Bonus Giveaways, Oh My! (Part 2)

You didn't think we were going to flake out on you, right? Because we've got more of our FAVORITE giveaways from the "A Tisket A Tasket" giveaway event listed right here! What's the best part about these $25+ giveaways? All of these giveaways use the Rafflecopter widget, which gives you many opportunities for multiple entries!

Kindle e-Reader with Wi-Fi 6″ E Ink Display by Diva Locks
$25 Paypal Cash by MamaNYC
Cool Paparazi Jewelry from Baubles and Bling by Lori by Mia's Musings
$25 Walmart Gift Card from Practical Frugality
Espresso/Cappuccino Machine From CoffeeCow.com from Saving More than Me
$25 Amazon Gift Card by Common Centsability
$100 worth of Fused Glass Decals by Mom N Daughter Savings
$25 Restaurant.com Gift Card from MomsFreebies

Want more? Let us know what kind of freebies you want us to find for you, and we'll get right on it!

Bonus Giveaways, Oh My! (Part 1)

So, some really cool bloggers have got this really cool giveaway event going on called "A Tisket A Tasket" in honor of Easter. All giveaways have a retail value of over $25, so we'll give you a few of our favorites so you can hop on over! All giveaways are done via RaffleCopter, so you've got the chance for multiple entries!

Rubbermaid 2-in-1 Recycler (you can enter here for another shot at it!)

Sachet Sampler Gift Basket from Dandylyon's Garden

System Mechanic ($50 software to fix/speed up your PC)

I See Me My Very Happy Birthday children’s board book

BC Spa Manicure Instant Manicure

$25 Amazon Gift Card (or find it here)

Easter gift basket for grownups OR kids!

Cocktail Hour Bubble Bath AND The Frugal Foodie Cookbook {Waste-Not Recipes for the Wise Cook} by Lara Starr with Lynette Shirk:

Not enough giveaways for you? We'll be posting the links to more we like later!

Free Sample Tuesday: 4/11/12

• Sneakpeeq is giving away a FREE gemstone ring to all new members! All you have to do is sign up via your Facebook, and you'll get a no-strings-attached ring (a $37.00 value) here! Yes, shipping is free, and you even get a $10 credit for the site!
• Coffee, anyone? Click here for a 1.75 oz free sample of Seattle's Best Coffee; all you have to do is press "like," fill out a form, and your coffee is on the way!
• Love your dog? Purina is giving out free samples of their treats through Walmart.
• TWO ways to get your tan on for free via Palm Beach Tan! On Facebook, like them and get a free sunless or regular tan! Via their website, you can get four free tans or a B1G1 sunless tan! Just select your location to see your coupons.
• Eucerin is one of my favorite lotions for my body (when I'm too lazy to olive-oil up, that is). Pledge to protect your skin and get two free samples.

Best Giveaways of the Week: 4/9/12

Nothing says "lame" like Mondays, so here's a new weekly tradition to spice up the first day of the work week: links to awesome giveaways! Now, there are gadgets to free giveaways on the side of our site, so we'll only include our absolute favorite hidden gems here... check them out (but please, let me win, okay?).

(P.S.: All of these giveaways are totally legit, NOT the kind where you have to fill out surveys, provide your home address, SS number, etc.)

Kindle Fire Giveaway
$150 Visa Gift Card
Ageless Anti-Age Perfume by Harvey Prince
Clarisonic Mia 2 Giveaway (more involved, but the stakes are higher, right?)

Product Review: Red Bull Total Zero

Okay, okay, so this goes against everything to do with minimal/natural living... but sometimes a girl (or guy) needs a pick-me-up, right? Ever since I've cut out soda, I've been allowing myself to have "cheat" days with Sugar-Free Red Bulls. My boyfriend is an energy drink aficionado, but Red Bull is the only thing I'll touch anymore! So, when I saw a can of Red Bull that wasn't in a shade of blue, I was totally intrigued... and naturally, I bought it immediately. So much for rationing my meal plan!


Red Bull already has a Sugar-Free variety, so what's different about Total Zero? Shockingly, it isn't the calories: both boast 10 calories/12 fluid ounces. Sure, we'd expect something called Total Zero to have zero calories--that's how it was advertised-- but ten is no big deal, right?

What does the name refer to, then? Total Zero is different because it has zero grams of sugar (and, by extension, zero grams of carbohydrates). It's a sign that low-carb diets like Atkins are becoming all the rage again, about eight years after they last faded out. Whether the difference is due to the sugar or a creative choice, the taste of Total Zero is definitely different than its Sugar Free counterpart. Total Zero is significantly less tangy, and the amber drink taste has an almost peach-like aftertaste. It's definitely smooth, but it will remind you more of a soda than those tart-but-sweet low-cal flavors that you find in other energy drinks.

Summary: Red Bull Total Zero is Red Bull without the afterbite. Sweetened with aspartame, sucralose and acesulfame K, it still has the 10 cal/12 fl.oz as its Sugar Free counterpart. It's caffeine content is similar as well, with 114 mg/12 fl. oz. Unless you're on a low carb diet, this drink isn't worth buying into; if you are on a low carb diet, however, this no-carb energy drink is totally worth your while.

Product Review: Physicians Formula Conceal Rx™ Physicians Strength Concealer

I have twice recommended Physicians Formula's Conceal Rx™ Physicians Strength Concealer in my blog (here) and (here), so it feels like it's high time to write about it (especially in light of the previous post)! As I have mentioned multiple times, my acne is absolutely terrible-- and I mean teenager-in-puberty terrible. Even when my skin is relatively clear from breakouts, it's hard to leave the house without makeup because of my dark acne scars. Until last year, I assumed that the only way to cover up skin imperfections was loading on foundation; not only was this bad for my skin, I was wasting a lot of foundation and getting poor results.

Luckily, my time spent lurking around beauty sites gave me the advice I needed to sufficiently cover up these marks. I had never used concealer before, so I had no idea which brand to choose; it was all about experimentation! I was afraid of spending a lot of time (and money) before finding the right product... fortunately, I quickly found the perfect solution in Physicians Formula Conceal Rx™ Physicians Strength Concealer in Soft Green.

Let's check out the company's description and claims, found here:

• "Maximum coverage concealer formula that glides on smoothly to conceal blemishes, scars, birthmarks, age spots, rosacea, and hyperpigmentation." YES. I spread the concealer very thin and couldn't believe how well my acne and scars were  hidden.
• "Concentrated formula lasts up to 12 hours!" YES. Not once has my concealer worn off and failed me. If you have a good foundation to wear it under, it will work as long as your foundation does. The good thing is that, if your foundation does wear off, you're not left with strange green spots on your skin; the concealer blends with whatever foundation you use.
• "Hypoallergenic. Fragrance-free. Non-comedogenic. Oil-free. Dermatologist approved" YES. My combination skin had no issues with this concealer; this is especially important, because you will often times be using this over breakout zones.

Besides the AWESOME coverage, my favorite thing about this product is that a little bit truly does go a long way. I have been using the same tube five days a week since this September, and there's still plenty left. My only advice is to let the product sit for a few minutes on your face before you apply foundation (I do my eye makeup in between!) This way, you won't overspread your already thin layer of concealer and maintain great coverage.

In short, this product is one of my top five store bought beauty essentials. You can find it in Soft Yellow, Fair Light, and Natural Light as well, depending on your needs.

Price: 8/10 ($8.95 on their website for .49 oz)

Coverage: 9/10

Overall: 9/10

Which Concealer is Best for Your Spots?

How many of you have clear skin? I mean perfectly clear skin, the kind that you wear without a makeup mask when you walk out the door? The kind of skin that looks more photoshopped than a L'Oreal or Armani ad? I'm guessing 99% of you reading it A) don't have this sort of skin, and B) don't know anyone over the age of fourteen who does. And guess what? It's okay. Even with a flawless beauty routine, our skin is the victim of our lifestyle, our genetics, and our environment. Acne, lack of sleep, sun, and age all work together to make our skin look less than its best. Luckily, one of makeup's many tricks is covering the spots and pigment inconsistencies on our skin. While a simple foundation can do the trick for the most minor of blemishes, sometimes we want a little (or a lot) more coverage. Not all of these 'imperfections' are created equally, and for a really perfect look, they shouldn't all be correctively covered equally. So, what kind of concealer works for what problem? To answer this problem, we use the color wheel.

To minimize redness, go with a green concealer

I have awful acne (and awful acne scars), so I can tell you this from experience: foundation (or neutral concealer) usually won't give you the coverage you really want. For bad redness, nothing beats a mint green concealer like Physician's Formula Conceal Rx™ Physicians Strength Concealer. 

To warm up bluish-purple spots, pick a yellow concealer

Bruises, dark acne scars, and dark circles under your eyes can really throw you off your game. A yellow concealer can really help, but make sure it's not too bright; try to pick one with a slightly orange tinge to achieve the best results.

To perk up sallow skin, grab a light purple concealer

Sure, putting purple on your face seems a little weird, but as long as it's a light color it can REALLY even out those yellow tones. Think of it as the converse of yellow concealer. It can take care of those yellow bruises with no problem! A lavender concealer is especially important for those of us with yellow or olive skin colors; when your skin is looking sallow or those under-eye circles are more yellow than bluish, this is your best answer.