Happy Saturday beauties!

I know my whole thing here is sharing how to be your very best expensive self without spiraling into debt, but when it comes to beauty purchases, there’s no secondhand or thrifting (ew). And when it comes to these items, sometimes you just have to cough up the change for better, high quality products. While some items are overrated (looking at you La Mer), some I’ve found to be a step above the rest and worth the extra dough. Keep scrolling for the items I’ve found to be worth the higher price tags!

I shared this beauty purchase on my IG story not too long ago, but I am already a believer! You can't Google this Nars tinted moisturizer without finding THOUSANDS of raving reviews. And now I know why! I had all but completely given up on finding a foundation that blends well but still covers, but this is the perfect alternative. Not only does this product moisturize AND protect your skin against the sun, but the tint of color gives just the right amount of coverage without *looking* like you are wearing any cover up. Plus you avoid the general matte-ness of typical foundations, as this product gives you just the right amount of dewy-ness without looking oily. Definitely one of my more expensive makeup purchases, but it's worth every penny! This is my first time purchasing this product, so it is hard to say how long this amount will last. I've had it for approximately a month, and would say I have used about half.

My all-time favorite scent!

When it comes to perfumes, I've found the higher quality and longer lasting products come from high end (+ more expensive) brands. For the longest time, I was sporting the Victoria's Secret Bombshell perfume ($60). While it does smell delicious, I found myself spritzing more on through out the day. A typical bottle would often last me around 6 months. I bought this bottle of Coco Mademoiselle perfume back during my Beverly Hills birthday in March (you can read more about it here!) and it is still going strong 10 months later!

It really seems brows are just everywhere aren't they? As someone who plucked their eyebrows into tiny lines in middle school (shudder) I'm obsessed now with keeping them thick. For the longest time I was using the Revlon Fantasy dual pencil and brush tool, which was definitely a solid product for being only $6. But like many other drug store purchases, the longevity is just not there. I would come home after a long day to find half the brows I left the house with. I love the MAC brow products because they stick around for hours without smudging or disappearing. Plus a little goes a really long way, I honestly can't remember when I bought these pieces. I would say you only have to re-purchase 2-3 times a year.

Thank you for reading! Let me know what beauty products you splurge on, plus I would love to know if you enjoy reading beauty posts on Fancy Free!

If you are anything like me, you prefer comfy. And if you prefer comfy, you are very likely to have a number of leggings in your closet. No judging! They can look great in a variety of outfits, and you are free to eat and bloat to your heart's delight. Win!

However, not all leggings are made equal. A cheap pair will undoubtedly give you serious saggy bottom and only a handful of wears, and I'm 100% sure no one wants that.

Hi all!

While traveling is a blast, it can also be stressful and take a toll on your health and appearance. Especially traveling so much lately, I have been super neglectful to my hair. Using super drying hotel shampoo, throwing my locks up in tight topknots, and nervously picking my ends (my nasty habit) has contributed to flat and dull hair with a definitive need for a pick me up. This is when I lean to my favorite (and slightly pricey) hair conditioning treatment.

Olaplex is a hair treatment typically used for those who color their hair, but is really a very good treatment for anyone with damaged locks. Olaplex helps the hair repair broken strands, ultimately transforming the top of your head into a shiny soft haven of healthy hair!

This treatment retails at $25 for a 3.3oz, which is definitely on the more expensive side for me. While I don't use it every week as prescribed on the bottle, I love to keep it in stock for times like these when my hair needs a little (or a lot) of TLC.

Step 1: Apply to wet hair

Step 2: Let sit for at least 10 minutes

 
Step 3: Rinse, wash, and dry

Step 4: Voila! Feel like a goddess!

Happy Tuesday beauties!

For this edition of save or splurge, I wanted to share my daily makeup routine to show where I like to spend a little more and where I like to save on makeup. In general, when it comes to products I put on my skin, I think it is important to use products with high quality ingredients, and ones that are tested ethically. Generally, this comes with a higher price tag. But not always! Enjoy the following video on my beauty routine breakdown, product prices, and where I got some great deals! :)

Enjoy these types of posts? Let me know! Subscribe to my channel and leave a comment to let me you know what you like and what you would like to see more of!

 In high school, I would have a lot of fun rummaging through Forever 21. For someone figuring themselves out, rows and rows of cheap and trendy pieces allowed you try out new personalities easily! However, as you probably know, those fun pieces don't have a long life. The man-made fabrics would pill, the faulty stitching would come undone, and the process of continually replacing pieces in your wardrobe can become expensive.

For the most part, I now avoid shopping discount stores like Forever 21, H&M, and Target. I really try to keep myself from even stepping foot in one, because I know I will see something cute and get suckered in, only to be disappointed after a few wears. However, as you saw here, there are times I actually encourage shopping these types of stores. Keep scrolling! :)

This outfit is almost completely H&M, and I added a few higher end touches with the Tiffany & Co necklace and Minkoff bag. My first rule for shopping these stores is to always look at the tag. No matter how cute the piece is, if it is made with a man-made materials such as rayon and polyester, I always put it back. I have had a hard time with these materials pilling and falling apart. I always look for more natural materials, such as cotton and linen, because these materials are much sturdier and hold up against time better.

I also prefer to buy delicate, replaceable items (such as the tights above) at discount stores. No matter where I buy tights (Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, etc.), I have yet to find a pair that don't run after 2 wears! Suggestions?? Anyway, why pay $30 for a pair of tights when I can get the same quality in a $5 pair?!

I talked about these shoes in a previous post (was linked above in the first paragraph!). I wanted these cute, summer trend shoes without paying too much, because before I know it there will be another fad shoe "I have to have." ;) That's what sent me to H&M, and I even found them on sale! I've worn them 4 or 5 times now, and there are still no scoffs, and the soles are still very intact. Yay! If you think a shoes or piece of clothing (yes, I'm looking at your fringe) is just a season piece, my advice is to go cheaper. More money for classic investment pieces! Advice? Fancy finds? Share them with me here in the comments, or tag @fancyfreeblog on IG!
xo Sydney