eyeshadow Archives – Page 2 of 2

My New Beauty Budget | 2019

December 19, 2018
Hi Everyone!

Today, I’m going to share with you my new beauty budget for 2019 that I’ve calculated for myself. After reviewing, my 2017 and 2018 beauty expenses. I’ve spent about the same amount each year (about $2000). I’m going to aim for $1800 for beauty expenses for 2019. If I get to the end of the year under $1800, then that’s even better! I’ve looked up how much the average woman spends on makeup and skincare each year and most articles said about $3000-5000. I think those numbers include things like manicures, haircuts, waxing and other treatments. I usually only get my haircut once a year and I rarely get manicures.

If you read my posts on my 2017 and 2018 beauty expenses, you’ll know that I spent $2000 (give or take). I am aiming to cut it down by $200 and hopefully as the years progress, I can get my beauty expenses down to $1000! One thing I want to change about my spending is WHERE I spend it. In 2017 and 2018, I bought a lot of products from drugstores and Winners. Discount prices from Winners are great, but they tend to be impulse buys. Also, if I don’t like the product, I can’t return it and although it’s cheaper than a high end product, it still adds up. When I make purchases from Sephora, I can easily return things. A lot of my impulse purchases are ones I’ve regretted (read my post on Products I Regret Buying).

Right now, my expenses are high because I’m trying out different products to find what I like and what works for me. I’ve found a few products that have become favourites, but obviously, your favourites can change and you find new products you love even more.

I’ve created a breakdown of how I think I will spend the $1800 budget. This is a rough estimate of what the different categories might cost. I think giving myself an overall budget for beauty is easier than doing the $25/month for my monthly blog allowance. I feel like I end up blogging about most of my products anyway.
- Skincare products – $600
  - This category gets the most because I need acne products, eye creams, day/night products and toners
- Primers – $120
  - Most primers that I buy are about $40-50, I should probably be good until June for primers
- Foundations/Powders – $120
  - If anything, I will need to get a powder. I already bought a bunch of foundations last year
- Concealer – $100
- Eyeliners – $60
- Brows – $100
  - It takes me a while to finish a brow pencil, so this budget is probably more for my brow gel
- Mascara – $100
  - I only buy drugstore mascaras and I replace them every 3 months
- Miscellaneous – $600
  - Makeup brushes and sponges
  - Products to review for the blog
  - Products that I don’t necessarily NEED, but WANT, i.e. a new lipstick or eyeshadow palette
I didn’t include a section for eyeshadows, lip products, blushes, bronzers, nail polish or hair because I already have a lot of things that I should finish before buying new products in those categories. I didn’t include a perfume category, but whenever I need to buy one, I could probably include it in the miscellaneous section. Usually, I only have one or two at a time and I just bought one last year at the MAC Warehouse Sale.

Do you have a beauty budget?

Love,
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Beauty Brands I Want to Try

September 17, 2018
Hi Everyone!

Whenever I’m scrolling through Instagram, I always see all these pretty flat lays with gold, black and silver packaging. High end products have such pretty packaging! A lot of drugstore brands’ packaging are getting prettier too, but there’s something about the look of a YSL or Dior lipstick tube that just makes you go “oooohhh!” As I became more obsessed with makeup, I bought more drugstore products to blog about because they’re more affordable. Ever since I wrote the post about streamlining my makeup, I’ve been decluttering makeup that I don’t use and doing my best not to buy new makeup. My plan is to find high-end favourites so that I have 1 or 2 holy grail items in each category (foundation, concealer, blush, etc.) and then, for the blog, I’ll buy drugstore products to review.

(items in bold have been purchased since this post was published)

There are so many brands out there that I want to try:
- Charlotte Tilbury
  - lipstick, lip cheat, blush, airbrush flawless finish powder
- YSL
  - lipstick, lip stain/tint, primer
- CND Nails
  - nail polish
- RMS Beauty
  - concealer
- Laura Mercier
  - foundation, caviar stick eye colour, blush
- Laura Geller
  - highlighter
- Jouer
  - highlighter, blush
- Hourglass
  - stick foundation, highlighter, translucent powder
- Marc Jacobs
  - lip gloss stick, nail polish
- Burberry
  - highlighter, luminous base, lipstick, eyeshadow sticks
- Huda Beauty
  - liquid lipstick
- Fenty Beauty
  - highlighter
- Becca
  - highlighter, primer
- Colourpop
  - super shock shadows, highlighter
- Anastasia Beverly Hills
  - eyeshadows, brow wiz
- LORAC
  - eyeshadows
- Chanel
  - nail polish, lip gloss
- Cover FX
  - custom drops
- Skindinavia
  - makeup setting spray
There are a lot more products I want to try, but those are the ones that I could think of off the top of my head.

Below are some brands that I’ve bought 1-2 products that I love and plan to try other products from the brand:
- Lancome- I really like the Skin Feels Good Skin Nourishing Foundation (read my review)
  - concealer, foundation, highlighter drops
- Dior
  - foundation, highlighter, nail polish, lip glow, lipstick
- NARS
  - blush, tinted moisturizer, single shadows, radiant creamy concealer, eyeshadow primer
- Make Up For Ever
  - single shadows, concealer
- Tarte- I’ve pretty much loved everything I’ve purchased from Tarte
  - eyeshadows
- Smashbox
  - Primerizer, primer water, eyeshadow primer
- Urban Decay
  - concealer
- MAC
  - blush, highlighter, foundation, brushes
- Bare Minerals
  - blush, eyeshadow primer
Love,
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Beauty Products | Save or Splurge?

July 23, 2018

Hi Everyone!

If you’ve been reading my recent posts, you’ll know I’ve been doing inventory of my beauty products. Check out the recent posts below!

Primers & Foundations | Bronzers | Blushes | Mascaras | Highlighters

Makeup Goals: A Streamlined Collection

I’ve decided to compile a list of what beauty products I personally plan to SAVE or SPLURGE on. I’ll also have some products where I’ll be IN BETWEEN– which means I’ll either buy a mix of both high-end and drugstore or I’ll buy products that aren’t super expensive, but not super cheap either.

Skincare- IN BETWEEN

I was reading articles on which beauty products to save and splurge on and a few said to save on skincare. I think I will mostly save because there are some great products found at the drugstore. If I want some luxe items, I can always get samples from Sephora and Nordstrom without breaking the bank. I do love the Sonia Roselli Water Balm though (read my review), so I will continue to splurge on that because it’s a multi-use product.

Primers- SPLURGE

You need a good base for your makeup and that starts with primer.

Foundations- SPLURGE

More expensive foundations just look and smell better than drugstore ones (for the most part).

Concealers/Colour Correctors- IN BETWEEN

I think splurge on a good spot concealer I can wear without foundation. There are some good under eye concealers from the drugstore.

Setting/Finishing Sprays/Powders & Face Mists- IN BETWEEN

I think a mix of both is okay.

Makeup Brushes- SPLURGE

When I first started getting into makeup, I didn’t want to spend a lot on brushes, so I bought some on Amazon. They’re very soft and performed pretty well, but once I bought better quality ones, I could see the difference in my makeup application.

Makeup Sponges- SAVE

I think it’s kind of crazy to buy a $20 sponge. I have never bought a beauty blender, so I don’t know if it performs better than a cheaper sponge, but I feel like they’re all quite similar; some may be denser than others, but they all blend the same, don’t they?

Bronzers- SAVE

I love the Physician’s Formula one and it blends even better than the high end ones I’ve tried.

Blushes- IN BETWEEN

I think I might splurge on a good, matte blush I can use every day because blushes last so long. I love the Milani ones that have shimmer and I really want to try a Physician’s Formula one.

Highlighters- IN BETWEEN

Similar to blushes, I might splurge on 1 high end highlighter and then the rest of the collection will be drugstore brands. For the ones I own, the drugstore ones look prettier than my higher end ones (without having to wet them).

Brows- IN BETWEEN

I’m kind of torn because I like the NYX Micro Brow pencil, but that pencil lasted so long that maybe it’s worth it to splurge on a brow pencil. I will definitely splurge on brow gel though and get the Benefit Gimme Brow.

Eyeshadows- SPLURGE

I’ve noticed a difference in how my eyeshadow looks when using higher end ones especially with the fallout. I think I will invest in a few high end palettes- that have a good selection of neutral mattes and shimmery shades.

Eyeliners- IN BETWEEN

Similar to blushes, eyeliner lasts me a long time (I prefer pencil liners), so maybe I should splurge.

Mascara- SAVE

As much as I love some of the high-end deluxe samples of mascaras, there are so many drugstore ones I love that are a fraction of the price. Especially when you should dispose of it after using for a few months, it’s not worth it to pay $30 (unless you only own 1 mascara, then maybe it’s worth it, but I like to have several).

Lipsticks, Liners and Glosses/Tints- IN BETWEEN

I think I’ll get 1 or 2 for each of the 3 types (lipstick, liner, gloss/tint), but save on the rest.

Makeup Removers- IN BETWEEN

I like Simple makeup wipes and Garnier Micellar Water, but I really like Clinique’s Cleansing Balm. So, a mix of both.

Perfumes- SPLURGE

When I was in high school, I used to use body sprays from Victoria’s Secret, but no more of that. I have two signature scents at the moment (1 for spring/summer, 1 for fall/winter) and I also have one that’s a bit more spicy that I don’t wear daily.

Nail Polish- IN BETWEEN

I think I’ll find a good, wine red and a neutral to splurge on, but buy brands like OPI and Essie for the rest of my collection.

What products do you splurge on?

Love,

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Makeup Goals | A Streamlined Makeup Collection

July 20, 2018
Hi Everyone!

When I was doing my mid-year makeup inventory, I realized just how much makeup I had. It’s kind of ridiculous how much makeup I’ve accumulated in the past two years. 2016 was when I got more into makeup and it was only last year that started buying products like highlighter and bronzer. I went through my collection and counted how much I have of each type of product. I didn’t want to do a mid-year makeup inventory on all of them because let’s be honest, it would’ve taken a long time to swatch and write a mini review for each one. Especially when I don’t necessarily love all of the products I own.

I’ve decided to set some goals for myself in terms of buying makeup going forward. As I was doing my makeup inventory, I decluttered a few products that were past their expiry date and/or I just wasn’t using (basically just taking up space). Here are some goals that I have decided to apply:

Goal #1 | For primers, foundations, eyeshadows and makeup brushes – only buy high end ones
- Foundations
  - Find a few favourite ones with different finishes (powder, cushion, sheer coverage, medium coverage)
  - For liquid foundations- I need to have sampled it a few times and put it through a testing period (like I did with the Dior Backstage Face & Body Foundation- read my review) before I take the plunge and buy it.
  - Test them out in-store and see how they look in natural lighting and how it wears for the day
For the other makeup products, I feel like a mix of high end and drugstore are acceptable. There are some amazing drugstore products that I absolutely love and drugstore foundations are great, but I have trouble finding shade matches and there aren’t always testers in store.

Goal #2 | Cut down on impulse buying

I’ll admit that 50% of the time, I am an impulse buyer (especially if there’s a sale). Luckily, most of the items I’ve bought on impulse were okay.

Goal #3 | Read or watch 3 (or more) positive reviews before making a purchase

I know this isn’t the best way to tell if I will like something because I might not like something that someone else loves, but it will help cut down the impulse buying too. I’ve bought a few duds (that were planned purchases) because YouTube or Instagram made me buy it (*cough* L’Oréal Lash Paradise *cough*). Before buying a product from now on (especially a drugstore item because you can’t return it once it’s been opened), I will check out some reviews online. Usually, I look at Influenster to see what it’s rating out of 5 is and if it’s rated on their list (i.e. Lash Paradise, the non-waterproof one, is rated #1 in mascaras and 4.56/5). Personally, it’s not my #1 mascara, but I don’t hate it.

Goal #4 | Keep Track of My Makeup Purchases and Set an Annual Makeup Budget

This sounds kind of scary, but I think I should set one. Last year, I became a VIB Rouge member at Sephora and I have no idea how that happened. The majority was skincare or makeup tools, but there was a fair share of makeup which is surprising because a lot of my makeup is from the drugstore or Winners. For a lot of products (like makeup brushes or foundation), they may seem expensive, but they last a long time. The initial cost may sting, but once you have it, you don’t need to buy more for a while.

For my blog, I have a monthly budget ($25) to spend on products that I buy for the blog. I prefer to get drugstore products because that’s the most accssible to everyone. I mean, there are tons of beauty lovers who are students- they can’t necessarily afford to get a Dior foundation or a high end palette.

GOAL #5 | A Streamlined Makeup Collection

I was going to plan on a Minimalist Makeup Collection, but after writing the numbers down, I wouldn’t consider what I plan to be a Minimalist Collection. So, we’ll go with a streamlined collection of what I have now. I want to find some favourites that I can always rely on so that I can just buy good, high end products (foundations, concealers, etc.) and not worry about buying all these different products to see what works with my skin type.

I’ve already shared some of my makeup collection in my mid-year makeup inventory. So, I thought I’d share the numbers with you for the rest of my products. Some of my numbers in this list may be different than the mid-year makeup inventory. This is because I was only counting the products that I had opened at the time. Since then, I have opened a few things and gotten a few deluxe samples. Please keep in mind that not all products are full-sized, but I still counted them as ‘1’. So, here are the inventories for each category:
- Primers: 12 (includes an under eye primer and eyeshadow primers)
- Foundations: 13
- Concealers/Colour Correctors: 11
- Setting/Finishing Powders & Face Mists: 5
- Illuminating Powders/Creams: 4
- Bronzers: 4
- Blushes: 13
- Highlighters: 14
- Brow pencils: 3
- Eyeshadows: 37
- Eyeliners: 12
- Mascaras: 6
- Lipstick: 25
- Lip Liners: 7
- Lip Glosses/Tints: 10
- Makeup Removers: 10
I know these aren’t makeup, but I’m going to include them too:
- Perfume: 5
- Nail Polish: 43
I was going to total the whole number of products, but some are double-counted i.e. Bobbi Brown palette has blush, highlighter, bronzer and eyeshadow. Give or take, there are 200 items.

NEW MAKEUP GOALS & FAVOURITES

I want to streamline my makeup so that I don’t have 200 items in my drawers. I only have so much space in my room if you include makeup, skincare, hair and nail products. The following numbers are what I hope my collection will go down to once I find favourites in each. Under each category, I have included favourites that I think will be included in my Minimalist Collection.
- Primers: it’s hard to say a number for this one because you want different primers for different uses (mattifying, illuminating, hydrating, eyeshadow, etc.). I’ll say less than 10 for sure!
- Foundations: 6 at the most (that should be enough for different finishes and coverage)
- Concealers/Colour Correctors: 5
- Setting/Finishing Sprays/Powders & Face Mists: 5
- Illuminating Powders/Creams: 2
- Bronzers: 2
- Blushes: 3 (1 with shimmer, 1 peachy, 1 pink)
- Highlighters: This is hard to decide because there are so many amazing highlighters out there that are different shades and they can double as eyeshadows (6?)
- Brows: 3 (2 pencils, 1 gel)
- Eyeshadows: This is hard to decide too because singles count as 1. I will say that I want at least 2-3 good palettes with matte neutral shades and shimmery shades and I like cream shadows and sticks, so maybe 4-5 of those.
- Eyeliners: 5
- Mascaras: 3
- Lipstick: 10
- Lip Liners: 2
- Lip Glosses/Tints: 3
- Makeup Removers: 3
- Perfumes: 3
- Nail Polish: 5
For all of the categories, they’re estimates of what I think I should own and adding all of those up, it’s about 80 products. So, my goal for next year is to cut my collection in half and maybe I can aim for an even smaller collection for 2020.

Would you ever streamline your makeup collection?

Love,
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Review | Clionadh Cosmetics Mother of Pearl Highlighter

June 14, 2018

Hi Everyone!

Last weekend, I attended Indie Expo Canada (independent beauty brands showcase their products- it’s mostly Indie nail polish brands). The majority of the vendors sell nail polish, but some had essential oils, wax, bath bombs, etc.

From one of the vendors, Clionadh Cosmetics, I picked up an absolutely gorgeous highlighter that you can also use as eyeshadow or on the body, but it’s not intended for the lips. I got the Mother of Pearl highlighter (which is on sale right now for $13 CAD). It’s stamped with a seashell impression. The products are 100% Vegan and Cruelty-Free and 100% Talc and Paraben-Free.

The Mother of Pearl highlighter is part of the Tropic of Capricorn Collection (a set of five summer-inspired marble highlighters).

Mother of Pearl: A five-toned marble consisting of grey-silver, pastel pink, green, blue and peach. The end result is a frosted pink-lilac with pearlescent notes of blue and silver.

I got home and tried it out and realized it was scented. You can choose to order scented or unscented. It smells like those sweet tart candies. Since I don’t love scented products that are sweet, I think I’d choose the unscented.

I did two swatches with my finger: the top one is what it looks like normally and the bottom one is when it’s wet. Unlike other highlighters and eyeshadows I’ve tried, it sort of sheers out if you wet it. So, if you want the maximum payoff for this highlighter, don’t wet the brush or your finger when applying it

RATING: 4/5

This highlighter is so pretty and I love the marble effect when you mix the colours. I also love to support my fellow Canadians, especially when it’s an independent brand. A lot of the times, it’s just easier to buy the mainstream products from the drugstore or Sephora because they’re so easily accessible and you see their ads when you scroll through Instagram and Facebook. Indie Expo Canada is a great way to find new brands. I also picked up some nail polishes which I will review in the coming weeks.

Love,

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Review | Stila All Over Shimmer Powder

May 9, 2018

Hi Everyone!

Today, I’m reviewing and swatching the Stila All Over Shimmer Powder in Kitten. I picked it up from Winners a while back and I was so excited because I’ve never tried any Stila products.

All Over Shimmer Powder in Kitten

Introducing a gorgeous all over shimmer powder with Kitten and a pale iridescent pink. This multi-purpose powder instantly enhances the complexion with a fresh, radiant glow.

Inspired by light, Stila’s All Over Shimmer Duo in Kitten creates a luminous, youthful glow. Packaged in a convenient compact with mirror, this powder can be used as an eye shadow, highlighter, cheek color and décolleté.

I use the light one as highlight and the dark one for my eyes. It’s a pretty pop of colour for the inner corners of the eyes, but I don’t use it on the lids. For me, it’s not the right colour for a blush and the darker shade is too bronze for highlight for me.

RATING: 4/5

It was great for the price (less than $15, I believe), but I don’t think I would’ve paid the full price for it. I have swatched Stila Heaven’s Hue Highlighters though, and they are absolutely gorgeous. I would buy those at full price because they come in a pretty package and bigger pans.

What’s your fave Stila product?

Love,

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Review | Coastal Scents Revealed 3 Palette

April 21, 2018

Hi Everyone!

I thought I would do a review and swatches of the Revealed 3 Palette from Coastal Scents. It’s a very nice palette for a beginner. I got this from a TopBox a while back and it’s been great for an everyday eye look. I mostly use the brown/taupe and gold shades. The first two shades are great to set your eyeshadow primer. It has a combo of matte and shimmery shades, but the majority are shimmery.

The Revealed 3 palette features twenty all-new elegant eye shadows, in a stunning variety of hues and textures. Discover infinite possibilities with a combination of looks, perfect for every eye color.

Swatches below are without using primer. The top two shades didn’t show up when I swatched them. On the left is the top row of shades, and the right is the bottom row.

I would suggest doing eyes before your foundation and concealer because the fallout can be quite bad. Sometimes I have to dust off my nose or fluff the shadow out of my hair.

RATING: 4/5

It’s not the best palette, but it was the first palette (with more than 4 shades) I ever owned. I mostly used single eyeshadows before and I have trouble deciding on which eyeshadow palette I want to actually purchase. Two of the ones I own were won in giveaways and this one I got from a subscription box. There are so many beautiful palettes out there, how can I decide?

What palettes do you recommend?

Love,

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First Impressions with H&M Makeup

February 28, 2018

Hi Everyone!

Back when H&M first came out with makeup, I bought a contour powder palette and a BB cream because I wanted to try their makeup. I think I bought a shade that was too dark for the BB cream, but the powder was pretty good. I think it was $14.99 for the contour palette, and about the same for the BB cream. The contour palette had four shades (2 light, 2 dark) and the bb cream had a selection of 2-3 shades. Since then, H&M has come out with a lot more makeup: foundations, eyeshadows, mascara, eyeliners, nail polish, etc.

I bought the shimmery shades of eyeshadow because I have so many browns and taupes already and I wanted to get some more shimmery ones. The shadows are soft and buttery. I got the shades Paradise Lost (rose gold) and Over the Moon (silver). These are kind of glittery, it’s very easy to get it all over your face and might take a few swipes to remove it with your makeup remover. It reminds me of a pressed version of MAC pigments because of how much can fall onto your cheeks. If you use these, I would definitely suggest doing your eyes before foundation because you can wipe it off if it gets on your cheeks. I swatched the matte shades and those were beautiful and velvety too. The best way to apply is with your fingers.

The highlighter powder is a baked highlighter and it’s beautiful, but it is a bit powdery if you swatch with your fingers. Also, the swatch doesn’t look as pigmented as the eyeshadows, but in person, it’s a nice peachy pink highlight. It might seem expensive for a non-designer brand, but it’s huge and since it’s baked, there’s even more than what you’d get in a regular pressed highlighter. Since it is a bit powdery, I think the best way to apply is with a fan brush and lightly swipe your brush, don’t swirl your brush or the product will get all over your desk.

Spotlight Glow Powder Sheer Coverage Radiant Shimmer in Sumptuous Peach

Infinite Impact Eye Colour in Paradise Lost & Over the Moon

RATING: 4.5/5

I think the shimmery eyeshadow shades I bought will be pretty for a party or night out and I would definitely use the highlighter for every day makeup to give a pretty peachy glow.

Have you tried H&M makeup products? What are your faves?

Love,

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Review | TheBalm Batter Up Eyeshadow Sticks

February 17, 2018

Hi Everyone!

Lately, I’ve been frequenting Winners because they have name brand products for really good prices. Sure, the products might be discontinued and older, but they’re still good. A lot of people open up the packages to see what the shades look like (I’m guilty of this), but I don’t swatch them like some people do. I’ve seen eyeshadows, blushes and powders with a finger smudge in them…gross! As a rule, I don’t buy anything that’s liquid (mascara, lip gloss, liquid lipstick, etc.) because you don’t know if people have tried them on. The only time I will buy any liquid products is if it’s clearly packaged up in plastic or if it’s in a security container (the higher end products are stored in these to prevent people from opening up the boxes). I haven’t found any shades that I like for lipsticks, but I would only buy if it’s untouched. I’ve seen some really high end brands for $10-20- Kevyn Aucoin, Bobbi Brown, Burberry, etc.

I picked up several things during my last shopping trip, but today’s review is on The Balm’s Batter Up Eyeshadow sticks. I picked up a 2-pack at Winners for $9.99! The shades are Dugout and Shutout. According to The Balm’s website, they go for $17 each and I’m guessing that’s in USD, not CAD.

Introducing Batter Up, the long-wearing cream shadow sticks from theBalm Cosmetics! These high-pigment shadow and base multi-taskers come in eight blendable and buildable shades.

Dugout is a metallic brown shade while Shutout is a gold shade (both are shimmery). Both the shades are beautiful on their own, but I like them together too. I’ve tried them doing gradient looks where Shutout is on the inner corner and Dugout on outer and Dugout smudged along my lashline and Shutout above. They glide easily and they’re very blendable.

I was wearing both shades yesterday. I used the Smashbox 24 Hour Photo Finish Eyeshadow Primer, then used powder to set the primer. I applied Dugout along my lashline and blended with my fingers, then applied Shutout above it and blended that with my fingers. It created a very nice gradient look. I was wearing them for about 8 hours and the shadow didn’t crease at all.

Below are swatches of Dugout and Shutout swatched straight from stick, and then the bottom swatches are Dugout and Shutout applied from stick and then blended with a brush. I didn’t use an eyeshadow primer/base under the swatches. As you can see, Dugout is a brown shade, but when blended, its a bronze shade. Shutout is a gold shade, but when blended, it’s like a champagne shade.

RATING: 4/5

I really like these and they are so beautiful. It’s like each stick gives you a 2-in-1 shadow because you can apply directly without blending or achieve a lighter eye look by smudging them out.

I hope everyone has a great long weekend!

Have you tried cream shadow sticks? What are your fave brands?

Love,

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Where Were Your Beauty Products Made?

February 5, 2018
Hi Everyone!

A few years back, my mom mentioned to me that it’s better to buy products that are made in North America or Europe instead of China, Taiwan, etc. because you never know what they’re putting into the products. Ever since then, I’ve always been a bit conscious about checking where a product is made before purchasing, but sometimes I do slip up and accidentally buy something Made in China.

Do you check the back of cosmetic and skincare products to see where they are made before you purchase them?

There are so many different brands out there that have products that are made in North America or Europe. So, why buy products that are made in China when you don’t know what kind of rules and regulations they have? Especially when it comes to makeup that absorbs through your skin and that you could accidentally ingest from putting on your lips. Even drugstore brands are made in Canada or Germany, so it’s not like you have to splurge on high end products.

For powder products like highlighter or blush, it’s not as bad because I don’t use the same products every day. Same with eyeshadows because the ones I have from China are more vibrant colours that I wouldn’t wear on a day-to-day basis.

For liquid products like foundation and concealer, I am very careful to check that it’s made in North America or Europe because your skin absorbs the product and these are the products that cover the largest area of your face. Same goes for mascara, eyeliner, lipstick and lip gloss. Eye products can easily get into your eyes when you rub them or when you’re removing makeup and lip products are easily ingested.

I went through my makeup stash to see where everything was from and I’ve mapped it out in purple. Most of my products were from the usual countries like the US, Canada, Belgium, France, Germany, and then there were a few Made in China. Some products surprised me- I had eye products made in Czech Republic and Mexico.
- North/South America– Canada, USA, Mexico
- Europe– UK, England, France, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, Czech Republic
- Asia– China (also listed as PRC- People’s Republic of China), Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia
- Mexico
  - Maybelline EyeStudio Brow Precise Shaping Pencil in Deep Brown
- Czech Republic
  - L’Oreal Voluminous Smoldering Eyeliner in Grey
  - Annabelle Kohl Eyeliner in White
- Poland
  - Essence I Love Stage Eyeshadow Base
- Indonesia
  - Benefit Cosmetics Prima Donna Fake Lashes
Although I do my best not to buy products from China, I have purchased a few here and there. The following are Made in China:
- Coastal Scents products
  - Winterberry palette
  - Eclipse palette
  - Shadow pots
  - Revealed 3 palette and Lipstick don’t say where they’re made and I no longer have the boxes they came in, but I’m assuming China because the lipstick is less than $5 and the Revealed 3 palette goes for $20 (and goes on sale for less).
- Wet N Wild MegaGlo Highlighting Powder
- NYX Matte Setting Spray
I went through my makeup collection to see if I had any other products Made in China/PRC and I was shocked to find some Tarte products had been made in China. Here are the products I have:
- Essence Light Up Your Face Luminizer
  - Most of the other Essence products are Made in Europe, i.e. Germany or Luxembourg
- Eyeko Fat Eye Stick (Made in PRC)
- Smashbox Blush Soft Lights Duo
  - other Smashbox products I have are made in US or Belgium
- Tarte products- it really surprised me that my Tarte products are Made in China, however; the Tarteist Lip Paint from the Sephora Birthday Gift is Made in US
  - Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Paarty (deluxe sample)
  - Tarte Amazonian Clay Matte Waterproof Bronzer in Park Ave Princess (deluxe sample)
  - Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Finishing Powder
- Wet N Wild Mega Protein Mascara
My friend has multiple full-sized Tarte products and she let me know where they were made and I also went to Sephora to take a look at the full-sizes of the blush and bronzer:
- Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blushes (full-size)- USA
- Amazonian Clay Matte Waterproof Bronzer in Park Ave Princess- China
- Tartelette Tease Palette- USA
- Shape Tape- Korea
- Amazonian Clay 12-Hr Full Coverage Foundation- USA
- Maracuja Cheek Tint- Formulated in Japan, Made in China
Other things I found when going through my products:
- Milani’s Retouch + Erase Lightlifting Concealer (Made in US with US & Non-US components)
- Milani Conceal + Perfect 2-in-1 Foundation (Made in US with US & Non-US components)
- Wet N Wild Photofocus Foundation (Foundation Made in USA, Filled in China)
- Tarte Lights, Camera Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara (Manufactured in Italy, Assembled in Taiwan)
- Tarte Gifted Mascara (Manufactured in Italy, Assembled in Taiwan)
Although the concealer and foundation from Milani both say Made in US with US & Non-US components, I think that’s just for the liquid products. The Color Statement Lipstick was Made in USA, and the XL All Over Glow Bronzer and Baked Blush were both Made in Italy.

I remember I had a Bella Pierre Mineral Foundation and Mineral Blush that I bought from a mall kiosk and they were made in the US. But, I have seen kits at Winners for $14.99 that have smaller sizes of the foundation, bronzer, illuminator and concealer. I checked the back of one and it was made in PRC, but there was another kit with other products and it was made in the US. So, make sure you check where kits are made. Even if full-sized products are made in the US, the smaller, trial-sized ones could be made elsewhere.

Do you avoid buying products depending on where they’re made? Are you more cautious with certain types of products?

Love,
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Worth It? | Eyeshadow Shields

January 25, 2018

Hi Everyone!

This first impressions review is for a no-name brand of eyeshadow shields. I have not tried Shadow Shields or any other favourite eyeshadow shield. I was at Winners a while back and I picked up some eyeshadow shields for $3.99 CAD (pack of 25). I think the brand is La Soie, and the product is Color Guard. It’s such an unknown brand that I couldn’t find them online.

To Apply: Remove only the top corner of paper and apply directly below the lower lash line to catch loose powder. For a stronger hold, remove the entire back strip then apply to skin.

Use as an eyeliner stencil for straight lines or use as a guard to keep lip color within the lines.

Everyone has a different strategy for applying their makeup. Some people do their eyes first, while others do their face first. For me, it depends on what type of eye I’m going for. If I’m doing a smokey eye or sparkly eye, it’s better if I do eyes first. If I’m doing a more natural everyday eye, I do it after my face makeup.

I don’t know if name brand ones are less sticky, but I would definitely not recommend taking off the whole back strip. Even if you just peel off the top strip, it’s incredibly sticky and pulls on your skin. Since there is adhesive on these eyeshadow shields, I wouldn’t put on foundation or concealer until after doing eyes. Just to test it out, I tried using them after applying concealer and it took off my concealer and left a sticky residue. The glue adheres too well and therefore would be bad to use under your eyes where the skin is so delicate. Also, after I remove the shields, sometimes I like to blend it out so the line isn’t too harsh, but it leaves a sticky residue and therefore makes a void when I try to blend the shadow.

They claim that it’s good for keeping lip colour in the lines, but I would much rather spend time carefully applying lip liner or lipstick than cutting these to be the perfect shape for my lips.

RATING: 1/5

If you love doing winged liner or a smokey eye, eyeshadow shields might be worth it for you, but make sure to get the name brand ones. I think tape can work just as well and you probably have tape lying around your house somewhere.

These shields did help me get a nice winged liner, but it’s hard to position them perfectly so that your wings are even. I don’t think I would try actual Shadow Shields because they’re a bit pricey and I’d rather use tape instead. I am just a novice at doing winged liner because I prefer using kohl eyeliners and I can also never get the wings to match (one is always higher or longer). I prefer to smoke out a black/brown eyeshadow instead of doing a wing. I’m always practising my wings at home though.

Have you used eyeshadow shields? What are your thoughts on them?

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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