SPLURGE or SAVE: Jewelry Edition

Do you SPLURGE or SAVE for your jewelry?
	SPLURGE- You can't beat designer.
	SAVE- There's no need to spend on costume jewelry.
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We're back to our old ways (well, sort of)...when it comes to jewelry Erin is willing to SPLURGE on statement pieces and Maddie opts to SAVE on her favorite accessories!

SPLURGE

I realize that it's starting to sound like I tend to SPLURGE on a lot of fashion and beauty products. However, I think I have a good reason for being willing to splurge on jewelry. I've never worn a lot of jewelry and most of the pieces that I wear all the time have been gifts that are appropriate for everyday dress. For instance, I wear a necklace of the #7 with small diamonds on my neck because it was a gift handed down to me from my mother. I wear a silver Irish Claddagh ring on my left hand everyday because I have since I was very young. I wear a Tiffany & Co. roman numeral ring on my right hand everyday because I guarantee I'll lose it if I take it off. Lastly, I wear a Cape Cod ball bracelet because almost every girl in my family has one and it symbolizes where I grew up in the summers. All of my everyday jewelry has special meaning to me and that's why I never take them off. However, there are times when I want to step away from my everyday jewelry routine and show a little more personality. I'm a sucker for statement jewelry pieces and my favorite brands happen to contribute to that boho-chic vibe that I've talked about in past posts. I'll tend to splurge on jewelry such as statement necklaces or stacks of bangles because these pieces are so easy to pair with super simple tanks and jeans to make your outfit effortlessly interesting and stylish. My go-to for unique and attention-getting necklaces is Nicole Richie's line, House of Harlow 1960.  One of my favorite statement necklaces from this line is the 5 Station Necklace in Leather, which I have in black leather and wear all the time. In my opinion, it's not a bad price for $75 and the geometric shapes of the necklace add instant intrigue to your outfit. Researching for this post has been dangerous for me because now I've got my eye on the slightly more expensive Gypsy Feather Necklace. Another great brand that I love for jewelry is Alex and Ani. So I never fell into that Pandora charm bracelet phase that seemed to take over for a while but I have definitely committed to hopping on the Alex and Ani bangles bandwagon. The line has a lot of jewelry pieces but I stick with the bangles because I love the look of different beads and charms stacked on an arm. My first bangle was the initial charm which runs for $24. These bracelets are arguably a splurge because their price tags aren't too high, but you can never have just one...that's where the obsession and the extra cash comes in!

~Erin

SAVE

There are very few instances in which I feel like I have to spend more than $25 on a piece of jewelry, and that's when it is made of something valuable. I will never understand how people spend so much money on a piece of costume jewelry. It is literally beyond me because it will go out of style within a couple of seasons and it's not something that you're going to hold on to for the rest of your life. Now don't get me wrong, I am happy to spend big money on pearls, diamonds or gold that I will have for the rest of my life (or rather I am happy to accept them as gifts that my fiancee has spent big money on), but there is just something so backwards about spending upwards of $100 on something that is literally worth almost nothing. This is why I choose to SAVE on jewelry. Forever 21 is my best friend when it comes to necklaces. You can find some truly amazing things in there that look almost identical or better than designer jewelry. People always assume that I got my cute statement pieces from JCrew or Nordstrom, but they are almost always bargain finds. The best example of this is the statement necklace that I got from Forever 21 that we blogged about in one of our Current Obsessions. It's unbelievably adorable and it was $12, so when it inevitably goes out of style I don't even feel guilty about it.  If I am in need of something a little nicer for an event, I will peruse the Dillard's sales counters in the jewelry department for something good. They almost always have amazing deals and I can get a necklace that used to be $70 for around $18. It's truly a magical experience and that is why I choose to SAVE on my jewelry instead of SPLURGE.

~Maddie

SPLURGE or SAVE: Cosmetics Edition

DO you SPLURGE or SAVE on makeup?
	SPLURGE- I love my department store makeup!
	SAVE- My Drugstore makeup looks just as good!
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Here's a post you probably didn't see coming...a SPLURGE or SAVE that Maddie and I both agree on! When it comes to purchasing cosmetics, we both think that it can definitely be worth your money if you take a chance and SPLURGE on the right products from the right brands. Keep reading to find out our top choices for cosmetics that are worth the extra cash!

Erin loves to SPLURGE on NARS Cosmetics

Erin's Favorites

Back in my high school days, I was the queen of drug store makeup. I couldn't get enough of Burt's Bees lip balm, Covergirl's super-shimmery bronzer, and I may or may not have tried almost every one of Maybelline's mascaras based on their intriguing names. Don't get me wrong, these are great options for any girl on a budget. But there are times that you just need to treat yourself with some high quality, department store brands to upgrade your cosmetics collection! My go-to brand as of late has been NARS cosmetics. If the name sounds familiar, it is probably because they have some of the most popular cosmetics products with their Orgasm Blush and Laguna Bronzing Powder. Being a sucker for beachy/bronzy beauty looks, these have become 2 of my absolute favorite beauty products! The shades are so great for work or play, depending on how heavy handed you go with the makeup brush. The blush goes for $29 and the bronzing powder goes for $36 on their website, but these NARS products are worth every penny in my opinion! Another beauty staple that I believe is the best of the best is Diorshow Mascara. Yes...I have branched out from Maybelline and I'm so happy I did. I first discovered Diorshow when I got my makeup done for a high school dance at the Dior counter in a department store and I got so many compliments that night that I decided to stick with it! You can find Diorshow in many different stores including Sephora and Nordstrom for $25 and I believe that you will fall in love with this mascara just as quickly as I did!

I don't even mind SPLURGING on my MAC Makeup

Maddie's Favorites

I actually just recently converted to SPLURGING on my makeup at the beginning of this year. Beforehand, I could never even fathom spending more than $14 at a drugstore on my makeup, but the reality I soon found out was that I was actually spending more for my drugstore makeup. I don't know what finally made me take the plunge into MAC makeup, but I was just plain tired of running to Target every 2 months for a replenishment on something I felt like I had just spent money on. I also happened to have a girl who worked for MAC at Nordstrom and she definitely influenced my opinion about nicer makeup and was extremely helpful in helping me choose what was right for me. I use and love MAC Studio Moisture Tint as my foundation. It tackles anything I feel like I have to cover up from dark circles to small blemishes. It is amazing for coverage, but it is also extremely light, which was a very important feature for me when choosing my foundation. I then follow that up with MAC 'Mineralize' Skinfinish Natural Powder, which gives me a good matte finish without looking like I have a cake-face. I wasn't completely sold on this makeup actually until I figured out how well it stayed throughout my hectic days and crazy nights, and how long it lasted me. My first MAC purchase was in the middle of January and I still have about half of both of these products left. Let me tell you how amazing it feels to wake up in the morning month after month and not worry that something is about to run out on me. I also believe that I am spending a comparable amount on makeup as I was before because I was buying drugstore makeup so often, and I am getting a much higher quality product that makes me feel awesome! My advice would be to go to Nordstrom and have someone help you find what is right for you. Makeup to me is very overwhelming and it is so helpful to have someone who is knowledgeable and honest to give you a hand. Then start with just a few items that you use daily to get a good feel for what you like and need. It is totally worth your time and money to SPLURGE on good makeup and if you don't believe it from me, believe it because Erin and I both agree that you can't go wrong by SPLURGING on your makeup.  

SPLURGE or SAVE: Hair Care Edition

Do you SPLURGE or SAVE on your hair care routine?
	SPLURGE- My hair is worth every penny!
	SAVE- Awesome hair can be awesomely cheap too!
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Hair Care: SPLURGE

Most people would be surprised to know that I have really wavy-curly hair. This is because I do terrible things to my hair to get it stick straight, to the point where you would never know what my natural texture is. I'm talking heating tools on heating tools. In order to combat all of this heat damage that I'm probably doing to my hair, I need hair care that will make my hair healthier while moisturizing it. Luckily, I have a grandparent that is obsessed with QVC and helped me to discover Wen Hair Care. Wen is great for my hair because the system is based on using a conditioning cleanser in place of shampoo and conditioner. Wen's cleansing conditioner doesn't have the sulfates that are found in shampoos and can often strip your hair of important natural oils. I can definitely feel the difference after using Wen and using regular shampoo. My hair feels extremely dry and tangled after using shampoo while my hair feels soft and moisturized after using Wen. I will NEVER go back to using regular shampoo. Wen will cost you more than going to the drug store to buy any Pantene Pro-V shampoo. You can get a 6 oz. bottle from QVC for around $24 but the bottle will last you a long time, the cleansing conditioners come in great scents like Lavender or Sweet Almond Mint, and the price is definitely worth the results you get from switching to a cleansing conditioner treatment!

~Erin

Hair Care: SAVE

I've already mentioned how obsessed I am with Lush bath products, but they sell amazing hair care products as well. Unlike Erin, my hair is extremely fine, and dries stick straight with zero volume even in 100% humidity. I could not for the life of me, find a hair care routine that gave me volume without weighing my hair down and making it look greasy. Literally, first world problems, but for fine- haired women this is serious business. I searched high and low for the perfect shampoo, spending copious amounts of money on anything that I thought might work for me. Thankfully, my obsession with Lush gave me more than just an excuse to splurge on bath products. It gave me the opportunity to save on my hair care routine. I use a funky shampoo by them called Seanik, which is a solid shampoo bar that is packed full of lemon oil for shine, seaweed for softness and sea salt for awesome volume. I follow that with their conditioner Veganese. Like Seanik, Veganese was made for fine hair and has many of the same components that make Seanik so amazing. The best part is that it contains agar seaweed gel which makes my hair so incredibly soft without the weight that comes with even the most expensive conditioners and the lemon oil scent lingers in my hair after I blow dry it. I can't express how easy this routine makes my life because I don't even have to use a spray or gel to give me volume before I dry my hair. Using these products is like having a cool island breeze go through my hair without the worry that my hair will look greasy or flat by 2 in the afternoon. Even better, Seanik lasts me a good 3 months, can travel through airport security effortlessly and is only $12. Veganese is slightly more expensive, but the biggest bottle, which is $33, lasts me about 7 months, but it would probably last much longer if I didn't have extremely long hair. Needless to say, both of these products give me Hollywood hair everyday without the exorbitant costs that often comes with it.

~Maddie

SPLURGE OR SAVE: Jeans Edition

Do you SPLURGE or SAVE on your jeans?
	SPLURGE- I love my designer duds!
	SAVE- $70 jeans look just as good as $170 ones!
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JEANS: SPLURGE

Once upon I time, I lived in bargain jeans. Lucky's  were my go- to in terms of denim. I could go to their outlet, get two for $100 and man, I thought they looked great! That was until I received a pair of J Brand Jeans as a gift. All at once the denim Gods opened the heavens and gave unto me the best pair of jeans my butt had ever experienced. The pair of jeans that turned me designer was the '811' Skinny Stretch. They were a wiggle to get into, but the mid-rise shaped my waist perfectly and arched over the perfect butt I never knew I had until these beauties came along. Long story short, I'm never going back. The $158 pair of jeans was totally worth the SPLURGE just in how good they made my butt, hips and thighs look and how that made me feel in terms of both comfort and confidence. No other designer can compare to their fit and they maintain their quality and shape over time. 

The emotional roller coaster that is the search for perfect jeans is over, ladies. Gone are they days of trying on 25 pairs at just one store only to leave feeling underwhelmed, unattractive and unsuccessful. J Brand is the answer to the search for perfect jeans, there simply is nothing better. 

-Maddie

               

JEANS: SAVE

We all know the girl who has a closet with a section dedicated to denim. These are the girls who collect designer jeans and have a different pair for every occasion. This girl is not me. When it comes to jeans, I buy a couple of pairs within a year's time and wear them down until I can't wear them anymore. That is why when it comes to spending on jeans, I always choose to SAVE! The best part about saving on denim is that you do not have to sacrifice quality or style with less expensive denim brands. There are some great brands that offer jeans for less than $100 and can be found at most any department store. The brand you see in the pictures above is a relatively new brand called BLANK NYC. They offer so many different on-trend styles such as the tuxedo-inspired jeans, high-waist denim short, and pastel colored jeans. Another great option to save on jeans is the brand else, which you can find at any Macy's department store. else is a product of the more expensive denim line, Joe's Jeans. However, else's prices start at $68 and offer a great option for comfortable jeans with a stretch and style fit for young adults. These are just a couple of options for saving on jeans purchases. Let us know what your favorite denim brands are in the comments below! Also, don't forget to take our poll: Jeans: SPLURGE or SAVE?

-Erin