• First Impressions with Coastal Scents Winterberry Palette & Shadow Pots

    Hi Everyone!

    Today, I’m reviewing the Coastal Scents Winterberry Palette and a few Shadow Pots that I purchased. I previously received the Coastal Scents Revealed 3 Eyeshadow Palette in a TopBox so I knew that the shadows were pretty good (for a beginner). In the Revealed 3 Palette, some shadows were better than others which is also the case for the Winterberry Palette and Shadow Pots that I purchased. The 5 shadow pots I purchased looked beautiful in the pan, but when I swatched them (without primer), they were a bit disappointing. When you swatch them with primer and/or wet your brush to apply, the pigment improves, but it takes some time until you get the shade you want. This wasn’t the case for the Winterberry shades, most of them were beautiful even without primer or having to wet the brush.

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    For the shadow pots, I purchased greens, teals and blues. I wanted to get some fun colours, but ones that I’d actually wear. Reds, oranges and yellows wouldn’t go well with my skin tone, I think I would just look ill.

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    Clockwise from top left: Fresh Chive | Electric Blue | Jewel Teal | Indigo Dream

    Teal Green is not pictured because it broke a bit during the shipping process, so I fixed it with some alcohol, but it didn’t look very presentable.

    Below are swatches without primer (using my fingers to swatch).

    Originally, I wanted to get the empty palette with a mirror that fits 12 shadows for $5.95, but I thought, “For $4 more, I could get 12 eyeshadows that are all really pretty purple/wintery shades.” So I chose the Winterberry palette instead of the Think Pink one because how often will I use pink eyeshadows. Once you finish the shadows, you can replace them with other 26mm pans. The palette itself contains built-in magnets and gives you easy access at the upper-right corner of each pan to take out the pans (I can easily use my finger to take out the pans).

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    Top Row: Light Pink | Silver Lilac | Light Plum | White Silver

    Middle Row: Mauve Frost | Amethyst | Steel Grey | Thulian Pink

    Bottom Row: Tyrian Purple | Lavender | Raisin Berry | Regalia Purple

    After trying the single shadow pots first, I wasn’t sure how I would feel about the ones in this palette. But the Winterberry shades are much creamier and a lot more pigmented than the singles ones I purchased. For the greens/teals/blues, I had to dip my finger back into the pot a few times just to get the swatch that colour. For the Winterberry ones, I just had to do it once or twice (just to get it to cover the length of the swatch). Out of the 12 shades, 3 of them aren’t as pigmented and metallic looking as the rest. For $9.95, I think it’s a really good palette, the shades are gorgeous and the swatches are what the shades look like without primer. The 9 other shades feel super creamy and are very pigmented. The shades that I probably wouldn’t purchase individually are: Light Pink, Light Plum, Tyrian Purple and Regalia Purple (which is a shame because all of them, especially Regalia Purple are beautiful in the pan).

    RATING: 4/5 for the Winterberry Palette

    RATING: 3.5/5 for the Shadow Pots

    The Winterberry Palette gets 4/5 because the majority of the shades are beautiful and pigmented, the others just need a bit of help by wetting your brush. The Shadow Pots get 3.5/5 because they are pretty, but it takes some time to get the colour you see in the pan. Definitely use a shadow primer and wet your brush! For the price right now though (even when it’s regular priced), they’re amazing for beginners or if you just want to get some funky colours!

    For my fellow Canadians, shipping is not free for us, but luckily there’s NO extra fees (COD) after you’ve paid at checkout.

    What are your fave shades from Coastal Scents?

    Love,

  • Haul | November 2017 Sephora VIB

    Hi Everyone!

    I just received my little haul from Sephora. I went crazy buying things at the MAC/Estée Lauder Warehouse Sale in September, I didn’t buy too many things from the sale. I just couldn’t resist buying something…20% off was too good to pass up. I bought the Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler, the Sephora Mighty Minis Brush & Sponge set, and the Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Flawless Wear Concealer for my mom.

    • Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler (comes with a replacement pad)
    • Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Flawless Wear Concealer in Warm Light Medium
    • Sephora Mighty Minis Brush & Sponge set
      • Total Coverage Sponge
      • Classic Mini Multitasker Brush #45.5
      • Solid Clean: Solid Brush Cleaner

    I chose foundation and concealer samples for my three free ones:

    • Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer in 9 Neutral
    • Hourglass Immaculate® Liquid Powder Foundation Mattifying Oil Free in Shell (light, neutral undertone)
    • Benefit Boi-ing Industrial Strength Concealer in No.2 (light medium)

    I also received the Sephora PRO Flawless Airbrush #56 (mini) as a VIB Rouge Welcome Gift.

    What did you purchase from the Sephora VIB sale?

    Love,

    jen

  • Review | Wet N Wild MegaGlo Highlighting Powder

    Hi Everyone!

    I’m fairly new to using highlighter, I’m still working on the technique to apply it.  I love how it gives you a dewy look and your makeup can go from day to night with a pop of highlight. With my skin tone, it’s suggested that I use a champagne/pearlescent highlighter. I got a sample of the Urban Decay After Glow 8-Hour Highlighter in Sin which is a champagne shade and it’s beautiful. I also got the Limited Edition Mac x Star Trek Luna Luster Trip the Light Fantastic Powder when I went to the MAC sale → click here to see what I got from the sale. It was described as a ‘sheer wash of soft rose shimmer.’ The flower design on this highlighter is so pretty, I almost don’t want to ruin it.

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    I don’t know if it’s just Rexall that’s getting rid of Wet N Wild from their stores (I can’t remember if Shoppers Drug Mart had the brand), but they only had a small section full of clearance items and there was barely anything left. I was able to snag the last one of the MegaGlo Highlighting Powder in Precious Petals. When I was looking up the shades I wanted Blossom Glow or Botanic Dream because they looked light enough to suit my skin tone. Even though it looks quite light in the pictures, Precious Petals is a peachy gold and it’s a bit too peachy for me. Despite being the wrong shade, it’s absolutely beautiful and I get why it was rated #1 this year. It’s smooth and velvety and not at all chalky. It’s a drug store brand so you can get multiple ones (if you can find them) for the price of a high end one. I bought a few other highlighters so after I review those, I’ll swatch all the ones I have to compare them.

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    This swatch does not do the highlighter justice.

    RATING: 5/5

    This highlighter is amazing. I can’t believe it was less than $10!

    What are your fave highlighters?

    Love,

    jen

  • mac lip pencil

    September/October 2017 Faves

    Hi Everyone!

    I’m starting a new blog series for my monthly beauty favourites. Check out September and October’s faves!

    media-20171103.jpgMaybelline Fit Me Concealer

    This is a great concealer! I just wish they had more shade selections (I have 10 Light and 25 Medium). One of my faves from the drugstore!

    23.jpgMilani products- see my haul and swatches. I’m in love with all of these products. I especially love the lipstick. I have the shade 26 Nude Crème for the lipstick and 02 Light for the concealer.

    media-201711033 Kate Somerville EradiKate Acne Treatment

    This has become a fave acne treatment. It’s great for drying out those big, pesky pimples that hurt. Sometimes it takes a few applications over a few days to get them to shrink down. You don’t want to use it too much in the same place since it’s so strong and very drying on your skin. I still have yet to try the similar Mario Badescu drying lotion which I’ve heard works really well too. I also bought one from The Face Shop, and plan to do a dupe it out since it’s a lot cheaper than the eradiKate.

    20170911_025516Pink Perfection kit from Estee Lauder (no longer sold in stores)

    I’m loving this kit. The eyeshadows are velvety smooth and pigmented and the Pure Color Envy lipstick is so creamy and comfortable.

    20170911_031542MAC Patentpolish Lip Pencil in Kittenish

    Sometimes I don’t want a super pigmented lip product like lipstick and a balm doesn’t always have colour. The patentpolish is like a hybrid of a balm and a lipstick. Kittenish is a mauvey pink shade…wish I bought more of these at the Mac Warehouse sale (I’ll have to get more next time).

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    Lancome Miracle Cushion Foundation in 025 Beige Naturel

    If it’s not obvious from my #motd posts, I love this cushion foundation. It gives you a natural finish and unlike some liquid foundations, it doesn’t look cakey or make my nose look dry. My nose area tends to be dry and foundation can make it look patchy but this cushion foundation doesn’t do that. Originally, my mom bought it for herself but she didn’t like the feel of liquid foundations even though this is a very sheer formula. She gave this to me since we’re the same shade and she opted for the Sephora MicroSmooth Baked Foundation Face Powder (25 Beige).

    media-20171103343434Lush Cup O’Coffee Face and Body Mask

    I am loving this mask. It deeply cleanses pores and buffs dryness to reinvigorate your skin. It’s vegan so it does expire a little faster than a non-vegan one. My face feels super smooth after using this and the coffee grounds aren’t abrasive. Although I don’t drink coffee, I love the smell of it and it makes me feel refreshed and awake after using it. I haven’t used it on my body yet, but I imagine it would have the same effect.

    media-201711034343Buxom Lash Mascara

    This is a deluxe sample (the full-sized one has a silver top). I don’t usually love silicone wands but this keeps my lashes clump-free and my lashes still feel soft after using this. If only the price tag weren’t so high (I usually stick to drug store mascaras since their shelf life isn’t very long). I definitely need to find a dupe for this mascara.

    media-2017110352Garnier’s All-in-1 Cleansing Micellar Water

    This removes waterproof makeup and doesn’t leave my eyes feeling sticky like some eye makeup removers I’ve used. Even though it says you don’t need to rinse, I like to wash my face after using it because it has a slightly greasy feeling (even though there’s no oil in it) after using it. I’ve tried the pink one (not for waterproof makeup) and you don’t have to shake it before using.

    media-23.jpgStep 1 Skin Equalizer Primers from Make Up For Ever

    These are some of my faves. I love these three: Smoothing, Redness Correcting and Hydrating. Sometimes I use them for different parts of my face. When I have some redness around my nose and chin, then the smoothing primer on areas where my pores are more visible and then hydrating everywhere else. I’m not usually one to like scented skincare products, but I love the light scent of these.

    UPDATE: I have recently added the Nourishing primer to my collection and it’s better than the hydrating one.

    What were your faves from September and October?

    Love,

    jen