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!

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!

Review: Makeup Forever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation

Happy Monday!

Today I’ve got a full review on MUFE’s Ultra HD Fluid Foundation.  I purchased this back in December and have been using it for about a month and a half, so I feel I have a pretty good understanding of it, and figured it’s about time I do a review.

Here are it’s claims, as per the MUFE website:

• lightweight/feels like a second skin
• natural, flawless coverage/invisible on camera and to the naked eye
• Medium to buildable coverage
• Long-lasting

So first up, I definitely agree that this is definitely lightweight and natural looking.  It has a very silky texture and applies like a dream to my skin. I’ve applied this using my Beauty Blender and a foundation brush and both work well, although I default to the Beauty Blender most times.  I find it very comfortable to wear and is probably as close to my real skin as I’ve seen any foundation look. I find it leaves behind a satin/slightly dewy finish immediately after application which is nice.

In terms of coverage, I’d also agree that this falls under medium. I can get away with one pump all over my face and feel like my skin is sufficiently covered.  However I typically use another half-pump on my cheeks as I have some redness that I prefer to hide.  I appreciate the fact that this doesn’t become cakey as you build it, however I cannot build this up to full coverage.  I definitely need to use concealer to cover up the broken capillaries under my eyes and any blemishes or acne scars.  Therefore I personally can’t vouch for this creating a flawless complexion all on its own (but isn’t that what concealer is for?).  If you have close to perfect skin to begin with, that could be a possibility for you.  .

I think the lasting time is what has disappointed me a bit – it definitely doesn’t last on me all day.  I’d say after about 12 hours I don’t have much left of it on my face.  It breaks down as time goes on and I definitely have to use a blotting paper about halfway through my day as my t-zone gets to be pretty oily by then.  I’m not going to fault it too much for that, because is there any foundation that actually lasts (and looks good) after a full 12 hours?

I’ve used this with a primer since Day 1 so I haven’t tested it without one.  It wouldn’t make sense for me to though, because I always use a primer – without one my foundation just settles into my pores and stays there and it won’t last longer than an hour.  The two primers I’ve used with this are Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Primer and MUFE’s Smoothing Primer.  I prefer using the Too Faced version the MUFE makes me pretty greasy within a few hours of application.  I’d like to see how a mattifying primer performs with this but I’ve yet to find one that actually works for my skin.

I think one of the big bonuses with this product is the shade selection – it is quite extensive with 40 shades to choose from.  I was matched to Y305 Soft Beige @ Sephora but I think this actually might be too yellow for me; I’m pretty pale with cool undertones and this is quite yellow/warm.  Which is great to cover up some of the redness I experience but a little bit much for the rest of my face.  Definitely not a fault of the product, but more so of Sephora’s Color IQ (I’ve never been matched properly using it).

Overall, I like this foundation.  It applies like a dream, doesn’t sink into my pores, and most importantly – it doesn’t make my super sensitive skin breakout.  If I had to compare it to something I’d say it’s very similar to Too Faced Born This Way Foundation (BTW), which I used for a couple of weeks and returned, because it was causing breakouts. I find the coverage, formula and finish very similar, but MUFE is miles better in regards to lasting power.  BTW lasted maybe a couple of hours on me before it practically evaporated off of my skin and left me looking like an oil slick.  This definitely lasts quite a bit longer and doesn’t leave me near as oily.  Also, NO BREAKOUTS, which is huge!

Now to the ultimate question – would I re-purchase this?  The answer is yes, I would.  It is really hard for me to find foundations that work for my skin and although this isn’t perfect, it has more pros than cons as far as I’m concerned.  I think if you have skin that leans towards the combination to dry side of the spectrum, this could work well for you!

In summary:

Coverage: Medium

Finish: Satin/slightly dewy

Shades: 40 shades

Price: $50 CAD

Available at: Sephora, makeupforever.com

Re-purchase?: Yes

Have you tried this foundation?  What did you think?  Let me know below!

Thanks for reading!

Top 15 of 2015 – Beauty!

I hope everyone had a great Christmas with family and friends!  I can’t believe that Christmas has come and gone already – everything just seems to go by so fast.  While Christmas was fun, it was super busy, a bit chaotic and stressful before and during so I enjoyed spending the last couple of days relaxing and decompressing.  But now it’s time to get back into blogging!

Since the beginning of December I’ve been contemplating how to compile my top products of 2015…do I put everything into one post or break them out into categories in a series???  Then I saw Leighann Says do her Top 15 Favorites of 2015 on her YouTube channel and my decision was made – it seemed like an easy way to do it!   I thought I’d have no issue narrowing my list down to 15 products…I was wrong!  I was surprised at how many products I used this year that I actually liked!  However I made sure I was mindful as I went through them so that the products I’m mentioning here were ones that I truly loved and actually deserved to be on my list.  The majority of these have been included in my monthly Loves and Letdowns posts but there are a few that I have been enjoying over the last month or so too (and would have been included in my December Loves & Letdowns had I done one).

On to my list:

1. Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Primer: The fact that I purchased the full size of this primer says a lot.  I didn’t expect to like this as much as I did – I figured it would leave me greasy and oily by the end of the day but it actually does the opposite.  It gives my skin a natural glow and leaves it feeling hydrated and moisturized.  The combination of this with the Covergirl foundation below is perfection.  Another bonus is the scent – it smells like coconut! Review here.
2. CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation: I can’t believe that my favourite foundation of the year comes from the drugstore.  Previously I’ve never had luck with getting drugstore foundations to work for me – they’ve always caused breakouts and I’ve had trouble getting the shades to match my skin tone. I have zero of those issues with this one.   I’m actually on my second bottle of this and I fully expect to buy a third.  Review here.
3. Bare Minerals Skin Rev-er Upper: I don’t do thick moisturizers in the morning – my skin takes too long for them to absorb and I just don’t have the time.  This can be used as a primer or a moisturizer, but I prefer to use it as the latter.  It’s lightweight, absorbs quickly but still gives my skin the moisture it needs.  Review here.
4. CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion: This has replaced my Peter Thomas Roth Glycolic Acid moisturizer that I used and loved for years; I find it provides similar results for quarter of the price.  Review here.
5. Freeman Charcoal & Black Sugar Polishing Mask: As per my review linked below, I find this works better as a scrub rather than a mask but it can be used either way.  This is gentle while still being effective and it’s another drugstore bargain!  Plus it lasts forever – I’ve been using this a couple times a week for the last 6 months and I’ve barely made a dent in it.   Review here.
6. Too Faced Chocolate Soleli Matte Bronzer: I’ve been wearing this religiously since I purchased the Too Faced Most Loved Set back in October.  Despite it’s medium/deep shade description, it’s not as pigmented as expected.  Which definitely isn’t a bad thing if you’re on the paler side like me.  And the subtle cocoa scent is just the best.  Review here.
7. Milani Baked Blush – Luminoso: Everyone raves about this, and now I understand why.  This shade is so universally flattering and devoid of the shimmer/ glitter in Nars Orgasm.  And it’s drugstore!  This has been my go-to blush for a little over the last month or so and I’m loving it!
8. Too Faced Shadow Insurance: If I’m going to splurge on a eye primer, this will receive my money.  This is another product I tried and fell in love with from the Too Faced Most Loved set (which I actually should have included in this list!) and it is easily the best higher end eye primer I’ve used.  If you have oily lids like me, you’ll want to give this a try.  Review here.
9. Milani Eye Tech Extreme Liquid Eye Liner: I tried many liquid eyeliners this year and this one edged out the rest.  It actually stays put, is super black and glides on smoothly.  Highly recommended. Review here.
10. Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara: Okay, I will warn you – this mascara does flake  But I don’t care because it does amazing things to my lashes.  I love the huge bristley brush and the super black formula.  It’s not perfect but its the closest I’ve found to it.  Review here.
11. Buxom Full-On Lip Cream – Rose Julep: I used to wear Buxom lip glosses years ago and I loved them…and I can’t remember why I stopped.  I recently acquired 3 mini sizes of these and while I love all 3, Rose Julep has stood out the most.  It’s just a perfect, everyday light pink shade.  I’m halfway through the tube and I’ve only had it in my possession for the last couple weeks.  I love how these leave a tingly sensation behind after I apply them and I feel like they actually do plump up my lips a bit (if only temporarily).  Can’t wait to give more of these a try in 2016!
12. Paul Mitchell Color Protect Daily Shampoo: Finding a shampoo that didn’t suck was a challenge this year and I tried out quite a few before I was successful.  This adds just the right amount of moisture to my fine hair, while still giving it a bit of volume without causing frizziness.  Bonus that it protects my colour as well.
13. Chi Magnified Volume Hairspray: My hair feels like my biggest enemy some days and trying to find styling products that actually do what they say is a constant struggle.  This hair spray has been such a great find for me – it gives my style a good strong hold but doesn’t leave it feeling sticky or crunchy.  Review here.
14. Beauty Blender: Previous to purchasing my Beauty Blender, I had tried a few knockoffs and was never all that impressed with them.  Yet I kept reading rave reviews on this thing so I finally caved to the pressure and purchased one earlier this year.  Best decision ever!  I absolutely love how this applies my foundation and concealer and if I want to, I can use it apply powder, blush, bronzer and highlight too.  And despite my continuous use over many months, it’s just starting to show signs of wear now.  I’ll be buying another in 2016 I’m sure! Review here.
15. Real Techniques Expert Face Brush: My one and only Real Techniques brush but my favourite foundation/face brush that I own.  The bristles are soft, it fits comfortably in my hand, and most important – it gives my foundation that air-brushed effect.  I couldn’t be happier with this brush!  Review here.

What were your favourite beauty products of 2015?  Are any of mine on your list?

Thanks for reading!

Loves & Letdowns – October

We are well into November now but I still wanted to share the products I enjoyed and those that we letdowns in the month of October.  Let’s jump right in:

LOVES

Freeman Charcoal & Black Sugar Polishing Mask – $4.99 CAD

Freeman’s Charcoal & Black Sugar Polishing Mask

I’ve been using this “mask” for quite a few months now and I’m so impressed with it!  First things first, my preference isn’t to use this as a mask but as a scrub.  I’ve tried it a few times as a mask but I didn’t really notice any extra benefits from doing so.  Instead I exfoliate my face with this a couple of times a week and it works really, really well.  It has a thick grainy texture which really helps to exfoliate dead skin and unclog pores – I particularly love using this around my nose.  When applied, this leaves a tingly, warming sensation on my skin and has a pleasant scent (I struggle to describe it – slightly sugary maybe?).  Most importantly, I don’t experience any breakouts or sensitivity with this; my skin just feels soft, smooth and clean.  For the price, you can’t beat this!

Repurchase?: Yes

Cerave PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion – $14.99 CAD

Cerave’s Facial Moisturizing Lotion

I’ve been using this off and on since the summer and religiously for the last month or so since I used up by PTR Glycolic Acid moisturizer.  When I was using it off and on I didn’t really see much in terms of results from it but now that I’ve been using it regularly, I notice a real difference in my skin. I notice a difference if I’m experiencing breakouts – the next morning they are greatly reduced.  It also helps with healing any dry patches that inevitably start appearing at this time of year.

I always appreciate a moisturizer that absorbs quickly and doesn’t leave my skin feeling greasy; that factors in to why I’ve been enjoying this.  I”m not big on using super intense, thick moisturizers on a regular basis (only when I feel my skin needs them) and this offers just the right amount of hydration.

Repurchase?: Yes

 

Original Beauty Blender – $28 CAD

The Original Beauty Blender

I never thought I’d like the Beauty Blender as much as I do.  It’s just a makeup sponge, right?  Wrong!  It’s definitely not your typical makeup sponge, it’s so much more than that!  Not only does it apply my liquid foundation flawlessly, I’ve learned to use it to apply primer, mineral powder foundation, finishing powder, bronzer and blush.  I’m not normally a fan of using one tool to apply my entire face, but this makes it possible to do that successfully.  Not to mention the fact that I’ve been using this since March this year and it’s still in pretty much perfect condition.  I know it says to replace them every 3 months but meh, I wash it regularly and there’s no signs of rips or tears in it, so why not?

Repurchase?: Yes

LIKES

Milani Baked Blush – Bella Rosa

Milani’s Baked Blush in Bella Rosa

After hearing rave reviews about Milani’s Luminoso, I figured it was time for me to give it a try.  The problem: the only place that sells Milani products here was sold out when I went to purchase it.  I was disappointed… until I saw Bella Rosa!  This is described as a Matte Bright Raspberry Pink and it looked like such a gorgeous colour.  I own nothing like it – so I figured I’d try it out.  And I’m glad I did!

Milani’s Bella Rosa Baked Bush

This is a INTENSE blush.  Probably the most pigmented bush I’ve ever used. The only drawback with this is that I have to use what I can only describe as something even less than a light hand.  I dip a fluffy blush brush ever so slightly into it and then I blend.  And blend.  And blend!  Because I’m so pale I have to be really careful with this to avoid looking like a clown.  So that would be the only drawback.  But I’d much rather have a blush that’s too pigmented than one that is  not pigmented enough. Thank goodness this is highly blendable!

Swatch of Bella Rosa

I’m happy to report that I finally have Luminoso in my hot little hands – I’ve yet to use it but I’ll be reporting on it soon.

Repurchase?: Yes*

*Because this is so pigmented, I feel like this blush will last me until the day I die so I’m not likely to re-purchase it.  But I would if i needed to!

Living Proof Instant Texture Mist – $32.00 CAD

Sample size of Living Proof’s Instant Texture Mist

I seriously dream about having texture in my hair.  Most times it’s so fine, and flat and limp.  So when I saw this as a Point Perk option at Sephora, I eagerly exchanged it for 100 points.  And like most Living Proof products, it’s great. The sample size was big enough that I got 2 uses out of it (although I sprayed quite a bit of it throughout my hair both times) I sprayed this on damp hair and styled it as usual (loose curls with my curling iron) and the curls lasted much longer than usual.  Plus I had extra volume and my hair just felt springy and bouncy.  But it didn’t leave any sticky residue behind which is key!

The only thing I’m not a fan of is the price.  I contemplated picking this up at the Sephora VIB Rouge sale but I actually found what I think might be a comparable option for less so I’m going to use that up first.  But eventually I would like to try the full size of this.  Or the travel size if I could find it in store.

Repurchase?: Yes

L’oreal Vouminious Extra-Volume Collagen Mascara – $13.99 CAD

L’oreal’s Voluminious Extra Volume Collagen Mascara

I used to use the original Voluminious mascara religiously, until I think they changed the formula and it started flaking and smudging on me.  I actually kind of like this one better because it gives me crazy volume and thickness.  Must be the collagen in it?  The brush is huge and fluffy which also helps.

The full bristly brush

A few drawbacks – the price!  This is never on sale!  It can be a little hard to find too – it’s usually hidden away at the bottom of L’oreal’s mascara displays.  Also, if I apply to many coats of this, I do find that it flakes off a bit.  But I tend to go a little crazy with coats of mascara.  And lastly, it can definitely clump.  A mascara comb is a necessity with this.  I’m always willing to sacrifice a few clumps for thick lashes though.

Repurchase?: Yes.  This is my third tube!

LETDOWNS

Fructus Full & Plush Shampoo – $4.98

Garnier Fructis Full & Plush Fortifying Shampoo

Shampoo is such a source of frustration for me.  If I find something I like, I can use it for a bit and then my hair either gets used to it or just all out rejects it and it stops being as fantastic as it once was.  Well didn’t have to worry about that with this one because it didn’t work from day one.  Zero volume.  Lifeless hair.  Wouldn’t hold style.  Ironic given that it’s supposed to provide thicker, fuller hair.  Fail.   At least it was cheap?

Repurchase?: Nope!

Philosophy Shampoo, Shower Gel & Bubble Bath (French Vanilla Bean)

Philosophy’s French Vanilla Bean Shampoo, Shower gel & Bubble Bath

When Philosophy first became available in Canada I was so excited.  I mean, all of their scents just sound amazing, plus they include related recipes right on their bottle!  I received a few bottles of their bubble bath a few years ago and I was largely unimpressed.  While the scents were nice, it produced next to no bubbles and the scent disapated right after I poured it into my bath.  Then my husband bought me this for Christmas last year.  I figured I’d give it a try again and basically my opinion didn’t change.  Nice scent in the bottle but lackluster in terms of an actual bubble bath.

Then one day I happened to read the back of the bottle. And came across this:

Close up of the warning on the back of the bottle.

Caution: use only as directed. excessive use or prolonged exposure may cause irritation to the skin and urinary tract. discontinue use if rash, redness or itching occurs.  consult your physician if irritation persists.  keep out of reach of children.

To which I exclaimed WHAT??!??!  WTF is in this stuff?  I see that sodium laureth sulfate is listed as the second ingredient which I know isn’t great for you but is a pretty common ingredient in many shampoos and body washes.  Beyond that there is a very long list of things that I couldn’t even attempt to announce, Perhaps these are common ingredients in many foam baths but the fact that there is an actual warning on the bottle makes me think there must be additional ingredients in here that aren’t in others.  Upon doing a bit of research, I guess its widely known that bath products are known to cause urinary tract infections.  The problem being, this is the only bubble bath that I’ve came across that actually has this warning on the product.  Regardless, this has totally turned me off Philosophy products – not that I was a huge fan to begin with.

Repurchase?: Hell no!

Rimmel Lasting Finish 25 Hour Foundation – $9.99 CAD

Rimmel’s Lasting Finish Foundation

This is a foundation I purchased earlier last year and was using it regularly in combination with some other new products and I was experiencing some of the worst skin of my life.  I was breaking out like crazy. So I stopped using all those products and tried introducing them back one at a time.  In doing so, this got thrown back in my makeup drawer and I forgot about it.  Then I re-discovered it a week ago and thought I might as well give it another try.  I wore it ONCE.  The next day I woke up to breakouts all over my chin.  And not just regular, run of the mill breakouts.  Painful, under the skin, cystic acne.  So I don’t know what is in this that reacts with my skin so badly, but I could care less to find out.  I don’t know what it is about Rimmel products but they just never work for me.  I’m pretty much scared off of this brand now.

Repurchase?: Never!

And that’s it!  I didn’t have a chance to try too many new products this month, it was mostly things that I’ve been using for a while that I realized I needed to talk about.  Which is a good thing because I like to make sure I’m making headway on the products I own prior to going out and purchasing more.  What were your favorite products in October?  Unfavorites?  Have you tried any of these?  Let me know below!

Thanks for reading!

This & That Fridays

Ok….I know it’s Saturday morning and I’m just posting this but ugh I did not have a good week at all!  It was just one of those weeks that no matter what I did, nothing went right.  I was also extremely busy at work and every time I got 3 things done, another 5 requests come in. Plus I found people really SNARKY this week.  So, I’m just really glad its over and I’m hoping next week will be better!

I bought these Marc Fisher boots @ Winners this week and I’m trying to decide if I like them.  They go against everything I’ve ever bought in the past – chunky sole, low heel, mid-calf.  I could see myself wearing them with leggings and jeans but I’m not sure anything else so I’m not sure they are worth keeping. They seem pretty comfortable though. #decisionsdecisions

I liked this PopSugar article that gives some good tips about using your Beauty Blender properly.  Confession: I bought my first real Beauty Blender earlier this year and it’s still going strong.  Until it rips or tears I have no plans on replacing it.  So far I’m definitely finding it worth the investment!

I think one of the best things ever is when a good restaurant opens close to your home.  There’s a Cactus Club Cafe opening within a 10 minute drive of my house and I cannot wait for them to open.  They make a fantastic Bellini and Short Rib Sandwich.  Also don’t get me started on their Peanut Butter Crunch Bar for dessert.  So good!

This feels like kind of a weird thing to share on here but I have to do it because it’s pretty much one of the best kitchen tools ever!  I cooked a turkey last week for Thanksgiving and I used this Silicone Poultry Lacer to tie up my turkey.  I’m not sure I can go back to making a turkey without one of these things!  So much easier than using string or pins and once the turkey is cooked, you just pop it in the dishwasher to clean and it’s ready to use next time.  I got mine last year @ Homesense for five or six bucks I believe but I would pay full price for it!

Have a great weekend and thanks for reading!

Loves and Letdowns – May

Well I figured it’s about time I jump on this bandwagon, because why not?  I love reading other bloggers monthly favorites posts as it’s such a good way to learn about new products! Basically I’ll be sharing the products I loved throughout the month, as well as those that were letdowns and just didn’t work for me.  Pretty much the same as a favorites and unfavorites post but I thought I’d switch up the words a bit because I’m different, like this goat:

I laughed way too hard at this – hope it made you giggle too! 🙂

Enough about goats, on to the topic at hand:

LOVES:

NYX Butter Gloss – Tiramisu ($7.99 CAD)

I picked up this gloss a few weeks ago at London Drugs and I’ve been using it every day since.  It’s the perfect pinkish nude for every day use!  I find it works great on it’s own or on top of a brighter lip color to tone it down.  I love the formula – it’s super creamy, not sticky and glides on smoothly.  It smells delicious as well, I’m not sure how describe it (maybe like a vanilla cupcake?) but not overly sweet.  I’ll definitely be picking this one up again and I’d love to try the other shades at some point as well.

Maybelline Volum’Express The Colossal Mascara ($8.99 CAD)

Its been a long time since I’ve ventured out to try a new mascara; for years I was happy using L’Oreal’s Voluminous Carbon Black mascara.  Then something changed and it began to flake and smudge on me and I was crushed.  I’ve been in search of a replacement and so far this one has stood out the most.  It has the natural bristle brush that I like and it lengthen and thickens my lashes really nicely with very little to almost no clumps – which is really rare!  I find it flakes a little sometimes but I’m willing to live with that given it’s other benefits.  The only thing I’m not crazy about is the scent – it smells flowery.  Which I find kind of weird – mascara shouldn’t have a scent right?.  Doesn’t bother me though so I will definitely be repurchasing this one!

Dove Nourishing Oil Care Leave-In Smoothing Cream ($7.99 CAD)

Lately I’ve found my hair is getting super dry, particularly around the ends.  I attribute that to my use of my curling iron on a daily basis, in addition to my hair being colour-treated.  I also tend to only wash my hair once every three days, using dry shampoo in between.  I find my hair feels and looks pretty dry during those in-between days, particularly on day 3.  I came across this and thought I’d give it a try.

This is meant to boost shine, control frizz and smooth your hair without making it feel greasy.  I take a dime sized amount, and distribute it through my ends right before I use my curling iron.  It definitely makes my curls feel smooth and sleek and I find it does help hold my curls a little longer when the humidity is present outside.  It also smells amazing – a little bit fruity but nothing overpowering.  I’m very careful to not get this anywhere close to my roots as I can see it weighing my hair down and making it super greasy (it also recommends against doing so right on the bottle).  So far I’m loving this and would recommend it!

L’Oreal 12 Hour Infalliable The Super Slim Liquid Eyeliner ($11.99 CAD)

THIS.IS.AMAZING!!! Best liquid eyeliner pen I’ve ever used, hands down and I have tried them all from the super cheap drug store versions to the higher end brand-name types.  Nothing beats this.  It is the only liquid liner that I’ve tried that truly stays on all day long and does not budge.  Yet it is simple to remove at the end of the day using my regular eye makeup remover!  I’m just blown away by this! I also love the super slim tip, it makes it very easy to get  precise line!  I have a bad habit of pressing down too hard on the tip when I’m applying liner and damaging it.  The tip on this is sturdy enough that I have yet to damage it (although I am trying to be more gentle!).  It’s also very pigmented and build-able – if you don’t get a thick enough line to begin with you can easily go overtop of it without it dragging and erasing the previous line.  If you wear liquid liner and you haven’t tried this yet – go out now and buy this!  I can’t rave enough about this, I’m in love!

The Original Beauty Blender ($26.00 CAD)

Okay, I really didn’t want to like this.  Previously I’ve used Beauty Blender knock-offs and convinced myself that there really wasn’t much difference between them and the original.  The thought of paying close to $30 for a makeup sponge seemed ridiculous.  However, I took the plunge over a month ago and ordered one to see what all the hype was about.  And at first, I wasn’t crazy about it. But the more I used it, the more I grew to like it and eventually love it and now I’m not sure I can go back to the knockoffs.  I feel like I’ve used and abused this and it’s practically in the exact same condition it was when I bought it.   No rips and no tears, unlike the cheaper versions where that occurred within a couple of weeks of use.  I can also get every trace of makeup out of it when I wash it which is impressive because I usually go an entire week of use before giving it a good cleanse.  It also applies my foundation beautifully and I’m loving it for applying mineral makeup! So I suppose I’m a convert now.  Which I’m okay with because I see the light now – this thing is really great!

LETDOWNS:

Essence I Love the Stage Eyeshadow Base – $3.99 CAD

I have super oily eyelids and I usually have trouble trying to find a primer that keeps my eye makeup set all day and doesn’t crease.  Unfortunately this was another one to ad to the fail pile.  It was super cheap so I’m not too crushed but it sure would have been nice if it had worked!  Despite the fact that it did basically nothing to stop my eyelids from creasing, I also hated the formula.  It’s super thick and dry and very difficult to blend!  The color is a little odd too – it has an orange/yellow tint which I’m guessing is meant to hide any discoloration and even out your lids but the problem is if I got this anywhere near my eyebrows it turned them orange!   Won’t be repurchasing this one!

Urban Decay Pore Perfecting Complexion Primer Potion – $37.00 CAD

In my hunt for the perfect primer I picked this up a few months ago, used it for a week and it was promptly thrown into my black hole of products never to be worn again.  Which is disappointing because I used Urban Decay’s Eyeshadow Primer Potion for years and liked it.  Also it was pretty expensive (I should have taken it back, I forgot and now its too late). I found this did absolutely nothing to minimize the appearance of my pores and my skin was just a complete oil slick halfway through the day.  Consistency-wise it’s pretty thick and it definitely leaves a bit of a white cast on your face so I can’t see this working well for anyone with darker skin. I tried using it with different foundations and setting powders and I had the same result every time. This could possibly work for someone with super dry skin but it definitely wasn’t for me.

NYX Wonder Pencil (Light) – $5.99

This is supposed to be a 3 in 1 product that you can use as a concealer, eye brightener and lip liner.  I’ve tried it for all 3 purposes and I haven’t been impressed.  When using it to line my waterline, I could barely get any transfer.  I think part of the problem is that it’s just too hard and dry.  Same problem when using it as a concealer, I found it really highlighted any dry spots on my face, barely covered the areas that I applied it to and lasted an hour at most.  As for using it as a lip liner, I found it hard to apply – again given how hard it was, and it didn’t make any difference in the lasting power of my lipstick.  So all in all, a big thumbs down for this one.

That’s about it for May! Until next time!

Makeup brush cleanse!

This is a little embarrassing to admit but I haven’t washed my makeup brushes in a long time.  It’s been on my list of things to do for a while but I never got around to it.  I don’t use all of my brushes on a daily basis but I know the importance of cleaning them regularly, mainly to get rid of the bacteria that could potentially be harbouring within them, but also to ensure that I’m getting optimal use out of them.

A few months back I used my points at Sephora towards a sample of the Beauty Blender Blendercleanser Solid.  I’ve been using it to clean my knock off Beauty Blender, and recently my actual Beauty Blender, and it impressed me!  It removed all of the makeup from both sponges and didn’t leave any residue behind.  The nice thing about this is that you can use this to clean all of your other brushes as well!

So Sunday I got to work and dug out all of my makeup brushes.  I started by rinsing the top of the brush lightly under warm tap water (with the brush head facing down).  Then I rubbed the blendercleanser on the top and through the middle of the bristles.  I worked it through the brush head and then rinsed it under water again, using a combination of gently pulling at the bristles and gently swirling the brush head in my palm in order to remove buildup and the cleanser.  Once the water ran clear, I patted the brush head on a dry towel, reshaped the bristles and lay flat to dry.

Now after going through this massive clean I don’t have much left of the blendercleanser. I honestly can’t justify spending $20 on a small bar of soap to clean my brushes.  I did find this post on Lipstick Dupe and I’m thinking I might need to track down some of that soap and give it a try.  I’m certain I’ve seen these soaps somewhere (Homesense/Winners maybe?) so I’m on the hunt for them and I’ll let you know if I’m successful!

Have a great day!

Weekend recap – April 13

Well it’s Monday again.  Weekends always go so fast and never seem long enough. My weekend mainly consisted of me alternating between laying in bed and lounging on the couch. I was still getting over this head cold/flu that I caught last week (still am) so I had no energy to do anything.  It was pretty disappointing as I missed out on a few things that had been planned for quite a while but what can you do.

Quality time with my bed and couch meant I had time to create a new header image for my blog, as you may have noticed.  I used Pic Monkey which is my new favorite photo editing tool. The photo editing options offered are literally endless, it’s really user friendly and best of all – it’s free! Another bonus: you also don’t have to log in and create an account to edit or create anything, which is great for lazies like me (just another password to remember). I also took the opportunity to change up my theme as my new header didn’t go well with the last one I was using (Sela).  I’m not convinced this one (Able) is truly the one either, but for now it’ll work.

One thing I learned about myself while I was furiously working away on my blog this weekend – I’m super critical and a perfectionist.  I’m still not happy with the fact that my header looks blurry but I finally had to let it go.  I spent hours creating one version, only to upload it and end up scraping it and then starting over again.  I had an idea in my head of what I wanted it to look like but creating that image wasn’t so easy.  Don’t even get my started on sizing #rage.

Anyway it’s done now and I feel it’s more reflective of me so I hope you like it! I also spent some time perusing Sephora.com this weekend.  If you’re a VIB Rouge member you should have received an email for 15% off your purchases from now until Tuesday.  I’ve got a long list of wants but for the sake of my credit card balance I need to scale that list back.  Here’s a few purchases I’m seriously considering: 1. Beauty Blender ($26 CAD) – I currently use a Quo knock off that I bought on sale for around $4.  It works well and I’m happy with it but I keep hearing everyone rave about these.  But $26 for a makeup sponge?  Seems ridiculous but I’ve spent more on stupider things.

2. Cover FX Custom Cover Drops ($44 CAD) – I’m running a little low on foundation and I’ve been hearing nothing but rave reviews about this product.  The idea behind this is that you can blend a few drops with any face product – moisturizer, primer, oil, etc. and it works as a foundation which you can customize to create whatever level of coverage you desire.  Anything that’s versatile and customizable sounds great to me so I’m pretty tempted to take the plunge on this one.

3. Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm ($35 CAD) – I’m also in need of a new face cleanser and again, the reviews on this one are very positive.  Ultimately I need a something that’s moisturizing and gentle, but can remove my makeup and not make me break out.  This isn’t a cheap option either but apparently it’s supposed to last a while which makes up for it.

4. Fresh Sugar Lip Polish ($26 CAD) – My lips have been super dry and peel-y lately and I’ve been wanting to give this a try for a while.  The reviews on this one seem a little mixed so I’m interested to see how it works for me.

Have you tried any of these?  If so let me know, I’d love to hear your thoughts on them!  I’ll be doing a blog post later this week to update you on my purchases.

One last thing I wanted to share – I watched the movie Tammy yesterday.  It’s a little older (released last summer) but I hadn’t had a chance to watch it yet.  Overall: HILARIOUS.  I’m a huge Melissa McCarthy fan and even though I think she’s played a similar character in her last few movies, she still cracked me up.  The critics weren’t kind to her in their reviews of it but who listens to them anyway?  If you like slapstick comedy with a touch of raunch I’d recommend it.

Have a fantastic week!

Maggie ❤