Sephora VIB Sale Spring 2018: What I'm Buying

Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Every Spring and Fall, Sephora offers a VIB sale online and in-store. While I haven’t found a date for this year’s sale, it typically occurs in April. The 2018 Spring VIB sale runs from April 13-April 16 for VIB Rouge and April 20-23 for VIB Rouge (again), VIB and Beauty Insiders. Beauty Insiders receive 10% off in the Spring, while VIB and VIB Rouge members receive 15%. It’s not much, but it’s better than nothing! I tend to stock up my “bigger” purchases during the sale to save a few dollars.

If you’ve been following me on Twitter, you’ve probably heard me talking about my current obsession with skincare. Surprisingly, I don’t intend to buy any makeup during the sale this Spring. Instead, I am going to focus on buying new skincare. I want to wear less makeup during the summer but I need to make my skin glow before then! While I won’t buy all of these items (hello, this is like $400 worth of skincare!), I am certainly planning to pick up a few of them.

Skyn Iceland Nordic Skin Peel | This was recommended by a friend who swears that it improved the texture and quality of her skin. I’ve heard amazing things about Skyn Iceland and these pads claim to remove dry, dead skin cells. Sounds like a good start to fresh, glowy skin!

Moon Fruit Superfruit Night Treatment | Honestly, the name and look of this product is incredibly intriguing. However, I also have a friend who swears by this! I love night treatments that work their magic while I’m sleeping. This one is packed full of fruit enzymes and claims to be incredibly hydrating.

Tatcha Bestsellers Set | I love skincare kits that offer a variety of products. Tatcha has been all the rage for the past year or so and this is a great way to try four products for the cost of one full-size product.

Tatcha Silk Canvas Protective Primer | I have two friends who are loving this primer right now! I just ran out of my Fenty primer and while I liked that one, I am still on the search for my holy grail primer. This one looks promising! The price tag is steep so the sale is a great time to pick it up.

Philosophy Microdelivery Exfoliating Facial Wash | I actually had a free sample of this in a Sephora order and I loved it. It smells citrusy and refreshing and it has a wonderfully creamy lather. I’m not in love with my current facial cleanser so I plan to replace it with this one ASAP!

L’Occitane x Rifle Paper Co. Mini Hand Cream Set | L’Occitane Hand Cream is my favourite hand cream ever. I love the packaging and the formula works wonders on my dry hands. This collaboration with Rifle Paper Co. is adorable and the price for four mini hand creams is unbeatable.

What are you planning to buy during the VIB sale?

Post contains affiliate links.

Tips for First Time Cruisers: Booking Your Cruise

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

 

This is Part One of a multiple-post series. I will link the following parts here as they are available.

We are not cruise experts by any means (hopefully someday!) but I thought I would share some tips and advice that we have learned from our cruise experiences. It can be an overwhelming process if this is your first time cruising, however, it is will well worth it! If you have any questions or advice, please leave them in the comments below.

Disclaimer: This is based on our personal experience on the particular crises that we have traveled on. This information can vary between  cruise lines and/or cruise destinations. I suggest checking with your specific cruise line regarding any questions or concerns you may have.

To Book With A Travel Agent or Not?

We normally booked all of our vacations independently, until our first cruise. As it was our first time doing a cruise, we didn’t want to risk making any newbie mistakes so we used a travel agent. Since then, we have booked all our cruises with a travel agent. Why, you ask? Because a travel agent can often get you a better rate through a group booking or at the very least, perks in the form of on board credit or other bonuses like free upgrades. If you are interested in booking with a travel agent, I can send you the information for mine! (No, I don’t get anything from the referral!)

Choosing The Right Cruise

With so many cruise options, it can be hard to narrow down a specific ship to travel on! Obviously, if you have limited dates to work with, you will have to find a cruise that sails within those specific dates. Personally, we stick to Caribbean cruises, which typically offer 7-8 day Western, 7-8 day Eastern or 7-10 day Southern cruises. There are also cruises to Bermuda, Florida, Cuba, Hawaii, the Panama Canal and more!

Next up, you have to decide where you are cruising from. We leave from Florida as those flights are typically the cheapest for us. Florida has four cruise ports in the following cities: Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, and Tampa. Most hotels offer cruise port shuttles for a small price, or you can get a cab, Uber, or Lyft to the port. If you live in the area or have a rental vehicle, you can also park at the ports. However, it is not cheap – usually upwards of $20 USD/day.

There are multiple cruise lines and everyone has their own personal favourites. Royal Caribbean is known for huge, fun megaships and Carnival is known to have the party atmosphere, while Norwegian is a family-friendly combination of the two. MSC is a European-styled line, while Celebrity has a reputation for being a classy good time, and Princess caters to the older folks. Of course, you will find people of all ages, sizes, shapes and colors on each cruise ship! We have traveled on Royal Caribbean and Norwegian and enjoyed both, though Royal Caribbean is our favourite. We also have friends who have traveled on Carnival and Celebrity and have thoroughly enjoyed those as well.

Eastern or Western? Southern?

The Eastern itinerary tends to include places such as St. Thomas, St. Martaan, San Juan, Nassau, and Tortola, while the Western often frequents Cozumel, Costa Maya, Belize, Roatan, Falmouth, Grand Cayman and Ocho Rios. The Southern itinerary is often reserved for longer cruises but includes Curacao, Aruba, Turks and Caicos, and San Juan, amongst others. The Eastern and Southern itineraries tend to be a little pricier than the Western itineraries, and seem to be more well-liked. That being said, I highly recommend trying them all! We were booked for an Eastern itinerary which got switched to a Western after Hurricane Irma. We were initially a bit disappointed as we had already done a Western itinerary, however, this one contained three new ports and we had a great time!

As per your contract with the cruise line, they can alter your itinerary for any reason. As it is part of the contract, you may not receive any compensation for the change so please be aware of this. Likewise, ports can be cancelled due to poor weather condition, especially if it is a port where you have to tender (take a smaller boat ashore).

Cruise Tips

Taking a tender boat from Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas in Grand Cayman

Once you finally book your cruise (yay!), it’s time to start planning! Here are a few tips and tricks to help you. I will also be posting a separate cruise packing list in the near future, which I will link here as well.

Before You Cruise

  1.  Make two copies of your passport and travel documents: one to take with you and one to leave at home with family or friends. Losing your passport in a foreign country would be very dangerous and stressful.
  2. Pre-print your luggage tags and attach them to your suitcases. You can buy luggage tag holders specifically for cruise tags on Amazon (standard size and narrow size). You can find the printable for your tags in your e-documents.
  3. Bring small cash for tips. While gratuities are charged daily on cruise ships, we like to tip extra when the service is excellent. A couple dollars here and there to bar staff and servers can go a long way. We tend to leave $3-4 dollars each day for the room steward and an extra $20 at the end of the week if we feel it is merited.
  4. Call your bank and/or credit card company to let them know you will be travelling, otherwise they may freeze your account when they notice spending in a foreign country.
  5. Don’t forget your regular medications but pack any extras that you may need as well. While the ship does sell some medication, it will be very expensive to buy. We always pack some pain medications, anti-inflammatories, anti-nauseant, anti-diarrheal, stool softeners, antacids, allergy relief, anti-itch cream, antibtioic cream, and hydrocortisone cream.
  6. It would also be wise to pack a small first aid kit for minor injuries. For example, something as small a cut on a rock could be managed with a first aid kit, therefore preventing a trip to the medical aid office.
  7. Pack lots of sunblock and after-sun care! Again, this is very expensive to buy on board and you will need it. Even if it is cloudy, you can burn easily on the ocean.
  8. On many of the larger ships, you have the option of booking dining times, evening shows, and more through the online cruise planner. It is suggested that you avail of this as seating may be limited once you are on board, or you may not get your dining time of choice. It varies from cruise line to cruise line, but you will likely be able to start booking around 90 days prior to your trip.
  9. It is often cheaper to purchase drink packages, dining packages, and shore excursions online before you sail. Sign up for e-mail notifications so you don’t miss out on any discounts!
  10. Book your arrival flight the day before the ship sails! This is especially important if you are traveling in the winter or even during hurricane season. Again, the ship will not wait for you if your flight is delayed or cancelled. It is better to leave early and stay in a hotel near the port the night before.
  11. You can easily book your departure flight the same day as the ship returns to port as you are often disembarked by 9-10am. However, be sure to leave enough time to get back to the airport and check in, especially for an international flight.
  12. Pack a small carry-on bag for the cruise if you wish to take advantage of the pools or hot tubs before you set sail. You will drop your checked luggage off at the terminal and it may not be delivered to your room until supper time. If you think you will need anything before that time (bathing suits, medications, camera), be sure to pack it in a purse or carry on bag. I don’t recommend taking a carry on suitcase as you will have to drag it all over the ship with you until your room is ready, which may not be until 3-4pm.
  13. Join a Facebook group for your ship and if possible, your specific sailing date! This will provide you with the opportunity to see pictures, reviews, and interact with fellow cruisers. Ships often have meet & greet sessions for Facebook group or Cruise Critic participants. These meet-ups are free to attend and may include free snacks, drinks, or even the opportunity to meet the captain or crew members.

Check back for part two soon!

This post contains affiliate links.

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What I'm Buying For Spring

Thursday, March 15, 2018

Twill Field Jacket | Saturyay Hoodie | Bell Sleeve Top Palm Springs Sweatshirt | Oh Hey Vacay Tee | Graphic Tee | PJ Pants | Floral Romper | Flare Dress Loft Safari Bag

Every year without fail, I want to go on a major shopping spree at the first sign of spring. There is just something about pastels, florals, and all the girly touches in spring collections that has me passing over my credit card faster than you can say hello. I’ve rounded up a few of my favourite items above that I have either a) purchased already, or b) would like to purchase this spring.

I actually purchased all of the Old Navy items last weekend during a sale. On Saturday they had a fantastic sale on but the field jacket was out of stock in blush. Luckily, it was back in stock (and 40% off!) on Sunday so I snatched it up then. The other items I bought on Saturday and most of the shirts ranged from $10-$20 in price. The PJ pants and the jacket have already arrived and they are so cute! I’m thinking I might do a try-on haul on Instastories when everything else arrives if anyone is interested.

The floral romper and the flare dress are both from local stores (Bombshell by Michelle and Unicornio Studio, respectively). I haven’t tried on a romper in years but I’m kind of obsessed with this one! As you can likely tell, I am also obsessed with bell sleeves. And anything floral print. Okay, and graphic tees too.

I’m sick of my current Rebecca Minkoff bag and I’m in the market for a new purse for spring. I usually go with a brand like Kate Spade or Rebecca Minkoff but I discovered Co-Lab through Instagram and I love their stuff! They are also Canadian which is an added bonus! I love the Safari bag in blush but my current bag is blush and the color is so impractical. I always gravitate to the pastels (see first paragraph) but I think my next bag will be black. The light colors are so hard to keep clean, plus I always get dye from my jeans on the bag.

What’s on your spring wishlist?

This post contains affiliate links. 

Butterfly Lash Extensions: Are They Worth It?

Saturday, March 10, 2018

Lash extensions have suddenly become all the rage and I quickly hopped on the bandwagon. I absolutely love the look of false lashes but I cannot apply them to save my life. I usually end up gluing the lashes to my fingers rather than my eyelids then throwing them away in frustration. Therefore, lash extensions seemed like the perfect alternative! But are they worth the price and upkeep?

Cost

The cost of getting eyelash extensions for the first time will vary depending on the business. However, a general range seems to be around $70-$100 for home-based businesses and $100-175 for salons. I got mine applied at a salon while they were running a promotion, so I only paid $89 + tax. I definitely wouldn’t pay full price for them! My suggestion is to follow local salons and keep an eye on promo prices.

Procedure

Prior to getting my eyelash extensions, I had to sign a waiver. The waiver informed me of the risks involved, asked for pertinent health information that could affect the application (such as claustrophobia), and ensured that I would not sue due to loss of eyesight, damage, etc. I’m sure the chances of that happening are very low but if you aren’t willing to take those risks, best to avoid them altogether.

I got settled on to the table with a cozy blanket and heating pad and my lash tech asked what style of lashes I wanted. I opted for a semi-natural look as it was my first time getting them. The initial process took about 3 hours. I honestly thought it was incredibly relaxing but I have a claustrophobic friend who hated getting her extensions applied.

After Care

I am so glad I chose the more “natural” look and I was very impressed my lashes. However, the maintenance for lash extensions is intense. You have to avoid water and steam for 24 hours but after that, you still have to be careful not to submerge them in water. To prolong the lashes, you are also supposed to avoid oil-based makeup and makeup removers. You cannot wear mascara (you really don’t need it) and eyeliner can also affect the durability of the glue.

On top of that, you have to get your lashes filled every 2-4 weeks, depending on how fast your lashes grow and your extensions shed. Most everyone that I know has to get them filled every 2 weeks. I went back for a fill at two and a half weeks and I feel like I had about 50-60% of my lashes gone at that point. The fill took around an hour and a half, which I didn’t mind, but the cost is insane! It cost me over $60 with tax and a tip. I understand why it costs so much (the product itself, the tedious work) but it’s a tough pill to swallow every two weeks.

Lash Extensions

Overall, are lash extensions worth it? I’m not going to lie, I do love mine. I love that my makeup takes less time and I can roll out of bed and actually look half-normal. I also love that they are weightless and comfortable (unlike false lashes). However, they require a lot of maintenance and money. If I had a large disposable income, I would never take them off. Sadly, I cannot afford $120+ a month for fills and will eventually have to bite the bullet and remove them. I will definitely consider getting them again for special occasions, like a vacation or my wedding though.

Have you ever tried lash extensions? 

Bubble Pixie Soap Co. Review

Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Bubble Pixie Soap Co. is a local Newfoundland-based company that creates handcrafted bath and body products. Bubble Pixie Soap co. is based in Grand Falls Winsor but has an Etsy store that ships across North America. The owner, James, quit his career as a buyer/manager/interior decorator for a home decor shop and pursued his dreams of creating his own products. You know I love a good inspirational story!

I was gifted this bath bomb by a friend of mine so this post is in no way sponsored by the company.

Along with bath bombs, Bubble Pixie Co. also sells soap, lotions, sugar scrubs, lip balm and more. The “Bombshell” bath bombs retail for $7 CAD. I was immediately impressed with the sheer number of scents available!  The bath bomb that I received was in the scent “Cherry Manilow”, which is a sweet cherry scent, much like a Cherry Blaster candy. I also sniffed the “Candy Shop” bath bomb which reminded me of Sweet Tarts. Do you see a theme here? Perfect for candy junkies like myself!

Despite being pinkish in color, the “Cherry Manilow” bath bomb turned the water a blue-tinged iridescent shade, which surprised me. The bath bomb didn’t contain any floaties or fillers, which was fine by me (I love LUSH bath bombs but I don’t necessarily love flowers in the bathtub with me!). It fizzed for a decent amount of time and left the bathroom smelling wonderful for hours afterwards. Jordan also commented on how long the scent lasted on my skin.

Overall, I was pleased with my bath bomb from the Bubble Pixie Co. shop! I’d also love to try their Partridgeberry and Bakeapple Soap and Sugar Fix Emulsified Sugar ScrubHave you ever tried anything from the Bubble Pixie Soap Co.?

I think it’s so important to support local brands. If you are a local business owner and would like to be featured in a post on Janine Allison, please contact me via social media or email.

Lyrical Host Review From a Wordpress Newbie

Saturday, March 3, 2018

This post contains affiliate links.

Changing gears today and posting a review of my host, Lyrical Host, and why I chose this particular hosting company for my blog. Choosing a host for your blog is essentially like choosing a house for your blog to live in. You want a host that’s going to be dependable, affordable, and helpful. There are many blog hosts on the market but I truly believe that Lyrical Host is the best, and here’s why.

Choosing Lyrical Host

I was initially attracted to Lyrical Host because of their website. Essentially, their model home looked great, if you want to get back to the housing analogy. It looks professional but not like a mega-corporation site. It genuinely looks like a business page that I would have myself, if I ever had my own business. It’s easy to navigate, user-friendly, and professional looking. The user panel is also extremely easy to use, even for a new-to-self-hosted-blogger like myself. You can see a tour of their various pages here.

A major selling point for me was their FREE Blogger to WordPress migration. As in, they did all the work! They transferred my previous posts from Blogger over to WordPress, installed my framework and theme, then set my new site to go live! It only took a couple of days and absolutely no frustration or tears on my behalf. Just so you know, this is a service that most people charge $100+ for, so I was completely sold when I discovered they would do it for free.

Cost

There are a number of hosting companies out there and most bloggers recommend Bluehost or Siteground. I’ve never used either of those so I cannot recommend them, but they appear to be well-liked. The main selling point for those hosts is the low price ($2.95-$3.95/month). However, that rate is only honoured for the length of the contract. When the contract renews, it will be at the regular rate ($7.99-$9.95/month or more). While Lyrical Host costs more per month (I pay $14.99 CAD for the cheapest plan), that price does not change after 6 months, a year, or two. You can pay monthly, biannually or yearly and cancel at anytime. They guarantee no hidden costs or unexpected surprise charges to your credit card.

You can also purchase your domain through Lyrical Host, which I did. I had previously bought my domain through GoDaddy but figured it would be better to have it all under the same roof, so to speak. Switching over was easy enough, thanks to their super helpful instructions! The cost for a .com domain through Lyrical Host is $18.99 CAD per year.

Free Resources

Who doesn’t love freebies? Lyrical Host has an entire “Free Resources” section for their users. It contains stock photos, fonts, social media graphics, templates, WordPress guides, and more! When you buy a hosting plan, you also receive a welcome pack with similar products. And if that isn’t enough, you will also receive a monthly email with new stock photos and other goodies to use on your blog. This alone makes the monthly fee worth the cost! Fun fact – the header in this blog post is actually a free stock image from Lyric Host!

Community Values

If I haven’t convinced you yet, Lyrical Host is also a very ethical and community-oriented business. Not only do they hire small businesses and freelancers to help create gorgeous resources, they truly believe in giving back to the world. Each month, part of your hosting fee goes directly to education funding for young girls in Mozambique! Also, for each year that you are a Lyrical Host customer, they plant a tree for you to help offset carbon emissions.

Customer Service

From day one, I’ve experienced nothing but amazing customer service at Lyrical Host. From initially chatting with the co-founder, Jenni, through Facebook messenger, to having Joseph and Lauren answer a million questions via my support tickets (which were always responded to incredibly quickly!), I have been 100% satisfied with their customer experience. They are also so supportive on Twitter and constantly retweet blog posts from their customers! Thanks to their shares on Twitter, my posts have been able to reach an even larger audience of potential readers around the globe.

So What Are You Waiting For?

Signing up for Lyrical Host is super easy and if you use my code “JANINEALLISON” or simply “JANINE”, you will save 10% off your hosting plan*! If you have any questions, feel free to ask away or get in touch with Lyrical Host yourself. You can also watch the video below for a great summary of Lyrical Host and all that they have to offer!

* This is an affiliate referral which means that I will make a small commission off your purchase but let’s be honest, I would absolutely recommend them regardless.

Lyrical Host ReviewLyrical Host Review

NYX Powder Puff Lippie "Best Buds" Review

Thursday, March 1, 2018

NYX Cosmetics recently launched their Powder Puff Lippie Powder Lip Cream as part of their spring line. It is currently available in eight shades and I will be reviewing the shade “Best Buds” which is described as a “nude rose”.

The Powder Puff Lippies are packaged in a matte squeeze tube with a sponge-tip applicator. It initially took a couple minutes of squeezing to actually get some product through the applicator. Now that I’ve used it a few times, that is no longer an issue. The tube contains 12mls of product and retails for $12 CAD.

NYX Powder Puff Lippie Best Buds

The formula of this product is really different from anything else I’ve tried. It applies as a mousse and dries down to a powder. It is extremely comfortable to wear, to the extent that I don’t even feel like I’m wearing any lipstick!

NYX Powder Puff Lippie Best Buds

The color, “Best Buds” is truly a “my lips, but better” shade.  I noticed some reviewers complaining that it is difficult to obtain a sharp edge because of the applicator. However, because this shade is so close to my natural color, I haven’t had an issue with that. I only get a couple hours of wear time out of the lipstick without having to reapply and obviously, it needs to be reapplied after eating and drinking.

NYX Powder Puff Lippie Best Buds

Overall, I do like this product but it’s definitely not a must-have in my opinion. I will continue to use it but I don’t think I would pick up another shade. Despite the fact that it is super comfortable to wear, I prefer long-lasting lipsticks.

Have you tried the NYX Powder Puff Lippies yet?

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