Makeup Haul – Bare Minerals, Buxom & Kiko!

I was in Vegas a few weeks ago and of course, I did a bit of shopping because what is Vegas without shopping?  Nothing, it’s nothing.  Anyway I’ve been using the products for almost two weeks now so I thought I’d share with you what I picked up and what I think about them thus far!

BAREMINERALS

I am a pretty big fan of bareMinerals and Buxom products so when I’m in Vegas I always hit up their outlet store in the North Premium Outlets; I rarely walk out of there empty-handed.

bareMinerals Pretty in Peach Collection -$14.50 USD: This was a bit of an impulse buy at the checkouts; they had one left and given that it included a full-sized blush, I couldn’t pass it up. This appears to be a set that was sold on QVC at some point but it is no longer available online.  Here’s what’s included in the set:

Well-Rested CC Eye Primer

From the website: Corrects, conceals, protects, and renews with an instant burst of cooling hydration, leaving the skin around your eyes looking revitalized and refreshed. Apply on bare skin, under or over your makeup.

My thoughts: This product kind of confuses me because I’m not sure what the purpose of this is.  I tried using it as an eye primer but it doesn’t blend well and dries tacky; I’ve tried it under my eyes to act as concealer, and on top of concealer and it settles into fine lines and creases.  It doesn’t seem to serve either purpose well although I will admit that it definitely has a nice cooling effect on my skin.  I’m not going to give up on it yet but so far I’m not all that impressed with it.

Apricot Sugar Eyecolor (not available online)

From the website: A vibrant, stay-true, shimmering peach shade that can be applied dry for rich color or wet for a high-sheen, foiled effect.

My thoughts: I’m not the biggest fan of loose eyeshadows in pots – they’re just so messy.  But if there’s good colour payoff I’ll work with them.  Unfortunately this is a huge disappointment – it states that this is a vibrant peach shade but it only it’s basically 90% chunky glitter with the faintest tinge of peach.  I’ve even tried foiling it and it doesn’t make that much of a difference.  The swatch above shows up way more pigmented than it does on my lid.

bareMinerals READY Blush in The Summer Fling  (not available online) 

From the website: Combines the bareMinerals SeaNutritive Mineral Complex while enhancing cheeks with a gorgeous flush of lasting color.

My thoughts: This is the entire reason I bought this set as I’ve always wanted to try one of their blushes.  So far, this hasn’t disappointed me.  It’s a beautiful peachy shade – although it takes a while to build up.  Wouldn’t recommend this for anyone other than those with fair skin though, as I don’t think it would show up enough on darker skin tones.

Marvelous Moxie Lipgloss in Girl Next Door (not available online)

From the website: A universally flattering, glimmering peach gloss and the perfect finish to a natural daytime look. Luscious, vibrant color is loaded into a refreshing formula that slips on satiny-smooth for sheer-to-medium coverage with eye-catching shine.

My thoughts: This is a really sheer, glittery gloss (sensing a theme here?) but unlike the eyeshadow, I can work with this.  The formula of BM glosses is very similar to Buxom’s; I’ve used this overtop of other lip products and it gives them all a nice glossy finish with a touch of sparkle.

bareMinerals The Dream Come True Palette ($24.50 USD)

From the website: Complement your true, natural beauty with this palette of three soft, serene shades that multitask as classic eye shadows and luminous highlighters. It’s color that’s incredibly long-wearing and amazingly blendable with anti-aging benefits.

My thoughts: Another QVC featured set that is also no longer available.  The packaging just sucked me right in on this one – despite it being cardboard, I just couldn’t resist it!  In addition, all the shades appeared to be quite pigmented when swatched so I snatched it up.  Unfortunately I’m kind of having some buyers remorse with this.  While the shadows all swatch nicely, when applied to the eye they’re extremely sheer and it’s difficult to differentiate between one another.  In addition, Queen Phyllis and Celestine are extremely glittery, have a ton of fallout and they irritate the heck out of my eyes!  On the bright side, I can repurpose Queen Phyllis as a highlighter and Talented as a blush so not all is lost.  And I do love the double ended brush that came with it (it’ll work great as a contour brush too!).

BUXOM

The Bare Minerals outlet also carries a small selection of Buxom products; as much as I love bareMinerals products, I think I love Buxom even more.  There isn’t much in their line that I’m not a fan of.

Buxom Eyeshadow Brush – $6.65 USD

From the website: Expertly applies vibrant and lively, waterproof color that’s sure to please. Specially designed to tame Buxom Stay-There Eyeshadows,* the tapered brush head gives you the most well-behaved, precise application. The wider brush base lets you apply buildable layers of vivid color, so you get the exact intensity you’re after.

My thoughts: I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a Buxom brush before but I thought the shape of this one seemed pretty unique!  I liked how fat and wide it was and how soft the bristles were.  I can’t say it does anything out of the ordinary but it’s just a good overall eyeshadow brush.  It came along with this little case which is cute but I’ll likely never use it.

Buxom Full Bodied Lip Gloss (Boo-Yah) – $9.50 USD

From the website: Lusciously smooth and ultra-hydrating, this lip gloss offers a high-shine, shimmering finish with a no-tingle, pout-plumping effect. Encapsulated hyaluronic spheres help to promote hydration and fullness while jojoba oil and Vitamin E help moisturize and protect lips.

I LOVE Buxom’s lip glosses – they’re super glossy but not sticky and they smell like a vanilla cupcake.  These don’t leave behind the tingling sensation that I’m used to with the Lip Creams so I don’t find them as plumping but they’re still great.  This one offers a light wash of colour and can work well on its own, as well as overtop of other lip products; this particular shade leaves behind a shimmery, almost metallic looking shine.

KIKO

I was super excited to come across a stand alone store at the Fashion Show Mall; I’ve heard of Kiko but never used any of their products before.  Even better was that they were having a summer sale and had markdowns on a bunch of products.  I was near the end of my shopping day so I restrained myself a bit but I wish I had bought more!  Next time!

Kiko Fusion 01 Powder Brush – $11.90 USD

From the website: This face brush is perfect for applying and blending pressed, loose and bronzer powders. The soft, dome-shaped bristles ensure maximum control during application. The high-quality, synthetic bristles guarantee an even, smooth look and permit an easy, precise and professional-looking application of powders.The brush’s metal handle gives this tool a modern and elegant look. During the design process, the handle’s weight was carefully considered to create a practical, easy-to-control brush.

My thoughts: This.is.amazing.  By far my favourite purchase from Kiko.  First off, this brush is HUGE and it works wonders when applying powder (duh) but I also love using it all over my face once I’ve applied all my makeup to ensure it’s all blended.  It’s so soft and fluffy and the metal handle feels sturdy and luxurious.  I totally wish I had picked up more of their brushes.

Kiko Blending Wave Multi-color Blush (Ingenious Mauve) – $5.90 USD

From the website: Two-tone blush with a silky, creamy texture. The pan is composed of two different tones. The soft, velvety texture ensures excellent coverage and makes the product easy to blend. The powder clings to the skin, creating a natural, adjustable look. The blush comes in a compact case, also containing a practical mirror. The flashes of colour painted on the white top and the embossed brush strokes recall the theme of the collection inspired by the world of art.

My thoughts:  I love this too!  First up, the packaging is beautiful and unique; secondly the blush all 3 ways is gorgeous.  My favourite way is to blend both colours together.  I find it a little soft so it does kick up a bit of powder but it blends like a dream and has the perfect balance of pigmentation – not too light, not too dark.  The swatches didn’t photograph well but mixed it shows up a really nice coral shade.

Kiko Eye Base Primer – $4.90 USD

From the website: A creamy texture made from a smoothing and matifying powder base.  This supports the application and the fixing of the eyeshadow, making it extra long-lasting over time.Its light pigmentation neutralizes the tone of your eyelids emphasizing the resulting eyeshadow colour.  Hypoallergenic = formulated to ensure minimum instance of allergic reactions.  Ophthalmologically tested. Paraben free. Fragrance free.

My thoughts: I’m pretty picky when it comes to eye primers – I can’t wear just any because my lids are super oily.  This has impressed me – it’s a pretty thick formula but it blends effortlessly.  I also appreciate that its tinted as it helps blur any visible veins and discolouration on my eyelids.  Lastly it’s kept my shadow in place all day, with no creasing or fading.  A little of this goes a long way so I suspect this will be lasting me a while.

Kiko Endless Sky Volume Effect Mascara – $10.90 USD

From the website: Volumizing mascara featuring innovations that help preserve the structure of the eyelashes.  The formula’s ingredients instantly create a thick sheath that envelops, adds volume and helps to protect the lashes from base to tip. The thick, creamy texture doesn’t clump, applies easily and is adjustable.  The applicator consists of a mixture of different fibers and colours the lashes in a brilliant, jet black. The brush’s fine point reaches even the shortest side lashes.  The product comes in an elegant, coral-tinged gold package with an elongated shape, enhanced by a raised, three-dimensional design. Its silhouette is sensual and ergonomic.  

My thoughts: Mascara is another thing I’m picky about – my lashes are naturally quite long so I like mascaras that can enhance volume and thickness and are highly pigmented.  This seems to add a bit of length and a bit of volume but not a lot of thickness.  I’d describe it as black, but probably not jet black.  I haven’t experienced a lot of clumps, nor a ton of flaking so that’s positive.  I”m not sure what they mean but the texture being adjustable?  Regardless, I’d rate this as a middle of the road mascara – nothing inherently bad about it but it doesn’t do anything amazing – it’s just a good everyday mascara.  I must say I do love the rose gold tube however – so pretty!

That wraps up my Vegas makeup haul.  Overall – disappointed with my Bare Minerals products and very happy with my Buxom and Kiko products!  I’d love to try more of Kiko but it doesn’t look like they ship to Canada so that’s a little disappointing; guess I just need to make another trip to Vegas! 😉

Have you tried products from any of these brands?  Let me know below what your favourites are!

Thanks for reading!

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: Buxom Customizable Eyeshadow Bar Palette

Back in November, I created my own Buxom Eyeshadow palette at Sephora’s VIB sale.  I had quite a few other palette options on my list that day but I ended up going with Buxom because loved the fact that I was able to pick exactly the shades I wanted.  I’ve been using this consistently since I bought it and I thought it was time to do a full review on it.

First up, the packaging is made out of a hard black plastic with an alligator print embossed in it.  There’s a tray that slides out where you can “load” and “unload” your shadows by clicking them in and out of the tray.  Once you’ve got your preferred line up, you just slide the tray back into place and you’re ready to go (Sorry, I should have taken a picture of this! 😦 )  Overall I appreciate how sturdy the packaging is and I’d feel very comfortable traveling with this.

Inside, there’s a mirror that runs the full width and height of the palette.  There is space for 6, 0.05 oz individual eyeshadows which, as mentioned above, pop out and click into place with ease.  One of (many) things I love about this palette is the fact that I can purchase additional individual shadows and swap them in and out whenever I feel like it!

The one thing I’m slightly disappointed in is the included brush.  It’s small and I feel that they should have (and easily could have) included a full size brush here.  However, I will say that although this brush may be small, it works really well.  The pointed end is fantastic for highlighting the brow bone and inner corner, while the fluffier end is great for packing shadow on the lid.  So that makes up for its size a bit.

Buxom offers 40 different shades in their collection; the six shadows I included in my palette were:

Silk Sheets (Chai Luster) ; Feather Boa (Matte Pastel Pink); Lingerie Lover (Matte Mauve); Spoiled Sexy (Matte Deep Mauve); Haute Couture (Metallic Java); Wild Nights (Shimmering Sugar Plum)

As you can see I went for lots of pink-toned shadows and I did 50/50 split of matte and shimmery shades.

Every shadow here is super smooth, buttery and highly blendable.  Because they are so smooth and soft, they do tend to kick up some powder, and there is a bit of fallout as a result. No more than any other palette I own though. I’m also very happy with the lasting power of these shadows; I pair them with Too Faced Shadow Insurance, which is my go-to eyeshadow primer, and they last all day and never crease.

In terms of pigmentation, I find that Feather Boa and Lingerie Lover aren’t as pigmented as I would like.  Although I tend to do softer looks anyway so it’s probably not such a bad thing that they aren’t super intense.  I also find that Lingerie Lover and Spoiled Sexy (I cringed as I typed this – I despise this name.  It takes me back to the Sean from The Bachelor’s wedding where his now-wife (Catherine I think?) kept referring to her wedding theme as grown sexy.  What does that even mean????  …moving on!) are very similar shades so it can be hard to distinguish them once they are on the lid.  I probably did not need both of them and I don’t know why I didn’t notice that when I was creating my palette. Ultimately I like and use them both though so it’s not the end of the world.

In fact, one of my favourite looks to make with this palette is to use Feather Boa all over, Spoiled Sexy blended into the crease, Lingerie Lover on the lid and Silk Sheets on the brow bone and inner corner.  And sometimes I’ll pull my Chocolate Bar palette in and use Cherry Cordial to deepen the crease and I LOVE how that looks.  I wish Buxom made a shadow in a similar shade because I’d snatch it up in a second.

I’ll be honest – I haven’t used Haute Couture or Wild Nights much.  I threw Haute Couture in there because I didn’t have a dark brown metalic/shimmery shadow in my collection that I liked at the time and while it is highly pigmented, I feel like classifying it as a Metallic may be a bit of a stretch.  I personally find the shimmer is quite faint once blended and comes across more matte.  And I LOVE Wild Nights but its an intense shadow so I limit it’s use to weekends and/or special occasions.  I don’t regret adding it to my palette though, it’s gorgeous!

In terms of cost, I paid $50 CAD for my palette – which included the actual empty palette and 6, 0.05 oz individual shadow pans.  In terms of a value for the money, this runs more expensive when you compare it to the some of the more popular eyeshadow palettes (Naked, Tartlette, etc.) where you receive 12 shades for slightly more ($54/55 CAD).  So, unfortunately customization comes at a price! I personally feel that the extra cost is worth it as you end up with final product that is specific to you and your preferences AND one that can be switched up whenever you feel like it.

Overall I’m really happy with my purchase!  The ability to customize my own eyeshadow palette is what drew me in, but the quality of the shadows is what has kept me happy and reaching for this palette consistently.  I see myself purchasing more Buxom shadows in the future for sure.

Have you tried any of Buxom’s eyeshadows?  Let me know below!

Thanks for reading!

Used & Abused – Product Empties

It’s been a long time since I’ve done an empties post and my basket overfloweth so this was long overdue.  So on to it!

HAIR PRODUCTS

Batiste Dry Shampoo: I talk about Batiste all the time on my blog and I did a review on it very early on into my blog.  I only wish they’d bring more scents to Canada – the Floral, Tropical and Fresh scents are the only ones I’ve seen stocked regularly in store.  It’d be nice if there was more selection as I know they definitely make quite a few different scents than just those 3.  Won’t stop me from using it though!

Repurchase: Yup!

Chi Magnified Volume Finishing Spray: This made my list of Top 15 of 2015 Products because it does what a hairspray is supposed to do.  I know that doesn’t seem like much but me and hairspray don’t typically get along.  My hair is stubborn and this shows it who’s boss.  If you have problem hair like me, I’d recommend it!

Repurchase: Yes

Paul Mitchell Color Protect Daily Shampoo: Another product on my Top 15 of 2015 (God I’m boring!) but I’m estatic to have finally found a shampoo that works for me (it’s been a long journey, believe me).  This moisturizes my fine hair just the right amount and leaves it feeling silky and smooth.  Also because I colour my hair using a shampoo with colour-protecting properties is important to me so I appreciate that too.  I’m already on my third bottle of this.

Repurchase: Yes

David Baba for WildAid Bohemian Beach Spray: I bought this at Winners quite a few years ago and I always threw it in my travel bag to use on beach days.  I haven’t used many beach/sea salt sprays but I was pretty impressed with this one.  It definitely gave my hair some texture and a bit of wave (which is something given my hair is naturally stick straight).  I had to be careful not to overuse it though as too much of it made my hair crunchy and sticky.  I had about 1/2 a bottle left of this but I had to dump it out as it was starting to smell a little funky and looked like it was discoloured.  I’d love to be able to find this again but I haven’t been lucky enough to come across it.

Repurchase: Yes

BATH & BODY

Radox Time Out Herbal Bath (Lavender & Mimosa): I purchased this bubble bath in the clearance section at Superstore later last year for something like $3.  I’ve used bubble baths from this brand before and had always been happy with them.  I like having lavender-scented bath products around for when I am struggling to sleep; there’s nothing like a lavender-scented bubble bath to drift me into dreamland.  This definitely does the job but I don’t see myself making a point of repurchasing this; I liked it but I just picked it up because it’s on sale.  No complaints with it at all though!

Repurchase: No

Delectable Vanilla & Cream Super Smoothing Body Polish: Mmmm this stuff smells divine – like a delicious vanilla cake.  The scent won me over immediately but I also love that it’s a gentle yet effective body scrub.  If you’re looking for a super intense scrub this probably isn’t for you but my sensitive skin loves this stuff.  I’ve tried the Strawberries and Cream scent too and it’s equally as amazing.

Repurchase: Yes

Ombra Aromatic Foam Bath (Berries): Ombra makes my favourite Eucalyptus bubble bath and I actually received this mini bottle when I purchased that exact product.  This worked just as well as the Eucalyptus version but it smelled like cranberries.  It foams up well and the bubbles don’t dissipate which is key to a good bubble bath.

Repurchase: Yes

Delectable Coconut & Cream Ultra Nourishing Hand Cream:  I love this hand cream but I hated the scent.  And I love coconut-scented things!  But this just smells too synthetic to me, kind of like one of those fuzzy car air fresheners that hang off the rear-view mirror.  So while I wouldn’t buy this lotion in this particular scent, I know I’d be happy with the vanilla or strawberry versions.

Repurchase: Yes

SKINCARE

Sephora Triple Action Cleansing Water: Another repeat offender in my empties – I’ve been using this for years mainly as my eye makeup remover, sometimes as my all-my-makeup remover when I’m feeling lazy. I did a full review on it here.  I’m happy with it – it works great and I have no complaints with it but I kind of feel like trying something new.  We’ll see.

Repurchase: Yes

Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief: This is a fantastic moisturizer for dry/dehydrated skin!  I have combination skin but it made such a difference in the dry patches that I sometimes have flare up.  I also loved it as an overnight moisturizer if my skin was feeling parched – I’d wake up the next morning with super soft, re-hydrated skin.  I particularly loved the gel texture of this – I found it be to really cooling and soothing.  I didn’t really find that it did anything for wrinkles or fine lines though so I wouldn’t buy it for that reason.

Repurchase: Yes

Too Cool for School Egg Cream Sheet Mask: Maybe I haven’t found the right one yet but I’m not sold on sheet masks. I haven’t tried a lot of them but the ones I have tried haven’t done anything amazing to my skin that I feel I couldn’t get from just a regular face mask in a tube or bottle.  I had high hopes for this one but again, it just fell into that “ok” category.  My skin felt moisturized after – yes.  But that only lasted for about an hour or so and then my skin was back to way it was.  Perhaps you need to use these regularly to see lasting benefits but that would get really expensive.  I’d much rather spend more money on mask in a jar or bottle that will last me months than continually buy these.  Anyway back to this mask – I kind of expected this to smell like eggs but it didn’t thank god (gag – that would have been gross); it had more of a light floral scent.  No issues there.  I did find it a little difficult to apply as there was a sheet of thin plastic mesh you had to remove first and I ended up ripping the mask trying to do that.  Ugh.  Anyway I got it on and I found it to be quite goopy/tacky although once I took it off and rubbed the serum into my skin the tackiness disappeared.    One last thing I will say about sheet masks in general though – they will force you to relax.  It’s pretty much impossible to do anything but sit there and will it to stay on your face.  So if you’re in need of some relaxation, you might want to give one a try.

Repurchase: No

BareVitamins Skin Rever-Upper: I’ve mentioned before that I just don’t do thick moisturizers in the morning.  My skin takes forever to absorb anything so I don’t have time to sit and wait.  Which is why I like this stuff!  I have a more detailed review on it here but in short, it’s lightweight and absorbs quickly but still leaves my skin moisturized.

Repurchase: Yes

CeraVe Eye Repair Cream: Eye creams are another thing that I just can’t ever get to work for me.  There hasn’t been one that I’ve tried that’s done a darn thing.  No exception here – this did absolutely nothing. Note that I rarely have dark circles or puffiness but I didn’t even find that it moisturized my under eye area.  Despite that, I was trying to use it up but I contaminated it when I had my eye infection so there’s still a good 1/2 of the tube left.  Can’t say I’m super torn up about that.

Repurchase: No

Peter Thomas Roth 10% Glycolic Acid Moisturizer: This was the very first product I reviewed here on my blog (a few months short of a year now – time flies!).  This is another product I’ve used for years and I’ve kind of fallen out of love with it because I don’t find it works as well as it used to on me.  I was using it twice a day however, so I feel like my skin got a bit too used to it and it stopped being so effective.  Either way, I did see results when I used this – my skin was clearer and less prone to breakouts, it helped fade old scars, and decrease redness.  And as I write I feel like I want to go purchase another tube of this, just to have on hand and use a couple times a week.  The only thing that bugs me is the price – but one tube would typically last me 6 months..  So if you’re a fan of glycolic acid, I’d recommend this!

Repurchase: Yes

Olay Wet Cleansing Towelettes: These are my go-to makeup remover wipes – I’ve tried a few different brands and types and I always come back to these because they work.  They’re gentle on my skin yet strong enough to actually remove a face full of makeup, including eye makeup.  They also stay moist right through to the last wipe – I hate it when wipes dry out halfway through the package.  Most importantly for me – no breakouts!  I always pick up a package of these before I travel anywhere.

Repurchase: Yes

Sephora Collection Express Cleansing Wipes – These used to be my go-to makeup remover wipes – but I think they’ve since changed the formula.  I wasn’t able to remove all my makeup with just one of these – I often had to use 2 or 3.  Then, halfway through the package, they dried up. Which is surprising given they have the plastic tab to seal them.  These are double the price of the Olay ones I mentioned above but don’t work near as well.

Repurchase: No

MAKEUP

CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3 in 1 Foundation: I rave about this often because it’s my favourite foundation to date.  This made my Top 15 of 2015 for a reason; full review here.

Repurchase: Yes

Almay Clear Complexion Concealer: This was an okay concealer, but I’m not sure I’d re-purchase it again.  It provided a good amount of coverage but I found it to be pretty dry, which is most likely related to the fact that it contains salicylic acid in it.  It’s supposed to help to clear up any blemishes but I honestly didn’t notice any difference.  And it’s use is limited because of that – you most definitely can’t put this under your eyes.  However it didn’t cause any additional breakouts so that’s something!

Repurchase: No

Buxom Big & Bushy Mascara: This is kind of a horrible name for a decent mascara.  I had just started using this when I got an eye infection last month and I had to chuck it before it’s time because I didn’t want to risk re-infecting my eye.  This has my kind of brush – a wand with full with “natural” (not silicone) bristles.  It provided some pretty good volume but I wouldn’t say it was massive as the description states.  It also references maximum length which I can’t really agree with – it gave a good amount of length.  Overall I feel I can obtain similar results with a number of drugstore mascaras though.

Repurchase: No

Covergirl The Super Sizer Mascara: This was my second time purchasing this mascara and even though I loved the first tube I purchased, this time I was kind of meh about this.  First off, my brush was wonky when I opened it – not sure if it went into the tube weird when it was packaged or what but the wand was all bent.  I did my best to straighten it out but it didn’t seem to function normally as a result.  I also experienced way more clumping this time, whereas I was able to comb any clumps out no-problem with my last tube.  If this had been my experience the first time I tried this mascara, I never would have re-purchased it. I’m hoping I just had a lemon.

Repurchase: On the fence.

Lancome Hypnose Drama Mascara: This was another “meh” mascara.  It had a really weirdly shaped brush – similar to an S shape and it was quite large and fluffy.  Which normally I would like, but because of the S shape, I found it hard to apply evenly.  It did give me some decent volume but it flaked like crazy.  No go for me.

Repurchase: No

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara: This little sample introduced me to my new favourite mascara that didn’t come from the drugstore.  I haven’t purchased a non-drugstore mascara in ages because I never found one that was worth the extra cash.  This one is.  Crazy volume, length, thickness, super black formula, definition.  The list goes on and on.  It checks all the boxes but be warned – it does flake.  I find using no more than 2 coats lessens the flaking but the good far outweighs the bad for me with this guy!

Repurchase: Yes

L’Oreal Infalliable Super Slim 12H Liquid Eyeliner: This is one of my favourite drugstore eyeliners.  It stays put all day, is super black and the slim tip makes it easy to draw a precise line.  My dislike is also the slim tip – it’s flexible so it damages easily and once it’s damaged you might as well just chuck the whole thing.  I tend to be a little hard on my eyeliner so I find I go through these quicker than I would like; however I experienced the same issue with the Stila Eyeliner that everyone raves about and it was much more expensive.   I get similar results with this one so I’ll just stick with these as they are about half the price!

Repurchase: Yes

e.l.f Eyelid Primer: This is the best “drugstore” eyelid primer I’ve ever tried. I still can’t believe its is only $3!  Full review here.

Repurchase: Yes

Too Faced Shadow Insurance: My favourite non-drugstore eyeshadow primer!  It made my top 15 of 2015; love this stuff!

Repurchase: Yes

 

Lipsmackers Dr Pepper Lip Balm: My favourite lip balm ever, hands down.  I’ve been wearing Lip Smackers since I was in elementary school…so let’s just say that it’s been a very long time.  I almost had a heart attack last year when they said that they were potentially no longer making Lip Smackers – thank goodness someone stepped up and continued production.  Out of all the flavours I’ve tried, the Dr. Pepper one is the best – it gives my lips a hint of colour and smells like my favourite soda.  Can’t go wrong!

Phew and that was everything!  Apparently I need to do these more often as this was much too long.  If you read it all, or even just a portion – thanks for reading!

January Loves & Letdowns

Woo hoo it’s finally February!  And with that comes another month of Loves & Letdowns.  First off I’d like to rid January good riddance – what a crappy month that was.  I had pink eye and a virus for two weeks straight and I just finally started wearing contact lenses last week.  It’s been a long month and I’m glad to see it go!

Now on to my loves and one, lonely letdown for the first month of 2016:

LOVES

e.l.f Contour Palette: I picked this up back in September at the e.l.f store in New York and I hadn’t really used it that much since then as it was buried in the back of one of my drawers.  I re-discovered it early in January and realized how good it actually is.  I still find the bronzer shade a little orange but I use it a light hand and it’s wearable.  But I’ve really grown to love the contour shade, highlighter and yellow-toned “banana” powder to set my concealer.  While they are a little powdery, they blend easily and are just pigmented enough for my fair skin.

Buxom Full & Fabulous Mascara: Buxom and Bare Minerals were really having a moment with me this month.  This was the mascara I chose to use while my eyes were healing and I can’t say I was disappointed with this.  It gave my lashes some serious definition, separation and length.  The formula is a good balance between wet and dry, which is perfect if you like to build your mascara (which I do).  That said, I’d say you can only apply about 3 full coats before you’re just wasting product because it’s not making any kind of a difference.  So I would have preferred for it to add a little more volume and thickness but sometimes I can get a bit carried away in that area.  I also appreciate the fact that this didn’t flake or smudge throughout the day and I loved how long the brush was – it made it really easy to get those little lashes in the corners of my eyes.

Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette: This was a birthday gift and I was able to use it a few times in December before my eyes got infected.  I just started using it again last week because I definitely did not want to risk contaminating this.  It is a beautiful palette!  I can’t get over how soft and blendable the shadows are and I love the cocoa scent.

 

Bare Minerals READY Eyeshadow 2.0 (Top Shelf): As mentioned above, when I was dealing with my eye infection the last thing I wanted to do was contaminate my eye makeup.  SO I dug through my makeup collection and pulled out this eyeshadow duo and figured I would use it (and only it!) until my eyes improved.  I didn’t expect much from it but I’m happy to report that this little palette blew me away! Each shadow is super buttery and soft and pretty darn pigmented, particularly the gold/bronze shade.  And they have some serious lasting power!  These were still going strong by the end of my 12 hour day – no creasing or fading at all! The only drawback I did notice was that there was definitely some fallout from these which was a little annoying (you can see how messy it gets in the picture above).  But ultimately it’s convinced me that I need to try some additional Bare Minerals shadows because I think they’re hidden gems!

Buxom Full On Lipstick (Brooklyn) / Full-On Lip Polish (Sophia): I received each of these in separate gift sets late last year but only started using the two of them together in January.  I love the formula of each of these – the lipstick is super moisturizing, very pigmented and the polish is super glossy, tingly and not sticky.  I wasn’t super crazy about the shades on their own – Brooklyn is a brownish/pink and Sophia is a very sheer pink.  But together they’re fabulous!  These are just small sample sizes but I’ve made a significant dent in both of them as I’ve basically been wearing these the entire month.

Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask: I already raved about this in my 2015 Favorites so I won’t repeat myself except to say that I’m still using this and I’m still loving it.  Totally buying the full size of this once I run out.

St Ives Fresh Hydration Lotion (Citrus & Vitamin C): I’ve had this for a while but have only started using in regularly the last month or so.  I really wanted to try out one of these aerosol spray lotions and I’m really glad I did!  I like the ease in which I can apply this – I can spray with one hand and rub it in with the other.  I also really like how lightweight the actual lotion is.  If I’m being honest I hate thick lotions that take forever to sink in, especially in the mornings when I’m getting ready for work.  This absorbs quickly but still keeps me moisturized throughout the day.  And it smells really bright and fresh!

Marc Jacobs DOT Fragrance: Normally I wouldn’t include a little fragrance sample in my favourites but this was a pleasant surprise!  This was a small little spritzer but I was able to ration it out over 5 days because this is a POTENT perfume.  Which in my mind is great, I hate fragrances that wear off throughout the day.  The scent is described as one containing red berries, dragonfruit, and honeysuckle and notes of jasmine, coconut water and orange blossom.  Ultimately its sweet, fruity and a little musky which is totally my preference when it comes to perfumes.

Hot Tools Hot Styler 1 1/2″ Thermal Hot Brush: I’m not going to say too much about this because I want to do a full review of it later on but I LOVE this tool!  It literally takes me half the time to round brush my hair with this as it does with a regular round brush.  And it leaves my hair much smoother.  Bonus – it’s currently on sale!

The Mindy Project: I started watching this at the beginning of this month and I’ve been hooked ever since.  I love finding shows that truly make me LOL because that’s rare (maybe I have high standards?) – I hate cheesy humour.  The Mindy Project isn’t free from the odd cheesy moment, but the majority of it is filled with inappropriate, non-politically correct humour.  Totally gained a new respect for Mindy Kailing through this as well; I used to watch the Office and while she had some funny moments, it pales in comparison to her performance here.  I may see glimpses of myself in her at times as well – not sure if that’s a good thing but it makes me laugh and I love it!

LETDOWN

Tom Ford Black Orchid: My second perfume sample that made it into this post but this one didn’t fare so well.  It’s my lonely letdown for the month.  This may be the most overpowering, heavy perfume I’ve ever tried and I hated it.  It’s super musky and warm and sweet. I really didn’t like it as soon as I applied it, but I gave it a chance to sit on my skin for a bit to see if it would change once mixed with my skin.  It didn’t, it just got stronger and more potent.  Not a fan!

What products did you enjoy (and not enjoy!) this month?  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!

Sephora VIB Sale Wish List

 

It’s that time of the year again!  If you haven’t heard, the Sephora VIB Rouge sale starts this weekend (November 6-9) and the VIB sale follows shortly thereafter (November 13-16).  I saw the news on Instagram last night and I knew I had to start thinking about what I wanted to purchase.

FACE

Before I purchase either of these foundations I’m going to try and get samples of both beforehand.  These are both pricey foundations so I don’t want to invest in one of them and then figure out they don’t work for me!

Too Faced Born This Way Foundation – $49 CAD

I’ve heard so many good things about this foundation and because I just had a really good experience with the Too Faced Most Loved Set (review here), I’m kind of on a Too Faced kick now.

Makeup Forever Invisible Coverage Foundation – $50 CAD

I’ve heard such great things about this foundation as well.  The shade selection is extensive (40 shades!) so it seems like finding the right one for my face won’t be an issue.  I’m interested to see the differences between this and the Too Faced foundation in store.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder (Diffused Light) – $52 CAD

I’ve been wanting to try one of these highlighting powders for a while but the price just about kills me!  Taking 20% off helps soften the blow; if only they all didn’t look so beautiful!   I think I’d go with the Diffused Light shade given that its meant to conceal redness which is something I struggle with.

Bare Minerals Skin Rev-er Upper – $25 CAD

This is my favourite lightweight, every day moisturizer.  I’m almost out, so I need a refill!  It’s annoying that this doesn’t show up on the Canadian site, so I’m going to have to pick it up in-store.  It’s got a very thin and watery consistency and it absorbs into my skin very quickly, which is key for me in the mornings!

 

 

Nars Blush (Sin/Deep Throat/Mata Hari) – $37.00

I’ve worn Nars Orgasm for years and I think it will always be one of my favourite blushes of all time.  Because I’m such a fan of the formula, I want to add to my collection.  Can’t decide between these three shades though!

EYES

Buxom Dolly’s Wild Side Eyeshadow Palette – $50

I spotted this palette back in the summer and it intrigued me, particularly that shimmery cranberry shade on the far right.  The shades in this one all look really pretty but I’m trying to decide if it’d be more fun to create my own palette within this line for the same price.

Kat Von D Shade + Light Eye Contour Palette – $55 CAD

Another highly raved about palette!  These are all very neutral though which I think is kind of boring, but neutrals and nudes are typically what I reach for on a daily basis.

Tarte Showstopper Clay Palette – $48 CAD

I’ve been looking for a travel-friendly palette and this one looks like it would fit the bill!  It contains eyeshadows, blush, bronzer and highlighter and the colours all look very neutral and warm but versatile!

Too Faced The Chocolate Bar Eye Palette – $59 CAD

The most expensive option of the bunch but probably the one I want most. The chocolate scent of this is what is pulling me in, not to mention the mix of brown and neutral shades, with the occasional pop of colour in there too.

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara – $30

I did a full review on the trail size of this here; I rarely buy high-end mascara but this one has me converted!  My sample size has run out and I’m really missing this so I know I need the full size.

HAIR

Living Proof Instant Texture Mist – $32 CAD

I just used up a trial size of this and I lurrrrrved it!  It made my curls (via curling iron) last longer than anything I’ve used previously and it left zero residue behind.  The cost of this physically hurts but because my hair is so tempermental I’m willing to cough up the change for it.

 

 

FRAGRANCE

Marc Jacobs Decadence – $115 CAD

This might be my new fall/winter fragrance.  First, I’m mesmerized by the bottle, how unique is it?  And the scent is so lovely – a little woodsy, slightly musky but still feminine.  I might try the rollerball to start and then request a full size spray for Christmas.

LIPS

Bite Beauty Luminious Lip Creme (Mauvember) – $28 CAD

I’m not sure if you can use the discount on this product but I might just buy this anyway.  It looks like a great shade, plus its limited edition and supports a great charity!

 

Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask – $30 CAD

It’s only November and my lips are already so dry. I feel like I’m going to need something extra-strength to get me through the colder months, and this has been on my must-try list for a while.   I’ve heard the packaging sucks on this but the product itself is really good.

Too Faced Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipstick (Melted Peony) – $25 CAD

I  have Melted Fig in this line and I love it.  All the other colours in this line look pretty intense and vibrant, but Melted Peony looks a little more muted and more my style.

 

So I’m obviously not going to buy all of these because I don’t have an unlimited bank account.  Plus, once I’m in store, I tend to talk myself out of things or convince myself that I don’t really need this or that.  Then I regret it after the sale is over and end up buying things at full price.  #logic  So this time I’m going to make sure that I’m thoughtful about what I purchase, why I’m purchasing and why I decide not to purchase something.

Have you tried any of these products?  Have I made some good choices?  Not so good choices?  What have I missed?  What are you buying at the VIB sale?  Let me know below!

Thanks for reading!