March 2013 IPSY Bag

Another month has gone by and I realize that I've missed both January and February IPSY bag posts, so I am going to try to get back on track again and today we'll start by taking a look at the last IPSY bag by myGlam!

How can we forget about the signature bright hot pink bubble pack envelope? ;) Certainly draws attention!

There appears to be a nautical theme this month and the bag is titled "The Big Escape". Definitely makes me feel like leaving this windy, gloomy, chilly, and rainy Vancouver weather behind and escape into a warm paradise! The contents of this month's bag are suppose to assist you in YOUR great escape and become your best travel buddies. Let's dive right in! :)

The first item that caught my attention was the red thing..

???

Oh it's a mini depotted item holder!

So this strange object turns out to be mini-sized Z-palette-like item that can come in handy when it comes to travelling and packing your makeup items for the trip. The mini palette is cute and sturdy, and I LOVE the name, GLAMRX, I mean, how cute is that? :) As for size, it fits 2 regular pans of MAC shadows (raound, 1.5g), side by side. 

Next, I found two tiny powder eyeshadow samples from a brand called YABY and chosen for me was a beautiful hightlight shade called "Seashell" and a plummy brown colour, great for defining the crease, called "Azalea Petal". The samples are no bigger than the diameter of a dime, but secure perfectly inside the previously mentioned empty mini-palette! Well played, IPSY, I like the continuity of products here :)

Next I found a pack of 8 Makeup Remover Wipes by LA Fresh, the line is travel-lite. Very fittingly names, as makeup wipes are much easier and hassle-free to carry with you a opposed to bottles of makeup removing solutions and cleansers.I didn't open this to check out the scent, as I did not want to risk the sample from drying out before I got a chance to use it. 

 

Finally, I found at the bottom of the bag, a 30mL spray bottle of a hydrating mist by JUICE BEAUTY. I have yet to give this product a try but my initial impression of it was quite good after trying out a small spritz on my hand. I haven't detected any strong or overpowering scents from it, but it does have a light fragrance to it. Hydrating mists, provided that they work as supposed, are excellent alternatives to cream moisturizers and are very handy on the go as you can simply take it out of your purse even as you are out for the day and touch up, rehydrate your skin on-the-go!

All in all, I am quite pleased with this month's IPSY bag! Although the products may not be as exciting at first glance, they are all useful and generous samples that would surely get some good use by me sooner or later :) The bag that it came in was also super cute and a great size and I can foresee myself putting it to some good use too! I will continue to subscribe to IPSY and if you are interested too, you can sign up at the following link: http://www.ipsy.com/

Thanks for reading!

Joanne

(This post contains samples sent via a monthly subscription service provided by IPSY, which I purchased with personal funds. This post DOES NOT contain any affiliated links.)

Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer - Review

If I had to choose the one makeup product that can almost instantly fake the look of more sleep for myself, it would definitely be an awesome under-eye concealer. Imagine all those days that we all run short on time and the usual makeup routine has to be slashed into the bare necessities...I know that I will always reach for my concealer to cover up those panda eyes!

Which is exactly why I'm quite inclined to try out new drugstore concealers, as I'm always hopeful that one day I would hit a real gem for a fraction of the price of high end products. Wake Me Up Concealer by Rimmel London is the latest one that I have tried.

My shade is the second lightest. in 230 Very Fair/Light

The "Wake Me Up" line has been available in the UK for at least several months now but I have not seen a trace of them until several weeks ago when I was perusing the cosmetics department of Wal-Mart. That day I found a newly re-organized Rimmel London permanent display section which included this new concealer, the corresponding foundation, brand new cream highlighters, jumbo eye pecils, and eyeliners. It was a really exciting find for me, and I picked up several products to try out! Reviews of the others will be coming soon, but today's spotlight lands on the concealer, which just so happens to be really quite awesome!

The claim on the tube reads: "Our first full coverage concealer that visibly reawakens and illuminates under the eyes. Completely conceals spots and other blemishes. Instant anti-fatigue effect with peptides and a Vitamin Moisturizing Complex." - Rimmel London

Reading the blurb on the tube definitely makes this product sound heavenly, and to be honest it really performs quite well for my under-eye area. The above picture I'm hoping to capture the tiny shimmer that can be seen in the product. Normally, the fact that I can see shimmer would've been the first warning sign for a concealer, because often the shimmer/sparkle becomes quite obvious after applying and it really is quite weird to look at. However, there is no visible shimmer particle on the face after application! Instead, once the concealer is blended out, the finish is indeed a radiant glow that looks natural, I'm very happy with it :) (Btw, I've returned the "Wake Me Up" Foundation because the shimmers were just TOO noticeable, both in the bottle and on my skin.)

The product comes with a standard doe-foot applicator that makes applying the concealer simple and accurate, right to the spot you need it to go and no more than that. The amount of concealer that is deposited could be a little too much if you forget to wipe off the excess at the edge of the tube, so beware of that. The sponge on the applicator is quite fluffy and soft, thus it is quite gentle with the delicate under-eye area. I also use it around the sides of my nice that tends to get a little red and the applicator gets into the area quite perfectly.

The consistency of the concealer is of a creamy-liquid, by that I mean that it is not a liquid that would run down your skin after you apply it, because the creamy aspect keeps it held together nicely. It almost feels like a mousse or a gel. It blends out really smooth and even, and does not feel heavy on the skin at all.

And now here is a demo of the performance of the "Wake Me Up" concealer on my eyes:

Before

The above picture is of my eye area with absolutely no makeup on (I hope it's not scaring you away!). As you can see, I do not have much of an eye bag, but I do have visible redness (almost a purple colour, sometimes) under the inner 1/2 of my eye and some bluish veins that are trying to peek through. My primary problem is under-eye discolouration (a.k.a. panda eyes) brought upon mostly from the lack of sleep.

After

Voila! Here you are seeing the same eye after one layer of "Wake Me Up" concealer. I really do think that the difference is quite noticeable here! The skin tone is evened out and the redness is pretty much all covered. All the while, it looks natural without the look of makeup being caked on. One of the best aspects of this concealer is that there is NO oxidizing throughout the day, NO collecting of product underneath the eye  and NO settling into fine-lines. The product really do last over 10 hours, faking the look of good sleep! The concealer also performs beautifully on top of a foundation as well! :)

I have not really tested the concealer on blemishes around the face, because I currently don't have anything that really needs to be covered up. I usually just let small acne spots slide and just hide underneath the foundation.

Overall, I highly recommended giving this drugstore concealer a try, especially if you haven't quite found a good under-eye concealer yet. For $6, it really gives good bang for your buck (7mL is a lot of product for the average concealer!). The staying power of the concealer is really good and the consistency almost rivals those from high-end brands. The shade rage is not too shabby, either; there is one shade lighter than the one I have, and at least 4 other darker shades. What I enjoy about this range of concealer is that the colour is not simply skin-toned, but also has that slight peachy salmon-tone that is so important for correcting discolouration under the eyes. Good job, Rimmel!

Have you tried the "Wake Me Up" concealer, or which is your favourite product to cover up those panda-eyes? :)

Joanne

Maybelline CLEAN EXPRESS! Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover Review

Today I would like to introduce to you one of my many recent new finds at the drugstore - a new eye makeup remover by Maybelline! The brand has offered eye makeup removers for many years now, but personally I have never paid much attention to them, because they've been around for so long it's not promoted much anymore, it is always housed at the very bottom of the Maybelline wall displays, and most importantly, I already have a couple makeup removers that I am very content with.

However, when this new one came along I found it in Wal-Mart in one of those small cardboard displays that most new products are first introduced in at drugstores. (The have now been moved to the permanent display, as of 3 days ago) The shape and colour of the bottle first caught my attention...The oval cylinder shape of the bottle was slim and compact, and (most importantly) it was PINK! How cute is that? :) It wasn't price-tagged at the time but when I was rung up at the registered it was only $4.96 + tax, and I had a "what a steal!" moment.

It claims to have a "QuickBreak Technology", to be "Ultra-Gentle - Express-removes even waterproof mascara", and is an oil-free water proof eye makeup remover. The bottle contains 120mL (4.0 fl. oz.) of product, which runs a little under the typical 150mL mark for most other drugstore eye makeup remover, but don't forget its low price point!

On the back it says the following:
"Shake to activate dual phase formula. First phase instantly breaks up stubborn makeup, even waterproof mascara, while the second washes it clean...Because of its quick dissolving powever, no harsh rubbing is necessary. Oil-free, the formula leaves no greasy residue."

A look at the opening of the bottle.

Sounds like a dream but how did it actually perform?

After using this remover for the past 3 weeks, I am now ready to share my thoughts with you :) I agree wholeheartedly with its claims of being ultra-gentle. I have not experienced any burning or stinging sensations near or on my eye when using it to take off my eye makeup. There is, indeed, no feeling of greasy residue, or any residue for that matter, after I finish using it. It also leaves the eye area with a feeling of being slightly hydrated.

Unfortunately, this product falls short of its "Quick-Break Action" claim. First, I do not wear waterproof mascara, so when I got this product I expected it to perform quite well for taking off my non-waterproof mascara since it's suppose to take off waterproof ones with ease. But nope, even after soaking my lashes with this for 30 seconds on the cotton pad, it takes a little too much extra rubbing to get all my mascara off than I would like for my already-kind-of sparse lashes. I really don't need more to fall out everytime I take off the makeup. to be honest, the remover is really good at removing all the eyeshadow in one swipe, and the eyeliners come off in a little more than 2 swipes. So if you happen to be one of those girls who don't wear mascara regularly, this is likely a great product for you to try, and it won't break the bank.

Overall, it's not a bad remover, and I will continue using it to take off my eyeshadows and liners. But I will defer back to my baby oil to take off my mascara to minimize the rubbing and tugging.

Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for more reviews on my other recent drugstore new product finds!

Joanne

Canadian myGlam Bag December 2012 by IPSY - Open Bag Time!

Time for another Open Bag session with the myGlam bag for December 2012 by IPSY! This month's theme is "Haute Holiday" and the contents in the bag should be able to help create a holiday party-ready look! I try to list as many prices in Canadian currency, but for those I cannot find online I will list in US dollars.

Of course it has to come in the usual hot pink protective parcel bag:

This month's bag is a silvery-grey fabric with a glossy finish. The shape is roughly that of a rectangle, flat at the bottom so it is very roomy. The inside is lined with hot pink material with "ipsy imprinted all over. The zipper has a silver dangling charm. Overall, a sturdy and useful make up case, or it will definitely work as a pencil case if you wish.

Also in the packaging is the usual greeting card and another card with coupon codes for the brands included in the bag this month.

First item out of the bag also happens to be the tiniest of the bunch: NYX Ultra Pearl Mania in LP13 Sky Pink Pearl. This is a full size item at 0.06 oz. (Sorry the lighting of my picture is making it appear more yellow than it really is.) This is basically a loose powder eyeshadow that is very finely milled and has a pearly sheen finish.

"It’s not hard to sparkle with one of our ultra-shimmering loose shadow powders that can be used on eyes, cheeks, even lips. These finely-milled mineral eye shadows are high-impact, long-lasting—and a little addictive." - NYX $3.99CAD

Next is Be A Bombshell Lip Gloss in Hot Mess (love the name!), another full-size 3gm product! The gloss is a bright, pigmented, blue-based red that has no sparkle or shimmer in it. The finish is semi-see through, thus giving a jelly-like appearance and is very glossy. It is smooth on the lips and not very sticky, which I really prefer! It has a doe foot applicator that is very easy to control. The packaging is reminiscent of MAC CreamsheenGlass glosses.This lipgloss is a great "starter" colour for those who are looking to venture into the red lips but are still intimidated by lipsticks, since the gloss is pigmented enough to give colour on its own, yet still buildable so you can control the intensity of the colour. What better time than holiday dinners and New Year Eve parties to rock the red lip? :)

"No Bombshell look is complete without luscious, shiny lips! The Bombshell Lipgloss formula is longlasting and will send whistles your way all day long." - beabombshellcosmetics.com - $14.00US

Next up we have a package of Highligher Paper (shade: St. Barts) by Mai Couture. This brand was first featured in the inaugural myGlam bag back when it first lauched in the US and was only available to US residents. At that time they had given the brand's blush paper and this time around, at the 1-year anniversary, we get to try the highlighter papers too! This is a half-size product with 25 sheets, with the full-size having 50 sheets per pack. The idea of these paper is that you can touch up on-the-go, as well as being super easy to use when you are first applying your makeup. Instead of using a powder product with a brush, tear off one of these sheets and dab/swipe it across the area of the face you which to use the highligher, and the product comes off the sheet onto the skin! Interesting concept, and I agree this will make touch-ups much easier!

"Baby, you were born to shine…with just a bit of help from Mai Couture Highlighter Papier. Wherever your day takes you – home, the office, 40,000 feet – just one sheet of Mai Couture Highlighter Papier will turn up the wattage on lackluster skin in seconds flat. Perfect for both the face and body and great on all skin tones, Mai Couture Highlighter Papier adds beautiful flawless luminosity hygienically and easily while letting you travel light. It’s time to say goodbye to messy brushes or things shattering in your bag. " - Mai Couture  - $28 for full-size.

Fourth product is the Mirabella Primer For Face and Eyes, full-size, 12.85gm of product. Mirabella is a mineral makeup product company. This primer is quite runny in consistency, and comes out clear. The product is very thin on the skin and provides a very smooth surface on your skin that becomes nicely prepped for foundation. I find that it does indeed prolong the wear of my foundation, allowing it to last nicely throughout an 8-hour work shift and a 2 hour dinner after that. I haven't tried it out on my eyes as I am very content with my Urban Decay Primer Potion and Too Faced Shadow Insurance, but perhaps one day I will try it out! The squeeze tube is quite handy and I prefer this type of packaging as I feel I'm able to keep the product inside more sanitary. 

"Silky, smooth, clear formula primer slides on the skin creating the perfect base for any mirabella foundation. Avoid lash-line. Use sparingly. Paraben-free, Dye-free." - Mirabella - $29.00US

Fifth and final product this month's myGlam bag is the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Zero. We receive the travel size at 0.8g (full-size = 1.2g). This size of the 24/7 pencil is usually only found in the pencil sets that Urban Decay holiday value sets, but with 75% of the full-size amount, this is a very generous deluxe sample :)  This eye pencil is a personal favourite of mine for some time, as the formula is super creamy so it doesn't tug at the lashline, yet still delivers amazing staying power for me, including at the waterline and tightline. This is no longer the "blackest" eye pencil that Urban Decay offers (that would be the shade "Perversion") but Zero is more than black enough for daily use and appropriate for most special outings/evening parties. I'm really happy to have another back-up of this pencil. The pencil is quite pricey if you are to purchase at regular price from Sephora, so if you would like to check out something that is more budget-friendly, I highly recommend the NYX Slide-On Pencil range, as the quality is nearly identical (to me) and the colours offered are awesome too.

"Creamy, forever-lasting, award-winning and waterproof, 24/7 pencils delight you with lush tropical hues, deep metallics, and unusually vibrant neutrals." - Urban Decay - $22.00CAD

I am, once again, impressed and satisfied with this month's myGlam bag. For $10.00US + $4.95US shipping fee, I received almost $78.00 worth of product, all of which I know I will be making a use of. I am eagerly awaiting for the January myGlam to arrive at my doorstep in a few weeks :)

Disclaimer: Subscription to IPSY and myGlam bag is purchased by my own money, and all mentioned in the above post are my honest opinions.

A Bright Complexion For The Holidays! - Benefit "Let There Be Bright" Holiday Value Set

Here is an exciting product from Benefit that would make a great gift for someone or a nice treat for yourself :) It is one of the several value gift sets that Benefit has released for the holidays and they are slowly but surely trickling into Sephora and Shopper Drug Mart locations! Today I found this particular one at Shoppers Drug Mart:

Such cute packaging! It's made to look like a piece of luggage to match this year's travel theme.

Opening the golden latch at the top of the box reveals the following precious goodies:

Contents:
- Deluxe sample of The POREfessional Primer (7.5mL)
- Deluxe sample of Triple Moisture Facial Cream (8.9mL)
- Full Size It's Potent! Eye Cream (15mL)
- Full Size Triple Performing Facial Emulsion (50.3mL)

 Now, the reason I purchased this particular set is not only for its awesome deal (the eye cream and facial emulsion retails for C$36 and C$34, respectively), the products are either ones that I already love or I've really want to try it for a while now.

The POREfessional Primer is one that I use every single day as part of my workday makeup routine. While I don't suffer from extremely large pores, you can not go wrong with a product that is able to blur the appearance of the pores and also create a nice smooth canvas for the foundation/tinted moisturizer/BB cream that is to come afterwards. One aspect that sets this primer apart from others that I use is the fact that POREfessional is skin-toned. I think that contributes to it being able melt nicely into the skin and looking very natural. Overall, I think this product is great and I'm always happy to have a travel size of it!

Deluxe sample comes housed in a glass jar!

The Triple Moisture Facial Cream also is another that I've been using for some time now. It is a face cream that is more on the thicker end of the spectrum. With a retail price tag of $42, it's quite a steep purchase. I didn't purchase my full sized jar until Holt Renfrew cleared out their Benefit counter and had it on sale for $25. Since then, I've used the product rather sparingly because I know it's not possible to pick another one up at even a similar price. This face cream is rich without feeling heavy, which I love. However, it is takes just a bit too long to sink in before I can apply make up so I limit its use to just as my night-time moisturizer. Having applied it just before going to bed allows my skin to slowly drink up the hydration and I wake up with nice and bright skin! The cream does have a fragrance that is on the stronger side; it is nothing florally (if that's a concern), rather it smells very fresh and refreshing, almost like fresh laundry, I think. Personally I love the scent, it's unique and makes me feel like I've just done some sort of spa treatment. However, if scents are sensitizing to your skin this may steer you away.

This It's Potent! Eye Cream is the only one of it's kind offered from Benefit and I think the name is just too cute! Now, I have to admit that which it comes to daily skin care routine, the eye cream is the one that I neglect most often. Yup, I know it's time to change that around and hopefully Benefit's It's Potent! Eye Cream can knock some sense into me. In terms of consistency, it's a bit lighter than the facial cream, also, it does not share the same "fresh laundry" scent; It is rather fragrance-free, if you don't count the typical "cream" odour. Anyway, it is nothing major, and it certainly does not smell bad. I tried a bit just now and I don't find that my eyes are irriated when the cream brought up to right under the lash line, and it does feel quite hydrating! I am having hopes for this product now.

Finally, this is the product that is the most exciting for me in the set, the Triple Performing Facial Emulsion! From my understanding, is product is sort of similar to the facial cream but with a more liquidy base AND the added benefit of sunscreen :) With SPF 15 and PA++, the sun protection that it offers is not anything to be head-over-heels for but at least there is some! I've sampled it countless times in Sephora and Shoppers Drug Mart counters but never found the heart to dish out the $34 price tag, but it's lightweight formula and pleasant scent always appealed to me so I'm so eager to try this out tomorrow in the morning! Can hardly wait! The bottle is also super cute, reminds me somewhat of bottles from old shipwrecks...haha :)

At a price tag of $52, will you be indulging? Feel free to share your thoughts and comments, I would love to hear from you!

Thanks again for reading :)
Joanne