My First Encounter With The Cosmetics Company Store

Finding new cosmetic shops and brands is, by far, one of the most fun things ever.  So when a girlfriend described The Cosmetics Company Store to me, I was completely blown away.  You mean there's a shop that sells premium brands for less???  I knew I had to seek this place out.

On a recent trip to the states, I made my way to the Premium Outlet Shops in Washington where I knew there was The Cosmetics Company Store.  As soon as I discovered the shop, I ran in and realized I was in beauty product heaven.  Their walls were covered with everything from Clinique, Lancome, Calvin Klein, MAC and even Bobbi Brown for about 25% off the normal retail price.  And to think I only purchased two items:

I purchased the Bobbi Brown Denim & Rose Palette and the MAC Hocus Focus Colorful Face Kit.  As soon as I saw the denim palette I knew I had to get it.  (It's been on my wishlist for quite some time...)

So cute right? This adorable denim pouch contains 4 eye shadows, 1 blush, 2 lip glosses and 2 lipsticks.  Plus it combines all my favorite makeup colors: greys, pinks, blues and bronzes.  I purchased this for $42 instead of the usual $60.

The next item is the MAC Hocus Focus Blush Kit.  Now, I'll be honest, I'm not usually a fan of MAC products because I find their products to be rather overpriced and the quality not as good as it should be.  However, when I saw this little blush kit, I fell in love right away.  It contains 1 soft pink blush and 2 shimmer blushes in a coral and gold.  I got this one for $26.75 instead of the usual $38.

I would definitely say that my first visit to the Cosmetics Company Store was a success.  I can't wait to go back!!  Have you tried either of these products before?  If so, what are your thoughts?

XO

YAY for Blog Awards

I was recently nominated for the Top 10 Award by Catharina over at Makeup Look.  If you haven't checked out her blog before I highly recommend you do so.  Her blog is one that I read all the time because I love her youtube video channel.  She gives fabulous tutorials and tips!!!  Thanks again Catharina for the award..

So, the rules are as follows:

Link back to the person who tagged you

Nominate 10 other bloggers

List your 10 favorite beauty products 

Here is a list of my favorite (well, right now anyway) beauty products:

1.  Batiste Tropical Dry Shampoo - I have tried many many many different types of dry shampoo but always go back to this one because it smells like coconut/pineapple, it does a fab job removing the excess oil from my very thick hair and it only costs about $8.99 CAN.

2.  Avon Smooth Minerals Blush in Blushing Mauve - If it's good enough for Reese Witherspoon (who supposedly wears it all the time) it's definitely good enough for me.  I love this blush because of it's gorgeous pinky rose tone and the fact that it adds the perfect amount of color without being overbearing.

3.  Smashbox Cream Liner Palette - Amazing colors right?  These liners are cream based so they go on very smooth and have great lasting power.  This palette has a price tag of about $35 CAN but I only paid $17 at the duty-free shop.

4.  LORAC Starry-Eyed Baked Eye Shadow Trio in Superstar - Sigh, once this brown trio is combined it creates a gorgeous bronze smokey eye which is perfect for daytime.  Plus, LORAC is an amazing brand.  Not only is the quality outstanding but the color will last all day, on your eyelids, without any creasing.

5.  Gosh Cosmetics Giant Sun Powder in 001 - I can NOT stop raving about this product!!!  It has literally become my go-to bronzer because it gives a great sun-kissed glow AND has gorgeous little gold flecks that seem to fall perfectly on your cheekbones.  Ladies, if you're near a Shoppers Drug Mart, go there and buy this palette...

6. MAC Cremesheen Glass in Partial to Pink - I am definitely a gloss girl and pink tones are always what I gravitate towards.  I particularly like this one because the color is perfect, it doesn't have a sticky feeling and it has a sponge applicator.  (I despise any other applicator for gloss.)

7.  Benefit Bad Gal Lash Mascara - I bought this on a whim as I was looking for a mascara that ACTUALLY made my lashes look huge and I am so happy I spent the money.  This one definitely lives up to the hype.  It has a huge mascara wand which separates every lash and adds a ton of volume to each and every lash, making your eyes look huge.  It's worth the money ladies.

8.  Revlon Luxurious Color Satin Eye Shadow Platinum Glimmer - Aside from bronze eye colors, my other faves are either grey or silver.  This one is fab because it combines both the grey and silver in one shadow.  Once on, it maintains its grey tone and adds a punch of glitter.  Not bad for $5.

9.  Clinique Moisture Sheer Tint SPF 15 in Fair - When it comes to summer, tinted moisturizers are the way to go.  This one is great because it actually provides quite a lot of coverage but still moisturizers your face.  Also, it's one of the only ones that doesn't make me breakout in the sun.

10.  Revlon Lustrous Lipstick Creme in Pink in the Afternoon - I was cleaning out my vanity table this past week and stumbled upon this forgotten pink lipstick.  Ever since I discovered it (Tuesday) I have been wearing this non-stop.  This pink color looks fabulous on my lips because it matches my fair skin tone perfectly.  I will definitely be buying this again.

The bloggers I'm nominating for this award are:

Bronwen at Rubyna

Diane at Kiss & Makeup

Mimi at Aesthetic Lounge

Erica at Meet Makeup

Miss A at Beauty Boudoir

Amber at Lipgloss and Flipflops

Melissa at Write It In Lipstick  

Gaia at The Non-Blonde 

Mandy at MandysSecrets

Kim at Kim's Vanity

Have fun with the posts ladies!!!  I sure did.

XO

Dear Santa......

I'm lying down on my couch, typing away, staring at my beautifully decorated Christmas tree.

Yes, I'm one of those individuals that puts their tree up many weekends before Christmas to enjoy the time I have with it. It sounds funny, I know, but Allan and I are leaving for New York in two days for a mini-vacation and then, we'll be in Toronto for Christmas, which means that I don't even get a full month with all my pretty decorations....well, snowmen to be exact.

I am obsessed with Snowmen. Some people like Santas, or Reindeer, or Penguins, but I like Snowmen. They have to be cute, have their own unique personality and above all, have a really great pecker. (I, of course, mean a great nose......man, get your mind out of the gutter...ha). All of my snowmen are hand-picked by either me, of those who know me well, and this snowman theme is what decorates my tree.

As I'm sitting her, typing away, looking at the cute snowman AND drinking hot chocolate, I'm also thinking about pressies. I love giving gifts, absolutely, but also really really really enjoy receiving them. So, Santa, here's the list this year.....

1. NARS Body Glow. I have been eyeing this for months and months but never seem to purchase for myself. (I think the $80 price tag might have something to do with it...) Either way, this product is a multi-use body bronzer. Not only can it applied directly out of the bottle BUT add a cap full to your bath tub and emerge with bronzed, shimmery skin. I love it...

2. Lancome's Renergie Microlift R.A.R.E spf 15 Cream. This day cream is one of the most phenomenal skin products I have ever used. Now, I am definitely far from the "loss of firmness" that this cream prevents but I also think it's never too early to begin a regime preventing this downfalls. Plus, when the cream goes on this smooth and silky, it's hard to say no. (Again, me and my expensive taste. This little jar is priced at $110.)

3. The Sephora Collection Endless Color Blockbuster. This is just one of those items that I want every single December. It's jam packed with over 187 products and they're all in one handy-dandy carrying case. This year, they've added 13 new products and created a less breakable case making this item definitely worth it's $60 price tag.

4. Calvin Klein Beauty Body Lotion. Since I wrote about the fragrance last week, I won't bore you with all the details again but this is MY fragrance. It's taken me 28 years but I have actually found my number one fragrance. (Aside from Coco Mademoiselle that is...) So, I would love the body lotion to go along with my fragrance. Priced at $60 which isn't too bad...

5. MAC Happily Ever After Lip Kit. I don't typically like lip kits because the quality of the gloss is never that great, but after trying this bad boy out, I was pleasantly surprised. The colors are great, light and go with everything plus the tartan case is way too cute. The palette includes Endless Fun (sheer frosty pink), Cheers All Around (bright candy pink), and To Joy (medium pink). Priced at only $25, this might be a gift to myself this year...ha.

Everyone has a wish list at Christmas time. Most of these items will not be under the tree (which is fine by me) but it's still nice to dream. Tell me, ladies, what's on your list to Santa this year?

Fantastically Coral

My mom used to always wear coral and my sister and I poked fun whenever possible.

I remember waltzing in mom's closet and spinning around while staring at all the coral shirts, dresses, shoes and even handbags. Every time she wore a coral "something", my sister and I would laugh and laugh because back then, coral was NOT our color of choice. (My mom also co-ordinated her lipstick color with her outfits so she had tubes and tubes of coral lipstick, gloss and liners.)

WHO KNEW the day would come when I, too, would love coral.

About two months ago, I had just boarded the coral train and was actively searching for the perfect coral shade. I found it at the MAC counter. I grabbed two products, a lipstick and a gloss, and headed for the till. I was then blown away when the rep said, "Sorry. These shades aren't out for another month. I can, though, pre-order the products for you." I explained that I needed a shade right away and continued on my merry way, all the while slowly cursing MAC in my head.

I finally received my products in the mail a couple days ago (thanks mom!!!!!) and just had to gush about how gorgeous these coral colors are....

The gloss, MAC Dazzleglass in Utterly Posh, is the perfect shade of coral. (Not too orange and not too pink.) Not only is the color perfect, but it's glittery. I completely adore sparkly lips and was blown away by how dimensional this shade is.

The next product is MAC Dazzle Lipstick in Not Sass. This shade is definitely more orange. A beautiful rich cream color with added glittery pigments definitely makes this coral color fun and edgy.

Both products are part of the new Digi-Dazzle Collection, which is available only for a limited time, so I do highly suggest checking them out if you want a fun, different look. (Picture above is the MAC Lipstick in Not Sass.)