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TooFaced Few of My Favorite Things

December 2, 2013, 6:34 am
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Another great holiday makeup masterpiece, this is Too Faced A Few of My Favorite Things, a 28-piece Sephora-exclusive holiday set for eyes, face, cheeks and lips. The packaging - pink and gold chevron pattern on both the palette and the clutch - just kills it.

First off, the palette houses 20 eyeshadows, 1.2oz each. A mix of finishes (shimmery, gliterry, matte) and colours (lots of neutral and some bold shades).

Also a mix of textures - some shades (Snowflakes, Honey Honey, etc.) crumble if you press the brush harder than you need but gives the most beautiful colour payoff, some are harder and do not give much pigmentation even with layering (Ooh La Orchid, Taffy), and some get on the brush very well but disappear on the lid upon application (Evergreen).

Notes on the glitters:
- Moon on their Wings (second from the right, first row) is one of the best glitter shades to add that extra pop to midlids without affecting the colours underneath it
- Party Time (second from the right, last row), similarly, works well as a glitter top coat for the lids, as its base colour does not show up well on its own.

Here are the closeup and swatches, first row, from L-R: Snowflakes, Whiskers on Kittens, Chocolate Milk (matte), Moon on their Wings and Dark Chocolate (matte).

Chocolate Milk would be a good transition colour on fairer skin toned ladies. On me, Woolen Mittens (third row,below) works a little better. Dark Chocolate is pigmented, great to darken the crease.

Second row: Cream Colored Ponies (matte), Honey Honey, Busch de Noel, Evergreen and Blue Satin Sashes (matte).
Naturally, Cream Colored Ponies is the brow bone highlight shade in the palette. Busch de Noel has a light duochrome effect going on. Blue Satin Sashes shows up lighter than it looks in the pan.

Third row: Coquet, Taffy, Crisp Apple Strudel, Woolen Mittens (matte) and Soiree (matte).

Coquet is a surprise as it looks pink in the pan but shows up as a gold. Crisp Apple Strudel is duochrome looking but subtle. Soiree satisfies that crave for dark burgundy/ purple crave I am having.

Last row: Tinsel, Bluff, Ooh La Orchid (matte), Party Time and Pure Glam (matte).

Bluff is another duochrome looking shade, I wish the lilac sheen showed up a bit more on the lids. Like mentioned above, Ohh La Orchid is not what it looks like in the pan. Purple is still the hardest eyeshadow colour to get it right.

Here are the 2 blushes in Raindrops on Roses, Melt into Spring (matte) and 2 bronzers in Chocolate Soleil (matte), Sun Bunny (2 shades in one), 0.28oz each. I have nothing to complain about with these. They are more pigmented on, so go in with a light hand.

Because of product placement, there is no mirror in this palette. The How-to Glamour guide, I don't particularly find it useful. And it takes up space too, would love to have a mirror in its place.

Swatches - the blushes in the left pic, bronzers and Bee Sting (featured below) in the right pic.

There are two items that also come inside the clutch but are separate from the palette.

The Lip Injection Color Bomb! moisture plumping lip tint in Bee Sting (0.1oz, full size) does tingle quite a bit but not crazily uncomfortable to me. Vitamins A, C and E plus mango butter in the formula make the product pleasant to use. The colour, however, does not show up on me :(

And lastly, the Better Than Sex mascara in Carbon Black, 0.17oz (deluxe size vs. 0.27oz full size). Meant to be a volumizing mascara with smudge proof and long wearing ability, I do like it. The hourglass shaped brush and quite stiff bristles take a bit of practice, for me. One coat is all you need, don't go for two :)

All in all, I am happy with this set, as it offers options for the colour makeup I need for my face. The compact palette is good for travel. The eyeshadows could be more consistent, quality wise, but there are enough great shades to make up for the bad ones.

The set retails $64 (values $496) at Sephora, Limited Edition. Here are 3 of the FOTDs I did with the set. Check them out! :)
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FOTDs: Too Faced My Favorite Things

December 3, 2013, 6:47 am
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I have a series of FOTDs today with Too Faced A Few of my Favorite Things set, just thought it would be fair to do more than one look for the number of eyeshadows it offers :)

In this first toned down look, the eyeshadows used were Chocolate Milk as transition colour, Bluff on the inner half of the lid, Evergreen on the outer half and crease, and Cream Colored Ponies on the brow bone.

As I mentioned in the review, Moon on their Wings was a perfect colour to add a pop of glitters in midlids, so I did exactly that.

On the cheeks were Raindrops on Roses blush and Sun Bunny bronzer, applied lightly.

See how almost invisible the Lip Injection Color Bomb! moisture plumping lip tint in Bee Sting on me? The tingling effect lasts about 5 minutes, not extremely uncomfortable but is definitely noticeable.

I did two coats of the Better Than Sex mascara in Carbon Black here and can you see the clumps? The only problem I had with this mascara.

The second look, a step up for the eye makeup.

Woolen Mittens was a better transition shade on me, with more warmth than Chocolate Milk (in the first look above). Blue Satin Sashes was gorgeous on the crease all across the eyes, and Crisp Apple Strudel was smooth, buttery, added a bright pop near the lashes.

I used more Sun Bunny than normal on the cheeks. For the lips, I went for more colour - Revlon lip butter in Red Velvet.

Only one coat of Better Than Sex mascara in Carbon Black this time, less clumpy, much better! So it is a trade off with this mascara, if I want a more intense coverage, I will have to deal with the clumps. I like it but it is not my HG.

The last look is purple crazy, just for the sake of it :) The dark shades in the palette deserve a show-off, so here they are.

I chose Pure Glam in the outer corner, it had some fallout issue but was a pigmented black, so don't do your foundation before it. Ooh la Orchid and Soiree were the added intense purple sheen you see here. All these were paired with Tinsel in the inner corner.

On the lips was MAC Hang-Up lipstick. It did not appear as scary as it looked in the tube, I was hoping for a little more darkness there lol.

Hope you all had a lot of fun with Black Friday sales and are ready for Cyber Monday. I, surprisingly enough, did not spend any money online. This was partly because of the vacation, also because I was not online enough to keep up with all the craziness. Yay for saving money :)
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Lush Christmas

December 4, 2013, 6:42 am
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Another special collection from Lush, this time for the holiday. Squirt and I have enjoyed testing out the products quite a bit :)

The Melting Snowman bath melt feels like a sign of Christmas to us :) With skin softening benefit (thanks to cocoa and shea butter) and hot toddy scent (i.e. herbal to our noses), he is different from other Christmas items.

He works like a bath bomb - dropped in the tub with hot running water and he dissolves like a real snowman, lol, even his carrot nose and dairy free chocolate drop eyes. He turns your bath water into a cloud and softens your skin!

I have to admit, the scent is very different, not my utmost favorite but I love how my skin feels afterward. And we can't deny the fun factor he offers.

Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Icing Sugar, Citric Acid, Cocoa Butter (Theobroma cacao), PEG-6 Caprylic/ Capric Glycerides & PEG60 Almond Glycerides, Almond Oil (Prunus dulcis), Titanium Dioxide, Shea Butter (Butyrospermum parkii), etc.

He'd cost you $5.95 for 2.1oz/ 60g.

Just as exciting is the Secret Santa double layered bath bomb, modelled after the first Lush shop in England. The (exclusive) scent called 29 High St. is easy on the nose with notes of jasmine, lime, tonka and Sicilian lemon. It is sweet and pleasant.

The house is about twice as big as regular bath bombs, so I got like 3 uses out of it. It turns your water into a clear (see-through) orange dream - think orange popsicle! So much fun!

Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Fragrance, Ylang Ylang Absolute (Cananga Odorata), New Caledonian Sandalwood Oil (Santalum Austro-Caledonicum Vieill), Indian Jasmine Absolute (Jasminum grandiflorum), Lime Oil (Citrus aurantifolia), etc.

The house is $9.95 for 9.5oz/ 270g.

A new to me product is the Sandy Santa body butter and scrub. A 2-in-1 product with improved formula including coconut oil, murumuru and shea butter to intensify moisturization.

I have never tried a (moisturizing) solid scrub before, really enjoy using one at this point :) A bit of warning though, the scrub feels quite rough upon contact, even with a light hand on wet skin. However, it is gentle when you rub out the particles once they are on the skin. And the skin feels amazing after rinsed.

Another warning: Santa's hat does come off red on your skin, so don't be alarmed when you see red streaks appeared. They rinse out thoroughly, no staining effects though.

The solid form makes it easy to travel with. Once used, the ball softens a little, would be best to be carried in a ziploc bag. The scent from orange, rose and sandalwood oils is quite uplifting.

Ingredients: Sugar, Murumuru Butter (Astrocaryum murumuru), Sodium Bicarbonate, Organic Shea Butter (Butyrospermum parkii), Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cream of Tartar (Potassium bitartrate), Sand, Lauryl Betaine, Brazilian Orange Oil (Citrus sinensis), etc.

This Santa is $9.95 for 4.58oz/ 130g. I definitely would repurchase, if he comes back next year without the red hat.

Another twist in product design - a cleansing roll :) This is Buche de Noel facial cleanser, imitating a cake log.

The ground almonds in the formula exfoliate while kaolin clay acts as a mild but deep cleanser. Almond oil and seaweed moisturize dry patches, and satsuma brightens. All sounds really good.

Despite the log format, the cleanser is meant to be used the same way as others. A pea sized chunk in the palm, worked into a paste with a bit of water, applied to damp face. I got good result with using the cleanser, however, I cannot deal with the herbally scent in it, which is a shame. It smells like coriander herb to me, and I don't wish to wear it on my face :(

Ingredients: Ground Almonds (Prunus dulcis), Kaolin, Glycerine, Fresh Satsumas (Cutrus reticulata), Dried Cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon), Cocoa Butter (Theobroma cacao), Brandy, Almond Essential Oil (Prunus dulcis), etc.

This pot of 3.5oz/ 100g is $12.95, also available in 8.8oz size. It does have an expiry date, so use it up quick if you have it :)

And this is a full-on kids' item - Gold Fun, a 4-in-1 mouldable soap (shampoo, soap, bubble bath and toy) with LE gold luster and Honey I Washed the Kids (honey toffee) scent. Not to say that adults can't enjoy it but we just don't find the playing stage as fun as the actual bath stage like kids do.

Squirt spent a bit of time playing with a piece of Gold Fun making shapes and spreading them all over her. Then I let the warm water run in the tub smushing the pieces in, there came bubbles. More play time! The luster disappeared when we started playing, no worries there.

The scent is pleasant, a little sweet but not overwhelming.

Ingredients: Talc, Cornflour (Zea mays), Glycerine, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Radiant Gold Lustre (Potassium Aluminum Silicate, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides), Sweet Wild Orange Oil (Citrus sinensis), etc.

The roll is $6.95 for 250g. A fun holiday gift for the kids in your life.

One of the gift sets Lush offers this season is the Snow Fairy Box ($22.95). It's pink and it jingles :)

The items inside:
- Snow Fairy shower gel (3.3oz/ 100ml)
- Shimmy Shimmy sparkle bar/ body tint (30g), and
- Angels Delight soap (70g).

The wrapping paper is made from recycled material, the snowflakes are holographic on top of the bright coloured background and a silver string to tie a bow with. The hot pink tag shows you the items inside, with the little jingle smiling face to decorate.

The Snow Fairy shower gel has been talked about so much, I don't think we need to say anything further, except this year, the plastic glitters are replaced by environmentally friendly shimmers.

The Shimmy Shimmy sparkle bar/ body tint has made it to my travel bag for the trip. A solid body lotion with a hint of shimmer, in a heart shape, to be rubbed on pulse points, shoulders and anywhere else for that holiday glow, what not to love? It smells like vanilla and lavender. Win win!

The Angels Delight soap in the set is all pink, with silver bits embedded, different from the individual Angels Delight soap which is in multi coloured chunks. The scent is still fruity with tangerine, orange and blackcurrant.

And there you have it, some Lush holiday products that I think are special and worth a try, if you are in a shopping mood :)
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NOTD: Revlon Wild Violets

December 10, 2013, 6:56 pm
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I am back today with a Revlon shade from the (scented) Parfumerie line called Wild Violets, which I hauled shortly before I went on vacation.

If you missed my post about the line availability in Canada vs. US, follow the link to get all the details. Just don't want you guys to miss out.

This is 2 coats. Wild Violets still has the purple sheen in certain lighting but is quite close to black with a quick glance. I added some gold stripes on top for some contrast.

The little nob as a handle is a little small to get a good grip of, takes a bit of practice there. And the brush is standard. Wear wise, I got over 2 days out of this mani.

In darker lighting, the purple tone shows up a little better but like I said, it looks near black most of the time.

The scent is pretty cool, floral obviously, and noticeable within a few hours after application. It is very faint the next day. I don't find it overwhelming, but again, scents are personal, so sniff test it if you are going to get any Parfumerie shade.

All in all, I am liking Wild Violets. The colour is not particularly special but I enjoy the scent and the classy bottle shape.
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Face mask haul

December 11, 2013, 6:22 am
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The little thing on my shopping list when I get home was sheet masks, as I don't have access to many and they are so popular here. Etude House seems to have the best selections, so I went and hauled a few things to try.

Etude House has a mask for almost each and every part of your body lol - from face to elbow, feet or just a pimple on the face. Pretty neat!

What I got:
- I Need You mask in Tea Tree (from the Alphabet line - they have a mask with main ingredients started by every letter in the Alphabet), about $2
- Essence mask in Hyaluronic acid, $2
- Princess 3D mask in Ginseng (3D means these masks cover it all from the forehead all the way down the base of the neck), $2.80
- AC Clinic Intense mask (from the acne care line), $3.70.

I was very excited to see Etude House put their single masks in boxes of 20's, with a format like a wipe pack, for about $16.

At the moment, there are only 3 types:
- Aloe & Hyaluronic acid (soothing and hydrating), pictured
- Pearl & Vitamin C (brightening), and
- Royal Jelly & Collagen (anti-aging) - I think I'll go back for this one.

So far I have used 3 of the Aloe masks and I am liking them. Not sure if it's the hot weather but they dry up after about 20 minutes on, shorter time frame than other face masks I tried in Canada. I store the box in the fridge so it is a refreshing and cooling experience every time :)

Etude House seems to have other 20-pack boxes with masks from the Skin Essence line in Red Ginseng & Collagen or Yeast & Vitamin C but not here yet.

This next item is not beauty (or mask) related, but is too cute not to share.

We went to get a customized pillow made for Squirt and they had some plus hand warmer pillows out for about $9 each. Minion (renamed Bananaaaa by Squirt) came home with us. He's perfect, only missing a few strands of hair at the top of his head lol.

Here is Squirt modeling him for me. She has an intense tan for being at the beach every day for a week straight. Benefit of a vacation I guess. Me, I haven't made it to the beach yet but have had so much good food that I gained 2 pounds already lol.

Makeup here is either dirt cheap with no-name brands or overpriced (L'Oreal, Revlon, Bourjois, etc.). Only Maybelline remains a drugstore brand but selections are really really sad. Don't think I'll buy anything other than masks.

Online shopping wise, I has been outrageously good - passed all Black Friday/ Cyber Monday sales except 2 Alex cabinets from IKEA free ship offer. Only yesterday I shopped Cult Nails' warehouse sale, with a pending Sephora haul to use my VIB Rouge $20 off. Did you get anything good lately?
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Sephora Cheek-to-Cheek brush duo

December 12, 2013, 7:24 am
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Take a look at this sparkly hot pink beauty of Sephora Cheek-to-Cheek Blush Bronzer duo.

The packaging is definitely the first thing I noticed about this item. Not only the brush handles are sparkly and bright with hot pink glitters, the box also has multi-coloured glitters all over. It would make a great holiday gift for a girl in your life, or yourself.

The brushes themselves aren't bad either. They are full sized - a little long to travel with but it can happen :), also quite soft and fluffy. They stand out in my brush holder among others.

Here they are out of the box - the bronzer brush on the left and the angled blush brush on the right.

I like the plastic mold that keeps the brushes in place, both for presentation purpose and for protection. The brushes fit tightly in the slots, the bristles won't come into contact with the packaging for any chance to be bend or damaged during transit.

I don't have many brushes from Sephora, other than the Holiday Light Show set, but I like them all so far, for different purposes :)

The angled blush brush has joined my bdellium tools 942 Slanted contour brush as my blush brushes of choice, especially for cream blushes. It works well and does not shed during the testing period of a few weeks.

The bronzer brush is a little too flared out to work as it is intended for (unless you squeeze the bristles to make a thin-looking brush), so I use it with powder to set my under-eye concealer and it's good for that.

So the brushes are not out of this world but they are good for what I use them for, and the glittery handles seal the deal. Again, at the $29 price tag, they aren't the most reasonably priced brushes but they did go on sale for $22 (for a short time before they went OOS). I am hoping you can still find them in store or they might be back in stock online.
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Real Techniques brush sale

December 23, 2013, 5:40 am
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It is the last few days of my vacation, I am just popping in to let you guys know about a good deal on Real Techniques brushes for Atlantic Canada.

By now, you all know about Real Techniques being available in Canada. The sets, to be exact!

Since my last review of the Eyes Starter kit, individual brushes have arrived at Lawtons in their full glory. I don't know if I yelled from the rooftop enough, so here is a little reminder for my Maritime readers that you now have those brushes at your fingertips. And even better is that Real Techniques is 30% off right now. No better time to stock up, but hurry as the flyer is only good until tomorrow, December 24.

Selections would include the famous Expert face brush (pictured), 2-in-1 kabuki brush, blush brush, shading brush, fine liner brush, etc. No makeup sponges at the moment yet, but we can hope :) Note that not all locations carry the brand, please check before heading out.

For readers from other parts of Canada, I spotted a few Real Techniques individual brushes at Winners for pretty good price ($7 - $9) a few weeks ago. You can grab them off Farleyco website too.

Have fun shopping and happy holidays! :)
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Weekly flyer deals

December 27, 2013, 10:26 pm
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I'm back guys! :) To start up the posts again, here are the deals this week. Listing is short as I warm myself up (pun intended) for post Christmas shopping just now. If you know of any other good deals, please mention it/ them in the comment section. Thanks.

Shoppers: Saturday only: x20 points with $50 purchase
- L'Oreal skin care: 30% off
- Vichy Normaderm Hyaluspot: CAD21
- L'Oreal Visible Lift makeup: 20% off
- L'Oreal Voluminous mascara, Colour Riche lip: CAD8.99
- Maybelline Color Tattoo, Volume Express mascara: CAD7.99; new Master Glaze/ Master Hi-Light: buy 2 get1,500 points
- CoverGirl Blast Flipstick, Lip Perfection lip: CAD8.99
- Revlon (new) Age Defying makeup: 10%, buy 2 get 3,000 points; Lash Potion mascara, ColorStay/ PhotoReady eye: CAD8.99
- Annabelle Kohl eye/ lip liner: CAD3.99
- Rimmel: 25% off
- Essie nail polish: 20% off
- Sally Hansen Insta-Dri nail polish: CAD4.99
- Revlon nail polish, implements: CAD5.49
- Quo nail polish, gels: CAD8.99
- Elizabeth Arden Vanity box: CAD65 with $38 Elizabeth Arden purchase.

Lawtons: Cosmetic gifts: 50% off (multiple brands)
- Vichy, Neostrata, La Roche-Posay, B. Kamins skin care sets: 35% off
- Dermaglow skin care: 50% off, bonus 50 Airmiles when you buy 2
- Revlon ColorStay makeup: 20% off
- Maybelline lip (excl. Baby Lips): CAD6.99; Baby Lips: CAD3.99; Master Smoky shadow pencil: CAD8.99
- CoverGirl Clean/ Bombshell makeup: CAD6.99
- L'Oreal Voluminous mascara: CAD8.99
- Essie nail polish, treatment: CAD6.99
- Nicole by OPI nail polish: CAD6.99
- Maybelline Color Show nail polish: CAD3.99
- Milani nail polish: bonus 25 miles when you spend $15.

Sephora: Extra 20% off on sale items with code "EXTRA20" until January 1.

If jetlag doesn't keep me in bed all day, I'd brave it out at the mall. We'll see how I do and I'll report more deals when I find them.
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Boxing Week hauls

December 30, 2013, 6:29 am
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So we went out for our first shopping trip this Boxing week, I was glad the mall was not a mad house.

My regular Shoppers "shrine" did not disappoint with great clearance sale. Note that not all locations offer the same sales as I did go to more than 1 Shoppers to check.

The first lucky score was this Quo by Orly Holiday gel kit with lamp, half price, reg. $99, valued $115, with a cleanser, a primer, base + top coat, a gel nail colour in Burning Love and the LED lamp.

I have been curious about gel manis, was eyeing this set for a while, excited to find it on clearance. The other gel kit with the pink lamp was also on sale but it cost a bit more (reg. $110), if you want it.

And then, the big items from Quo Christmas 2013 collection, on half price:

- On the Go beauty set (lower left corner), reg. $60. It reminds me of the Tarte of Giving Collector's set - a travel makeup bag with an eyeshadow palette, lip products, etc.
- Master brush set (in the background), reg. $60 with powder brush, blush brush, foundation brush, concealer brush, lip brush, liner/ brow brush, crease blender brush, all over shadow brush, definer shadow brush and shadow smudger brush, plus a cute black/ gold bag
- Stained Glass beauty set (the larger round compact in the lower right corner) with 16 eyeshadows and 4 face powders, reg. $35
- Back to Basic palette (up top), reg. $25. A giveaway might or might not in the work for this :)
- Deluxe bronzer (the smaller compact), reg. $20 with shimmery strips of colours running across
- Shimmer puff (upper right corner), reg. 20. I bought this as it was super cute with the gold metal bow on the lid, I didn't even know how it looked inside as it was sealed :)

If you haven't headed out to Shoppers yet, go today for x20 points with $50 purchase using this coupon.

At Lawtons, I got this Marcelle BB cream holiday gift set in Light to Medium, also for 50% off, reg. $49.95, valued $83.80. Comes with a black quilted bag, BB cleanser (200ml), BB cream-to-powder (7.5g), BB cream (45ml) and BB Roll-on concealer (2.8g).

There were other skin care holiday sets from Marcelle as well, if you need to stock up. These gift sets are always of good value to start with, now that they are on sale, it is the best time to grab them.

I couldn't make it to my favorite Lawtons location yet, so no report on nail polish on clearance, unfortunately.

Sally was doing extra 50% off clearance, and I had to renew my Sally card, so I went. Found a few Finger Paints shades for cheap.

The shades, from L-R: Sparkle top coat, Hue Brighten my Day, Enchanted Winter, Spell Binding and Sketch-y, $1.25 - $1.75 each after discount. The gel colours: Good Golly Miss Holly, New Year's Kiss, Splash of Bubbly and Snow Globe Shimmer, $3 each.

In the background is the free wallet clutch I got with purchase of 3 Finger Paints nail polish. The hot pink with black tone is hot!

From Sephora, I had ordered a few things online with the Sale-on-Sale code for some Sephora palettes and the Make Up For Ever Ultimate eyeliner collection (yes, that huge set with 7 Aqua Eyes, 3 Kohl liners and 4 Aqua liners, all full sized). Couldn't justify full price for these but when they showed up on the sale page and extra 20%, I grabbed them quick :)

From the store, I only got the Sephora 12hr wear waterproof contour eye pencil set for $13 - with Black Lace, Diamonds are Forever, Tiramisu and Sailor Suit, all full sized. I remembered seeing it on sale online more than this price and didn't get it then. Now seeing it in person with that holographic glow from the background, I wanted it :)

Clothing wise, I made my regular trip to La Senza to stock up on undies (10/$30) and sleepwear. Also found some cozy flannel and fleece PJs at Joe Fresh for $10 each and a legit hot pink Hello Kitty onesie (footie, to be exact) at Winners for $23 (down from $29.99, comparable at $60). Girls' PJs sold out a lot faster, so Squirt didn't find any but got some cute tops to make up for it.

Winners is also running a sale on active wear, many workout tops and capris were on sale for $22 or less, good style and colour selections at my location. I had a really hard time deciding which ones to leave behind.

The makeup section at Winners was not that exciting. Other than NARS, Clarins, Smashbox items and individual Real Techniques brushes I saw before, a few Anna Sui and Becca makeup pieces arrived. But anything that was not locked in plastic cases was swatched, I am upset every time!

I got a Sibu purifying mask ($12.99, comparable at $30) and hydrating serum ($12.99, comparable at $40), Sue Devitt Day & Night Neutrals eye, lip & cheek palette ($7.99, comparable at $25) and Nubar nail polish in Pink Dot and Sour Candy, $5.99 each, comparable at $8.

Have you found anything good lately?

Claire's had 10/$10, a few special effect and multi-layered nail polish were there. I got Pop Art and Graffiti (Splatter collection), and Surfs Up (4 layers, mango scented). I included a few other small things as an accent for the pic lol.

I still haven't got to the very first Forever 21 in town (opened during my time away), BBW and the Bay, etc. so the hauls aren't inclusive yet. Had a few online orders on the way, stuff for the house, nothing exciting.

Jetlag is still killing me, only the exciment of shopping keeps me awake a little, then I am not sleepy before midnight. Diet is also another thing that bothers me. I ate so well back home, great home cooked meals and street food, fresh fruits, sea food, etc. I gained a few pounds but it was worth it. It is tough to figure out what to cook now :)
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MAC discontinued shades

January 1, 2014, 6:22 am
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Happy New Year, everyone! Sorry to start out the year with some not-so-great news, but I want to keep you informed of MAC's latest list of discontinued shades. MAC is cleaning up the "house" when new year comes, I assume.

The list this time is quite long, with a few shocking discontinuance:

- Eyeshadows (CAD18): Bitter, Hepcat, Shimmermoss, Winkle, Sunny Spot, Embrace Me, Silly, Ablaze, Guacamole, Crystal and Seedy Pearl
- Eyeshadow pans (CAD12): Juxt, Winkle, Crystal and Seedy Pearl
- Pigments (CAD25): Neo-Orange, Magenta Madness, Antique Green, Full Force Violet and Golden Lemon
- Prolongwear eyeshadows (CAD25): Sunny Outlook, Plush, Thru the Night, Hot Paprika, Keep Your Cool and Legendary Black
- Prolongwear eyeshadow pans (CAD17): Plush, Thru the Night, Hot Paprika, Tease with Ease, Keep Your Cool and Legendary Black
- Mineralize eyeshadows (CAD24): Dare to Bare, Caribbean, Cha-cha-cha, Time and Tango, Bossa Blue and Tropica
- Mineral eyeshadow duos (CAD24): Pink Split and Fresh Green Mix
- Extra Dimension eyeshadow (CAD25): Extra Silver
- Pressed pigment (CAD25): Summer Honey
- Kohl Power eye pencil (CAD19): Orpheus
- Powerpoint eye pencil (CAD19): Navy Stain
- Superslick liquid eyeliners (CAD23): Smoky Heir and Marked for Glamour
- Opulash (CAD19): Bad Bad Black
- Zoom lash (CAD19): Lofty Brown
- Splashproof lash (CAD19): Blacksplash
- Studio Fix lash (CAD19): Black Fix
- Plush lash (CAD19): Plushblack
- 41 lash (CAD19)
- MAC Antonio Lopez 6-eyes (CAD52): Creative Copper, Violet and Teal
- Lipsticks (CAD18): Spice is Nice, Show-All, Subverted, By Design and Frenzy
- Sheen Supreme lipsticks (CAD20): Zen Rose, Sweet Grenadine, Playtime, Can't Get Enough, Look at Her!, Tea Ceremony and Sheer Mandarin
- Prolongwear lipcremes (CAD21): Till Tomorrow, Sweet Ever After, Extended Play, Dress it Up and Soulfully Rich
- Tinted lip glasses (CAD18): Flash of Flesh, Embrace Me, Bait, Cult of Cherry and Ablaze
- Lustreglasses (CAD18): Ornamental and Trance Plant
- Cremesheen glasses (CAD23): Calypso Beat and Fever Isle
- Dazzleglasses (CAD23): Internationalist and Roman Holiday
- Sheen Supreme lipglass tints (CAD23): K-Wow, Kiss Kiss, Blushing Berry, Bubble Gum, Simply Wow and Gwi-Yo-Mi
- Mineralize tinted lip balms (CAD23): Baking Beauty and Glace
- Prolongwear gloss coats (CAD18): Clear and Mirror
- Lip pencil (CAD18): Hodgepodge
- Cremestick liners (CAD18): Creamola, Summerfruit and 80%
- MAC Antonio Lopez 3-lips (CAD33): Red
- Powder blush (CAD24): Stylish Me
- Powder blush pans (CAD21): Flirt and Tease, Pink Swoon and Pinch O' Peach
- Cremeblend blush pan (CAD21: Tea Petal
- Mineralize blush (CAD29.50): Exotic Ember
- Extra dimension blushes (CAD29.50): Blazing Haute and Fiery Impact
- Studio Moisture tints SPF15 (CAD40): Medium Dark, Dark, Medium Plus, Dark Plus and Dark Deep
- Studio Sculpt SPF15 foundation (CAD37): NC55 and NW50
- Matchmaster SPF15 foundation (CAD41): 9.5 and 10
- Face and Body foundation 120ml (CAD42): N9 and C7
- Studio Tech (CAD37): NW40
- Mineralize foundation (CAD41): NC50, NW35 and NW45
- Select Moisturecover (CAD22): NC50
- Select Sheer/ loose (CAD30): NC5, NC15, NC20, NC30, NC40 and NC45
- Iridescent powder/ loose (CAD30): Golden Bronze and Silver Dusk
- MAC Antonio Lopez face (CAD55): Coral and Pink
- Glitter (CAD25): Reflect Transparent Teal
- Lustre drops (CAD25): Pink Rebel and Sun Rush
- Skinsheen leg sprays (CAD35): Medium Dark and Dark
- Nail lacquers (CAD19): Ablaze, Embrace Me, Silly, Heroine, Rebel, Magnificent Feast, Bleu Velvet, Confectionary and Pistachio Creme
- Prep + Prime eyes (CAD22): Light, Medium and Medium Dark
- Prep + Prime Future Length Lash serum and Vibrancy Eye (CAD36.50)
- Prep + Prime Skin Brightening serum (CAD48)
- Strobe liquid (CAD40)
- Others: 249 and 252SE brush; foundation sponge; tweezers (Universal and Point); MAC Antonio Lopez mirror, 129SE brush, makeup bag and tote; Softsacs (medium - Dusted Pink, large - French Lilac and Julep) and Mariza 1 and 2.

If you are freaking out, here is the direct link to the Discontinued products page :) I wish MAC announced this earlier, as I had a coupon at the Bay I could use to stock up a few shades. What will you be getting backups for?
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Real Techniques individual brushes

January 2, 2014, 7:16 am
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Halifax had a way to ring in the NY, I tell you. We are having -29 (-20F) wind chill right now and expect a blizzard tonight. How exciting!

Let's talk brushes, to be more exciting lol. I received some Real Techniques individual brushes for review, and they have been so fun to use. If you haven't got yourself some since last time I told you they had arrived in Canada, here is my review :)

From L-R: Expert face brush, foundation brush, stippling brush and shading brush. These individual brushes all have taklon bristles, soft and non-scratchy. The quality we see in the brush sets still stand for single brushes, yay!

As with any bunch of products, I do like one brush more than the other a tiny bit, but enjoy them all, for different purposes.

First up, with an orange handle, is the famous Expert face brush, retails around $10.

Meant to be used to apply and blend cream/ liquid foundation, the brush has firmer bristles than most. It is quite dense but not to the extend of Sigma F80, and not as wide either. It is compact and effective.

I used the Expert face brush for both foundation and concealer and it did a really good job. Despite the compact size, it did not take long to do the whole face. All the raves are proven to be true :) The flat end of the handle helps the brush stand on the counter, and on my makeup counter it stands, my favorite Real Techniques brush for the face. The box it comes with will be great for travel too.

Also with an orange handle is the Foundation brush, $9. It is flat and angled, I assume to reach hard to reach areas on the face.

Personally, I did not use the brush with foundation but bronzer, to contour. I turn it on the flat and thin side and deposit bronzer on, then swipe it up and down to blend. Since this is also a compact brush, detailed work suits it. With a bit of patience, I could get a subtle contour going on, which is not something I do often :)

The duo-fiber Stippling brush, $10, with a pink handle, can be used with all types of makeup but I chose it for my cream blushes.

The size of it is perfect for the cheek area, and the bristles distribute cream products like a dream. The blushes look natural and not overly done. Stipple stipple blend and you are done!

Lastly, the Shading brush for your eyes, $7, with purple handle, is a tiny little brush with dome shaped bristles. It is best for applying the crease colour, and because it is not pointy like a pencil brush, I use it to blend the colour out as well, on both the crease and the lower lash line. Fast and easy!

It has the same flat end on the handle like other brushes but because it is small and thin, it does not stand well by itself but it does not bother me.

Glad to have them all in my stash now. Real Techniques brushes are available at Walmart, Lawtons, London Drugs, sometimes at Winners, and online at Farleyco. Note: Canada will soon have Real Techniques Miracle sponge as well, yay!

Stay tuned for a giveaway :)
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Real Techniques brushes giveaway

January 3, 2014, 6:03 am
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There is a blizzard blowing out there today, but I have great news for you, my Canadian readers. Since I have been talking about Real Techniques brushes so much lately, it is about time to get this giveaway started, so you have a chance to try some too.

At the request of Farleyco, the sponsor, this giveaway is for Canada only. International readers, don't be sad, as I have another giveaway lined up for all of you soon :)

a Rafflecopter giveawayTerms and conditions are included in the gadget. If you need some reference, here are links to my reviews of the Travel Essentials set, the Eyes Starter kit and the individual brushes.

Good luck!
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Weekly flyer deals

January 4, 2014, 6:14 am
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Shoppers:

*** Saturday & Sunday: 2 free Cineplex tickets with $75 purchase
*** Monday - Friday: Free $10 Shoppers gift card with $50 purchase

*** Sunday & Monday only:
- L'Oreal Elnett hair spray (250ml), Ever or Hair Expertise hair care: CAD6.99 (limit 4, after limit and rest of the week: CAD7.99)
- Tresemme/ got2b hair care: CAD3.88 (limit 4, after limit and rest of the week: CAD3.99)

*** All week:
- Olay Smooth Finish, skin care: 25% off
- Garnier body lotion (250ml), Fructis, L'Oreal Kids hair care: CAD2.99
- L'Oreal Preference Mousse Absolue hair colour: CAD15.99
- Conair Infiniti Pro Curl Secret: CAD99.99
- Aveeno Fresh Essentials, Garnier facial moisturizer: CAD14.99
- Vichy Nutrilogie, Aqualia, Purete Thermal skin care: 25% off
- Avene skin care: 20% off; Xeracalm cleansing oil, balm, cream: 25% off
- Bioderma skin care: 25% off
- Marcelle BB, CC, DD cream: CAD24.99
- Revlon ColorBurst lip balm, lacquer: CAD7.99
- CoverGirl Bomshell LashBlast Volume mascara: CAD11.99
- L'Oreal Voluminous Butterfly mascara: CAD9.99

Bonus Optimum points until January 24: x20 points when you spend $20 on participating L'Oreal products. The picture shows the RevitaLift Micracle Blur, Elnett hair spray, Hair Expertise, etc.

Lawtons: Bonus Airmiles on Milani, Cargo, Real Techniques, Styli-Style, Maybelline (mascara)
- Vichy, Neostrata, Cliniderm skin care: 25% off
- Avene anti-aging skin care: 20% off (bonus 10 Airmiles when you buy 2)
- Clean & Clear, Neutrogena Deep Clean/ Naturals cleanser: 30% off
- Garnier Skin Renew, L'Oreal Youth Code skin care: 25% off
- L'Oreal, Physicians Formula makeup: 25% off
- CoverGirl Simply Ageless: 20% off; Clean makeup: CAD6.99
- Maybelline Baby Lips: CAD3; lip: CAD7.99
- Revlon ColorStay Shadow Links eyeshadow: CAD3
- Almay Shadow Softies eyeshadow: CAD4.95 (bonus 5 miles when you buy 2)
- LA Colors/ LA Gil makeup: 25% off (bonus 10 miles when you spend $25)
- LA Colors/ LA Girl nail polish: 50% off
- Maybelline Color Show/ Revlon classic nail polish: CAD3
- Nicole by OPI nail polish: CAD7.99
- Essie nail polish, treatment: CAD7.99
- Revlon nail art polish: CAD6.99
- Broadway, Kiss nail: 20% off (bonus 5 miles when you buy 2)
- Red Carpet LED gel: 20% off.

Superstore:
- L'Oreal Colour Riche lipstick, balm: CAD7.97 (save $2); Voluminous Butterfly/ False Fiber/ 24h Power mascara: CAD8.97 (save $1); Magic Nude liquid to powder foundation: CAD14.97 (save $3)
- Revlon Super Lustrous lip, ColorStay eyeliner: CAD5.97 (save $2); ColorBurst matte/ lacquer balm: CAD5.97 (save $3); Age Defying firming + lifting makeup: CAD14.97 (save $4)
- Maybelline Big Eyes/ Rocket/ Volume Express mascara, Unstoppable eyeliner, Color Tattoo eyeshadows: CAD6.97 (save $1); Color Sensational, SuperStay, Color Elixir: CAD7.97 (save $1); Dream Matte, Liquid Mousse foundation: CAD10.96
- CoverGirl Flamed Out mascara: CAD5.97 (save $2); Clean/ Whipped creme makeup: CAD5.97 (save $1)
- L'Oreal Colour Riche top coat, nail polish: CAD4.97 (save $1)
- Revlon nail art: CAD5.97 (save $2)
- Sally  Hansen Xtreme Wear nail polish: CAD1.99 (save $1.50)
- Essie nail polish: CAD8.97 (save $1)
- Joe Fresh bath accessories: 25% off.

Walmart:
- Rimmel Scandal Eyes mascara: CAD5
- Nivea Creme, Soft cream: CAD7.47
- Clean & Clear cleansing skin care: CAD5.50.

Target:
- L'Oreal makeup: 20% off
- L'Oreal Age Perfect/ RevitaLift skin care: CAD22.99
- Essie nail polish, Sleek sticks: CAD7.99.

The Bay: Extra 15% off on almost anything in store and online with Hudson's Bay credit card or MasterCard until Sunday. Also, save extra 25% off on select women's fashion, including footwear, handbags, sleepwear and fashion jewelry until Thursday, January 9.

The Beauty page online now has Anna Sui and Kiehl as new brands. Maybe one day, MAC and Chanel will be added too :)

Rexall: $5 off $25 coupon until Thursday, January 9.
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Masque-ology at Winners

January 6, 2014, 6:27 am
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It is definitely a case of Blue Monday today guys. We had a crazy whiteout blizzard on Friday, so the weekend had been busy with snow removal and getting groceries among other things. As a result, today I am just so out of it.

A good thing from the weekend: I found Masque-ology masks at Winners. I am going through a mask phase right now. Remember my Face mask haul when I was on vacation? I did go back and get all 3 types of mask packs, so Masque-ology is a nice addition to the bunch :)

I found 4 types of Masque-ology masks ("Researched and developed by top dermatologists in Korea"). 3 per pack (3.17oz/ 90g) for $8.99, comparable to $24. If you are in the US, they are $5.99/ box at Marshall or TJ Maxx.

The first mask I was excited to find is the Anti blemish mask with Tea Tree Leaf extract.

Supposed to soothe and calm blemishes, help to control sebum production, this mask sounds like a good one for me.

Key ingredients:
- Tea Tree Leaf oil (clears skin infections and acne, soothes skin irritations)
- Pinecone Bud extract (anti inflammation)
- Hogweed extract (calming)
- Aloe Leaf juice (anti bacteria/ fungus/ inflammatory, soothes skin).

The full ingredient list is listed on the packaging but since this is not a review, I chose to mention just the key ingredients FYI.

The Pore minimizing mask with Mushroom extract is to minimize the visible appearance of pores and refine skin's overall texture and appearance.

Key ingredients:
- Sodium Hyaluronate (hold 1,000 times its weight in water, helps skin absorb more water effectively)
- Panthenol (improves hydration, reduces itching and inflammation, improves healing of epidermal wounds)
- Mushroom extract (reduces inflammation and irritation, impacts the appearance of lines and collagen production, helps brighten, fade sunspots and acne scars, etc.)
- Ceramide 3 (repairs damage to the skin's moisture barrier, smooth away wrinkles and crows feet).

I do know that pores aren't going anywhere no matter what you do, but minimizing the look of them with a mask is good enough for me.

The Anti aging mask with Hydrolyzed Elastin (note the age-appropriate model): helps to restore a youthful complexion, diminish the visible signs of fine lines and wrinkles. Sounds good! :)

Key ingredients:
- Collagen (helps produce and build collagen in the skin)
- Oat Kernel extract (anti-irritant and anti-inflammatory properties)
- Hydrolyzed Elastin (naturally derived, water-soluble protein)
- Caviar extract (high in Vitamin content: A, D, E, B1, B2 and B6 with amino acid, iron, copper and cobalt, highly antioxidant and nourishing, provides moisture and repairs skin damage).

Again, I don't expect to erase years off my face with a mask, but having a nice facial night at home with good ingredients for the skin does not sound half bad.

And lastly, the Hydrate & Repair mask with Caviar extract. It is meant to hydrate the skin to maintain a lasting moisture balance, repair and restore the skin's youthful appearance.

Key ingredients:
- Caviar extract (mentioned above)
- Green Algae extract (with 13 different vitamins and 20 essential amino acids)
- Brown Algae extract (rich in sea minerals, highest content of Iodine found in any food group, great detoxification properties and anti-oxidant).

I looked up the brand trying to find more information. Looks like Beauty Architects brought Masque-ology to Sephora (North America) in March 2012. The brand participated in a Birchbox release in June that year, but haven't been very active since. The brand's social media pages (twitter, FB) haven't been updated since October 2012. What's up with that?

There are other types of masks at Masque-ology: Brightening, Lifting and Firming, Anti oxidant, Cell renewal, Collagen hydro gel, and Revitalizing Eye. If you happen to come across them at Winners and give them a try, I'd love to hear your thoughts.
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NOTD: Revlon Italian Leather

January 7, 2014, 7:20 am
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After Wild Violets, here is another Revlon shade from the (scented) Parfumerie line - Italian Leather, this time courtesy of the Revlon Select program.

Before you asked, this particular shade did not smell like leather lol, more like a sweet candy type of scent. I was surprised Revlon didn't pull off the scent of this one.

I did two coats of Italian Leather here but you can get away with one if you have enough polish on the brush :). The gold sheen on it is a little too subtle to be visible most of the time, which is a shame, but the base colour is cool enough to make up for it.

If you are wondering about the extra (green) shimmers on the ring finger, they are from Cult Nails Two Timer, one of the layering top coats from the Deceptive collection in 2012.

I know Two Timer's sheen is not the same as that of Italian Leather but I wanted to see if I can intensify the glow of Italian Leather a bit more. I only did one coat of it but think two would work better for the purpose.

Wear wise, it's not the polish's fault but I only had more than a day with it, because of all the shovelling I had to do after the snow storm. Well, I can always wear it again some time in the future.

Here is the mani up close to show you more of the green in Two Timer.

Update on availability of the Parfumerie line after my Canada vs. US post: Revlon confirmed that there will be more Limited Edition shades of Parfumerie coming in 2014. Now we can hope to match all shades the US has, and more :)

It is not a surprise that Parfumerie has been chosen as the best 2013 drugstore nail polish collection on a few big beauty blogs. It is fun and exciting! What shades have you tried from the line that you love?
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Montagne Jeunesse Dead Sea Mud

January 8, 2014, 6:10 am
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A Maple Vox Box from Influenster was sent to my mail box while I was vacation. The first thing I wanted to try was the Montagne Jeunesse Pressed sea kelp Dead Sea Mud spa cause, like I said, I was on a mask kick :)

This mask is a bit different from regular sheet masks being a bamboo fabric mask, infused with clay. We all know the regular mud mask that comes in a tube or tub, so a mud sheet mask is something new.

Application is similar to other sheet masks - cleanse, apply, relax 10-15 minutes and massage it in - except you have to rinse at the end. But the washing is actually very quick and easy, I am a fan!

I'll spare you the scary image of me with the mask on :) The sheet is of a good size, with extra fabric to cover under my jawline, and it feels durable (not easy to rip).

Coming out of the pouch (as pictured), it is quite wet and messy but feels nice in contact. Once on, the mask is pretty cooling. I feel asleep wearing it and woke up with it pretty dried up. Oops :)

But even then, my face did not feel tight, a quick wash to clean the residue and I was ready for bed, a proper sleep this time. Not having to wash layers of mud off my face (like with a regular mud mask) is definitely time saving.

The mask does have a floral scent to it, not the typical mud mask scent. Those who are scent sensitive might not find this comforting. To me, I enjoyed a good "spa night" at home and the skin felt refreshed. That was all I asked for.

One thing to note: The cutouts for the eyes and mouth on the sheet are a little big for my face, so the area right under my eyes and around the corners of my mouth did not get the mud. Call me greedy, but those areas could definitely use some help, considering my age :)

Ingredients: Purified water, kaolin (natural clay), sugar, fragrance, Xanthan gum (natural thickener), Aloe barbadensis (Aloe vera) leaf juice, sea salt, Propylene glycol, Citric acid, Fucus vesiculosus (seaweed) extract, Sorbitol (Plant origin), Laminaria digitata (sea kelp) extract, etc.

The mask retails $2.49, in a more affordable side of the sheet mask price range. Are you intrigued?
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Other The Body Shop scents

January 9, 2014, 7:29 am
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Sometimes we are so wrapped up with a scent we like at the Body Shop that we forget how many others they make :) This little PR package brought me right back to those classic scents. Let's take a trip back, shall we?

We all know about Shea, but the beautifying oil is quite new at TBS.

Made with a lightweight blend of nut oils, including Community Fair Trade marula oil, it is meant to provide instant hydration and a shimmering finish to your face, body and hair.

I mostly use oils on my hair and body after shower (don't notice the shimmers much) and this oil works quite well for that. Non-greasy feeling afterward, a plus!

The scent is described as nutty, not my favorite but not a bad scent either. I'd suggest to try the oil out, but pick the scent that tickles your fancy :)

Ingredients: Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (Emollient), Dicaprylyl Carbonate (Skin-Conditioning Agent), Fragrance, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil (Skin Conditioning Agent), Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil/Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil (Skin-Conditioning Agent), etc.

The 100ml bottle retails $14.

And then there is the fab Mango scent, in a bottle of body mist.

To me, body mists work better in the summer, being light and fruity with a few hours of lasting power. When it gets cold, I want something with stronger scent throw, mostly EDPs or solid perfume. But a quick spritz will perk you up when the day gets dull, so I always have this bottle out on the counter. The fact that I like mangoes, and their scent, helps :)

Ingredients: Alcohol Denat. (Solvent/Diluent), Water (Solvent/Diluent), Fragrance, Limonene (Fragrance Ingredient), Mangifera Indica (Mango) Juice (Natural Additive), Linalool (Fragrance Ingredient), Glycerin (Humectant), Citronellol (Fragrance Ingredient), Benzyl Alcohol (Preservative), etc.

The bottle is also 100ml, $12.

Stepping up a notch, a Satsuma EDT.

Being in the citrus scent family, Satsuma did not get enough love from me in the past. But that changes lately when I long for a bit of "zing" and uplifting effects in my body products.

Can't wear scented products to work, I sneak this EDT any time I can at night, even just to sit at my computer or head to bed :)

Granted, the scent in a EDT lasts a bit longer than a body mist, but I still don't find it last quite all day long.

Ingredients: Alcohol Denat. (Solvent/Diluent), Water (Solvent/Diluent), Fragrance, Limonene (Fragrance Ingredient), Citral (Fragrance Ingredient), Citronellol (Fragrance Ingredient), Linalool (Fragrance Ingredient), Citrus Unshiu Fruit Extract (Skin Protectant), etc.

Smaller bottle of 30ml, sells for $14.

And lastly, the Camomile Waterproof eye & lip makeup remover.

Being a 2-part makeup remover (i.e. you need to shake it before use), it is cent free, alcohol free, hence suitable for sensitive skin and contact lens wearers!

First glance, I like the colour scheme on the packaging, very calming. It'd be nice to have a pump instead of a flip cap though, to avoid messy dispenses.

A swipe of this makeup remover (with a cotton pad) removes my eye makeup and most of the waterproof mascara. I don't get blurry vision or greasy feeling after but still have to go over my lashes a second time with my favorite cleansing water to make sure no panda eyes the next morning.

For that, I would say this makeup remover works for basic daily cleansing, as it is gentle and safe. But opt for a second cleanse or a better product to remove your waterproof mascara. I did not feel the need to use this for my lips, as I am fine with just a facial cleanser for that.

Ingredients: Water (Solvent/Diluent), Isododecane (Solvent), Isopropyl Palmitate (Emollient), Potassium Phosphate (pH Adjuster), Hexylene Glycol (Humectant), Sodium Chloride (Viscosity Modifier), Dipotassium Phosphate (pH Adjuster), Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate (Chelating Agent), etc.

For 150ml, the product retails for $16. If you want to give it a try, catch one of those sales that TBS hosts quite often :)
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Weekly flyer deals

January 10, 2014, 6:56 am
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Shoppers: Saturday to Monday: 18,500 points with $75 purchase
*** Sunday and Monday:
- Revlon ColourBurst lip butter, Super Lustrous lipstick: CAD4.99 (limit 4, after limit and rest of the week: CAD7.99)
- Almay eye makeup remover: CAD4.99 (limit 4, after limit and rest of the week: CAD7.99).

*** All week:
- Batiste dry shampoo: CAD6.99
- Aveeno, Clean & Clear, Neutrogena facial cleanser, cleansing cloth: CAD7.99
- CoverGirl Clump Crusher mascara, Smoothers, Clean makeup: CAD6.99; LashBlast 24hr mascara, LineBlast 24hr eyeliner: CAD9.99
- Maybelline Shine Sensational gloss, Express Wear eyeshadow, Great Lash mascara, Baby Lips Dr. Rescue: CAD3.99
- Maybelline Illegal Length mascara, SuperStay lip, Fit Me: 20% off
- L'Oreal Voluminous mascara, HIP eyeshadow, Colour Riche lip: CAD6.99
- L'Oreal True Match: 20% off
- Revlon ColorStay Shadowlinks eyeshadow: 3/CAD8
- Marcelle Xtension Plus mascara + Gentle eye makeup remover (value pack): CAD19.95 (30% off)
- Rimmel Clean Finish foundation, lip, eye: CAD4.99
- Physicians Formula: 30% off
- Maybelline Color Show nail polish: CAD3.99
- CoverGirl Outlast Stay Brilliant nail polish: CAD6.99
- Revlon nail polish: CAD4.99; nail art polish: CAD7.99
- Sally Hansen Complete Salon nail polish, treatment: CAD7.99
- Nails Inc nail polish: CAD10.99
- Nailene Sensationail starter kit, Color gel polish, accessories: 20% off
- Biotherm GWP of $31 or more. The gift includes Blue Therapy night serum-in-oil (10ml) and Blue Therapy serum (10ml), values $47. Plus 10,000 points with purchase of any Blue Therapy product
- Lancome GWP of skin care $50 or more. The gift is a Super Serums set, values up to $96. Plus 15,000 points when you spend $150 or more on Lancome skin care products.

Bonus Optimum points until January 17:
- 1,000 points with purchase of Rimmel Apocalips, Scandal Eyes Retro Glam/ Lash Accelerator Endless mascara
- 1,500 points with purchase of Annabelle BB makeup products
- 2,500 points with purchase of any La Roche-Posay Lipikar product
- 5,000 points with purchase of 2 RoC products
- 5,000 points with purchase of 2 Vichy products
- x10 points with purchase of Maybelline Color Elixir, Sensational lip
- x10 points with purchase of Gosh lip, makeup
- x10 points with purchase of Avene Xeracalm cleansing oil, balm or cream
- x15 points with purchase of CoverGirl Bombshell Shineshadow eyeshadow, Intensity/ Volume by Lashblast mascara
- x15 points with Indeed skin care products (Nanoblur, Hydraluron, etc.)
- x20 points with purchase of Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing lotion or gel.

Until January 24: x20 points when you spend $20 on participating L'Oreal products. The picture shows the RevitaLift Micracle Blur, Elnett hair spray, Hair Expertise, etc.

Lawtons:
- L'Oreal Hair Expertise: CAD3.99
- Goody TangleFix, Doublewear, Simple Styles: 25% off
- Marcelle BB, CC, DD cream, Revival skin care: 20% off
- Bioderma, Cliniderm, La Roche-Posay, Neostrara, Vichy, Avene, B. Kamins, Freeze 24 skin care: 20% off
- Fruit Frappe bath, L'Action Terractive mask: 50% off
- Maybelline Volume Express mascara: CAD5.99; Fit Me: CAD7.99
- L'Oreal Colour Riche lip: 20% off; foundation, powder, concealer: 20% off (bonus 10 Airmiles when you buy 2)
- Revlon lipstick, gloss, lip liner: 20% off; PhotoReady BB: CAD15.99 (bonus 10 miles when you buy 2)
- CoverGirl: 20% off
- Almay Intense I-Color: 20% off
- Annabelle TwistUp, Big Show lip: CAD7.99
- Bonne Bell: 25% off (bonus 15 miles when you spend $10)
- LA Colors/ LA Girl: 20% off (bonus 10 miles when you spend $25)
- NYX: bonus 10 miles when you spend $20
- Styli Style: bonus 5 miles when you spend $10
- Physicians Formula: 10% off (bonus 5 miles when you buy 2)
- Vasanti: bonus 10 miles when you spend $25
- Revlon nail art polish: CAD7.99
- L'Oreal Colour Riche nail: 20% off
- Broadway/ Kiss nail enhancements, gel: 20% off
- Layla Ceramic Effect nail polish: CAD7.99
- Nicole by OPI nail polish: CAD8.99
- Essie nail polish, treatment: CAD7.99 (bonus 10 miles when you buy 2).

Walmart:
- CoverGirl Clump Crusher mascara, BB cream, Lip Perfection Jumbo gloss balm, lip liner: CAD6.97; TruBlend foundation, Skin Perfector pressed powder: CAD9.96
- Revlon Age Defying foundation: CAD16.96
- Almay Smart Shade makeup: CAD14.96
- Vaseline lotion, Spray & Go: CAD5.77
- Olay Total Effects moisturizer: CAD19.97
- Tresemme, Infusium hair care: CAD3.92.

Target: NutriBullet 12-pc blender (in Target-exclusive red colour): CAD99.99, free $10 Target gift card when you buy 1 (no rain checks).

Sephora: Double points on facial skin care and tools until January 20 for Beauty Insiders.

The Bay: Untill January 16, when you make a purchase of $150 or more using paypal, you'll receive $30 cash back (transferred to your paypal account 4-6 weeks after your purchase). Check the link for more details.

Clarins GWP of two Clarins products, one of which is skin care, until January 19. The gift is a 5-piece Mademoiselle set in your choice of Trendy (pictured), Urban or Natural, values up to $125. When you purchase one additional Clarins skin care product, you'll get a free Beauty Flash balm.

This weekend only, with Clarins purchase of $75 or more using Hudson's Bay credit card/ MasterCard, you'll get a $20 savings card, redeemable on your next purchase of $100 or more (excluding cosmetics and fragrances) until January 26.

And lastly, free 2-week supply of Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus is available at Clinique counters at the Bay until February 6.

Sleek Makeup: Free worldwide shipping now till January 15 on orders over £30, €40 or $50.

I did place an order. Both shipping options - "3-8 working days tracked" or "4-10 working days untracked" were free, so of course I chose tracking. My order was shipped the day after I placed it, we'll see if it gets to me as promised.

Sally: Spend $35 in January to earn a 15% reward coupon, then get double saving (30%) if you go shop on February 22.
- Until Monday: all hair care are BOGO with the picture as coupon
- Free China Glaze nail polish with purchase of Seche Vite top coat
- Orly: BOGO (excluding Gel Pocket removers)
- Nina Ultra Pro nail polish: CAD4.99
- Femme Couture makeup: B2G1F.

Can't remember if I mentioned this, but OPI is now sold at Sally as well. The latest collection, Gwen Stefani, is now available.

Forever 21: Extra 50% off on sale items with code "EXTRA50" until January 19. Free shipping with $60 orders.

Beyond the Rack: Spend more save more with events that have the "Luxury Looks for Less" stamp
- Spend $250, get $25
- Spend $500, get $50
- Spend $1,000, get $100
- Spend $1,500, get $150
- Spend over $2,000, get $200.

The credits will be emailed to you by January 14 to be used until midnight February 15.

3-day shipping pass is still on (pay shipping once, get free shipping for 3 days on additional orders). My link is on the left side bar if you need it.

Old Navy: Super Cash is still on until Sunday - Earn $10 when you spend $25, $20 when you spend $50 or $30 when you spend $75. New levels online: Earn $40 when you spend $100 or $50 when you spend $125.

Redemption is between January 21 and 29, $10 for every $25 spent.

GAP: GAP Cash in on, in store only until January 22 - Earn $25 when you spend $50, $50 when you spend $100 or $75 when you spend $150.

Redemption is between January 30 and February 5, $25 for every $50 spent.

To put these promotions simply, you'll get 20% off at Old Navy (with minimum spending of $25x2 trips) and 25% off at GAP (with minimum spending of $50x2 trips).

Rexall: $5 off $25 coupon until Thursday, January 16.
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Avon SuperShock gel liner pencils

January 13, 2014, 6:22 am
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Remember way back when the pixiwoo sisters mentioned Avon SuperShock gel eye liner pencils? Lots of us were disappointed to know that they were UK exclusives at the time.

Fast forward to the day I saw them in an Avon brochure, it felt like Christmas lol. I have since ordered 4 of them (see colours below).

According to Avon, these pencils are formulated with 20% liquid gel and vitamin E to smoothly create a flawless line every time - with the ease and precision of a pencil and the high-impact color of a gel.

pixiwoo's raves did raise a high standard that I hope these pencils would meet. And they did!

The shades I got, from top to bottom, are Intense Brown, Plumful, Cobalt and Aqua Pop. I was in the mood for colours, so I passed on Blackout. Looks like it was used on Kat Denning at the People's Choice Awards lol.

Look at the holographic letters on the pencils, they are the "SuperShock" after all :)

Here are the colours, in the same order.

By the look, Intense Brown seems to be the most basic, no shimmers. From Plumful, Cobalt to Aqua Pop, we start seeing a bit of shine. The swatches below prove that too.

The pencils are not the twist up kind, so yes we have to sharpen them and lose some of the precious gel core in the process :( I have not used these to the point they need sharpening, but I can already see the pain of that day.

It might sound silly to you, but I can't pick a favorite among these four shades.  

Intense Brown satisfies my daily/ work look uses, while Plumful, Cobalt and Aqua Pop spice up any neutral look when I want to. And they are all very pigmented, so smooth, soft and comfortable on my eyes, thanks to that gel texture.

I did two swipes of the pencils for each swatch here to show you the colours, but on the eyes, I only needed one swipe. I almost didn't have words to describe my excitement. All the raves hold true!

These SuperShock pencils retail for $10 a piece but are on sale at times for around $5-$6. I totally recommend them, and hope Avon will bring out more colours to the line.

I'll do looks featuring these shades, stay tuned!
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NYC Big Bold

January 14, 2014, 6:05 am
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Also part of the Maple Vox Box I received for review were 2 big New York Color makeup items :) A mascara and a lip gloss, with the tubes about a time and a half bigger than normal, each retails $4.99.

The NYC Big Bold Curl mascara in Extreme Black has an oversized curved brush that is supposed to give up to 12 times more volume and 99% more lift.

I'd call this mascara a gentle giant. Despite of the size, the brush does not hurt my eyes and the bristles coat my lashes well when I use both sides of the curve.

The mascara does give my lashes volume but, as with most mascaras on me, not much of a curl.

The NYC Big Bold Plumping lip gloss in Big City Blush is meant to make lips look up to 50% fuller with high gloss shine that lasts up to 4 hours.

The applicator is huge (but, again, gentle) and picks up a bit more product than I need most of the time. No big deal, I just scrape it off at the top of the tube.

This particular shade does not have much pigmentation but is a good slap-on-and-go type of colour on me. It is also great on top of another lip product for the shine.

The plumping effect is not very noticeable, a slight tingling feeling on your lips like when you have a mint in your mouth. It does not bother me. The gloss also has a soft sweet scent, thought I should note.

A swatch of Big City Blush, side by side with Elf Matte lip color in Natural to show you the tone and pigmentation.

As you might guess, I like to pair these two together for a natural look. On my dark lips, they look nude but not washed out, and a bit of shine is always nice.

All in all, with these two products, not all claims hold true but they do have good things to offer, at a reasonable price. I am happy to use up the mascara and will check out other colours of the gloss - a red or fuchsia.

Have you tried anything from NYC lately and what do you think of their products?
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