31 December 2012

M's Favourite Beauty Products of 2012

I was going to skip this post, but after a whole afternoon of watching such videos on youtube, I caved.

The following is my all-star lineup for 2012:
Skincare:
LUSH Love Lettuce fresh face mask - my review
Bioderma Sensibio H2O micellar solution - my review
Philosophy Purity Made Simple one-step facial cleanser
La Roche-Posay Anthelios ultra-fluid lotion spf60 (facial sunscreen) - my review
Bioderma Sébium pore refiner - my review
La Roche-Posay Effaclar A.I. - my review

Makeup:
Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Adventure
YSL Dessin des Sourcils eyebrow pencil in 2 Dark Brown
Tarte 12hour Amazonian Clay matte blush in Dollface - my review
Burberry eyeshadow in Rosewood - my review
Maybelline 24hour Colour Tattoo cream eyeshadow in 100 Barely Beige - my review
MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural in Medium - my review
Chanel Correcteur Perfection in 20 Beige Ivoire (under eye and all over concealer)
Covergirl Lash Blast waterproof mascara in Blackest Black

Tools:
Sigma E30 pencil brush
Real Techniques Buffing Brush - my review
Real Technique Blush Brush - my review

Others:
EOS lip balm in Strawberry Sorbet - my review
Josie Maran travel size argan oil - my review
Essie nail polish in Play Date - my review
L'Occitane travel size hand cream in Cherry Blossom
Marc Jacobs Oh Lola perfume - my review

Please let me know your favourite products of this year in a comment below.

I hope your 2012 was wonderful, and that 2013 will be even better!
Happy New Year!

- M

24 December 2012

Happy Holidays!

It's almost been a year since we started this blog! (our first post here)
Thank you to all who have taken the time to read what we have to say throughout this year.

Happy Holidays!

- M & R


20 December 2012

December 2012 Topbox (Version 21)

I skipped doing a post on the November 2012 one, since I was away and it was already well into December by the time I had returned from my trip.  Please note that I was very pleased with the November box, which could have lead to overly high expectations for the December 2012 one.  There's also the whole holidays hype thing, too.  Am I so wrong to expect red glitter fireworks to come out of this December 2012 one?

Anyway... here it is:
solid effort - too bad it's the only festive thing
everything's white or a shade... lol
pretty excited about this
apparently a salon exclusive brand/product
Overall, not a bad box, and I like how all of the products were well tailored to my beauty profile (I'm a mask and exfoliant hoarder, who heat-styles way too much).
I know I said I like musky scents, but had I known the super cute Chloe mini bottle was an option in this box, I would've selected sweet-floral.  Plus, it made me think of the cute Balenciaga swag I missed out on in the September 2012 box (see Petite Pear Style's post here).

P.S. I'm hoping this a-perfume-a-box isn't sticking around... (I received a 4 ml Vera Wang Lovestruck Floral Rush in my November 2012 box).

P.P.S. Topbox has increased their subscription price from $10+tax to $12+tax.

- M

19 December 2012

REVIEW: MAC Mineralize SkinFinish (Soft and Gentle)

As mentioned in my haul post, I picked up the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle at the duty free shop going outbound from Canada. yes, already started hauling shit before I even left the country, haha.

Aside from Benefit Highbeam and Dior Amber Rose, this is all the shit highlighter within the beauty youtubing world.  So, naturally, I've been eyeing this for a while.
its ingredients
the closeup
the swatch
How I wear it:
I lightly press against it with the Tarte blush brush that came with the Carried Away with Tarte collection (see post here), and brush along the tops of my cheekbones.  I also dab a finger against it and lightly apply along the length of my nose and on my cupid's bow.

How it wears:
I've only worn it in the evening/night, and it had lasted up to 8 hours without any setting spray or touch-up.  Even though it's a dry product, it didn't dry out my skin or enhance any dry spots.  I like that it's not a wet application product (see:  Benefit Highbeam), so it makes it hard to overdo the highlighting.

I can see that it may be easily duped, and I wouldn't doubt that there's probably tons of cheaper alternatives out there.  Please do note that this highlighter is super finely milled so there weren't chunks of glitter all over, and it didn't appear obvious that I had used a highlighting product.  Additionally, once applied, it didn't budge on my face, so I didn't end the night looking like a discoball.

Verdict:
It adds a nice finishing touch, especially during the colder months when my skin gets even more pale.  Soft and Gentle hides some of the Winter dullness and enhances any definition in the face (as should any highlighting product).
Overall, I really like it.  The pricetag ($29 USD) isn't too bad considering you're getting an insane amount of product.

- M

16 December 2012

Les Minis de Chanel (Collection of 6 Essential Mini Brushes)

As mentioned in my Asia Beauty Haul post, I bought this at the duty free shop at the airport, on the way back to Canada.  For the entire month that I was in China and Taiwan, I had not seen it at any Chanel counters, so I thought it was either a holiday exclusive or a duty free exclusive... and then, I saw it at the Murale/Shoppers Drug Mart, lol.
I think the gold lettering/detailing is exclusive to the Asia market though, because the ones I saw at Murale had deep red lettering/detailing. (desperate attempts at making myself feel special...)

The price tag was quite hefty though.  It was 589 RMB (around $84 CAD).  It appears to be retailing at around $120 USD at Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom.
I've never spent so much on brushes, omg.

In any case, I love it.  So would any beauty junkie.  If you know any, I would highly recommend gifting this to them for the holidays ;)

love the details
the brush holder on the left is an unattached flap
there's a full mirror on the other side
the glory
The brushes are a blend of both synthetic and natural hairs.  They're super soft to the touch!

- M

14 December 2012

M's China & Taiwan Beauty Haul

Hello Strangers!

It's been a while since the last post.  I went on holidays to China and Taiwan for a month, and R is a lazyfuck.

I wanted to share (cough showoff cough) my beauty haul from the trip (cue photos galore):

Please note that the currency in China is RMB (1 CAD = 7 RMB), and the currency in Taiwan is NT (1 CAD = 28 NT).  In other words, I bought a lot of shit.

from duty free
I will be doing a full post on this later
it's supposed to whiten your pits lol
this was 29 RMB for 2!
I gave one to R
floral AND fruity scent!
this was 109 NT for 2! (I gave two to R)
I bought a box to try since they were only 100 NT!
velcro sheets to keep your hair up without creasing it
20 NT for a pack (2 sheets in a pack)
my beloved lip ice
(see R's post here)
they come in a pack of 4
80 NT for two packs
These are my favourite makeup wipes (see my post here)
stole the two cherry blossom scented ones from my mom's duty free 6-piece assorted hand cream pack
the 6-piece pack contained 2 cherry blossoms, 2 dry hands, 2 lavender - a complete steal at 269 RMB (~$6 CAD each!)
I was completely out so bought one from duty free for 180 RMB ($25 CAD!)
they're normally $40 at the North American counters... wtf
MSF in Soft and Gentle from duty free
I have no idea how much it was... Mom got it for me
$24 CAD from duty free
Normally $27 CAD at Canadian counters
(see my review here - clearly, I lied about not running to buy it. it saved my skin in China and now I'm hooked lol)
I bought a shitload of these grapefruit scented oil blotting films
I think they were 20 RMB each
My Beauty Diary face sheet masks (each box has 10 individually packaged masks)
389 NT for 2 boxes, which is ~$7 CAD per box
they normally retail for $15 CAD per box here!
I will probably do a full post of these later
I stocked up on Asian pads!
they fit me a lot better, so I always stock up whenever I go (they're also a lot cheaper at 14 RMB per pack of 16 pads)
I spend about 1000 RMB on just pads every time I go to China and it lasts me about 2.5 years
(imagine me strolling around Carrefour like no big deal, with a shopping cart filled with bright pink pads lol)

- M

6 November 2012

NYX LLS Series Round Lipsticks (Fig & Tea Rose)

During a 20% promotion last month, I picked up these two NYX Lipsticks.  According to the NYX website, they're part of the LLS Series.

I wanted all of them, but ended up just getting the two shades that I've been eyeing for a really long time.
Fig is a beautiful mid-tone warm pink.  When applied to my deep pink/light mauve lips, it appears as a warm coral.
Tea Rose is a natural, pinky nude.  When applied to my deep pink/light mauve lips, it appears like a my lips but better pinky mauve.
 
Fig (LLS640) and Tea Rose (LLS628)
I like wearing Fig and Tea Rose together on days when I feel like Tea Rose is too muted and Fig is too bright.  I apply Tea Rose on my upper lip and Fig on my lower lip, and then press them together a few times.

The texture and application of these LLS Round Lipsticks is amazing.  They're so velvety smooth and super soft - They kinda remind me of MAC Cremesheen but without the melting, haha.
The only off-putting thing about these lipsticks is the scent.  It has a very slight plastic soap scent.  You don't really notice it when you're wearing it though.

I got each of the lipsticks just under $5 CAD at my drugstore, but I know, you can get them for even cheaper in the states.

- M

1 November 2012

Lush Christmas 2012

Generally, I'm a conservative lushie year-round, but I spoil myself a bit whenever it's a festive collection.  Out of all of the festive collections, the Christmas one is my favourite.

After reading Fleur's (of Fleur de Force) post on the Golden Wonder bath bomb (link), I had to have it.  Unfortunately, when I went into my Lush store last week, they didn't have all of the Christmas products out yet, so I wasn't able to get it.
I ended up picking up my favourite bubble bar from last year's Christmas collection, as well as, a Christmas soap bar.  I've been on quite the soap bar kick as of late.

The Christmas Eve bubble bar was definitely thicker this year than last year.  The design is still the same; simplistic royal blue sky with a yellow moon.  It smells like jasmine.  $7.25 CAD.
Its ingredients:
Sodium Bicarbonate, Cream of Tartar, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Lauryl Betaine, Perfume, Irish Moss Powder, Jasmine Absolute, Ylang Ylang Oil,*Linalool, *Limonene, Hydroxycitronellal, Gardenia Extract, Colour 45410, Colour 42090, Colour 45350
*occurs naturally in essential oils

I smelled all of the Christmas soaps, and the Angel's Delight soap was my favourite.  It's such a pretty soap with rainbow bits.  It smells like sweet tangerines.  $5.95 CAD per 100g.
Its ingredients:
Water, Propylene Glycol, Rapeseed Oil and Coconut Oil, Sodium Stearate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate,Perfume, Tangerine Oil, Sweet Orange Oil, Titanium Dioxide, Gardenia Extract, Glycerine, Sodium Chloride, EDTA, Tetrasodium Etidronate, *Limonene,*Linalool, Colour 14700, Colour 17200, Colour 45410, Colour 60725, Colour 15510, Colour 42090,Silver Glitter, Golden Glitter, Golden Lustre,Iridescent Glitter
*occurs naturally in essential oils

Are you going to pick up any Lush Christmas products?

- M

29 October 2012

REVIEW: LUSH Rock Star Soap

I ran out of my Lush Honey I Washed the Kids Soap (my review here) last month and wanted a new soap.  The boy and I smelled every single soap inside the Lush store, and I ended up picking Rock Star Soap.

Rock Star has quite the cult following, too.  It smells like candy.  Usually, I'm not a fan of sweet candy scents, but Rock Star smells exactly like the Comforter (one of Lush's bubble bars), which I adore.
Its ingredients:



Smell:
It smells a bit like taffy.  As mentioned above, it smells exactly like the Comforter bubble bar.  The smell doesn't last beyond the shower.

Lather:
Awesome.

Moisture:
It doesn't dry out my skin, but I don't really like that it leaves me feeling squeaky.  It's definitely not as moisturizing as Honey I Washed the Kids.
Verdict:
I only like the scent.  I would rather repurchase Honey I Washed the Kids.

- M

19 October 2012

Maybelline EyeStudio 100 Cozy Cashmere

This palette is so gorgeous... I'm sure I'll be using it lots as the season goes on.


The highlight is basically a powder version of the Maybelline Color Tattoo 24hr in 100 Barely Beige (review here).  The dark brown with glitter particles has quite a bit of glitter fallout but it's so pretty that I'm willing to work with it.

The texture is quite smooth with an ever-so-slight velvet feeling (obviously, not UD quality though).  The dark brown with glitter is slightly drier than the others.

This palette is limited edition and retails for $7.99 CAD.  I bought it for $5 with an in-store Maybelline coupon.

- M