Week L'Oreal True Match Foundation

I recently hauled this from Walmart for $9.97CAD which I thought it was really good deal.  I have heard such great review about this product and decided to give it a try since it was on sale and one can never have too many foundations.  Initial applications: I did notice small particles shimmer and it reminded me of Revlon Photo Ready foundation (which I dislike to the max). I have small amount of pores but I still did not want to draw attention to them and the purpose of a foundation is to hide my pores. So initially I was a little scared until I finished my entire face and took a step back from the mirror.  The finish is flawless and unless you are looking at me from 1 inch away right underneath the light, the sparkles are hardly noticeable (according to my boyfriend). 

This is a lighter coverage foundation and it provides just enough coverage for me without the cake-yee feel. The colour match is surprisely decent for my NC37-40 skin tone. So far so good and it held up well during the day when set with MAC Skinfinish Natural. 

Will update when the week is up. =)

YouTube Review

Saaammage

JaaackJack

roseannetangrs

I've also heard good things about the True Match blush, might give it a try if I see it on sale since I already have an abundance of blushes. 

~~~~~Tee Hee

Lisa's Cosmetics Spring 2012

There is currently a sale going on right now that is in the Markham district that is selling a variety of different things for an extreme discounted prices. It is going on from April 28 - May 1, May 4-7 & May 11-14.  I just attended the sale today and it is worth the visit if you are looking for a new perfume or even if you are just a collectors. They have at least 4 rows of counters filled with perfume and cologne displays and the best things is they even have testers for you. They also have a variety of cheap thrills as well; Sally Hansen nail polishes for $2.99CAD and other brands too. They also have wall display of Salley Hansen tools mostly underly $10 bucks. What a steal!! I believe their stock changes from a day to day basis depending what they have and what they sell out during the day. I am planning to go back next weekend with my mama and maybe I'll do a complete haul then. 

Will be doing a haul soon =)

Some new things they have this year.

Happy shopping

~~~~~Tee Hee

Walmart Haul

Walmart is probably one of my favourite place to kill time. I can have nothing to buy and nothing to do but come out with a bunch of goodies. I find their prices to be very reasonable and much cheaper than Shopper's Drug Mart here in Canada.  Their regular price items will often be much cheaper than sale prices at Shopper's. When I walk into a drugstore, I expect cheap thrills and that is one of the biggest reasons why I frequently go to Walmart. 

I was working near a newly opened Walmart and I HAD to go check it out.  I did not need anything in particular but walked out $22 poorer which isn't all that bad since I did get some necessities as well.  I was running out of Clinique Take the Day Off makeup remover Buy Here and have read that Neutrogena's makeup remover is very comparable at a fraction of the price.  I got my Clinique makeup remover way back when during a MAC warehouse sale so I don't remember the exact price but it was for sure in $20 range at most counters.  I have been meaning to try the Neutrogena one and it happened to be on sale for $9.67CAD. =) Perfect timing huh?? I have used this product and it does do a decent job at removing my waterproof eye makeup. This remover requires you to shake vigorously before use due to it's duo phase formula. I simply put some on a cotton pad and soak my eyes for 10 seconds then gently pulled downwards to get all the stubborn waterproof mascara off. So far I like ;)

I also picked up the Wet n Wild eyeshadow trio in Silent Treatment $2.97CAD and the L'Oreal True Match Foundation $9.97CAD. Come to think of it, I got all these items on sale!! SCORE =) In previous post I stated that I had too many foundation and that I keep buying new ones without giving the ones I have a fair chance, but here I am with a new foundation again. LOL

The Wet n Wild eyeshadow trios have been on my radar for a long time, and I do own 2 of the 6 eyeshadow palettes already.  The reason that I held out for this long was because of the price, the 6 eyeshadow palette was cheaper than the trios which made no sense to me at all. Anyways they finally went on sale so I decided to pick up Silent Treatment which was the most appealing one to me.  I have been very impress with the quality of the 6 eyeshadow palette especially for the price and I am sure I will equally be impress with the trio as well. 

(Colour choice recommended by Temptalia's Foundation Matrix)

I did get a chance to dry it on my skin and this would be a good shade for those that are NC37-40 like myself. 

$3.99CAD

Reviews:

Neutrogena Makeup Remover

   Makeup Alley

   Temptalia

Wet n Wild

   Temptalia - Comfort Zone

   Temptalia - Silent Treatment

   Nouveau Cheap

~~~~~ Tee Hee

Week with NARS

So I applied the foundation how I described in previous post. It gives a flawless finish without being too cakey and I love the initial application. But mid day in with no humidity or CPR I notice creasing in my foundation even after I set my foundation. NARS does not claimed that this is a long wearing foundation so I cannot fault them for it and I don't think any company expects their client to wear a full face of foundation through a 12 hr shift expecting to be be perfect at end of the day.

NARS description:

A glowing, satin-finish foundation with sheer and buildable coverage that immaculately evens skin tone. Replete with skincare benefits and the NARS Complexion Brightening Formula, it leaves skin hydrated, more luminous, softer and smoother. Used daily, Sheer Glow Foundation improves the skin's brightness and texture.

• For normal, normal-to-dry and dry skin types
• Hydrates for softer and smoother skin
• Contains powerful anti-oxidants to protect against damaging free radicals and turmeric extract to improve skin's radiance and tone
• Dermatologist tested. Non-comedogenic. Fragrance free.

Buy Here




I noticed the creasing in my laugh line but on other parts of my face I did not notice too much fading that required touch ups. Mid day the foundation is still there and gives me a fair amount of coverage giving me a nice dewy glow. I do have to blot half day which is reasonable for my job. I would probably wear this foundation for short days where I will not be doing any form of sweating. I do love the coverage of the foundation.

I would recommend this foundation if you are a 9-5 girl that sits at a office where you are not exposed to extreme heat or sunlight since this foundation is not long-wearing and there is no SPF in it. (Although I would recommend you wear SPF even if your foundation states that it has SPF). I have combination to dry skin with oily Tee zone; and I don't find that this gets too greasy.  I find that it is fairly good even when I have dry flakes given that I use my Beauty Blender to press in the foundation. I find that when I use a brush to blend in the foundation it tends to extenuate the flakes because the brush moves the flake around. But with the Beauty Blender, it just presses it down and puts the foundation on the flat part of the flake prevent it from being obvious. (Not sure if that makes sense)  On the days where my skin is uncooperative, I'll even put a light mist of MAC charge water before my foundation application.

Pros:
- even coverage
- medium to full coverage
- flawless finish
- hydrating to a certain extent depending on application technique
- great colour choices even for yellow tone Asians

Cons:
- not long lasting
- creases over a long day
- does tend to feel heavy when used with a brush like F80
- no pump
- small bearable scent

Next week, I am going to review L'Oreal True Match Foundation that I recently picked up from Walmart.

~~~~~Tee Hee

Skinstore Coupon

Here is another discount code!! Happy shopping and mother's day=)

Feature of the Week

So I have accumulating a butt load of makeup over the years and the one thing that I have a abundance of is foundation. I have been on the search for the perfect foundation for years, but the problem is there is so many to choose from. I watch a lot of guru on YouTube and whenever they rave about a new/old foundation, I will go out the next day to buy it (I know I have a problem).  Often times I will go on Temptalia and look at the foundation matrix she has to find the perfect colour match for myself so it simplify things especially when it comes to drugstore foundation.  Because of this obsession I have yet to find a holy grail foundation because I am constantly buying and trying new foundations without giving what I have already a fair chance to win me over. Solution: I decided to give each of my foundation a weeks time to win me over with their awesomeness. I will keep my daily skincare and primer routine the same so I can truly see the effects of the foundation. The foundation of the week is NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Barcelona. Buy Here for $42USD/$50CAD. 

I used my MAC mattifier on a daily basis and it cancels out all my pores and makes the foundation application a breeze. 

I also kept my tools the same as well just to see how the foundation goes on evenly to prevent cakiness. The is the best duo I have tried YTD, I alway start by putting a small amount of foundation all over the flat top kabuki from Sigma (F80) and stipple it all over my face.  This ensure that I have the same amount all over my face; I find that when I use my fingers to dot the foundation, I tend to be heavy handed on my cheeks. This method also prevents me from using too much foundation and wasting it. Then I will use my favourite Beauty Blender that is damp to smooth out the foundation with a even light coverage. I prefer a thin layer of foundation of prevent cakiness and I generally don't need a lot of coverage and hate the feeling of a pound of crap on my face. Side note: I have combination skin with oily Tee zone and dry patched on my cheek at times. 

I have had this for a year, but I am slightly OCD and alway keep the boxes for most of makeup because it's easier to store and it just looks nicer in my storage area. Does anyone else do this or em I just weird?

The foundation comes in a glass bottle which can make it difficult to travel with but for the price I paid for it packaging is decent. 

I hate that it doesn't come with a pump but I remember reading somewhere that they did this on purpose so that you would be forced shake it every time before you apply it. It does say on the bottle to shake before use as well. Even if it came with a pump, I would assume that most of us are smart enough to follow simple instructions to shake the bottle but that's just me. 

Will update at the end of the week. This will be day 1 of this mini project that I am starting. The foundation goes on super smooth providing a light flawless coverage. First application does not feel cakey at all and I did set it with MAC Skinfinish in Natural Medium Dark. Also, for reference I am a MAC NC40. PS I also own the Neutrogena Healthy Skin Foundation and a lot of gurus have said that it is very comparable to the Sheer Glow.

Other reviews that might interest you:

Makeup Alley

Temptalia

Makeup Geek does a comparison with Neutrogena Healthy Skin

YouTube review

Fleur De Force

~~~~~ Tee Hee

Maybelline's Color Tattoo Cream Eyeshadow

Everyone has already heard about these and they have been compared to MAC paint pots and I think they are much better. The colour variety is amazing although I do wish there were more matte shades (tough as taupe being the only one that caught my eyes). They color payoff is amazing with great staying power. I work 12 hr shifts and I can still see it at the end of the day but the colour will fade slightly. It also depends what I've done that day as well, I do notice some creasing without a primer if I was really busy that day and sweating a bucket full! All on all I think it is amazing for the price. Unfortunately we do not have a CVS or Walgreen in Canada there we do not have any of this BOGO half deal :(. I got mine at Walmart for $6CAD when they were on sale. Shopper's is selling them for at least $9.99CAD plus tax !! ( I almost buy most of my drugstore beauty products from Walmart just because it is that much cheaper)!

The colours I own are Tough as Taupe, Too Cool, Bold Gold and Bad to the Bronze. My favourite has to be Bad to the Bronze just bc it is so easy and will go with anything I am wearing and it is settle enough where I can wear it to work and be professional. Runner up is probably Tough as Taupe just because it is such a unique colour but I find it a little gloomy and doesn't give me a nice pop.

Other reviews:

Makeup Alley

Temptalia Part 1

Tempalia Part 2

Makeup and Beauty Blog

Beauty and Baggage

Video reviews:

Saaammage on YouTube

Tempalia

A for awesome

~~~~~ Tee Hee

Vaseline is my BFF

This is the most inexpensive and multi functional product I own. $4CAD max from any drugstore. It comes in a variety of sizes, and it is obvious good for wiping a baby's bottom but I find it is a very good lip balm. It is super moisturizing and it seals in all the goodness. I always apply a simple lip balm and place this on top at night and when I wake up my lips are soft and well suppled. I've also used it to cover my tattoo during the first week after I got a tattoo. I am sure this isn't new to anyone but it's an oldie but a goodie.

Other uses:

1. Makeup remover
2. Foot moisturizer for night time with sock to lock in the goodness
3. Hand moisturizer especially for those with cracked skin
4. Enhance lashes
...here

I also used baby wipes for everything (good enough for a baby's bottom it's good enough for my face!). I use it as a gentle makeup removing wipes and to clean tables. I always have a pack in the car and on my desk. It is super inexpensive $8CAD for a 3 pack.

I also use baby shampoos as a brush cleaner too. Sometimes you just got to think outside the box.

~~~~~ Tee Hee

Milani Infinite Liquid Eyeliner

I work 12 hours ships not including about a hour of commute everyday, I expect my makeup or at least my eyeliner to stay put throughout the shift. I read reviews from Beauty Broadcast and decided that I would give this a try. It amazes me every damn day when I get home after work and all my other makeup has faded, my eyeliner is still pitch black and it is still where I left it this morning. This liner is just simply amazing, it is super pigmented and it will not budge even after a small nap on a night shift (while my eyebrows are displaced)

I have the black (Everlast) and purple; both work fantastic.

The only issue I have with this liner is the applicator, because before I discover this eyeliner, I was using L'Oreal Intense in Carbon Black (which I hate now) which had a felt tip. I find that felt tip has a much easier application especially if you are new to liquid eyeliners, it can be very intimating. The Milani has a brush applicator which makes it more difficult to get a precise line if you are a noob to this. I find that the best trick is to flatten the brush by getting rid of the excess products on the edge of the tube and turn the brush on its side to create a finer line.

(front view)

(side view after it has been flattened)

The other issue I have had is getting excess products on the brush attachment (the long tube part before the brush applicator) and it will get on my lashes while I am trying to create the cat eye.

I shit you not about the staying power, I can go through a shower after a 13 hr day and it will still be there unless I use a decent makeup remover.  It does not transfer to the lower lash line (bonus ++++).

I got my at the Loblaw's pharmacy section for $6.99CAD on sale. They are difficult to find in Canada, cause only a small selection of Superstores sell them.  Unfortunately, we do not have the whole range of Milani products either. =( The black (Everlast) can be very difficult to find, you can alway get it online at Cherry Culture for $5.99 USD. ( I would recommend waiting for a sale, they usually have 20% ever so often

A+++ for awesome++++

Other blogger's review and swatches:
Musing of a Muse
Makeup Alley

~~~~~Tee Hee

Skinstore Haul

I just came home and received a little present from the mail man ! I do love online shopping. Recently I posted a coupon code for Skinstore.com and I made a small purchase to replenish what I have been using.

I bought Clarisonic replacement brush head twin pack for deep pure cleansing. It is what I have been using for the pass 3 months (recommended to replace every 3 months). I love my Clarisonic and I can see that it has made a significant difference in my skin tone and texture. I find that my pores are smaller and my skin is much smoother and has a nice glow. Definitely worth the investment and I also purchased mine on Skinstore.com when they had a 20% discount. $119USD on the website. (the colour I own is sapphire which they no longer have on the website but they do have a variety of different colours)

To go along with my Clarisonic, I used the Peter Thomas Roth Anti-Aginjng Buffing Beads. There is many variations of their cleansers that all sound like they do the same things. I choose this one simply because it had anti-aging in it and the fact that it had small jojoba beads in it. It also had a combination of glycolic acid and salicylic acid in it which are suppose to be good for acne prone skin and pore minimizing. I have been using it for 2 weeks now in combination with my Clarisonic and I noticed that my skin is even softer and brighter. It does recommend that you start of with 2-3 times a week for your skin to adjust before using it everyday. In the beginning, I did notice that I had dry patches on my right cheek, but nothing my Kate Sommerville moisturizer couldn't fix (did not ruin my makeup applications). Depending in your skin type I do recommended you follow their instructions carefully otherwise you might end up with a cherry tomato face and dry patches.

Buy here $36USD

Skinstore was also kind enough to give me another 20% code to use whenever and I am thinking I might do another skincare haul and purchase some SUPER by Dr. Nicholas Perricone products. I discovered this brand via Raeview on YouTube and her blog. Relatively priced and I am interested in their activators that is suppose to exfoliant the skin as well as tone all at the same time!!

20% on recurring orders for your must-haves is also pretty awesome. 

~~~~~ Tee Hee

Sock Bun

I did this hair bun using a cut up sock! It is too shabby since I only used a pair of socks, hair the and some bobby pins.

~~~~~ Tee Hee

Puppy

My boyfriend sent me this the other day and I thought it was adorable. Not everyone are a fan of tiny little dogs but you can't deny that it is adorable. Personally I like golden retrievers and husky but they both shed like a mofo and are a lot of work. I have never own a dog before (I've had 3 hamsters and 2 turtles before) but my bf has 2 small dogs now. I prefer to have a low maintenance dog just because I do shift work and don't wanna have to come home and clean or walk my dog after 12 hr day. Just thought I share this cute picture. But I am probably too much of a clean freak to have a dog anyways.

~~~~~Tee Hee

Immortelle Cenzyme Q10 Mask

I got this from my beloved cousin in Hong Kong, who had travels to Taiwan recently. I have tried the My Beauty Diary mask which are amazing and my skin alway feels amazing afterwards. The difference between the 2 is that this one is much thinner and of you leave it on long enough it actually almost dries up completely. It also leaves my skin soft and hydrated. Because I can't read most of the Chinese words I am uncertain what this one does specifically but I do like it. I actually prefer the thinner mask so at least I know when I've had it long enough (although you can never it on long enough because it's so cool and refreshing for the face). I find that the extra serum absorbs really well after you take the mask off which differs from the My Beauty Diary. I like them both and in terms of performance, I am uncertain just because I have not used it enough. Another important note, it did not break me out and it has a nice fresh scent for those that might be sensitive.

A for awesome !!

~~~~~tee hee

Sephora + Pantone Universe Blush Duo

This is the new collection from Sephora and Pantone Universe where they choose the colour of the year: coral. The only thing that caught my attention in this collection is the blush duo, which includes a matte coral colour and a super shimmery darker coral colour. Both colours are perfect for the spring and summer time.  It can be purchased at Sephora for $26USD. 

This set contains:

- 2 x 0.38 oz blush in:
- Coral, Pantone  (Color of the Year with gold shimmer)
- Desert Flower (light orange matte)

Sorry about the poor swatches, these pictures were taken from my iPhone 4GS, I tried my best.  Hopefully you can see the shimmer in the swatches. In comparison the the pictures above, the swatches were done in the opposite way. Both colours are super pigmented!! I find that the shimmery shade is a little powdery and you have to be careful to apply with a light hand. It is wise to do a dabbing motion when picking up the colour so you don't pick up too much product that can lead to fall out just because it is a little powdery. Also you don't want to look like a disco ball because it is quite high in shimmer content.

This is on my NC37-40 skintone. It shows up gorgeously on my skintone, but I do have to caution you that it is SUPER pigmented and that it is easier to build up the colour vs brushing the colour off afterwards. If you wear the colour coral, you could probably skip on the highlight just because it has a fair amount of sheen in it. 

I adore the package although it is probably not very wise for travelling just because it has a slide magnet closure similar to the Inglot palettes. It looks sleek and chic in the wise casing with the crystal plastic top.

This value set is $68 USD here @ Sehpora. 

This set contains:

- 0.02 oz Color of the Year Eyeliner in Tangerine Tango Twist
- 0.31 oz Color of the Year Eyeshadow Quad
- 0.35 oz Color of the Year Prisma Chrome Blush
- 0.38 oz Color of the Year Blush Duo
- 0.1 oz Color of the Year Créme Lipstick
- 0.17 oz Color of the Year Lip Gloss 

This is good bang for your bucks but I did not find enough in the set I wanted to justify the price, but if you like or will use more than 2 products in this set, you've already made your money's worth.  I am a blush addict and that is why I can justify getting another one or two or three...  LOL. I did get a chance to swatch most of these while I was at Sephora and I find that the colours are not very wearable for me on a daily basis (considering my profession... doing CPR with bright lips or clown cheeks). Even on my days off, I don't wear a lot of lip products just because my lips are already so pigmented and I find that I have a bad habit of bitting my lips so there is no sense in putting anything on it (I am trying to kick the habit =( )

This collection also includes an eyeshadow quad. It did not appeal to me in particular and I already have a fair amount of eyeshadow palettes, but if you are interested, here is a blogger that did a review and swatches. Sephora + Pantone Universe Eyeshadow Quad Review & Swatches. 

Review and swatches by other bloggers:

Musing of Muse (with amazing swatches)

Weekend Ramblings (pictures and swatches of the whole collection)

~~~~~ Tee Hee

20% off Skinstore

Hey babes!
There is 20% off at SKINSTORE right now. I just made a order and purchased:
(1) Clarisonic Deep Pore Cleansing Brush Head Duo @ $40.00

(1) Peter Thomas Roth Anti-Aging Buffing Beads @ $36.00

After 20% plus shipping, my total came to $72CAD which is a great deal. =D The site has many sales but for those of us that lives in Canada, you have to read the product's shipping information to ensure that they will ship to Canada. The price itself is much better than what you can get at Sephora just because its US pricing and plus the 20% its golden. 


They also carry some cosmetic brands as well. Happy shopping!! =D


~~~~~Tee Hee

Sick day with ORLY

I picked these up at Winners the other day for $16.99CAD and it came with a mini clutch that holds all 3 nail polishes. The colours I have here are: Jealous, Much? Prelude to a Kiss and Faint of Heart.  This is the first time I've gotten Orly polishes just because they are very difficult to find here in Canada and they usually go for $10CAD or more.  When I saw these at Winners for such a great price, I just could not resist. 

Just because I am sick today does not meant I could not treat myself to a mini manicure. 

Love the colour and finish. Perfect for spring and Easter weekend =D

I topped it with Revlon quick top coat and it gave it a nice sheen and gloss.

I like the colour but as for the polish itself I am still undecided. It doesn't different much from any other polish I have tried from the drugstore. I do own other polish brands like: Revlon, Essie, OPI and MAC.

~~~~~Tee Hee

L'Oreal Warehouse Sale 2012

I am going to a L'Oreal Sale tomorrow will post haul soon =D. I have been to these sales before and you can pick up Maybelline and L'Oreal eyeshadow quads for $1.25CAD!! L'Oreal owns a variety of different brands, I have picked up Armani cologne and RL perfume before as well.

PS I am still under the weather hence I am just sitting at home thinking what I can post for you guys. I am still new at this hope someone enjoys this.

~~~~~Tee Hee

Tokidoki Arte Eyeshadow

The first palette I have is called SANDy in the City. Let's first talk about the packaging, it is super duper cute and the price seriously cannot be beat. I wore it today and the pigmentation is decent and they do blend together nicely. I find that all the colours in this palette work together very nicely and can be used in several different looks. The palette contains a nice satin taupe colour with a purple undertone, a white with small amounts of shine, an army green and a dark eggplant purple. It should be noted that all these colours do have a small amount of fine sparkles in it. That goes for the blush as well, the blush is the most pigmented item in this palette and colours is gorgeous even on my NC40 skin. (satin finish with a small sheen where you can even skip the highlight)

I absolute adore the colour combination, the eyeshadows are okay pigmented, slightly powdery but for the price it can't be beat. $10.90CAD(after 15% Sephora discount) Sorry for the poor lighting, but you can see that the dark eggplant colour is the most pigmented and it is a great colour to use in the outer V.

.

Here it a swatch

This is the second palette that I got from Sephora which is the Lion Pappa. $10.90CAD (with 15% off).  I have yet to use these for a look yet since I just got them 2 days ago and I've been under the weather since. Just by looking at the colours, I prefer the SANDy in the city a little more just because the undertone is purple (my favourite colour). This palette would be good for neutral looks with a pop of gold which I adore.

Palette would be great for a neutral look with a pop of gold. The palette includes a pearl white highlight, matte taupey brown, shimmery gold and a pearl dark brown (great for the crease). Quick glance at the blush, it reminds me of Organism from NARS (maybe because of the high shimmer content)

Again the most pigmented shade is the darkest shade in the palette. 

Overal these palettes is great for travel and if you are going away for the weekend or a night over at the BF's, this palette would do it all with a variety of eyeshadows for at least 3 different looks and a blush that is suitable for a wide rage of skintones.

Look at the other palettes by fellow bloggers:

Musing of a muse (quick look at the 24 Karat and Vegas palette) All at $12CAD/$10USD.

I did get these palette at my local Sephora (Fairview Mall), but I was unable to find them online. Here are the links for the other 2 palettes that are available online. 

Tokidoki Arte Palette in Vegas

Tokidoki Arte Palette in Till Death Do Us Part

~~~~~Tee Hee