What Should I Buy?: Filling my Z-Palette

I purchased my first Z Palette a little over a month ago and I’m starting to research products to fill it with.  I purposely bought the Dome palette so I wouldn’t be limited in what I wanted to include, as it has an extra deep base.  Although now that I’ve started window shopping, I suspect this won’t matter too much as I foresee additional Z palettes in my future #wantallthethings

MY CRITERIA: I see my palette mostly consisting of eyeshadows, with a blush or two thrown in and maybe a highlighter or bronzer.  I don’t plan on traveling with this palette and I kind of want do a mix of neutral everyday shades and pops of colour.  Ideally I’d like to not have to de-pot anything, which is why I focused on products that are available for purchase in a pan format.

In addition, I’m only purchasing products from Canadian retailers, either in-store or online.  While I would love to add some Makeup Geek products to my collection, the extra costs associated with exchange, duty and shipping make it hard to justify right now.  So I’ve narrowed my choices down to Mac, Inglot, and Anastasia Beverley Hills.

MY OPTIONS:

• MAC

Eyeshadows: Paradisco (Frosty bright pinky-coral with pearl); Gleam (Lustre barely pinked gold); Swish (Frosty bright pink with icy shimmer); Fig.1 (Matte eggplant purple); Nocturnelle (Frosty pinked-up chrome purple); Plum Dressing (Veluxe pearl pinky-plum with metal); Stars & Rockets (Veluxe pearl purple with a pink pearl); Deep Truth (Frosty True Dark Blue); Satellite Dreams (Deep plum with pearl); Steamy (Frosty bluish-green with gold pearl); Patina (Frosty taupe brown with golden pearl); Satin Taupe (Frosty taupe with silver shimmer); Swiss Chocolate (Matte muted reddish-brown)

Blushes: Plum Foolery (Frosty plum); Peaches (Pure Peach)

• Anastasia Beverly Hills:

Eyeshadows: Macaroon (Titanium Pastel Lavender); Emerald (Metallic Rich Forest Green): Prussian Blue (Titanium Reflective Peacock Blue)

• Inglot

Eyeshadows: #399; #420 (sold out); #407; #341; #339

Blushes: Blush #20:

THE VERDICT: I won’t be purchasing these all at once but slowly over time, unless I do an online purchase on Inglot of course.  I will update my purchases as they happen.

If you have any shadows/blushes/bronzers/highlighters that you would recommend or advise I’d stay away from, please let me know below – I’d so appreciate it!

Have a great weekend!

Sephora Haul & First Impressions!

Did you participate in the Sephora sale?  I did and although I didn’t get everything I intended (as usual) and made a few impluse purchases, I generally stuck to my shopping list.  Here’s what I picked up:

L’Occitane Almond Smoothing and Beautifying Supple Skin Oil – $52 CAD:

From the website: A quickly absorbed indulgent body oil formulated with more than 50 percent almond oil to help skin feel firmer, smoothed, and hydrated.

I first heard of this from Youtuber Brianna Fox, I believe she mentioned it in a monthly favourites post.  She said it was great for using after you’re out of the shower and it leaves your skin soft and smooth.  I mentioned it to my Mom and she said she uses it and loves it.  Since my skin has been feeling exceptionally dry lately, I decided to treat my skin.  The price was a little hard to swallow but I figured if it was that good, it’d be more than worth it.

First impression:  I’m not sure about this quite yet.  The oil itself is lovely – it absorbs quickly as it claims, it smells beautiful and my skin feels supple, soft and smooth afterwards.  However, the packaging is my biggest gripe.  The oil is housed in a beautiful thick glass bottle with a spray pump – normally this wouldn’t be an issue but it takes quite a bit of effort to push the pump down and that combined with my oily hands feels like a disaster waiting to happen.  I was using this every other day but I’ve since cut back to every 3rd day because I’ve already used about 1/5 of the bottle.  Given the price I can’t really justify buying a bottle of this every month and I was hoping it would last a while.  So while I like this, I think next time I’d try the Almond Milk Concentrate instead.

Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Water Foundation – $47 CAD:

From the website: A lightweight, full coverage hydrating foundation infused with tarte’s Rainforest of the Sea™ complex.

I kept hearing everyone and their dog rave about this foundation and when I saw it in store, I couldn’t resist.  The packaging was beautiful, the shade (light neutral) was a perfect match for my skintone and the coverage looked amazing.

First impression: I obviously still have not learned my lesson to not buy foundations without trying a sample first.  I have sensitive, combination skin with an oily t-zone and dry, dehydrated skin everywhere else.  There are very few foundations that work for me, and unfortunately this is not one of them.  A few minutes after applying it, I loved how it looked, it literally made my skin look flawless.  Then it set, and that’s when the problems began.  It highlighted every dry patch and pore on my skin, and as the day went on, it only got dryer.  I tried applying it with various beauty sponges and foundation brushes, with primer, without primer and I just couldn’t get it to work.  On top of that, it was making me break out (not that that’s anything new).  So I unfortunately I had to return this which was disappointing.

Too Faced Love Flush Blush Wardrobe -$45 CAD

From the website: A six-piece, high-impact blush palette with shades that last for 16 hours.

I’m a big fan of Too Faced products and I’ve yet to try their blushes.  I’ve also been wanting a blush palette for a while so this killed two birds with one stone.  I swatched each one in store and they all looked like shades I would wear regularly so I was sold.

First impression: So happy with this purchase!  All of the blushes have just the right amount of pigment so you don’t need to use a light hand but you can easily build them for a more intense look.  They have a silky soft texture and tend to last about 6-8 hours on me, depending on what I’m doing.  My only complaint would be the packaging – it’s beautiful but it’s cardboard so I won’t travel with this – despite the fact that it’s super light, I know it’ll get scuffed and scratched in a second.  That’s no where near being a deal breaker though, so if you’re looking for a blush palette, I’d suggest you highly consider this one!  Note: this is limited edition.

Tarte Rainforest After Dark Colored Clay Eye & Cheek Palette – $48 CAD

From the website: A limited-edition, colored clay eye and cheek palette for day to night looks.

I did a post a few months back on multi-purpose palettes as I was trying to decide which one I should buy.  I looked at a few options but ultimately narrowed it down to this one and Tarte’s Showstopper palette.  I ended up choosing this one because it had everything I was looking for (eyeshadow, blush, bronzer and highlighter) and the shades are on the cooler side so I felt it’d work better with my skin tone.

First impression: Another satisfying purchase!  This is a great palette, I’m so happy with it!  The eyeshadows are fantastic – super buttery and pigmented and I absolutely love the shades.  The blush, highlight and bronzer are also gorgeous.  I’m going to be traveling with this soon and will do a more in-depth review sometime in June so stay tuned!

Original Beauty Blender – $28 CAD

From the website: An edgeless, non-disposable, high-definition cosmetic sponge applicator.

If I’m being honest, I really did not want to buy another one of these.  Paying $28 for a makeup sponge kinda kills me!  But I’ve tried many of its dupes and I still like this the best – nothing applies my makeup quite the same.  My last one lasted me a year which I’m pretty sure is much too long but I took pretty good care of it. We’ll see how long this one holds up!

First impression: Still great!

Buxom Eyeshadow Bar Single Eyeshadow (No Faux) – $15 CAD

From the website: A primer-infused, powerfully pigmented eye shadow refill with intense color payoff.  Described as a iridescent snakeskin.

I’ve been eyeing this shade long before I even purchased my Buxom palette, and I’ve been waiting for it to come back in stock at my local store for months. Luckily there was one left when I visited and I couldn’t wait to get it home and try it out.

First impression: No Faux is a duo-chrome, warm-toned brown eyeshadow with a pale and dark green shift. I found the texture to be a touch dry compared to my other Buxom shadows, which was a little odd.  I’ve worn this several times since I purchased it and I love how beautiful and unique it is.  I do find this works better pressed into the lid rather than blended all over – the duo-chrome tends to disappears when it’s blended out too much.  Overall though, very happy with this purchase!

Tarte Tarteist Lash Paint (sample) – Full size $28 CAD

From the website: A jet-black, volume-packed mascara so anyone can master the tarte of the fringe.

I usually buy my mascara from the drugstore but this was a 100 point perk so I can never resist trading in a few points to try something new.  I’m pretty picky about what I look for in a mascara, so anything with a heftier price tag really has to blow me away to convince me to buy it.

First impression: Damnit – I love this!  This is an amazing mascara  – it’s super black and it adds crazy length, definition and volume to my lashes which is exactly what I look for in a mascara!  On top of that, it doesn’t flake or smudge.  My other favourite higher-end mascara is Too Faced’s Better than Sex and I think (I think!) I might like this better because thus far (knock on wood), I haven’t experienced any flaking.  The only drawback is the packaging – there’s no edge at the end of the tube to wipe the excess product off on, so it gets pretty messy pretty quick.  I think this is specific to the sample size though, the full size appears to be different.   If this continues to be awesome, I’ll be adding this to my full-size purchase list for sure!

Clinique Take it All Off Set – $17 CAD

From the website: A duo featuring a dramatic, black mascara and a creamy cleansing balm to remove makeup and refresh.

I’ve been wanting to try Clinique’s Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm since last year and I finally decided I was going to do it.  I was happy to find this little set in that always dangerous area before the checkouts and I figured this was a perfect way to try it out without committing to the full size.  Plus it included a mini High Impact mascara as well.

First impression: So at first, I didn’t really like this.  Mainly because I wasn’t following the directions and applying it to wet skin, rubbing it in and then washing my face.  That did pretty much nothing to remove my makeup.  Then I re-read the directions and applied it to dry skin – and I was much happier.  This does work really well to remove all traces of makeup (including stubborn eye makeup!) but it requires patience as it’s a bit of a process.  I’ve found the way it works best is to really massage it to my skin (particularly my eye area), let it sit for a minute or two and then rinse.  The end result is my face is completely devoid of every trace of makeup and feels super soft and moisturized.  I’ve never had a cleanser do both of those things at the same time!  So consider me impressed but also disappointed that I didn’t buy the full size of this! I have yet to try the mascara so I’ll keep you updated on that.

Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream with Super 7 Complex – $19 CAD

From the website: A daily age-defying moisturizer formulated with Fresh’s proprietary Super 7 Complex, proven to prevent the signs of aging, provide 24 hours of significant moisture, and boost radiance.

This was another impulse purchase – I had no intention of buying this but that darn checkout section got me again!  In fairness I did need a new day cream and I had forgotten about that prior to getting in line so this was a convenient option.  I haven’t tried much in the Fresh line aside from their Sugar Lip Treatments and Soy Face Cleanser.

First impression: The first thing I did when I opened the glass jar was sniff it and I was kind of disappointed with the cucumber scent.  It wasn’t strong by any means but I hate cucumbers and anything that smells like them!  It smells very similar to the Soy Face Cleanser, perhaps a little more muted.  However what really impressed me was when I applied this to my face – wow!  It’s a silky smooth, lightweight cream that just melts into my skin really nicely.  It’s really hydrating but it absorbs quickly and doesn’t leave behind that horrible tacky feeling that creams sometimes do.  So while it’s still pretty early to make the determination that this is my new favourite moisturizer, I have to say that it’s definitely impressed me so far.

If you read my Sephora Shopping List post, you’ll notice there’s a few items that I said I was going to buy that didn’t make it home with me, including:

Urban Decay x Gwen Stefani Lipstick (Firebird): I swatched this in store and I was disappointed.  The colour is pretty but I thought it was going to be more unique. ]

Sephora Kiss Me Balm (Soda Pop): My store didn’t have this shade in stock so I’ll pick it up another time.

Escada Aqua Del Sol Fragrance: Apparently Sephora no longer carries Escada in-store, only online.  Given that the rollerball was sold out online, I couldn’t be bothered to place an online order.

Benefit Coralista Blush: Given that I purchased the Too Faced Blush palette above, I didn’t feel like shelling out more for an individual blush.  I still want to try this though, so it’ll stay on my ongoing list of products I want to try.

Bite Agave Lip Mask: This was something I REALLY wanted but my store was sold out of the clear version and I had no interest in the coloured options.  I was annoyed but I’ll pick it up at some point as I know it’s normally in stock.

My initial plan was to go in store and confirm what I wanted and place my order online so I could take advantage of ebates.  Problem being I was using a gift card to pay for my purchases and guess what?  You can’t use gift cards to pay for purchases online in Canada.  That REALLY ticked me off – like its 2016, why is this not possible?  So I ended up just purchasing everything in store and scaling back on my purchases a bit.

Would love to know what you picked up from the Sephora sale – please share with me below or link to your posts!

Thanks for stopping by!

This & That Fridays – April 15

Have you seen the new Lite Brites collection by China Glaze?  I came across Young Wild & Polished’s swatches on Instagram and wow, they all look so beautiful!  I need to see them in person but I think Bite Me and What I Like About Blue are on my list.

The second season of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is out on Netflix so my weekend plans are set.  Hopefully Season 2 is as good as Season 1.

Two things I love for Spring here, lightweight sweaters and ombre.

This is too funny!  And I can relate – out of all the sports out there, I find baseball the most painful to watch.  It’s so slow and it drags on and on…I can’t get into it.  Go Jays though!

I bought this sweater from Joe Fresh a few weeks ago and I can’t stop wearing it.  It’s so comfy and easy to wear and looks great with leggings and jeans.  The only drawback is that it needs to be hand-washed.  But I love it so much I’ll sacrifice a bit of hand-washing.  I bought it in pink but I think I’m going to pick up the green too.

Waffle iron pizza?  Yes please!

Did you hear that Hudson’s Bay is now carrying Teeez Cosmetics?  I have one of their lipsticks that I received in my Luxe Box and I really like it.  And their packaging is amazing!  Excited to try more of their stuff.

Need to catch up on my posts?  Here’s what I published this week:

• Saturday Cocktail – Cherry Limeade
• Sephora Shopping List
• March Loves & Letdowns

Have a great weekend!

Follow me!: INSTAGRAM: @classicmaggie | TWITTER: @classic_maggie | PINTEREST: @classicmaggie

March Loves & Letdowns

I’m a little behind on this month’s favourites – but on the bright side I’m actually doing it this month.  I completely forgot to do February favourites!  Oops!

I’m going to jump right in – here’s what I loved this month:

Gap Open Front Cardi: I love cardi’s any time of year, but especially for Spring and Summer.  This one is super lightweight so it’s perfect to throw overtop of a t-shirt or tank in the morning when it’s still a little chilly out.  They offer this sweater in a wide variety of colours; I selected it in Heather Grey colour but I’m tempted to pick up another in Turquoise or Blue.

Bath & Body Works Cinnamon Spiced Vanilla Hand Soap: I can’t get enough of this hand soap – it smells exactly like my favourite warm drink from Starbucks – their Cinnamon Dolce Hot Chocolate.  Love it!

Tarte Maracuja Oil: This was included in a Tarte set I bought on Black Friday and I was a little hesitant to use it as I haven’t really had much success with using oils on my face.  My skin is super sensitive and I usually break out when I try to use them.  This one is different though!  I’ve been using this off and on throughout the month as a night-time moisturizer and mixed into my foundation in lieu of primer and it works so well!  I totally expected it to leave me greasy and oily by the end of the day when I mixed it into my foundation but it just made my skin look glowy and healthy and my foundation applied like a dream.  Used as a nighttime moisturizer, I couldn’t believe how supple and smooth my skin felt the next day.  I’m about halfway through my little mini bottle of it but I plan on purchasing the full size, or at least another of the same size.

CoverGirl TruBLEND Blush (Light Rose): This might be one of the best drugstore blushes I’ve ever tried.  Be warned this particular shade is quite light so it probably wouldn’t work well for those with darker skin tones.  But for any of my fair-skinned friends, I’d recommend this.  It’s a really soft pink-ish peach and you can build it to your desired intensity.  On top of that the formula is great – it’s silky, soft and buttery.  Highly recommend this!

Frilly Lilly Argentinian Lemon Shea Butter Creme:  I’ve found my new favourite hand cream!  Frilly Lilly is a local mani/pedi/waxing boutique with locations in Alberta & British Columbia, and California.  I’ve been using this cream for probably a month and a half and it has really helped my chronically dry hands.  It’s not at all greasy – it absorbs quickly but moisturizes really well.  I also love that it doesn’t leave white marks on darker clothes if you touch them before it’s absorbed (one of my biggest pet peeves with hand cream!).  I picked up the Argentinian lemon scent and at first I wasn’t sure about it but I’ve grown to really like it – it’s very refreshing.

NYX Butter Gloss (Angel Food Cake / Strawberry Cheesecake): I’ve talked about how much I love the NYX Butter Glosses before and that hasn’t changed.  I gravitate towards lip glosses and these are some of the best I’ve tried.  They’re glossy and pigmented and so easy to wear.  Angel Food Cake is a lovely nude/mauve shade and Strawberry Cheesecake is a warm medium pink.  I really haven’t been wearing any other lip products aside from these this month!

L’Oreal Brow Stylist Definer (Blonde):  I have to admit I’m kind of lazy when it comes to brows – half the time I forget to do them.  However this eyebrow pencil is so good I’ve pretty much done my brows every day this month.  I can’t believe the difference between this and my previously beloved e.l.f eyebrow pencil – they don’t even compare!  Not only is the shade perfect for me, the precise tip makes it so easy to fill and define my brows (hence the name).  I’ve heard others say that this is a dupe for the Anastasia Brow Wiz – not having tried it, I can’t confirm but if that’s true, but I see why everyone was going crazy over them if they are indeed similar.

Letdown:

NYX HD Concealer: I’ve been researching new concealers for a while and I had heard some good things about this one.  Unfortunately this did not work for me.  The reason: it’s ridiculously drying!  It seemed a little dry when I initially applied it but it only got worse as the day went on.  I used this to cover blemishes so I can’t imagine using this as an undereye concealer – it would totally emphasize and enhance any fine lines.  So this was a disappointment and the search for a new concealer continues…

Maggie’s love: Pet Kind Wild Pacific Salmon Treats

Maggie wanted to join in and share her love for the month.  She’s really been enjoying these salmon treats that I found at Homesense for $6.99.  Love that these are a Canadian product and made with wild pacific salmon.  And they stink so of course Maggie just loves them.  This is the second bag we’ve gone through and I haven’t seen these again at Homesense, so I’m going to have to track down a retailer here that sells them.

What were your loves and letdowns for March?

Thanks for reading!

Winners Haul!

Shopping makes me happy.  Particularly when I can find a good deal.  And I’m always looking for a good deal!  However one of goals this year was to be more mindful of my purchases and only purchase things I really love.  I’ve been pretty successful with this however stepping into Winners really puts me to the test sometimes.  They usually have pretty good deals and then there are the times when you hit the jackpot and I could easily empty my bank account in a matter of minutes.  My last trip there was one of latter, although I did restrain myself!  I picked up a few things and thought I’d share them:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Solitare Swim Coverup – $29.99 CAD: I’ve been looking for a dress-style cover up and this one is pretty much perfect.  The pictures don’t really do it much justice but it’s very flattering on!  The fabric is also super soft and lightweight and I love the embroidery/crochet that’s on the sleeves and along the hemline. Can’t wait to wear this!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Living Proof Full Shampoo – $16.99 CAD:  I had to blink a few times when I saw a bottle of this in the haircare aisle?  LIVING PROOF?  For $16.99!?I?  They also had a bottle of the Full Thickening Mousse for the same price but I decided against that as I just purchased a couple bottles of my regular mousse.  Now I have tried this shampoo before and I really liked it – but I couldn’t really justify paying $33 for it (although I was considering adding it to my Sephora sale shopping list prior to finding this).  So for $16.99 I couldn’t pass this up!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bare Minerals Marvelous Moxie Lip Gloss (Hypnotist) – $12.99 CAD:  As mentioned above, sometimes you just hit up Winners on the right day, and this was one of those days.  This Bare Minerals lip gloss was in one of those security boxes that are locked up and you can only see what’s inside, you can’t open it up and test it out (which I appreciate).  I did a quick google search of this and when I saw some of the pictures, I knew I had to have this.  This is described as a “vibrant holographic peach colour that shifts from pale purple to coral-peach with gold pearl.”  The reviews were kind of mixed but I wanted to try it anyway.  I was a little disappointed when I opened it as mine looked nothing like the pictures online.  As you can see it’s still holographic but it’s mostly yellow.  So I’m not sure if I have a wonky formula and that’s why it was there but either way I have worn this overtop of various lip products it definitely adds a neat shine/slight shift to my lips.  Plus the formula is great – it’s not too thin or sticky and glides on nicely.  It has a sweet mint scent and it leaves a tingly sensation behind after application.  Not sure I’d fork over the regular price of $23 for this but for $13 I’m pleased with it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acrylic Nail Polish Organizer – $9.99 CAD: I’ve been picking these up over the last few months and now I have 3 of them. These are fantastic for keeping nail polishes organized and the slots are large enough to fit almost any size of polish.  Plus the plastic is sturdy and durable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wall Art Set – $4.99 CAD: Winners had a couple versions of these but I loved the colour of these prints and can’t wait to find some white frames to place them in and hang them in my office. And $4.99 for 2 of them is just a steal.

Do you shop at Winners/TJX/Marshalls?  What great finds have you found there lately?  Let me know below!

Have a great week and thanks for stopping by!

Sephora Shopping List

It’s that time of the year again – another Sephora shopping event is here!  I’m a VIB Rouge so from what I understand I get to start shopping on the 7th, which is tomorrow.  However I still haven’t received an email from them notifying me of the sale.  And, okay, can I just vent a bit?  There really is nothing of any kind of significance that differentiates between being a VIB Rouge and a VIB.  Aside from the fact that as a VIB Rouge, I spend $650 more a year but basically get a few small perks that definitely don’t make spending that much more worth it.  In my mind, for events like these, Rouge should get 20% instead of 15%.  Or we should get more free samples or something.  SOMETHING!  I’m not sure I see myself striving towards Rouge status this year, although I don’t really tend to do that anyway, it just kind of happens.  But I think I might explore other options such as Shoppers Drug Mart where I can actually use my points to get free stuff.  Why isn’t Ulta in Canada?  Ugh.  /end rant.

Okay, now that I’ve got that out of the way, let’s move on to what I plan to purchase from this god-forsaken store.  I always love reading/seeing what everyone else is buying so hopefully you’re sharing your shopping list too:

1. Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm – $36 CAD: I’m out of an everyday face cleanser and I was going to buy this guy last year but I don’t remember why I didn’t, I think I purchased Sephora’s Green Tea Cleanser instead.  Regardless I’m definitely picking this up this time around, I’m excited to give a cleansing balm a whirl.
2. UD Gwen Stefani Lipstick (Firebird) – $21 CAD: Love this shade, I think it’s going to be perfect for spring and summer.
3. Tarte Rainforest After Dark Coloured Clay Eye & Cheek Palette – $48 CAD: If you read my first What Should I Buy post, you’ll know that this was one of many contenders in the Multi-Purposes palette line up.  I’m 95% sure this what I’m going with, unless something unexpected makes an appearance in-store.  I just love the colours in this and feel they’ll work really well with my skin tone.
4. Too Faced Loved Flush Blush Wardrobe – $45 CAD:  Not sure I really need a blush palette but this looks so pretty, plus I love Too Faced products.  I think I want to take a closer look at this in store before I commit to it though.
5. Sephora Kiss Me Balm (Soda Pop) – $8 CAD: I always eyed this up in the checkout area but aside from the scent, didn’t think it seemed all that great.  However, after reading Stash Matters review, I think I’m going to give it a try.  It helps that I love anything that smells like soda/cola/Coke/Pepsi.
6. Escada Aqua Del Sol – $25 CAD:  Mmmmm this is like summer in a bottle.  It’s warm and bright and fruity and perfect for warmer weather.  I’m going to try it out in the rollerball size if possible.
7. Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Volume Mascara – $33 CAD: This is on my list as a result of this post on Beautezine; I love me a good volumizing mascara and I’m not afraid of clumps!    I’m not usually one to buy non-drugstore mascaras, aside from Too Faced Better than Sex, but I think I’m going to give this a try to see how it compares.
8. Benefit CORALista Blush – $36 CAD:  This has also been on my list for a while, along with the Rockateur and I think I’m going to go with Coralista…I think?
9. Buxom Eyeshadow (No Faux, La La Lavish, Posh Purple) – $15 CAD: I’m loving my customized Buxom eyeshadow palette and I want to add some of their more unique shades to my collection.  I’ve been wanting No Faux forever but it’s always sold out – hoping I can snag it this time around.
10. Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask – $30 CAD I’ve been wanting to try this for years and I’m going to bite the bullet this time.  My lips have been feeling really dry lately so I’m hoping this will help.
11. Beauty Blender – $28 CAD:  I bought my first Beauty Blender a year ago and it took me a while to warm up to it but now I can’t live without one.  I’m trying out the Real Techniques and Quo versions and unfortunately I think the Beauty Blender is going to remain my favourite.  Post comparing the 3 coming soon!

What are you buying at the Sephora sale?  Let me know below!

Thanks for reading!

This & That Fridays – April 1

Happy April Fools Day!  Did you prank anyone today or did you get pranked?  I remembered what day it was so I wasn’t fooled by anything.  Here’s a list of the Best April Fool’s Pranks of 2016 – almost all of them are hilarious (i.e. Cornhub? Wigs for Cats? Bahaha!)

Okay so I tried watching Full House a few weeks ago and I just can’t do it.  It’s so cheesy, I couldn’t stand it.  I think the fake audience laughter makes it worse.  Not for me.

Um Kate Spade has a YOGA collection now?  Not sure I could justify over $100 for a tank though…

This is making me crave an Orange Julius…curious if this tastes at all similar to the real thing.

So I recently placed on online order with Express.  I bought a dress and 2 pairs of pants and all 3 were on sale and for whatever reason I stupidly assumed that the prices were in Canadian dollars.  I saw the charge on my credit card and I paid an extra $50 because of exchange and an international processing fee.  THIS is why I don’t shop online at non-Canadian companies!  Grrrr!

I don’t know why, but I’m having such a hard time doing my liquid eyeliner lately, and this meme sums up what every morning has been like for me:

So basically I’m accepting any and all tips on applying liquid eyeliner like a normal person and not be a panda.

I made the best homemade salad dressing this week!  I’m trying to eat healthier, which for me is a bit of a challenge.  I hate vegetables – they always taste bitter to me.  But I can usually stomach a salad so I took a recipe I found online and modified it a bit and it’s delicious – I almost look forward to my salad for dinner. #almost  I’ll be sharing the recipe soon!

Have a great weekend!

Simple Skincare

I was selected for the Simple Skincare campaign via Chick Advisor a few weeks ago and received a package containing 3 Simple Skincare products.  I’ve never used any products by this brand, but I’ve seen their products in the drugstore and know that they are popular amongst bloggers and Youtubers.

When I received the products I first did a little research on the company; as someone with sensitive skin, I was pleased to learn that all of their products are free from dyes, artificial perfumes or harsh chemicals.  Instead they contain skin-loving ingredients and added vitamins and their products are all are hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic and pH balanced (source)

While this all sounded great, I was interested to see if they’d deliver.  I’ve tried products meant for sensitive skin before, only to end up with breakouts, redness and irritation.  So needless to say, I’m pretty cautious about trying out new skincare and tend to introduce them slowly and sparingly.

Let’s get into the reviews of each product:

MICELLAR MAKEUP REMOVER WIPES – $6.99 / 25 wipes

Gently cleanses skin, leaving it feeling instantly hydrated and refreshed, with no residue left behind.

Ingredients: Water (Aqua, Eau) (Solvent), Cetearyl Isononanoate (Emollient), Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5),Phenoxyethanol (Preservative), Glycerin (Humectant), Sodium Citrate (Buffering Agent),Ceteareth-20 (Emulsifier), Cetearyl Alcohol (Emulsifier), Glyceryl Stearate (Emulsifier),Ceteareth-12 (Emulsifier), Benzoic Acid (Preservative), Dehydroacetic Acid, Disodium EDTA (Chelating Agent), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E)

I’m pretty picky about my makeup remover wipes.  I typically only use these when I travel or sometimes if I’m feeling particularly lazy after a night out.  My favourite makeup remover wipes are the Olay Gentle Clean Wet Cleansing Cloths because I can usually get away with using one to remove all my makeup (two if I am wearing heavy/waterproof eye makeup), they stay moist and they don’t irritate my skin or eye area.  So that’s what these were going up against.

I’ve used a half a dozen of these so far and I can say that they are on par with my Oil of Olay faves.  They’re really moist, so I have no problem with removing almost every trace of makeup.  If I’m wearing a particularly stubborn mascara or eyeliner I might have to use a makeup remover just to clean up around my eyes but that’s no different than what I experience with the Olay wipes.  The best thing is that I never experienced any dryness, redness, irritation or breakouts with these – my face just felt nice and clean afterwards! Overall, I’m happy with these and would repurchase these on my own.

REPLENISHING RICH MOISTURIZER – $10.99 / 198 mL

Leaves skin replenished and nourished all day long.  Contains Pro-Vitamin B5, Chamomile, Glycerin & Geranium.

Ingredients: Water (Aqua, Eau), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Polyacrylamide, Stearic Acid, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Caprylyl Glycol, Laureth-7, Allantoin, Pentylene Glycol, Bisabolol, Disodium EDTA, Lactic Acid, Sodium Lactate, Serine, Sodium Hydroxide, Urea, Sorbitol, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Methylisothiazolinone, Phenoxyethanol

When I saw the word “rich” in this I groaned a little inside.  Me and rich moisturizers don’t usually get along.  I have combination skin so I don’t typically need a heavy duty moisturizer.  If my skin is feeling particularly parched, I’ll use a heavier moisturizer overnight so my skin has plenty of time to absorb it.

Surprisingly the consistency of this isn’t as thick and creamy as I expected.  It’s actually quite lightweight but once applied to skin it is quite emollient and definitely takes its time to absorb. Unfortunately I tried it out one morning and a few hours in my skin was looking pretty oily so this wouldn’t work as an everyday moisturizer for me.  I have used it overnight however, and it seems to work better for me that way.  So I’ll keep it on hand for those times when I’m needing some extra hydration.  I don’t think I would purchase this on my own though – I prefer skincare with active ingredients (ideally glycolic acid) and lighter moisturizers work best on my skin.  I see they do have a light moisturizer so I think that would probably work better for my skintype if I was looking for a moisturizer with inactive ingredients.

CLEANSING MICELLAR WATER – $6.99/198 mL

A perfect blend of multi-vitamins, skin loving ingredients and gentle cleansers to cleanse the skin while removing make-up. Skin is left feeling clean and hydrated.

Ingredients: Aqua, Hexylene Glycol, Glycerin, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, DMDM Hydantoin, Cetrimonium Chloride, Tetrasodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Chloride, Butylene Glycol, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate.

This box couldn’t have come along at a better time – I was close to finishing up my much-repurchased Sephora Action Cleansing Water and have been itching to try something new.  I had heard some good things about this Micellar Water so I was very interested to give it a try and see how this compared.  I’ve been using the Sephora version for years and I’m very happy with it. I like to use a micellar water in the morning in lieu of washing my face, and after cleansing in the evening.

I experienced 2 drawbacks with this micellar water; firstly, I felt like my skin was slightly oilier than usual by about mid-day when I used this in the morning.  Secondly, I prefer a pump-style bottle rather than a squeeze bottle as I find it’s much easier to dispense and I use only what I need.  Overall though I think this is a pretty good micellar water.  It removes makeup pretty well, leaves my skin feeling refreshed and doesn’t leave any residue behind.  I’m not sure it could replace my Sephora version but I’d pick it up if I was in a pinch.

Overall I was pretty happy with the Simple Skincare products I received.  Even if all the products weren’t a complete match for my skin type and typical preferences, I could easily make any of these work for me and be happy with the results.  Plus I love the fact that they’re from the drugstore and are reasonably priced.

Have you tried any Simple Skincare products?  What were your thoughts?  Let me know below!

Have a great day!

Spruce Up Your Space for Spring!

 

So I like to consider my blog to be a beauty AND lifestyle blog – but somehow I never seem to get many lifestyle posts up. The beauty stuff always sucks me in!  So I’m going to make a concious effort to split my focus a little more equally between the two.

Spring is here (despite what it may or may not look like outside) and I couldn’t be happier about it!  I love all the fresh and bright colours that come with Spring and Summer and I always like to incorporate a few new items into my home to celebrate the new season, and to keep my space looking fresh and modern.

Unfortunately my house is a bit of a construction zone right now and it’s not conducive to decorating.  I’m hoping things should be wrapped up within the next few weeks, after which I’m going to dive head first into decorating, room by room.  I hope to share my plans and progress on my blog so stay tuned for that.

In the meantime, to feed my decorating urge, I’ve decided to put a little post together to share the types of things you can add into your own personal space to liven things up a bit. None of these are crazy expensive (in fact, the majority of them are on sale!) and you don’t need to incorporate all of them to make your space feel lighter and brighter – even just one or two should do the trick!

OUTSIDE  1. A cheerful doormat to greet guests; 2. Pretty glass patio lights (perfect for decks or patio umbrellas); 3. A colourful home for our fine feathered friends.

KITCHEN  4. A modern take on the fruit bowl (for all the delicious fruit soon to be available!); 5. Fun tea towels to add a pop of colour; 6. Adorable Bunny tumblers (Easter themed but too cute not to be used all year-round!); 7. Sunset- inspired Ombre placemats to brighten up your kitchen table.

LIVING/FAMILY ROOM  8. A faux-but-realistic-looking succulent arrangement;  9. Bring some of the outdoors indoors with some Floral wall decor (I wonder if you could spray paint these?); 10. A lightweight but super-soft clamshell print throw (for cool, rainy days); 11. A lovely little tealight holder; 12.  This Birds on a branch sculpture would make a fun centerpiece on a coffee table; 13. Leave messages or keep track of a grocery list on this chalkboard marquee sign; 14. Fill up a pretty vase and add a hint of fragrance with this Pineapple Basil potpourri; 15. Add some Vibrant throw pillows as one of the easiest (and cheapest!) ways to transform a room!

Note – I’ve selected all of these items from two of my favourite home decor stores – Pier One and Urban Barn.  Another one of my favourite places to shop for home things is Homesense and Winners!  They always have a great selection and even better prices.  If only they had a website you could purchase from…

What types of things do you do to spruce up your space for Spring/Summer?  Let me know what you’re doing below!

Thanks for reading!

Luxe Box – Spring 2016

Happy Hump Day!  Thanks to the holiday on Friday, we’re already halfway through the week.  Sometimes I find that short weeks feel longer than regular weeks which is annoying.  Thursday at 4:30 PM can’t come soon enough!

Today I’m reviewing my Spring Luxe Box.  Luxe Box is a quarterly Canadian beauty subscription service; included in the box is 7-8 trial-sized beauty and lifestyle items.   The monthly plan costs $26 a month and the annual plan is $96 a year.  I subscribe to the monthly plan as I prefer the freedom to cancel my subscription whenever I please.

So, here’s what my Spring box included:

Smashbox Photo Finish Classic Primer (.25 fl. oz – $44 CAD for 1 oz): I’m not a fan of this primer yet samples of it follow me everywhere I go.  I’ll be giving this away.

Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional Primer (3.0 mL – $37 CAD for 0.75 oz): A second primer?  Okay I actually don’t mind this one but again, I’ve already got a few of these in my stash already.  Boring.

Jelly Pong Pong Lychee Softening Shower & Bath Gel (30 mL – $15.95 USD): Lychee’s gross me out – I personally think they look and feel like eyeballs. So I can’t say I’m super excited by this but I haven’t tried it out yet.  At first I thought this was a sample size but it appears this actually full-sized.  I can’t imagine paying $15 for this little tube?

POP Beauty Kajal Pen – Inky Purple (0.9 g – $10 USD): This excited me at first as I actually quite like purple eyeliners.  Then I tried it.  This smudged like crazy.  Plus it’s not really all that pigmented so you can’t really tell that it’s purple.  And if you actually want to smudge it out and use the smudger that’s on the end of the brush, it rubs the eyeliner away.  Fail.

Schick Hydro Silk Razor ($12.64 CAD): This seemed like an odd addition to the box but one of the few things that I’m actually going to use.  We typically purchase the value pack of Schick disposable razors from Costco and they work well but every so often its nice to use something a little more luxurious.  I’ve used this a few times and I do enjoy how soft my skin feels after and it definitely reduces the number of nicks and cuts I inflict on myself.  On the down side I don’t find these provide as close of a shave as my disposable razors.

Morgan Taylor Professional Nail Lacquer – Eye Candy (15 mL – $15.83 CAD): I always like getting nail polishes and I’ve never heard of this brand before so its nice to try something new.  If only the colour were more unique – I have this periwinkle shade in other brands so I wish they would have included something a little different.  I have tested this out and the formula seems easy to work with so that’s a bonus.  I struggle with the $15 price tag on this though, as nice as the formula is you wouldn’t catch me paying $15 for a bottle of this.

Model Co BB PLUS Cream Daily All-In-One Skin Perfector Broad Spectrum SPF 30 – Light (35 mL – $22 CAD): This is what excited me most out of the whole box – I love BB creams for the warmer months when slathering a thick layer of makeup on my face is the last thing I want to do.  This pretty much claims to do it all including cover blemishes and imperfections, maintain hydration, correct signs of dullness or fatigue and help protect the skin from UV rays.  Unfortunately I’ve used this twice and I’m not even the least bit impressed.  The coverage of this is so sheer that it does nothing to cover any blemishes or scaring, nor does it brighten or awaken my complexion. It feels pointless to even apply it. On top of that the shade is really orange/yellow so it gives me a really attractive Oompa Looompa glow. And if that isn’t enough,it doesn’t last on my skin.  Both times I’ve used this I’ve applied it in the morning and hung out at home on the couch all day.  After a few hours, the product dissipates off my face and I don’t have a trace of it left.  I could potentially use this as a primer but that’s about it.  Huge disappointment and wouldn’t recommend this.

This month they also included two coupons; one for a bonus 3500 Shoppers Optimum points if you purchased the full size of the Benefit POREfessional Primer.  I don’t like it enough to purchase the full size so that won’t be going to use.  The second was $5 razor blades for the Schick razor.  I know razor blades are expensive so I might actually use this.

So, if you couldn’t tell, I’m pretty disappointed with this season’s box.  I feel like there wasn’t a ton of thought put into it (2 primers, a razor, etc.) and the products I was excited to try fell flat.  That said, this is only my third Luxe Box and I was happy with the previous two I’ve received.  Here’s hoping the Summer Luxe Box is more impressive!

Have you tried any of these products?  What are your thoughts on the Spring Luxe Box?  Let me know below.

Thanks for stopping by!