Sephora: Epic Rewards? Try Epic FAIL!

By now most of you have already been made aware of another Rewards promotion debacle over at Sephora. Yet again, Sephora dropped the ball. Last time, they screwed up this royally was back in May. There was an Extraordinary Rewards event at the time that was completely mishandled by the company. This time, everyone assumed they would've learned from previous mistakes. Apparently, they haven't and to add insult to injury, as little of a care they gave for their customers in May, they care even less now. Their responses to angry customers on social media seem to be nothing more than the typical scripted form apology you'd expect from a large company.

Back in May, Sephora "accidentally" released the Extraordinary Rewards like 3-4am in the morning when the majority of their customers were asleep. By the time everyone woke up, all the good rewards were taken by a few lucky night owls who happened to be awake when the rewards were released. This go round, they seemed to have learned from their mistake. Not only did they release them during a time of day when everyone would be awake and ready but they gave us a specific date of the promotion. Again, we had high hopes they would be better this time around. We were all played for fools. Customers have been voicing their opinion on Facebook and Twitter, but I'm afraid it'll just fall on deaf ears yet again.

@Sephora "we apologize we used bonus points to get you to help us make our second quarter and gave you false hopes." #EpicRewards

— XO_Alicia (@XO_Alicia) August 10, 2015

ultabeauty has gained a lot of new customers @sephora #sephoraepicrewards… https://t.co/ut4jYNJM2b

— Karla Inez (@inez111) August 10, 2015

If @Sephora was a man I would have broken up with him, because he doesn't treat me right..lol. #EpicRewards #EpicFail

— Glam Dork (@theGlamDork) August 10, 2015

@Sephora Couldn't have said it better myself! #EpicRewards #epicfail pic.twitter.com/K5uUH9O5Tb

— Megan Outly (@megsout) August 10, 2015

I wonder how many loyal customers @Sephora lost today, because I'm guessing it's way more people than those who got the #EpicRewards

— Kayla (@OneLife2Rock) August 10, 2015

Fifty Shades of Grey review

Friday night, I dragged my harried fiance to CineBistro for a night of good (but overpriced) food, cocktails, and the film based off the BDSM books that have swept the world. He wasn't looking forward to it and to be honest, my expectations were rather low. The only high expectation I had was that I was certain this film was going to suck. Spectacularly. Fifty Shades of Grey didn't disappoint. My biggest regret? That I didn't order more alcohol that I SO needed to get through this!

We all know what the story is about. The movie follows literature student (and virgin) Anastasia Steele (played here by Dakota Johnson) as she falls for the aloof billionaire Christian Grey who has a secret BDSM lifestyle. I shouldn't expect too much from a story based off Twilight fanfiction, but that's my cross to bear. I read all three books (you can find my review on the franchise here) and flat out hated them. I honestly thought I'd feel the same way about the movie but certain things surprised me.

First of all, I'm surprised by how, dare I say, pretty the film was. The set design for Christian's apartment was spot on. It was exactly how I pictured it to look from the books. The cinematographer also needs one hell of a pat on the back. The gorgeous scenery elevated the film to the next level. This was a love letter to the Pacific Northwest and it displays just how beautiful the region can be. From sprawling urban oasis to beautiful forests, the movie scored an A+ from me with setting. It's kinda like if you take bacon by itself, it's just greasy, fattening meat. However, if you take bacon and wrap it around bay scallops, it becomes "gourmet." That's what Fifty Shades is to me: something that's bad for you but if you put it in a pretty packaging, it isn't so terrible.

The other positive here is the soundtrack. The music is devastatingly haunting like old-school Enigma. I never thought Beyonce would hitch her musical wagon to a film like this, but it was smart business for her to do so. This film will be one of the biggest of the year and her songs provide the perfect lyrical backdrop. Everyone heard her remix of "Crazy In Love" as it played over the trailer and "Haunted" adds to the mood of a very important scene between Ana and Christian. I absolutely loved the soundtrack and prefer it much more than the movie.

Now for the negative. I didn't like this film very much at all. I wanted to see this movie BURN so badly. Everyone knows my issue with Fifty Shades isn't the sex or the BDSM but the characters. I'm glad to see they improved on Ana. While the Ana in the books is mousy, weak, and stupid, the Ana in the film is independent, sweet, and fun. I told my fiance that if I met someone like her in real life, that I'd totally be friends with her. I would understand more why Christian falls in love with her had Ana behaved like this in the books. The other bonus is the Ana here is much more hesitant to go along with Christian's offer to be his submissive. She wants time to think on it and consider the implications of such a lifestyle. The Ana in the books thinks about it for five minutes then just throws caution to the wind only to have it bite her in the ass later when she sees just how wrong this lifestyle is for her. In the film, Ana seemed to be on the cusp of just saying to hell with this hot mess but Christian (aka Edward) just won't leave her be.

I rather like Jamie Dornan as an actor, but he was woefully miscast in this role. Not since The Wizard of Oz's Tin Man have I seen a more leaden performance. I don't know if Dornan was directed to act wooden and creepy but dear Lord, was he awful. His "American" accent and stilted speech made me want to scream in agony each time he opened his damn mouth. I wanted him to just stand there and look pretty because that's about all Dornan could manage. Problem is, he couldn't even do that right. The Christian in the books is stalkerish, creepy, and closed off emotionally but he still has minimally redeeming qualities. There's a slight charm to him, even if it is just a facade to hide the pain he feels on the inside. In the movie, there's nothing charming or easygoing about Christian. He's downright scary in pretty much every scene. We as the audience are made to believe that from the moment Ana meets Christian, she's inexplicably drawn to him. Yes, he is the quintessential tall, dark, and handsome man, but that's all he has going for him. I can't wrap my brain around why she falls in love with him. I guess he must have tapped that booty right. Apparently, if a man gives a sexually inexperienced woman enough earth-shattering orgasms, it will make up for any emotional shortcomings he may have. I totally get why he falls for her. She's very much different from any woman he's ever been with. This version of Ana challenges Christian and refuses to let him run her life. He's never had a woman not bend to his will, which is new and exciting territory for him. Those who read the books know that he's well on his way to being in love with Ana at this point in the story. I just wish they had written movie Christian to actually SHOW that. By the end of the film, I get the feeling that he's more afraid of her leaving, not because he loves her, but because he's afraid of losing control over what is usually a very simple arrangement for him.

The worst sin for me is the lack of sex appeal. This movie is far from being the erotic treasure they promised it would be. For a film based around BDSM, Fifty Shades sure is tame and extremely run-of-the-mill. Goodness me this movie was boring as hell. I've had more "excitement" sitting on top of the washing machine while it was on spin cycle. I don't know about other women, but I wasn't getting hot and bothered when Dornan took his shirt off and displayed his rather bony chest. I wasn't squirming in my seat the first time he dry-humped poor Dakota Johnson to simulate fake jackrabbit sex. To make matters worse, we see more of Johnson than is appropriate for a film directed by a woman based off a book written by a woman. Director Sam Taylor-Johnson proved that, much like the author of the books E.L. James, she knows nothing about what women really want. This movie was supposed to be for us ladies, yet every sex scene we are treated to closeups of Johnson's (very) erect nipples. If I want to see a pair of fried eggs, I'd go to Waffle House. According to Dornan, he apparently refused to do any full-frontal nudity. While that's understandable, it kind of kills the eroticism of the story. This was dubbed as mommy porn and straight women would rather see the guy than a never-ending barrage of another woman's breasts and her shag carpet. I must say, I admire her for attempting to bring the Seventies back. Dakota, girl, I know you worked out to be in shape for the film, but you neglected a very important aspect of your beauty regime. #TrimTheBush

Dakota Johnson shined in this drivel. She was the star because she was the only one taking any risks emotionally and sexually. She carried this entire film while Dornan looked as though he'd very much like the ground to open up and swallow him whole. The filmmakers played it way too safe because they wanted to maintain the R rating and not get slapped with the dreaded NC-17. That decision was clearly a financial one. They cared more about making money than exploring the boundaries a film like this could truly push. I also can't stand the overall message of this film and the books which is that women should sacrifice who they are and get involved with a dangerous man (against their better judgement) in the vain hope that he'll change for her. It doesn't help that Fifty Shades fails to serve as a cautionary tale against such a belief. This film is lazy as hell with bad writing and has far too many homages to Twilight (right down to a scene in a forest meadow.) Its saving grace is that the pacing is better than that of the book. However, there's nothing remotely romantic about the story (despite being marketed as a romance) unless you count the way Christian attempts to impress Ana with expensive dates and presents. I ain't saying she a gold digger but she ain't messing with no broke (expletive deleted.) Perhaps that is what the women who love Fifty Shades of Grey want: a rich guy to dote on them despite every fiber of your being telling you to run for your life. Take away Christian's money, and you have nothing but a creepy stalker who gives off a serial killer vibe. Most women I know would throw up deuces and run away as fast as their stilettos could take them. Unless you're into that kind of thing do yourself a favor and stay far away from this movie (and any Christian Grey types.) It is an insult to women to be represented by a female heroine who is thought of being nothing more than a simpering doe-eyed ingenue easily impressed by money, flash, and good looks. Sorry, Mr. Grey, but I'm not that easy.

Wedding Planning Madness!!!

On Christmas Eve, my boyfriend and I got engaged. Within hours of making it "Facebook official" we were inundated with messages, texts, and calls from family and friends asking if we had set a date. Honestly, we hadn't even thought that far. I wasn't expecting to become engaged until some time later in 2015 and he thought we would have a longer than normal engagement. Well, next thing we knew, we were settling on getting married this year and decided on October 10, 2015 as the actual wedding date. That's when the craziness started.

Now, according to every wedding website, book, etc. we are already behind on wedding planning. We have less than nine months to make our dream day a reality (side note: notice I said OUR and not MY.) My parents had originally set a budget of $5,000 but that has since gone up to $6,000 and will likely increase even more before all of this is over. My fiance and I are chipping in what we can. I'm paying for my veil, shoes, and jewelry for the big day. Together, we are covering the alcohol for the reception and the decorations for the church and reception venue. His parents are paying for the rehearsal dinner. We are trying to cut costs where we can, but money is still the biggest roadblock.

Throughout all this, I've become intimately acquainted with Pinterest DIY tutorials. I've also learned that one of my bridesmaids is apparently Martha Stewart's spirit animal. She's the one taking over the majority of decorating duties and has been amazing in helping me plan for this. Most of all, I've discovered that everything I THOUGHT I knew about wedding planning was apparently wrong. Our wedding planner has given us a hell of a crash course in the art of planning a wedding day. The whole thing is a bit overwhelming and dizzying when you think about what all goes into a big wedding.

Despite all this, all my Ginger and I care about is being together. The only face I'll see when I walk down that aisle is his and hopefully he'll only have eyes for me. Everything else is extra in my opinion. When I put it like that, I wonder if it's too late to elope... :-)

Sephora Beauty Insider versus Ulta Rewards

I recently got into a discussion with a friend of mine about reward programs at department stores before segueing into a debate about Sephora and Ulta. As many of you know, both of these stores offer their own rewards programs. I shop frequently at both and am a rewards member at both. I recently attained VIB status at Sephora and Platinum at Ulta. Since I shop both rather equally, I began wondering which program would be in my better interests as a makeup collector. Both programs operate basically the same. For every dollar you spend, you earn one point. Ulta Platinum members earn 1.25 points for every dollar spent. Also, both programs have various promotions where you can earn double or triple points on certain products. In my obsessive race to attain VIB Rouge status at Sephora, I sometimes find myself trying to decide whether or not to buy a higher end brand at Sephora instead of Ulta. Remember, Ulta sells both drugstore brands (such as Maybelline, Cover Girl, and NYX) as well as the high end brands like Urban Decay, Smashbox, Too Faced, etc. The high end brands I am hooked on at the moment can be found at both stores. I tend to stick with Sephora for the higher end loot while I used Ulta solely for the drugstore ones and the luxury brands Sephora doesn't carry such as Lorac. However, does it really matter? Are my attempts to reach the VIB Rouge level really worth it in the end? Will my Platinum status at Ulta really make that much of a difference in my shopping experience? I decided to take a closer look at both programs as a way of informing myself as well as others about the ins and outs of Sephora and Ulta rewards.

There are three different levels to the Sephora rewards program: Beauty Insider, VIB (Very Important Beauty Insider), and VIB Rouge. With each level, you earn more "perks" and freebies. There's hardly any difference between the Beauty Insider and VIB memberships. The biggest differences are the VIB concierge customer service line (which I used for the first time today and it was pretty cool) as well as advance access to sales and new product lines. The level everyone wants to attain is VIB Rouge. Not everyone would really care much for the perks, but I'm excited for the day I get my Rouge card in the mail. The pros of the Sephora program really depend on which level you are at.

Pros

• Free gift for your birthday which usually involves some sort of deluxe sample of one of their top brands.
• Free shipping on all online orders no matter how much you spend. (VIB Rouge only)
• Unlimited access to the Beauty Studio = free makeovers!! This is the perk I'm most excited about as I frequent makeup counters to learn different tips and tricks and to discover new products. Normally, you'd have to spend $50 on a Sephora gift card to get a Custom Makeover at the Beauty Studio, but with this perk, it's all gratis. (VIB Rouge only)
• Informed and helpful sales assistants not to mention gorgeous displays in-store. I'm well aware of all the bad reviews of various Sephora stores. People have had some seriously terrible experiences, but I've yet to have a bad experience. Their customer service has always been top notch at the stand-alone Sehoras I've visited. 
• Easy to navigate website with detailed product descriptions and an active user community of product reviewers. 

Cons

• The sales events, promotions, and gifts are either extremely vague or not worth it. Having advance access to sales or new products is all well and good, but it's only a difference of a couple of days in some cases. The gifts are usually just deluxe samples of products with almost zero variety in color options. I have dark skin, so it REALLY sucks for me when I get a deluxe sample of a foundation from an awesome brand and it's nowhere near my skin tone. 
•  The rewards for redeeming your points are a big joke. Again, the products are usually only deluxe sizes. There is also a lack of variety of products in general. For months, two of the items offered for point redemption were Sephora-branded plastic iPhone 4 cases. Not exactly my idea of an awesome "reward."
• Sephora doesn't have too many sales on high end/luxury brands. This is possibly at the behest of the companies Sephora deals with, but that doesn't make it any less annoying.
• The sheer amount of money you have to spend to attain VIB Rouge status is eye-watering. You have to spend $1000 in a calendar year to achieve that level and then continue to spend that much EVERY year to maintain your status. Now, for the serious beauty shoppers, that doesn't seem like much, but to regular gals like myself who love to collect without having to resort to selling a kidney on the black market? That's a lot of cash to part with for makeup, hair products, and skincare each year. 

Verdict: If you are a serious beauty fiend and shop at Sephora in store or online frequently, then VIB Rouge status would be worth it just for the free shipping and the unlimited access to the Beauty Studio. However, if you're not someone who buys high end brands, shops rarely at Sephora, or you live too far from a Sephora store, then trying to claw your way to the top of their Beauty Insider program will do nothing for you.

There are only two levels for the Ulta program: the regular level and the Platinum level. With the Platinum level, your points you earn never expire and you earn them 25% faster (1.25 points for every dollar spent.) Unlike Sephora, you don't have to spend as much to achieve the top level in Ulta rewards nor are you forced to spend your points on minor deluxe sized products. Problem is, unless you're a Platinum member, your points will expire, so you'll lose any benefit from saving up all those points. Since you only have to spend $400 a year to gain Platinum, it isn't difficult to reach that status.

Pros

• Points can be redeemed for actual CASH! For every 100 points, you can redeem them for $3.00 cash towards a purchase. Instead of redeeming points for sample or deluxe sized products you can actually use your points for cash towards that Naked 3 palette you've been coveting. How awesome is that?!
• Coupons, coupons, coupons! Every girl loves a deal. I especially love it when that deal comes in the form of 20% off one item or your entire purchase. Ulta loves sending these out to their customers. I used to get the sales mailers every week and they'd have a coupon on the last page. 
• Their birthday gift is much better than Sephora's. Under the regular program, you get a full-sized gift as well as the opportunity to earn double points throughout the entire month of your birthday. If you're a Platinum member, you get two gifts as well as the double points promotion. 
• Ulta frequently has sales on their drugstore brands. I always happen to be in Ulta when NYX is buy one get one 50% off. They also have tons of offers for their hair care products, which is great for me, because Ulta carries my favorite hair care line. Don't worry, they haven't forgotten about high end makeup brands. They occasionally run promotions on the more designer lines. An example is let's say you spend X amount on a certain brand like Tarte then you will receive a deluxe or full-sized product from their brand. Again, this must have to do with a deal with the manufacturer. I wish Sephora did this more often. 

Cons

• Remember those coupons I mentioned that Ulta is so fond of spamming you with? Yeah, forget about using those towards the purchase of your favorite Benefit blush. All designer brands and other select product lines are excluded when it comes to the coupons. The consolation prize is you can redeem your points for the luxury brands.
• Lack of free samples or chances to earn them with your points. Apparently, you can get free samples of products at Ulta. However, allow me to go on record to say that I've never once received a sample of ANYTHING when I shopped in-store at Ulta. Every time I've gone to Sephora, the employees there practically make it freaking rain on me with freebies. If Ulta does indeed have them, then they're hoarding them for some odd reason. I also hate that I can't even EARN the samples by using extra reward points. How am I supposed to try new products if I can't sample them? You lose marks on this one, Ulta. 
• The website is a hot mess. I swear I'm not an idiot, but it's much harder to navigate the Ulta website than it is Sephora's. It just isn't very user-friendly nor is their any attempt to engage the Rewards members in any way other than reading reviews. I like online community aspect of the Sephora site very much. 
• Speaking of hot messes, have you stepped inside an Ulta store? They are NOT the place to go to learn about new products or have your face done up. Nearly every Ulta I've encountered is staffed with people who don't know squat about what they're selling. Assuming you're able to find an employee that's actually willing to help you, that is. I'm hardly ever greeted when I walk into an Ulta nor do employees make any attempt to assist me. It's really quite shocking when you're standing right next to an employee at a display and she's too busy texting or talking to another sales assistant to be bothered with helping you. I'd relegate my shopping to the aforementioned website, but, like I said, the site isn't the best. (As a side note: stay far away from the Benefit Brow Bar at the Ulta off Commonwealth Center Parkway in Midlothian, Virginia unless you enjoy walking around with only half an eyebrow on one side and a super-thick one on the other side. Don't say I didn't warn you!)

Verdict: The program has it's upsides with the points-for-cash redemption and their birthday promotion, but the company as a whole fails with customer experience. Trust me when I say that has huge impact on whether I decide to shop here as a Rewards member. The employees' lack of product knowledge makes it difficult for your normal customer to try new things or learn anything from the so-called "makeup artist" Ulta deigns to employ. Go here only if you know what you want and don't require any sort of tutorials or basic hand-holding.

Personally, it seems to be a draw. I can see the benefit of both stores' programs, but once I get to VIB Rouge, I may reserve visiting Sephora for the big ticket items, brands exclusive to them, or when I have gift cards. Ulta's points system is far more attractive in the long run just from the savings you get from redeeming your points for cash. I just wish they carried more high end brands and had better customer service. Oh well, we can't get everything we want. :-)

Urban Decay Naked Skin foundation review

During a recent trip to girly mecca a.k.a. Sephora, I purchased the Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup. OMG, this stuff is amazing. After the makeup artist matched me using their Color IQ technology, she picked out the #12 shade for me from Urban Decay's Naked line. I've never been so perfectly matched with a foundation before in my life. It looks as though I'm not wearing anything yet it gives me excellent coverage. Not to mention that I don't have that heavy feeling on my skin that I've experienced with other foundations.

My two biggest issues with foundation over the years has always been matching to my complicated dark skin tone and the fact that foundation always looks so fake on me. I have none of those issues with the Naked Skin foundation. The foundation is buildable, but as I have pretty clear skin, I don't have to use a large amount. Short of applying half the bottle in one sitting, I don't have to worry about a cakey look. I can maintain my dewy and natural look without sacrificing coverage of uneven spots or acne scars. In short. I'm in love.

Sephora
Ulta

31 Days of Halloween: My Lackluster Celebrating

Due to working, moving, and other stuff, I've not celebrated (or blogged about) my Halloween festivities much this year. Here we are halfway through my favorite month of the year and this is the first time I've written about the holiday. Whah?! Well, that ends now. This weekend, my best friend from college is visiting and our plans are horror movies and a visit to a haunted forest. Gotta get some good pictures for the blog.

Boyz II Men's "I'll Make Love to You" is the Best Love Song Ever Written

It was 1994. I was 13 years old in the midst of transitioning from a private Christian school to public school. I had long been sneaking secular music behind my mother's back but it was that year I truly discovered the soulful greatness that was Boyz II Men. I remember their early New Jack Swing days and while I thought they were good, I never paid them much attention until their second album II came out with the aforementioned song.

This song makes me reminisce on school dances in 8th grade, when every girl swooned if a boy asked her to dance to this song. Who can forget the music video with Boyz II Men in their matching outfits or Wanya's passionate performance begging the woman of his dreams to come back to him? This song was a panty dropper from start to finish. Thank you Boyz II Men. Some day my future husband and I will be making a baby to this song. Now, allow the nostalgia to wash over you with the music video.