Friday, December 27, 2013

Skindinävia No More Shine Makeup Finish review

Setting/finishing sprays were another thing that I was exploring last Fall and after looking at multiple reviews, I decided to try Skindinävia! My friend's sister and I decided to split The Kit which is a set of their two best sellers - No More Shine Makeup Finishing Spray and Original Makeup Finishing Spray. We decided to get the 8 oz. bottles because it only cost $10 more than the 4 oz. kit! They were also having FREE Shipping & FREE Travel-Size Makeup Finishing Spray for international orders over $40 so it seemed like a really good deal. (This seems like an everyday deal though because it's always on the website, but with a different "now through" date) I wanted to keep the travel size so that I could try both sprays so me and my friend decided to split it according to volume. In the end, one 8 oz. bottle ends up being $27 total! Really awesome deal considering the 4 oz. sells for $29 by itself.



No More Shine Makeup Finish "controls shine and absorbs oil over face and t-zone while preventing makeup slippage. Formulated for oily skin types. For best results: Apply before and after makeup. Spray 2-4 times in an "X" and "T" formation."

I have been using this spray on a regular basis for about 7 months now and it really does seem to help makeup last a lot longer! At first, I would spray it on top after finishing makeup application but now I spray it on before. This seems to work just as well but I find that I actually do get the best results when sprayed before and after application (good thing we chose 8 oz.).

Another plus is that when sprayed after makeup, it helps take away any cakiness! In terms of oil control, I don't think this one really helps at all as I still need to blot after 4-5 hours (which is usual). The only major problem with this is that the nozzle makes spraying it a bit difficult. It's just regular spray bottle but for some reason, it just doesn't come out very well. You cannot cover your entire face with one spray so you are required to make multiple sprays (but 1-2 spritzs is sometimes sufficient). They should change that nozzle with the one they put on the travel size because that one works really well and one spritz can cover your full face. Despite the faulty nozzle, it doesn't really waste much product and even with daily use, there is still half the bottle left.

I have used the Original spray a few times and it performs just as well as the No More Shine. They also have a Bridal Makeup Finish and I think I want to try that next. Hey, not only brides need perfect makeup ;)

Monday, December 16, 2013

Benefit Cosmetics Gettin' Cheeky! review + swatch

Benefit is quickly becoming one of my favourite high-end/Sephora brands. They have really great tints, value kits, mini sized products available, and very attractive packaging. I've only bought 3 Benefit products but I have tried a lot of samples and the Sephora Benefit birthday gift and loved most of it :) The product for review today was actually a birthday gift too, but I was actually contemplating on getting it a while back.



Gettin' Cheeky! is a set of three mini tints: Posietint, Cha Cha Tint, and Sun Beam. Each comes in a little 4.0 mL/0.13 oz. bottle. It is miniature packaging of the full sizes (0.42 oz.) so they also have the nail polish like brush for application. This is a limited edition Sephora exclusive product.



Posietint: Benefit's Posietint is a petal-pink stain that plants a kiss of see-through tint on cheeks and lips. With hours of smudge-proof, just-picked perfection, you'll be the prettiest bloom in the bunch! 

Cha Cha Tint: This mango-tinted stain beautifully blushes lips and cheeks with a tropical sunset hue. Smooch-proof and smudge-proof, this sheer stain will have you looking deliciously sun-kissed for hours.

Sun Beam: Consider this liquid sunshine in a bottle. This golden bronze highlighter gives you a natural, sunkissed radiance. Dot and blend over makeup onto cheek and browbones for a bronzed glow that complements all skintones.




I don't entirely know how to use Sun Beam so I have barely touched that one but I like using Posietint and Cha Cha Tint a lot! Posietint provides a natural flush on your cheeks that seems to last all day (or at least the work day). I mainly use it on my lips and it gives a nice pink tint while still looking very natural so it is a nice MLBB? lol. Cha Cha Tint is also great for the cheeks and stains all day. It's a bit too bright for year round wear so it seems like a more summer shade and I stopped wearing it a couple months ago but will occasionally use a bit on my lips. Both tints are really great and even with daily use, these sizes have lasted me over 3 months. When the bottle finally finishes, I think I will splurge to get Posietint (since I still have another mini Cha Cha Tint). To finish off, here are the swatches:



stains blended out (1 layer)

Sephora had their Benetint as a 100 point perk a few months ago so I snagged two of those! They also have a new Lollitint which looks really gorgeous so I'm thinking of getting that next year to build up VIB status again :)

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Black Friday 2013 Haul!

This is quite delayed but here is my Black Friday Haul for this year. Since we live in Canada, this is still a new concept for us so the deals are not as great as the States, but it's still better than nothing. I'm not sure when we first got Black Friday, but I remember a few stores having sales last year. I was waiting until my Sephora online order came in to make a post and it did last week so here's my Black Friday haul:



From Sephora:
- Josie Maran Argan Hand Healer
- Lorac Fan Favourite Duo
- Clean Rollerball Set (bought in store)
- Philosophy's purity made simple (bought in store)
- Boscia Pore Perfection Set

These were $12 CAD each and using the VIB 10% off code (V436CB), I got them for $10.80 woohoo! I took this opportunity to buy some gifts for my friend and to let other friends get in on the discount too but most of those are wrapped so no pictures, sorry! The purity was sold out online before I could get on so I went to get it in the store. It was advertised as 12 oz. for $12 so I didn't look at the bottle when I grabbed it. Turns out, I only got 8 oz.! My friend managed to get 12 oz. so it seems like they just ran out of that size. Since they will probably have it again during Boxing Day, I'm going to try to get the 12 oz. then ;) They gave me a sample of Benefit's Hello Flawless foundation, which was nice, but it was in a light shade even though I'm a medium...

This is my haul from other stores (sorry for the Sephora repeats):



- Aritzia's TNA Verbier Parka 10% off
- 3 tops from aerie 40% off entire store + free tote
- Nano Vidal Sassoon hair dryer $10 (returned this because it wasn't hot enough)
- WD Elements 1 TB External Hardrive $59.99 Future Shop door crasher
- Hollister sweater 40% off entire store

Oh I also got about $50 in Lindt chocolate! oops. They were having 50% off boxed chocolate so I got 2 boxes of specialty truffles, a small box each of the snowman truffles and regular milk truffles, as well as 2 boxes of assorted truffles :D

All in all, this seemed like a great haul since I managed to get some clothes and a new winter jacket! Aerie was also giving out a free blanket along with the tote for purchases over $45 but they ran out by the time I got there :( It actually looked like a nice blanket too, which makes me kind of regret not going to the mall at lunch, but at least I got a tote right?


http://mallimages.mallfinder.com/sales/2137032226/blackfriday.jpg

Saturday, December 14, 2013

Ipsy December 2013 Glam Bag Review

Woohoo, I finally decided to subscribe to a beauty subscription! Since Christmas is coming, I decided to try one bag as a little Christmas treat to myself. I received my Ipsy Glam Bag on the 11th I think and it came in the mail in its usual hot pink metallic bubble mailer. This definitely added to the excitement of getting my first subscription bag!



This glam bag was a black plastic pouch that was nice and sleek looking. It has red inside lining, a diamond texture design and an 'ipsy' zipper pull.



Now for the good stuff! My glam bag this month came with:
- Mirabella Eye Blender Brush ($27)
- POP Beauty Bright Up Your Life Eye Shadow Trio in Naturally Bare (approx. $8.08)
- Be a Bombshell The One Stick in Sunset ($16)
- Nicka K New York Nail Color in NY 139 Ripe Apple ($4.99)
- J. Cat Beauty Big Lip Pencil in Caramel Mocha ($3.99)

Total Value = approximately $60



I only tested these products a little bit and so far the Big Lip Pencil seems the most disappointing. The colour is really unflattering and slightly orange like so it really doesn't seem like I'll be using it at all. The One Stick is shade of pink-red and looks like a natural flushed when worn sheer on the cheeks (seems alright for lips too!). The eyeshadow trio has really great neutral colours and is also fairly pigmented. The nail polish was also a bit disappointing since I specifically did not select 'nail colour' in the Ipsy quiz since I really do have a lot :S but it is a nice shade of red that's perfect for the holidays. Lastly, the eye blender brush has really soft bristles but the metal handle makes it a bit too heavy. This is my third blending brush, but I guess you can never have too many? haha

This bag was a good value (since the brush already costs $27) but I feel like this will be my only Glam Bag and I will stick with my plan to unsubscribe. To finish off, here's swatches of the eyeshadow, lip pencil, and bombshell stick:



Left to Right: eggshell, toasted taupe, and cinnamon



Top: J.Cat Beauty The Bit Lip Pencil in Caramel Mocha; Bottom: Be a Bombshell The One Stick in Sunset

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Too Faced Primed & Poreless Skin Smoothing Face Primer review + swatch

This product was the one I chose to replace that awful Smashbox Photo Finish Light. I bought this last April during the time Sephora was having their Chic Week so it was 15% off! Whoopee for discounts :) I wasn't very Sephora crazy at that moment (and it was final exam season) so I think that was the only product I bought that term. If I wasn't so busy, I definitely would have taken full advantage of this discount!


http://dy6g3i6a1660s.cloudfront.net/CmFc-NmOYpHhcTbHahoXQAPoA-g/sc-e6/too-faced-primed--poreless-face-primer.jpg

"A makeup primer scientifically formulated to achieve the look of flawless skin without makeup."

This primer was definitely a step up compared to Smashbox. At first use, it was very different from the Smashbox one because it has a thicker consistency and is also very nude coloured, therefore making it feel less like a cream. There is no smell to it, so that is also a benefit. When applied, it definitely makes your skin smoother and does seem to minimize pores a bit! I'm not sure where I read this, but someone once said that you need to wait a few minutes for the primer to absorb into your skin before applying foundation so I usually wait 2 - 3 minutes. Another great thing is that you need a really little amount since you don't need to apply it all over your face (I only apply on my T-zone). Even if you did need to apply it all over, it still won't take a lot of product to do that.




In terms of oil control, it does help quite a bit, I'd say it .controls oil for a good 4 - 5 hours but it really does help to keep make-up on my face. I don't think this has reached the standard of "holy grail" for me yet but it was a much needed improvement :D Another benefit of this is that it lasts really long! I've been mainly using this since last April (tried a few primer samples here and there) and there is still half left! It costs $38 so it is still quite pricey, but it seems like a good investment.

Saturday, November 30, 2013

Urban Decay 24/7 Vintage Glide-On Eye Pencil review + swatch

Hey there! It seems that I'm in my procrastination mood again and blogging instead of studying (final in a week). Today I have decided to review everyone's beloved Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil. They were on sale for $7.50 so I had included 2 pencils in my friend's online Sephora order so she could make the shipping threshold but then since my birthday was coming up, she just gave them to me as a gift!

The eyeliners that I got were actually the 'vintage' ones so I guess these were the colours they chose to discontinue before they changed their formula? I'm not entirely sure but anyway, the colours that I got were 1999 and Gunmetal. Although the formula probably changed, I believe that these two pencils have the same packaging as the current 24/7 pencils. They are the same size as a regular eyeliner pencil and have a nice silver plastic cover.

1999 is a really nice eggplant colour with a bit of a sparkle. They have a creamy consistency and really do glide on easily (similar to MAC's Pearlglide eyeliner). They are fairly pigmented and do seem to last really long (most of the day) but are not immune to the usual pencil smudging that most  eyeliner pencils suffer. Gunmetal is quite similar to the eyeshadow colour they sell which is described as a "dark metallic grey with silver micro-glitter". It has the same type of application and staying power as 1999 but the problem with this colour is that there is fall out from the glitter :( A friend pointed out that I should try an eyeliner primer so next time I use it, I'll try that and see if there is still fall out.



With flash (1999 on the left, Gunmetal on the right)  

All in all, these seem like great eyeliners and are great for anyone that wants a more bold eyeliner look since they come in multiple different colours. I was disappointed with Gunmetal, but I have no problems with 1999. They sell for $23 at Sephora so they are pricey but they also come in eyeliner value sets and are sometimes packaged with Urban Decay's palettes.

Saturday, November 23, 2013

Sephora VIB Sale Haul 2013

This is the first year that I have ever been Sephora VIB (thanks to my other make-up obsessed friend and my mom with her skincare products) so I was able to get the 20% off a few weekends ago. Even though it was the same weekend as IMATS, I still managed to make two online orders over $75 to get free shipping :P

It took a while for everything to come (too many orders were placed I guess) but the second and final package came today. I was a little disappointed to see that most of my samples were substituted because that has never happened before, but oh well. Here is the haul:
- Urban Decay Naked Palette (woo finally! long debate between 1 and 2)
- Ole Henriksen Power Peel 2x treatment
- Benefit Gimme Brow in light/medium
- Too Faced Primed & Perfected To Go Duo
- Too Faced Tan Without the Twinkle
- Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Finishing Powder
- Tarte Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer (to get a friend the discount)



I have yet to try it all, but I'm sure it will be great. Black Friday sale is coming (not really sure why Canada needs this) and there will be some Sephora deals for $12 and under $20, so hopefully I don't go too crazy then too.....

EDIT: Some Black Friday deals have been posted ($12 CAD) and I kinda want 5 or more things oops.

Maybelline Color Tattoo Review + Swatches

Hello readers! (Does anyone actually read this blog? If so, please leave a comment!). I have finally decided to make a review for the famous Maybelline Color Tattoo cream eyeshadows :) These eyeshadows are very creamy and have a similar consistency Benefit's Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow, but at a fraction of the price! I bought these a while ago but I believe that they were $5.99 on sale and and $6.95 regular price at Wal-Mart.

They all seem to be very pigmented and have a long wear time. They go on very smoothly and do not become "scaley" looking when you apply more than one coat. This was a problem with the Benefit cream shadow so it's great to know that not all cream shadows have that problem. Another great thing about these shadows is that they do not dry out easily! I remember reading stories about how cream based products dry out in a few months but I've had these for almost a year and they are still in great condition. They are also very great for eyeliner and seem to last the whole day :) (Well at least 8 hours or so). In my opinion, they seem decently priced and are great for those that cannot afford high-end shadows/already enjoy cream products. If you are hesitant, maybe wait until they're on sale or if you have a coupon :P

There are four colours I have and have swatched are: 75 Electric Blue, 30 Pomegranate Punk, 55 Inked in Pink, and 45 Bold Gold. They all have flecks of sparkle but are still quite metallic-y and since they have sparkle instead of glitter, there is no fallout.





From left to right: Pomegranate Punk, Inked in Pink, Bold Gold, Electric Blue

Electric Blue is very blue and sapphire like. I have yet to find an occasion to wear something that bold so I mainly use it as eyeliner. It is part of the Metal collection of Color Tattoos.


Bold Gold is a very yellow gold and definitely a bold choice for anyone that wants. Despite it being so gold, it isn't too much for day wear and can be used for somewhat of a neutral eye? (Please ignore the eyeliner swatch below it)


Inked in Pink is yet another shacodow from the metal collection and is a pale pink. This one would also be okay for day wear if blended properly but would also look pretty for special occasions!

Lastly, Pomegranate Punk! It is a very dark mix of pink and plum but I find it blends well with Inked in Pink. Like Electric Blue, I mostly use this for eyeliner to add a bit of colour to my eyes :)

There are several different shades of Color Tattoos and I would love to try them all! However, I have too many eyeshadows (and just got the Naked Palette!) but if I ever ran out/one of them dried out, I will probably try a new colour :)

Sunday, November 17, 2013

IMATS Toronto 2013 Experience and Haul!

After seeing many beauty guru vlogs about it, I finally got to go to IMATS! It was last weekend on November 9 & 10 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Since I have another friend also into makeup, we decided to go together and got an early start by trying to get there right at 8:30 when it opened :) I did a lot of research on the vendors and previous IMATS beforehand so I knew which products I wanted and what prices to estimate. This was my first IMATS and my first time in Metro in a while so I didn't really know what to expect. Let's get right to the haul! Sorry I only have a phone camera picture.



I came with a list of stuff to get and I got everything on it :) Plus a few more...so I kinda went over my budget haha. This is what I got:




IMATS Price
Regular Price
Beauty Blender Duo
$24
$37.29
Make Up Forever Aqua Liner in 6, 13, and 14
3 x $18 = $54
3 x $30.51 = $91.53
Bdellium 940 pink
$7
$10.80
945 green
$7
$9.68
781 green
$5
$7.92
942 green
$7
$9.68
785 green
$5
$7.92
934 green
$5
$7.04
Royal & Langnickel brush roll
$10
$29.99 USD
MAC Chromaline in Black Black
$20.79
$25.99
OPI full size polish
6 for $30
6 x $11.13 =  $66.78
OPI mini size polish
$0.50 x 7 = $3.50
$2.83 x 7 = $19.78
Beauty so Clean brush cleaner in Cake Pop and Candy Cane
2 x $5 = $10
2 x $10 = $20
Total
$188.29
$344.40

Wow I actually saved a lot more than I realized. The best savings were probably at MUFE, where everything was 40% off! Classique Nails had good deals too since they were selling full size OPI for $30 for 6 and a bunch of minis for just $0.50! I definitely got more nail polish than I should have. They also had really good deals on Essie, China Glaze, and other top brands.


How far did I stray from my list? The main stray was at the nail polish because I only intended to get OPI Scatter the Scales and Essie Good to Go but they had neither of them :( At MUFE, I had only intended to get an Aqua Eyes and the travel size HD Finish Powder but since I once got Aqua Eyes for $12 at boxing day, I decided to just wait and they did not have the powder in travel size there. I did somewhat intend on getting an Aqua Liner...but getting 3 was too excessive :P Bdellium Tools was a problem for me too because the brushes were so colourful and tempting! I had a list of 5 brushes but ended up not liking 2 yet somehow still got 6 brushes haha.


Aside from the massive amounts of money spending, it was really fun! I got to see make up artists at work during the show and even sat down for a few demonstrations/talks. One was the 50 years of Doctor Who, a special effects sculptist, MAC session, and Battle of the Brushes. It was really fun to explore and look at all the different brands since a lot of them didn't have easily accessible shops in the GTA. There were a lot of special effect makeup and make-up artist tools as well so it was interesting to see all the different kinds. Now for some pictures!













My favourite one of the day! She was also really awesome at her model poses as well.

To summarize, I had a great day and really enjoyed seeing everything at IMATS. It seems to me like it is only a thing to go to yearly if you really have expendable income and are super crazy about makeup. Every 2 or 3 years seems like a better thing since girls only need so much makeup :P Will I go again? Definitely! but probably not until 2015 :)


P.S. I also made two Sephora orders that weekend (with the help of my friends) and thoroughly abused the 20% off VIB sale. Get ready for another haul when those packages arrive!

Monday, October 28, 2013

Korres Lip Butter review + swatch

Lip butters are really great for anyone that wants something moisturizing that also gives some colour to lips. The first lip butter I ever tried was of course the Revlon Colorstay Lip Butters! I loved it so much that I got 3: Pink Truffle, Sugar Plum and Brown Sugar! My favourite is Pink Truffle and although I still use it often, I wanted something that was more sheer and bright colour for summer/fall. After much research, I decided to try the Korres Lip Butter! (I was debating between that and a tinted Sugar Rose Lip Treatment but those were too expensive). Since I wanted it for the summer, my choice was Pomegranate which is a "sheer coral".

Korres - Lip Butter

"A rich, buttery lip balm that melts on the lips and offers a shiny, tinted finish."

My lips are already a little bit pigmented so when I apply this butter, I think that it shows up a bit darker than it should but I like it that way! It applies on sheer, but not too sheer that my natural lip colour shines through. This shade is very good for an everyday lip colour and can probably be used in the winter too. In terms of moisturizing, it makes lips feel very smooth and seems like it would be sufficient for the winter too. I use it as a lip balm sometimes if I can't find mine and it feels very moisturizing. As the description says, the finish is a bit shiny, however it is not as shiny as a lip gloss and is a very light shine.



It is very easy to apply and will go on lips very smoothly. The staying power seems okay, I'd say about 2-3 hours or so, but some of it will come off when you eat or drink. This is in my makeup bag for work so it is easy for me to just touch up when I am lacking some colour.

Lastly, unlike Revlon's lip butter, this one comes in a little jar so you have to use your fingers to apply. That would have to be the biggest con of this lip butter, but other than that, I am very pleased with it and will probably try another colour whenever I finish this one :)

You can buy this at Sephora for $16.

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Friday, October 4, 2013

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer Light



This product was probably one of my first big purchases from Sephora and was also the most disappointing. After I started getting more into makeup (about a year ago), I read all about primers and this one seemed to have really great reviews. This was also around the time that I started my co-op work term so I needed something that would help make my makeup last and help control shine. Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer Light was supposed to be the one for oily skin so I decided to give it a go! Something that really enticed me to buy it was that I noticed that the Sephora website was selling both the 1.7 oz. and the 1.0 oz. for $44 so I decided to take advantage of this and order the 1.7 oz. online! Although it was still very expensive, it seemed like it would be very worth while since it was such a large tube that was supposed to last for a long time.


Smashbox - Photo Finish Foundation Primer Light

"A water-based, lightweight foundation primer. Perfect for oily, acne-prone, or sensitive skin, this oil-free, 60% water based primer refreshes on contact while oil absorbers provide a smooth, matte finish all day."

Although it says water based, I have heard that it is silicone based, so I'm not entirely sure what the 40% is. Whatever the base, it squeezes out like a thick white cream and is quite easy to spread.There is a light chemical smell but this goes away quickly. It takes about 2 minutes to disappear into your skin but I've heard that you should wait about 5 minutes for primers to fully sink in :S After it is absorbed, it makes skin smoother, allowing for an easier foundation application. After a few weeks of using it, I realized that this product really doesn't do anything. It did not really make my skin any smoother, pores look any smaller, or help control oil :( It seems more just like some expensive cream, but it doesn't moisturize very well! This was a product I definitely regretted and have tried another primer since then, that I am actually quite content with.



 

Conclusion: This is a product that performs too little for the price you have to pay.

EDIT: I have since then returned this for store credit because I heard of Sephora's awesome return policy! Yay

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel review + swatch

Here is the first of the many reviews I will do for Clinique products. I used to use their foundation and would only get it when it came with the bonus from the Bay/Sears so I have accumulated quite a few of their samples over time.

First up is the Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel. I decided to buy this after reviews said that it would be good for oily skin. It is a nice yellow colour and has a gel texture which makes it feel a bit cool when you first apply it to your skin. The back of the bottle says: "This oil-free formula works to soften, smooth, and improve the texture and condition of your skin. Apply twice a day. For best results, use after Facial Soap and Clarifying Lotion." It is meant to be for Combination Oily to Oily skin.

When first applied, it becomes this yellow gel on your skin and seems to take about a minute to get absorbed into your skin. There is a light scent but this apparently comes from the ingredients (since Clinique does not use fragrance to cover up the smell). I purchased it in the 125 ml size for $32 about a year ago and I still have about 1/4 left! It has been my daily moisturizer for most of that time (aside from the occasional samples I used). The packaging is a frosted plastic rectangular bottle that comes with a pump!



In terms of moisturizing, it does a good job but doesn't really make my skin soft like the bottle says :P It also doesn't have an affect on my skin's oiliness, since my skin is still just as oily as when I use other moisturizers. One difference I did notice is that sometimes my nose gets flakey, dry skin and I think it might be because of the DDMG :S Because of this, I don't think I will be repurchasing and may just go back to using Vichy. Another downside I forgot to mention is that it doesn't have SPF, which is something I definitely need.





In conclusion, this product is OK but I do not think it lives up to it's name of being 'Dramatically Moisturizing" and wasn't anything special to me.
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