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!

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!

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 Haul & First Impressions!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Too Faced Love Flush Blush Wardrobe -$45 CAD

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Original Beauty Blender – $28 CAD

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

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

First impression: Still great!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Clinique Take it All Off Set – $17 CAD

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thanks for stopping by!

Luxe Box – Spring 2016

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

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

So, here’s what my Spring box included:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thanks for stopping by!

Drugstore Haul & First Impressions

Happy Thursday!

I hope you’re having a good week – or at least a better one than me!  I had to take a bit of a break from blogging over the last few days as I was down and out with a stomach virus/flu and it literally knocked me out for a little less than a week.  I’ll spare you the details but there were moments where I just wanted to be put out of my misery.  Thankfully it’s seems to have run its course and I’m starting to feel more human again so now the blogging can continue.

So, on to the post at hand!  I did a bit of a drugstore haul a while ago and I’m anxious to share with you what I picked up and what my first impressions are:

CoverGirl TruBlend Blush (Light Rose 100): Love this!  I’m always sucked in by ombre or marbled products and a lot of the time, they never meet my expectations.  This one has defied the odds though!  This is a peachy pink shimmery blush that isn’t super pigmented – but I’m okay with that. I prefer buildable blushes and this falls in that category.  Note that I am quite pale so this likely wouldn’t work well on those with deeper skin tones but overall I’m impressed with it – it’s smooth and silky and blends and builds really well.  I might just pick up another shade!

CoverGirl OhSugar! (Cupcake):  I’ve been using this for probably the last month and a half and it’s 3/4 of the way done.  My first impression was that I didn’t really like it – I know these are supposed to be sheer but this shade in particular has almost no colour (I didn’t even bother uploading the picture of the swatch because there’s literally nothing to see). Which I could live with if I felt like it offered great hydration….but I’m not sure it does that either.  I know everyone is comparing these to the Fresh Sugar lip balms but I personally don’t feel they really match up.  I always felt the lasting effects of the Fresh version for at least a couple hours after application but with this, it’s disappeared not too long after I’ve applied it.  I might try another shade at some point once I’m done with this one but I think I’m going to stick with my tried and true Dr Pepper Lip Smackers! 🙂

CoverGirl Plumpifyier Blastpro Mascara: I’ve only been using this about a week and so far, I think it’s okay.  It gives me decent length and separation but I’m not seeing much volume and thickness.  Ironic given that this is supposed to provide 50% more volume.  I think the problem is the size of the brush – this thing is huge and I personally like big mascara brushes!  It really makes it difficult to get the wand close to the roots of my lashes.  The good thing is I haven’t experienced much clumping with this EXCEPT for on my lower lashes – would not recommend this for them.  The wand is just too big and bulky for that small of a space.   So far though, no flaking or smudging which is nice.  I need to test this out a little more to see if it’s something I’d repurchase though.

Essie Groove Is In The Heart: I have no clue why I picked this up – I just bought 3 pink nail polishes from the Hello Kitty! OPI Collection a couple months ago, so the last thing I needed was another pink polish.  Regardless, I did and I can’t say I’m crazy about it.  While the neon pink shade is gorgeous, the formula sucks.  It’s thick, gooey and gloopy and nearly impossible to apply.  Chipping wasn’t too bad, I went about 3 days before I experienced my first one (and for Essie, that’s actually quite impressive).  I might try adding some polish thinner to see if that helps but I can’t say I’d recommend this.

Essie Lounge Lover: I watched a Youtuber (I think it was Jenny Claire Fox) swatch and rave about this and I had to pick it up – it just seemed like the perfect colour for Spring/Summer.  And it is – it’s a gorgeous bright peachy pink shade and this formula is great: creamy, smooth and if you’re really good at nails, you could probably get away with one coat (I always have to do two).  Pretty happy with this one!

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure (Black & Blue):  I’ve had this for over a month now and I’ve used it twice and I was really impressed!  The formula is great – it’s on the thinner side so you need 2 coats minimum but it just glides on my nails like silk!  It also lasted a good solid week without chipping.  I’m a huge fan of SH’s wide brush – it makes it so easy to get perfect application every single time.  I can’t believe I don’t have more shades in this line in my collection, I’m going to have to pick up a few more and see if they’re just as good as this one is.

Hardy Candy So Baked Bronzer (Tiki): This is called a bronzer but I’m not really sure it classifies as one.  I’d consider it to be more of a highlighter given how light it is – and I’m pretty fair!  To be fair (haha!), this is the lightest shade out of their line and there are darker options available.  However I chose this one as I had heard good things about it on Youtube.  I think it’s a decent drugstore highlight but I’m not sure about its longevity, it appears to fade halfway through the day.

Hard Candy Glow All the Way Ombre Blush (Punch): I saw this and I couldn’t not buy it – it’s so pretty!  Again, this is classified as a blush but I kind of see it more like a blush/highlighter.  It’s pretty frosty and shimmery and you definitely don’t need to highlight after using this.  I think the colour is pretty, it’s quite pigmented but I’m finding the lasting power iffy.  Still testing!

Hard Candy Stroke of Genius Marker (Little Black Dress): This might be one of the longest lasting liquid eyeliners I’ve ever tried from the drugstore – and I’ve tried many.  This literally does stay put for 12 hours, or more if needed! It’s also extremely pigmented and glides on smoothly. Two problems: it’s a pain in the @ss to remove.  I have to use an oil-based waterproof makeup remover to take it off and even then I end up with little black flakes everywhere.  Secondly, once it has dried, you cannot go over it again and fix any mistakes; it dries hard so you might as well just start your eye makeup all over again.  I think this is a great option for special occasions, but not for everyday use.  Oh and I’m skeptical about the lash growth serum but I haven’t used this enough to state if it actually does anything one way or another.

NYC Expert Last Satin Matte Lip Color (Creamy Mauve): When I saw these lip products were 2 for $4 I didn’t see how I could go wrong.  I remembered reading a blog somewhere that raved about them and lately there seems to be plenty of favorable reviews on NYC’s products so I didn’t see the harm in trying them out.  I swore I had picked out two different shades at the time but when I got home I realized both were Creamy Mauve.  I didn’t think that would be such a big deal because the colour looked pretty nice.  Then I applied it.  Ick.  On my lips it applied a really unflattering frosty/milky pastel pink.  In addition I think calling them matte is stretch – the formula was really creamy and rich and didn’t dry down to a matte finish at all.  It’s actually a good formula but they need to get the shade description straight.  Anyway, this was pretty much a fail for me, thankfully it was only a $4 fail!

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream (Milan/Ibiza): Me and matte lip products don’t get along, given my naturally dry lips.  However I’ve heard that these are pretty comfortable and now that Shoppers Drug Mart is carrying the NYX line, I couldn’t resist picking out a few to try.  Overall I’d say they are less drying than other liquid lipsticks I’ve tried, but alas, they are still drying.  I have to make sure I’m having a good lip day before deciding to wear one of these – meaning my lips are hydrated, smooth and free from any peeling or flaking.  Even so, they tend to highlight every line and/or imperfection on my lips (although Milan is guilty of this moreso than Ibiza).  However the colours are glorious – so pigmented and rich!  Milan is described as a “mid toned, blue toned pink”…I tend to describe it more as a vibrant rosy pink – either way it’s very wearable.  Ibizia is described as a “matte deep rose pink”…I personally see it as more a vibrant pink/coral.  This seems like a perfect shade for spring/summer but it makes my teeth look so yellow, as orange-toned shades do.  Guess I’ll just wear it and smile with my mouth closed.  😉  Even though I’m struggling to wear these, I love how beautiful the shades are and I want to figure out a way to wear them. so I’m going to try and find a lip primer that I can wear underneath to see if I can make it work (if you have any recommendations, I’d appreciate them!)

NYX Butter Gloss (Angel Food Cake): I’m a big fan of NYX’s Butter Gloss in Tiramisu and I know that Angel Food Cake is popular as well so I figured I’d give it a try.  I applied it once and I was instantly a fan. Both shades are just your lips but better shades and so easy and comfortable to wear.  I’m a big gloss fan though so if you are too I’d recommend these!

L’Oreal Voluminious Superstar Liquid Eyeliner: I love trying new liquid eyeliners, especially from the drugstore.  Okay, I only buy my eyeliners from the drugstore, I can’t justify paying anything over $15 for them.  One of my favourite liquid eyeliners is the L’Oreal Infalliable version below so I had high expectations of this.  I love the shape of the tip on this – it makes doing a wing so much easier.  The problem is, it smudges like crazy.  If I use to line the inner half of my eye and I touch my eye or if my eyes water (which they always do), I’ve got black smudges everywhere.  I’m not sure why they didn’t use the same formula as the Infalliable but I won’t be repurchasing this.

L’Oreal Infalliable Super Slim 12H Liquid Eyeliner: One of my favourite drugstore liners, read the reasons why here.

e.l.f Angled Blush Brush:  I have a few of e.l.f’s brushes and I’ve always been very impressed with them.  This one has been a bit of a let down so far – I’m not sure if it’s just not packed tightly enough or if it’s just the bristles themselves but I have a hard time getting it to pick up product.  It seems works well to blend blush out though!

drugstore skin care – olay gentle clean wet cleansing cloths

Olay Gentle Clean Wet Cleansing Cloths: My favourite makeup removing wipes – details here.

Bonne Bell Lipsmackers (Dr Pepper): Had to pick up a few of my favourite lip balms!  Find out why these are my favourite here.

And that wraps up my drugstore haul.  Have you tried any of these products?  What products have you tried from the drugstore recently?  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!

Review: Makeup Forever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation

Happy Monday!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In summary:

Coverage: Medium

Finish: Satin/slightly dewy

Shades: 40 shades

Price: $50 CAD

Available at: Sephora, makeupforever.com

Re-purchase?: Yes

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

Thanks for reading!

What I Got for Christmas & My Birthday (2015)!

Christmas & New Years seems like it was forever ago but because I was sick after Christmas, I didn’t have a chance to share what I received, so I thought better late than never! My birthday is on New Years Eve, so I’m combining both sets of gifts into one post. I was pretty much spoiled this year by everyone so I’m very thankful to everyone for gifting me such wonderful things!

Receiving perfume, in the words of Buddy the Elf, is my favourite!  I love trying and discovering new types and changing up what I wear on a daily basis – so I like having lots of options.  Which is probably why I received these 3 bottles for Christmas!Fantasy – Britney Spears:This is one of my favourite perfumes so I was very happy to receive another bottle of this.  Yes, it’s Britney Spears but I’ve worn this for years and it smells sooo good!  And the bottle is really pretty too.
Seductive – Guess: My MIL gave me this and it’s not one I would have picked up on my own, but it’s a nice addition to my collection.  I really like the classic design of the bottle.
BonBon – Viktor & Rolf: Okay, first can we talk about this glorious packaging?  It’s a BOW.  As if that isn’t enough on its own, it also included a special edition rhinestone encrusted bow around the top.  Not only is the bottle itself gorgeous, the perfume is beautiful too – it smells sweet and slightly fruit, with a slight hint of muskiness.  This was a gift from my parents and it’s essentially me in perfume form.

Foreo ISSA Toothbrush: D bought me this and before I opened it, he told me that it was a last-minute gift and I can return it and he didn’t know why he bought it?  I didn’t really know what to expect so I was pleasantly surprised when I opened it and discovered this toothbrush.  I had seen these in Sephora before and thought they looked cool but gawked at the price tag. Unfortunatley the reviews I’ve read on this aren’t that great…so I might return this.  I haven’t used it yet so that’s still an option.  Still deciding.

Rocky Mountain Soap Lavender Bath Salts, Vanilla & Ginger Bubble Bath (no longer available), Vanilla Mint Soap, Root Beer Lip Butter: I’m a HUGE bath person so I really enjoy receiving bath products.  I’ve used Rocky Mountain Soap’s products before so I’m familiar with several of these.  I’ve been using the Bubble Bath for a week now and I like it – it foams up nicely and it smells pleasantly of ginger ale (unfortunately it’s limited edition).  The Bath Salts are heavily lavender scented which I personally don’t mind – I like using these before bed.  The lip balm smells exactly like a glass of root beer which is right up my alley; I haven’t tried the soap yet but I’ve placed it near my bathtub and will soon.

Too Faced The Chocolate Bar Eye Palette:  My parents gave me this for my birthday which was fantastic because I’ve been coveting this for a while.  I’ve only had a chance to use it twice since I received it (due to my pink eye) but so far, I’ve been really impressed.  The shadows are very pigmented, super buttery and blend so easily.  And they smell amazing!  Full review to follow.

Bite Beauty Mauvember Luminous Creme Lipstick (no longer available online; not pictured): I can’t believe I forgot to include this in the picture above because I adore this lipstick!  The colour is gorgeous, the formula is beautiful (silky smooth) and it has convinced me that I need more Bite Beauty lip products in my life.  Although it’s no longer online, the last time I was in Sephora I still saw a few of these left near the checkouts so snatch this up if you can as it’s (sadly) limited edition!

Sephora Look Color in the Eye Brush Capsule: My mom included this in my stocking and I think this is a great gift for any beauty-lover.  This is perfect little set to throw in your travel bag or purse; plus they come in great colours.

Precious Moments Snowman Snow Globe: Despite having Rubbermaid bins on top of Rubbermaid bins of Christmas decor, one thing I did not have was a snow globe.  I’ve been looking for a nice one for a while, and my parents surprised me with this Precious Moments one for Christmas. Sometimes the figurines in snow globes can look kind of cheap so I like how carefully crafted this is.  It also plays music – the song being “Vivaldi’s Winter.”  Definitely one of my favourite Christmas gifts.

Kate Spade New York Cornelia Pave Bezel Watch: This was a birthday gift from D but I knew I was getting it.  I’ve been eyeing this watch for months and when we were in New York in the Fall it was on sale at Macy’s for a really good price.  So he bought it for me and stored it away for my birthday.  Honestly, I can’t stop staring at this when I wear it – it’s just so pretty and sparkly!  One thing I didn’t notice until today is that the back is engraved with “In a New York Minute” – if I didn’t associate this with our New York trip before, I most definitely will now.  ❤

Swarovski Megan Pendant: Another gift from D, this time for Christmas.  I wasn’t sure about this when I first opened it because it seemed a little large for my liking but I wore it on Christmas Day and received lots of compliments.  I think it’ll be a great special occasion necklace, which is something that I actually don’t have a lot of.

I also received gift cards to Sephora and the mall which are burning a hole in my pocket!  I really want to go blow them all this weekend but I’m trying to be more mindful of my purchases this year and make sure I’m buying things I REALLY want and love.  We’ll see how long that lasts.

What did you get for Christmas?  Let me know below!

Have a beautiful day!

Loves & Letdowns – October

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

LOVES

Freeman Charcoal & Black Sugar Polishing Mask – $4.99 CAD

Freeman’s Charcoal & Black Sugar Polishing Mask

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

Repurchase?: Yes

Cerave PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion – $14.99 CAD

Cerave’s Facial Moisturizing Lotion

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

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

Repurchase?: Yes

 

Original Beauty Blender – $28 CAD

The Original Beauty Blender

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

Repurchase?: Yes

LIKES

Milani Baked Blush – Bella Rosa

Milani’s Baked Blush in Bella Rosa

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

Milani’s Bella Rosa Baked Bush

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

Swatch of Bella Rosa

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

Repurchase?: Yes*

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

Living Proof Instant Texture Mist – $32.00 CAD

Sample size of Living Proof’s Instant Texture Mist

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

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

Repurchase?: Yes

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

L’oreal’s Voluminious Extra Volume Collagen Mascara

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

The full bristly brush

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

Repurchase?: Yes.  This is my third tube!

LETDOWNS

Fructus Full & Plush Shampoo – $4.98

Garnier Fructis Full & Plush Fortifying Shampoo

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

Repurchase?: Nope!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Repurchase?: Hell no!

Rimmel Lasting Finish 25 Hour Foundation – $9.99 CAD

Rimmel’s Lasting Finish Foundation

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

Repurchase?: Never!

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

Thanks for reading!