Makeup Archives – Page 9 of 10

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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Review | COSRX Clear Fit Master Patches

February 16, 2018

Hi Everyone!

If you’ve read my review on the COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patches, you’ll know that I love them. When I heard that they came out with a new pimple patch that is thinner. They also claim that you can apply makeup on top, so I wanted to try it. I found a Canadian website called Chuusi.ca that sold them. They retail for $4.50 CAD, but unfortunately you can only buy one package at a time (on Chuusi).

Clear Fit Master Patch

In a package for the Acne Pimple Master Patches, you get 24 (10 small, 5 medium, 9 large). I tend to use the medium ones the most. The Clear Fit Master Patches come in a package of 18 and they are all the same size (the same size as the medium master patches- 10mm).

An ultra-thin hydrocolloid patch that conceals blemishes and absorbs impurities and oil. These patches are thinner and less visible than the Cosrx Acne Pimple Master Patches, making them perfect for use under makeup and during the daytime.

How to Use: After cleansing, dry the area around the acne, pimple, or blemish and apply patch to completely cover the spot. The patch goes on clear. When the patch becomes white, remove the patch and cleanse the area before applying a new patch.

I mostly bought the Clear Fit patches because I wanted to see how well they were disguised under makeup. If you want to know how well the patches work, go to my review on the Acne Pimple Master Patches. The clear fit patches are thinner and not as noticeable, but they don’t absorb as much as the Acne Pimple Master Patches. The Acne Pimple Master Patches are the same thickness for the whole patch and they also stick better. The Clear Fit ones are thin and then thicker in the centre.

I tried one under makeup and it just emphasized the patch more. I tried several different ways to conceal the patch: a cream concealer from the Coastal Scents Eclipse Palette (read my review), Maybelline Fit Me concealer and a powder foundation. I tried using a brush, my finger and a sponge. I thought the sponge would work the best because you dab at it instead of moving concealer around the patch, but it didn’t make much of a difference. For the powder foundation, it didn’t do anything, it just made the patch look cloudy.

RATING: 4.5/5

I was disappointed that the clear fit patches don’t work under makeup. Unless you plan to wear pimple patches out of the house, I think the Acne Pimple Master Patches are better than the Clear Fit ones because they absorb more and you get more in each package (although the small patches can be a bit useless).

Have you tried acne patches?

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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This or That | Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick vs. Maybelline Fit Me Shine-Free + Balance Stick Foundation

February 4, 2018

Hi Everyone!

Today, I’m comparing two stick foundations: Bobbi Brown’s Skin Foundation Stick and Maybelline’s Fit Me Shine-Free + Balance Stick Foundation. The Maybelline is obviously a lot cheaper than the Bobbi Brown and normally I would consider it a dupe, but the Bobbi Brown claims to have a natural, skin-like finish while the Maybelline stick has a natural matte finish and an anti-shine powder core that helps to mattify. For this reason, I am doing a This or That comparison instead of considering Maybelline’s stick a dupe for the Bobbi Brown one.

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick in Ivory 0.75 – I got this at the MAC warehouse sale in September. They didn’t have a lot of shades left, I swatched it in the warehouse and it looked pretty close, turns out I was wrong. It is way too light and I need to go up a few shades.

Update: They’ve changed the corresponding numbers of the shades. I don’t know if they’ve reformulated, but I’m assuming Ivory is still the same shade. The corresponding number has changed from 0.75 to C-024.

Designed to look and feel like skin, this award-winning foundation is formulated with a unique transparent base and skin tone correct pigments for the most natural-looking, skin-like finish. A Bobbi Brown original, the innovative formula features Smart Technology for targeted moisturization or oil control depending on what skin needs. Delivers medium to full coverage and comes in a convenient swivel-up stick for at home and on-the-go application.

Maybelline Fit Me Shine-Free + Balance Stick Foundation in 130 Buff Beige – I had the liquid Fit Me foundation in 130 Buff Beige, so I decided to get the stick in the same shade. Even though the liquid is a bit too dark/pink for me, there is a smaller shade selection in the stick foundations.

This lightweight gel foundation has an exclusive anti-shine powder core that instantly dissolves excess oil. Pores look minimized and skin stays shine-free for ten hours. This oil-absorbing foundation stick goes on creamy and blends into a natural matte finish. Medium coverage. Dermatologist tested. Allergy tested. Non-comedogenic. Suitable for sensitive skin. Fragrance-free.

I used my Make Up For Ever Step 1 Hydrating Primer and I didn’t apply any powder to test the wearability. Both of the sticks set to a velvety smooth finish. If you get an oily t-zone, I suggest powdering because both foundations started to break up on my forehead and chin, and my nose was super shiny by the second hour.

Both foundations are buttery and easily glide on your skin. The Bobbi Brown covered up more of the redness around my nose, but still gave a natural, skin-looking finish. The Maybelline stick didn’t cover up as much redness and I could still see blemishes coming through, but a good concealer can easily fix that.

WINNER (Higher Coverage, Natural Finish): Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick

WINNER (More Budget-Friendly, Natural Matte Finish): Maybelline Fit Me Shine-Free Balance Stick Foundation

The Bobbi Brown stick has a more natural finish, yet offers more coverage than the Maybelline stick. The Bobbi Brown stick is also more buildable which makes sense because it claims to offer medium-full coverage while the Maybelline stick says medium coverage. The Maybelline stick evened out my skin tone, but didn’t cover up dark spots from blemishes.

I think the Maybelline is a good everyday foundation for those who just want a natural matte finish and you can pair it with a good concealer (Maybelline’s Fit Me Concealer is a great drugstore option if you can find a match for your skin tone). I think it would also be good for summer because it looks natural, but mattifies at the same time. Since the Bobbi Brown stick is more expensive, I would save it for evenings (dinners or special occasions) because it did give a very beautiful finish.

Have you tried stick foundations? What are your fave brands?

Love,

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My First K-Beauty Haul | January 2018

January 23, 2018

Hi Everyone!

I bought some things from a Canadian-based online store that specializes in Asian beauty products. Most Asian products are really expensive on Amazon.ca or hard to find, so I was looking for a Canadian website that has free shipping and I found Chuusi.ca. They ship via Canada post and it’s free shipping if you spend $60 or more (under $60, you pay a flat rate depending on your province). I was super impressed with how fast they shipped it- I ordered it and 3 hours later, I got an email saying it was on its way! They also included three samples in my package. I ordered items from COSRX, Etude House and INNISFREE.

I’m excited to try these products out. I have had the No Sebum powder, Eye Primer, acne patches and cleanser on my wishlist for a while. I got the silk finger balls to see if they actually work and the makeup remover because it’s good for sensitive skin.

Etude House Lip & Eye Remover – This is a good makeup remover. No complaints here. I thought it was funny that this just said ‘lip and eye remover,’ they should really say ‘lip and eye makeup remover’ 😀

Gently dissolves traces of makeup from the eyes and lips. The dual-phase formula is mild yet effective, minimizing irritation to the sensitive skin in the area.

Etude House Proof 10 Eye Primer – I like that it’s a thin formula. I haven’t put it to the test yet, so I don’t know how well it performs.

Make your eye makeup more vibrant, longer lasting with the Proof 10 Eye Primer, and get through the day (and night) knowing that your eyeshadows and eyeliner are in their place. No more runny panda eyes, and no more greasy creasy! The light weight texture makes the primer easy to spread, without being too sticky so the eyeshadows are still blendable. Available in a light beige color to give light matte coverage to the eyelids, covering up discoloration and brightening up the eyes.

COSRX Clear Fit Master Patch (read my review) – I love the Acne Pimple Master Patches (read my review), so I thought I’d give these a try because they are thinner. I was excited to try this because it says you can use under makeup. When I tried it, I was disappointed that it looked terrible under makeup. It was better to just apply it and not put makeup on.

An ultra-thin hydrocolloid patch that conceals blemishes and absorbs impurities and oil. These patches are thinner and less visible than the Cosrx Acne Pimple Master Patches, making them perfect for use under makeup and during the daytime. Each package contains 18 individual patches.

COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser – I liked this cleanser. It helped with acne and it’s gentle enough to use every day even though it has salicylic acid.

A renewed cleanser from the original Cosrx Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Cleanser. Formulated with 0.5% Salicylic Acid and various botanical ingredients including Tea Tree oil and Willow bark extracts, this cleanser gently removes impurities and excess sebum while soothing the skin. The creamy formula lathers into a bubbly foam and leaves your skin mattified and clarified.

This cleanser is suitable for combination to oily skin types.

COSRX Blackhead Silk Finger Balls – I need to try these out and I’ll write a review on them.

Made with 100% natural silk cocoons to gently exfoliate dead skin cells and blackheads, leaving your skin feeling smooth and clear in an instant! Massage your skin with a finger ball once or twice a week to help stimulate circulation and promote better absorption of skincare products to follow.

INNISFREE No Sebum Mineral Powder – This powder is great because it’s so finely milled. I don’t love the smell though; it’s like a minty, medicinal scent.

The Innisfree No Sebum Mineral Powder is a loose powder that helps control oil and excess sebum. Formulated with Jeju natural minerals, this oil-control powder is a must-have for setting your make up and preventing it from becoming patchy due to excess oil.

Comes in a translucent color that helps brighten dull skin tones!

So that’s what I bought from Chuusi. I like what I’ve tried so far.

Have you tried any of these products? What are your fave Korean beauty products?

Love,

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Pros & Cons to Different Types of Makeup Removers

January 19, 2018

Hi Everyone!

I thought I’d share the pros and cons of different makeup removing methods. I will provide an example of each, rate its effectiveness and portability. For the purposes of this post, the following terms will be used:

‘Face makeup’– primer, foundation, concealer, bronzer, blush, highlighter, etc.

‘Eye makeup’– eyeshadow primer, eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara, etc.

‘Effectiveness’– how well the makeup remover works on eye makeup

‘Portability’– how easily you can carry around in your bag every day or when travelling

Always remove your makeup before bed!

Always be gentle when removing eye makeup. Don’t rub at your eyes, it can cause irritation or wrinkles!

Micellar Water

Garnier All in 1 Cleansing Micellar Water

Pros: gentle, easily removes face makeup and eyeshadow, doesn’t need water to rinse

Cons: sometimes it doesn’t remove all of the eyeliner and mascara

Portability: unless you have a travel-sized bottle, it’s bulky and can be messy if it leaks

Effectiveness: 4/5

Tip: get the Garnier All in 1 Cleansing Waterproof Micellar Water (blue cap) if you’re wearing waterproof makeup.

Makeup Removing Cloth

The Original Makeup Eraser

Pros: easily removes face makeup, just need to add water, no chemicals

Cons: doesn’t always remove all eye makeup, can cause wrinkles from rubbing the cloth on your face

Portability: pop it in your bag

Effectiveness: 4/5

Tip: Clean your cloth with soap or shampoo and wring it out before throwing in the wash.

Makeup Wipes

Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes

Pros: easy to use, doesn’t need water

Cons: doesn’t always remove waterproof makeup (eyeliner and mascara), doesn’t completely remove your face makeup, can cause wrinkles from rubbing at your eyes, will dry out if package is left open

Portability: easy to pop into your purse and use on the go

Effectiveness: 4/5

Tip: Be very gentle around your eye area, don’t rub or pull at your eyes! To remove mascara, I wrap the wipe around my index finger and wiggle back and forth under my lashes (like when you apply mascara). It removes the mascara without having to rub my eyes. It also helps to prevent the mascara from smudging onto my under eye area.

Eye Makeup Remover

Bobbi Brown Instant Long-Wear Makeup Remover

Pros: easily removes face and eye makeup

Cons: if it contains oil, it can get into your eye if you don’t rinse well and cause cloudy vision for a few hours

Portability: need a travel-sized bottle, can be messy if it leaks in your bag

Effectiveness: 5/5

Cleansing Balm

Clinique’s Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm

Pros: easily removes face and eye makeup

Cons: need water to rinse it off, can be messy

Portability: unless you have a sample or travel-sized pot, it’s a bit big to lug around

Effectiveness: 5/5

Baby Shampoo

Johnson’s Baby Shampoo

Pros: easily removes face and eye makeup, gentle on the eyes (no tears!), can use for other purposes

Cons: needs water, messy

Portability: need a travel-sized bottle, can be messy if it leaks in your bag

Effectiveness: 5/5

Tip: Use it to clean your makeup brushes and sponges!

Coconut Oil/Melt

Kopari Coconut Melt

Pros: easily removes face and eye makeup, can use for other purposes

Cons: need water to rinse off, messy

Portability: unless you have a sample or travel-sized pot, it’s a bit big to lug around

Effectiveness: 5/5

Vaseline

This is a good DIY makeup remover if you aren’t at home and need to remove your makeup. Most people probably have Vaseline to help with chapped lips and using regular soap and water isn’t very effective at removing all of your eye makeup especially if you use waterproof makeup…hello ‘raccoon eyes.’

Original Petroleum Jelly

Pros: easily removes eye makeup, can use for other purposes

Cons: greasy

Portability: easy to pop into your purse

Effectiveness: 5/5

Tip: Use a dry cotton pad to wipe off the Vaseline before washing your face.
Additional Tips & Tricks

Use a circular motion if you’re using a cleansing balm, coconut melt/oil, shampoo, Vaseline.

Use a swiping motion (from inner towards outer eye) if you’re using a wet cotton pad, makeup wipe or makeup removing cloth. Don’t rub back and forth.

If you don’t wear eye makeup, micellar water, a makeup cloth or makeup wipes are effective at removing face makeup.

If you wear eye makeup, invest in a cleansing balm or eye makeup remover because they are specially formulated to remove waterproof makeup.

If you’re not in the bathroom, micellar water, eye makeup remover and makeup wipes are good because they don’t require water, but make sure to pack some cotton pads in your bag.

If you’re in the shower, cleansing balm, baby shampoo and coconut oil/melts are great to use.

Double Cleanse! Follow up each method with your regular facial cleanser and then toner and your moisturizer/serum! All of these makeup removing methods may remove your makeup, but it doesn’t fully remove your makeup and the dirt on your face. You should always double cleanse: use a makeup remover and then use your regular facial cleanser.

I’m a night owl, so I shower at night. I take off my makeup when I get home, and quickly wash my face with spectro gel to get rid of any ‘raccoon eyes’ from removing my eye makeup and the makeup remover residue. Then, once I’m in the shower, I use my daily cleanser to fully wash my face of the dirt and makeup that I hadn’t removed earlier.

If you shower in the morning, you’re probably more likely to use makeup wipes to take your makeup off, put on your moisturizer/nightly skincare routine and then go to bed. Have you ever used a makeup wipe and then wiped your face with a tissue or towel and some makeup still came off? With the exception of micellar water, all of the other methods are meant to be step one in your cleansing routine. Step two is following up with your facial cleanser before you do your skincare routine.

Sometimes I use two of the methods. I’ll use the micellar water to take off my face makeup and then use an eye makeup remover on just my eyes. This is a good way to save your more expensive products (especially since eye makeup removers and balms are more expensive).

Micellar water is affordable and there are so many drugstore brands to choose from. The makeup removing cloth is easy to use and you can just throw it in the laundry. Eye makeup removers and cleansing balms are a little more expensive, but you can save by just using them for your eyes. Baby shampoo, makeup wipes, coconut oil and Vaseline have multiple purposes. Baby shampoo can be used to clean your makeup brushes. Makeup wipes can be used to wipe the sweat off your face after a workout. Coconut Oil can be used for oil pulling for your teeth, as a hair mask or body moisturizer. Vaseline can be used as lip balm, help with dry patches, or add a glossy look to your lipsticks.

What’s your go-to makeup remover?

Love,

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This or That | Make Up For Ever Artisan Brush 106S vs. Arbonne Liquid Foundation Brush vs. Sephora Liquid Foundation Brush

January 2, 2018
Hi Everyone!

Today I’m doing a 3-way This or That because I had three different brands of foundation brushes. Each of the brushes I bought as part of a set:
- Sephora- to be honest, I can’t remember what this brush came with and it’s not in my order history. I think it was a travel brush kit. This brush from the PRO collection looks the most similar out of the brushes they currently offer.
- Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Foundation + Smoothing Skin Equalizer Customizable Set | $83 CAD
  - Step 1 Skin Equalizer smoothing primer
  - Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation (your choice)
  - Artisan Brush 106S (the brush is a short version of the 106)
- Arbonne Cosmetics Brush Set #7098 (6-piece brush set) | $47 CAD
The only reason I have a MUFE foundation brush is because it came in the set. I prefer applying my liquid foundation with sponges, so I probably wouldn’t buy a liquid foundation brush on its own.

Sephora liquid foundation brush

I do have another Sephora foundation brush, but it’s a little worse for wear. It is softer than this travel-sized brush, but performs about the same.

Arbonne

100% vegan and cruelty-free

Liquid Foundation / Flat Brush: Great for liquid foundations
and concealer for proper blending; features a rounded head to match the natural contours of the face such as the corners under the eyes.

Make Up For Ever Artisan Brush

This is a larger variation of a foundation brush for applying and blending ultra fast for an even result with fuller coverage. It can be used with all types of foundations and features straight fibers.

I used the Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Foundation for the swatches (the swatches are aligned with the picture of the brushes- top swatch is Sephora, middle is Arbonne and bottom is MUFE). I pumped once directly onto the brush just to see how much product it absorbed. The swatches are after two swipes of the brush. As you can see, the Sephora swatch on the top is shiny which means the foundation was still wet. When I did the second swipe, I did my best to go directly on top of the previous swatches. The Sephora brush fanned out a bit when it touched my skin. The Arbonne brush is denser/thicker (the other two are flatter). The Make Up For Ever brush is the widest and the swatch above shows that. The Sephora brush’s bristles aren’t as soft as the other two. Out of the three, the MUFE one is the softest, but it absorbs the most product.

I wanted to do swatches on a flat surface that wouldn’t absorb product, so I used a foundation palette. I pumped three equal-sized dots of Maybelline’s Fit Me Dewy + Smooth Foundation and I swiped the brushes twice to see how much product absorbs into the brush. Again, the swatches are in the same order: Sephora (top), Arbonne and MUFE. The Sephora one is the darkest and MUFE is the lightest swatch because the Sephora brush barely absorbs any foundation and the MUFE one absorbs the most. The Sephora brush has the stiffest bristles which reminds me of a paintbrush. The Arbonne brush is okay, but it’s not as wide as the other two, but it’s denser which means a lot of product gets lost in the brush. The MUFE brush is wide and flat and the bristles are soft. That’s why I have to give the win to the MUFE brush.

WINNER: Make Up For Ever Artisan Brush

Do you prefer sponges or brushes to apply liquid foundation? What’s your favourite brand for brushes/sponges?

Love,
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This or That | iBeauty Oval Brushes vs. Simple Glam Girls Lush Rose Gold Oval Brushes

December 29, 2017

Hi Everyone!

Today, I will be comparing two different brands of oval brushes: Simple Glam Girls and iBeauty (that I bought from Winners). Oval brushes are the brushes that resemble toothbrushes, made popular by the Artis brushes. I’ve never tried an Artis brush so I can’t compare the quality of the Simple Glam Girls and iBeauty brushes.

I’m going to start by saying that I prefer damp beauty sponges to apply my foundation and concealer, even though sponges absorb a lot more product than a brush. Comparing oval brushes to regular brushes, I feel like it’s harder to clean them because the bristles are packed so tightly.

Lush Rose Gold Oval Brushes (set of 10)

10 high-quality oval shaped brushes made with grade “A” synthetic nylon hair.

Contoured oval shaped brushes with different sizes allow you to blend makeup onto any part of your face effortlessly.

Rose gold neck handle & a firm & anti-slip holder for that extra hold when applying makeup

iBeauty Oval Makeup Brushes (set of 3)

Very easy and comfortable to use for putting on your daily makeup

Used for: contour/setting powder, contour/blush, & concealer

Gives a flawless air-brushed finish of all types of skin makeup formulas

I have 3 brushes that are similar to the ones in the link, but they are slightly different (same sizes though). Even though it says it can be used for setting powder, I wouldn’t use an oval brush to set my makeup because it would blend out all the foundation and concealer I just applied. A fluffy brush is best to set your face.

Both sets of brushes are very soft. The Simple Glam Girls brushes are packed more tightly than the iBeauty ones and therefore less streaky. You can tell from the picture above, the top brush is the iBeauty one and the bottom is Simple Glam Girls.

For the swatches, I used liquid foundation and a powder bronzer, the top swatches are the iBeauty oval brushes and the bottom ones are Simple Glam Girls brushes. The liquid foundation swatches look similar (although the iBeauty brushe absorbed a lot more of the liquid). For the powder bronzer swatches, you can tell the top swatch is a bit more patchy and uneven. The smallest oval brush in the iBeauty set is a bit thicker than the Simple Glam Girls brush so it gave a thicker swatch.

Since the iBeauty ones aren’t packed as tightly, it absorbs more of the liquid foundation and when you clean the brushes, it takes longer to clean them. When I run my finger along the brushes when they’re wet from cleaning, the Simple Glam Girls brushes’ bristles spring back into place, whereas the iBeauty brushes’ bristles clump together. The neck of the brushes is also sturdier on Simple Glam Girls brushes. The iBeauty ones, the neck of the brushes bends really easily. The oval brushes are so soft, I can’t wait to try the Unicorn or Perfect 10 brushes from Simple Glam Girls.

WINNER: Simple Glam Girls Lush Rose Gold Oval Brushes

The iBeauty brushes do a decent enough job, I think they are better with powdered products (like for contouring) since it absorbs so much liquid.

Have you tried oval brushes? What are your thoughts?

Love,

*I received the Simple Glam Girls brushes for free (just paid shipping) as part of their ambassador program, but I was not paid to write a review of any sort nor do I receive any commission if you use the discount code.

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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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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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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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Finding the Right Foundation Shade

August 16, 2017
Hi Everyone!

I am on the hunt for a new foundation and it’s taking me a while to find a shade that matches me (most of the ones I’ve been colour matched with are too light). I researched a few foundations beforehand to see which ones suit my skin type and which are highly recommended and rated. I usually walk around the store and swatch the foundations on my hand to see if I like the consistency and scent before I ask an associate to colour match me and get a sample. I’ve learned my lesson from previous times where I got colour matched on the spot and purchased that shade right away. The shades looked fine in the store, but once I went in natural lighting or dimmer lighting, it looked too pale.

I decided to put Sephora and Mac associates to the test- I wanted to see if the different associates would colour match me with the same shades. I went to multiple MACs and Sephoras. The lighting in Sephora is so bright that even a shade that’s actually too light looks like it matches you. In store, it looks like you’ve found a perfect match, but then you go somewhere with dimmer lighting and you look like a ghost. I know I can always warm up my foundation with some bronzer or a darker powder, but if I’m going to spend about $50-70 on a foundation, I want it to be a good match where I don’t have to darken it with powder.

Click here to see other foundation/concealer matches

Here are my findings:

MAC- I went to 3 MAC stores
- Studio Waterweight SPF 30 Foundation ($41 CAD)
  - Colour Match: NC20
  - All 3 ladies matched me with NC20. At 2 of the stores, they matched the foundation on my hand and at the 3rd store, the lady matched the foundation on my jawline and neck.
Sephora- I went to several Sephoras (one store I went twice, but on a different day)

Listed below are products that I like and plan to purchase in the future, so I got multiple samples of each:
- Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream ($37 CAD)
  - Colour Matches: Vanilla 02 (for light skin with neutral tones) and Bamboo 5.5 (light to medium skin golden tone)
  - 2 ladies matched me with Vanilla and 1 matched me with the Bamboo. Since this is a tinted cream, the shades weren’t completely off even though there are 4 shades between Vanilla and Bamboo. I think Vanilla matches better though because the Bamboo made my skin look a bit more yellow.
- Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Water Foundation ($51 CAD)
  - Colour Matches: Fair Neutral (fair skin with yellow and pink undertones) and Fair-Light Neutral (fair to light skin with yellow and pink undertones)
  - I got 2 samples of this foundation and one lady matched me with Fair Neutral and the other with Fair-Light Neutral. I think Fair-Light Neutral looks slightly better, the Fair neutral is a bit light.
The following foundations are colour matches by associates from Sephora, Nordstrom and Hudson’s Bay:
- Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat Radiance Awakening Foundation ($65 CAD)
  - Colour Match: BD10 Warm Porcelain
- Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation ($65 CAD)
  - Colour Match: No. 22 Rose
- Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation ($68 CAD)
  - Colour Match: 4
- Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream SPF 35 ($50 CAD)
  - Colour Match: Light
The following shades are ones I tried at the store and looked like a pretty close match:
- Burberry Fresh Glow Fluid Foundation ($62 CAD) OR Burberry Cashmere Foundation Fluid ($62 CAD)
  - Shade: Porcelain No. 11 or Ochre Nude No. 12
- Nars Sheer Glow Foundation ($59 CAD)
  - Shade: Fiji
I just bought a foundation and BB cream from Shoppers and The Body Shop:
- Maybelline Fit Me Foundation- Hydrate + Smooth ($5.99 CAD on sale at Shoppers)
  - 130 Buff Beige (I love how natural this foundation looks, but the undertone is a bit too pink for me)
- The Body Shop All-in-One BB Cream- Colour Adapting Tinted Cream ($23 CAD)
  - 01 (Lighter Skin Tones)
Foundations I currently own:
- Nars Sheer Glow Foundation ($59 CAD)
  - Deauville (way too light)
- Lancome Miracle Cushion Foundation ($50 CAD)
  - 025 Beige Naturel (a pretty good match)
- Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation ($52 CAD)
  - 120 = Y245 Soft Sand (a bit too light, but the next shade up, Y255, is too dark)
Thoughts: Before you spend $50-70 on a foundation, get 3 samples from Sephora from different people to see if different people match you with the same shade. Even one shade lighter or darker can make a huge difference.

Tip: For those of you looking for higher end makeup or skincare products. Go to Nordstrom!! They have sample containers and you can pump out or spoon out your own samples without asking an associate to help you! Make sure you close the lid tightly and properly. I recommend bringing a ziploc sandwich bag to put the samples in your purse. Mine exploded and by bringing a sandwich bag, I saved my Longchamp tote and all my things in my purse from getting ruined! You can even get your own samples of fragrances too!

See my other foundation matches and concealer shades.

What are your foundation recommendations (drugstore or designer)? I have normal/dry skin (dry nose area), I’d love to hear any suggestions if you have the same skin type!

Love,
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Review | Marcelle CC Concealer + Corrector

August 8, 2017

Hi Everyone!

I recently bought Marcelle’s CC Concealer + Corrector from Shoppers Drug Mart. I got the shade Light/Medium and it costs $12.95 CAD. I wanted to give a stick concealer a try, and I needed to spend $50 for free shipping, so I added it to my cart. It comes in a nice and sleek, white tube with a clear top. It was the winner of the 2015 Beauty Grand Prix by Elle for BEST CONCEALER UNDER $20. There are three reviews on the website giving it 5 stars saying that it’s hydrating and doesn’t crease. So I put the concealer to the test!

Conceals dark circles and corrects dark spots, all in one step!

Are the claims true?

As a concealer, it conceals dark circles, undereye puffiness, age spots and redness. It did conceal dark circles, but I feel like there are other concealers that do a better job.

As a corrector, it corrects and prevents the appearance of dark spots. I didn’t really try this to colour correct, but it did sort of conceal dark circles under my eyes. I only used it once, so I can’t say anything about preventing the appearance of dark spots. Unfortunately, it caused creasing under my eyes because it’s a dry formula.

I’m very sensitive to smell when it comes to beauty products. I can’t use scented lotions or hand sanitizers unless they have a fresh, fruity smell (and even then, there are times I have to draw the line). I tend to just avoid scented creams if I can. I also don’t like if a foundation or any makeup has a chemical smell. All makeup will have some sort of chemical smell, but sometimes there’s makeup that I can’t even use because I don’t like the smell. Whenever I’m at Sephora looking for a new foundation or concealer, I always give it a sniff to see if I can stand it. I was immediately turned off by the smell of the CC Concealer + Corrector. It smells like plastic, but that’s what happens when you order something online without seeing it in person first. Even then, Shoppers and Rexall don’t always have testers for the products.

In addition to the smell, the product looked kind of dry too, but appearances can be deceiving so I swatched it on my hand. Unfortunately, I was right, it didn’t run very smoothly against my skin (see below for pictures). I have Cover FX’s Correct Click Color Corrector, and it feels like a lipstick. It’s very smooth and blends nicely. The Marcelle concealer, on the other hand, feels gritty against your skin, I don’t know if I accidentally got some dirt in it, but I’ve wiped it a few times and it almost makes it look worse. I even swatched it on my parents to see if they felt it too and I wasn’t just imagining things. They agreed that it felt gritty. It almost feels like Tarte’s FRXXXTION Stick Exfoliating Cleanser (which I absolutely love, thanks to one of my best friend’s for introducing it to me). This is bad because this product is for the under eye area and that’s one of the most sensitive areas on your face. Regardless of the grittiness, I tried it out yesterday and noticed that it was creating creases under my eyes where I don’t have any.

RATING: 0/5

I give it a 0/5 because I didn’t like the smell or the fact that it was dry, but on top of that, I woke up this morning with a bit of a breakout. I basically exfoliated under my eyes yesterday and now my face is reacting to it. My mom said my eyes looked a bit puffy too, but that could be due to lack of sleep.

Thoughts: I’m an optimist, so I’d like to think that maybe there’s a chance I got an old one that dried out or it was faulty somehow, but this was a fail for me. I wouldn’t recommend this product especially with the fact that it’s for under your eyes and it feels so gritty. I don’t understand how this was rated the Best Concealer under $20 in 2015. Someone with oilier skin might like this product, but mine tends to be on the drier side. You could maybe mix this with an oil product to create a creamier consistency, but I am steering clear of stick foundations for the under eyes. I might give them a try for colour correcting though.

Marcelle is a Canadian company, so I want to support it as a fellow Canadian. This product is a pass for me, but I like their Velvet Gel Waterproof Lip Liner in Rosy Nude and the Rouge Xpression Lipstick in 901 Amour (it won the 2016 Beauty Grand Prix for BEST LIPSTICK UNDER $12).

I’ve heard good things about the Tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof 12-Hour Concealer and I have a colour-correcting concealer from Cover FX that runs smoothly, so I would assume that the Cover Click Concealer + Foundation is the same formula. Both the Tarte and Cover FX Concealers are a little more expensive.

My skin is more dry than oily (especially around my nose), so stick concealers aren’t the best for me, but the CC part of the Marcelle Concealer + Corrector interested me so I thought I would give it a try. I’ve heard rave reviews about the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer and Tarte Shape Tape, so I might give those a try.

What are your fave concealers?

Love,

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Micellar Water

Makeup Removing Cloth

Makeup Wipes

Eye Makeup Remover

Cleansing Balm

Baby Shampoo

Coconut Oil/Melt

Vaseline

Additional Tips & Tricks