SDM Redemption!

So today was a Spend Your Points event at Shopper's Drug Mart. If you spent 95,000 points, you could purchase $200 worth of products and only pay the tax. Sweet! I couldn't resist this and told myself it would make a nice Mother's Day treat. ;)

My local SDM had all sorts of stuff going on. There were raffles for some pretty amazing prizes like $250 Shoeless Joe's gift cards and Pandora jewelry, a huge table of delicious desserts, a sidewalk sale of discontinued items marked down to as a low as $1 and surprise bags for $5 or $10! So fun! I'm wondering if this was happening at all SDM's as I forgot to ask them just what they were celebrating.

Anyway, here's what I picked up:

My apologies for the crappy iPhone pics!

So I picked up one of the $5 surprise bags, a 35ml of Coco Chanel EDP for $73, Shiseido Luminizing Satin Face Color for $38, the Shoppers Drug Mart Fragrance Sampler for $75, 2 Quo Ceramic Nail Files for $3 each (I gave one to my daughter), La Coupe Mousse for $3, Balea Mousse for $3 (both of these are for my daughter who has very curly hair), Always Panty Liners that were on sale for $3.99, and 2 Maybelline Baby Lips for my daughter that were $5.99 and buy 1, get 1 free! I received a Shiseido Water Bottle with some samples in it for purchasing the Luminizing Powder, and a Valentino Body Lotion for free.

Okay, so the surprise bag was pretty useless to me, but it was fun to buy, and I opened it with my daughter and told her she could have anything she wanted. The SDM sales associate told me the bag could contain anything from around the store and wasn't just cosmetics. My surprises were an auburn  L'Oreal hair dye, which I will never use, reading glasses...haha! I'll give these to my dad, pantyhose...lol haven't wore these babies in 15+ years, a Maybelline Eyeliner, a Sally Hansen nail polish and a L'Oreal eyeshadow quad.

Here's a couple pics of the Shiseido Luminizing Satin Face Color. I've heard amazing things about this highlighter, and I know it's HG for many!

 

And a swatch taken with flash:

 

Here's the Shiseido Freebie:

 

And a swatch of the Perfect Rouge Lipstick, shade RD142:

I thought this bottle of Valentino lotion was so adorable:

I didn't snap any individual pics of the Coco Chanel, but I'm sure you've all seen it before. :)

The fragrance sampler contains 10 perfume vials, and a certificate to redeem for whichever you want. Included were samples of:

Vera Wang Princess EDT
Yves Saint Laurent Manifesto EDP
Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue EDT
Burberry Body Tender EDT
Lady Gaga Fame EDP
Nina Ricci Nina L'Eau EDT
Marc Jacobs Daisy EDT
Juicy Couture Couture La La EDP
Givenchy Hot Couture EDT
Roberto Cavalli Just Cavalli EDT

Let me know if you redeemed at SDM and what you got! Thanks for reading!



SDM Haul! Dior, GOSH and Rimmel

Yesterday I participated in Shopper's Drug Mart's 20x the points promotion! I feel like SDM is just pumping out the promotions lately.  It seems like there's always a bonus point or spend your points promotion going on, and my favourite sales associate let me know that another spend your points promo would be coming up very soon. Eek!!

For this promo, I purchased Diorskin Nude Tan Paradise Duo in 002 Coral Glow, GOSH Nail Polish in 587 Hot Coral, Rimmel Scandal Eyes in 007 Gossip Green, Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick by Kate Lipstick in 110 and Rimmel Stay Glossy in 800 Infinitely Pretty. The SA threw in 2 samples of Alien by Thierry Mugler, Stella Nude by Stella McCartney and a sample of Clarins HydraQuench Cream-Gel for Combination and Oily Skin:

I just love the Dior blush/bronzer duo! I was seriously lemming this after seeing it pop in a few blogs and the reviews seemed great! I am not disappointed. I wore this out last night, and I thought the two shades looked beautiful together. The blush is a gorgeous pinkish-coral and the bronzer is a peachy brown. They are both soft, finely milled and lasting a good part of the night on my oily skin. :)

 

 

 

 

 

This retailed for $56 at Shoppers Drug Mart, but you can also find it any Dior counter near you.

 

I hadn't tried any of the Lasting Finish lipsticks by Rimmel, and I thought this shade was super pretty for spring! It's a bright orange-pink/red, and I don't have anything in my lipstick collection like it. I really loved it topped with the Stay Glossy gloss, but I know that sort of defeats the purpose of the lipstick's matte finish.

 

 

This is just the lipstick on my lips. I know it's not coming off very orange here. Damn camera!

 

And this is lipstick topped with the Stay Glossy Lipgloss which is clear with fine silver shimmer. Sorry for the blurriness!

 

 

Did this lipstick last? Yes! I was out for the better part of the day and night and was eating and drinking. I believe I reapplied once because the boldness of the colour was starting to fade.

 

The Rimmel ScandalEyes was on sale for $3.99 and I just bought it on a whim to bring my purchase total up to the $75 mark. I haven't tried this yet. But here's a swatch of it as well as the lipstick on the left, and the gloss on the right:

 

 

 

The GOSH nail polish was on sale for $3.50 and I was looking for a shade like this, so I would stop stealing my daughter's. :) I'll be applying it today! Fingers crossed that it can last more than 12 hours as nothing seems to these days.

 

And that completes my haulage! Thanks for reading!



 

 

 

Estee Lauder Madmen Collection See-Thru Blush

I was DYING for Estee Lauder's Madmen Collection See-Thru Blush in 01 Light! Apparently it's not available in Canada, so I went ahead and picked it up through one of my favourite sellers on eBay.  I adore the packaging, and though this was a bit pricey, I will treasure it forever. :)

 

I think I'll be keeping the box this come in as well, it's just too pretty to throw away!

The blush is surprisingly pigmented considering it's called See-Thru Blush! It's a beautiful shade

My only gripe with this would be that the pan is not removable. I'd love to pop out the blush, and put in a setting powder. Aside from that, I'm sooo in love with this product! :)

Thanks for reading!

Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Collection 2013

I haven't blogged in ages! I was having a couple minor health problems, and really focused on a strict diet for the past couple months. I'm a firm believer in taking care of your health above all things when it comes to beauty. With that being said, I still have a terrible habit that I need to kick in the next little while.

 I picked up a few items from the Estee Bronze Goddess collection last week! I had been dying for these products after seeing Dustin Hunter's youtube review and seeing them pop up on various blogs. I picked up the Bronze Goddess Bronzer in Light, the Pure Color Illuminating Gelee in Heat Wave and the Bronze Goddess Luminous Liquid Bronzer.

 

 

The bronzer is gigantic! Seriously. I think it's safe to say that this product will last me forever. I was unsure of which shade to pick up, but I think the Light is just perfect for now. It has a nice peachy undertone and is incredibly natural looking! I'm thinking about picking this up in Deep as well for the summer.

 

Next I got the Pure Color Illuminating Gelee in Heat Wave. This is such a beautiful product to look at. The compact is very prestige looking, and includes a large mirror and an applicator. The highlighter itself is also so beautiful. It is incredibly soft and gives a lovely sheen to the face. It also perfectly complements the bronzer.

Lastly, I purchased the Bronze Goddess Luminous Liquid Bronzer. This product has been released previous years in a glass bottle, and is now available in a plastic squeeze tube. I prefer my liquid products in tubes as I find them easier to travel with. This liquid bronzer has the SLIGHTEST sheen to it, which I suppose is where the word luminous comes in to play. Again, it is just a beautiful product and would work great if layering a powdered bronzer on top.

Here's swatches of the three products, left to right, Bronze Goddess Bronzer in Light,  Pure Color Illuminating Gelee in Heat Wave and Bronze Goddess Luminous Liquid Bronzer:

I have been loving Estee Lauder so much lately. I especially love this collection, and I think I'd like to pick up the Batik Sun palette as well as the nail polish, Hot Spell. Ahhhhhh. To be rich. :)

Thanks for reading!

Shopper's Drug Mart Redemption

This past weekend I participated in Shoppers Drug Mart's mega redemption. It was $200 for 95,000 points. I needed a few personal items and picked up some Easter stuff, but I won't bore you with that. :)

My goods from this redemption are Clarins Liquid Bronze Self Tanning for Face and Decollete, Guerlain Terracotta Bronzing Powder and Guerlain Rose Aux Joues Duo de Blush in Pink Punk. I also received some Vichy ProEven Daily Dark Spot Corrector samples, 2 Elizabeth Arden Green Tea Honeysuckle EDT samples, and a sample of Guerlain Cils d'Enfer Maxi Lash Mascara.

With spring just around the corner, I am totally stoked for the summer! Like many people, I like to be darker in the summer but try to avoid the sun. This means, I'm always trying out different self tanners. Admittedly, it's not something I usually splurge on because my entire household will use it. I wanted something for my face that doesn't cause breakouts or smell bad. I've only done a patch test of this Clarins self tanner on my arm, but there was no bad smell upon application. I actually forgot I applied this, and while showering the next morning I noticed a round bronze spot on my arm. It works!  That was two days ago, and the patch is still there with no fading. It's quite subtle, and I think it'll be perfect for early summer. I'll have to do a full review on this later, but I think I'm going to love this.

Guerlain Terracotta as you probably know has a cult like status, and so it's something I had been dying to try. I picked up shade 03. Compared to Nars Laguna and Benefit Hoola, the Terracotta looks slightly orange and scary in pan. When applied however, this truly is a beautiful bronzer. It is soft and finely milled and has a scent, but I don't find the scent as strong as some of Guerlain's other products. I think I'll be posting a full review of this bronzer later, maybe with comparisons to Nars Laguna and Benefit Hoola.

Lastly, I got Guerlain Rose aux Joues, Duo de Blush in Pink Punk. I had been eyeing this for a couple months. I think the top shade is soo lovely! It is a matte, bold coral-pink, and I think this would look beautiful for spring or paired with a bronzer in the summer. The bottom shade is nice as well. It's a lovely, matte plum shade. I feel like I'm moving away from plums now, but I'll definitely be wearing it next fall. The duo comes in the most beautiful compact which is unfortunately already covered in fingerprints. It includes a large mirror and a small brush. I find the scent of this blush very strong, much like the Meteorites Compact and Meteorites Balls. I'm not a huge fan of this scent, though it seems like most everyone else is. Thankfully, I can't smell it once it's on my face. :)

And here's swatches of the blush duo and the bronzer:

 

Now I'm all out of Optimum points and have to start building them back up. hehe

Thanks for reading! :) xo

Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser for Combination or Oily Skin Review

Hi beauty lovers!I recently decided it was time to revamp my skincare routine, so I've been using Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser with Tamarind and Purifying Micro-Pearls for Combination or Oily Skin for about a week now. I am absolutely loving this cleanser! Previously, I was using Avene Cleanance Soapless Gel Cleanser in the morning and Bioderma Micellar Water at night. Now I am using Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser both morning, and after removing makeup with Bioderma at night. My favourite thing about this cleanser so far is that it really seems to cut back on my oilies. My skin is so oily that I often wake up a greasy mess. Yuck! Since cleansing with this, I wake up with soft, yet matte skin. This cleanser also seems to be clearing up a couple stubborn clogged pores on my chin that had been bothering me for months. So far, my skin is clear!

I just use a pea sized amount of this cleanser, and I find it really lathers up nicely. Despite the greenish bottle, this cleanser is white. It has a strong scent to it which reminds me of Zest soap. You might not like this, but it takes me back to childhood. :)  After cleansing, my skin feels quite tight so following up with a moisturizer is a must!

Here's what the back of the box says:

Leaves your skin perfectly clean and refined thanks to a refreshing mousse that rinses easily with cool water. Gentle Foaming Cleanser is rich in purifying Micro-Pearls that provide essential cleansing care for a pure, matte complexion.

Pure Cleansing:

-Ensures perfectly clean skin by eliminating impurities, excess oil and dead skin cells that block pores.
-Neutralizes the drying effects of hard water
-Refines surface skin texture and tightens pores

Gentle Plant Extracts:

-Gypsophila helps to create a fine, lightweight cleansing mousse
-Polymnia and Cottonseed maintain a balanced, comfortable skin
-Tamarind encourages the elimination of dead skin cells

Dermatologist Tested

I would say this cleanser certainly lives up to all of it's claims! I would highly recommend this product to anyone with oily skin. It is a bit pricey, but I foresee the 125ml tube lasting a while. Like I said, only a pea sized amount is needed for the whole face.

You can get this for $34 CAD at Shoppers Drug Mart.

Thanks so much for reading! :)

My March Topbox

Hi beauty lovers! :) My March topbox came today, and despite getting the shipping notification, I wasn't overly excited to hit my mailbox. I chose the non-prive box this month, and it seems as though most ladies were very disappointed with what they received.

Here's what I got:

-MaskerAide Hydrating Facial Sheet Mask in Weather Warrior
-Clinique All About Eyes Serum
-Aveda Caribbean Therapy Body Creme
-See By Chloe Eau de Parfum

 

 

I actually expected worse than what I received, so I'm not feeling too badly about this box. Not overly happy with it either.

The MaskerAide looks nice, but I don't think I'll be using it. My skin is quite oily, and this is a hydrating mask designed for drier skin. It also says it contains Argan oil, and I know this breaks me out sometimes. Too bad. The packaging is completely adorable. :)

I already own the Clinique All About Eyes cream and haven't used it much. The All About Eyes Serum De-Puffing Eye Massage is one of those roll-on undereye products, much like Garnier's Skin Renew. I'll definitely give this a try and hope it does something for my undereye bags.

The Aveda cream has a menthol scent to it which reminds me so much of something that I can't recall! It feels slightly tingly upon application. I've read a lot of people hate the smell of this. I must be weird because it really doesn't bother me. :) It simply smells herbal. But not even as much as something like Nuxe lotions. I actually find the smell slightly comforting...I guess because it reminds me of something. And because I'm weird. :P I applied it on my hand, and it left it slightly greasy, but was completely absorbed after 10 minutes.

Lastly I got See By Chloe perfume. This has been in quite a few magazines over the last couple months, and I thought it smelled nice, so I was happy to receive this. I'm wearing it right now and find it very meh. Nothing special. Nothing I would ever reach for. It's a fruity floral, and I can mostly smell the apple in it. I read it contains musk and vanilla, two of my faves! All I smell is fruit. Not for me.

Overall, I thought my Topbox was okay. I won't be using everything but will have no problem passing them on. What were your overall impressions of this month's Topbox?

Weekly SDM Haul

Hello, beauty lovers! It's been a while since my last blog post! I had some computer problems this week, but I'm back for now. :)

I just wanted to share some Shoppers Drug Mart haulage from this past week. There were a couple bonus points promotions this week at SDM, and I always love to take advantage of these when I can.

 

From top left to right is Estee Lauder Sensuous Nude perfume, Clarins Beauty Flash Balm, Urban Decay De-Slick Makeup Setting Spray and Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser with Taramind and Purifying Micro Pearls for Combination/Oily Skin.  The bottom row is just a few samples: Clarins Skin Perfecting BB cream, Gosh Extreme Length Coloured Mascara, Elie Saab Le Parfum sample and Narcisco Rodriguez For Her EDT sample. And deodorant. :P

 

 

 

 

I fell in the love with the Estee Lauder Sensuous nude around Christmas this year. I picked up several of SDM's fragrance sampler sets, and this was one of my faves! Regretfully, I didn't choose to redeem for this one, and my sample just ran out this past week. I had to have more! The top notes are quite strong and sharp, but they die down into the softest most luscious smell. If you like vanilla/musk scents then you'll love this! I can not stop sniffing my wrists when I wear this. Mmm...

 

Clarins Beauty Flash Balm was something I really liked the sounds of. Women claim they like using this under their makeup as a primer as well as using it as a tightening mask. Sounds perfect for me! I did wear it out Saturday night, and while I didn't check my face in a mirror once that night to see the effects, I can report no breakouts! Yay! I will be trying this as a mask asap and I can't wait to review it. :)

 

Here it is on my hand:

 

Urban Decay De-Slick is a product I had been dying to try. As an oily faced chick, I'm always looking for something to get me through long days/nights without having to touch up constantly. I haven't tried this yet, but I'll also be reviewing this once I have! My skin is acting super crazy lately and I've been avoiding wearing or using anything but Bioderma until it settles down. But I'll be trying this asap! Maybe by this weekend!

I was getting bored of my Avene Cleanser (which honestly has lasted me forever now), and I read great things about this Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser. I haven't any problems with Clarins products yet! I particularly love their Hydra-Quench Cream-Gel, so I'm hoping this cleanser gives me no problems! Review coming soon. :)

Here's a write up from Clarins, "Every day’s a spa day with this refreshing, skin de-stressing cleansing foam. Gentle Tamarind Fruit Acids free pores of trapped make-up, excess oil, pollutants and dull-making dead cells for a refined, matte complexion. Silky lather rinses easily with cool water. Protects skin from the drying effects of hard water."

Here is a blob of the cleanser on my hand. You can see a little bead in the middle:

 

 

I was happy they had some samples of the Clarins BB Cream as I'd been really wanting to test this out! I received two samples of the lightest shade, 01 Light and I was pretty surprised at how dark it is. My skin is between NC20-25ish and this looked too dark for me! I'm also not huge on the smell. And I've had mostly bad luck with BB creams in the past, but I'll still give this a try and write a review.

 

Blended out:

 

Anyway, that concludes my weekly haul! Not overly exciting, but I'm sorta stoked to switch up my skincare routine. :)

 

Thanks so much for reading! xo Steph

 

 

My NARS Blush collection with swatches

Hi beauty lovers! Hope everyone is having a great week. I'm so looking forward to this weekend and catching up on some much needed rest. :)

I just wanted to share my little NARS blush collection with you, as well as a NARS bronzer and NARS multiple. Basically all my NARS stuff that is used on my cheeks. :)

I am a huge fan of the blushes. I picked up Orgasm several years ago, and I've been hooked ever since. I really find them super pigmented and top quality! I wish I owned every single one, but for now I'm happy with my little collection.

 

Dolce Vita

 

Orgasm

 

Exhibit A

Taos



 

Mata Hari

 

Sin

 

Albatross

 

Nico

 

Nars Multiple in Copacabana

Mini NARS Bronzer in Laguna

Left to right without flash: Dolce Vita, Orgasm, Exhibit A, Taos

Left to right with flash: Dolce Vita, Orgasm, Exhibit A, Taos

Left to right without flash: Mata Hari, Sin, Albatross, Nico. Sorry the last two shades are so hard to see!

Left to right with flash: Mata Hari, Sin, Albatross, Nico

 

Left to right without flash (sorry for the awful pic! Sun was starting to set!) Copacabana, Laguna

 

Left to right with flash: Copacabana, Laguna

 

I love most all of these shades. I'd say I wear Orgasm, Exhibit A and Taos the most. Albatross makes a lovely highlighter and Nico for me is pretty much useless. I've read ladies say it is to be used as a setting powder. I just don't find it a particularly good one. I know that Exhibit A looks very scary in the pan, but I assure you that when it is lightly stippled on it's just beautiful! I've had this for a couple years, and I've used it quite a bit, and there is not a dent in it! I also adore Laguna. It is a true bronze shade that doesn't turn red on me, and it has a lovely shimmer.

Next on my list is Desire, which looks like the perfect pink shade to me. :)

You can find all of these shades at Sephora.

Do you own any NARS blushes? Which are your faves?

Thanks so much for reading! :)