Ipsy September 2015

          I feel like I have been saying this often with both Ipsy and Birchbox but I was not excited about my bag when I first saw my bag and yet again I was surprised by how much I liked the items once I received them. I also redeemed for a points item this month. 

          The bag itself is not usually my style but it is a little longer than the usual bags and is a perfect fit in my purse for makeup.

Evelyn Iona Cosmetics Cream Blush in Ash Sample Value $7.38 Full Size $18.75

          Originally I was concerned this product would not work for my oily skin but I love it. It gives a very natural and dewy colour to the cheeks that blends beautifully. My only issue is that you are supposed to work it with your fingers and apply but my nails make using this type of pot rather difficult. Luckily Ipsy was looking out for their girl and sent me a...

Crown Brush Oval Concealer Brush (C224) $2.98

          I have received brushes from Crown Brush and have liked all of them. This one is not anything special but super handy to use with the cream blush.

J. Cat Beauty #MOTD Waterproof Slide on Pencil for Eyes in Bronze $3.99

          I am generally a fan of eyeliners and if they are not in black or brown metallic works for me. This eyeliner lasted for hours without budging and it is a great price. It goes on a little darker than the packaging, with almost a grey undertone but I still love it. I am thinking about picking up a few other colours.

Nyx Cosmetics Ipsy Eye Shadow Trio  $6

          Neutrals are my jam so I am sure to use this these colours, the first two shades are just a little shimmery and the black is matte. The black will likely make a great liner as well.

Acure Argan Oil Cleansing Towelettes $6.99

          Face wipes are an item that I am never super excited to get but would never complain about, especially since this is a pack of thirty! These are actually the best cleansing wipes I have ever used, not only do they take all my makeup off but it actually feels like my face has been deep cleaned. I keep these by my bed so I have no excuse for leaving my makeup on overnight.

La Fresh Hello Lip Treat

          This is an item I redeemed my points for and it is amazing. It is supposed to smooth lines and make your lips look younger. All I know is that it is super moisturizing and is so minty that Beast notices the smell when I put it on.

Total Value: $27.35

          Not a huge total value but I am ok with this bag, not amazed but not disappointed  either. 

Thanks for reading!

A.

@dirty_cupcake

Check out my last Ipsy bag.

Get one of your very own!

Haul September 2015 -Winners, Julep, Shoppers, Farmer's Market

          I do not normally include clothing or fashion items but this purse deserves to be famous. I mean this blog will not have anything to do with that but it deserves fame all the same. I always find purses at Winners when I really should not spend the money on a purse. This gem is apparently normally over $100 bucks but I paid $49. To me that is a bit much for a purse but at the same time I can justify it for something well made and I am going to be using everyday. It has an open section in the middle and zipper section front and back. Its beautiful. I am in love.

          I just picked up my packages from Julep today and I am super excited for everything I ordered. I took advantage of some pretty good sales. I would not recommend Julep for someone on a budget, they are a little pricey but I can not think of a single item I have ever been disappointed by. 

         Luckily both my postman and the people at the pickup place know me by name and sight because one of my packages was sent to the wrong address on my street. The postman saw the final notice card and brought it to me after his route so I would be able to pick up my package before it was returned to sender. I am sure it was a simple error when printing the shipping label so I checked my address in my account info to ensure it was correct and contacted Julep to make them aware of the issue. The person that responded seemed to be unable to grasp what my issue was and only kept apologizing for the lack of an email with shipping information instead of the fact that a package was sent to the wrong house. I was very polite and just wanted her to have someone look into the error to make sure it was a fluke, those things happen. I eventually gave up and left her emails unanswered. I am sure it will not happen again and I was not even upset until the situation was handled poorly. 

Julep Bare Face Cleansing Oil $28/$22.40 Maven Price for one  Sale: 2 for $24.99

          I have used this product before and love it, it is fantastic for removing even the most die hard makeup. You put this on your face dry, massage it in and the add water and rinse. When you add water it almost becomes like a milk and rinses clean without even a hint of oily residue. I did not want to pay $22.40 for it a while back so I bought another cleaning oil from Balea and I tossed it once these arrived. Using a similar product made me appreciate this formula  so much more, it just melts all my make up and rinses so clean.

Julep Surprise! Color Rush Lip Gloss in Berry $4

           I could not see this on the website when I went back to look for the full price. Apparently this gloss "is packed with tiny microbeads that bloom into a universally flattering berry shade on your lips. Botanical ingredients with deep-conditioning and plumping benefits provide lasting moisture and gorgeous shine." I don't know about these magical microbeads but I do notice the conditioning and plumping, when I first applied it I felt it was just sticky and thick but it quickly absorbed a little bit and left a nice, sheer colour while really moisturizing. The shine really does last for quite a while.

The first swatch is hard to see but it is just a nice, neutral cream.

Julep Sweep The Photogenic Palette $54/$43.20 Maven Sale $18

          I could not find this palette on the website either so the price is for a very similar palette. This is a great palette for fall with both matte shadows and shadows with just a little bit of shimmer. I had been wanting to add another palette to my collection and at $18 bucks I could not pass it up. I have used single shadows and smaller palettes from Julep and all the shadows have always been very high quality, these are no different. Each shadow is wonderfully pigmented and so buttery. I normally stick to neutrals and purples, this palette has a couple colours that will be out of my comfort zone but are soft enough that I will actually use them.This palette may push back my project pan but that is the only negative thing I can say about it. 

Tea Tree Mask Pack Developed by Natural Skin Care Laboratories  Compare at: $15 Winners Price: $7.99

          I like to have face makes around the house for when I need a little spa time or  I am having a bad skin day. Lately I prefer sheet masks since they are so much less of a hassle and mess. I got these on a whim thinking tea tree work be a good choice to help clear  my skin. I am not amazed by them but they are OK.

JR Watkins Lavender Hand Soap $6ish

          Time to replace the summer hand soaps with fall/winter scents and this was on sale at Shoppers. I have used other products from this company and they are truly dedicated to using natural ingredients and avoiding harmful ones.

Nikki's Homemade Fizzy Bathbombs by Nicole Elliot

          I love bathbombs and these smell just unreal. I was walking through the local farmer's market and was pulled to this stand by my nose. I was there forever smelling all the different bathbombs she had. She was so nice and I made Beast and his friend stand there and smell them with me while she and I chatted. I normally buy amazing bathbombs from St. Andrews by The Sea but they are $5 each (still worth it) these ones were 7 for $25 and still great quality. Nikki's have less essential oils in them so I would use the St. Andrews by The Sea as a special treat or for the aromatherapy but Nikki's more often. One of them smelled EXACTLY like Double Bubble and she has some amazing scents, less natural and more fruity or sweet. My only complaint is that they were not labeled so when I got home I had no idea which was supposed to be what scent for when I repurchase.

Lip products, my ultimate weakness. Top right swatches are 

Gosh 304, 302, Govergirl 245 Honeyed Bloom

Mally Beauty Lip Lacquer Trio $30 Hautelook: $10

          I bought this off Hautelook as a trio but the third gloss was am orange/coral that did not work for me so I gave it to someone else. I have not gotten a ton of use out of these but they are beautiful. The formula a little think so application takes some getting used to but I am looking forward to using the red one this winter. I keep them both in my purse as they are both just great colours and meet most of my emergency lip colour needs.

Soul Flower Herbals Lip Balm in Lavender Peppermint and Cherry 2 for $10?

           I bought these at the Farmer's Market and love them. They are made in small batches by a local family owned business with natural ingredients and essential oils. There were other natural beauty products there as well and next time I am at the market I will pick some other items up. Check them out on Facebook at fb.com/soulflowerherbals

Covergirl Colorlicious Lipstick in 245 Honeyed Bloom $8.99?

          I am struggling to find a nude lipstick that really works for me so I picked this one up as it had a little pink in it and it was probably on sale. I like it but my lips are pretty red so it does not cover their natural colour very well but I will use it. Nothing amazing but I am sure to get some use out of it.

Gosh Intense Lip Colour in 304, 302  On Sale for $8

          I see this brand on sale at Shoppers all the time for eight bucks when it is usually around twenty bucks so I always pick it up. In addition to being an amazing gloss with great pigmentation and lasting power the packaging is top notch. There are two little lights in the cap and a mirror on the side of the tube, what else could you want from a lip gloss? 

Maybelline New York fit Me Concealer in Fair

          This is the second time I have purchased this concealer and I was thrilled to find it in an even lighter shade than I originally found. On a good day I can just use this concealer on some problem areas and some setting powder for a natural look. I would like to find a concealer that is made specifically oily skin but this is the only product that I could find in my very pale shade that still provides adequate coverage. 

L'Oreal Paris Visible Lift Blur Foundation in 201 Light Ivory $15.98 Winners $6.99

          I love trying new foundations so when this one was only seven bucks I decided to pick it up even though I did not think I would be for me. It is supposed to "instantly blur the look of lines, spots and uneven texture for younger looking skin." Being 26 younger looking skin is not something I am worried about but this is not a bad foundation, it does gift a soft, blurring finish. I could see this working for someone with older skin than mine.

Hard Candy Highlighter Duo in 362 Lit Up

          I think I am going to look into more Hard Candy products because I love this highlighter. I am not very skilled in the art of contour but I dabble. I have received a couple different highlighters but being so fair they were either too dark or too shimmery. This one is so subtle with barley any shimmer. I do not recall the price but Hard Candy is very affordable and there is a ton of product here. 

Thanks for reading!

A.

@dirty_cupcake

Check out my last haul

          

Birchbox Canada September 2015

             The box this month was designed based on artwork sent in by two or three subscribers. Birchbox combined them to make this abstract design, they also included the ladies names on the inside of the box which is pretty neat.

          Now the important part is what is actually in the box. I was not over the moon about my samples this month. One product I was very happy to receive, three were ok and one I have already given away. Let's get into it:

100% Pure Organic Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream Sample Value $7.80 Full size $26

          This was one of the ok items, not a very exciting product but I have used it everyday and enjoy it. This is an all natural product that uses caffeine from green tea and unroasted coffee beans to improve circulation and reduce puffiness, dark circles and fine lines. I frequently work 10-14 hour days on not enough sleep so I immediately started using this every morning. I don't use it at night as it says just because I already have so much goop to put on my face before bed. I did find it reduced puffiness right away and soothes my tired eyes. I will use this all up but it isn't something I would go out and purchase.

POP Beauty POP Portfolio Eyeshadow Palette  Sample Value $2.17 Full Size $26 (36 pan palette) 

            I was not excited about getting another eyeshadow but these are beautiful. They definitely have a shimmer/glitter to them but not in a way that you can feel the bits. I was surprised how little fall out there was after I applied them. I had received a similar sample from Ipsy and I liked those shadows from POP Beauty as well. They are very pigmented and long lasting, not something I would wear everyday but for when I feel like being a little more dramatic I will open this up. I think I was not overly excited because I am just on eyeshadow overload, I need to start using up my single shadows.

Briogeo Blossom & Bloom Volumizing Blow Dry Spray Sample Value $4.50  Full Size $23

          I am just going to copy and paste the description from Birchbox because if I start raving about this I will be writing this post until I get my next box.

"Our quick fix for sinking energy levels? A double shot of espresso. Our go-to solution for limp, lackluster strands? This follicle-stimulating spray that enhances hair’s thickness and encourages natural, healthy growth over time. From ginseng and biotin to b-vitamins and ginger root, the cruelty-free formula is packed with an energizing blend of hair-loving nutrients, plus a secret ingredient (okay, we’ll tell you: maltodextrin, a natural sugar starch) that coats each individual strand to create a fuller appearance."

          I got the same sample in my August Ipsy bag and was almost out when I saw my Birchbox, I could not be happier about receiving it again. I even read, and can attest to, that it has something in it that breaks down oil to make your hair look clean longer. I am all about that. I use this everyday even if I do not blow dry. If you are looking for amazing volume this is not the ticket but it does make my hair far less limp and stringy. The best part is that it does not feel like I have added any styling products to my hair. I will be purchasing this before I run out.

Cynthia Rowley Beauty Liquid Liner in Cobalt Full Size $21  

          I would have been excited about this if it was not blue. I would take purple, brown, grey, black but blue makes me look so trashy. I am just too pale or something to pull it off. I have a friend who can rock blue eyeliner like it is her job so it is going to her. I will say the formula is impressive though, it glides on beautifully, dries almost immediately and I really had to work at smudging it. Next time I need to purchase eyeliner this will be the one I look for, just not in this colour.



TOCCA Crema da Mano Luxe - Hand Cream Sample Value $5 Full Size $20

            I am always open to receiving lotion in my subscription boxes, I prefer to have lots of small tubes rather than the big giant ones I never end up using. I got the Cleopatra lotion, love the names, (Stella, Florence) it just makes it seem extra fancy to me. It is grapefruit and cucumber scented which is a rather odd combo but it works, I like using it in the morning as it is such an uplifting and fresh scent. It is not my favourite lotion ever but I am glad to have it and it does make my hands very soft without being greasy.

           While it is not my favourite box ever I am not complaining. I use the under eye cream and hand lotion every morning, the eyeshadow is gorgeous, I already love the hair product and Melly will look great in the eyeliner. Even though I am giving the eyeliner away I am glad I got to swatch it to see the amazing formula.

Total Value of the Box: $40.47



Thanks for reading!

A.

@dirty_cupcake

Check out my August Birchbox

Sign up for your very own!

Top 5 - August 2015

          I actually really looked forward to this post, last month I struggled to pick five products but this month was a totally different story. Most of these were actually all together on my desk already. I have two items from Ipsy, two new Clinique items and one rediscovery of an old favorite.

 Tarte Bronzer in Park Ave Princess

          This is an ipsy sample and I use this almost everyday. I am painfully pale, sickly even so bronzer is not something I really use as they are all far too dark for me. This one is a game changer, with a light hand I can actually do some contouring. I do not do a lot of contouring as I am not very good to be honest but I love using it to define the hollows of my cheeks and it makes me look a couple steps back from deaths door. At the bottom of this post I have a photo of the product open.

Briogeo Blossom & Bloom Ginseng + Biotin Volumizer

           Another ipsy win. I use this every single day no matter what I am doing with my hair, I just spray it on my roots. When it is not too hot to use a blow dryer I get amazing volume from this spray and if I decide to air dry my hair/ am too lazy to go beyond brushing it there is something in it that makes my hair look less greasy and stringy. I am almost out and I will be buying this, I am pretty sure I can not live without it. I am excited to use it in the winter when I will actually be blow drying and styling my hair.

Clinique Acne Solutions All Over Acne Clearing Treatment

           I do not know what is going on with my skin lately, I have never had an issue with acne but it has been bad enough that I started using the whole Acne Solutions line from Clinique and it has made such a difference. For more information check out my full review here.

Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask

          Since I have oily skin I am very guilty of skipping moisturizer, especially in my morning routine. Terrible, I know. I was struggling with a couple dry patches and the creams I had on hand we not doing anything to help. I went looking for an intense moisture mask when I found this. I used it once overnight and once as a quick half hour treatment and the dry spots no other moisturizer could help were gone.I use this overnight and even after washing my face the next day my face feels moisturized without being greasy. With this overnight mask I can use a very light moisturizer under my make up and it is perfect, not dry, not going to make my makeup slide right off. It is quite an intense mask so I alternate between this and my Julep overnight cream.

Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette 

          I got this palette for Christmas (shout out to my awesome Mommy) I had gotten away from it over the summer and recently pulled it out again. This is perfect for everyday looks and has a couple darker shades for something a little more smokey. I do not find the shadows are crazy pigmented but for everyday I prefer something buildable so I do not over do it. I would purchase another Naked palette but not the three again, I love it but I could do without the pinky shades. I also love how sturdy the packaging is, it can survive in a suitcase or overnight bag no problem.



Check out last months favorites

Thanks for reading!

A. 

@dirty_cupcake

Clinique Acne Solutions Clear Skin System Review + Bonus Moisture Surge Overnight Mask Review

The product: Clinique Acne Solutions Clear Skin System

Step 1: Acne Solutions Cleansing Foam

Step 2: Acne Solutions Clarifying Lotion

Step 3: Acne Solutions All-Over Clearing Treatment

Cost: $44 (CAN)

How to: After washing you hands cleanse face with the Cleansing Foam, apply Clarifying Lotion with cotton pad or ball, follow with a thin layer of the All Over Clearing Treatment. Apply twice daily. Fair skinned individuals should begin with one application.

The Claims:

From day one:

Helps banish acne causing agents on contact with medicated cleansing foam

Clears away dirt and oil

Unclogs pores

After one week:

Visibly reduces blemish size

Skin looks clearer, less oily

After two weeks:

Reduces the look of pores

Controls the appearance of excess shine and oil

Feel confident with clearer skin

          I have never had a problem with acne, all through school to have more than three blemishes was unusual. Lately that has not been the case, I have had more breakouts and oiliness then ever before. I had tried a number of face washes like Clean and Clear and Neutrogena but nothing was making much of a difference. I came across this Clinique Acne Solutions while browsing Sephora and decided to give it a try. 

          Every single bit of this review is based on what I experienced while using this product that I purchased with my own money.  I mean I wish Clinique was sending me things to review but that just is not my reality. 

          For the first week I recorded my impressions each day:

Day one: I used the entire system the night I purchased it and noticed my skin felt much more matte, even the next morning

Day two: In the a.m. I noticed some redness immediately after use but nothing more than a slight scrub would give me. There was also less oil under my makeup throughout the day.

Day three: I would not recommend this for someone with sensitive skin. It is a rather harsh system but I certainly noticed a reduction in size of my blemishes and they seem to have dried up quite a bit.

Day four: I developed a couple really dry patches and steps two and three are stinging. I switched out the All Over Treatment for my night time routine and just used a regular moisturizer.

Day five: I skipped the All Over Treatment again in the a.m. as my skin was still very dry even after layering two lotions. At night time I used the Clarifying Lotion and All Over Treatment only in problem areas and applied another moisturizer over all.

Day 6: I took a break from the whole routine today. I used a soothing sheet mask but I still had dryness and flakey skin. 

Day 7: After a night cream my skin was not as dry in the morning and compared to seven days ago there is a clear reduction in number, size and redness. 

          At this point I was noticing serious improvements in regards to both number and size of my blemishes but my skin was getting so dry and flakey. So dry that none of the moisturizers I had were making any improvement. I wanted to continue using this system because it was working. I decided to go looking for an intense moisturizing mask or treatment. I found another Clinique product, the Moisture Surge Overnight Mask.

          This is not something I would normally pick up but I am glad I did. I used this once overnight and once as a quick half hour treatment and the dry spots that no other moisturizer could do anything to help were completely gone. If you have dry skin go buy this. I currently alternate with my usual Julep night cream because it is too much for me to use nightly but I am sure this will be very helpful for dry winter skin.

The Verdict:

          Well I have already purchased a full sized version of all the products and when I did so I got a little sample of the 7 Day Scrub Cream which I also love. Overall I am impressed by the system once I got the dryness taken care of I had no further issues with dryness, stinging or redness. I am still struggling with blemishes but they are not nearly as noticeable and the healing process is so much faster. I do feel like my pores have been unclogged and even noticed a reduction in the number of blackheads on my nose. I do not, however, notice much in the way of pore size reduction but that is not something I was concerned about to begin with. I love using the all over clearing treatment in the morning before applying make up as it really mattifies my skin. After the initial reduction in oil and shine I do not feel that has continued which makes me think that the system is too harsh and I am producing excess sebum to make up for what my skin thinks it is lacking. I occasionally use a more gentle cleanser to balance that out but I still believe this system works. I would recommend anyone struggling with acne give this a try, if you have dry skin using it twice a day would probably be too much for you, at least at first.

          Next I want to try the Clinique makeup as I have only heard good things. I am looking forward to trying the primer, a foundation, maybe a powder and the chubby sticks. Hell I want to try it all!

Thank you for reading!

A 

@dirty_cupcake 

Empties #5 September 2015

         This is a pretty large empties post since apparently I have not done one since April. I've also put this one off so so long that my empties bucket is overflowing again, hopefully I can start doing these more regularly so it is not such a chore. I am going to just go though these real quick. Let's just get into it. 

           The first two tubes from Freeman are not actually empty, they are face masks I am not really fond of. I've had them for quite a while and do not feel comfortable putting them on my face. The two packages are sheet masks I got from Ipsy and they are the best fitting face masks I have ever tried and they were packed with serum. Let's just take a moment for this Evian Facial Spay, it's water in a can people and yet I used it all up. I actually used this to spray my beauty blender before using it. Then I have two sample sized facial scrubs. The St. Ives scrub is my favourite exfoiliant ever and the Live Clean is very close to it. The Baléa calming face mask was anything but, it stung and I had to remove it right away. 

          I used up some soaps and other bath products. The Oahu body wash smells exactly like the resort I stayed when I went to Jamaica, it makes me feel like it's acceptable to start drinking at 10am every time I use it. Probably for the best that it is used up. The next item is also from Bath and Body Works and it is the foaming hand soap in Crisp Morning Air and it is the perfect soap for fall, I can't describe it but it smells amazing. 

           I also used up a lavender body scrub, I think this is the second one I have used completely. At first I loved it but I found after a while it irritated my skin so I am not too upset to see it gone.

           The other two bottles are Birchbox samples one is a body wash from Soap Not Radio and it was amazing. I received a pomegranate scent that lingered after the shower and I would pick this up in a heartbeat if I saw it in store. The other is shave cream from Whish, not something that I use often since I love the razors with the soap around them but while I was using a regular razor this stuff was lovely. I would recommend this for someone with sensitive skin, it makes your legs so soft.

         The little cards are from the best bath bombs I have ever come across and I try a lot of them. I used to buy them every time I went to St. Andrews but I found them in a shop downtown and could not be more excited about it. The are made by a company called Garden by the Sea and they have all kinds of bath bombs, the three I tried most recently were French Lavendar, White Grapefruit and Bow Chicka Wow Wow. Each one has essential oils for different ailments or purposes. The Lavendar was for headaches, muscular aches, anxiety and insomnia, the Grapefruit to detoxify the skin, improve cellulite and relieve anxiety, Bow Chicka Wow Wow was apparently a combination of "powerful afrodesicacs" I love everyone I have tried and I have had many of the ones they offer. When you get out of the tub you feel relaxed and all of your skin is so soft that you do not even need to apply moisturizer. Check them out at www.gardenbytheseanb.com

          I sued up some lotion, none of them are really worth talking about except the Perlier White Almond. I got this in Birchbox and loved it, it has such a light sweet smell and absorbed quickly without leaving any stickiness.  The nspa lotion did not have the best formula but smelled amazing, like salted caramel. I wont miss the lotion but I still have some body wash in the same scent.

          I am so sad the see my lavender linens candle go, I only burnt this in my room while I was reading or just trying to unwind. It is hard to find nice lavender candles, sometime they smell like bad, old lady potpourri. I can not really remember much about the pineapple palm grass but I feel like it was a good summer candle. I am rarely disappointed by Bath and Body Works candles. 

          I used up some hair products as well, thank goodness. I have so many and I really want to clear some of them out. I dyed my hair twice one was a brown shade and the other sort of a red brown. I love the L'Oreal Preference Mousse as it is one of the only hair dyes I can buy one box of and have enough. The hair spray was alright, nothing special. I love the Strictly Curls spray from Marc Anthony, it takes my waves and turns them into slight curls and leaves only a lemon scent behind. The Frizz Ease shampoo and conditioner samples did not work for me, it left my hair weighed down and gross feeling.

          I also used up some cotton balls and pads. Neither of these were very good but they served their purpose.

          I am so happy to be done with this post, I am not even going to go back and read it before I post it. I have been working on this since July and deleted half of it once. It is done, let us move past it. 

Check out my last empties post.

Thanks for reading!

A.

@dirty_cupcake