Beauty Blog Link Love 30/06/12

Jenny from My Funny Valentine reviews a beautiful 'my cheeks but better' blush- the Estee Lauder Pure Color blush in Sensuous Rose.

Looking for affordable cruelty-free brands? Phyrra shares her favorite affordable cruelty-free brands with you!

Krasey Beauty introduces you to Benefit Beauty's newest superhero, Spy Gal!

Over at theNotice, Rae's wondering how much pigment an orange gloss ought to have. Check out two orange offerings by Lise Watier and Clarins to see if you can figure out the magic pigment-to-shine ratio.

How well does MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural fare as a powder and a bronzer? Let's hear the verdict at Adorable On Your Vanity!

Jessika aka polish insomniac hated brown polish... until a new polish from the land down under changed her mind!

Steal My Heart Lovee shows swatches and gives a complete honest review on the Anastasia See And Be Seen Set.

Lisamarie from Beauty Crazed may not be too bright but at least she can look bright with the new Dior Summer Mix Collection! Check out her swatches and be sure not to use any big words in the comment section!

Addicted to Beauty is going Korean beauty product crazy with an in depth tour of the Face Shop in South Korea.

Check out Jenn from Spiced Beauty views on Maybelline Dream Fresh BB in Deep!

Miss Beauty Nerd cannot decide which of Benefit's new Ultra Plush Lip Glosses she likes the best! They are all too cute!

Beauty Reflections gives 28 reasons to love Hourglass No.28 Primer Serum!

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Prime Beauty along with the Beauty Blog Coalition is giving away two $300 VISA gift cards! Hurry and enter to win!

Summer Shoe Shopping Tips and Haul

My summer shoe wardrobe was in a major need of an overhaul this year. Some of my most beloved sandals had been worn down to pancakes or were missing one too many jewel to be presentable, so they had to be retired. Well, that and the new shoe shelves I bought for my closet were looking empty and lonely. So armed with my shopping strategy and my budget, I hit the ground running (thankfully not barefoot...the situation wasn't that desperate). 

My 10 Shoe Shopping Tips

1) Remind yourself what you already have to avoid past mistakes (green and aqua jewelled gold sandals? Seriously, what was I thinking?!) and buying styles that are to similar. You only need so many casual black sandals. If you are like me, repeat that to yourself over and over. That and you don't need to buy it in every colour Lydia!!! 

2) Window shop online to familiarize yourself with styles, trends and prices. I adore DSW both in-store and online. A bonus is you can make a list of the shoes that caught your eye so you are productive when you get to the store. 

3) Set a budget before you leave the house. A pretty shoe can sway even the most stringent budgeter, so it is wise to set your bottom line before you are influenced by row upon row of bedazzling shoe goodness. 

4) Start with the essentials and then supplement with trendier buys your budget allows. If you want more trendier and colourful pieces then check out places like Payless, Winners, TJ Maxx and Marshalls. Get the look for less is my moto when in comes to trends! Note: Essentials does not = unfashionable. It simply means that you will have them and cherish them for longer than the fluorescent neon wedges that are all over the runway. 

5) Consider confort, versatility and style. The brand doesn't matter if the shoe is cute and you can walk in them. The Aldo shoes I salivated over online were mechanisms of cruel torture once I tried them on. No fashion moment is worth that much pain. And on that note, 4 inch heels are demented for everyday walking-I don't know what I was thinking.

6) Find a sales associate and fellow shopper that has a similar style to you if you need an extra opinion. Stay away from the woman behind the cash wearing clogs unless that is your thing. 

7) Walk, walk, walk, walk. If they aren't comfortable in the store, they are only going to get worse. 

8) If the shoe just fits, consider going up a 1/2 size. It doesn't matter if you are a size 6 or 10-feet swell in the summer from heat, humidity and walking.

9) Give yourself time. You don't have to buy every shoe you see, love and want the moment you behold them. I very rarely pay regular price for a shoe because I know in a few weeks it will go on sale or there is a surplus pair waiting for me at the outlet. I took 2 months to put together my summer shoe wardrobe. Different shoes will appeal to you depending on your mood and you won't feel bad that you blew your whole budget in one day and can't get the 50% off sandal that just stole your breath away. 

10) Three words: Cross-Border Shopping. Now I love Canada and supporting my local economy...BUT, my goodness the Americans have cheap shoe prices. I bought 2 pairs of BCBG sandals at the US outlet for the price of 1 pair on sale here in Canada. 

And now for dessert...my newest additions:

Sandals

Wedges

(these tie up the legs-super cute!)

Now if only the Vancouver weather would cooperate so I can take these babies out for a stroll. 

Do you have any pre-buy rituals that you follow when looking for shoes?

Beauty Blog Link Love 02/06/12

Looking for a bright lippie to wear this summer? Be sure to check out Revlon's Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Lovesick over at Makeup, Beauty & More!

Were there any colours in the Dior summer collection other than orange? While viewing the swatches of Lisamarie from Beauty Crazed, one would think not... check them out and see if you agree that orange is the awesome-est!

Phyrra shows you her newest lust, the Sugarpill Heart Breaker Palette. She compares it to some of her other favorite shadows and shares some looks, too!

At Eyelining Obsessions, Claire sums up her review series talking about 6 high street BB Creams.

Rae tries out a bright, summery, colour-blocked makeup look at theNotice. Find out what fuchsia and coral lipsticks she picked to create the lip!

Bun Bun Makeup Tips reviews some good quality eyeshadows from Makeup Geek! Shimma Shimma and Shimmermint are her favorites!

Love nail polish? Check out Krasey Beauty's review of the Zoya Beach collection!

Shannon at Lipstick Musings has found the perfect way to fake the sunny with Chanel's Soleil Tan de Chanel in Sable Rose from the Summertime de Chanel Collection. If you're a fan of bronzers, you may just need this one!

Jumping in on the BB Cream Craze, Pammy Blogs Beauty is determined to find one that works for her! Find how how she likes Clinique's Age Defense BB Cream.

Find out which OPI polish is a wallet-friendly dupe for Chanel Peridot on My Lips But Better.

Miss Beauty Nerd is opting for Maybelline's Dream Nude Airfoam as her go-to foundation in this muggy weather.

K from Beautifully Addicted To gives you a look at L'Oreal Rouge Caresses in Dating Coral.

Christina the Glitterholic welcomes her makeup sensei Lisa in a guest post reviewing the new MAC Collection, Casual Colour Lip and Cheek Pots. Check out her swatches and read her review.

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The Pink Sith reviews the Exclusive to Neiman Marcus Tysons Galleria Le Metier de Beaute Lip Creme in Cebu and she is giving away a mini lip palette from Le Metier de Beaute. Enter for your chance to win today!