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My Biggest Sephora Sale Haul Yet! | May 2019

May 14, 2019

Hi Everyone!

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you’ll know that I used to buy stuff from Sephora throughout the year at full price. I used to see Sephora hauls and wonder why people bought so much during the sale (10 or more products at a time) and would also buy backups of products. Now I know why! They’re stocking up in case they run out before the next sale! From now on, I will only buy makeup and skincare whenever there’s a sale. I made my biggest haul from Sephora and I split my purchases into three orders so that if it were to get lost or stolen, I wouldn’t lose all of the products.

Some of the products that I bought were on my wishlist in January and October I bought enough products that I shouldn’t need to buy anything until the next sale comes around and to be honest, I am pretty close to my yearly budget already.

Check out my blog post on my new beauty budget

SKINCARE

Youth To The People Cleanser + Cream Youth Duo Mini

Youth To The People Superberry Hydrate and Glow Oil

Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel

MAKEUP

Winky Lux Whipped Primer

Touch In Sol No Poreblem Primer

NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer in Alaska

Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Self-Setting Concealer in 21 Cinnamon

Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder in Medium

bareMinerals Gen Nude Powder Blush in That Peach Tho

Kevyn Aucoin The Precision Brow Pencil in Dark Brunette

Charlotte Tilbury Legendary Brows Eyebrow Gel in Perfect Brow

Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil: Eye, Lip & Brow Pencil in 502 Infinite Sand

Jouer Cosmetics Essential Lip Enhancer Balm

Sephora Favorites Lashstash To Go

MAKEUP TOOLS

Morphe Highlight & Contour Beauty Sponge

Cinema Secrets Makeup Brush Cleaner Mini

Love,

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Sephora 2019 Wishlist

January 25, 2019
Hi Everyone!

I’m on a no buy/low buy this year, but it doesn’t mean I can’t window shop and get a bunch of samples to test out until I find my HG (holy grail) products.

I have quite a few primer/foundation/concealer products on my wishlist since I want to have a selection of different things, i.e. different formulations (liquid, powder, cream), different coverages (sheer, medium), mattifying vs. smoothing vs. hydrating…the list goes on!

Also, as a beauty blogger, I want to keep trying new things (even if I’ve found something I love). Maybe I will find something else even better!

I have some new products on the list and I have some cult faves that I want to try (I’m slow to the game, I know!):
- Winky Lux Whipped Cream Primer
- RMS Beauty Un Cover-Up Concealer/Foundation
- Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Concealer
- Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer
- Milk Makeup Flex Concealer
- Becca Hydra-Mist Set & Refresh Powder
- Laura Mercier Blush Colour Infusion
- Marc Jacobs Enamored Hydrating Lip Gloss Stick
Here are some products that I’m planning to get samples of:
- Dior Forever Skin Glow 24h Wear Radiant Perfection Skin-Caring Foundation
- Laura Mercier Flawless Lumière Radiance-Perfecting Foundation
- Benefit Hello Happy Soft Blur Foundation
- Hourglass Vanish Seamless Liquid Foundation
- Milk Makeup Blur Liquid Matte Foundation
- Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Liquid Highlighter
- Marc Jacobs Dew Drops Coconut Gel Highlighter
In addition, I also have a few products that were recommended to me by others that I want to try:
- NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer
- Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer
- IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream
What’s on your wishlist?

Love,
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Worth It? | Dior Backstage Face & Body Foundation

July 16, 2018
Hi Everyone!

When I heard that Dior was coming out with a collection that was geared towards a younger demographic, I was intrigued. I heard it would be a little more affordable and trendier than the classic Dior you think of when you hear the name. I have been looking into getting one of the foundations and I was settled on Diorskin Star Fluid Foundation. But, when I heard that the new Backstage Collection was going to be releasing 40 foundation shades (thank you, Rihanna- I know a lot of other brands had a good shade selection before, but it wasn’t until Fenty Beauty released 40 that other brands started to realize, “hey, we should be more inclusive too”). It’s especially hard to find your shade with a high end brand like Dior. The Diorskin Star Foundation barely has 20 shades, so it’s nice to see that the Backstage Face & Body Foundation has 40 shades that include different undertones.

The Dior Backstage Face & Body Foundation comes in a translucent plastic bottle (so you can see how much product is left) that has a matte feel and it has a squeeze bottle spout. It’s not like the bottle is squishy, but you can squeeze it so more foundation comes out. The plastic spout looks like it can be removed easily, so you can take off the top and use a spatula to get the last drop when you’re almost done. The silver cap twists off and when you put the cap on, it kind of locks in place so you know it’s twisted on properly. The foundation is quite fluid and when I first opened the bottle, the liquid spurted out a bit.

The foundation has a matte finish with medium-buildable coverage. It’s lightly scented like the other Dior foundations- I actually like it. It’s a refreshing scent that you can’t smell once you put it on your face. With the Diorskin Star Foundation, my shade is 020, so I decided to wing it and order 2N for this foundation. I think it’s a pretty good match for blindly choosing one. I was worried at first because I watched a few reviews and they said it oxidized, so I thought I should’ve chose a lighter one.

A foundation for the face and body in 40 shades with a natural, matte finish and medium, buildable coverage that’s waterproof and sweat-resistant.

Dior Backstage Face and Body Foundation is the Dior makeup artists’ secret weapon to create a flawless, runway-ready complexion for both the face and body. This waterproof formula fuses with skin, resisting extreme conditions like workout sessions, water, and even high temperatures and humid environments. It can also be used to camouflage minor imperfections on the neck, shoulders, legs, or anywhere else.

Sweatproof?

I’ve been wearing it in this Toronto weather (pretty hot) and it’s hard to tell if it’s sweat or the oils on my t-zone, but it has been breaking up in the t-zone area.

Waterproof?

It’s waterproof enough to stay put after being put underwater. I splashed some water on my face and it didn’t come off. Also, the foundation on my hand was still on after running it under water and rubbing it lightly. So, if you were to get caught in the rain, you’d be safe, but I was able to remove the foundation with water and my makeup eraser (read my review).

Wear Test

I tried it with a beauty sponge on one side of my face and a brush on the other- both applied beautifully. I think I would use a brush to apply since I don’t want my sponge absorbing all of the product. Also, since it doesn’t have a pump and it’s more liquid than other foundations, I can’t tell how much I’m actually using.

Test #1

Primer used: Sonia Roselli Water Balm (read my review)

With the Sonia Roselli Water Balm, it looked flawless! Of course, I needed to use concealer to cover up dark spots, but it looked like my skin. To test its longevity, I didn’t powder my t-zone and by the 2nd hour, it was breaking up on and around my nose and chin. This was on a hot day and after doing a little arm workout (where I didn’t quite work up a sweat). By the 4th hour, it was basically gone from under my nose. I don’t know if it was from the heat or if I didn’t use as much as I thought, but when I removed it with a makeup wipe, there wasn’t as much foundation on the wipe as I usually do.

Test #2

Primer used: Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizer Primer (Smoothing), Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Oil

Powder used: Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder

I tried building up the coverage with two layers of foundation and set it with powder. By the second hour, it looked horrible- it was collecting around my nose. The makeup felt heavy and looked cakey.

Test #3

Primer used: Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizer Primer (Hydrating)

Powder used: Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder

By the 3rd hour, the foundation was settling into fine lines between my brows (making it look like I had wrinkles) and wore off under my nose. It didn’t look terrible, but it would require a touch up.

Test #4

Primer used: Sonia Roselli Water Balm

Sunscreen used: Vichy Idéal Soleil Anti-Shine Dry Touch Lotion SPF60 (read my review)

Powder used: Innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Powder

Less than 2 hours after applying, it looked powdery and was collecting around the nose. I think the sunscreen made the foundation apply on top of my skin, creating a layer on top of my skin instead of sinking into the skin.

Test #5

Primer used: Stellar Brilliant Primer

This was the worst combo. Since the primer doesn’t hydrate, it accentuated my dry spots.

Test #6

Primers used: Smashbox Photo Finish Reduce Redness Primer, Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Oil (on t-zone)

Setting Spray: NYX Makeup Setting Spray (Matte)

Powder: Bare Minerals barePRO Performance Wear Pressed Powder Foundation in Cashmere 06

I mixed the Dior foundation with my Lancôme Skin Feels Good Skin Nourishing Foundation in 01N Nude Vanilla (read my review). It looked absolutely flawless!! After wearing it for six hours when I was out in the heat, you could tell it broke up a bit on my chin, but around my nose, it still looked pretty good.

Worth It?

This foundation is worth it if you’re looking for a natural matte finish. This foundation is beautiful, but I don’t think it will become a staple in my foundation lineup. Lately, I’ve been into radiant, natural finishes to give that glow from within look and since this one has a matte finish, it’s not what I’m looking for in a foundation.

The winning combination for me was Test #6.
- Sonia Roselli Water Balm as a moisturizer and primer
- Using a smoothing primer to minimize the appearance of pores on my cheeks and forehead
- Smashbox Primer Oil on and around my nose
- Mixing the Dior Foundation with the Lancome Skin Feels Good Skin Nourishing Foundation
- To set, I dabbed some Bare Minerals powder on my t-zone to get rid of the shine and used my NYX setting spray.
RATING: 4/5

I have to dock a point for the packaging- no pump and it’s in a plastic bottle. I know that the plastic packaging is so that it’s more portable and won’t break if you throw into your bag, but if I’m paying more than $40, I expect a pump and a glass bottle. I just prefer pumps because then I know how much I’m using. It’s hard to tell if I’m squeezing out the same amount each time.

Have you tried products from the Dior Backstage collection?

Love,
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My Makeup Desk Reveal!

January 4, 2018

Hi Everyone!

I finally got around to cleaning up my makeup desk so that I could take pictures of it to show you. My room now looks like an IKEA catalog (Every large piece of furniture except my bed, a bookcase and chair is from IKEA).

I have two desks in my room, the Micke Desk that I originally bought as my makeup desk is now my ‘office’ desk and I am using my old desk (tabletop and two legs plus drawer unit on one side) from school as my makeup desk. It’s also better that I use my old desk that’s already scratched up because I don’t have any glass to protect the tabletop and I would keep having to wipe the Micke desk to keep it pristine and white. My old tabletop already has scratches and marks. I originally got the Micke desk because it had the two drawers, but I needed more room and the Alex 5-drawer unit was on sale and, my dad made the mistake of asking me if I wanted it. Like any other makeup lover, I just had to have it for my makeup desk! I would’ve loved it even more if I could’ve gotten two (one for each side), but I can always buy it in the future.

Linnmon Table top | White | $9.99

Adils legs x 4 | Silver | $5 each ($20 total, but if you use the Alex drawer unit on one side, you only need two)

Alex Drawer unit (5 drawers) | White | $80 (it was on sale for $69)

For my wall colour, I chose Valspar’s Gravity. My room has been a sky blue ever since I was a kid and it was time to choose a more sophisticated colour. I went with a light gray because my room has a regular-sized window that doesn’t let a lot of light in and I needed my room to be bright enough to do my makeup. If my window was bigger, I would’ve chosen a darker gray. In pictures, it doesn’t look like my wall colour has changed and to be honest, in person, it doesn’t look a whole lot different from the blue.

It took me a while to find a chair I liked. Some were too high and others too low for my desk. I considered benches, stools, and shorter bar stools. I finally settled on a metal-framed chair with armrests from Structube. Sometimes when I’m sitting, I’m only sitting on the ledge of the chair, I’m not fully sitting in it. Because of this, it sometimes makes a creaking noise when I move because my weight isn’t distributed evenly on the chair. I bought the white shag rug for the floor, but I like having it over my chair like a blanket, plus if I had put it on the floor, I think I would accidentally get makeup on it.

Eiffel Chair | White | $49

Tejn Rug | $14.99

TRLYC Rose Gold and Silver Reversible Mermaid Sequin Pillow Case | $12.56 (I got mine for $11.99)

I’ve always loved mermaid sequined things; the ones where you can run your hand across it one way and it’s one colour and you go the opposite way and the sequins are a different colour on the underside. I got a custom-size version of a mermaid sequin pillow case (I had a 14×14 pillow, but they sell 16×16). If you want a custom one, you just need to contact the seller. The underside of the sequins aren’t silver, they’re white (in flash pictures or some angles, it appears silver, but they are definitely rose gold and white).

I specifically bought a tall bookcase to display my shoes. To put a spin on the regular shoe display, I added some foil art and clutches to add some colour and metallics since my shoes are mostly black or nude. I would’ve loved to get the Billy Bookcase, but I had to save money somewhere. The bookcase I bought was a deal at $29, but it comes with non-adjustable shelves and a backing that was folded into three so you can see the three lines (the display picture is misleading, it has a cardboard-like backing that was folded into three parts when I was taking it out of the box).

Gersby Bookcase | $29

I bought Ribba picture ledges to display my nail polish. They no longer sell the Ribba ones, but they sell ones that are wider for the same price as I got mine ($9.99). I’m glad I was able to get the Ribba ones because the new ones are almost twice as wide and it would be a waste not to display a second row of nail polish bottles, but then it wouldn’t look as clean and organized unless you have a lot of the same brand of nail polish. I have a lot more nail polish than what I have on the shelves, but I displayed my OPIs because I have more of those and it gives it a more uniform look. I also decided to put my perfume on the top shelf instead of having two rows of nail polish and I added a framed piece of DIY art that I made from perfume sample cards.

Mosslanda Picture ledge (55cm) | White | $9.99

I bought a countertop light for above my mirror. I attached it to an L-Shaped piece of wood that my dad made from two wood scraps. The light had several components to it:

Omlopp LED countertop light 24″ | White | $42
Ansluta Power Supply Cord| $5.99
Ansluta Electronic Transformer | $14
Ansluta Remote Control | $16.99 (optional)

The first three parts are required, you obviously need the light, but then you need the power cord and electronic transformer for the light to be plugged in. The remote control was extra, but I thought it was cool and also be more handy to turn the light on than having to find the cord every time I put my makeup on.

In the corner, between the wall and my desk, I have a utility cart (that I got for free from my sister- if I had bought one, I would’ve gotten white or something lighter) to hold the rest of my products: skincare, more nail polish, hair stuff. The Alex drawer holds my makeup and hair tools. I took off the wheels because with the wheels, it’s taller than my desk and I didn’t like that.

Raskog Utility cart | black | $34.99

BEFORE

This was my original makeup setup (I don’t have any shots of it from afar). I had my makeup displayed on top of a bookcase where I sat on a stool. All I had for light was the mirror’s (my ceiling light was behind me so I would always be doing my makeup in dim lighting. My large mirror was on the adjacent wall.

The next picture is a few months into redecorating. It was after I knew the general layout of how I wanted things, but before I got a new chair, switched my desks and added the light on top. I took away the necklace hooks and I might put them on the adjacent wall, I still haven’t decided yet.

AFTER

If you’re wondering why my reflection isn’t visible, it’s because I’m kneeling down to take the picture…despite my sleeping habits, I’m not a vampire.

What does your dream makeup desk/vanity look like?

Love,

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