ELF Haul - Palettes Galore

I am the first person to admit that ELF products can sometimes be hit or miss.

Like every product line imaginable, not every single ELF item is worth the money nor the time.  Why, you ask, do I bother then???  Because when you find something good, you must continue ordering it AND you can do so without spending a lot of money.

A few weeks ago, I received an email telling me that the 50 Piece Makeup Artist Palette was back in stock (the black box in the top corner).  I hadn't tried it before BUT have read so many fantastic reviews on it that I knew I had to order it.  My recent haul included (from left to right) the ELF Must Have Eyeliners ($5), ELF Spotlight Ready 50 Piece Eyes and Face Palette ($15), ELF 50 Piece Makeup Artist Palette ($15), ELF Glitz & Sparkle Eyes ($5) and the 22 Piece On-The-Go Palette (FREE).

So this is the holiday palette and I am so happy to have my hands on it.  It's called the ELF Spotlight Ready 50 Piece Eye and Face Palette.  Check out these colors!

It's a double layer palettes filled with shimmer and matte shadows and blushes and bronzers.  The shadows, though, are just stunning. Plus the majority of them are shimmer which makes me a happy camper.

Next up is the ELF Must Have Eyeliners.  I am already a fan of their black liquid eyeliner so was excited to see a set that contained both the black liquid as well as the navy blue.  It also has a Brightening Eye Pencil.

This next palette is super similar to the Spotlight Ready in style only as the colors are vastly different.  This one seems to always be out of stock so I am tickled to have one to myself.

Again it's a double layer palette filled with matte and shimmer shadows and blushes and bronzers.  There are more matte in this palette but I am completely taken with the blushes and bronzers.  There is such a wide range of colors.

This next holiday set is the Glitz & Sparkle.  It has an eyelid primer and an eyeshadow duo in a silver sparkle and brown sparkle.

Last but not least, is one of my favorites.  Not only did I get this for free (well, actually, I got two for free so one of my friends is getting one for Christmas!!) but this is my first repurchased item.  I am in love with this palette and have one currently that is almost all used.  I love it because it's PERFECT for travel.  Everything is super convenient and the color selection isn't bad at all.  Now, this is not going to be super pigmented BUT if you are on holidays and wanting to wear a bit of color without bringing one of your best palettes, this is the item you NEED to have.

It's a 3 layer palette and fits in your purse  The first layer has 8 shadows, then a mascara and 5 lip glosses and lastly 3 blushes.  It's too cute.

For those interested in making an ELF purchase, I have a great promotion for you so check out the link below.

Our favorites, for FREE! Get our 4 favorite new products of the year (a $14 value) for FREE. Use code GIFTTOYOU on purchases of $25 or more. Offer valid 12/14-12/18.

    

Lip Haul: Rimmel's Lasting Finish Color Rush Balms

At the prompting of a friend, I recently purchased the Rimmel Chubby Sticks.  (Thanks Lori!)

Okay, I call them chubby sticks because they are as chubby as Clinique's version and their name is WAY too long to remember.  However, they are in fact, called Lasting Finish Color Rush Long Lasting Intense Color Balm. ...Wow, quite the mouthful.

Despite the long name, they are actually amazeballs.  From left to right, I purchased Viva Violet, On Fire, Keep Mauving and Rumour Has It.

Keep Mauving is such a gorgeous nude tone.  It's actually my newest favorite lip balm!  The color is great when paired with a smoky eye OR any bright eye color.  Love it.

Viva Violet is a vibrant violet tone that works really well with my magenta hair, thank goodness, as the red tones do not look as good!  This one is great for a punch of color and keeps your lips moisturized!

On Fire is an orange red that, unfortunately, does not look great on me.  It's definitely not a tone that works with my skin tone as it's too warm.

Rumour Has It is gorgeous.  It's a bright mulberry tone that packs a huge pop of color.  I will definitely be getting this one again.

I purchased these at $8 a piece and for a lip balm, I am still very impressed.  The color packs a lasting punch and your lips stay nice and moisturized.  Not too bad for a drugstore find!  Anyone else tried these colors?  Thoughts?

    

Target in Canada is Closing: All Makeup on Sale!

As I'm sure you've heard, Target in Canada is closing it's doors.  This means that EVERYTHING in the store is up for grabs and on sale!

Now, the sales aren't fantastic BUT 30% off all makeup is a great deal, especially when most lines never have promotions, which is why I went a little crazy and stocked up.

First up, I purchased Garnier's Skin Renew Instant Smoother, Physician's Formula Argan Wear BB Cream (in Light/Medium), Physician's Formula Bronze Booster Glow-Boosting BB Cream (in Light to Medium) and Physician's Formula Argan Wear Oil Bronzer (in Light).  I have heard a lot of great things about the Physician's Formula Argan Wear Line so very excited to try them out.

Then, I grabbed a Pixi by Petra Sheer Cheek Gel in Flushed, Revlon Photoready Insta-Fix in 110 Ivory and NYX Stick Blush in 05 Tea Rose..  I've already used the Cheek Gel and it's GORGEOUS.

Last but not least, I grabbed a massive selection of lipsticks and sheer tints.  Check out the gorgeous swatches!

I am such a sucker for berry and jeweled tone lip colors and am completely thrilled that I found all of these ones still in their packages.  Let me tell you, almost everything was gone when I showed up to shop so I am beyond ecstatic that I found these ones.

What products have you recently bought?

    

L'Occibox by L'Occitane and It's Finally Mine!!

On December 1st, each year, L'Occitane launches a holiday box filled with goodies for the glorious price of $20 CAD or $15 USD.  Yes, folks, you heard me right.  You get this beautiful box, filled with all the sample sized L'Occitane products you could imagine, for the small little price.

It's no wonder I can never seem to buy them online or in store.

HOWEVER, this year, ladies, it's MINE.  It's all mine!!!  I finally got my hands on this gorgeous little goodie-filled box.  YAY for me.

Check this out.  There are things wrapped in tissue paper AND items in a little orange cosmetic bag...What could possibly be in them?

Wrapped in the tissue paper (from left to right) you'll find an Ultra Rich Lotion, the Precious Cleansing Foam, the Arlesienne Velvet Hand Cream (which smells like roses), the Amande Supple Skin Oil and 2 samples of the Divine Cream.

Then, in the adorable orange cosmetic bag you'll find (from left to right) a nail file, a Shea Butter Had Cream, an Almond Hand Cream, a Verbena Hand Cream and a Cherry Blossom Hand Cream.

Seriously, you have to run out right now and get your sample pack.  The are only available until the 24th of December.....okay, so GO!

    

Fall Haul from Sephora

For those that don't know, I have a MAJOR palette obsession.

Truly, it's bad.  There's something so special about a little kit that has EVERYTHING you need to create a beautiful smoky eye, or a kit that contains everything you need for a trip abroad.  I've tried to explain this obsession to my husband, Allan, and for some reason he just doesn't get it.  He doesn't understand why I need specific palettes for each look or why I have lip palettes and eye palettes and palettes that are lips and eyes combined.  So, I've stopped telling him that I've bought a new one and instead, hide it under the bed for a week or two and then slowly rotate it into the mix.

My recent Sephora haul consists mainly of, you guessed it, palettes and a couple other neat things I found.  I got the Sephora IT Palette (aka the Color Spectrum Eyeshadow Collection), the Sephora Spring in Soho Eye, Cheek and Lip Palette, the Buxom Lip Polish in "Christina" (how fitting) and the Pinch Minimergency Kit for Her.

Check these things out!

The Sephora IT Palette is gorgeous.  The colors inside are vibrant, bold and stunning.  I find myself drawn to jewel tones and when I saw this one on sale for 50% off, I knew it was destined to come home with me.

Inside, the palette has a highlighter and a base on the left hand side.  The colors from left to right (top row) are Rich Chocolate, Radiant Pink, Brilliant Yellow, Magnetic Aqua.  From Left to right (bottom row) are Bold Bronze, Prismatic Purple, Iridescent Green and Blue Crystal.  The black and white on the far right are the two eyeliners in the package.  Along with a few brushes, this palette is perfect for creating tons of different eye looks.

The Sephora Spring in Soho is awesome because it's small enough to keep in your purse AND has two different levels.

The first level is full of your eye shadows and brushes.

The second level, contained in a slide-out drawer, are the lip colors and the blush.  Too cute.

For those of you that have not tried a Buxom lip gloss, you have to go out right now and get one.  They are magnificent because they aren't sticky, they have amazing staying power and the have a lip plumping agent in the gloss.  I love that tingly feeling especially if it's because my lips are looking more full.  I grabbed my namesake gloss and absolutely love it.

Last but not least, is the Minimergency Kit by Pinch.  This little kit contains all of the following items: a bandage, a safety pin, earring backs, a deodrant towelette, nail polish remover pad, stain remover, clear elastics, lip balm, an emery board, a tampon, hair spray, clear nail polish, dental floss, a mending kit, breath freshener, double sided tape and some aspirin.  And the package is so tiny (hence it pictured next to my lip gloss container.)  I like it so much that I am petrified to use anything in it!

What items have you been buying recently?  Any great palettes?

    

Sephora and Davids Tea Haul

Lately, I've been on a budget.  As Allan likes to say, "no more useless purchases babe..."  The problem is is that useless to him is COMPLETELY different than useless to me.

So, I received an invite last week to the Sephora VIB event and since everything was 15% off, I stoked up on a few non-useless items...ha

Sephora + Pantone Universe Color of the Year Nail Enamel Set

I am IN LOVE with tangerine tango and am beyond tickled that it's this year's spring color.  Having said that, this little pack was too cute to pass up.  It contains four polishes, all in the same color, but with different finishes: (from left to right) Tangerine Tango Shimmer, Tangerine Tango Matte, Tangerine Tango Creme and Tangerine Tango Glitter.  Sigh, they're gorgeous.

Laura Mercier Lingerie Eye and Cheek Palette

I find it strange that I have never tried a Laura Mercier item before but heard so many amazing things about the line.  I saw this palette a couple months ago and knew it had to be mine, one day.  So with the 15% off coupon, I bought it.  This is going to be my Bali palette for sure as I can create so many different looks with this one item.  

Sephora Goodie Bag

Freebies are my favorite part of any shopping trip so when the Sephora event advertised free goodie bags, I was there with bells on.  Inside my goodie bag was Bumble and Bumble Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner, BCBG Max Azaria Eau de Parfum, Givenchy Mister Light, Viva La Juicy Juicy Couture Eau de Parfum, Sephora Full Action Extreme Effect Mascara and Make Up For Ever Smoky Lash Extra Black Mascara.  I'm thinking a mascara competition is in order...

Davids Tea Cupcake Teas

I received my monthly Davids Tea email yesterday and saw these teas immediately and knew that I was going to get them ASAP.  Does it help that April is my birthday month....maybe.  Or is it because I'm obsessed with tea??  Hmmmm.  Either way, the limited-time collection includes Birthday Cake Tea (with freeze-dried ice cream and sprinkles), Ice Cream Cake Tea (with white chocolate and vanilla beans) and Chocolate Cake Tea (with white chocolate and cocoa nibs).  These teas are so delectable in smell and taste that everyday this month is going to feel like a birthday in my mouth.

And Allan calls this useless spending...what does he know right?

An Outrageous L'Oreal and Revlon Haul

A few days ago I walked into Shoppers Drug Mart about $65 richer than I was walking out.  And the funny thing about it was I only got a five items!!!

I'm sure I shared this tidbit already but I have a boudoir photoshoot coming up on January 28th.  Honestly, I don't think I've ever been as excited and nervous as I am about this.  For some reason, knowing that my body is about to be on display in a way it never has before has got me thinking about my pale skin, my extra 7 pounds and my facial expressions.  After I kick the little negatives out of my head, I realize how much fun I'm going to have AND how much Allan is going to enjoy them.  Plus, I get to buy some great cosmetics, hence my Shoppers run.

I seemed to gravitate towards Revlon and L'Oreal products this time and ended up selecting (from left to right) L'Oreal Magic Lumi Light Infusing Primer, L'Oreal Color Riche Balm in Rose Elixir, Revlon Photoready Airbrush Mousse Makeup and L'Oreal Magic Lumi Concealer.

First up is the primer which is such a fantastic product.  I love anything that makes my skin glow and this really does the trick.  Not only do I glow but my skin feels smooth and it doesn't get oily during the day.  I have been using this since I bought it and am constantly getting compliments on my "dewy" looking skin.

Look how dewy my hand looks after the primer's rubbed in.

 Next is the lip balm.  Typically, I'm not a balm wearer unless my lips are horribly chapped but I liked this one because it will be perfect with all the lacy, feminine outfits I'll be photographed in and it keeps my lips extremely moisturized.

See how nice and pink it is on my wrist?

Thirdly is the mousse makeup.  I have used a mousse before (Sally Hansen) and wasn't the biggest fan.  I found the coverage to be too light and the product itself was not quite fair enough for my pastey pale skin tone. However, this new Revlon product was definitely created with the fair gals in mind. (Plus having Emma Stone as the spokesperson isn't too bad either.)  The cosmetician recommended it and said it will be great in photos as it's designed to make your skin look airbrushed.

Love this picture.  Not only can you see how perfect
the mousse matches my skin tone but specks of the light infusing primer is also poking through.

Last but not least, the light infusing concealer.  Just so you all know, a concealer that contains light-infusing particles is perfect for dark circles.  For some reason, it makes the sun bounce off your eyes and creates a more youthful appearance.  Having said that, it matches my tone well and I'm looking forward to seeing how it holds up in a camera lens.

Did I mention that my fab friend, Ariella (a makeup artist) is going to be doing my makeup?  Sigh, I can not wait for this to go down.  Just a couple more weeks.

Ladies, have you used any of these products before?  What are your thoughts?