Beauty Archives – Page 23 of 25

This or That | Smashbox Photo Finish Color Correcting Foundation Primer vs. Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizer Primer (Redness Correcting)

December 18, 2017

Hi Everyone!

Today, I’m comparing two high end colour correcting primers: Smashbox Photo Finish Color Correcting Foundation Primer- Adjust and Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizer Primer- Redness Correcting Primer.

I own the travel-sized Smashbox primer, but used the 1 oz price to compare it to the Make Up For Ever primer.

Smashbox Photo Finish Color Correcting Foundation Primer- Adjust

Look less red! This green-toned primer color-corrects redness, blurs pores, evens skin tone & reduces the appearance of fine lines.

Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizer Primer- Redness Correcting Primer

REDNESS CORRECTING PRIMER instantly neutralizes and evens out red tones for flawless foundation coverage. Green Spectraflex® pigments color correct redness and boost radiance while moisturizing agents provide hydration. Skin tone is evened out for a flawless makeup all day long.

The Smashbox primer didn’t reduce any redness, when you blend it into your skin. It’s like they added a green tint to their silicone photo finish primer that blurs pores. The green sort of just moves around and doesn’t blend in as well.

The Make Up For Ever primer has the consistency of a moisturizer/serum and when you blend it into your skin, it actually neutralizes redness. Although if you constantly have to cover up redness, I suggest investing in a colour correcting concealer instead of a primer.

WINNER: Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizer Primer- Redness Correcting Primer

If you’re looking at which primer actually conceals redness, Make Up For Ever is the winner. If you prefer Smashbox Primers, I would just buy the Photo Finish one and then use a colour correcting concealer on top of it because when I was blending the swatches on my hand, I was just moving green chunks around on my hand.

I get red on and around my nose and chin, and sometimes the Make Up For Ever primer doesn’t cover it. I think if you get very mild redness, then the primer is okay, but if you constantly need to cover up redness, I think it’s best to invest in a colour correcting concealer and just get a regular face primer. I absolutely love the two other Step 1 Skin Equalizer Primers that I’ve tried: smoothing (For Large Pores & Fine Lines) and hydrating (Universal formula for normal skin with occasional dryness). They have a light scent to them, like a nice perfume. Make Up For Ever has four natural finish primers: hydrating, redness correcting, nourishing and smoothing. They also sell a mattifying one and radiant finish colour correcting primers (blue, pink, yellow, peach, caramel and mauve).

Some recommendations for a colour correcting concealer: Urban Decay’s Naked Skin Color Correcting Fluid and the NYX HD Photogenic Concealer Wand- Green. The Urban Decay and NYX ones are similar, the NYX one is a dupe for the Urban Decay one in terms of the type of product, but the shades of green are very different and the NYX one is thicker. Even from my swatches below, you can see that the NYX one has absorbed into my skin a bit and the Urban Decay one is more liquid.

NYX HD Photogenic Concealer Wand- Green

Urban Decay’s Naked Skin Color Correcting Fluid

What are your fave colour correcting products?

Love,

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Best of 2017 | 14 Day Beauty Challenge

December 14, 2017

Hi Everyone!

I was tagged on Instagram by the lovely, @rubiredlipstick to join her and @crystalsmakeup for their Best of 2017 Challenge. #challengesbyjandc

Sometimes my IG posts aren’t daily and it’s too much commitment to do 30 day challenges, but I decided to join them for this one since it’s a two week one and the list of items to feature are fairly easy for me to come up with. I do have trouble choosing favourites so there may be multiple items for each day. Here’s the list of products to do each day, I know two days have past already, but join us for the remainder of the challenge!

So, let’s get started, I’ve already posted a few days and will update this post until the last day of the challenge.

Day 1 • Primers // I chose four primers because they all do different things. Make Up For Ever Step 1 Equalizer Primers smell amazing and I love the hydrating and smoothing ones. I also chose Smashbox’s Photo Finish Hydrating Under Eye Primer and Essence’s I 🖤 Colour Intensifying Eyeshadow Base. The Smashbox helps brighten under eyes and the Essence makes my shadow colours even more vibrant and it’s less than $6.

Day 2 • Foundation // I did a feature friday on this, but I love this Lancome foundation. For days when I need more coverage than a BB cream, but don’t want a full coverage foundation, I use the Lancôme Miracle Cushion Foundation in 025 Beige Naturel. It’s a buildable coverage and doesn’t feel like I’m wearing makeup. It doesn’t get cakey either because it’s so light.

Day 3 • Setting Powder/Spray // I just tried out the Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray. I was using a cream shadow and usually after a few hours it’s creased or smudged, but it held up for the day and the rest of my makeup still looked intact. Some parts were a bit smudged, but it was just because I was a bit tired and touched my face. As a setting powder, I’ve actually been using Cake Beauty’s Everything Powder and the powder is so fine that it sets my liquid foundation and concealer without settling in the lines. I am still a bit inexperienced with setting powder and have a few samples that I haven’t put to the test yet, but so far the Everything Powder is doing well to keep my face shine-free. It’s talc-free and has a light sweet scent.

Day 4 • Brow product // My brows are dark to begin with so I just need something to fill in the gaps. The NYX Micro Brow Pencil in Black is great because the tip is really small so the strokes look like hair. I love that it’s not waxy either. The Benefit Gimme Brow Volumizing Eyebrow Gel in 05 Deep is a great tint for those that need some colour…even my grandma uses it!

Day 5 • Mascara // It’s hard to choose just one…so I chose 4: 2 drugstore and 2 high end ones.

1) I love the Buxom Lash Mascara because it still makes my lashes look and feel natural.

2) The Essence Volume Stylist 18hr Lash Extension Mascara can curl my super straight lashes without using a curler.

3) I love the Revlon Mega Multiplier Mascara (read my review) because it can easily be removed with warm water and doesn’t give me panda eyes. *I received it in an Influenster VoxBox, but I will definitely be purchasing it with my own money.

4) And last but not least, I love the wand of the Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara.

Day 6 • Eyeshadow palette // I don’t own any full-sized high end eyeshadow palettes because I just can’t decide which one I want to actually purchase…there’s so many that I love! Most of the eyeshadows I own are singles and from the drugstore. I really love the Winterberry Palette from Coastal Scents and I love how pigmented and buttery the shades are. Check out my review here. I also really like the Bite-Sized version of the Too Faced Chocolate Bar. There are three eyeshadow shades plus the Chocolate Soleil Bronzer in the palette: Champagne Truffle, Salted Caramel and Semi-Sweet. All of the shades in the full-sized Chocolate Bar palette are really pretty so I’d consider getting that one.

Day 7 • Blush // Both of these are beautiful blushes that blend well and give the perfect pop of colour to my cheeks. The Smashbox Soft Lights Duo in Passion/Shimmer and the Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-hr Blush in Paaarty.

Day 8 • Bronzer // I love both of these powder bronzers that I got as deluxe samples from Sephora. I would definitely buy the full-sized versions. I have loved everything I’ve tried that’s from Tarte (except for the Opening Act Lash Primer), so it’s no surprise I love this bronzer. I have Tarte’s Amazonian Clay Waterproof Bronzer in Park Ave Princess and Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer in Medium/Deep Matte. Both blend well. Check out my bronzer post for swatches.

Day 9 • Face Mask // I love Lush’s Cup O’Coffee Face and Body Mask and The Face Shop sheet masks (not pictured). The coffee mask lightly exfoliates my skin to make it feel nice and soft. The Face Shop masks refresh and hydrate my skin.

Day 10 • Highlighter // I absolutely love both of these highlighters: Wet N Wild’s MegaGlo Highlighting Powder in Precious Petals (read my review) and Maybelline’s Face Studio Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter in Molten Gold. They are both absolutely beautiful and pigmented, and they were a fraction of the price of a high end highlighter. I’m fairly new to the highlighting game, so I haven’t tried a ton, but a fave high end of mine is Urban Decay’s Afterglow 8-Hour Powder Highlighter in Sin. I really want to try a MAC highlighter, I have the Luna Luster Trip the Light Fantastic Powder and it’s also gorgeous (although not as creamy as the Wet N Wild or Maybelline ones), but since it was limited edition and would be hard to find, I decided not to include it in my faves.

Day 11 • Eyeshadow Singles // I don’t own a lot of eyeshadow singles. I have the Coastal Scents ones, but those are a hit and miss (some are more creamy and pigmented than others…although I do love the ones that come in the Winterberry Palette, Jewel Teal and Teal Green. Read my full review on the Winterberry Palette to see which shades are my faves.

I picked this Stila shadow up at Winners. It’s pigmented, creamy and absolutely beautiful. I have the shade Golightly. It seems like they don’t sell the shade on the website, but they have other beautiful shades. I got two of these for under $10 each.

Day 12 • Skincare // Skincare is such a broad topic, I decided to only choose products that I use on my face. The EradiKate Acne Treatment and COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patches are great for pesky pimples. Read my review for the COSRX patches: here. The Cucumber Water smells really good, and refreshes and hydrates. I got it from Winners for $10, it’s by Pearlessence which I’ve never heard of before, but they also had Coconut and Rose-scented waters. The Clinique Even Better Eyes Dark Circle Corrector has improved my dark circles over the past few weeks and my under eye area feels smooth and hydrated. The Pixi Peel & Polish gently exfoliates and makes my face feel soft. And of course, Vaseline Cocoa Butter Lip Therapy keeps my lips unchapped during the dry winter season.

Day 13 • Makeup brushes // I think it’s always a better deal to buy brushes in sets instead of separately. A few times, I’ve split a brush set with my friend or mom because I’ll need eyeshadow brushes, but my mom needs the powder brush or blush brush. I’ve only bought two high end brushes on their own: the Tarte Bronze & Glow Contour Brush was the most expensive brush I’ve purchased. It was definitely worth it though, it blends really well and it’s so soft. My second most expensive brush that I’ve purchased is a Bella Terra Bronzer brush, but the lady at the kiosk sold it to me as a powder foundation brush. It was the first expensive brush that I purchased and first one that was super soft. I love it and use it for powder foundation.

The Simple Glam Girls Lush Rose Gold Oval Brushes are so soft and much sturdier than a 3-pack that I bought at Winners. The “B” brush is the one in the picture. The smaller brushes (for eyeshadow, lips and concealer) take some getting used to, I still haven’t gotten the hang of them. It’s quite hard to blend eyeshadow because you don’t have the same control as a regular brush.

I included two brushes that I love, but the brand isn’t necessarily important, I just think everyone should have an angled blush brush and a fluffy powder brush to set your face. I got my angled blush brush from Arbonne and a huge fluffy brush from Winners for $10 (I think the brand is IB -Innovation Beauty, I’ve never heard of it, but it was so fluffy and soft, I had to get it). Same with the Shadow Brush from Sephora- it’s not necessarily the best brand and I’m sure other brands have better ones, but I got this in a set and it’s great for packing on shadow.

Day 14 • Lipstick // I love so many lipsticks, it was hard to choose just one, so I chose four nude/pink lipsticks because those are the two shades I wear most often. I also decided to go with ones that I just discovered this year. If you follow me on IG or read previous blog posts, you know that I love L’Oréal’s Colour Riche Collection Exclusive Lipstick in 370 J Lo’s Nude.

(L-R): Milani, Coastal Scents, Pixi, MAC

I prefer sheer/satin coverage, although I’ve added one matte lipstick. I love a red lip though and the L’Oréal Infallible Le Rouge in 337 Refined Ruby is a beautiful red for my skin tone (I don’t like orange-reds or pink-reds, I prefer blue-reds). First is the Milani Color Statement Lipstick in 26 Nude Creme. I love that the tube is gold, it looks so sleek and more expensive than it is, it also smells like watermelon jolly rancher. If you want to see a swatch, click here. Second is the Coastal Scents Lipstick in 2. The shade is very sheer, almost like I’m not wearing anything and it’s moisturizing like a lip balm. The tube is super light for some reason and it also reminds me of Hourglass packaging. Next is Pixi Mattelustre Lipstick in Plump Pink. Last is the MAC Lipstick in Brave (satin finish). Both the Pixi and MAC lipsticks are a bit more pink than I prefer, but they’re both beautiful shades and I love the finishes, I just prefer more nude shades.

Find out if all of these products are still my faves! Click here!

What are your fave products that you discovered this year?

Love,

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Review | GummiBand Hair Cords

December 11, 2017

Hi Everyone!

Last year, I first heard about the hair cords that leave your hair dent-free. They were the brand Invisibobble and they sell at Sephora for $10 for 3. I thought that was a bit expensive, so I went on Amazon looking for dupes. I purchased a pack of 3 black and 10 mixed colour hair cords for $6.99. They’re very big (size of a wrist- they look like those cords that people put their keys on) and thick like a telephone cord. When I wrapped it around my hair three times, it’s still a bit loose.

I found out about GummiBands, based in Vancouver, from a blogger group on Facebook. They were had a casting call for Contributors, Partners and Ambassadors. For Partners and Contributors, you need a certain number of followers and they had a limited number of spaces. So, I applied to be a contributor for GummiBand and they sent me a variety of their hair cords. Although I received the bands for free, the following review is my honest and unbiased opinion on the GummiBand hair cords.

Light Pink, Brunette, Clear, Purple, Black, Dark Pink, Teal

They offer Clear, Black, Brunette, Blonde, Light Pink, Dark Pink, Teal and Purple (I received a few of each colour except blonde). They retail for $7.99 CAD for a set of four hair cords and have free shipping in Canada. They gave me a code ‘BONUS38‘ for my readers to receive 2 extra GummiBands with the purchase of a 4-cord pack.

Hypoallergenic (They do not absorb water or sweat so they do not breed bacteria)

Suitable for all types of hair (Long and thick hair? Use 2 GummiBands for extra hold!)

Gentle on hair, reducing breakage and styling damage

Reusable for years. When the cord stretches out, warm it up with hot air from a hair dryer or hot water to return it to it’s original shape!

GummiBand hair cords come with a 1 year full replacement warranty

My hair is quite thick, so I wrap the cord around three times. I love that they’re plastic so if you get them wet, you don’t have to leave it out to dry like you would for an elastic. They don’t pull at your hair and they stay put (unlike regular hair ties where I have to adjust my ponytail after a few hours). After using them for a whole day, they are stretched out, but they get back into shape after a few minutes. When you put them around your wrist, they don’t make an indent around your entire wrist like a regular hair band. Although, they still make some indents from the spiral but it’s not as tight as a hair elastic.

UPDATE (Feb 2018): I’ve been using one hair cord basically every day for a month and a half. I wrap it around my hair three times and after a month or so, it was starting to curl like a figure 8 (but it wasn’t stretched out at all). I filled up my sink with some hot water and soaked it for less than a minute and it sprang back to place. It’s like new again!

UPDATE (Aug 2019): I have since purchased a few packs for myself and family. I had put quite a few of the Gummiband hair cords in giveaways, and found myself with only a few left.

RATING: 5/5

GummiBands are a great stocking stuffer or for birthday party loot bags. I love the variety of colours that they have, they have both fun colours and colours that blend in with your hair if you don’t want it noticeable.

Have you tried hair cords? Do you like them better than regular hair bands?

Love,

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First Impressions with Clinique Sonic System Purifying Cleansing Brush

December 10, 2017

Hi Everyone!

I bought the Clinique Sonic System Purifying Cleansing Brush for $40 CAD at the MAC Warehouse Sale in September. It normally retails for $111 CAD and the replacement heads are $54 CAD for a set of 2 of the purifying ones. Last week, I went to the December MAC Sale and I found the replacement heads for $10, so I got 2 purifying cleanser ones and the Airbrushed Finish Liquid Foundation Applicator brush head (which normally retails for $34 CAD).

In the box, there is the brush, a charging dock and two replacement heads. It’s a nice cleansing brush, it fits in your hand easily and doesn’t slip. I like how it’s not battery operated so there’s not backing that water can accidentally get into. Once I brought it home, I started to charge it. It takes a while to charge, but once it’s charged, it lasts for a while. I admit that I hadn’t used it a lot because I didn’t want to pay $54 for the replacement heads and it says to replace after a few months. After 30 seconds of use, it will automatically shut off. This is useful because you’re not supposed to use it longer than a minute or so, so two cycles is the ideal length of time to keep it running. The brush heads snap onto the brush, and the purifying brush heads are oval-shaped and stick out from the top of the brush so you can grip the top and take it off easily.

The cleansing brush is good, the sonic vibrations deeply cleanse the skin. It’s best to use a more liquid cleanser, I used one that was a bit too thick and it took a bit of rinsing to get it out of the brush. Obviously, the best cleanser to use is probably one of Clinique’s. The white bristles are softer than the green ones. The green ones are meant for areas like your T-Zone and nose, while the white bristles are gentler for your cheeks.

The brush is great to use when I take a shower after wearing makeup. I use makeup wipes, micellar water or makeup remover to remove my makeup, but my brush still gets dirty from the leftover foundation that I missed or that got into my pores.

I saw the foundation brush head and knew it retailed for $30 or more, so I thought I’d try it for $10. I dabbed some liquid foundation on my face and turned the brush on. It was going on really smoothly and looked really good. It still looked like I was wearing foundation, but it looked as if I used a damp beauty sponge. I’m not sure how much of the foam sponge absorbed my foundation, but I think it was about the same amount as a normal beauty sponge. If you’re not careful, the foam sticks out a bit from the plastic on the head and it caught on my cheek as I was moving the brush. After using it, I realized the foam brush had ripped. It broke after one use! Also, the brush head is round, and unlike the purifying brush head, it was hard to grip and pull off. Also, since the brush head is just foam, you have to be careful or you might rip the foam. I had to use a letter opener to get it off. It definitely wouldn’t be worth $34, I’m upset that I even paid $10 for it.

RATING: 4/5

The brush is great, but I take off a point because the replacements are so expensive and also the foundation applicator was terrible. I’ve heard the Clarisonic foundation head is good (theirs is similar to a brush, not made of foam like Clinique’s) and hope that Clinique comes out with something comparable.

Have you tried a sonic cleansing brush? Which do you prefer?

Love,

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Worth It? | GlamGlow ThirstyCleanse Daily Hydrating Cleanser

December 7, 2017

Hi Everyone!

Back in September, I bought the GlamGlow ThirstyCleanse Daily Hydrating Cleanser at the MAC Warehouse Sale. All the hauls I watched from previous sales, the ladies bought this cleanser and raved about it because it’s half price at the sale ($17.20 CAD for 150g). I bought two because I’ve tried the GlamGlow mud masks and like them, so I thought the cleansers would be good.

It’s a mud to foam cleanser that claims to hydrate, restore moisture, replenish and calm your skin. Here’s the description on the back of the bottle:

ThirstyCleanse is a revolutionary Mud to Foam daily cleanser that transforms from mud into a moisture-rich foaming lather to gently & effectively rinse away makeup, dirt & impurities while deeply moisturizing your skin for a hydrated, silky & dewy fresh complexion. For men & women of all ages and all skin types.

I started using it shortly after purchasing in September, and I have to say I was disappointed. It didn’t give me that squeaky clean feeling I get when I use The Face Shop cleansers (read my review). With a cleanser from The Face Shop, my face feels clean and refreshed (I only use them 2-3 times a week to prevent overcleansing).

They used to sell it at Sephora, but now I don’t see it in their inventory or on the GlamGlow website. I think it retailed for $35 CAD and I don’t think it’s worth the price even at 50%.

RATING: 2/5

I give the ThirstyCleanse a 2/5 because it doesn’t give me that fresh, cleaned feeling and it didn’t hydrate my skin that well (I still got dry patches). I’d rather spend $12-15 on a cleanser from The Face Shop.

Love,

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First Impressions with Coastal Scents Winterberry Palette & Shadow Pots

November 23, 2017

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.

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.

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).

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,

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Haul | November 2017 Sephora VIB

November 15, 2017
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,
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Review | Wet N Wild MegaGlo Highlighting Powder

November 13, 2017

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.

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.

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,

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September/October 2017 Faves

November 3, 2017

Hi Everyone!

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

Maybelline 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!

Milani 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.

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.

Pink 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.

MAC 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).

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).

Lush 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.

Buxom 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.

Garnier’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.

Step 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,

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Review | As Seen On TV Finishing Touch Flawless Facial Hair Remover

October 24, 2017

Hi Everyone!

Are you ever skeptical when you see a product on TV that claims to work really well? I know when I see products on TV, I am interested in trying them, but don’t necessarily want to shell out the money to buy it…especially if it’s not guaranteed that it will work. There’s a store called Showcase that has As Seen On TV products and I decided to make an account because they sell Morphe products which I want to try. I got an email that advertised the Finishing Touch Flawless Facial Hair Remover and was interested by the claims that it gets rid of facial hair without pain, nicks, redness or irritation. I also received a bonus called the Satin Finish. It’s supposed to gently exfoliate and buff away unwanted hair. It’s like a very fine sandpaper, I tried it and it didn’t really work to remove any hair, but it did exfoliate and made my skin feel smoother.

The new gold standard in facial hair removal from Finishing Touch. From the world’s #1 facial hair remover for women comes Flawless – a revolutionary new device that erases facial hair instantly and painlessly. Recommended by dermatologists, the 18K gold-plated head is hypoallergenic and gentle on all skin types with a built-in light so you never miss a hair! No nicks, redness, or irritation.

The ways I usually get rid of facial hair is tweezing or waxing. Just last year, I got those portable razors from Muji and I started using them to get rid of the peach fuzz. They are amazing, my skin is super smooth after using it and I don’t get any redness like I do after tweezing or waxing. The only thing I don’t like about using the portable razor is that it’s kind of dangerous if you don’t do it at the right angle, I accidentally nicked myself once. Also, I’m always worried that someone will scare me and I’ll jump and cut myself. If you plan to buy the razors, the best way is to do it dry and use your other hand to keep your skin taut.

It’s hard to take a close up picture to show you how well it removed the peach fuzz on my face, but I took before and after pictures of some hairs on my hand. Even though the hairs on my hand are coarser than the peach fuzz, you can see how well the Flawless Hair Remover works.

I like that the Flawless Hair Remover has no sharp edges and that I could easily get the hairs near my eyes without having to pluck them. It reminds me of a sweater defuzzer because it has a razor that cuts the hair, but it’s safe to touch the head without cutting your finger. The light that comes with it is quite useful, it’s easier to see the hairs you’ve missed. It uses a single AA battery so you don’t have to go out and buy AAA or some specialized batteries for it. The head twists off and you clean the inside with the brush that comes with it. The company says it’s like a fancy lipstick, but it’s a bit bigger than a lipstick.

They also have a rechargeable model available in black

RATING: 4/5

I give it a 4/5 because it works well and removes the hair without pain or irritation like it claims. I docked a point because it’s quite expensive and then you have to buy replacement heads after a few months.

Thoughts: I think the portable razor does a better job of making my face feel smoother and it’s a lot cheaper than the Flawless Hair Remover. The Flawless is TSA-friendly whereas a razor would be considered a weapon, so it’s good for travel.

Have you bought As Seen On TV products? What are ones that actually work?

Love,

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This or That | Maybelline Master Precise Curvy Liquid Liner vs. Milani Eye Tech Perfection Liquid Liner

October 3, 2017

Hi Everyone!

I can’t believe it’s already October and Canadian Thanksgiving is this weekend, where has the year gone? It feels like just yesterday everyone was getting read to go back to school, and now it’s almost midterm time for students. Let’s get started on my first post of this series.

Today, I’m comparing two drugstore liquid liners: Maybelline vs. Milani Cosmetics. Both liners are innovative, easy to use pens for easy grip.

Let me start off by saying that I’m terrible at doing winged liner, especially getting the wings even. Anything that’s geared towards helping me get that perfect wing, I’m open to trying. I’ve tried gel liners, but my favourite liners are pencils. I use kohl liners to tightline, so I’ve only bought a handful of liquid liners.

To compare the two, the Master Precise liner is a lot thicker and the liner itself isn’t as dark. It’s a great liner if you’re going for a thicker, Amy Winehouse look. The Eye Tech liner gives a thinner, sharper wing; the tip is rigid enough that I can get a good flick.

Maybelline Master Precise Curvy Liquid Liner

Master Precise Curvy liquid eyeliner with an innovative grip and patent pending curve hugging tip. Now, you control the curve! This liquid eyeliner features an easy grip pen to provide the ultimate control in application. Maybelline’s patent pending tip, hugs lids for a seamless curvy line.

Milani Cosmetics Eye Tech Perfection Liquid Liner

If you’ve ever struggled with liquid eyeliner before—ever had it skip or smear—the mistake-proof Eye Tech Perfection Liquid Liner is for you. The high tech, felt-tip tool makes a liquid lined eye a breeze. The non-feathering, water-resistant formula comes in the richest, deepest black available. Use this liquid liner for a long-wearing, intense eye look that’s professionally precise.

WINNER: Milani Cosmetics Eye Tech Perfection Liquid Liner

At some point, I’ll have to test a regular Maybelline liquid liner pen and some other drug store brands to see how the felt tips are, but between these two, I award the win to the Eye Tech Perfection Liquid Liner.

What are your fave liquid liners?

Love,

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Haul | September 2017 MAC Warehouse Sale

September 15, 2017
Hi Everyone!

If you’re planning to go to the MAC Warehouse Sale, check out my Tips/Tricks post. This is my personal haul of what I got at the MAC/Estée Lauder Warehouse Sale. This haul doesn’t include products my sister got or products I got for my mom, friends and family. Before I begin, I wanted to say that I swatched the lipsticks and the stick concealer before taking pictures, so if you notice any imperfections, it was me. All products were brand new and unopened. A lot of products have been discontinued or were limited edition, so unfortunately they are no longer available in stores (maybe they’re available on Amazon or eBay. I will provide any links to products that are still available and retail prices so you can see how much I saved. For products no longer available, I tried looking them up, but the listings are no longer available so I will provide an estimate based on products that are similar.

I am going to sort this by the types of products, i.e. eye makeup, powder and blush, skincare, lips, fragrances, kits and palettes. All prices are Canadian unless otherwise noted.

Face Powders & Blushes | $15 each

Smashbox Photo Filter Powder Foundation in Shade 1

Paid $15 | Retail Value $49

Shade 1 is natural vanilla for fair complexions. It looked pretty close when I swatched it, but obviously the lighting is terrible to get a good idea of your shade. It’s quite light though, I think I’d be Shade 2 or 3. It comes with a double-sided sponge, one is a regular sponge you get with powders and the other side is softer. They’re meant for different coverages. According to the Sephora website, you use the velvety side for a natural, sheer-to-medium finish, or the smooth side for full coverage. I have yet to try the sponge, but I used a brush and despite the fact that it was too pale for me, it looked pretty flawless.

Mac x Star Trek Luna Luster Trip the Light Fantastic Powder (Limited Edition)

Paid $15 | Retail Value: estimated at $30-40 USD

I didn’t realize this was part of the Star Trek collection until I bought it since the container was open and I was just looking at the shade of the highlight. I thought it would feel more velvety smooth, but when I swatch with my finger, you can hear my finger move around (almost like a sandpaper sound). It’s super nice though and hopefully I find a MAC highlighter I like that’s part of the permanent collection.

$4 Deal Bins

I got two MAC Zoom mascaras (accidentally grabbed a green one…oops! maybe I can do something for Hallowe’en), two clear Bobbi Brown lip glosses, and two Estée Edit Stress Relief Eye Masks. I realized after getting home that the eye masks were just the Estée Lauder ones in Estée Edit packaging. I assume since they were Estée Edit, they’d be cheaper. This wasn’t a very good deal considering you can buy a pack of 10 for $46 ($46/10= $4.60, I paid $4 for one package of two).

Mac ZOOM Mascara in High Esteem

Paid $2×4=8 | Retail Value: 2x$12= $24

Estée Edit Stress Relief Eye Masks

Paid 2x$4= $8 | Retail Value: 2x$4.6= $9.20 ($46 for pack of 10, $4.6 each)

Bobbi Brown Crystal Lip Gloss

Paid 2x$4= $8 (for 2x7mL=14mL) | Retail Value: $23 (for 15mL)

Mascara- Buy One Get 1 Free ($6 each)- not pictured

Paid $12 | Retail Value: 2x$29= $58

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I have way too much mascara already (and I didn’t want to purchase any more because they’d probably dry out by the time I got to them), so I only purchased two for my friend. I got two of the MAC In Extreme Dimension Lash Mascara in Black Extreme.

Smaller Palettes and Kits ($25)

I got 4 kits/palettes:
- one is a MAC quad eyeshadow palette (which is really frustrating that I paid $25 because my sister and I got two each in our charity bags…more on that later!)
- two MAC Nutcracker holiday sets (pigments and a lip set)
- Estée Lauder Breast Cancer Awareness Kit (they don’t have shade names for each eyeshadow, but rather, they are numbered to tell you which shades they are from the 5-shadow palettes available). The blush is still available for purchase, and I actually got one for my mom at the sale ($15).
MAC x Helmut Newton Point ‘n’ Shoot | Clockwise from left: Real Fantasy, Hard Currency, Influential, Point ‘n’ Shoot

Paid $25 | Retail Value: estimated at $30-40 USD

Estée Lauder Pink Perfection Kit for Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign

Pure Color Envy Lipstick in 220 Powerful

Pure Color Envy Blush Sculpting Blush in Pink Ingenue

Pure Color Envy Sculpting Eyeshadow

Paid $25 | Retail Value: estimated at $35 USD

Mac Nutcracker Sweet Bronze Pigments & Glitter | from left: Sugar Rush, Stardream, Handsome Prince & Reigning Riches

Paid $25 | Retail Value: unknown (estimated at $35 USD)

Mac Nutcracker Sweet Nude Lipstick Kit | from left: Crème Cup (cremesheen, permament collection), Nouvelle Vogue (satin, limited edition), Kinda Sexy (matte, permanent collection) & Whirl (matte, permanent collection)

Paid $25 | Retail Value: estimated at $35 USD

Eyeshadows ($12)

I didn’t purchase any individual eyeshadows because I thought the kits were a better deal.

Eyeliners ($15)

My mind is blanking…I think the eyeliner was $15, it may have been $10/12.

MAC Fluidline Pen in Retro Black

Paid $15 | Retail Value: $24

Lipstick and Lip Gloss (2 for $15)

We bought 16 lipsticks altogether (for me, my sister, mom and friends).

MAC Huggable Lipcolour | from left: Touché, Goodluck Mochi & Cantonese Carnation (discontinued)

Paid 3x$7.50= $22.50 | Retail Value: estimated at $24

Estée Lauder Pure Color Envy Hi-Lustre Light Sculpting Lipstick in 210 Bold Innocent

Paid $7.50 | Retail Value: $36

MAC Lipglass in C-Thru

Paid $7.50 | Retail Value: $21

MAC Mineralize Glass in Lap Dog

Paid $7.50 | Retail Value: estimated at $20-24

MAC Cremesheen Glass in It’s a Strike

Paid $7.50 | Retail Value: estimated at $24

MAC Patentpolish Lip Pencil in Kittenish

Paid $7.50 | Retail Value: $24

MAC Ultimate Lipstick in Marque

Paid $7.50 | Retail Value: estimated at $23 USD

Estée Lauder x Victoria Beckham in Moroccan Heat (Limited Edition)

Paid $7.50 | Retail Value: estimated at $45-55

Liquid & Stick Foundations

The shades I got are quite light, but I can always warm them up with some bronzer or use as highlight. I believe the Estée Lauder liquid foundation I got is a refill for a cushion foundation. It doesn’t say how much is in the container, but it’s huge and a way better deal than the retail price.

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick in Ivory 0.75

Paid $21.20 | Retail Value: $55

Read my This or That post featuring the Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick and Maybelline’s Fit Me Shine-Free + Balance Foundation Stick

Estée Lauder Double Wear Makeup To Go Liquid Compact in 1N2 Ecru

Paid $20 | Retail Value: $50 for a cushion compact (12mL)

Skincare & Nails

The top of the line skincare and fragrances are in the last building and you pay for them right after you get them. The cost of these products are not included in the $800 limit (before taxes). They had Estée Lauder products that retailed for $300+ and were about $150.

Tory Burch Signature Deluxe Gift Set

Paid $80 | Retail Value: $146 ($221 value)

Clinique Sonic System Purifying Cleanser Brush

Paid $40 | Retail Value: $111

Read my First Impressions review on this cleansing brush

GLAMGLOW THIRSTYCLEANSE Daily Hydrating Cleanser

Paid 2x$17.20= $34.40 | Retail Value: $43 (original price, $34 on sale)

Read my review on this cleanser

MAC Strobe Cream in Pinklite (Original)

Paid $24 | Retail Value: $40

Clinique Pep Start Quick Cleansing Swipes

Paid $9 | Retail Value: $10 USD

MAC Nail Lacquer in Midnight Sky & Vintage Vamp (discontinued)

Paid 2x$10= $20 | Retail Value: unknown

Once you’ve checked out, there’s a corner where you can purchase a charity bag, 100% of the proceeds go to whichever charity they have chosen, this year was the Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation. You can give increments of $5 ($5, 10, 15 or 20), and they will give you a bag of MAC products depending on how much you donate. My sister and I both paid $20 and we got seven products each.

After you get your charity bag, you hand in your ticket (it must have the stamp from when you came in, you’re not allowed to hand in multiple tickets). You get a free gift just for giving your ticket. They gave us two nail polishes each.

Freebies

3x MAC matte lipsticks in Leap of Delight

2x MAC Extreme Dimension Work It Out Mascara in Abs of Steel & No Pain, No Gain

2x MAC x Helmut Newton Point ‘n’ Shoot Eyeshadow Quad

2x MAC Nail Lacquer in Soiree & Midnight Sky

FREE | Retail Value: $48 for the mascaras, other products unknown

I think my favourite purchases were the Estée Lauder Pink Perfection Kit, Tory Burch Perfume kit and Victoria Beckham’s lipgloss, just because I love her and the packaging is gorgeous…I wish I bought another now.

If you’ve read this far, thank you so much! I know it was a long post, but I wanted to share with you what you can get from the sale. I bought so many products that I want to share the wealth and I have decided to do a giveaway of some of the products I got (plus two Simple Glam Girls Rose Gold Lush Oval Brushes- H & I).

GIVEAWAY CLOSED

Canadian and US entrants only. Contest ends Sat, Sept 30th 11:59pm EST. Winner will be randomly selected and announced on this IG page and my blog. Winner will be DM’ed on IG or emailed (If they do not reply within 24 hours, another winner will be selected at random).

This giveaway is not sponsored or associated with Instagram, MAC Cosmetics, Simple Glam Girls or Bobbi Brown.

Products included:
- MAC ZOOM Mascara in High Esteem
- MAC x Helmut Newton Point ‘n’ Shoot Eyeshadow Quad (shades: Real Fantasy, Hard Currency, Influential and Point ‘n’ Shoot)
- MAC Nail Lacquer in Midnight Sky
- MAC matte lipstick in Leap of Delight
- 2x Simple Glam Girls Lush Rose Gold Oval Brushes (H & I)
- Bobbi Brown Crystal Lip Gloss (Travel Size)
Have you been to the MAC Warehouse Sale?

Love,

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September 2017 Mac Warehouse Sale

September 15, 2017
Hi Everyone!

Last weekend, I went to the Mac/Estée Lauder Warehouse Sale in Markham, Ontario (10801 McCowan Rd, Markham, ON L3P 3J3). The sale takes place 4 times a year (March, June, September and December) and tickets are fairly hard to come by unless you work somewhere that’s associated with Mac or Estée Lauder. To be honest, I had never heard of the sale until my sister asked me if I was interested in going.

My sister got us the tickets from her work, she was able to get tickets for the Saturday and the sale went from 9am-6pm. In the days leading up to the sale, I was watching a lot of hauls and tips/tricks on YouTube. Most ladies that I watched videos of were going on Friday or Sunday. Friday is the best day because once things are sold out, that’s it. So Friday is the best day to go if you want to see the whole selection of products they offer. Sunday is the best day for deals because things are reduced even more and if you’re on a budget, it allows you to control how much you get because there is a smaller selection. One YouTuber suggested that it’s better to go around 9:30 because then all of the early birds/eager beavers have gotten into the sale.

The tickets are per person: One ticket = one person can enter. Some people in the line behind us thought one ticket could be for multiple people. There are three different coloured tickets- one per each day of the sale (Friday, Saturday and Sunday). No one under 16 is allowed inside the sale. The limit per person was $800 (before taxes). This doesn’t include top of the line skincare and fragrances because you pay for those separately.

The products available at the sale are mostly discontinued or limited edition/holiday sets. Go in with a general idea of what you want/need, i.e. I need a black felt tip eyeliner, I want an Estée Lauder or MAC lipstick. Don’t look up lipstick/lip gloss shades of products beforehand because chances are you won’t find the ones you want. If you want to get powder or liquid foundation, know your shade beforehand (there’s no guarantee that they will have it, but at least you will know which shade you are). The foundation brands they had were: Clinique, MAC, Bobbi Brown, Smashbox and Estee Lauder.

Building 1– Powder makeup, blush, eye makeup (shadows, mascara), $4 bins, fragrances, various gift sets, skincare

Building 2– lipstick, lip gloss, fragrances, brushes, various gift sets, skincare

Building 3– more skincare, nail polish, high-end fragrances and skincare, Bobbi Brown and Tom Ford cosmetics, check out and sorting table

Along the walls, they have the fragrances and kits that are in boxes that you can grab yourself. Each of the products are in individual bags and sealed with a price tag on the product. In the middle of the rooms, they have swatch tables and an area where you ‘order’ your products. The products are taped to the table and you can swatch them yourself or just look at the swatch on the piece of paper. Below is a picture of what they look like: they have the product brand in the top left corner, the shade and in the top right is a number that you need to write down to ‘order’ your product. Once you’re done writing down the things you want, they have different sections to line up to get your product(s) from the associates. Make sure you write down the number because they won’t know what the product is if you just write down the brand and product name. There were different sections, i.e. you get your face powder/blush in one section, eyeshadows in another area and the palettes/kits in another. Make sure you stay in the area and write down numbers that pertain to the area or have different pieces of paper for each.

Behind the tables where you ‘order’ your products, they have boxes of the products labelled with the number and you give them your piece of paper and they grab the products for you. Then, they bag and seal them and write down how many items you got and how much they cost, i.e. if you bought 4 products worth $10, they will write ‘4×10.’ You are not allowed to open the bags unless you’re at a sorting table. Make sure your bags are sealed properly after they hand it to you because when you go to check out, they will not accept it if the bag is open. This is to prevent people from adding products into the bags. The product tables have tissue boxes and baskets of scrap paper to write down the numbers of the products, but the baskets were empty until we got to the next building. So here’s a few things to bring to the sale:
- - pens/pencils
  - small notepad or scraps of paper
  - tissues or makeup wipes
  - bring a bottle of water and maybe a granola bar (we were worried security would take any liquids from us, but they didn’t make us open our bags for them, they just had officers at the entrance and in the last building)
  - $20 cash for the charity bag
Thoughts: I would definitely go again, but not any time soon since I spent so much money. I don’t know if it was a one-off thing or if they have the tickets available at my sister’s work throughout the year…I guess we’ll see in December if they have them. I think in terms of deals, the best ones were cosmetics and fragrances. The sale has been going on for a few years now, so it’s very organized. The only complaint is that maybe they should have more people collecting things for you because the line moves fairly slowly when you’re picking up your products. Some of the skincare products seemed quite expensive and would eat up a big chunk of your $800 limit. I also prefer products from The Face Shop anyway, so makeup and fragrances were more worth it for me. I’m sure the Bumble & Bumble products were fairly good deals if you’re into it, but some products were still $30. I tend not to spend a whole lot on hair products (I mostly buy from Shoppers Drug Mart or Rexall). If there’s specific Clinique products that you like, you will probably find it. They had a lot of 2-packs that were really good deals. I’m a little frustrated because I paid for the eyeshadow quad and nail lacquer and then we got it for free, but how was I supposed to know.

Things I will do if I go again:
- eat breakfast before going, I only ate a quick snack so I got pretty hungry once 12pm came around
- write down the numbers in order so you get your products faster (if your numbers are all out of order, it takes longer for the associate to find them). This makes their life easier and your wait time shorter
- take pictures of the products I wrote down on my piece of paper (I bought a lot of similar coloured lipsticks and I went a little overboard in the lipstick/lip gloss section…you’ll see in my Haul) OR try to swatch multiple lipsticks at a time (since they are taped to the table, it’s hard to get a good swatch, either you swipe your hand across the lipsticks or use your finger)
- use my phone to look up prices of products (most things were more than 50% off, but some products like the MAC eyeshadow palettes were only about $15 off)
- the way they have the buildings organized, I think I might actually go to the last building first to get the higher end products and then work my way back to the first building. Also, the higher end products are pretty good deals so there’s a higher chance of them being sold out once you get there
- If I see anyone leaving the sale, maybe I will ask them what’s in the charity bag and free gift so that I don’t purchase the same thing
UPDATE: I went to the sale again in December and went on the Friday morning to see what it’s like on the first day. It was surprisingly busy for a Friday. The doors opened at 10am and I got there at 11:20 and waited to get in for an hour. Once inside, the lines for the luxury skincare went from building 3, into the hallway and part way into building 2. My mom lined up for a product I wanted and she moved about 10 spots up after an hour or so. Since I only wanted one product, I told her to just forget it because she wasn’t even close and there’s no knowing if they will still have it when she got there. So if you go on Friday, expect a really long line for the luxury skincare. As usual, the lipstick line was also long, but all the other lines were fairly short. I was at the sale from 12:30-3pm and probably a third of that time was spent waiting in line and the rest was spent browsing the sale.

Here are my thoughts on which day is the best depending on what you want to get (this is if you are going in the morning):

Friday- foundations, concealers, perfume sets

Saturday- not as busy as Friday because it’s the second day of the sale and not as busy as Sunday because the deals aren’t as good. Selection is pretty good.

Sunday- less selection (so if you want to limit yourself, this is the best day to go because there is less to choose from), but I’ve heard the deals are better

Click here to see my haul from the sale!

Thanks for reading! Have you ever been to the warehouse sale?

Love,
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Dupe It Out | MakeUp Eraser Makeup Remover Cloth vs. Danielle Creations Erase Your Face Cloth

September 8, 2017

Hi Everyone!

It’s time for another Dupe It Out! Today, I’m comparing The Original MakeUp Eraser Makeup Remover Cloth by Makeup Eraser and the Erase Your Face Cloth by Danielle Creations. Both cloths remove makeup by just adding water, no makeup remover needed! I put them both to the test and here are my findings. I’ve already written a review on the Makeup Eraser, click here.

MakeUp Eraser Makeup Eraser Makeup Remover Cloth

Remove smear-proof, waterproof makeup and mascara with The Original MakeUp Eraser®. Free of chemicals, this makeup remover gets rid of all types of makeup, including stage, sports, and theatrical makeup. Each cloth will last a thousand washes, and you only need to add warm water and then remove makeup. This ultra-soft, woven polyester-blend cloth gets rid of tough makeup without leaving behind a residue—just a fresh, healthy feeling.

Danielle Creations Erase Your Face Makeup Removing Cleansing Cloth

The Erase Your Face Makeup Removing Cleansing Cloth is a reusable cloth that removes all traces of makeup from your face without harmful chemicals

For sensitive skin

Removes all types of cosmetics, including waterproof mascara

No harmful chemicals or synthetic makeup removers

Just add water

Machine wash with cold water

WINNER: It’s a tie!

The Erase Your Face (top) has a rectangular shape with rounded edges, while the Makeup Eraser is rounder. The Erase Your Face has a bit more material since it isn’t as rounded. Both cloths have two different sides; one is similar to a plush material, while the other is more like a soft towel where the fibers are shorter. I’ve tried using both sides and the shorter side did a better job at removing my eye makeup. They both took off the face makeup well, but I don’t think either cloth does a good job at removing eye makeup that’s waterproof. You would have to scrub at your eye and that’s not ideal since the skin around your eyes is thinner and more sensitive. I usually use the cloths if I have light eye makeup on, or I use the cloth for my face and then use my regular eye makeup remover. It still saves you some money because you don’t use makeup remover or a cleanser for your face. You could probably find a cheaper microfiber towel that will do the trick of removing your makeup. If I had to choose, I would get the Erase Your Face because you get four of them for $15.

Love,

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Share Your Beauty & Lifestyle Blog

September 8, 2017

Hi Everyone!

Are you a beauty and/or lifestyle blogger? Do you love finding new blogs on style/fashion, makeup, etc.? Join my Facebook group called “Share Your Beauty & Lifestyle Blog.” It’s a chance for beauty bloggers around the world to share their posts and network with others!

Click here to request an invite on Facebook!

Click here to request an invite on Pinterest!

Love,

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