5 December 2013

3 December 2013

REVIEW: Caudalie VinoPerfect Radiance Serum Complexion Correcting

I bought this in May, and have been using it on and off over the Summer months.  Over September, October, and November, I've been using this every night after double cleansing.  I figured that now that I've finished the product, I will write a post on my thoughts on this product.



26 November 2013

Sephora VIB Sale Haul (NARS, REN, Dior, etc.)

Yes, I did just do a mini Sephora haul just a couple of weeks before the VIB sale... As mentioned in that particular post, I had a 10% discount code and wanted to get the items at some discount before they sold out during the VIB.

I didn't really feel like hustling and bustling with the crowds after work, so I had a game plan to just order online.  Plus, this way I would earn an extra 4% cash back through Ebates!

I have another trip to Portland coming up after Christmas, so I was very selective in the chosen items--US prices and no sales tax -- weeeee!  I bought the items if the discounted price was either equivalent or lower than what I would pay in Portland; otherwise, they will be purchased in Portland ;)

19 November 2013

REVIEW: NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in 2457 Dragon Girl

I can only handle hearing Chelsea (ChelseaWears) talk and swatch NARS velvet matte lip pencils so many times before I cave.

I couldn't bare to gamble the available inventory of Sephora during the VIB sale, so I decided to purchase my most desired shade out of the line when I had the 10% off coupon code (haul post).

My choice:  Dragon Girl.


14 November 2013

REVIEW: Tom Ford Lip Color in 01 Spanish Pink

My heart went major pitter-patter when I saw Tom Ford at the Chicago Premium Outlets' CCO in early October (haul post).

TF Spanish Pink is one of those cult favourites that is highly coveted.  The sales associate could barely pry it out of my hands so she could ring it through the cash register.

My preciousssssssssssssssssssssssssss...




12 November 2013

REVIEW: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette (Limited Edition)

Every time I walk past find myself inside a Sephora, I would always swatch the Hourglass ambient lighting powders... never could bring myself to drop the cash... but alas, as you would've seen from my haul post, that I didn't remove it from my shopping cart for a final time.

I give you the play-by-play of the gorgeous packaging...


5 November 2013

Sephora Haul (Hourglass, NARS, GlamGlow, etc.)

I always fall victim to those promotional emails...

Sephora had one of those interactive rolling pinball games, where you could receive promotional codes for either popular deluxe samples, free shipping, or 10% off.  My heart strings were tugged at when I got the 10% off code.

Of course, I went to Sephora through Ebates (see my post on Ebates).  My total purchase amount was approximately $90, and I gained approximately $4 in Ebates cash back!



30 October 2013

A Tool to Shop Smart and Save More Money

If you're an online shopper, you have to use Ebates.

I had initially heard about it through Chelsea from Chelsea Wears (her Ebates post).
Chelsea is quite the homegirl -- She has great style and taste.  She likes the $$$ items, but will share how she saved a fraction of the costs through sales or codes like Ebates.
C'mon, if we're all going to continue to feed our sicknesses, might as well burn a little less dough while at it!

Now, whenever I shop online, I always check whether or not I could save more money by going through Ebates.  I advocate it to all of my friends... by ways of bursting aloud "DID YOU USE EBATES ON THAT SH*T?!"... (I'm referring to all of the instances of my poor boyfriend telling me that he's making another Chapters Indigo book purchase).  You'd think I worked for them or something (I don't).

How does it work?
Affiliate links are everywhere (think about all of those Sigma ones on YouTube), but when you purchase through those links, you don't receive a cut of the revenue -- It goes to Ingrid (sorry R... lol), or whomever.
Ebates shares the cut with you when you click through their affiliate link -- This explains the cash back percentages.  The percentages range from 1% upwards (A few months ago, Nordstrom, Neimans, Saks all had 15% cash back)!  For example, if I make a $100 purchase at Sephora, and the Ebates cash back percentage for Sephora is 4%, then I would receive $4 from Ebates for my Sephora purchase.  This $4 is also independent of any additional savings I may already have from other coupons or codes!

Ebates.com has over 1500 retailers enlisted, and is awesome.
If you're Canadian, sign up with Ebates.com, rather than Ebates.ca.
Ebates.ca has significantly fewer retailers, and the cash back percentages for the same retailers are much lower -- Just use Ebates.com.

I've been a user of Ebates.com since early 2012, and have received about $50 in cash back cheques.  If you're an avid online shopper, you definitely need Ebates.  If shipping costs are your worry, many stores allow you to ship free to a physical store for pick up too -- It'd be like you bought from the actual store, except you would enjoy even more savings!

With the holidays coming up, I figured I would share this money-saving tip with everyone.
If you do decide to sign up, I would really appreciate it if you did through my referral link.  I am not affiliated with Ebates, and am not sponsored by them.  If you sign up through my referral link, I will receive up to $5.

Happy Shopping!

- M

29 October 2013

REVIEW: Rimmel Apocalips / Show Off Lip Lacquer - 101 Celestial

I've been waiting for these to arrive in Canada for months!
They were all over the UK blogs and channels, and then eventually some of the American ones.  (Note:  They're called Apocalips in the UK and Canada, but Show Off in the US).

After much swatching and hmmm...uhhh... at the Shoppers Drug Mart counter, I ended up picking 101 Celestial, for now.

8 October 2013

29 September 2013

Birthday Beauty Haul (from Hawaii)

Thank goodness for Hawaii's 4% sales tax.


... and the giant T Galleria Waikiki (formerly named DFS Galleria) that was a five minute walk from my hotel.
I stayed at the Westin Moana Surfrider at Waikiki -- highly recommend!

26 September 2013

Drugstore Haul

Popped into a Shopper's Drug Mart yesterday for some drugstore makeup snooping -- It's a while since I've lurked around the beauty aisles in a drugstore.



4 September 2013

REVIEW: LUSH Ocean Salt (face and body scrub)

Ocean Salt is one of LUSH's best sellers.  Being quite the avid face and body scrubber, I was always intrigued to try it...
But... at $21.95 CAD for 120g (and $35.95 for 250g), the price point was always a huge deterrent.  The idea of rubbing salt crystals on my body (hell no, on my face) scared me a little... and if I ended up hating the product, I didn't want to have wasted $20 minimum!

When I went into LUSH a month--or, maybe it was two months ago--for a new tub of Love Lettuce (my review), I was really good with the usual polite declines of Do you need anything else? Do you need a new cleanser to go with your Love Lettuce?... until, I was at the till.  DAMN YOU PLACED-NEXT-TO-CASH REGISTER-IMPULSE-BUYS!
I was sold on this 'Beach Box' summer promotion... Honestly, I was just sold on the fact that there was a small tub of Ocean Salt to try out haha... The Beach Box was $29.95 and came with a chuckload of stuff.



26 August 2013

Dior Addict Extreme lipstick - 479 Holiday

This was it.  My first Dior lipstick.
Shall we take a moment to just collect ourselves?

I always eyed up Dior lipsticks... several moments have almost persuaded me enough to buy:
TTSandra's first blog posts were probably the first moments... and then there was when R incepted me with her claim that the Addict Extreme line being absolutely amazing; possibly better than Chanel's Rouge Coco Shine line... but I never did buy, until now.

Dior Addict Extreme in 479 Holiday



18 August 2013

Used Up Beauty Products / Empties #4

Sorry, I've been quite lazy with blogging... work has been keeping me busy, and during the weekends, I just want to enjoy the beautiful Summer weather.

During the months, I've finished a ton of products... so, I figured I would return with an Empties post.  My last empties post was in June!


15 July 2013

HOW TO: Travel Without Checked In Baggage (Carry On Friendly)

Recently, I went on a business trip when I did not check in any baggage for the first time.  If you don't have to run the risks of an airline losing/delaying your baggage, or you just don't want to pay the $20something fee to check in a bag, then keep reading as I share how I pack.


11 June 2013

Burberry Beauty Sheer Eye Shadow - No. 10 Antique Rose

Burberry eye shadows are my all-time favourite eye shadows.
There's a Burberry flagship store in Chicago, so of course, I took advantage when I was there last month.


30 May 2013

REVIEW: Indeed Laboratories Hydraluron Serum

Hyaluronic acid has been all the rage...

When I saw this hydraluron popping up in all of my favourite UK youtubers/bloggers' raves, I had to get my hands on it.

I was overjoyed when I discovered that indeed laboratories is actually a Canadian brand.  I managed to track it down in Shoppers Drug Mart for $24.99 CAD.

26 May 2013

REVIEW: CLINIQUE even better clinical dark spot corrector

I picked this up from the Cosmetics Company Outlet a year ago for $37.50 US, and finally decided to use it regularly this year.  I think I started using it in February and just finished it two weeks ago.

2 May 2013

REVIEW: Wet 'n' Wild - Heather Silk

I'm a big fan of the Wet 'n' Wild eyeshadow trios, so naturally, I've been curious of their blushes for a while.
I couldn't ever bring myself to purchase them in Canada though, because their price point is quite high relative to US prices (double to US prices, plus our sales tax is much higher)!

Anyway, I finally picked two up when I was at a CVS.  One of which was the famous Heather Silk.

30 April 2013

Japonesque 9-Pocket Brush Case

When I was away for 4 weeks, I felt like my Real Techniques brush holder (came with my Core Collection) wasn't quite cutting it... so, I picked up this Japonesque 9-pocket brush holder at the local Ulta for $13 USD.

25 April 2013

Sephora 100 Point Reward: Givenchy Le Rouge 103 Brun Créateur

Sephora has been stepping up on their 100 point rewards!

Givenchy released a new lipstick:  Le Rouge.
It's supposed to be a semi-matte lipstick, with leather packaging.

Seeing how it retails for $36 CAD, I like how the Givenchy PR team decided to give these little mini-me's out to the biggest makeup fanatics (Sephora shoppers).

Often time, samples look or feel like crap... even the most high end ones.
I appreciate it when brands take the time to actually use samples as their supposed purpose -- to generate interest and buzz.

Everything about this sample is top notch.

24 April 2013

Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in 027 Juicy Papaya (Summer 2013)

In March, I was seeing the new Lip Butter Summer 2013 colours pop up on blogs.  My interest was definitely sparked as the colours are more up my alley than their existing lineup of colours.  I think the released colours are more universally flattering, too.

Anyway, when I was in Chicago, I made my first trip to Ulta!
There, I saw three of the four colours:  Juicy Papaya, Sorbet, and Wild Watermelon.  I didn't see Pink Lemonade.

I ended up selecting Juicy Papaya.  This sort of pink coral is my thing, haha.

22 April 2013

April 2013 Topbox (Elizabeth Arden Privé Box)

This is super delayed as I was on a 4-week business trip.

As previously mentioned in my March 2013 Topbox post, this April 2013 Topbox is my final one.

21 April 2013

HAUL: Chicago, USA

I was on a business trip in Chicago, USA for the last four weeks, but that didn't stop me from hauling/hoarding.

  • Boots Botanics hot cloth cleansing balm $8.49
  • Ardell 110 black lashes $3.99
  • Dr. Bronner's pure castile soap in peppermint $4.99
  • Real Techniques expert face brush $8.99
  • Real Techniques blush brush $8.99
    (my review)
  • Givenchy Le Rouge lipstick in brun (Sephora 100 perk)
    (my review)
  • Philosophy Purity cleanser (Sephora 100 perk)
  • Lancome visionnaire (Sephora 100 perk)
  • Burberry lip mist in camelia pink $30
  • Burberry sheer eye shadow in antique rose $29
    (my review)
  • Caudalie beauty elixir $18
  • Covergirl lashblast fusion in blackest black water resistant $6.11 each
  • Bioré face and nose strip combo pack $11
  • Wet n Wild blush in berry shimmer $2.99
  • Wet n Wild blush in heather silk $2.99
    (my review)
  • Maybelline baby lips in melon mania $3.99
  • Revlon lip butter in juicy papaya $5.68
    (my review)
  • Revlon creme super lustrous lipstick in coralberry $5.30
    (my review)
  • L'Oréal colour riche in blushing sequin $7.86
    (R's review)
  • L'Oréal colour riche in violet chiffon $7.86
    (R's review)

Individual reviews will come... eventually.

- M

17 April 2013

Gilchrist & Soames BeeKind

December 28-30, 2012, the boy and I went to Portland, Oregon for a short (and tax-free) trip.  In the corresponding haul post, I mentioned that our hotel gave these as their complimentary toiletries:
  • Gilchrist & Soames BeeKind Shampoo
  • Gilchrist & Soames BeeKind Conditioner
  • Gilchrist & Soames BeeKind Shower Gel
  • Gilchrist & Soames BeeKind Body Lotion
  • Gilchrist & Soames BeeKind Skincare Bar

12 April 2013

Burberry Body Eau de parfum

I know that perfume aficiandos such as The Non-Blonde and Katie Puckrik (not to mention, the Daisy-obsessed M) do not approve of this scent. Their criticism is understandable: mainstream, simple, generic, overly soapy-clean, and geared towards olfactorally (yes, my word-creation) inexperienced teenagers. But gosh darn it, I like it.

9 April 2013

Sheet Masks -- Overview & Brands (Missha, My Beauty Diary, Dermal)

WARNING:  This is going to be a marathon of a post.

It's no surprised that I am a big fan of masks.  I've previously written in regards to ones where you apply it to the face/chin/neck and then wash it off:
My review of Lush Fresh Face Mask in Love Lettuce

But if you cannot be bothered to have to splash around in your sink for a good 5-10 min removal process, sheet masks are the way to go.  When I don't feel like my skin needs the suped up pampering, I look towards sheet masks -- they are my lazy, in between hardcore pampering solution.