almost overwhelmingly lavender. I imagine if used as intended it would be very relaxing however.

Cotton Headed Ninny Muggins dry shampoo: lilies, jasmine, bayberry, blackberries, plums, and a sprig of peppermint. 

This is a really light, pleasant floral scent that is perfect for a dry shampoo. I'm unsure about the shimmer in it, but I am 100% sold on the smell. 

FCS Cheer perfume oil: Rich, buttery pound cake, dark frankincense, patchouli, and cedar.

My daughter describes this one as "CUPCAKES!" but I'd describe it as the vanilla cake perfume from our childhood that grew up, became ultra sophisticated perfume oil. 

Shower Duet shave oil: Spruce, vanilla, fir, fruits, hyacinth, and mint.

While I love the product itself, the scent comes off fairly manly to me. I think it would smell amazing on my hubby though!

So that's the winter box! If any of this sounds like something you would enjoy, be sure to check out the winter launch party tonight. Here's all the info you need :)

Join us TONIGHT(!!!!) for our LIVE STREAMING Launch Party! Come chat with us!! Meet the FCS crafters and get a peek at some behind the scenes! To save yourself some time, you may want to sign up early for an account.
If you're on mobile, there's an app you can download, so you don't miss a thing! 

WHEN: Tonight 6pm CST

WHERE: We start out on our Facebook Page
Who: YOU!
What: Bring your $10 soap box code! 

CLICK HERE FOR $5 OFF YOUR FIRST FSC PURCHASE

-Sammi Cupcake

"You get what you get" FCS

Fortune Cookie Soap "grab bags"

For the first time ever, Fortune Cookie Soap offered grab bags entitled "Get what ya get," where loyal fans were guaranteed $30 worth of product straight from the shelf for only $10. There was no limit to the amount you could buy, but quantities were limited in the amount they had available for purchase. Because Fortune Cookie Soap has recently become exclusively online, I believe the items offered are odds and ends from previous collections that were sold in their physical store prior to closing.

Surprisingly, the promotion was able to run it's full 48 hour course. Often times Fortune Cookie Soap's promos/collections sell out quickly due to their huge fan base. (Over 54,000 people have "liked" their Facebook page, and their fan group has over 1,000 members.) Their amazing product and limited quantities have created many a "ninja shopper" as it is commonly referred to on their fan group.

So without further delay, let's get into my two "Get what ya get" bags.

Bag one:

Contains:

Lost Boys body wash, Nature's Chill Pill fortune cookie soap, Windy Bird whipped cream (4 oz), The Captain Aloe Me, Moose Mug cuticle butter, Mele Kalikima OCD (1oz)

Approximate value: $47.10

Bag two:

Contains:

Raspberry Creme fortune cookie soap, "I'm pleasant damn it!" hair oil, Glitz & Glamour cuticle butter, Scandal body wash, (another) Wendy Bird whipped cream, Porn Stache mustache wax.

Approximate value: $56.20

For a grand total of $103.30 and I only spent $20 on the bags! What a great deal. I am in Fortune Cookie Soap heaven. I really hope we have another chance in the future for some more of these awesome grab bags. Fortune Cookie Soap is great at thinking outside of the box. Oh, and I had to take a picture of this cute lollipop. I mean really...adorable.

-Sammi Cupcake

Exciting news!

Hey cupcakes! December is quickly approaching and I have been thinking about what I could do to give back to you guys, and finally came up with something. Here will be my gift to you...for the month of December, I will bring back weekly freebie posts! It is by far the most viewed blog series I have done so far, so I hope everyone really likes it :)

Also, I will be doing a big Christmas give away with details to be announced that will include COLOUR POP items!

That's all for today guys, I can't wait for all December has in store for us.

-Sammi Cupcake

Ipsy November sneak peeks

So here we are, the last "fall Ipsy bag" of 2015. I have been pretty unimpressed with the last two months so I'm hoping they really knock it out of the park for November. I will update this post as Ipsy releases new sneak peeks. Let me know down below in the comment section what you are hoping to get, and don't forget to hit that "follow" button so you never miss out on the insider info!

Sneak peek #1:

So it looks like for the month of November, everyone will be getting a sample size of Smashbox's "Full Exposure" mascara.

Sneak peek #2: The cover photo/theme

The theme for this month is "Beauty Blast." According to Ipsy, "See beyond the stars. Get ready to explore a universe of brilliant beauties in your November Glam Bag." I believe this is going to be a "galaxy" bag and that makes me super excited.

More to come as they are posted, stay tuned!

-Sammi Cupcake