Monday, September 29, 2014

Empties (+ Mini Reviews)

It is time for another empties post. It is a small amount of products this time and they range from skin care to make up.

Dial Body Wash

This came in a sample pack I purchased back in July. This had the best citrus scent! It really woke you up and it felt really refreshing. This product lathered great and it did leave my skin feeling soft and clean.
The Verdict; I will be repurchasing this product and probably more scents from this brand.


Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes

I got these wipes in the same pack I got the body wash. I love simple cleansing wipes. They remove all my eye makeup and foundation without irritating my skin or eyes. These wipes also don't have a scent to them, which is great.
The Verdict; I will not be purchasing these wipes because I have found ones that I like better. These wipes are still incredible though and I do recommend them.

Marc Jacobs Gel Lifter Mascara

I got this sample mascara in a Sephora Favorites Pack called SummerStash. I did not like this mascara. I found this mascara to be very thick and it clumped up because of that. I also found that this mascara did not make my lashes longer and it didn't hold a curl.
The Verdict; I will not be purchasing the full size of this mascara.






Quo Mini Eye Makeup Remover Pads

These wipes can be found at Shoppers Drug Mart for five dollars Canadian. This product is amazing, they remove all my eye makeup. They are not harsh on my eyes or the skin around them. This product also has no scent.
The Verdict; I will be purchasing more

Aerie Whoa!! Fragrance Mist

I loved the fruity scent of this mist. The scent also lasted for a long time, which I found surprising because it was just a mist. Overall, I was super impressed with this product.
The Verdict; I will not be repurchasing it yet, I have too many other perfumes to use.






Glamglow Youth mud Mask

This was a sample but I did get two uses out of it. I really enjoyed this mask and exfoliating treatment hybrid. It did tingle a lot but it wasn't harsh. This really helped clear up my T-zone. It also smells pretty good.
The Verdict; I bought the travel size of this product because the full size is a little expensive. I also bought the travel size to continue testing it.

Klorane Dry Shampoo

I got this product in my one ipsy bag (here). This product did have a strong male scent, like cologne to it and it did leave a ton of white in my hair. But this product did work. It soaked up all the excess oil and made my hair look very clean. The scent did go away once you worked it in
The Verdict; I will not be purchasing a full size because I have to order this product online and it is just too much of a hassle.





Batiste Dry Shampoo

 This is the coconut scent, which smells amazing! I am a big fan of Batiste. This dry shampoo soaks up all the oil and leaves my hair looking clean and it make my hair feel soft. This product does leave white in my hair, but once it is worked into the roots, you can't see it at all.
The Verdict; I will be purchasing a full size of this product

Make Up For Ever HD Foundation in N117

I got this sample at Sephora, I did only get one use but I fell in love with this foundation. This foundation is a light to medium coverage but it feels super light on the skin. I love that this foundation covers up all the red in my skin and I find it doesn't show up on any dry patches I might have.
The Verdict; I will be purchasing a full size of this product in this shade.






Blinc Mascara

This was a sample mascara. This is a tubing mascara and I did not like this at all. I used it once and then threw it out. What I didn't like was the fact that when I blinked, all of these 'tubes' fell onto my skin. It looked absolutely terrible.
The Verdict; I will most certainly not be purchasing the full size this product


Hourglass Mascara (similar)

This was a very simple mascara. It gave my lashes nice length and volume. It also held a curl pretty well. This mascara did smudge a bit underneath my eyes and it did clump a little bit. I find this mascara would be great layered under of over another mascara.
The Verdict; I would purchase the full size of this mascara but the price is a little too much for my liking.





Kat Von D Immortal Lash Mascara

I got this mascara in the Sephora Favorites Lash Stash pack, I wrote about that (here). I enjoyed this mascara. It gave my lashes great length and great volume. It held a curl nicely as well. I will say, the brush takes a bit to get used to because it is very different, but once you get the hang of it, your lashes will look great.
The Verdict; I might purchase the full size of this product, right now I have too many mascaras to try before I can say for sure.

Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara

I did enjoy this mascara. It did give my lashes great length and it held a curl but I found it flaked too much and it smudged a lot. I did use this mascara until it dried up.
The Verdict; I have a full size of this mascara waiting to be used.






That is all of my empties, again I have a ton of mascaras. What products have you used up recently?

Stay beautiful
Sarah

Friday, September 26, 2014

Finish Five By Fall Update

As promised I am giving you an update on my Finish Five by Fall challenge.

I am very happy to say I finished three of the five products.

I finished the First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser and the First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream.

I also finished the Smashbox Photo Finish Primer

I am almost finished the Make Up For Ever Mircofinish HD Powder. I have maybe three uses left

Unfortunately I couldn't finish the L'Oreal Concealer Crayon as it still had a ton of product and it was a short time to use it in.

Did you finish all of your products?

Stay beautiful,
Sarah



Monday, September 22, 2014

Sephora Holiday Kits (Part One)

Every year Sephora puts out these amazing value set for the holidays. Some of these kits are available in stores and online now. I decided to put together my top favorite kits for today's post.

This is a 17 piece set that includes lipsticks, glosses, balms and treatments in nudes, berries, reds or pink shades. This kit is 70 dollars Canadian.
The set includes;
- bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie Lipstick in Speak Your Mind
- Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Black Dahlia Lip Tar: Matte Test Tube
- Too Faced Cosmetics Melted Liquefied Long Wear lipstick

I am not sure if there is any full size products in this kit, if there is, I feel like it will be one of the glosses. I enjoy that this kit has so many different brands and many different formulas. This is the perfect kit to give to someone who loves lip products or to keep for yourself to expand your lip product collection.

Sephora Favorites Lash Stash
This is an 11 piece set of different mascaras. There is one full size product and a small bottle of eye make up remover. This kit is 54 dollars Canadian
The set includes;

- Benefit Cosmetics They're Real Mascara in Jet Black
- Buxom Lash Mascara in Blackest Black
- Clinique Dual Ended High Impact Mascara and Lash Primer

- Josie Maran Argan Black Oil Mascara

- Kat Von D Immortal Lash 24HR Mascara


The full size product is the Smashbox mascara. I have purchased this kit for myself and my mother, we are both enjoying the kit. The mascaras that aren't full size are a great deluxe sample size, maybe even bigger than deluxe size. I really enjoy trying new mascaras and this kit allows me to try a great mixture. To be honest some of these mascaras I probably would never have picked up. I also enjoy that this kit includes newer mascaras as well as some classic ones.


This is a smaller sample set which includes 4 different masks from 4 different brands. The masks all have different benefits and uses. This set is 37 dollars Canadian.

This set includes;
- Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask To ClearPores

- Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber Gel Mask
- Glamglow Thirstymud Hydrating Treatment

I personally love masks and I love trying new ones. This kit gives you the chance to try masks that are hydrating, detoxing, peeling and cooling. I don't believe there is a full size product in here, but all of the masks seem like a great deluxe sample size. I will be purchasing this for myself.

These kits were in my top three because they offer a great variety and have great sizes. These kits also have made the top three because I either have or will be purchasing these for myself. What holiday kits are you excited for?

Stay beautiful
Sarah

Friday, September 19, 2014

Make up of the Day - Travel

I am traveling home for the weekend and I am sharing the make up I am wearing while I travel. Now, I don't have a long trip but I am catching an early bus and I need to rush out the door. Here is my travel make up look.





















Step 1: I apply a primer all over my face. I use a nickel size amount. I am using the Amazing Cosmetics Anti- Aging face primer. I personally rub primers into my face instead of pressing them in. I also apply a lip balm to prep my lips for a lip color later. My all time favorite lip balm is the Burt's Bees Bee's Wax lip balm.

Step 2: After I let the primer set, about 60 seconds. I dot my Garner BB cream onto my face. I put a dot on my forehead, both my cheeks, my chin and down my nose. I stipple this into my skin using a moist Beauty Blender. Once I have stippled all of the product in, I blend it outward towards my hairline and down my neck, again using the beauty blender.

Step 3: If I have any redness or spots that the BB cream didn't cover, I use my Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer. I just dot this onto any spot and stipple the product into my skin using my Beauty Blender.

Step 4: I set all of my concealer with the Covergirl Aqua Smoothers Pressed Powder. I use my Real Techniques Multi Task brush to do this. I don't brush this into my skin as it will move the concealer, so I gently press the brush into my skin.

Step 5:  Since I will be wearing this make up all day, I use the Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray.

Step 6: I curl my eyelashes with my Revlon Eye lash curler (similar) and apply a coat of the Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes mascara to my top and bottom lashes.

Step 7: I apply a neutral lip gloss like Buxom's White Russian lip cream.

I don't wear any eye liner or eye shadow when traveling in case I fall asleep and also if I decided to go out on a Friday night, I always find that eye makeup looks better applied about an hour before you go out.

This is my go to travel look. I find it is the easiest to do when in a rush. What is your travel make up routine?

Stay beautiful
Sarah

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Top Five Fave Eyeliners (Drugstore + High End)

In this Top Five Fave post, I am going to talk about my favorite Eyeliners from both the drugstore and high end brands. I have a great mix of liquid and pencil liners, some are colorful and some are just plain black.


Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper

I think this is my favorite high end liquid liner. This liner goes on so smoothly and because it is not a felt tip liner, I find it very easy to control. This liner is very black and it dries matte. This liner makes it super easy to create the perfect wing and makes it easy to draw thick or thin lines.







Maybelline Line Stiletto in blackest black

This is my all time favorite drug store eyeliner. I actually wrote about this in my last Top Five Faves post (here). So I will make this short. It is a felt tip liner but I find it very easy to control. Also, it has a very black formula, actually the blackest formula I have seen on a liner. This liner lasts all day for me.


L'Oreal Silkissime Liner in True Teal

I did a review on these liners (here) and I am still very happy with them. These liners do come in black and grey but I really enjoy the teal one. The formula of these liners are buttery and very soft. They have a great color pay off and they usually last about six hours for me.






Sephora Brand Eyeliners

Although these liners are in Sephora, I don't find them ridiculously priced. I have many liners from this brand in many colors but I grabbed the black one in the Nano version for this post. The formula of these pencil liners in very smooth and creamy. All of these liners have a great color payoff and they last a very long time.

Too Faced Perfect Eyes liner in Perfect Black

This pencil liner glides on smoothly and it has amazing color pay off. I enjoy how this liner comes with a smudger at one end so it is very easy to create a Smokey eye look. These liners are waterproof and don't budge all day. This liner comes in five other colors as well.






These are my Top Five Favorite eye liners, some of them are newer and some I have enjoyed for awhile. What are your favorite eye liners? Have you tried any of the ones I mentioned?

Stay beautiful
Sarah

Monday, September 15, 2014

September Ipsy Unboxing

I recently got my September Ipsy bag and I am pretty excited about it. For those who do not know, Ipsy is a monthly beauty subscription service that is completely customized to you. Each month, they send you a themed cosmetic bag filled with  four to five make up items, tools, shampoo, conditioner etc. It is ten dollars American (For Canadians add 4.95 for shipping). Here is what I got in my September Ipsy bag.


September's theme is Street Style


Mitchell and Peach Hand Cream

Out of everything in my bag, this is the item I am least excited about. This hand cream is blended with vitamin E, Shea butter and English honey. I don't use hand cream regularly but decided to give this a try. This product smells absolutely awful! I had to wash my hands to get rid of the smell and the greasy feeling this cream left. Overall, this was not a product I am going to keep.

Avon Big & Daring Mascara

This mascara is supposed to give "explosive" volume. I like having new mascaras to try and the Avon mascaras I have tried in the past have been quite good. I will say, I am a little disappointed that Ipsy included this product because I can always get Avon mascara. I am happy that this product is full size.





Swatch of  Basic Instinct
Caitlyn Art Touch Tinted Lip Gloss in 09 Basic Instinct

I have heard of this brand from other beauty bloggers but I have never tried it, so I am very excited about this. The color looks like a peach nude which is a great basic color for anyone in my opinion. The applicator is similar to the Hourglass Extreme Sheen High Shine Lip Glosses. I find this lip gloss to be thick and very sticky. It does have a great color pay off.




Be a Bombshell Smooth Criminal Powder

Again, I have heard of this brand but I have not tried it. I am very excited about this translucent setting powder because I want to see if it measures up to the Make Up For Ever HD Microfinish Powder. I am also very happy to receive this product because setting powders are always good to have.






Pacifica Nail Color in Red Red Wine

This nail polish is the perfect fall red. This nail polish is 100% vegan and it is cruelty-free. Also, this polish is seven free, meaning it is formulated without any of the harsh chemicals. The box the polish came in claims that the nail polish is fast drying and long wearing.

That is everything that came in my Ipsy bag. Overall, I am rating this bag a three and a half stars out of five because I am excited about the nail polish, the lip gloss and the setting powder. I like having the mascara but the hand cream was a giant disappointment. Are you a subscriber to Ipsy? What did you get in your September bag?

If you would like to sign up for Ipsy, please use my link: http://www.ipsy.com/r/1ik8u?sid=ipsypoints&cid=general

Stay beautiful
Sarah

*NOTE: The Ipsy link is an affiliated link. It gets me points that I can redeem for an extra product. Thank you*

Friday, September 12, 2014

Finish Five By Fall

I decided to take part in this amazing tag created by HollieEatsLipstick. Basically you pick five beauty items you want to finish and you have to finish them by the first day of Fall, September 23rd. I thought this tag was a great way to use up some items I have started but have never finished. I will share my progress with you on September 24th so you all can see how I did. Here are the five beauty items I want to finish by Fall.


Smashbox Photo Finish Primer

This is a sample size but I have included it because I have so many sample size primers that I am trying to get through. I started this in August but haven't finished it because I had to finish another primer. There is still quite a bit left. I personally don't know if I will be purchasing the regular size of this product because I don't like the way it feels.

First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser

This face wash removes surface oil, make up, dirt and grime, making it the perfect one step product. I want to finish this because I have another that I need to start using. I have enjoyed this product and I will be repurchasing it once my other face wash is done.






L'Oreal True Match Concealer

The true match concealer is my favorite but I want to finish this up. I really want to try the Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer, but I haven't opened it yet because I am not finish this one. There is quite a bit of product left but I think I can get through it.

Make Up For Ever HD Microfinish Powder

I got this sample in one of my Sephora orders. I started using it but stopped because I didn't like that it was a loose powder. This product works wonders and I will be repurchasing but in the pressed powder form.







First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream

We all know how much I love this product. I need to finish this bottle up before I start a new one. It is almost finished but I haven't been using it as regularly as I should be. I buy the small tubes because I don't like the idea of sticking my fingers into a tub. I have also been enjoying using this after the face wash. Since they are from the same company, these two products just work like a great team.

These are the five products I want to finish before Fall. What products do you want to finish up? Do you like this tag idea? I am also tagging all of you to pick five products and try to finish them by Fall!

Stay beautiful
Sarah

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Wish List Wednesday - Too Faced

It is that time where we ask ourselves what is on our make up wish lists. This month I will be focusing my wish list on Too Faced items. Here is my wish list.

3-way Lash Lining Tool

Let me start off by saying, I have had this item before and I didn't see the huge deal with it. Now, that I haven't used it in about a year, I see the true purpose of it. I miss the way it made my lashes look fuller and how easy it was to line my eyes. This is literally a hidden gem in the make up world. I have added it to my wish list because I decided I needed to show this tool more love and appreciation.

La Crème Lipstick in Marshmallow Bunny

This lipstick is a baby pink with a hint of sparkle. This sparkle shows up lightly when I swatched this on my hand in Sephora. When I swatched this lipstick it felt very creamy and buttery. These lipstick are also very moisturizing. I've read mixed reviews on the lasting power of these lipsticks, some people say they are long lasting, others say you have to constantly reapply.

La Crème Lipstick in Naked Dolly

This a light nude with hint of pink undertones. Like Marshmallow Bunny this lipstick it felt very creamy and buttery. These lipsticks are also very moisturizing. I've read mixed reviews on the lasting power of these lipsticks, some people say they are long lasting, others say you have to constantly reapply.

Boudoir Eyes Soft & Sexy Palette

I am a sucker for simple eye shadows palettes like this. This palette is a mix of nudes and purples. The shadows are soft, have a great color payoff from the swatches I did and there isn't any fall out. From reading reviews I learned that these colors blend very easily like all other Too Faced shadows. I really enjoy how this palette is small and comes in a magnetic tin, perfect for travel. I also enjoy how the palette organizes the shadows into looks. The top row of shadows creates a day look, the middle row creates a day look and the bottom rows creates a fashion look. This palette also comes with a little instruction booklet showing you how to achieve the three looks. Of course, the possibilities are endless.

Lip Insurance Lip Primer

You apply this product before any lip color to achieve maximum color payoff. This product also makes lips look more full and it allows other lip products to glide on easier. Lip Insurance also stops lip colors from feathering, bleeding, fading or transferring. This primer stays it will stop all of these problems even "under the most extreme lip conditions ".  I thought this product would be fun to try and to put it to the test. Who knows, maybe this product is as amazing as it sounds.

That is all the items on my wish list from Too Faced. What is on your make up wish list? Do you wish for any Too Faced products?

Stay beautiful
Sarah

Monday, September 8, 2014

Drugstore Haul

I recently popped into my local drug store to pick up a few favorite products that I was running low on. Since there was so many good sales, I decided to pick up some items I have always wanted to try. I will only be sharing the new items I picked up because the rest is all items I have talked about many times. On to the haul.

Maybelline Dream Wonder Liquid Touch Foundation in 10 Porcelain Ivory

I have heard mixed reviews on this product but decided to buy it. I have tried this three times and so far I like it. The color is a perfect match to my skin tone and it blends really easily. I do find it is a light coverage but it can be built up. I have also found the best way to apply this product is by using your finger to dot it on your skin, use a damp beauty blender and stipple the product to get a good amount of coverage. The only negative comment I can make about this product so far, I don't enjoy using my finger to apply this product, it's just personal preference.


Essence Stay Matt Lip Cream in Smooth Berry

I was drawn to this product while shopping. This bold red color caught my eye and the fact that it was a great price (a dollar Canadian). This lip cream smells like vanilla but not too strong where it gets annoying. This product does dry matte and stay matte. It is a little drying on the lips like all matte lip products are and I do find I have to reapply often. This lip cream is from the summer collection and will soon not be available in stores.

Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer in Very Fair

I have yet to try this product but it sounds like it will be perfect for under the eyes. This concealer is supposed to be full coverage and it is supposed to reawaken and illuminate. This concealer also claims to have an anti-fatigue effect.



Essence Kajal Pencil in Beach Bum

 I grabbed this product because it looked like a fun color. This kajal pencil is supposed to be used for high precision application and it is also supposed to be long lasting. When I swatched this product for the picture, I found it to be very dry and it kind of tugged at my skin. This eyeliner is from the summer collection and will soon not be available in stores.



Rimmel Exaggerate Lip liner in 63 East End Snob

This is the perfect pinky nude. I saw Nicole Guerriero wearing this in one of her videos and went on the hunt looking for it. It becomes matte on my lips and it is a tad drying but it doesn't really come off. It also looks very gorgeous on.




Essence Eye shadow in Peach Beach

This eye shadow has a holographic effect according to the compact (whatever that means?). This is a beautiful soft peach shade. This eye shadow is super soft and buttery, but it does have a bit of fall out. This shadow is from the summer collection and will soon not be available in stores.

Essence Eye Shadow in Strawberry Ice Cream

This eye shadow has a shimmer effect but it is not overly shimmery to me. This eye shadow is super soft and buttery but it does have some fall out. This is a perfect icy pink shade which I think would look amazing as an inner corner highlight.



Essence Lash and Brow Gel Mascara

I have just started getting into this eyebrow trend, so I bought this gel to try. This gel does not pack onto the brush and it is really easy to run through your brows. It sets in just seconds and it keeps every hair in place.



Swatch of Strawberry Ice Cream Eye Shadow

Swatch of Beach Bum Kajal Eye Pencil

Swatch of East End Snob Rimmel Lip Liner

Swatch of Peach Beach Eye Shadow

Swatch of Smooth Berry Matte Lip Cream


That is everything I bought on this trip to the drugstore. What have you recently purchased at the drug store? Also, What products do you use to fill in your brows?

Stay beautiful
Sarah

Friday, September 5, 2014

L'Oreal Infallible Silkissime Liner Review

I was wondering the aisles of Walmart one day and found these eye liners by L'Oreal claiming to be a boldly colored silky pencil eyeliner. I purchased one of them that day to give it a try, fast foreword to now and I have five out of the seven colors. I decided to post a review on these drug store eye liners.

This is what the packaging looks like.

The pencils are super creamy. They don't tug at my lash line or m waterline at all. The pigmentation of these liners are incredible. The color comes out vibrant and intense. Also, what the packaging says the color is that is the color you get.

I also enjoy the color range of these eye liners. There are some vibrant shades and there is some neutral shades as well. I also enjoy that this line of eye liners includes a highlight shade.

Like I said before, I am missing two colors. The missing colors are Charcoal, a grey shade and Purple.
Plum; the prefect combination of purple and blue


True Teal; I think this one is my favorite

Black; Super pigmented

Cobalt Blue; A perfect ocean blue

Highlight; A beautiful champagne


I hardly put any pressure on the pencil while swatching them

I have found two negatives with these pencils. The packaging claims they are smudge proof and up to 16 hours of wear. These liners do smudge and I personally have not gotten 16 hours of wear out of them. The other negative I have found is the pencils gouge easily. Since they are so creamy, if you accidentally hit the tip with the cap, which I have done a few times now, a chuck of pencil will be on the lid.

Overall, I am impressed with these liners and I am determined to get the two colors I am missing.

Have you tried these liners? Are you impressed by them?

Stay beautiful
Sarah

* NOTE; All items above were purchased by me with my own money. These thoughts are my own. *