Monday, July 28, 2014

Building your kit one coupon at at time...

Hi everyone,

Welcome back to Makeup Connect with Dominique. Lately, I have received a lot of questions on how I am able to purchase makeup at such a reduced price. Well, the answer is simple... as a savvy shopper, I always buy makeup when its marked down, buy one get one 50% off, of course when Ulta has their $3.50 off $10.00 coupon, really great sale, and when there is a extra care buck or register reward involved. I really want to emphasize to everyone that couponing for makeup is NOT tedious, mundane, or overwhelmingly time investing. In fact, when I coupon for makeup, I usually have a few coupons. Sometimes I print the coupons from coupons.com or I clip them from a Sunday's newpaper. Also, please note that sales are regional. Meaning, if there is a sale at CVS this week for 50% all L'Oreal products does not necessarily imply that your CVS which is more than likely in another state will have the same deal. So always keep that in mind. It is best to get at least one Sunday newspaper just to browse different sales at your local drugstores.

Now, the deal of the week!!!! Drum roll pleaseeeeeeeeeee. This week's beauty deal is Wet'nWild, my absolute favorite drugstore makeup. Where can you find a color like Panther for .99? Exactly! A few weeks ago we received a ww coupon for $1.00. Usually, I purchase 5-7 newspapers, but this week I purchased 10 because this was one of those "Hallelujah" moments.




Here, I purchased 6 wetnwild items and they all were under $1.00 at Wal-Mart. I had 6 $1.00 off coupons and because the items were .93 I ended up with a little overage which explains the -42. The -42 was applied to my subtotal. As you see the -42 was applied to my taxes and overall I paid .10 for ALL of the items. Yes, you heard it right .10 for ALL 6 items. Literary, .10 is practically in pennies at the bottom of our purses. As a makeup artist, I can add these shadows to my personal kit or to my travel kit for clients. In the next post I will show you a more realistic approach using only 1 coupon.

I really enjoy combining my passion and my hobby together. It has sparked an interest that I really enjoy blogging about.

Please be sure to share and subscribe to Makeup Connect with Dominique.

xoxo,

diva

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Couponing for makeup is easy as 1-2-3

Hi everyone,

First, I would like to send a special thanks to all of my viewers. I really enjoy blogging about couponing and makeup. I mean c'mon it is the best of both world- figuratively. Today's series is a little different as I usually obtain my coupons from Sunday's inserts, but today I printed them off one of my fav websites to print coupons, coupons.com. Since some of you probably do not purchase newspapers, you might have access to internet and a printing device. In 2014, the "American Dream" should depict a husband and wife, dog, house, 2 children, and a computer of course with internet!!!

Coupons.com is a really helpful site that has a variety of of coupons that allows you to print 2 copies per printing device. Typically, I use 2 coupons in addition to a current sale price such as buy one get one free or buy one get one 50% off. Currently, drugstores in my area such as CVS, Walgreens, and Rite-Aid are running a buy one get one 50% off sale. Also, Ulta has a buy one get one 50% off deal on Revlon products. Because I mainly shop for drugstore makeup, this was a major bonus! I used this coupon last week at Ulta in addition to the $3.50 coupon and paid under $7.00 for two revlon lip products. I have the Rite-Aid picture posted because I wanted you all to see that manufacture coupons can be used in several stores and usually drugstores have some type of deal going on. If you are building your kit, buy one get one free or 50% off deals are double the investment because one item can go in your personal kit and then the other in your traveling kit.






Let's rewind: Where did I get the coupons? Go to coupons.com and scroll down until you find cosmetic related coupons. Please be advised coupons are periodically added and removed. So you know what that means, when you see a cosmetic coupon, PRINT it!!!

Where can you use the coupon? You are able to use the coupon at Walgreens, Wal-Mart, Target, Ulta, and several drugstores. I am located in Memphis, so be mindful that store coupon policies varies, but there is no harm in trying! Especially when we are talking$$$$.

Thanks everyone and feel free to comment if you have more questions I might have missed. Please be sure to subscribe and share with other beauty lovers!

Stay Glam,

diva

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Couponing for hair care products

Hey everyone,

Nowadays, hair care is a crucial part of women's lives and as a result, we spend top dollar for quite expensive hair care products. While shopping for hair care products can be expensive, even for men I came across a few coupons that I was able to get FREE shampoo and conditioner. Yeah, you heard me right, FREE!!! Oh, how I love free things.


Well, sometimes free isn't always good, but this time it is. Ha! A few weeks ago in the proctor and gamble or p&g insert was a $5.00 of 2 head and shoulder shampoo or conditioner. Luckily, Target had it online for $2.48 and in the store it was twice as much. Oh, the sweet advantages of "Price matching." I price matched the online price and used the coupon which made it practically FREE. In fact, it was free as the subtotal read $0.00! I have 6 items shown in the picture because I had 3 coupons.


I regularly get asked if I purchase multiple newspapers in order to get multiple coupons? Ok, who knows the answer to this question?!!! I will give you a hint? Does a makeup artist loves his/her brushes?!!! Okay, that was way to easy, but the answer to this questions is Yesssssssssss!!!!! Yesssssss!!!! As a couponer, I purchase 5-10 newspapers per week. I decide how many inserts I purchase by the "greatness", yes greatness of the coupons. Okay,back to this week's beauty series. My total savings was $14.88!!! This saving deserves a "Hallelujah" moment... You know a moment where the saving is so good, you can't help but to embrace the goodness of that saving.

I know many of you will only purchase 1 newspaper and this is perfectly fine. The savings are just as good so keep that in mind. Thanks everyone and be sure to subscribe for weekly beauty tips, couponing tips and all that other good ole' stuff.

Stay blessed,

diva



Monday, July 21, 2014

#couponforhaircare

Hey everyone,

I am a beauty lover of all things, especially if I can get them for free or almost free. In fact, free is one of my top favorite words. Ha! This past week at Target I was able to score .37 shampoo and conditioner value set. That's right, shampoo and conditioner for .37. Last week Target had a sale on Suave hair care products and if you purchased $10.00 of the qualifying items you received a $5.00 gift card. I am not sure about you, but I can think of several cosmetics items that gift card would come in handy. This series is a little different because I did not use coupons that usually come out of the Sunday's paper, but from a tearpad typically found in drugstores. I came across a Suave tearpad while in Walgreens and I made sure to gather a few because I sensed a great sale coming. The coupon was for $1.00 off any Suave Professional Hair Care product.  I didn't know when or where, but that it was coming! Oh, quick tip for those following my scenarios. If you find a tearpad in your local drugstore for beauty/cosmetics be sure to snag several because you can use them for future sales. Luckily for my savvy shoppers, I came across a Target coupon online  that was $3.00 off a $10.00 Suave purchase. The shampoo and conditioner set was $3.79 and remember the sale was spend $10.00 get back $5.00 gift card. I purchased 3 of the shampoo and conditioner sets which came to $11.37. I used the printed $3.00 off $10.00 Target coupon and  3 of the Suave coupons. My total came out to be $5.37. Then I received a $5.00 gift card which means I really spent .37 for the set. I have three gift cards pictured because I did other deals, but I was sooooooooo happy because now I can purchase the new Maybelline nude palette that I have longed for now about  2 weeks.

Lets recap...

Where did I find the coupons? In Walgreens shampoo and conditioner aisle.



I printed off a $3.00/$10.00 coupon from http://coupons.target.com/.

Math breakdown

$3.79x3=$11.37- $3.00 =$8.37 -$3.00=$5.37  I paid the remaining total and received a $5.00 gift card so be sure to subtract $5.00. That brings my final total to an incredible .37.

My total savings was $11.00. I know it seems like a little savings, but just think if you saved this amount or even a few dollars more per shopping haul. Overtime, you will see a significant amount of savings and feel the benefits in your pockets. Couponing for my beauty needs has saved me hundreds of dollars in just a few months. Stay tuned for weekly posts and also details on my upcoming youtube channel.

xoxoxo,
diva

Friday, July 18, 2014

#IAMNOTMYMAKEUP

Hey everyone,

Lately, I have seen countless of alarming videos on social media that defames women for wearing makeup. The content surfacing social media has seemingly made a spectacle of what has been a female practice for decades-makeup. As I ponder on why society overwhelmingly makes these degrading memes, videos, and other disparaging imagery that associate negative connotations to makeup, I realized that #iamnotmymakeup. Makeup is a form of art and has different social and personal meanings. For example, several fellow makeup artists argues that they share a strong passion for makeup not because it's the "trending" occupation, but because of the art. As mentioned in my first blog post, makeup is for some an escapegoat from the world. Many makeup artists are mothers, hold corporate and demanding careers, supermoms, and etc. Makeup for some is an outlet that allows individuals to explore their creativity. Just so happen creativity can come from using intensely pigmented colors, glitter (we all love a little sparkle), bold lips, and the possibilities are endless.

After watching this video, I thought it was quite the transformation. Wait a minute? Isn't that what makeup has the power to do? Transform... Let's be honest here. How many of us has naturally defined brows? long flaring eyelashes? colored cheekbones? even all over skin? naturally strong contours of the jawbones, etc.... I will be the first to say that I don't have any of these features, but with the help of makeup it can be gracefully achieved. I wasn't shocked to see her transformation as I have seen tons of similar transformations. THIS IS ART!!! When a person can take a sparse brow to a uniquely defined brow, THIS IS ART!!. When an artist puts on eyelashes, THIS IS ART!!!. When an artist makes a rainbow on her eyes, THIS IS ART. When an artist uses paint to draw pac man on his/her lips, THIS IS ART!!! Seriously, one of my makeup followers will draw just about anything on her lips to perfection- THIS IS ART!!!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=282546048597218&set=vb.100005254747161&type=2&theater

While there is a  preponderance of imagery surrounding women wearing makeup, I seldom see artists take a stand for what they love. I think women and men should, especially makeup artists, makeup lovers, makeup enthusiasts should be more proactive in counteracting these negative messages about women who wear makeup.

Therefore, I decided to start a challenge, #iamnotmymakeup challenge. This challenge conveys the message that we are proud, we love what we do, we love our natural beauty, and we love ourselves. Makeup is simply an enhancement, not who we are. Makeup does not define who or what we are. Hence, #iamnotmymakeup !!! The collage should consist of two pictures, one no makeup picture next to your full face makeup pic using the hashtag #iamnotmymakeup. Lastly, on your non-makeup #iamnotmymakeup!!! Be sure to post it on ALL social media sites, tag artists to join, spread the word and share the love!!!

Be sure to follow me on social media- Makeupdiva901_ on instagram and Dominique GodsDivaMua Watson on facebook.

xoxox,

diva

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Surprise Deal of the Week

Remember on the last post I mentioned I've found Milani in Dollar Tree stores?!!! I went to Dollar Tree today and of course I had to scan the makeup aisle. Surprisingly, I found these Milani liquid liners and nail polish, and Maybelline single eyeshadows. I did a quick search on Walgreens website and these bad boys were priced at $6.99!!! Talk about a savings. To make matters even greater...you don't need a coupon. I am a huge fan of Milani products, but I absolutely suck at liquid liner.  For makeup artists building your kits, be sure to frequently stop by Dollar Tree and you'd be surprised at what you find. I also stop by drugstores to check for markdown and clearance makeup. Couponing for makeup helps you to buy makeup at a significant discounted price. Also, it allows you to save money for future costly products. Although a lot of my makeup is low-end, I purchase some high-end products ONLY when I know its an absolute must have (like Ruby Woo and Candy Yum Yum).






Sorry about the semi-blurry pics. I will have tip top shape pics next time.

Be sure to subscribe to Makeup Connect with Dominique to learn tips, advice, and to talk about issues prevalent in the makeup community.


Lipstick lovers... beauty deal!

Hey everyone,

Welcome to Beauty Connect with Dominique!!! Where are all my lipstick lovers???? I am sure you will love this week's beauty deal. Ulta has their Revlon products buy one get one 50% off (bogo). This is a great time to have those Revlon coupons and the $3.50 off $10.00 purchase coupon. Now, this week I used coupons that I printed off coupons.com!!! The site only allows 2 prints per printing device, but this is perfectly fine because you only need 2 of the Revlon coupons. If you did not receive your Ulta coupon in the mail you can always go to Ulta's website and print the coupon. Are we still on one accord? If not, keep reading and  I will break it down in later in the text. I purchased the Revlon Colorstay Moisture Shine ($9.99) and the Revlon Lipgloss ($8.99) that I am in love with might I add!

I used a total of three coupons which are 1 Ulta $3.50 off $10 coupons and 2 printed Revlon coupons from coupons.com!

After I used all the coupons in addition to the  50% deduct from bogo it came to a grand total of $6.75 excluding taxes. I saved $11.75 which is a significant savings. Now I know there are so many things you can think of to buy with the money you saved. I wanted to buy the new highly sought after Nude Maybelline palette, but it was no where in site.

One of my beautiful followers informed me that her area did not have an Ulta which is a little depressing. If you do not have an Ulta store you can use the coupon on there website. Yes, it does allow you to use the coupon code to get your savings, but it does not accept manufacturer coupons. She also informed me that her Walmart did not carry wetnwild. When couponing for makeup please note that all stores may or may not carry certain items. Also, check in stores such as Dollar Tree. I have seen stores that carry Milani, Revlon, Rimmel, and Wetnwild for $1.00. The same lipstick that would normally cost $2.00 at Walgreens, I've found at Dollar Tree for $1.00.

Be sure to visit coupons.com and print cosmetic coupons and hold on to them as a sale arises.

Thanks everyone and stay tuned for next weeks beauty deal!!

Please share with a lipstick lover!!!

Muah,

Diva

Monday, July 7, 2014

Building your Makeup Kit one SALE at a Time



Hello everyone and welcome to Makeup Connect with Dominique! Today's post is a little different because I discuss conventional ways to build your makeup kit (low end to high end) through weekly store deals. This past weekend I had gone couponing and came across a HUGE clearance section while at CVS. There were tons of makeup that was marked down 50%. In some cases you can use coupons on markdown and clearance makeup which is a BONUS for your pockets! Considering that couponing can be a bit overwhelming or seemingly tedious, finding clearance and markdown makeup is a cost-efficient alternative to build your kit. A lot of makeup products especially in drugstores is seasonal. For example, last summer I purchased a lot of my fall lippies in the summer. Typically around the summer and fall, drugstores circulate their makeup and because its a drugstore they are more than likely to markdown the makeup at a significant low cost. This is a great time to have handy a few coupons to lower your out of pocket expense to save for that expensive product you have been wanting.

What stores should I frequent? Stores are regional and vary by location. I am located in Memphis, Tennessee and our drugstores are CVS, Walgreens, and Riteaid. Stores such as ULTA, Target, and Walmart often times have really great clearance items. The sale ad changes weekly so its important to visit these stores weekly mainly to get first grabs at newly marked down makeup!

How can I save money at drugstores? Most drugstores have a shoppers card which allows you to received items at a discounted price. At CVS and Walgreens they have a beauty club where if you purchase a certain amount of cosmetic products overtime, you receive a voucher toward future beauty purchases. Be sure to get those shoppers card!




Building your kit 101: If you have a trusted friend, a makeup swap is another way to build your kit.  Several months ago I did a makeup swap with a girl from Germany and it was so exciting to get makeup from another country.

Cons of drugstore makeup: Although I am a fan drugstore makeup, it is important to know when and when NOT to purchase makeup at drugstore mainly because it is sometimes overpriced. For example, drugstore makeup is typically higher than Walmart and Target. However, drugstores often run sales (i.e. bogo, 40% off, etc.) compared to Walmart who generally does not, with the exception of markdown/clearance.

Stay tuned for "thatmakeup&qpongirl" on youtube!!! Be sure to subscribe to Makeup Connect with Dominique!

Stay Glam,

Dominique