little luxuries under $20

We all know by now that "#treatyourself" is a phrase that just rolls off the tongue for me. However, I believe that treating yourself should should not mean going broke. To me, treating yourself doesn't mean buying a $300 purse if you really can't afford it. Treating yourself can be easy, affordable, and gratifying. I've compiled a list of items that I don't buy too frequently, but I know these little luxuries make me feel pretty darn great when I do purchase them.

Harney & Sons Winter White Earl Grey Tea | $7.99 | This tea literally might have pieces of heaven in it. The flavor is unlike any earl grey tea I've had before. It has an almost Fruit Loop-like scent to it. Plus, the vintage-looking tin packaging can totally be re-purposed once you've used all the tea bags (which might be pretty quickly, they are that good). I use my tin as a pencil holder!

Anthropologie mugs | $10-20 | You know what's better than luxury tea? A beautiful mug to drink it out of. If you want to take things to the next level, I encourage drinking luxury tea (or coffee) out of a beautiful mug, in bed. Glorious.

MAC lipstick | $16 | There is just something about buying a good lipstick. MAC's lipsticks are truly a beauty staple and they feel so luxurious. I love the sleek packaging and variety of colors. The shade I'm eyeing up right now is called "syrup," a your-lips-but-better mauve color.

Klorane dry shampoo | $19.79 | I received this dry shampoo in a Birchbox a long time ago, but to this day I still think it is the best dry shampoo out there. It actually gets rid of oily roots rather than just making them look less oily, which leaves you time to do things you want to do -- like brunch on a Saturday morning (sans oily hair).

What do you do to treat yourself? Let me know in the comments below!

xoxo,
G

Click here to read my "3 little luxuries under $3" post!

3 little luxuries under $3

Does any one else make impulse buys with the attitude of "treat yourself"? Me too. I love a good excuse to unwind and indulge sometimes. However, I am a believer that pampering yourself doesn't mean breaking the bank. I want to share with you three items that feel luxurious, but don't cost very much at all.

1] Sinnling vanilla pleasure candle from IKEA. $1.79
Lately, I've been lighting candles almost every night. No matter what I'm doing, there is most likely a candle or two burning in the background. These ones from IKEA smell great and are so inexpensive, you can stock up and feel no guilt. I must admit, the vanilla scent isn't incredibly strong, but the sweet berries scent is noticeably sweet and scented. Plus, they make a great housewarming gift!

2] Aussie 3-minute Miracle Color Conditioning Treatment, available at most drug stores. $2.97
I bought this after Kate from The Small Things Blog recommended it via Instagram. I thought, if a hairdresser recommends this treatment it must be good. And for $3, I didn't have much to lose. This product definitely proved its worth after the first use! Normally after I shampoo my hair, I put this on my ends while I wash my body, exfoliate, shave, etc. After about 3 minutes and a quick rinse, my hair feels silky smooth and stronger. This is a product I use about once or twice a week, when my hair is really feeling dry or damaged from heat styling. Try it, you will not regret it! Bonus: it smells light and feminine, with hints of camomile.

3] Vitamin C Microdermabrasion from The Body Shop. $2.50.
I'm all about a good face mask lately, but I must admit, I probably don't exfoliate my face as much as I should. With that in mind, I decided to try this microdermabrasion scrub after my best friend gifted it to me. It. is. good. The beads are not too coarse, but it really does get rid of any rough patches or dead skin on your face. I felt like it even cleared up my complexion a little bit. It has a pleasant smell, and the packet will last me two uses. If you're really feeling like giving yourself a complete spa treatment, exfoliate, then put on a mask for 10 minutes. Your skin will feel rejuvenated!

I hope you take at least 3 minutes out of your busy day and try some of these $3-and-less luxuries, or give them to a friend who needs some relaxation. What are your favorite ways to indulge on a budget?

xoxo,
G

my first ipsy: first impressions

Recently, I've subscribed to Ipsy to receive a "glam bag" every month. Basically, you pay $10 a month, or one payment of $110 for a year's subscription, and Ipsy sends you five products per month based on a beauty quiz that you take when you sign up. This isn't my first time at the beauty subscription box rodeo, as my two best friends gifted me a Birchbox subscription a few years ago for my birthday!

I subscribed to Ipsy to try something new, and I have heard that the samples are bigger in size. However, I did love my Birchbox subscription. The samples were relatively small, some full sized, but they were all luxury brands that I probably wouldn't have tried had I not received them in my box! They were great for use while traveling, too. However, I love Birchbox's branding slightly more than Ipsy's. It is a lot cleaner and modern. (Sorry, it's the Comm major in me.)

How Ipsy compares to Birchbox

Cost | Both boxes $10 per month, shipping included.

Items | With both boxes, you receive 5 samples a month. Ipsy also gives you a makeup bag every month.

Trading | Ipsy has an open forum for subscribers to trade products that they don't want. To my knowledge, Birchbox does not offer that service.

Points system | Birchbox has a better points system - if you review the products you receive, you earn Birchbox points and can put those points towards your purchase in their online Birchbox store. Ipsy implements the same points system, but you must share your feedback on Facebook. Personally, I don't like to clutter up my friend's timelines, so I have skipped the sharing part.

Buying products | Ipsy allows you to receive discounts on the brand's website. Birchbox has their own online store and offers discounts along with your Birchbox points.

my september Ipsy glam bag

makeup bag | I'm not one for studs, but oh well. Beggars can't be choosers. This might be given to a friend who will like it.

pacifica natural waterproof eye pencil | I don't wear eyeliner, but the formula and the color on this one seems nice! It is a silver/gunmetal color, so I might save it for a special occasion.

be a bombshell smooth criminal powder | This sample is really nice, and not something I would typically purchase. It is definitely a premium sample that will last many uses. This powder helps smooth fine lines and imperfections while also keeping your your skin matte. I would liken it to the BareMinerals mineral veil.

briogeo don't despair, repair! deep conditioning mask | I really like this! I've been into deep conditioners lately, because I have been highlighting my hair for a few years, and I know I have some damage. This one smells lovely, and makes my hair feel stronger after one use. It didn't really help with detangling my hair, but otherwise it did its job!

cailyn art touch tinted lip gloss | I love the formula of this lipgloss because it is not sticky or tacky at all. The color is a bit orange for my skin tone, but if I layer it over chap stick the color becomes more muted. Also, the "sample" is a full size, so I feel like I'm getting my money's worth!

harvey prince hello fragrance | I saved the best for last. Just when I thought I found my signature scent... this sample came along. Let me point out that the sample is a very nice size, not like the small 3-4 use spray containers that you can get for free at department stores. This is a small rollerball that will last me many uses, and is the perfect size to slip in my purse. The fragrance is heavenly. Lightweight, sweet smelling, long lasting, and warm. I was hesitant to try this, as I received a sample of the Harvey Prince "Skinny Chic" fragrance in a Birchbox and did not like it. However, with "Hello," Harvey Prince has redeemed themselves! Love. I'm considering buying another rollerball once I'm done with the sample.

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with my Ipsy glam bag this month! I will definitely keep you posted on future bags and fun beauty finds.