This & That – September 6

What’s going on with me:

It’s the first This & That Friday of September!  I love Fall but I just feel like it’s coming too fast this year.  Maybe because we had kind of crappy Summer weather-wise.  Technically it’s not officially Fall until September 22 but you wouldn’t know it here in Calgary – the temperature here yesterday was in the single digits!  Plus the leaves are already changing and falling.  It’s only the first week in September!  STOP!

My second course in Graphic Design begins tomorrow!  The next few months are going to be really busy for me – I’ve got classes almost every weekend and several nights during the week.  I’d say that I’m going to need to scale my blogging back but let’s be honest, have I ever been able to keep a consistent blog schedule?  #masterofprocrastination This might actually force me to keep a regular schedule…but I won’t jinx myself.  I’m thinking twice a week – haven’t quite figured out which two days that’ll be yet.

Exciting news – I’m going to be announcing my new blog name next week!  I think I’ve got a name that will represent my blog well – although it’s going to be hard to say goodbye to Classic Maggie.  Almost makes me sad to think about it…but I know it’s the right thing to do.  It’s silly how attached we can get to things, isn’t it?  PS – once my new blog name launches my giveaway will commence shortly thereafter! 🙂

Have you seen/heard?

I really want to try this mermaid hair tutorial but it seems like so much work.  So pretty though, right?

Why is crushed velvet trying to make a comeback?  Someone needs to put a stop to this right now.  That needs to stay in the 90’s where it belongs.

I cannot believe this woman is 98 years old!  I love her advice…and I need to start doing yoga.

Recent purchases…

I did visit Ulta on my trip and I’m not going to lie, it was a pretty amazing place.  I didn’t get everything I intended for a few reasons – they didn’t have what I wanted in stock, I changed my mind and/or I checked my VISA about halfway through my trip and almost fainted when I saw the exchange rate I was being charged for everything.  Seriously, it physically hurt.  Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t leave there empty handed but I scaled it back a bit.  Post on what I picked up coming soon…

Okay, I know this is a weird one, but…how is it fair that not only do we not have Ulta in Canada, we also do not have Cheez-It’s?  The Tabasco-flavoured ones are my favourite so anytime I go to the States I always have to get a box of them if I can find them.  We have Cheese Nips here in Canada, but they don’t even come close to comparing, nor do they come in all the fab flavours of Cheez-Its.  Plus Cheez-Its is fun to say.  😛

Do you like rootbeer?  Do you like alcohol?  If you answered yes to both, then I’d like to introduce you to Not Your Father’s Root Beer, if you’re not already acquainted.  Omg these are soooooooo delicious!  These can be a little dangerous because you can’t taste the alcohol in them!  If you like sweet drinks, I totally recommend giving them a try.

This top was the only clothing purchase I made on our trip and it was a good one – it’s so comfy!  Plus I can never resist ombre anything!

Currently coveting…

I had a lemon bar from Model Bakery in Napa and I’ve never tasted a lemon bar like it – it was literally out of this world (potentially the most delicious thing I ate the entire trip).  Fall and winter = cooking and baking for me so I’d love to give some of their recipes from their cookbook a try at home.

OMG Kate Spade has a Minnie Mouse collection!  Just look at this adorable clutch!  And card case!

So I signed up for Ebates earlier this year…and I just received a cheque for $150 in the mail!  Most of that is from booking a trip via Expedia a few months ago but if you shop online for anything, you NEED to sign up.  I was skeptical at first, but there’s literally nothing shady about it, it’s basically just free money!  Do it!

I recently picked up a pair of leggings at Express – and wow am I impressed!  They fit so well and are so comfy!

Favourite Youtube video of the week….

I have to give credit where credit is due – I saw this feature on Curly.Spring.Blossom’s blog (ps – follow her!) and I thought it was a great idea, so I’m stealing it.  I’m going to award my first one to Coffee Break with Dani’s Juvia’s Place Palette Review and Swatch video – mainly because I’m in love with the look she created!  Plus that palette looks amazing!  Oh and Dani is one of my favourite You-tubers! 🙂

Need to catch up on my posts?  Here’s what I’ve been up to the last few weeks:

Review: IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream

Yup, that’s one measley post…

Have a fantastic weekend!

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

Review: IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream

Please excuse my absence over the last few weeks – I was on a vacation and fully intended on blogging while I was away – but then vacation happened.  We spent the majority of our days either sight-seeing or driving and I just wanted to crawl into bed at the end of the day, which is exactly what I did.  I plan on doing a travel diary of our road trip so if you want more details on what we did, where we went and where we ate (the most important thing, IMO), keep your eyes peeled for that.  But now I’m back home and attempting to regain a sense of normal and routine, it’s time to resume blogging!

Today I’m sharing my thoughts what has become my go-to “foundation” over the last few months: IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better™ CC Cream with SPF 50+.  First up I’m going to gift it the “Longest Ever Name for a Product” Award ;).  I purchased this way back in March from the Shopping Channel.  They were having a showstopper that included a 2.53 fl oz size of the CC Cream with the Dual Ended Concealer Brush for $60 CAD; the 32 mL/1.08 oz of the CC cream retails for $45 CAD on it’s own, so I couldn’t pass up such a good deal.  I placed my order within the first hour of the showstopper and waited for it to arrive.  Fast forward to two months later, when I actually received the product I ordered.  Long story short: they sent me the wrong shade (and knew it), ran out of the shade I had ordered and I had to wait 2 months for it to come back in stock.  Honestly, it was a horrible customer-service experience and every time I called to cancel my order, they told me it was just a week away from being shipped to me.  Eventually that actually did happen, in the right shade this time (#whataconcept) and we’ve been inseparable ever since.

Before I get into why I love this so much, let’s look at all of it’s many claims, via the IT Cosmetics website:

This highly pigmented multi-tasking beauty miracle truly covers everything, will not crease or crack in fine lines, and gives you a healthy, Your Skin But Better® glow. Paraben-free and SPF 50+ UVA/UVB Broad Spectrum, Physical Only, Non-Chemical Sunscreen.

Developed with leading plastic surgeons, Your Skin But Better® CC+™ Cream with SPF 50+ is truly a multi-tasking beauty miracle. It’s your SPF 50+ UVA/UVB Physical only sunscreen that protects against the rays that both burn your skin and age your skin. CC+™ is infused with cutting edge Anti-Aging technology and is clinically shown to improve skin texture, brightness and increase skin hydration by 79%. The Anti-Aging hydrating formula is infused with Peptides, Niacin, Algae, Vitamins A, C, B, E, Hyaluronic Acid and Hydrolyzed Collagen along with Antioxidants and exotic natural botanicals for long-term brightening and color-correcting benefits.

And the ingredients (woah):

TITANIUM DIOXIDE 9.0%, ZINC OXIDE 6.3%, Water, Snail Secretion Filtrate, Butylene Glycol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Magnesium Sulfate, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Aluminum Hydroxide, Hexyl Laurate, Stearic Acid, Calcium Stearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disodium EDTA, Citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) peel oil, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Niacinamide, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Water, Lactobacillus/Honeysuckle Flower/Licorice Root/Morus Alba Root/Pueraria Lobata Root/Schizandra Chinensis Fruit/Scutellaria Baicalensis Root/Sophora Japonica Flower Extract Ferment Filtrate, Perfluorohexane, Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Cholesteryl, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chrysanthemum Indicum flower Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Perfluorodecalin, Morus Alba Fruit Extract, Magnolia Kobus Bark Extract, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Sprout Extract, Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Pentafluoropropane, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Steareth-20, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Colloidal Oatmeal, Hydrolyzed Silk, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium sorbate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Tocopherol, Thiamine HCl, Riboflavin, Retinyl Palmitate, Pantothenic Acid, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Niacin, Folic Acid, Chrysin, Carnitine HCl, Biotin, Ascorbic Acid, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Chlorhexidine Digluconate. May Contain: Iron Oxides (CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499).

THE GOOD

• It’s highly pigmented with medium to high coverage.  If I’m having a good skin day, I can get away with wearing this and only this.  No concealer needed.  Unfortunately my good skin days have been few and far between lately so I haven’t been so lucky to be able to do so.  But if you have normal skin or even skin with a few small blemishes, I think you could be one and done with this!
• It gives my skin a healthy glow.  With the amount of coverage this provides, you’d fully expect it to have a matte finish.  Instead it leaves behind a dewy finish and brightness to my skin.  Most days I skip highlighter because I just don’t feel like I need it.
• It blends effortlessly and seamlessly into skin.  I always, always have problems with foundations settling into my pores, particularly if I use a brush to apply them (which is why I tend to stick to a Beauty Blender) and/or skip using a primer beforehand.  Miraculously, I don’t have that problem with this.  I use the brush included with my set to stipple and buff it into my skin and it works like a charm – and I’m left with an airbrushed appearance.  I’m going to credit the snail secretion filtrate for this benefit – which I will admit, at first grossed me out.  Experiencing its benefits has lessened the gross-factor, however.
• It works for my sensitive skin.  My skin doesn’t react well to a lot of face products, and I’ll admit to feeling a bit worried when seeing the extensive ingredient list.  However, I’ve had zero issues with this irritating my skin.  In fact, I feel like any dry patches I had are a lot less dry since I’ve started using it.
• It’s simple and easy.  As mentioned above, if you have non-problematic skin, you can likely get away without using concealer.  But given how moisturizing this is, I also find it very easy to skip moisturizer and primer as well.  I don’t tend to skip moisturizer very often because my skin often needs the other benefits that moisturizer provides but I like the fact that I can, without any consequences.  In addition, my use of primers has severely decreased – I just don’t need one with this product.  It honestly makes using other foundations seem like so much work.
• Sunscreen is included: I love the fact that SPF 50 is included; I’ve heard that anything higher than 30 SPF doesn’t really offer any extra protection but regardless, I still appreciate it being in there.  With my fair skin, I’ll take all I can get!
• It’s the perfect shade.  I ordered the shade Light after reading reviews stating that the palest shade (Fair) was really grey-toned.  That turned out to be a really good decision – this matches my skin perfectly.  I have a little bit of colour right now but even when I didn’t it seemed to be a good match.  This is a big thing because I’m always struggling to find foundations that match my skin tone given that I have lots of redness and am quite fair.
• The packaging.  I feel like pumps should be mandatory on all foundations – they keep everything clean and they’re so much easier to control the amount of product you can dispense.  I also appreciate that it’s all contained in a tube, which makes it nice and light for travel.

THE NOT-SO-GOOD:

It requires a setting powder.  I don’t see this as a huge negative – but if I don’t set this with powder, it disappears off of my skin within a few hours.  This is not an uncommon problem for me but the few times I did use this without setting it, I was not impressed with the lasting powder.  I now set it with Laura Mercier’s Translucent Setting Powder and it stays put almost all day.  Despite that, I don’t see this working well for anyone with really oily skin; I suspect it’ll just make you look greasy.

It transfers.  This is probably my biggest frustration with this product – it transfers like crazy, even when set with powder.  I end up with it on the necklines of my clothes, on my phone, basically on anything that comes in contact with my face.

Requires concealer.  As mentioned above, I need a concealer with this, mainly to cover active breakouts.  It does not cover those to the level that I would like it to, but to be fair, I haven’t found a foundation that does, or at least one that doesn’t leave me with a serious case of cake face.  I’ll take the more natural look with the requirement of a concealer over that anyday!

FINAL THOUGHTS

Personally, I couldn’t be happier with this CC Cream and once I’ve ran out of my gigantic tube, I’ll be re-purchasing for sure!  I have used it so often that I’d estimate I’m about halfway through it and despite my horrendous experience with the Shopping Channel, I’ll continue to keep my eye out for future IT Cosmetics showstoppers, particularly if they’re featuring the jumbo size tube again (such good value!).  It’s got me interested in what other products are worth my time from this brand.

Have you tried IT Cosmetic’s Your Skin But Better CC Cream, or any other IT Cosmetics products?  Let me know below!

Thanks for stopping by!

This & That – August 21

What’s going on with me:

Is there anything more frustrating than typing up an entire post, forgetting to save it and then losing it? *facepalm*

I placed an order for my first Love with Food box this month, thanks to Coffee Break with Dani. She was doing an unboxing on her channel and she had a 40% code and now that they ship internationally, I couldn’t resist giving them a try.  My box ended up costing me about $16 USD (including shipping), although the costs will increase the following month.  Keep an eye out for my review in early September!

Have you seen/heard?

Urban Decay is releasing a Naked Ultimate Basics Palette this fall, and I’m kind of liking the way it looks – it’s nothing super original, but I’ve hit pan on all the matte shades in my Naked palette and I’m considering a replacement for it.  Might be an option!

Have you tried any of these wild and wacky Oreo flavours?  I haven’t seen many of them in Canada, but I have tried the S’more flavour – which were really good, and the Red Velvet Cake flavour, which were just meh.

Recent purchases…

Neutrogena Makeup Remover Wipes: I was a little disappointed in the last package of Olay wipes that I picked up so I decided to try something new. I was impressed with these – they removed my makeup with ease and were super gentle.  New potential favourite!

Ked Coursa Sneaker: I returned my Sam Edelman espadrilles that I bought a few weeks ago and replaced them with these.  Such a good decision!  These are so comfy and are made of a soft t-shirt like material.

Currently coveting…

RW & Co Lace Dress with Collar: I pretty much love anything lace but adding the white collar to this just makes it that much cuter.

CoverGirl Clean Matte BB Cream: Every review I’ve read/watched says this is nothing like a BB Cream but more like a foundation.  I’m not sure how well the matte formula will work my combo skin but given the drugstore price, I’m willing to take the risk.  Have you tried it?

Need to catch up on my posts?  Here’s what I’ve published over the last two weeks:

• Loves & Letdowns Lately
• Review: Vichy Normaderm Skincare

Wishing you a wonderful rest of your weekend!

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

Review: Vichy Normaderm Skincare

Over a month ago, I was selected to receive a Vichy Skincare package on behalf of ChickAdvisor.  I’m always excited to be selected for campaigns by Chickadvisor, but I was a little more excited than normal for this one.  At the time, I was dealing with some of the worst skin I’ve had in years.  Specifically, I was experiencing constant breakouts and nothing I tried seemed to be helping – not even products that had worked before.  It was beyond frustrating and there were days where I didn’t even want to leave the house (as anyone who deals with problematic skin can understand!)

Thankfully the day before we left for our Vegas trip, my Chickadvisor package arrived.  Included were three, full-sized products from Vichy’s Normaderm line: the Deep Cleansing Gel, the Pore Tightening Lotion and the Corrective Anti-Acne Treatment. This line is specifically formulated for oily and acne-prone skin – ding ding ding!  Right after I received these products I started using them and I immediately ditched the skincare products I was using at the time.  Given that I’ve now been using them for over a month, the time has come for an in-depth review.

Vichy Normaderm Deep Cleansing Gel ($19.95 CAD for 200 mL)

From the website: This ultra-gentle soap-free, alcohol-free cleansing gel deeply cleanses sebum and impurities without over-drying or irritating the skin.  Its ingredients have purifying, anti-bacterial and keratolytic actions to prevent new imperfections from popping up.

Contains the following active ingredients:

• Salicylic acid: Unclogs and deeply cleanses pores.
• Glycolic acid: Has a keratolytic effect, which allows gentle peeling, as well as antibacterial properties.
• LHA: Gently smoothes skin texture and stimulates skin renewal.

My thoughts: At the risk of sounding like a tv commercial, the best way I can describe this cleanser is “gentle yet effective.”  It removes all of my makeup and leaves my skin feeling so soft and clean!  Given its’ active ingredients, I fully expected it to leave my skin feeling tight and/or dry afterwards, but I haven’t experienced any of that whatsoever.  Now, keep in mind it is the summer and my skin tends to be a little oilier than usual – so that could change come the winter months.  But for now, it’s working great.

My only complaint about this is that I can’t use this to remove my eye makeup.  Those active ingredients that help heal skin and keep it clear are best kept away from eyes so a second product is needed to remove eye makeup.  Is this really an issue?  Not really and it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make for clearer skin.  And if I’m being honest I have tried it on my eyes and it does take makeup off pretty well – but my eyes were definitely a little irritated afterwards.  So best to just not do it.

Vichy’s Normaderm Pore Tightening Lotion ($19.95 CAD for 200 mL)

From the website: This toner is specifically formulated for anyone dealing with frequent breakouts, dilated pores and excess shine. This formula combines soothing Vichy Mineralizing Water with glycolic and salicylic acid to unclog, tighten pores and purify the skin.

Contains the following active ingredients:

• Salicylic acid: Unclogs and deeply cleanses pores.
• Glycolic acid: : Has a keratolytic effect, which allows gentle peeling, as well as antibacterial properties.
• LHA: to smooth skin texture and stimulate skin renewal, without irritating the skin.

My thoughts: The fact that this is referred to as a lotion kind of confuses me – I honestly can’t remember the last time I used a toner, mainly because I never really saw any results with ones I’ve tried in the past.  In fact, I actually found they had adverse effects on my skin – my face would always feel extra dry and tight afterwards.  So I was a little skeptical to give this a try.  Turns out this has actually swayed my opinion of toners!  I use this after I wash my face with the Deep Cleansing Gel, and I love how refreshed my skin feels afterwards. Previously I was using a micellar water after cleansing to remove any last traces of makeup but I much prefer this because it does both that and refreshes my skin.  Unfortunately I can’t say I’ve seen any noticeable benefits in regards to mattifying my skin nor tightening pores – both are pretty much the same.  But overall I definitely like this more than I expected!

Normaderm Corrective Anti Acne Treatment ($29.95 CAD for 50 mL)

From the website: Normaderm Corrective Anti-Acne Treatment combines 1.5% Salicylic Acid, LHA, Phe Resorcinol and new Air Licium™ technology to treat and prevent all signs of acne: pimples, pore visibility, acne marks, shine and redness.

• Salicylic Acid + LHA: 50% more concentrated than our original formula to reduce pimples. Ingredients work together to quickly and effectively unclog pores without irritating the skin.
• Phe Resorcinol: New. Combined with exfoliating LHA, reduces acne marks thanks to its depigmentating properties.
• Air Licium: New Ultra-light aerogel helps reduce sebum production and pore visibility, giving the skin a soft focus mattifying finish.

My thoughts: This is the final product in this 3 step skincare process and if I had to pick a favourite, this would be it.  I LOVE this stuff.  I apply this product twice a day after using the Pore Minimizing Lotion; it feels moisturizing but not greasy.  It tingles a bit when I apply it but to me that just means that the active ingredients are doing their job. It doesn’t take long to soak into my skin, which I really appreciate, particularly in the morning when I’m applying foundation.  After it soaks in, my skin feels exceptionally soft, supple and moisturized. And the best part is, I see results. My skin hasn’t looked this great in months – I’m experiencing less breakouts and scars from previous breakouts are healing.  Again, I can’t say I’ve seen tightened pores and/or any less oil than usual but it’s been doing exactly what I want it to do – clear up my skin and keep it clear!

 

OVERALL:  I can honestly say that my skin has never looked clearer and felt more healthy and smooth after using this line.  My breakouts have been drastically reduced and scars from my previous blemishes are fading away.  I’m not using any other skincare products (aside from a micellar water to remove my eye makeup) so I have to give the credit to Vichy for getting my skin back on the right track.  The only true drawback I for forsee with these products is the fact that they do contain fragrance.  It is a light, fresh and clean scent, but it is still fragrance and that can cause irritation for sensitive skin.  Thankfully that’s now something I’ve experienced (despite having super sensitive skin) but it is something to be aware of.

I’m so thankful I was able to give these a try – they’ve totally transformed my skin!  Even though my one month test period is up, I will still continue to use the entire line and I will be purchasing them on my own dime as I use them up.  I actually want to do some further investigation on the other products in the Normaderm line as well.  They’ve hooked me in! If you’re struggling with acne, I’d highly recommend you give them a try yourself!

Have you tried any of Vichy’s skincare products?  If so, let me know below!

Special thanks to ChickAdvisor and Vichy Canada for sending me these products to try!  These products were sent to me for review purposes but all opinions are my own.

This & That – August 6

What’s going on with me:

Apologies for the lack of posts this week – I was prepping for a garage sale I held today.  Didn’t realize how much work goes into planning one of these.  It went okay – aside from the rain that set in early afternoon and not selling as much as I would have liked.  My garage is looking a lot cleaner though!

I’m going to be changing my blog name in September!  I actually love the name of “Classic Maggie” but I think it’s confusing, given that my name isn’t Maggie.  My new name will be something more reflective of my entire blog so stay tuned for more info on that in the next month or so.

We went and watched Jason Bourne last weekend.  It was good and I’m a big Matt Damon fan, but I feel like they’re getting a bit – okay a lot, predictable now.  On the other hand, I cannot wait to see Sully!

Have you seen/heard?

What do you think of the new Instagram stories?  I don’t know how I feel about it – on one hand I kind of feel like Instagram should just stick to what they do best and stop screwing around with what works.  On the other hand I don’t want to be an opponent to change…because sometimes change is good.  But I feel like they’re just trying to hard to become a mix of all other social media platforms.  Thoughts?

Are you playing Pokemon Go?  I downloaded it and tried it out – and I just couldn’t get into it.  I have way too many things to distract me from being productive right now anyway, so I don’t view it as a bad thing.

Some great tips for clearing on your closet.  I recently purged my closet and I can attest that asking yourself these questions actually does work.  It’s important to ask them to yourself when you’re shopping/in the fitting room too, in order to avoid buying things that don’t serve you to begin with!

Recent purchases…

Make & Model Brushed Hacci Lounge Pants: This was my lone purchase from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale (which I was kind of disappointed with to be honest).  Anyway these pants are SUPER comfy but they wash horribly – they pill like crazy.  Definitely not worth the $35 CAD I paid for them (no way they’re worth $61 CAD).

Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder: I’m absolutely in LOVE with this setting powder.  It’s the only one I’ve tried that doesn’t settle into my pores AND keeps me matte throughout the day.  Wish I had tried this sooner!

sugarfina Ice Cream Cone Gummies: Who in their right mind would spend $9 CAD on a tiny box of candies?  I would!  I may have acquired a dangerous and expensive addiction – they’re so yummy!  But if you don’t feel like forking over the cash to try them yourself, keep an eye on my blog for my long overdue giveaway that will include a box of sugarfina sweets (in addition to some other fantastic things!) #yum

Currently coveting…

Madewell Fleet Jacket: I spotted this jacket at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, and it’s amazing.  But there’s no way I can justify the price for a cotton jacket, even on sale.  So the hunt for the perfect utility jacket continues…

Bryon Plaid Throw: Okay, I know it’s still August but I want this now!  It makes me want to curl up on the couch with a good book and a mug of hot chocolate!

Fossil Kinley Small Crossbody: I’ve got an urge to buy a new purse for Fall – and I’m liking the look of this one.  Sidenote – when did Fossil handbags become so expensive?  Or have they always been?

Need to catch up on my posts?  Here’s what I’ve published over the last two weeks:

• Stash Matters Muji Giveaway Goodies!
• Review: Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette
• Get to Know Me
• What Should I Buy at Ulta?

Have a fantastic weekend!

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

What Should I Buy? At Ulta!

Sooooo I’m going to be near an Ulta in the near future and I’m super excited about it; we don’t have Ulta here in Canada and they carry many brands that we can’t access here (at least without paying ridiculous amounts in shipping and duty).  I’ve started perusing the website to investigate my options, although I have decided to limit my purchases to items and brands that I can’t pick up in Canada.  Here’s what’s on my list so far:

Lorac PRO 3 Palette: The last thing I need is another eyeshadow palette but I can’t walk out of there without one of these.  I’m leaning towards the Lorac Pro 3 but I want to see the palettes in person before I make a final decision.

IT Brushes for Ulta – Your Beautiful Basics Airbrush 101 5 Pc Getting Started Brush Set: I have one IT Cosmetics brush and I absolutely love it.  These brushes are specifically made for Ulta by IT Cosmetics and I’ve heard good things about them.  Again, I want to see what these are like in person but I’m pretty convinced that I want to pick up some of these brushes in some shape or form.

Laura Geller Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminator (Guilded Honey): This will be a guaranteed purchase – I’ve been wanting this for a long time!

Soap & Glory Heel Genius: Kind of a weird addition to the list but we have limited access to Soap and Glory products and my heels are in really bad shape right now, plus the reviews on this are really positive.

Makeup Revolution Vivid Shimmer Brick:  We’re supposed to be getting access to Makeup Revolution in the Fall via London Drugs but you never know which products will actually be available.  This has very positive reviews, looks beautiful and is only $7!

Makeup Revolution Iconic Pro 1 Eyeshadow Palette: This is supposed to be a dupe for the Lorac Pro palette but I’ll make that call when I’m in store.  I definitely think I will be picking up some kind of Makeup Revolution palette given how cheap they are.

Mally’s Must Haves Collection: The thing that intrigues me most out of this set is the Poreless Face Defender and the price of that product alone is the same price of this entire set!  All products are full-sized as well so if I can actually get my hands on this I’ll be estatic – what a great value!

Escada Aqua Del Sol: This is available in Canada but only in the largest size – Ulta has a 1.0 oz bottle as well as a rollerball so what size I end up will be another game time decision.

If you have any other suggestions on products I should be considering (or avoiding) please let me know below!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stashmatters Muji Giveaway Goodies!

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to win Stashmatter’s Muji Giveaway!  Yay me!  And yay Stashy for hosting such a generous giveaway on her blog – I felt very fortunate to win.  🙂  And of course I had to do a post sharing all the wonderful Muji things I won.  I’ve never even heard of this brand prior to Stashy’s giveaway so I was/am pretty excited to test these all out!

First up, this super soft cotton eye mask and nifty purse hook.  I typically get anxiety on overnight flights and wearing an eye mask tends to help me with that, as well as falling asleep.   And the purse hook is a genius invention of course, because who wants to put their purse on the disgusting floor?

Here’s my absolute favourite item out of the bunch – this Cheek Colour in Pink.  Please excuse the nail indent – my hand slipped when I was opening it and I took a nice chunk out of it. 😦  Grrrr!  This is such a great blush and such a pretty colour.  It has a really soft texture, is highly pigmented and blends like an absolute dream!  I’ve been wearing this everyday since I received it  🙂  There was also this Travel Eyelash Curler that works really well – I have one similar to this that does nothing but pinch my eyelids.  Stashy also included two bonus items – one of which was this nice little compact mirror.  It’s nice and light and I love that it folds over, perfect for throwing in my purse!

Next – a package of facial blotting papers – I keep a package of these in my purse and at my makeup vanity so these will be utilized for sure.  Also, a travel size bottle of the Oil Cleansing for Sensitive Skin.  I haven’t tried this quite yet but I’m the definition of sensitive skin so I can’t wait to see how this works for me.

A few more travel-friendly items – a package of Cotton Buds that are individual wrapped which is amazing and so-smart.  And a package of Cleansing Sheets, which I always take with me no matter where we’re traveling.

I’ve been looking for one of these Cylinder Spray Bottles so this will work perfectly.  She also added in a travel pill case which is something I actually need to utilize – I’m horrible at taking my vitamins with me when we travel.  This Refill Set on the right (which didn’t photograph well – sorry!) includes a funnel, dropper and spatula.  Where has this been all my life?  It’s always such a struggle to de-pot products for travel and this will make things SO much easier!

Two very practical yet necessary travel items – a little notebook and a pen!  I always forget to throw a pen in my carry-on to fill out those darn custom cards – now I have a dedicated one.

Last but not least – candy!  This was the second bonus item she included and these are a yummy citrusy/grapefruit flavour.  I keep them at my desk and they hit the spot when I’ve got a yearning for sugar (which is always).

And that was everything!  Given how much we enjoy traveling, this couldn’t be a more perfect giveaway for me to win!  I’ve really enjoyed everything I received and would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Stashy for all these goodies!  Make sure to follow her if you don’t already – she shares some of the most detailed reviews I’ve ever seen and does some pretty epic hauls.

Thanks for stopping by!

This & That Fridays – July 22

What’s going on with me:

Maggie’s birthday is next weekend and she’s turning 10!  Sniff…I wish I could just pause time.  Given that it’s a milestone birthday, I think we’re going to throw her a little party at home.  We’ll probably take her for a walk, make her a steak and give her a little ice cream for dinner.  I’ve been trying to decide what to get her but what do you get the dog that has everything.  And yes, I know I’m a little nuts over my dog.  But she’s my baby! #crazydoglady

Anyone following Big Brother this season?  I’m so torn on who to root for – I kinda like Pauly, and I have a love/hate relationship with Frank. but it’d be nice to see a girl win for once!  Unfortunately they always seem to get too distracted by the showmances.

I might pay a visit to Nordstrom this weekend to check out their epic anniversary sale; I’m not sure what is available in Canada vs the US but Nouveau Cheap has a good list of all the beauty items here.

Have you seen?

Kurig Kold Drink Maker:  I saw these in a Costco magazine that came in the mail and they sounded SO COOL!  Unfortunately it sounds like it didn’t quite hit the mark and they’ve discontinued it for the time being.  If they actually figure this thing out I’m definitely going to want one.

That Nintendo is releasing the NES Classic Edition which is basically a mini Classic Nintendo pre-loaded with a bunch of classic games.  I totally want one of these!  I need to play ExciteBike again!  Would make a great Christmas list (sorry I mentioned Christmas in July).

If you like wiener dogs and their babies, click here.

Highly recommend…

This steak marinade literally lives up to its name – it is so.freaking.good I wanted to drink it.

The Secret Life of Pets!  We went and saw it a few weekends ago and it was so good!  Totally met my expectations (and they were high).

Recent purchases…

PC Loads of Cookies N Cream Light Ice Cream Bars:  OMG – these are like a cross between a white chocolate covered oreo cookie and a Hershey’s Cookies & Cream chocolate bar.  Also they contain light ice cream which basically means zero calories.  Right?  #iwish

Eccolo 2017 Planner: I got this planner from Homesense a few weeks ago and it’s been fabulous for keeping me organized, particularly when it comes to my blog.  Plus it was a steal for $9.99!

An update on the Wet & Wild Proline Felt Tip Eyeliner –  So I raved about this in my last This & That Friday post, but I’m sad to say that I tried to use it this week and it’s already dried up.  😦  Seems like this is a common problem but I didn’t have it stored upside down, so I might have to purchase another one and see if that makes a difference.  Stay tuned!

Currently coveting…

RW & Co. Striped Maxi Dress (Bordeaux):  Because I’m a sucker for stripes!

First Comes Love – Emily Griffin: One of my favourite author’s has a new book out – can’t wait to read this!

Marc Jacobs Beauty Air Blush Soft Glow Duo: I’ve haven’t tried anything from Marc Jacobs cosmetics line (although there are plenty of his products on my list) but these just look so pretty!

Need to catch up on my posts?  Here’s what I’ve published over the last two weeks:

Review: Furkid – June 2016 Box

Clothing & Accessories Haul

Behind the Scenes Tag

Makeup Haul!

Luxe Box Summer 2016 – Review & First Impressions

Happy weekend!

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

Behind the Scenes Tag!!

I haven’t done a tag for a while and when the lovely Robyn from Lipstick on the Lake tagged me on the Behind the Scenes Tag, I knew I had to participate.  If you don’t follow her, get on that asap – she does great Youtube makeup tutorials and her blog is a great resource if you’re a beauty junkie like moi! 😉  Note that I’ve modified some of the original questions so that they pertain to me – I don’t do Youtube videos, I strictly blog!:

1) What camera do you use?

I use my iPhone6 to take my blog photos – but it’s been acting up lately so I’ve reverted back to my iPad, which takes great pics but is a huge PITA to use.  I’ve got a point and click camera somewhere, I should probably pull it out.  Or you know, invest in something better.

2) What editing system do you use?

I use a combination of Canva and PicMonkey – both are free and work really well.

3) Do you use artificial or natural lighting?

Natural lighting is my preference.

4) What is the top item on your posting wishlist?

I want to get my clothing haul up from Vegas; I’m struggling to take proper pictures of things though.  I need a full length mirror so I can just take pics of me wearing the clothes rather than trying to take pictures of them on hangers.

5) What is your favourite day in the week to post?

Hmmm…probably Monday or Tuesday.  I like to start my week off with a post when I can.

6) Do you plan your posts. If so, how?

I just picked up a planner that I plan (hehe) to use for this exact purpose.  This is something I really need to improve on – I’m so bad at just flying by the seat of my pants.  It’s so much less stressful to have my posts prepared in advance but it takes a while for me to get into a rhythm.  I hope to have a schedule down by the end of this month and work really hard to stick to it!

7) How long does it take you to complete a post?

It kind of depends on the topic – probably at least 4-5 hours total between photography, writing and editing, sometimes longer if it requires lots of images or lots of detail.  It’s a lot of work!

8) How many hours do you spend editing a post?  

See above.

9) Favourite types of posts to write?

Easily my This & That Fridays posts – I write about whatever I feel like.

10) Do you people at your school or work know about your channel?

Nope; my husband and parents are the only ones who know that I blog.  I feel really uncomfortable having people I know read my blog – I’m not sure why.  At some point I feel like I’m going to need to get over this fear, I don’t like that I’m keeping that something that I enjoy so much a secret from some of my close friends.

11) What is your process of thinking of a post idea?

I keep an ongoing list of post ideas in a journal and every week I look through it and pick out a couple to use.

12) Do you feel awkward filming in front of other people or in public?

I don’t do any videos – strictly blog posts.  I post very limited photos of myself on Instagram as well. At this point I don’t see myself ever starting a Youtube channel – the public scruitiny scares the heck out of me – people can be so VICIOUS!  I think I’ll be happy just sticking with my blog but I’ve also learned to never say never!

13) Do you and your Blogger friends plan out videos together?

Nope but it’s definitely something I’ve considered and would love to do!

14) What is your subscriber goal by the end of the year?

I have a very lofty goal of obtaining 1000 subscribers by the end of 2016…I’m currently at 197 so I have a ways to go!

15) Who do you tag to do this tag next?

I’d like to tag whoever wants to participate! 🙂

Thanks again to Lipstick on the Lake for tagging me! xoxo

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!