Sales Associates Aren't To Be Trusted

I don't know what is with them these days, but I've caught a few of them lie to me.  Yesterday at American Eagle, one of the managers told me that I could purchase AE stuff at Aerie with the 10$ off coupon.  I took her advice and worked my way to Aerie and it worked.  Today, I was trying to return 2 pairs of jeans that I had purchased so I could get $10 off each.  But no oh oh, the associate told me that I couldn't do that because the coupon only counts towards Aerie merchandise only.  She then called another girl asking if it would work and she said no when I argued that I was told yesterday that it would.  I don't know what their deal is because I had 5 different associates tell me yesterday that it would and specifically what I would have to do.  Maybe they didn't know it would work, but come on, if everyone knew yesterday, why wouldn't the person in charge today know?

So I make my way to Aerie anyways so I can get some free shirts and when I go to the register, the girl tells me that I could only use one. Well, there is a guy standing right next to me so he can purchase 2 too.  I left Aerie $2.38 poorer when I could have been $20 more rich.  I mean I can't complain because I have gotten hundreds of dollars worth of stuff there this weekend for like $30, but still, it is a bit upsetting because I wouldn't have gotten the shirts if I didn't need to use a coupon.

And then there is Sephora at JCP.  A year ago, I was exchanging Benefit High Beam for a Kat Von D palette because I had like 5 highlighters at the time and I didn't want the big bottle to expire before I even got to it.  So I go up to the register and the lady is legit accusing me of stealing.  She was asking where my receipt was, why I didn't have the receipt, how did I get the product, where did I get it and tons of stuff like that.  No ma'am, I purchased it 2 months ago with money and I didn't think I needed it because returns at JCP could be done without a receipt.  If you check the cameras, I came in with it and I've never stolen anything there before.  It was absolutely ridiculous because she was freaking me out and everybody around me was like staring, even the other associate. So I stayed out of there for a while, almost called the store to complain about her, but decided against it because I didn't want anybody losing their job.

I have also been dodging the Clarins counter for a while too.  3 years ago, I purchased the Double Fix Mascara hoping it would be a cure to mascara smudges.  Sadly, it wasn't, it made everything worse.  When I went to take it back, the woman was like yelling at me, trying to teach me a lesson while the 14 year old little me stood there almost in tears.  She told me that stuff at Clarins weren't returnable because they just aren't.  Well, if that was true, why did she process the return anyways?  I had the receipt, everything was packaged, and everything at Macy's is returnable if not satisfactory within 180 days.  Come to think of it, I should have gotten cash back instead of a gift card...  Anyways, that was on 4th of July and she freaking ruined my day.

Another thing I experience all the time is that whenever you call a store to have them hold something, 9.5/10 they will say that they don't have it when they 100% do.  Maybe they're not looking in the right spot, but I'm pretty sure most of the time they don't even bother to look.  It is 2PM on a weekday; there's like 2 customers in stores, stop being so lazy.

Bottom line, you can't trust everything that comes out a sales associate's mouth.  I have had far too many bad experiences with them.  I don't mean to offend any sales associates out there, I'm just saying, out of my experiences, you can't trust everything they say.

Weekly Roundup: 5/1-5/7, Saved $722

I will be updating this throughout the week.

1. 4 Twisted Scoop Neck Ts at Aerie for $2.38 by using facebook coupon.  Originally $19.50 each, $78 in total. 
2. 10 fl oz bottles of de Fabulous Ginger Energizing Shampoo and Conditioner and 8.5 fl oz Ginger Body Wash for free from sending a facebook message. Retail $37 total.
3. Free bottle of Garnier Fructis Style Sleek & Shine Anti-Humidity Smoothing Milk from doing L'oreal Consumer Testing surveys. Retail $4
4. Sheet of zebra print Duct tape from facebook offer
5. 2 Physician's Formula Eye Boosting 2-in1 Eyeliner + Serum in Ultra Black for free from Physician's Formula giveaway on their site.  Retail $11 each, $22 total
6. Exchanged my American Eagle Jegging Ankle Jeans in Super Vintage Wash for Skinny Jeans in Medium Antique Wash.  They were $39.50, got them for $17
7. Got a price adjustment on my 2 pairs of American Eagle Jeans with the 15% off coupon, saved $4 more
8. Got my free Kenneth Cole Reaction sunglasses in the mail from a nomorerack promotion!
9. Coupons for 2 bottles of Suave Professionals styling product for free from the facebook promotion.  Retail $6 in total
10. Won a Cake Beauty set from Redbook sweepstakes worth $112.  I won the Sweet Cheeks Sinfully Smoothing brown sugar scrub (approximate retail value, $32), Better Bod Rub moisturizer (approximate retail value, $34), Milk Made Velveteen hand cream (approximate retail value, $18), a smoothing hand and cuticle buffer (approximate retail value, $18), and Cake Kiss lip butter (approximate retail value, $10). I was one of 15 winners out of thousands!
11. Got my Nyx Black Label Compact Powder in the mail from Hautelook.  I got Warm Natural #07 and I am NC20-25 and it is a pretty good match for NC25.
12. Ordered a 55 inch Biwa pearl necklace for free.  I have $54 of credit at nomorerack from various things for free and it cost me $29 of credit for it shipped. The title says Biwa pearls, but they don't look like Biwa at all.... Retails for $325
13. Free Dove Men+Care mini deodorant from a CVS promotion.  Retail $2
14. Free iPhone 4 dust stopper from Budget Gadgets. Retail $2
15. Free Lancome Color Design Sensational Effects Lipcolor in Trendy Mauve from nomorerack.  They were suppose to send me Lancome Color Fever Gloss in Fireworks, but they ran out so they sent me this instead.  Funny how they gave me $30 of credit because they didn't have it anymore, but they still sent one?  Retail $22
16. Won a Sen7 atomizer from Beauty Undercover Mother's day swag marathon; was 1 out of 15 of 53 people.  Retail $38 
17. Physicians Formula Bronze Booster in Medium-Dark, $14.95 and the Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting Powder in Light Bronze, $13.95 on BOGO free.  I also used 2 $4 off PF Bronzer peelie found on Bronzer packaging, 2 $2 off PF Bronzers & Powder coupon from May Rite Aid Video Values, 2 $1 off coupon from Rite Aid Video Values and a $3 off $15 purchase coupon from doing survey.  I paid -$2.05 for these.
18. 2 bottles of NYC Minute Quick Dry Nail Polishes, $1.99 for $2 in total.  Should have been $1 total, but the store didn’t hit in the BOGO 50% off?  I also had 2 $1 off NYC $1.72+ product.
19. A bottle of Revlon Colorstay Foundation in Nude (NW 25) for -$1.01.  Originally $12.99, on sale for $9.99, $5 +Up reward for purchase, $2 Single Check Rebate, $3 Manufacturer coupon, $1 off Rite Aid coupon = -$1.01
20. 2 free bottles of Clean & Clear Morning Burst Shower Gel, 2 oz each from ShopText. Retails for $5.99 for a 12 oz.
21. Duo Lash Adhesive in clear for $5.19 after $1 off coupon from Rite Aid Video Values.  Funny story, when I got home, I opened it up and I saw that the tube had exploded/been used and there was only ¾ left.  It is being exchanged for a new one next week.

Saved $722 this week and spent $10!

Beauty News: Cargo now discontinued

Cargo is now discontinued at Sephora.  If you love Cargo cosmetics, do call your local Sephora because they may still have some left in stock.  If you leave in the Albany, NY region, the Sephora at JCP still have a Cargo counter

Steal: $10 off $10 at American Apparel

Sign up for a $10 off at American Apparel coupon here.  You can choose from either online or in-store. This coupon expires 5/15 and is not valid towards shipping.  Shipping is $5 so you'd be getting 50% off if you order online with a purchase of $10

Note: Not valid on sale items :(

Steal: Bikinis under $10

I never understood why bathing suits always cost so much money for the amount of fabric it comes with.  However, here are some exceptions:
The solid colored $4.50 a piece suits at Forever21 come in black, navy, pink, and yellow I believe.  They do come with some padding.  I tried looking at Forever21.com but they didn't have so I suggest checking your store.  If you live near Albany, NY, the Forever21 there has a rack of them right outside of Heritage by the dressing rooms.

If you don't like any of them, OP at Walmart also has them for around $12 a set; They used to be $10

H&M has bathing suits for $4.95 a piece.  There's around 5 different sets going for $4.95 a piece, others are $9.95+.  They're REALLY cute this year <------

There are also bikini tops from American Apparel going for $2.50 online.

Free: BBW Signature Collection Travel Size Item

Pick out a 3oz Signature Collection at Bath and Body Works and get it free with any purchase!  Remember to bring in this coupon and this offer expires 5/4/11

Free: Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush Lip Gloss W/ Purchase

Until 5/4/11, Victoria's Secret is giving out free Beauty Rush lip glosses retailing $7 for free with ANY purchase. Don't forget to print out this coupon!

Free: BBW Royal Collection Lip Gloss or Pocketbac

For today, 4/29 only, stop by any Bath and Body Works store or bathandbodyworks.com, and choose from a free Royal Collection lip gloss or pocketbac with any purchase.  Don't forget to take this coupon with you!

There is also $1 shipping online with $25+ purchase.

Tips for Dry Skin

• Obviously, you should moisturize after cleansing.  If you don't, you'll get flaky skin which will in turn clog up your pores and trust me.  Dry, breakout prone skin is tough to treat.
• If you suffer from flaky skin and can't seem to get the flakes off no matter how many times you exfoliate, try the scotch tape method.  Just take some clear scotch tape and stick it on your flaky patch, pull it off, and repeat.  You will see all the dead skin cells on your tape.  Don't do this too much or you'll end up like me a 1.5 years ago with a peeling, irritated nose because I literally riped all the skin off of my nose.  A very thick layer too.
• Alpha hydroxy acids at a pH level of 5 is highly moisturizing
• If you suffer from breakouts, the safest way for you to moisturize is to mix glycerin with water  and use that as your moisturizer.  Never ever use glycerin without water or else it will dry your skin out
• Don't forget to moisturize your under eyes.  You may not be 30, but dry skin exaggerates lines.
• If your skin is dry during the day and you have makeup on, try Mac Fix+ to moisturize a bit.  I call this my spray on moisturizer sometimes.
• Don't use drying products.  I know that this is simple, but a lot of people just don't understand.  Anything with salicyclic acid, benzoyl peroxide, alcohol, and denat. alcohol is drying.  If you have to use it, do it sparingly.
• Don't exfoliate too harshly.  That means, gently scrub your skin with your finger tips, not aggressively with your palms.  You may think you'll have baby soft skin afterwards, but really, you'll just have soft, dry, irritated skin.
• Don't use St. Ives Apricot Scrubs because the walnut shells microscopically tear your skin.  You can't see it, but trust me, the damage is there

Tips for Oily Skin

• When you have oily skin, you probably think you don't need to moisturize.  That is absolutely not true.  Everyone of all skin types should moisturize.  If you don't moisturize, you skin will get dehydrated which in turn will cause your skin to produce even MORE oil as a defense mechanism.
• A lot of people with oily skin like to be squinky clean after cleansing.  Sure, it feels great, but if your cleanser is very stripping, your skin will become imbalanced and breakout/product more oil.
• Harsh cleansers also strip away your acid mantle which is a pH 4-5 protective boundary of your skin.  The acid mantle helps keep bacteria at bay. Removing it would mean more breakouts/irritation.
• Oily skin types should stick to oil-free face products
• You should always keep blotting papers to soak up the oil.  I don't recommend putting on powder over oil because it is just disgusting.  It is much more sanitary to remove and then powder.
• To help keep the skin from producing excessive oil, try a mattifying face primer.  Mac sells a great one.
• If you wear makeup and you have a constant battle with oil, try Skindinavia Finish Spray.
• If you suffer from break outs, don't jack up on the acne products because it will dry out your skin tremendously.  Then you will go through a cycle of crazy dry flaky skin to super oily to crazy dry, over and over again.
• I recommend cleansing 2-3x a day.  
• Try to stay away from dewy/cream face makeup.  Also stay away from shimmers.  It will exaggerate oil.