Review: Too Faced Love Flush Blush Wardrobe

Too Faced’s Love Flush Blush Wardrobe

Up until a couple of years ago, I was a one-blush kind of girl.  I never saw the need to have more than one blush on hand.  Since then, my blush collection has definitely grown, but I still didn’t really see the need for an entire palette of just blushes – it just kind of seemed like a waste to me.  I couldn’t see myself possibly liking or actually using that many blushes, so what was the point?

Enter Too Faced’s Love Flush Blush Wardrobe.  When this launched late last year, I thought it looked nice but didn’t really feel the need to run out and buy it.  But then I kept coming across bloggers and You-tubers raving about it.  So I took a closer look at it and it didn’t take long before I was convinced I needed it.  So I picked up my own at Sephora sale a few months ago and I’m so glad I did!  I gave a brief review on it in my Sephora Haul & First Impressions it but I’ve been loving it so much that I feel it warrants its very own review.

Too Faced’s Love Flush Blush Wardrobe

So, a little about this palette; it contains all 6 shades of their Love Flush Long-Lasting 16 hour blushes, sized at 0.07 oz each and retailing for $45 CAD (although Too Faced’s website is selling it for $50 CAD so buy it at Sephora).  For comparison’s sake, a full-sized (0.21 oz) blush retails for $32 CAD. So all in all, this is a pretty good value.

The packaging is made of a sturdy yet lightweight cardboard; I’m not a fan of cardboard packaging as I find it damages and stains easily and it doesn’t take long for it to look worn.  As a result I won’t be traveling with this, but I rarely travel with more than one blush anyway so for me it’s not a big deal.   Also included inside is a long, albeit decent-sized mirror.

Too Faced’s Love Flush Blush Wardrobe

The blushes are set out in a horizontal strip and contained in heart-shaped pans.  At first I wasn’t sure how it well this would work with a brush but I’ve had no issues.  I like using my e.l.f angled blush brush to apply these and it works really well.  If you prefer using a larger fluffier blush brush you might have an issue with it not picking up the product on all of your brush or picking up some of the neighbouring blush.

The blush shades included are:

Swatches of Too Faced’s Love Flush Blush Wardrobe

Love Hangover (described as a perfect warm pink)

Baby Love (described as a dusty nude with gold sparkle)

I Will Always Love You (described as a gilded peach)

How Deep is Your Love (described as a watermelon pink)

Your Love is King (described as a plumy rose)

Justify My Love (described as as a bright pink with gold sparkle)

I have to say, swatching these doesn’t really do them justice.  They aren’t the highest pigmented blushes I’ve tried but they are extremely buildable, and that’s exactly what I love about them.  I find I rarely use highly pigmented blushes because I’m on the paler side and they require me to use a very light and careful hand. With these I can get a nice wash of colour with one application and more intense application with a second.

Note that Baby Love and Justify My Love are described as having “sparkle’ in them but I don’t experience any sparkle or glitter when applied at all.  I’d describe the finish on all of them to be satin, with I Will Always Love You leaning towards a more shimmery, almost subtle highlight-type finish.  The formula on these is great – it’s soft and extremely bendable but not at all powdery.

The only caveat – they claim to provide 16 hours of wear time.  I have to dispute that because there’s no way that these last that long on me.  On average I’m getting about 6-8 hours of wear, depending on what foundation I’m wearing that day.  I feel like 16 hours is a LONG time though…does anyone really need their blush to last that long?  Regardless, I can’t say it lives up to that claim.

I love all the options it gives me and the fact that it’s expanded my blush horizons.  Baby Love and Your Love is King are not shades I would not normally reach for as I tend to stick with peach and pink tones.  I didn’t realize how versatile and flattering a neutral blush could be, nor did I think I could pull off a plum hue – turns out I was wrong!

If you’re interested in this palette, I’d recommend you pick it up sooner rather than later as it’s limited edition.  I’m not sure how much longer its slated to be around but I really don’t think you’d regret this purchase – I certainly don’t!

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!

Sephora Shopping List

It’s that time of the year again – another Sephora shopping event is here!  I’m a VIB Rouge so from what I understand I get to start shopping on the 7th, which is tomorrow.  However I still haven’t received an email from them notifying me of the sale.  And, okay, can I just vent a bit?  There really is nothing of any kind of significance that differentiates between being a VIB Rouge and a VIB.  Aside from the fact that as a VIB Rouge, I spend $650 more a year but basically get a few small perks that definitely don’t make spending that much more worth it.  In my mind, for events like these, Rouge should get 20% instead of 15%.  Or we should get more free samples or something.  SOMETHING!  I’m not sure I see myself striving towards Rouge status this year, although I don’t really tend to do that anyway, it just kind of happens.  But I think I might explore other options such as Shoppers Drug Mart where I can actually use my points to get free stuff.  Why isn’t Ulta in Canada?  Ugh.  /end rant.

Okay, now that I’ve got that out of the way, let’s move on to what I plan to purchase from this god-forsaken store.  I always love reading/seeing what everyone else is buying so hopefully you’re sharing your shopping list too:

1. Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm – $36 CAD: I’m out of an everyday face cleanser and I was going to buy this guy last year but I don’t remember why I didn’t, I think I purchased Sephora’s Green Tea Cleanser instead.  Regardless I’m definitely picking this up this time around, I’m excited to give a cleansing balm a whirl.
2. UD Gwen Stefani Lipstick (Firebird) – $21 CAD: Love this shade, I think it’s going to be perfect for spring and summer.
3. Tarte Rainforest After Dark Coloured Clay Eye & Cheek Palette – $48 CAD: If you read my first What Should I Buy post, you’ll know that this was one of many contenders in the Multi-Purposes palette line up.  I’m 95% sure this what I’m going with, unless something unexpected makes an appearance in-store.  I just love the colours in this and feel they’ll work really well with my skin tone.
4. Too Faced Loved Flush Blush Wardrobe – $45 CAD:  Not sure I really need a blush palette but this looks so pretty, plus I love Too Faced products.  I think I want to take a closer look at this in store before I commit to it though.
5. Sephora Kiss Me Balm (Soda Pop) – $8 CAD: I always eyed this up in the checkout area but aside from the scent, didn’t think it seemed all that great.  However, after reading Stash Matters review, I think I’m going to give it a try.  It helps that I love anything that smells like soda/cola/Coke/Pepsi.
6. Escada Aqua Del Sol – $25 CAD:  Mmmmm this is like summer in a bottle.  It’s warm and bright and fruity and perfect for warmer weather.  I’m going to try it out in the rollerball size if possible.
7. Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Volume Mascara – $33 CAD: This is on my list as a result of this post on Beautezine; I love me a good volumizing mascara and I’m not afraid of clumps!    I’m not usually one to buy non-drugstore mascaras, aside from Too Faced Better than Sex, but I think I’m going to give this a try to see how it compares.
8. Benefit CORALista Blush – $36 CAD:  This has also been on my list for a while, along with the Rockateur and I think I’m going to go with Coralista…I think?
9. Buxom Eyeshadow (No Faux, La La Lavish, Posh Purple) – $15 CAD: I’m loving my customized Buxom eyeshadow palette and I want to add some of their more unique shades to my collection.  I’ve been wanting No Faux forever but it’s always sold out – hoping I can snag it this time around.
10. Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask – $30 CAD I’ve been wanting to try this for years and I’m going to bite the bullet this time.  My lips have been feeling really dry lately so I’m hoping this will help.
11. Beauty Blender – $28 CAD:  I bought my first Beauty Blender a year ago and it took me a while to warm up to it but now I can’t live without one.  I’m trying out the Real Techniques and Quo versions and unfortunately I think the Beauty Blender is going to remain my favourite.  Post comparing the 3 coming soon!

What are you buying at the Sephora sale?  Let me know below!

Thanks for reading!

This & That Fridays – March 11

Ugh it’s been a week! TGIF!

Has anyone tried the IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream?  I’m thinking of giving it a try and it seems that people either absolutely love it out right hate it.  So torn.

Have you seen the sneak peaks of the new Too Faced Sweet Peach palette?  I want it for the packaging and peach scent alone.

Oh Marc Jacobs, you always suck me in with your beautifully designed purses.  At first I wasn’t sure about the canvas cross-body strap but I think I like it – it’s something a little different.  That colour is just amazing too.

I think we’re going to BBQ this weekend, the weather here has been unbelievable.  I saw Crocuses blooming yesterday!!! CROCUSES!! In March.  If I seem unreasonably excited about that it’s because flowers don’t usually bloom here until May.

I’m super annoyed because I thought the next Sephora VIB Sale was in March, turns out its not til April. I have so many things I want to buy but I don’t want to pay full price for them because I’m cheap.  Guess I’m sucking it up til April #firstworldproblems

DYK that Fossil offers personalized embossing on a selection of their leather goods?  What a cool gift idea!

Looking for a recipe for Homemade Cadbury Cream Eggs?  Here you go! (seems like too much work for me, I’ll just buy one from the store, eat half of it, and throw the other half away when it I realize I’ve forgotten how unbelievably sweet they are).

Have a great weekend!

What Should I Buy? Multi-Purpose Palettes

I’ve decided to start a new series on my blog called “What Should I Buy?”  I typically like to do some research before I make a purchase and I figured I can expand on that by doing up a post that describes what options I’m considering and hopefully gather some feedback from the blogging community.  One of my goals this year was to be more mindful of my purchases so this is going to help me in ensuring I’m buying things that are worth my hard-earned money!

So my first post in this series is going to be on multi-purpose palettes.  I’ve been wanting one for a while now and after traveling for work last week, I realized how much it would have come in handy.  I was in a bit of a rush when I was packing and it would had been really nice to be able to simplify my choices by having a palette that can cover several bases.

MY CRITERIA: A palette that includes eyeshadows, a blush, a bronzer and highlighter.  I’m willing to sacrifice not having a bronzer, a blush or highlighter (only one) if it means a better overall palette.   I would like a mix of neutrals and a few pops of colour; I’m cool-toned but I’m open to warm or cool toned palettes – although I tend to learn towards cooler tones.  I’m also looking for a mix of matte and shimmery shades, I don’t want just one or the other.

MY OPTIONS:

Tarte Showstopper Clay Palette – $48 CAD

Tarte has the most multi-purpose palette options by far, and this is one I’ve been eyeing for ages.   I keep looking at it but never seem to take the plunge and I’m not sure why?  This set includes 6 warm eyeshadows, a bronzer, highlight and blush.  The blush might be what is throwing me off –  I’ve swatched it a few times and its just so orange.

Pros: Contains all 4 products; good value.

Cons: Blush seems really orange; bronzer seems really dark; only one true matte eyeshadow shade.

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

I came across this palette when I was investigating the Showstopper palette;  I love plum shades so the eyeshadows speak to me more than the Showstopper palette does.  It also includes 8 shadows, a bronzer, blush and highlighter.  My only gripe is the snake on the front of the palette…I don’t like it.   I know it’s not real but I just wish it wasn’t there.

Pros: Contains all 4 products; 50/50 split of matte and shimmery shades; good value.

Cons: Snake on packaging.

Tarte Energy Noir Clay Palette – $46 CAD

Yet another Tarte option – this one a few dollars cheaper but includes 8 eyeshadows, a highlighter and a blush.  It’s missing the bronzer which is a bit of an annoyance – I can make do without highlighter but bronzer is kind of a necessity for my pale skin.  I find it’s a similar to the Rainforest After Dark palette given that the shades are more plumy.

Pros: Beautiful packaging.

Cons: No bronzer; reviews state matte shades are difficult to blend; unfavourable reviews overall.

Tarte Empower Flower Amazonian Clay Collector’s Palette – $43 CAD

My final Tarte option in the mix and one I don’t think I’ve seen this one in store. I love the pretty packaging but I also hate it because cardboard packaging damages easily when traveling.  This contains 8 eyeshadows, 2 blushes and a bronzer.  It excludes a highlighter but the bronzer is shimmery so it could potentially be skipped.

Pros: Great mix of eyeshadow shades; two blush shades.

Cons: No highlighter included; cardboard packaging; mixed reviews overall.

In the Balm of Your Hand Palette by The Balm – $52.25 CAD

I’ve only tried one product of The Balm’s and I wasn’t impressed (a sample-sized bronzer).  However I keep hearing great things about them so I’d definitely like to try more of their products.  I feel like this palette would be a great way to do so – given that it includes many of their best sellers – 4 eyeshadows, 3 blushes, a highlighter, a nude cheek/lip cream and a lip colour.  I love that it includes lip colours but if I’m being honest, I’ll rarely wear that shade.  Especially if I’m traveling!

Pros: 3 blush shades; love the bronzer and blush shades; cute packaging.

Cons: Not likely to use the lip colours; cardboard packaging; only includes 4 eyeshadows; eyeshadow shades are not my preference.

Balm Voyage Vol. 2 – $53.95 CAD

My second option from The Balm is this palette that contains 9 eyeshadow shades, two blushes, a bronzer, highlighter and two lip and cheek creams.  Again, The Balm has some of the cutest packaging around but cardboard is never my preference (although it is nice and light!).

Pros: Includes cream blush/ lip colours; good shade range on all products (more wearable than above).

Cons: Packaging (damages easily); no matte eyeshadow shades.

Smashbox #Shapematters Palette – $69 CAD

This Smashbox palette is one that I went back and forth on with regards to including it in here – but I love the look of it so I couldn’t bring myself to exclude it.  This palette is quite versatile in that it includes a brow wax, two brow powders, four face powders, nine eyeshadows and a brush.  However it excludes a blush and it’s quite large which doesn’t make it ideal for travel.

Pros: Includes a brush; includes a brow wax; versatile shades.

Cons: Large size; most expensive option; not a fan of brow powders; no blush.

NYX Butt Naked Eyes Makeup Palette – $27 CAD

I was happy to find a drugstore option to throw in here –  and when comparing the price and the quantity of product in this palette to the rest, it’s in its own field.  However the majority of the research I’ve done states that this is a palette for those that like “softer looks” – is that a big deal?  Not really, as I tend to do that anyway.  My concern is related to the quality aspect – the general consensus on this is that it is a good palette, but it doesn’t compare to some of the more popular, higher end palettes.

Pros: Price; quantity of product; variety of shades.

Cons: Quality of products; restricted to “softer looks”

The last option I’m considering is picking up a Z palette and creating my own customized travel palette.  That will involve a lot more research of a different kind and a lot more money, given that a large sized Z palette runs for $27 CAD and then I still have to find products to fill it with.  Buying a Z palette and filling it has been on my wish list for a while now but I’m not sure this is the time to do so.

THE VERDICT: I think I’m leaning most towards the Tarte Rainforest After Dark palette, mainly because it checks all the boxes.  If it weren’t for that damn snake, I’d probably have already purchased it.

If you own any of these palettes, I’d love to hear your feedback on them!  Or if I’ve missed any you think I should be considering, let me know too.

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: Foreo ISSA Mini Toothbrush

As I was opening my gifts on Christmas Day, I came across one from my husband and he warned me before I opened it:  “You’re probably going to wonder why I bought you this.  I don’t know why I did.  It’s a weird gift.  You can return it if you want to.  But I thought you could blog about it.”

I loved that he recognized how much I enjoy blogging and like having new products to blog about.  But I was also a little worried because in my head I’m like, WTF did he buy me?  I didn’t know what to expect, but needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised when I unwrapped a Foreo ISSA toothbrush!

I had seen the Foreo toothbrushes at Sephora before and I thought they seemed like a neat idea but it’s definitely not something I’d buy myself.  I inspected it a bit, thanked him for what – in my opinion, was actually a nice and thoughtful gift, and it got tossed under the tree along with the rest of our gifts.  In the meantime, I was sucked into the vortex that is Christmas morning breakfast, hosting Christmas dinner and Boxing Day Shopping.

A few days later, after reading some of the reviews on the Sephora website, I was more than a little skeptical that I should keep this ridiculously expensive device.  The reviews were mixed, with the majority leaning more towards the negative than the positive.  I then took a look at the actual toothbrush itself and realized how large the brush head was.  I knew immediately that wasn’t going to work for me.  I have a really small mouth so I can’t use large toothbrushes.  At this point I was convinced that I was just going to return the thing.

Fast forward through me being sick and home-ridden for 2 weeks and my horrendous fail trying to return this at Sephora.  Somewhere in the midst of all of the above, I decided that I wanted to exchange this for the ISSA Mini (aka kid’s version).

If you’re looking for the short and sweet review, here it is:  I LOVE it!  But if you want more details, keep reading.

Let’s look at the claims first:

• Brighten, polishes and whitens your smile
• Child-friendly, compact design that appeals to kids of all ages that prefer a smaller brush head
• Gentle, yet effective
• Protects the gums from over-brushing
• The natural properties of silicone and PBT polymer harbour less bacteria for more hygienic brush heads and overall better oral health
• Each charge lasts up to 200 uses
• Brush heads last up to 1 year
• Reaches every part of the mouth

And the features:

• Ergonomic design
• 3-D Flexible Brush Head
• Travel-friendly (USB Chargeable)
• 2 Year Limited Warranty & 10 Year Quality Guarantee
• Completely waterproof (can be used in the shower if desired – which grosses me out TBH)
• Electronic Timer
• Smile Helpers (more details below)

A bit about me and my teeth/mouth:  As mentioned, I have a very small mouth.  I also have VERY sensitive teeth as a result of having little to no enamel on my them.  If that’s not enough, I grind my teeth at night and as a result I’ve grinded away  some of my teeth on the bottom sections.  I have a custom mouth guard that I’m supposed to wear at night but I hate it and never wear it.  I also tend to over-brush my teeth (in terms of pressure, not time) which certainly doesn’t help the enamel situation. So as you can see, I don’t do myself any favours.

I’ve been using the ISSA for a little under 4 weeks and here’s what I like about it:

• It truly does reach every part of your mouth.  I’ve always struggled to get a toothbrush to reach the back and sides of my teeth.  I have no issues reaching this area with this – and as a result, my teeth feel way cleaner!
• It fits very comfortably in my hand.

• It definitely prevents over and under bushing – I find the silicone bristles exceptionally gentle on my teeth and gums, and…
•  I love the smile helpers!  Which I’m kind of embarrassed to admit – but they honestly do help.  Basically you see a happy face after you’ve brushed your teeth for 2 full minutes as shown below:

• If you stop brushing before the 2 minutes is up, you’ll see a happy and sad face:

• If you don’t brush for 12 hours or more, a sad face will appear. This thing honestly makes me feel guilty if I don’t spend the full two minutes brushing – and two minutes is a lot longer than I imagined!  So I’m fairly certain that I wasn’t brushing my teeth this long before.
• I also love the timers; there’s a pulse at each 30 second mark meant to prompt you to move on to another quadrant of your mouth. I know that I sometimes focus more on the the front of my teeth rather than the back, so these help me focus on each section of my teeth for an appropriate amount of time.  After the 2 minute mark, it pulses 3 times and then continues to operate up until the 3 minute mark after which it shuts off.
• Battery life.  Love the fact that it’s likely going to be a couple months before I have to charge this!
• They market this toothbrush to kids and I could see kids really liking and actually using this.  The smile helpers are great for ensuring they brush their teeth for the right amount of time and it makes brushing your teeth kind of fun (well as fun as it can be).  Despite the fact these are kid-friendly, they work really well for adults too!

In terms of drawbacks:

• The price.  I find these crazy expensive and I personally couldn’t justify keeping a toothbrush that cost over $200, which is why I swapped the original for a mini.  $139 still isn’t cheap but I feel better about it, despite the fact that this was a gift.
• I haven’t witnessed any evidence of my teeth being whiter or brighter.  I’ve only used this for a month so perhaps that will come with greater use.
• I’m not a scientist so I can’t speak to if these are actually more hygienic and harbour less bacteria.  I guess I’ll take their word for it.
• This is not a toothbrush for lazy toothbrushers.  I believe with electric toothbrushes you can just turn it on and move it around your mouth and it does the cleaning for you.  You still have to move this in a brushing motion in order for it to clean your teeth.  I suspect that’s part of the reason for the bad reviews – people aren’t using it properly!
• No instructions included.  There were very limited instructions included in the actual package; it refers you to their website and I still haven’t been able to find the manual for the mini toothbrush.  I found that frustrating.
• USB Charger.  I kind of don’t understand the point of a USB charger.  Why not just provide a regular plug-in charger (#technicallanguage)?  Now I have to steal a plug off one of my iPhone chargers when I want to charge this.  Not a huge deal, just annoying.

Overall though, I have to say I’m pleasantly surprised with this!  After using this for a straight month, I have no desire to go back to my regular old manual toothbrush.  I’m due for a dentist appointment within the next few months so it’ll be interesting to see if she notices any difference as a result of using this.

Note: The main differences between the regular ISSA and the mini ISSA is that the regular has 8 speeds (versus 1 on the Mini).  The regular ISSA also has a much larger brush head and does not have the smile helpers.

Do you have a Foreo toothbrush or have you tried one?  Let me know below.

As always, 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!

Product Letdowns of 2015

In the midst of the craziness that has been 2016 so far, I almost forgot to include a post on what products didn’t work for me in 2015.   I’ve done posts on my top beauty and non-beauty products of the year, so I feel its only fair to include my letdowns as well!

I must say that I sometimes enjoy reading about what products didn’t work for others more than hearing about those they love.  It’s always so interesting to hear why a product doesn’t work for someone, and I have way more trust for Bloggers/YouTubers who do so.  It drives me nuts when their reason for not discussing disappointing products is that because “it’s too negative.”  I mean, how often does a product work for absolutely everyone?  Almost never.  /end rant.

So in the spirit of “negativity”, here are the products that didn’t work for me or I just didn’t enjoy in 2015!  Note that I have very sensitive, acne-prone skin I’ve grouped these into 2 categories – those that caused breakouts and other.  I had reviewed about half of these products at some point last year, so I included a “Coles Notes Review” that lists the highlights of my review, as well as a link back to my original review/post if you want more detailed information.  The other half of products mentioned were ones that I forgot to do a review on, or ran out of time to do prior to the end of the year.

CAUSED BREAKOUTS

Kat Von D Lock it Foundation

I realized that I purchased this foundation back in the summer, used it for a week and then returned it and never mentioned a peep about in on my blog.  And I was really sad about it, because I think this is a fabulous full-cover foundation.  It covers REALLY well, was a great match to my skin tone and made my skin look almost flawless…until I started breaking out that is.  One of the ingredients in this is Isononyl Isononanoate and I suspect I’m allergic to it (given that it’s the common denominator in other products I’ve used that caused a similar reaction).

While this foundation provided fantastic coverage it also had a tendency to cake up really easily/quickly.  I found that using my Beauty Blender really aided in avoiding this. It is quite thick so I didn’t need more than one pump – a little goes a long way.  While I’m disappointed this didn’t work for me, if you don’t have sensitive skin and are looking for a full-coverage foundation, this could work for you!

Too Faced Born This Way Foundation

I purchased this at the VIB Rouge sale back in November and given the positive experiences I had with Too Faced Products this year, I was very excited to try this out.  I had heard/read mixed reviews on it but I wanted to see what it was like for myself.

Unfortunately this was a great big fail for me.  While it looked flawless right after I applied it, within a couple of hours my face was a greasy mess.  It didn’t matter if I set it with a powder, used a mattifying primer, or a setting spray – the result was the same.  On top of that, it also made me break out.  😦  I think if you have dry skin this could probably work wonders on you, but it wasn’t for me.

Rimmel Lasting Finish Foundation

Coles notes review – Separated on my face, highlighted dry patches, caused major breakouts.

More detailed review here.

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder Pressed Powder:

Coles notes review – Controlled oil well but caused major breakouts.

More detailed review here.

CeraVe Foaming Face Cleanser

This was on my July favourites because it was one of the few cleansers that I’ve tried that actually removed all my makeup (including eye makeup) AND it didn’t dry out my skin at all.  After just over a month of using it I realized it was the causing some small (but consistent) breakouts.  I stopped using it and it went away.  Sigh.

More detailed review here.

eos Lip Balm

Coles notes review: Caused some breakouts around my mouth…but I haven’t considered suing them for my reaction to it (haha!).

More detailed review here.

OTHER

Cover FX Custom Cover Drops

Coles notes review – Couldn’t get these to blend properly nor last on my skin.

Full review here.

Becca Ever-Matte Poreless Priming Perfector

Coles notes review – didn’t mattify, dries up really quickly and left a white residue behind.

More detailed review here.

Dr Brandt Pores No More Pore Refiner

This definitely made my pores smaller but left me oily by the end of the day.  Thankfully this is a sample size and I used points @ Sephora to get it.

Urban Decay Pore Perfecting Complexion Primer Potion

Coles notes review: Left me greasy and oily by the end of the day, and left a white cast on my skin.

Full review here.

Rimmel Brow This Way Brow Setting Gel

Coles notes review – This made my eyebrows orange, it had a horrible formula and the brush was way too big.

More detailed review here.

NYC Big Bold & Precise Felt Tip Eyeliner

This is one of those gimmicky eyeliners that has two different tips – one that’s supposed to be thin and precise and the other that’s thicker and dramatic.  I can’t get either side to work – it’s patchy and watery and smudgy.  And it doesn’t last very long.  Thankfully I only paid around $5 for this so I’m not too heartbroken.

Essence Super Fine Eyeliner Pen

For $2.99, I really can’t complain too much about this eyeliner pen.  It’s super black and has impressive lasting power BUT the tip is super thin and damages easily.  As a result it becomes too flexible and you can’t get a precise line with it.  So while this one didn’t work great, Essence’s Original Eyeliner Pen has all the benefits of this one but without the easily-damaged tip.

Fructus Full & Plush Fortifying Shampoo

Coles notes review – Actually had the opposite effect of volume on my fine hair.

More detailed review here.

COLAB Dry Shampoo

Coles notes review – did nothing to soak up greasy roots and doesn’t even compare to my beloved Batiste.

More detailed review here.

Kirkland Signature Daily Facial Towelettes (available in-store)

I discovered these @ Costco late last year and I think I paid $15 for a large box of them.  It seemed like such a deal and because I’m generally impressed with most things from Costco so I couldn’t resist giving these a try.  Sadly these are probably some of the worst face wipes I’ve ever used.  They are so heavily fragranced and they dried out my skin like crazy.  And now I’m stuck with multiple packs of them.  I may give some away and I’ll use the rest to clean off my makeup vanity and swatches.

Dove Original Dry Spray Antiperspirant

Coles notes review – not effective, heavily scented,

More detailed review here.

Even though this is a pretty extensive list, I still feel like I forgot a few. I was kind of disappointed with how many products didn’t work for me, especially those that made me break out.  I know I have sensitive skin, but it can pretty discouraging.   The good thing is it really makes me pay attention to ingredient lists!

What were your product letdowns for 2015?

Thanks for reading!

 

This & That Fridays – January 22

Finally, another week done!  I swear, January is the worst month of the year.  It’s cold, dreary and you’re broke from Christmas.  The good thing is there’s only one more week left in the month and then we’re on to February!

I had the WORST experience @ Sephora last weekend…and I’m holding a bit of a grudge.  It related to me returning the Foreo Toothbrush my husband bought me for Christmas.  When he bought it for me they had to pull a barcode off of their website because there was nothing on the box…and they used the barcode for a blue toothbrush instead of the purple one he bought me.  Fast forward to me trying to return it – there’s no barcode on the box AND the item on the receipt is a different colour than what I’m returning.  So I could understand why this looks suspicious.  However, the girl at the register made me feel like I had stolen something or was trying to scam them (I’ll spare you her exact comments).  After fighting with the sales clerk forever and receiving several suspicious looks from her, she finally agreed to return it.  Except I didn’t have the VISA used to pay for it on me.  So they wouldn’t return it and now I have to go back this weekend and likely go through this all again. I couldn’t believe how rude and accusatory the sales clerk was though – she totally ruined my day.  And it definitely made me question my loyalty to Sephora.

I wish we had Kohl’s here in Canada because I would love to shop Lauren Conrad’s new Minnie Mouse Fashion Line.  So cute and girly!

I think I might give Pioneer Woman’s Roasted Red Pepper Pasta a go this Sunday.  I’ve heard nothing but delicious reviews about it and it seems really simple!

I’m contemplating signing Maggie up for Paw Pack or a Bowzer Box – has anyone tried either?  I subscribed to a 6 month Bark Box subscription using a Groupon in the summer and it’s been kind of meh.  I’d like to try a Canadian one!

This Drake themed gift guide is hilarious and awesome.  Huge Drake fan here.  He’s my boyfriend, he just doesn’t know it yet.

I rediscovered NailPolish Canada thanks to StashMatters this week (#enabler)!  I had previously placed orders with them and was always very impressed with their service.   I had no idea they now carry cosmetics, including brands that can be difficult to find in stores here such as e.l.f., Real Techniques and The Balm.  I’m putting together a shopping list as we speak.

Wishing you a great weekend!