Last day of BBW sale. Did you buy?

Today is the last day of Bath & Body Work's Semi-Annual Sale. I am proud to say I did not buy anything. It seems like the more I research products, the pickier I get.

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Don't get me wrong, I still love Eucalyptus Spearmint home fragrance and their little super concentrated sprays.
I still like the classic apple spray. I'm not hatin'. I just don't feel compelled to run a fill shopping bag after shopping bag of shower gels and lotions that I simply don't love and end up vanishing to a lower shelf or spare closet after months of sitting unused.
I just don't want to carry the extra guilt of having to use up a product. I want to treasure using the product instead of looking forward to it running out so I can buy something that actually measures up to my expectations.
Yes, I still buy duds. But now so much out of impulse.

Negative Product Reviews: Yay or Nay

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It seems like every virtually every beauty blog reviews products. And it seems like virtually every one of the products tested get a positive review.
Is it that editors only test amazing products? Maybe they also review crappy products but only post reviews on good products to maintain the overall sunshiny, positive beat of the blog. Maybe they are afraid of pissing off sponsors? IDK
Maybe after advanced market researcher, people have found that audience for these types of blogs are put off by negative reviews because it kills the shopper's high?
Maybe that's it! I mean how else would you explain the fact that the great majority of Amazon reviews that rate a product "Poor" are considered "Not Helpful" to people considering purchase?
The Happy shopper does NOT want you to rain in her parade.
Also with mega giants such as Estee Lauder Companies owning virtually half of the cosmetic market, would you dare post that one of their products sucked? Not if you didn't want to be shunned to the darkness of the lesser brands, I guess.
As for me, I will continue to post my reviews as I experience the products. Great or Awful. Granted, mediocre products do not elicit as passionate a response as their extreme counterparts. But C'est La Vie!

Happy Japanese Beauty

A friend of mine recently gave me a copy of a Japanese beauty magazine. What got my attention the most is that the majority of the models just seem.....happy. There's a youthful glow, smile and sense of approachability to the models featured. I'm not surse if they are unique to this particular magazone or issue. But it was quite a contrast to the models I normally see featured here. I'm used to seeing models either uberly sexy, or with a "cat that ate the canary" look, or even pissed off looking. So this magazine was really refreshing.
I wish I could read the articles!
Even the copy and layout seem quite different. With great emphasis on step by step tutorials and research.
Love!
I wish I could get a subscription here that didn't cost and arm and a leg....

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Una amiga mia Japonesa me regalo una revista de ella y me fascino. Lo que mas me llamo la antencion es que las modelos parecen super dulces y contentas. (En vez de tratar de posar sensual y picarosamente como las de aqui)
Los articulos (aunque no se leer Japones) son muy detallados. Me gustaria tener una subcripcion a esta revista. Pero el envio resulta carisimo

Sephora Return Policy

Word on the street is that beauty giant Sephora will toughen its lax return policy.
From now on, customers wanting to return products without a receipt will be required to show ID.
So the outcries have started:

• What if the cashier happens to be a serial thieve that wants to steal my identity?
• What if the cashier is a stalker waiting to get her hands on an ID and stalk a new prey?
• What if I must make an emergency return and I don't have my I.D on me?

I feel compelled to remind people that the answer to all of this issues is: If you usually return products, for any reason: keep your receipt, until you are sure you'll keep the product.
I think here in the U.S we are a little spoiled by our cosmetic return policies. I mean, most other countries don't even allow any returns on beauty items at all.
I think we should be grateful for these policies. Not abuse them and try to avoid unnecessary returns by researching and practicing responsible shopping techniques.
What do you think of the latest change in return policies?