This past weekend was the VIB Rouge 20% sale and last week, I put together a wish/shopping list post (read it here). I added things to the list that I’d been wanting for a while, full well knowing that I wasn’t likely to buy everything I wanted (given the small issue of not having unlimited funds). Also, usually by the time I get in store and have the time to compare and look at products in greater detail, I decide they’re not for me/talk myself out of them/change my mind, etc.
This time I feel like I stuck fairly close to my shopping list, with a few exceptions. So without further ado, here’s my haul:
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder (Dim Light) – $22 CAD
I fully intended on picking up Diffused Light given its claims to counteract redness. Unfortunately, it was sold out. So I looked through the other shades they had available, noticed the travel size of Dim Light and figured that was the next best option. As mentioned previously, I love samples and travel/trial size products because it’s the best way to try new products for (typically) a lower cost.
Dim Light is defined as a “A neutral peach beige powder that blurs imperfections and highlights a radiant complexion with the perfect balance of warm and cool tones.” To be honest, when I swatched this, I wasn’t overly impressed. It does appear to very finely milled and exceptionally soft but there is just the slightest hint of shimmer. I didn’t see how this was going to be any different than any other finishing powder I’ve tried and I was expecting more shimmer or glow. But I bought it anyway.
I’ve used it twice and thankfully, my initial opinion has changed. This is the only finishing powder I’ve tried that doesn’t emphasize or stick in my pores. Hallelujah! Also, note that if you’re looking for intense highlight, this isn’t going to satisfy that need. Instead, it gives you a natural, glow from within look that I just love. So far, I’m really enjoying this!
Too Faced Born This Way Foundation (Porcelain) – $39 CAD
I had full intentions of visiting Sephora early last week to pick up a couple of foundation samples before committing to a full-size purchase. That didn’t happen. Instead, I read a bunch of reviews online on this and the MUFE HD Foundation and ended up going with the Too Faced version. Both had similar reviews but this one had been on my list for longer so it won.
So I’ve used this twice and so far….I’m not impressed with its staying power. The colour match is pretty much a perfect match to my skin but after about 5 hours of wear, I had very little of it left behind. I’m going to experiment with a variety of primers and powders and I hope I can find something that makes it stick around a little longer Stay tuned!
Buxom Customizable Eyeshadow Bar Palette – $50 CAD
The amount of time I spent trying to decide which eyeshadow palette I wanted was a little embarrassing. I had given myself quite a few (aka too many) options including the Kat Von D Shade & Light Palette, Too Faced Chocolate Bar, and Tarte’s Showstopper Palette, plus Buxom’s Dolly’s Wild Side My thought process on choosing Buxom sounded like this: First stop – Kat Von D; decided I didn’t want just matte shades. Up next the Chocolate Bar Palette – pretty colours but more shimmery/glittery shades then I realized. Third stop – the Showstopper Palette. Decided I wasn’t crazy about the blush or highlighter. That left me with Buxom. Originally I wanted Dolly’s Wild Side palette, mainly because of the shade Wild Nights. I looked at that palette and noticed there were only 2 matte shades in it – so I decided to make my own. This all seems very logical now, but I spent a lot of time going back and forth between all 4 brands to get to that point. Yah, I’m a bit indecisive. Anyway, in the end, I picked the following:
From left to right:Silk Sheets (Chai Luster) ; Feather Boa (Matte Pastel Pink); Lingerie Lover (Matte Mauve); Spoiled Sexy (Matte Deep Mauve); Haute Couture (Metallic Java); Wild Nights (Shimmering Sugar Plum)
You’ll notice that this doesn’t look too different from the Dolly palette, and that’s because I used 4 of the shades included in that, in my custom palette. In place of Champagne Buzz (shimmering pearl) and Mink Magnet (metallic bronze), I used Haute Couture and Feather Boa.
Wild Nights is so gorgeous and quite pigmented. I wouldn’t consider the other shades to be intensely pigmented but they have a decent colour payoff and are buttery and smooth to apply. Overall, I’m really happy with this purchase and I love the fact that I can purchase refills for it! It was fun customizing my own palette too!
Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara – $30 CAD
I’m not going to go into too much detail about this because I’ve done a review on it and stated how much I love the little sample size I received with the Too Faced Most Loved Set. I’ve already used this a few times and nothing has changed, the full-size is still as fantastic! The only thing I was surprised about was how heavy the tube is – it’s got some serious weight! I think because the tube is made out of metal. So maybe not the best option for traveling. However this is easily the best mascara I’ve tried all year.
Bare Minerals Skin Rever-Upper – $26 CAD
Again, no need to get into too many details about this, I’ve done a review on it here. This is my favorite lightweight daily moisturizer. I just used up a bottle of it so this was a re-purchase. For whatever reason on sephora.ca they say this product is not available in Canada but I purchased this in store? I have a bad feeling that this is being discontinued which I’m hoping is not the case!
Too Cool for School Egg Cream Sheet Mask – $6 CAD
Sheet masks have grown on me and I couldn’t help but look through the selection of them while I was waiting in the checkout line. This one sounds a little gross but I was also intrigued by it as well. I read some of the reviews on Sephora’s website and the consensus seems to be that people either love it or hate it so I’ll be sure to do a review on it once I’ve used it!
Marc Jacobs Decadence Rollerball – $28 CAD
The more I wear this fragrance, the more I love it. It’s only been two days and I can’t stop smelling myself. It’s just the perfect fall/winter scent and it lasts! One of my biggest pet peeves is paying a lot of money for perfume, using it and not being able to smell it. Not as in having a cloud of fragrance around you when you walk by, but as in, getting little whiffs of it throughout the day. Also, I loved the packaging on this – its hard to see in the picture but the little box was covered in soft green velvet! The full size of this is going on my Christmas list!
POINT PERKS
Buxom Objects of Obsession (500 points)
I was obviously on a Buxom kick that day and when I saw this set on display, I couldn’t help myself. The set includes:
Mascara Bar Big & Bushy in Show-Off Black (0.16 oz)
Hold The Line™ Waterproof Eyeliner in I’ll Be Waiting (0.02 oz)
Full-On™ Lip Cream in Kir Royale (0.07 oz)
Full-On™ Lip Polish in Sophia (0.07 oz)
So far I’ve only tried the Lip Cream and I wasn’t sure about it at first – application can be a little patchy. But once I applied a second coat, the patchiness went away. I love the shade – it’s kind of a light cranberry colour and its perfect for fall. It smells like vanilla but leaves a cooling/tingly sension on your lips. It is slightly tacky and because it’s a fairly thick gloss, it won’t survive through eating or drinking. But it does leave a bit of stain behind on your lips which was kind of nice! I’m looking forward to trying the pink shade (although it does look a little sheer)! The eyeliner is a silvery/gun-metal gray and I own nothing like it so I’m excited to use that And I’m a mascara connoisseur so I’m intrigued by it as well (although that may be one of the worst product names I’ve ever heard). Overall, pretty impressed with this kit!
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Intense Hydration (100 points)
I kind of feel like I may be losing my mind. Did FAB not used to have an ultra repair cream just for hands? I swore they did but maybe not. Regardless, this used to be my favourite hand cream for the winter months as I often suffer from severely dry hands and excema on top of that. This used to be the only thing that helped. I feel like this has a thinner consistency since the last time I used this but it still seemed to work I’ve only used it once so I will report back once I’ve gone through the tube entirely.
Bite Beauty Lip Lab Trio in Kir Royal (250 points)
I actually picked up this limited edition set a couple of weeks ago and thought I’d might as well throw it in here. This is a 3 piece set that includes:
Mini Luminous Crème Lipstick in Kir Royale
Mini Lush Fruit Lipgloss in Kir Royale
Signature Bite compact mirror
Is it weird that I now own two lip products with the same yet not that common name (Kir Royale)? I thought it was. Anyway, I’ve worn the lipstick once and while the colour is super opaque and intense, it’s so creamy that it very easy slipped outside of my lip line. You need a lipliner with this.
On the other hand the lip gloss is gorgeous – super pigmented and creamy and an absolutely gorgeous bright raspberry shade. I’ve used Bite’s lip glosses before and always been impressed with them, and this was no exception.
The little compact mirror was a bit of a disappointment – it looks like a button pin without the pin. I suppose its small and light so easy to throw in your purse but I didn’t feel it was anything special. However, I didn’t get the set for the mirror, so no biggie!
2015 VIB Rouge Renewal Gift
Congratulations to me! I qualified for VIB Rouge for 2016! Is that something to be proud of – I’m not sure. Either way, I received a gift for it. Inside this little box was an exclusive shade of Marc Jacobs lipstick:
I’ve never tried anything by Marc Jacobs so receiving this was exciting – plus while the red looks more warm/orange I was happy see that it swatched more cool/pink which will work great with my skin tone. If I’m being honest though, I feel like VIB Rouge members should get a full-size product or at least more than one product as a reward for qualifying. It takes quite a bit of purchases to make it to VIB Rouge and in general I don’t the benefits between VIB and Rouge to be that different. Last year I know they sent me a survey asking about my thoughts on their rewards program so I hope they do the same this year so I can give them my feedback.
And that’s all folks! Well, not quite. I did pick up a few gift sets that I’m not going to post on here just in case the intended recipient happens to visit my blog. All in all, it was fun picking out everything. After I’ve used these products a little longer I will be sure to post updated reviews on all of them.
If you shopped at the Sephora sale this past weekend, let me know what you picked up! And as always, thanks for reading!
Face Shop Character mask (Moisturizing) – $4 CAD
I’ve never heard of this brand before but I love its unique and colourful packaging! This is another full-sized product which is always great to receive!
Classic Maggie 