Samples Review!

Samples are great, aren’t they?  I love getting them because they are such a great way to try a product out before committing to the entire thing.  I get the majority of my product samples from Sephora through their Beauty Insider program. I can very rarely get out of there without leaving with some kind of sample and I absolutely love ordering online as you get 3 free samples with your order.  I’m going to stop saying sample now.

Anyway I thought I’d do some reviews of some I’ve tried out recently so let’s get started:

Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm (Woppin Watermellon) – $19.00 CAD

This was a really good-sized sample with an horrible name (really?).  This lasted me a good month or so of almost daily use and it gave my lips a sheer coat of pink that I really liked. I tried somewhat unsuccessfully to swatch this so you could see the colour – the top is one swipe and the bottom is two swipes.  Very sheer with just one swipe and it gets slightly darker with two or more swipes.

I’m partial to balms and glosses over lipsticks because my lips tend to dry out easily; I really liked how moisturizing this was.  I definitely see myself picking up a full size of one of these at some point although right now I have lots of lip products to get through before I allow myself to purchase anymore.

Boscia Tsubaki Cleansing Oil Gel – $35.00 CAD

Given my acne-prone, combination and sensitive skin, oil-based cleansers tend to scare me.  I was a little nervous to try this out but I was pleasantly surprised.  I was expecting it to be a thin, oily consistency but it was actually more of a gel, which I’m a fan of. Apparently I can’t read because it says gel in the title?

I loved how soft and smooth my skin felt after using this and that it didn’t cause any breakouts or irritation so overall I was impressed with this!  I’ve got a bunch of cleansers I’m trying to make my way through but this will definitely be added to my Sephora cleanser wish list for sure.

Philosophy Miracle Worker Anti-Aging Moisturizer – $74.00 CAD

Wowsers, I had no clue how pricey this moisturizer was until I looked it up on Sephora to do this review!  So I’m not too disappointed that I didn’t like it!  This felt nice and light when I applied it but it left my skin feeling greasy and tacky immediately afterwards.  I also found that it didn’t want to absorb into my skin so I only ever used it at night.  I’ve never been super impressed with anything from Philosophy and this is just another reason why.  Most definitely would not purchase a full size of this one!

Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber Gel Mask – $56.00 CAD

I didn’t expect to like this given that it has cucumber in it and I am not a fan of anything cucumber-scented.  Luckily it doesn’t smell like cucumber at all in my opinion – it’s a lightly scented and more fresh and clean smelling.  I am a fan of a few PTR products but there have been some that just haven’t worked for me.  Fortunately this wasn’t one of them!  This gel mask claims to be “…a refreshing, cooling, moisturizing, and calming gel that helps soothe dry, irritated skin.”  In addition to cucumber, it includes extracts of papaya, sugar cane and aloe and can be used after facials, sun exposure, waxing, etc.  I haven’t used it after any of those kind of situations or events but ironically I did use it after I overused another PTR product that completely dried out my skin.  I did find it helped with that situation quite a bit – it was soothing, cooling and I really felt like it infused some moisture back into my skin.  I didn’t use this on a regular basis, just during times where I felt my skin needed some extra moisture and care.  I liked this but I’m not sure if I would re-purchase it.  It’s pretty pricey and it worked well but it didn’t wow me.

Dior Show Iconic Overcurl Mascara – $35.00 CAD

I’m pretty picky about my mascara and because I’ve heard nothing but good things about the original Dior Show mascara, I knew had to give this a try.  Overall I was pretty underwhelmed – I feel like I’ve used drugstore mascaras that are just as good as this one.  I really didn’t like the curved brush but I’m not a fan of curved brushes to begin with (I realized how bad of a picture I took of the brush after I uploaded this #blondemoment)  This is supposed to create curl and volume with no clumping or smudging.  I naturally have fairly long lashes but it doesn’t matter what mascara I use, I have to curl them otherwise they look spidery.  This one was no exception.  It delivered on volume but it did still clump and I found it did smudge a bit by the end of the day.  For $35 I just expect more so I wouldn’t repurchase the full size of this.

Make Up For Ever Smoky Extravagant Mascara – $28.00 CAD

Okay this mascara blew me away and I NEVER say that about higher end mascaras.  First off, I LOVED the brush. The cone shape is like nothing I’ve ever used and it made it so easy to apply. Typically I love full bristle brushes for mascara and this one offered the best of both worlds with the fullness at the top and its tapered tip, which made it easy to get the tiny lashes in corners and edges of my eyes. I really felt like it defined and extended each lash with minimal clumping.  It did flake off a bit by the end of the day but I’ve failed to find a mascara that didn’t.   As much as I hate the price of this I would seriously consider purchasing the full size of this!

Ole Henrikson Truth Serum Vitamin C Collagen Booster – $60.00 CAD

Vitamin C skin care seems to be all the rage these days so when I saw this as a points option @ Sephora I swiped it right up.  I’ve never actually used a serum before and after trying this I can see that I’m really missing out.  I’ve been using this at night after cleansing and the first time I used it I fully expected my face to be a greasy mess after applying it. I was amazed how it just sunk right into my skin but apparently that’s exactly what serums are supposed to do! The claims on this one are substantial including brightening, minimizing lines, damage repair, increased collagen production and more.  I definitely feel it brightens my skin but I can’t speak to the other claims.  This was a small sample of this though, I’m assuming you need to use it longer than a week or two to see full results.  Would I buy a full size of this?  I’m kind of on the fence.  I like it but it’s pricey and it’s the first serum I’ve tried.  I’d like to try some other serums to compare first.

Aveda Dry Remedy Daily Moisturizing Oil  $34.50 CAD

I received this mini sample from my hairdresser a while back; when I got it I wondered if it was even worth using given how tiny it was.  After using it once I realized a little goes a long way.  I’d use two drops distributed through the ends of my hair prior to using my curling iron to smooth the ends and to act as a bit of a heat protectant. I found it did make my ends a little smoother and less frizzy/fried looking.  However, because I have fine hair I really have to be careful with oils – if they get anywhere near my roots they turn instantly greasy.  Ironically right now I’m using an oil-infused shampoo so I feel like using this on top of that would be a bit too much for my hair. Overall I liked this but didn’t love it and because it’s so pricey I’m going to pass on buying the full size of this.

And that’s all folks!  Hope you enjoyed my samples review!

Have a beautiful day!

Weekend Purchases!

I hit up the mall this past weekend without any kind of goal in mind, which is always somewhat dangerous.  Here’s what I found:

ONE: Express Black Cami Sundress ($41.93 CAD – SALE!)

The minute I tried this on I knew I had to have it – it’s the perfect sundress for summer!  Unfortunately the pic above really doesn’t do it justice and it was basically impossible for me to get a good picture of it myself.  Anyway, empire waist dresses can be tricky on me – sometimes they make me look pregnant (#nope).  This one is cut perfectly so doesn’t flare out too much at the waist. I also love the length because it’s not too short and not too long.  I feel like it’s versatile too – dressy with a cute cardigan and heels or casual with a denim jacket and wedge sandals. It’s super comfy, the only issue being is that I’d need to wear a strapless bra with it, which is a slight annoyance.

This comes in a wide range of colours and I really wanted it in this blue floral print but they didn’t have my size; they do have it online though so I might just order it.  They have some really nice lighter colours too but I didn’t like how sheer the material was.  I suppose you could wear some kind of slip underneath but that seems like too much work for me so I’ll just stick with the darker versions.

TWO: Splendid Bandeau Top & Tunnel Side Tie Bottoms ($44.40 & 33.60 CAD – SALE!)

Ugh bathing suit shopping.  #torture You may remember this post a month or so I did on bathing suit inspiration.  Shortly after I went into H&M and grabbed a bunch of their suits to try on.  They looked great online, they looked decent in store but they were horrible on.  They were nowhere near close being true to size (even though I picked up some tops that were sized according to bra sizes), the materials were thin and I felt like they could potentially disintegrate after one use.  I’m not sure what I was really expecting coming from H&M but they were a huge disappointment and I walked out with empty hands.

I also gave Victoria’s Secret a try again, despite not really loving anything in their swim line this year.  As mentioned they have lots of slinky, skimpy suits this year which is fine if you like that kind of thing but they were really not for me.  I didn’t have any luck there either and I was feeling pretty discouraged.

Until this weekend when I went into the Bay and was actually kind of surprised at the variety of swimwear they carry.  I picked out a few options from Oakley, Jessica Simpson, BCBG and was about to head into the fitting room when I noticed this suit on a rack:

What drew me to it was the adorable corset-like back.  I’m also a fan of stripes so I added it to my haul and headed to try them all on.  I made my way through my choices which were all pretty disappointing and then I got to this one and I loved it immediately!  Both the bottom and top fit perfectly which I was really surprised at – I’m usually not a fan of side tie bottoms nor bandeau tops as I rarely get them to fit properly.  This comes with a removable neck strap so that’s nice to have that as an option if I so choose.  The material is nice and thick and it feels really well made.  Because it fits so well I actually feel pretty confident in this suit and I’m looking forward to wearing it!

Links to where its sold on the Hudson Bay’s website: Top & Bottoms

THREE: OGX Kukui Oil Shampoo ($9.99 CAD)Lately I’ve been really frustrated with my hair – if its raining, there’s a chance of rain or if there’s even a bit of humidity in the air my hair just falls flat and frizzes right up.  So I thought I’d try a new shampoo specifically meant for frizz as I was running low on my regular shampoo. I came across this and thought I’d give it a try.  I’ll do a full review on this once I’ve had a chance to fully vet it.   FYI the entire OGX line is on sale for $6.99 @ Shoppers the week.

FOUR & FIVE: The Body Shop Almond Nail & Cuticle Oil – $12.00 CAD / Almond Hand & Nail Cream – $10.00 CAD

This really isn’t a purchase I made on my own per-say but my mom picked up for me (thanks Mom!).  I’m in LOVE with this almond cuticle nail oil from the Body Shop!  I keep one at my desk at work and apply it while I’m on the phone or when I have a few spare minutes and it keeps my cuticles moisturized and my nails smooth and shiny. I love the brush applicator as its such a simple and mess free way to apply it!  I’m going to keep this one on my nightstand so I can apply this before I go to bed.

I also received a tube of the Almond hand cream which so far I am also loving.  This is light and creamy but super moisturizing and non-greasy.  It also absorbs quickly which for me, is important in a hand cream. I really like the scent too – it’s fresh and not overpowering.   I’ve only used this a couple of times but so far I’m feeling like this is going to be topping my list of favourite hand creams!ntil next time!

 

Loves and Letdowns – May

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

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

Enough about goats, on to the topic at hand:

LOVES:

NYX Butter Gloss – Tiramisu ($7.99 CAD)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Original Beauty Blender ($26.00 CAD)

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

LETDOWNS:

Essence I Love the Stage Eyeshadow Base – $3.99 CAD

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

Urban Decay Pore Perfecting Complexion Primer Potion – $37.00 CAD

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

NYX Wonder Pencil (Light) – $5.99

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

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

Kate Spade Love

Please see links to items below via Nordstrom

On of my favorite designer brands would have to be Kate Spade.  She’s all about bows, polka dots, stripes, color and sparkle and everything is just so girly yet still classy and tasteful.

Despite how much I love this brand I was dismayed to discover that I only own one Kate Spade item. #What?  Obviously that needs to change stat.  I’ve been on the hunt for a new handbag for a few months and I have seriously been considering a few Kate Spade options.

Anyway I thought I’d put together a bit of a list of a few of the things that I’m currently coveting:

First off, this Glitter iPhone case:

I currently own this case; the difference being I purchased it at Winners for $14.99. I have a iPhone 5, not a 6 so that explains the difference in price.  Despite that I’d probably pay full price for this case because I LOVE it.  It’s lightweight, sleek and adds a touch of sparkle to my day.

Corneila Crystal Bezel Leather Strap Watch

I can barely put into words how much I want this watch.  I came across it online and then actually saw it in person at my local Hudson’s Bay store and it took everything in me to walk away from it.  I’m not a watch person at all but for this I would become one!  The white leather strap makes me a little nervous and I believe it comes in a pale pink version as well but I absolutely love how the coloured crystals around the face pop against the white.

Bird’s the Word Flamingo Stud Earrings

I don’t have pierced ears but if I did, these would be on my ears.  Flamingos seem to be in for spring/summer, I’ve seen them a few places and I just think they are so fun!  Love the details on these including the crystals representing the feathers.

Livia 2 Sunglasses

I feel like its crazy to spend $215 on a pair of sunglasses. And it probably is.  Not probably, it just is.  I rarely buy expensive sunglasses because I lose them all the time, throw them in my purse without a case, drop them on cement, etc.  So within a month of use (assuming I still have them) they’re usually scratched to hell with the arms hanging on by a prayer.  But these have a BOW on them.  I’m certain I would take much better care of these.

Licorice Too Pump

Sparkly pink pumps.  No further explanation needed.

Cedar Street – Maise Satchel

This is one handbag I’ve been eyeing for months.  It’s a perfect size – not too big and not too small – and it offers a wrist strap and an adjustable cross body strap.  I also like that it has a zipper – I prefer having security for things like my keys and wallet.  This colour (Fresh Air) is gorgeous and perfect for spring/summer but I’m also eyeing the Guava (coral) and the old boring black.  I love light coloured purses but I’ve had some bad experiences with the dye from my jeans rubbing off on them and basically ruining them so I’m a little cautious.

I could have added about 498 more things to my list but I’ll stop here.  Kate Spade is a high end brand with high end prices so as much as I love all.the.things I don’t have an unlimited bank account.  Right now I’m in need of a new purse so that is a high possibility.  I also can’t stop thinking about that watch, I’m a little obsessed.  Might have to do something about that!

Have a great week!
 

I won, I won! Shiseido Ultimune Eye On Beauty Set

A few weeks ago I got some news that truly just made my day…I won something!  I can’t remember the last time I actually won anything and to be honest, I’m kinda stumped how it happened but I definitely won’t complain.  I was so excited when I found out, my husband told me he hadn’t seen that big of a smile on my face for a while.  Which was a little embarrassing, because that seems kind of shallow….but whatever.  I guess I’m shallow!  It was a nice surprise!

How I won:  I’m on Twitter (@classic_maggie – follow me!) and I follow Dave Lackie (@davelackie), who is the Editor of BEAUTY the guide  as well as a beauty expert on a Canadian daytime show called Cityline.  He is always giving away free beauty products on his Twitter and Instagram Accounts (davelackie) and most of the time all you have to do is follow him and re-tweet his tweets to enter and win.  I retweeted his tweet a few hours before this particular contest expired and I won!  That was obviously just pure luck as I’m pretty sure most of his followers don’t tend to win that quickly (I’ve only been following him for a month or so), but I guess someone has to win, right?

What I won:  Dave was giving away a Shiseido Ultimune Eye on Beauty Set which included:

Studio Oh! Guilded Journal (totally using this to jot down blog ideas!)

Perfect Mascara Defining Volume in BK 901 (Black)

Smoothing Eyeliner Pencil in BK 901 (Black)

Lacquer Rouge in VI418 (Intense fuscia)

Luminizing Satin Eye Color Trio in GY901 (Blue tones)

Ultimune Eye Power Infusing Eye Concentrate (can’t find this online)

Instant Eye and Lip Makeup Remover

I’m super excited to give these all a try, even the ones that are out slightly out of my comfort zone (the blue eye shadow palette and the super bright lip gloss)!  I don’t think I’ve ever tried any Shiseido products so I’m anxious to see how they stack up, especially given that they are a higher-end brand, with the price tags to match.  I’ll be doing a full review of all of these in a  couple weeks so keep an eye out for that!

In the meantime, I highly recommend you go give Dave a follow on Twitter and/or Instagram because who knows, you yourself could be a winner too!  (Disclaimer: I don’t get anything for suggesting you to do this, nor was I asked to – it’s just a super easy way to win free beauty products!  Plus I’m super grateful and thankful for my prize and I wanted to share the wealth!)

Good luck!

Review: Sephora Triple Action Cleansing Water

I’ve been using this makeup remover for a while now and I love it.  No matter what else I try, I always go back to it and wonder why I even bothered trying something new.

Every night before I go to bed I use this to remove my eye makeup.  I’m sure I should be able to remove all of my makeup with whatever cleanser I’m using but that hasn’t happened yet but I’m okay with it.  I’m not sure a cleanser could actually ever get all my eye makeup off.  I wear waterproof liquid eyeliner and several thick coats of (non-waterproof) mascara daily so it’s not simple to remove.

This makes it easier.  I can usually get all my makeup off by using two cotton pads soaked in it.  It’s really gentle and not greasy at all.  I actually feel like it hydrates the skin around my eyes too.

I also use it to fix any makeup mistakes I tend to make in the morning.  I wear liquid eyeliner but I’m honestly horrible at applying it so I’m always touching it up.  I also always end up getting mascara on my eyelids or below my eyes.  A q-tip dipped in this cleans everything up really quickly and easily.

And lastly, I love this stuff because sometimes I’m lazy and do not feel like going through a 12 step cleansing routine every night.  I may be exaggerating a bit there but ugh sometimes I’m tired and I just want to go to bed but not necessarily with a full face of makeup on. #lazy  So I use this and I’m in bed in 3 minutes instead of 15.  I don’t like to make a habit of it but for that occasional lazy night, it works great.

Find it: Sephora (in store or online)

Cost: $25.00 CAD for 13.5 oz; $15.00 CAD for 5 oz.

Have a great weekend!