Beauty Advent Calendars For Less

With many Beauty Advent Calendars customers don't get enough bang for the buck. The high end calenders are expensive and a holiday splurge. And yet, despite paying a hefty price tag, some luxury brands skimp on product. I'm thinking of you Charlotte Tilbury: offering 12 items in travel sizes for $200. At $150 NARS is a little better with 25 gifts, but they, too, are mini sizes (and one offering is a pencil sharper)! Oh c'mon, when we pay the piper, give us full sizes of product!

Today I'm adding three Beauty Advent Calendars for less since not everyone can afford the high end Beauty Advent Calendars I featured on Monday. The following is sure to delight also:

Inside of Sleek Advent Calendar

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1) Sleek MakeUp Can’t Wait Another Day Advent Calendar - 35£/$44. Twenty-four days of goodies. Sold at Boots in the UK. Here in the US, Sleek makeup is available at Ulta and Walgreen's, but I haven't seen the advent calendar in America. The Sleek beauty line is worth discovering, so I'm tempted to buy the makeup to make my own advent calendar of gifts! Included in the UK Advent Calendar is Sleek's doppelganger for NARS Orgasm blush in their own imitation shade of rose gold, so be sure to include it in your mix.

Although Walgreens doesn't seem to stock Sleek's full Advent Calendar, it carries smaller collections of 5 Sleek makeup items in lovely neutral colors retailing from $10 to $15, which I nearly got for myself.😊 As I reminded myself, makeup is not what I entered the store to buy!

2) NYX Sugar Trip 24 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar $55 - Contains 24 gifts consisting of eyeshadow, blush, highlighters, matte lip creams and lip glosses.

Inside of NYX Advent Calendar
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3) Westminster Abbey Advent Calendar from Acorn $35 - This last suggestion is a bit of a stretch as it's not a 3-dimensional beauty calendar. I love it for its history of London's great Gothic church. 24 doors, windows and other openings reveal sections from the Abbey's stained-glass windows! Pair this calendar with 24 wrapped Sleek makeup items and still pay less than the cost of one of the ritzy beauty advent calendars. (Ulta offers 2/1 Sleek makeup often.) Plus this landmark calendar is sure to be kept instead of tossed!

🔔🐪🎄

12 makeup products

Another holiday calendar of interest is No 7 from Boots, yet I stop short of recommending it as a 4th choice. Yes, I love No 7 as a skincare and makeup line, but 12 Days of Beauty contains only 12 (not 24 items). Retailing for $44, they are not full sizes. You know how I feel about small sizes in a collection readers!😠 If it sold for about $20, I'd recommend it. Why not pick out full sizes of 2-3 favorite items in order to give more substanial gifts?

Most everybody spends more than they wish on Christmas gifts. Yet, here is a bit of wow for 24 days costing $55 or less!

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Happy Halloween From Gotham City

In a town of dedicated doormen, two dandy gentlemen welcome you to Gotham City to experience a howling Halloween. 

 Who spread the terror ... um, terr~ible rumor that New Yorkers are an unfriendly bunch? As you can see by this colorful beaming face such hearsay is merely fiction!💀

Know that Gotham City isn't all concrete and mortar. There's plenty of green living things from where little creatures (bats!) like to hang upside down and birds (ravens and buzzards!) like to perch eagerly watching all passersby.

Did someone below faint, or fell over? Perhaps, a fat, little, tasty morsel! Shall we fly down to see?

These longtime, Upper East Side, Social X-rays will dangle around until their black feathered friends better assess the scene.

Meanwhile in the side yard, the spirited games and merriment begin with our honored guests. Come join the fun!

On Fright Night open bar: Barton, the bartender, is standing by to fill your glass. Ahhhh, he's smiling!

What's a Halloween Party without a treasure trove of festive door prizes for everyone attending. Just don't fell in!

And look: Fireball, the family pet, wants to play with you!🔥Puff, puff, little dino!

Everybody is tied up and having such a frighteningly good time ... but who is eating the appetizer here?  Want a bite???

Oh, what a tangled web of All Hallows' Eve we weave!🕷

And for the love of wickedness ... who left their bones in the flower pot?🎃

Work up your appetite, my lovely readers. After dark, Fireball🐲 starts the barbecue.🔥 Mmm, big juicy rats! 

Oh vegan, are you? No worries! We have an extra pair of hands to help toss a red and green salad.

Neighbors are practicing their ghoulish dance moves out on the stoop. Come back after dark to see their monster mash. It promises to be a scream!

Keith? Mick? Is it you?

Gotham City (including these Glimmer Twins) wish you a Happy Halloween!

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Beauty Advent Calendars 2018

Liberty of London Advent Calendar 2018

The Beauty Advent Calendars 2018 are launching now, and they sell out lickedity-split fast. Here are 5 calendars I recommend based on content alone. Packaging is a nice bonus, but it pares down to what's inside: Will you love the products? Some cleverly festive Advent Calendars from high end beauty companies don't make my cut because they don't offer enough product for the money, (sample sizes should be free!); or have too many fillers (such as highlighters, glitters, a pencil sharpener -- not joking!) as their offerings. For the moola charged (anywhere from $150 - $325+) I look for 24/25 days of gifts; generous sizes of product; and a lovely curated assortment, giving consumers a chance to try new things. I want a "wow" factor!

Sooo, here are my 5 Beauty Advent Calendars 2018 -- if spending the money is not a factor, these are the most desirable:

1) Liberty of London ↑ top image - I'm not going to lie. This Advent Calendar is the one I covet the most, but haven't had the good fortune to own. Yes, it's expensive, but the beauty products are well sized and selected; and top-notch. A desirable mix of better known and unsung brands. Not cheap, yet a good value (worth £600/$700). One day I will wait no more and buy it for myself!

2) Fenwick -  It has a good amount of skincare, which I like over a calendar of candles or fragrances. However, a single candle is fine by me, and the Neom Scented Candle in Tranquility that is included sounds soothing.

3) Eleimis - Yes, yes, yes to a calendar of youth serums, super food skin potions and nourishing body creams just in time to fight and win a mighty battle with Old Man Winter.❅

4) Space NK - An opportunity to expand your beauty horizons with new products by brands including Votary, Sunday Riley, By Terry, Illa, Rodial, Diptyque, Miriam Quevedo, Natura Bisse, R+Co, Oual, Christophe Robin, Kevyn Aucoin, and Oribe. 

5) Net-a-Porter - A collection of skin, hair and makeup items from popular luxe brands like Charlotte Tilbury, Aromatherapy Associates and Marc Jacobs in full sizes.


If you want a Beauty Advent Calendar, order early as they are sold in limited quantities only to fly off the shelves. And check back later this week: I found 2 additinal Advent Calendars For Less (under $55) that are almost as much fun to buy/get as these luxe calendars.


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Trending: The Blue Wave

Photo: topinspired

The blue wave. It's coming!🌀😱Have you seen it on the streets where you live yet?

Beauty editors say a sweep of blue eyeliner is the new hot trend this fall. Sometimes etched on the lower inner eye, but more commonly drawn above on the eyelids right behind your lashes and extending past the lid to form an upward turned wing ... or a cat eye. 

Photo: Purewow

With this trend, you don't need blue eyes to carry off the blue makeup. Look for a soft eye crayon or liquid eyeliner for control in drawing the wing; not to mention you don't want to poke your eye out!

Photo: Glamour

This cosmetic comes in all price points, so you can save or slurge: NARS offers a blue velvet shadow stick; Clinique a chubby blue tint stick. The Sephora Collection has one, as does Chanel; and NYX Professional Makeup sells a jumble cobalt eye pencil.

Photo: Lasttrend

The look is neither subtle nor outlandish. Not kooky or odd, yet obvious.

What do you think of the blue wave? What's more, will you try it?💙

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Behind The Blogging Scene

Georgia Armani store widow, glare galore

I always say THE SAVVY SHOPPER is a writing, not a photo blog. Nonetheless, I do my best aesthetically! On Monday I posted several shots of the spectacular ball gowns in the windows of Georgio Armani's flagship Madison Avenue store. My favorite of the gala dresses didn't make the post because no matter the angle I couldn't get a glareless photo. And ... here it is.↑↕↓ If you look closely, you can see my reflection in the glare snapping it. Sometimes a blogger leaves a top choice out when she can't obtain a visual.

Oh well my lovely fashionistas, it's still a beautiful dress!

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Walking Up - Down Madison Avenue

Can't go wrong with this designer

Walking up or down Madison Avenue to see the latest fashions is one of the great pleasures of being in Manhattan. The shop widows can be summed up in one word ... magnificent. LA's Rodeo Drive is shockingly pint-sized compared to the 6 miles of Madison Avenue. On the Upper East Side stretch (comprising 1.5 miles between East 86th Street to East 57th Street, there are about 400 luxury and flagship stores, selling apparel, shoes, high end accessories (like purses, belts, hair ribbons, etc.) and fine jewelry.

All that glitters is gold!

These twinkling diamonds, sapphires, rubies and emeralds at Travelers Jewelers on Madison (at East 77th Street) are huge and real gold and gems! I swear, they blink at me every time I walk by!

Georgio Armani (at East 66th Street) has shimmering windows too ... presently featuring evening gowns. Despite the glare from the street lights and traffic, I'm posting a few. There are many more to see!

Wouldn't the elegant designer dresses look lovely with some jewels? Feel free to select your favorite necklace, bracelet and/or ring.

Next razzle dazzle up the avenue stopping at Giuseppe Zanotti (on East 68th Street) for a pair of embellished fancy shoes.

This 12 carat sapphire ring with 14 solitaire diamonds in white gold is my favorite. A kind salesman let me slip it on my finger, and it's a perfect fit! Each time I pass Travers, I look for it in the window. But alas ... after months and months, somebody with deep pockets walked into the jewelry store and bought my ring! {Are you reading this? That's right, MY ring, sister! I know your ring size!!}😁 Fortunately, I have this photo to show you. What a beauty ... I will miss it!😍

On Madison Avenue there are ever changing pretties to see, and the exercise and eye candy are free!


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A Single Serving Of Homemade Cake

Photo: Lake of Lakes

Although I eat healthy mostly, sometimes I crave a slice of cake. At home, I have adopted the practice of eating whatever I want as long as I'm willing to make it myself. Often an entire cake is too much, enough for a week when all I desire is a slice.

So here is a recipe for a single serving of homemade cake. You can either oven bake the batter in a cup cake wrapper; or just use a sturdy mug and pop it into your microwave:

Vanilla Mug Cake

Ingredients: 

4 tablespoons of all-purpose (or whole wheat)

Photo: cooksvanilla.com

flour (All-purpose flour is lighter, while whole wheat flour is whole grain healthy. You decide.)

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
a pinch of salt

1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon egg (Throw the rest of the egg into another dish. Waste not, want not! The cake will come out without the egg, but will be less rich.)

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

4 tablespoons buttermilk

Other flavors:  

You can turn this cake into another flavor by adding the following ingredients to the recipe:

(1) Chocolate cake: 1 tablespoon of dark cocoa and 1/2 teaspoon of instant coffee; 
(2) Lemon cake: 1 teaspoon lemon extract and lemon zest; 
(3) S'mores cake: 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, one tablespoon of brown sugar, plus definitely use whole wheat flour (for a graham cracker taste).
(4) Carrot Cake: 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon, 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg, 2 tablespoons of shredded carrot, and toss in a few broken nuts and raisins.

Directions:

Photo: BBC Good Food

1) In a microwave safe mug. I use an oversized mug. Use a fork to stir together all the ingredients, one by one. I like to add the buttermilk last to get the perfect amount of liquid. Add extra tablespoons of buttermilk if needy for a runny, but thick consistency. Mix until incorporated, but don't over mix -- as it toughens the cake batter.

2) Everyone's microwave is different. So the first time microwave for 60 seconds at a time. Repeat until the batter turns into a cake -- feeling firm to the touch on the edges and center.

(Or pour into a cupcake wrapper placed in a cupcake pan and bake at 350 degree in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes until a tester produces a crumb.)

Vanilla Frosting

Ingredients:

Confectionery Sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Drops of milk

Photo: howsweetitis

Optional: A teaspoon of butter (for buttercream. I omit the butter.) 

Other flavors: 

Add --
(1) cocoa for chocolate; 
(2) lemon extract for lemon;
(3) If making a s'mores cake, melt dark chocolate and drops of milk together to make a gonache topping and follow with a toasted marshmallow.
(4) For a carrot mug cake, top with vanilla frosting and/or add 2 tablespoons of cream cheese to the basic vanilla frosting. 

Directions:

Combine the ingredients and mix until creamy. Spread on your single serving cake. Enjoy!

If you keep it simple, making a mug cake from start to finish takes about 10 minutes! Easy to double or triple for 1 or 2 guests and after the meal, you won't have leftovers to eat!

Extra tip: On a lazy day, you can eliminate the extra step of making frosting by topping your mug cake with ice cream.


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Stuffits Reversible Shower Curtain

One of my favorite times of the year to browse at Bed, Bath & Beyond is now. The store runs sales on home goods tailored for college students to furnish their dormitory rooms. As it turns out, some of these useful items are clever for organizing and maximizing space in a New York City apartment. The discounts make it tempting to try new tools, and if it doesn't work out, not much is lost.

Now you see it.

Yesterday I picked up a reversible Stuffits Shower Curtain with easy access mesh pockets to hold paper towels for cleaning my bathroom fixtures; and organizing a few toiletries. 

Now you don't! By the way, the shower  curtain doesn't photograph well. My bathroom accessories (which you can't see) are matchy- matchy with the shower curtain.

Although the shower contain can be used as either an outside curtain or inside liner, I sandwiched it in between my shower curtain and liner, as I think my Pottery Barn island themed shower curtain is cute for my bathroom, and I prefer having a clear inexpensive liner that I can either brush clean or toss as needed. In showering this morning I liked the bulk of the 3 layers of curtain -- very sturdy preventing them from blowing open. If I tire of having the 3 layers, I can use this purchase as my next liner.

How I love using vertical space for extra storage! Perfect for bathrooms with limited counter space. Who knows what might end up in those mesh pockets. Do you have any ideas ... what would you put in them?


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