Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Saturday, December 27, 2008
spoils of war...
Contrary to what my last post may have sounded like, I didn't haul much from Boxing Day sales. The reason for waking up so early was to help the bf get the stuff he was eyeing at Futureshop (a Canadian equivalent of Best Buy that is ironically now owned by Best Buy...).
We only had two things to get - a Yamaha home theatre receiver and a pair of Energy speakers. They only had a minimum of 8 per store of receivers, and I think 4 pairs of speakers, and because they were discounted over 50% we had to go there early if we wanted any chance of getting them at all!
First we woke up at 4.45 so that we could get to Best Buy by 5.15am. They open at 5.30am and if you stand in line beforehand, you get a chance to win a $500 giftcard from the store. And yes thats the only reason we stopped by there first :P
There were a lot of people there already before us...I heard someone in front of us say they came here at 4am....crazy. Anyway we basically froze our butts off waiting til 5.40 (they were late!) when they announced the winner. Unfortunately, it wasn't us :(
After that, immediately we drove to Futureshop to wait in line. The people in line at Best Buy probably thought we were crazy for leaving right then, lol but there really wasn't anything at Best Buy that interested us. Anyway, there were less people at Futureshop but still quite a bit considering the insane hour. Surprisingly they let us in early, 10 minutes before the store was supposed to open at 6am.
(doesn't that figure look creepy? hooded and ominous...like the grim reaper :P)
The store staff had all the big Boxing Day deals pulled out of their warehouse and set up along the aisles.
Its a good thing we got there early because when we found the speakers, there were only 2 pairs left, and right after I pulled aside our pair another person came and grabbed the last! Same for the receiver, they were all gone within 20 minutes. The lineups at the cash registers were super long but luckily because we were in the home audio section they had separate computers to ring up your purchases right in that department.
Spoils of war...
The rest of the day was spent at Eaton Centre mall...which was nice in the morning, but it got more and more crowded after lunch. In previous years I had never been bothered to wake up early, but I think I would wake up earlier in future just to avoid the crowds. Once there got to be too many people I just didn't feel motivated to shop anymore.
Some stores had lineups to get in too - like the Nike Store, Hollister, and Abercrombie and Fitch. In fact the lineups were so long at A&F they spanned a couple of stores. I guess the clearance sale there was a really great deal but still, I wouldn't have the patience to wait that long for clothes. Maybe if it was shoes or bags I would :)
Anyway I really didn't find anything I liked...My main goal was to find a pair of heels/pumps, and also a pair of comfortable low-heeled boots, but everything looked so ordinary and blah. It seems like I'm getting too picky as I get older. These were the only things that caught my eye:
Closer look at the Zoya polishes. I've wanted to try some ever since Audrie posted about them.
Contents of the Fresh Mangosteen set: Full size perfume, smaller sizes of the body lotion and soap.
I also bought some stuff from The Body Shop website. Originally I wanted to see the items in store before buying but they didn't have any left so I had to order online. At least the shipping isn't too bad, only $5 and all of the items were 50% off:
Brush roll
Travel makeup bag
Fragrance Atomizer
Aqua Lily Me Time giftset
Thats probably it for a while. I doubt I'd find anything in other malls since most stores are similar. There will be some other pre-Christmas hauls from Sephora and Adam Beauty coming up in future posts...
We only had two things to get - a Yamaha home theatre receiver and a pair of Energy speakers. They only had a minimum of 8 per store of receivers, and I think 4 pairs of speakers, and because they were discounted over 50% we had to go there early if we wanted any chance of getting them at all!
First we woke up at 4.45 so that we could get to Best Buy by 5.15am. They open at 5.30am and if you stand in line beforehand, you get a chance to win a $500 giftcard from the store. And yes thats the only reason we stopped by there first :P
There were a lot of people there already before us...I heard someone in front of us say they came here at 4am....crazy. Anyway we basically froze our butts off waiting til 5.40 (they were late!) when they announced the winner. Unfortunately, it wasn't us :(
After that, immediately we drove to Futureshop to wait in line. The people in line at Best Buy probably thought we were crazy for leaving right then, lol but there really wasn't anything at Best Buy that interested us. Anyway, there were less people at Futureshop but still quite a bit considering the insane hour. Surprisingly they let us in early, 10 minutes before the store was supposed to open at 6am.
(doesn't that figure look creepy? hooded and ominous...like the grim reaper :P)
The store staff had all the big Boxing Day deals pulled out of their warehouse and set up along the aisles.
Its a good thing we got there early because when we found the speakers, there were only 2 pairs left, and right after I pulled aside our pair another person came and grabbed the last! Same for the receiver, they were all gone within 20 minutes. The lineups at the cash registers were super long but luckily because we were in the home audio section they had separate computers to ring up your purchases right in that department.
Spoils of war...
The rest of the day was spent at Eaton Centre mall...which was nice in the morning, but it got more and more crowded after lunch. In previous years I had never been bothered to wake up early, but I think I would wake up earlier in future just to avoid the crowds. Once there got to be too many people I just didn't feel motivated to shop anymore.
Some stores had lineups to get in too - like the Nike Store, Hollister, and Abercrombie and Fitch. In fact the lineups were so long at A&F they spanned a couple of stores. I guess the clearance sale there was a really great deal but still, I wouldn't have the patience to wait that long for clothes. Maybe if it was shoes or bags I would :)
Anyway I really didn't find anything I liked...My main goal was to find a pair of heels/pumps, and also a pair of comfortable low-heeled boots, but everything looked so ordinary and blah. It seems like I'm getting too picky as I get older. These were the only things that caught my eye:
- Zoya polishes in Lily and Harmonie 30% off from Trade Secrets
- Fresh Mangosteen set about 40% off at Sephora
- American Apparel Double U-neck dress in red, 20% off
- American Apparel Over the Knee socks 25% off
- American Apparel Knee high socks 25% off
Closer look at the Zoya polishes. I've wanted to try some ever since Audrie posted about them.
Contents of the Fresh Mangosteen set: Full size perfume, smaller sizes of the body lotion and soap.
I also bought some stuff from The Body Shop website. Originally I wanted to see the items in store before buying but they didn't have any left so I had to order online. At least the shipping isn't too bad, only $5 and all of the items were 50% off:
Brush roll
Travel makeup bag
Fragrance Atomizer
Aqua Lily Me Time giftset
Thats probably it for a while. I doubt I'd find anything in other malls since most stores are similar. There will be some other pre-Christmas hauls from Sephora and Adam Beauty coming up in future posts...
Friday, December 26, 2008
Fresh Mangosteen set on sale @ Sephora
Too tired to do a proper post...I've been up since 4.45am this morning for Boxing Day... Just wanted to mention to anyone who has been lemming after the Fresh Mangosteen fragrance (like me, lol) to check out Sephora at Eaton Centre. They have the Mangosteen box set slashed from CDN$114 to CDN$64!
The set includes the full size Mangosteen fragrance 100mL, and smaller sizes of the Mangosteen body lotion and soap. So its like getting the fragrance at a discount with the two other items as an extra bonus! This set isn't even on the Sephora website anymore so that must be why the store is clearing it out.
Besides that, they had some Stila lip glazes, lip glaze sticks, and other lipglosses on final sale as well (50% off). I was about to get one but decided not to in the end because they would still cost CDN$14, almost as much as a MAC lipgloss...
I have no idea what sale items they have at other Sephora locations in Toronto...but if anyone can let me know I'd appreciate it :)
Oh and do share your Boxing Day hauls! :D
The set includes the full size Mangosteen fragrance 100mL, and smaller sizes of the Mangosteen body lotion and soap. So its like getting the fragrance at a discount with the two other items as an extra bonus! This set isn't even on the Sephora website anymore so that must be why the store is clearing it out.
Besides that, they had some Stila lip glazes, lip glaze sticks, and other lipglosses on final sale as well (50% off). I was about to get one but decided not to in the end because they would still cost CDN$14, almost as much as a MAC lipgloss...
I have no idea what sale items they have at other Sephora locations in Toronto...but if anyone can let me know I'd appreciate it :)
Oh and do share your Boxing Day hauls! :D
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Happy Holidays!
Another Christmas eve is here...I worked today but we got a half day off! Went to the mall and got a last minute present before heading home.
The weather is so gloomy here for Christmas! It was really cold and snowy all weekend and then somehow today we got a lot of rain. Now all the clean white snow has turned into icky grey slush...oh well. Hopefully we'll get some more clean snow to cover it up soon!
By the way, Sephora added a few more things to their sale list. Now the new Nars eyeshadow palette is on sale for $45 down from $50, and their lipgloss set is also $10 cheaper. I wonder whats going to happen after Christmas...if they'll mark more stuff down.
Anyway have a wonderful holiday and eat lots of good food! Merry Christmas!
The weather is so gloomy here for Christmas! It was really cold and snowy all weekend and then somehow today we got a lot of rain. Now all the clean white snow has turned into icky grey slush...oh well. Hopefully we'll get some more clean snow to cover it up soon!
By the way, Sephora added a few more things to their sale list. Now the new Nars eyeshadow palette is on sale for $45 down from $50, and their lipgloss set is also $10 cheaper. I wonder whats going to happen after Christmas...if they'll mark more stuff down.
Anyway have a wonderful holiday and eat lots of good food! Merry Christmas!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
La Mer Fluid Tint
I finally caved early last month and bought the La Mer Fluid Tint due to the convincing reviews from Fei, Fuz, and Pink.
The saleslady said I would match the 02 Light so thats what I got. However I find it a tad too dark. I thought it being a tinted moisturizer it would blend in anyway but it doesn't really. Maybe I need to add some finishing powder on top to set it, as it may be oxidation that makes it go darker.
Besides that I find the shade too pink on my olive-yellow(?) complexion. Aside: I've noticed my skintone is extremely yellow! Almost all foundations I've tried turn out too pink on my face when compared with my neck :( I'm planning to get some yellow-tinted finishing powder from Silk Naturals to see if that helps.
Oh well. Anyway, the product comes in a handy tube so its sanitary and easy to apply on the go. (A pump would be even better but with this you can get every drop out). I liked that box came wrapped in plastic, so that you know it hasn't been opened or tampered with.
The product is somewhat thick and spreads nicely even on my skintype. Background on my skin: I never use tinted moisturizers or liquid foundations because they just don't spread evenly on the drier areas of my skin. Even Giorgio Armani's LSF doesn't work for me :( Until now the only thing that works is actually mineral foundation, because the powder smooths out the uneven areas. With La Mer though, its the first liquid coverage product that covers my skin without emphasizing the dry areas!
The coverage is sheer enough to look natural but much better than Laura Mercier's Tinted moisturizer which didn't do anything for me. It doesn't quite do the job for FOTDs, because of my ginormous t-zone pores, but for a quick natural look it works great.
Before
After
As you can see its not perfect coverage, you can still see the redness on my chin from old breakouts. However the redness and blotchiness around my cheeks are evened out. Pores are also minimized, though not completely.
Before
After
After some blush, eyeliner and mascara :P
The La Mer Tint does have drawbacks though. For instance, I find it tends to make my face a bit shiny. Maybe its just glowy and I'm not used to it, but in daylight it definitely looks a bit too shiny. Kinda obvious when you compare the neck and face area :/ Again, I probably need to try using some finishing powder on top to help with the shine and make it blend better with my skintone.
As for the SPF - this contains Avobenzone. I don't see any stabilizers like Octocrylene listed, so I don't think its photostable...I would apply a separate sunscreen under this if I wanted extra sun protection. If someone can tell me otherwise that'd be great, as I hate the fact it costs so much yet they couldn't be bothered to put proper sun protection in it.
Another thing I don't like is the heavy scent. It seems they went overboard with the fragrance when they formulated this product. The smell literally just hits you every time I use it. Good thing is after a while it fades away, or maybe I just stop noticing it.
The worst part of this product - the obscene Canadian price. Yes US $65 is expensive, but what about CAD$90*? Thats the difference being across the border makes :( . Buying this was really painful, so I'm definitely considering alternatives once this tube is done.
Overall
Great product but expensive. Buy only if you have drier skin and nothing else works for you, or if you have the cash to spare.
P.S. A very cheap tinted moisturizer I've tried is the Wet N Wild's version. I actually hated the colour match, it was way too pink/orange for me so it still sits in my traincase. Also it does contain mineral oil. However the few times I used it the pore coverage was simply amazing...I just wish they'd do more shades and replace the mineral oil.
The saleslady said I would match the 02 Light so thats what I got. However I find it a tad too dark. I thought it being a tinted moisturizer it would blend in anyway but it doesn't really. Maybe I need to add some finishing powder on top to set it, as it may be oxidation that makes it go darker.
Besides that I find the shade too pink on my olive-yellow(?) complexion. Aside: I've noticed my skintone is extremely yellow! Almost all foundations I've tried turn out too pink on my face when compared with my neck :( I'm planning to get some yellow-tinted finishing powder from Silk Naturals to see if that helps.
Oh well. Anyway, the product comes in a handy tube so its sanitary and easy to apply on the go. (A pump would be even better but with this you can get every drop out). I liked that box came wrapped in plastic, so that you know it hasn't been opened or tampered with.
The product is somewhat thick and spreads nicely even on my skintype. Background on my skin: I never use tinted moisturizers or liquid foundations because they just don't spread evenly on the drier areas of my skin. Even Giorgio Armani's LSF doesn't work for me :( Until now the only thing that works is actually mineral foundation, because the powder smooths out the uneven areas. With La Mer though, its the first liquid coverage product that covers my skin without emphasizing the dry areas!
The coverage is sheer enough to look natural but much better than Laura Mercier's Tinted moisturizer which didn't do anything for me. It doesn't quite do the job for FOTDs, because of my ginormous t-zone pores, but for a quick natural look it works great.
Before
After
As you can see its not perfect coverage, you can still see the redness on my chin from old breakouts. However the redness and blotchiness around my cheeks are evened out. Pores are also minimized, though not completely.
Before
After
After some blush, eyeliner and mascara :P
The La Mer Tint does have drawbacks though. For instance, I find it tends to make my face a bit shiny. Maybe its just glowy and I'm not used to it, but in daylight it definitely looks a bit too shiny. Kinda obvious when you compare the neck and face area :/ Again, I probably need to try using some finishing powder on top to help with the shine and make it blend better with my skintone.
As for the SPF - this contains Avobenzone. I don't see any stabilizers like Octocrylene listed, so I don't think its photostable...I would apply a separate sunscreen under this if I wanted extra sun protection. If someone can tell me otherwise that'd be great, as I hate the fact it costs so much yet they couldn't be bothered to put proper sun protection in it.
Another thing I don't like is the heavy scent. It seems they went overboard with the fragrance when they formulated this product. The smell literally just hits you every time I use it. Good thing is after a while it fades away, or maybe I just stop noticing it.
The worst part of this product - the obscene Canadian price. Yes US $65 is expensive, but what about CAD$90*? Thats the difference being across the border makes :( . Buying this was really painful, so I'm definitely considering alternatives once this tube is done.
Overall
Great product but expensive. Buy only if you have drier skin and nothing else works for you, or if you have the cash to spare.
P.S. A very cheap tinted moisturizer I've tried is the Wet N Wild's version. I actually hated the colour match, it was way too pink/orange for me so it still sits in my traincase. Also it does contain mineral oil. However the few times I used it the pore coverage was simply amazing...I just wish they'd do more shades and replace the mineral oil.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Review: Lancome Oscillation mascara
Lancome Oscillation mascara was an item that I received to review recently. This product has been out in the US for awhile but only just launched in Canada Dec 6th at The Bay locations, and Lancome Canada's website.
Product blurb:
The first vibrating powermascara by Lancôme.
Claims:
This revolutionary mascara provides 7000 oscillations per minute for ultimate lash transformation. Press the button and experience a breakthrough sensation in application. In one easy new gesture, let the vibrating brush combined with an exquisitely smooth formula wrap every lash up to 360 degrees.
Lashes will instantly appear ultimately extended, exceptionally separated, and virtually multiplied in number.
Comes in a plain black tube, with the signature Lancome flower in gold on the cap.
Brush head - the bristles remind me of CoverGirl's Lash Exact mascara.
This is the button on the brush handle that you have to hold down for the wand to vibrate.
The vibrations are very gentle so there's no chance of you hurting your lashes or eyes with it :D Also it only vibrates as long as your finger is depressing the button, let go of it and it stops. I found it rather ticklish on my eyes actually :P
If you're interested, here's the application video of the Lancome model applying it. Also shows the brush vibrating (which isn't as scary as it sounds!)
Results
On me, it gave my lashes length and some volume. The effect was slightly more dramatic than natural, but not the full out fake lashes look.
The results seem inconsistent though, as noted by Rasilla in her review. Somehow the first time I tried it (the pic above) everything worked great. But lately I've been having problems with clumps on the ends of my lashes :/
I think its because after a while I started actually following their instructions. According to the instructions, you don't have to wiggle the brush anymore. Just use short strokes since the vibrations are supposed to replace the wiggling motion.
I find that statement isn't true. Without wiggling the wand at the base, I still wind up with more product on the lash tips, resulting in clumps. The first time I used it and it worked, I was still wiggling the brush out of habit. So...don't follow the instructions. Just use it like you would any other mascara...
Pros
- Provides a good amount of length
- Provides moderate volume though nothing dramatic
- Brush is on the smaller side, making it easy to get corner lashes for small eyes
- Vibration does help dispense more product on lashes
Cons
- No waterproof version
- It flaked a bit for me after a long day
- Expensive at CAD$39 / US$34
- Vibrations don't completely replace the wiggling motion you normally have to do to dispense maximum product without clumpage.
Overall
Nice novelty product. Expensive for something that needs to be replaced frequently. Unfortunately I think it falls slightly short of its hype.
Edit: I added the instructions that came with product at a reader's request:
Product blurb:
The first vibrating powermascara by Lancôme.
Claims:
This revolutionary mascara provides 7000 oscillations per minute for ultimate lash transformation. Press the button and experience a breakthrough sensation in application. In one easy new gesture, let the vibrating brush combined with an exquisitely smooth formula wrap every lash up to 360 degrees.
Lashes will instantly appear ultimately extended, exceptionally separated, and virtually multiplied in number.
Comes in a plain black tube, with the signature Lancome flower in gold on the cap.
Brush head - the bristles remind me of CoverGirl's Lash Exact mascara.
This is the button on the brush handle that you have to hold down for the wand to vibrate.
The vibrations are very gentle so there's no chance of you hurting your lashes or eyes with it :D Also it only vibrates as long as your finger is depressing the button, let go of it and it stops. I found it rather ticklish on my eyes actually :P
If you're interested, here's the application video of the Lancome model applying it. Also shows the brush vibrating (which isn't as scary as it sounds!)
Results
On me, it gave my lashes length and some volume. The effect was slightly more dramatic than natural, but not the full out fake lashes look.
The results seem inconsistent though, as noted by Rasilla in her review. Somehow the first time I tried it (the pic above) everything worked great. But lately I've been having problems with clumps on the ends of my lashes :/
I think its because after a while I started actually following their instructions. According to the instructions, you don't have to wiggle the brush anymore. Just use short strokes since the vibrations are supposed to replace the wiggling motion.
I find that statement isn't true. Without wiggling the wand at the base, I still wind up with more product on the lash tips, resulting in clumps. The first time I used it and it worked, I was still wiggling the brush out of habit. So...don't follow the instructions. Just use it like you would any other mascara...
Pros
- Provides a good amount of length
- Provides moderate volume though nothing dramatic
- Brush is on the smaller side, making it easy to get corner lashes for small eyes
- Vibration does help dispense more product on lashes
Cons
- No waterproof version
- It flaked a bit for me after a long day
- Expensive at CAD$39 / US$34
- Vibrations don't completely replace the wiggling motion you normally have to do to dispense maximum product without clumpage.
Overall
Nice novelty product. Expensive for something that needs to be replaced frequently. Unfortunately I think it falls slightly short of its hype.
Edit: I added the instructions that came with product at a reader's request:
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Nars at Sephora, Lorac Snake Charmer palette
So I finally bought my third Lorac palette last month. I already own two Lorac palettes, the Showstopper and the Greatest Hits CD2 so I had been lemming this one for a while.
Since it was only available online I ordered Nars Aqua Gel Hydrator and Givenchy's Perfect Again concealer palette to go with it:
By the way...I discovered that some Nars items are sold to Canadians at the US price :)
I was quite upset a while ago when the Nars counter at The Bay told me the Aqua Gel Hydrator had a Canadian retail price of CAD$115. The US price is $76, and even with the weak Canadian dollar $115 is way too much of a mark up.
However I found that on Sephora.com, if you add Aqua Gel Hydrator to your cart and checkout, they only charge you CAD$75.24. They didn't charge me any duties on it either!
Same goes for Nars Mud Mask. It costs US$45 and probably more at The Bay Canada. However, when you do Canadian checkout at Sephora.com they'll only charge you CAD$44.55! How awesome is that :) So before you buy any Nars from The Bay, check Sephora's online pricing first.
It seems to work mainly with Nars products that aren't carried in Sephora Canada stores. When I tried this with Nars Vitamin Serum US$75 (which is sold in Sephora stores), it'll come up as CAD$91.
***
Review on the Lorac Snake Charmer palette
This was supposed to be a limited edition release last year, but somehow it came back again and has been available on Sephora.com and Lorac.com for a long time. Not so limited after all...
The palette itself has a snakeskin pattern and a red jewel in the centre surrounded by metal studs. Honestly I find it just tacky, especially if you compare it to the gorgeous beaded cover that the Showstopper palette has.
Colours
The colours are kinda washed out in the labelled pic so I took another one - this shows the actual colours more accurately:
Swatches
Enchanting Ivory: Shimmery off white colour.
Mystical Gold: Champagne-y gold. I have to pack it on for it to show
Charming Copper: It photographs a bit cooler than it actually is. Its actually a bit warmer in colour.
Royal Brown: Dark brown
Hypnotically Peach: Nicely pigmented peach blush. You do have to use a light hand to get a natural look, else it might be too orange.
These colours are more toned down and less shimmery compared with the Showstopper palette.
EOTD
Overall
Great palette for the price. Packaging is a bit tacky but shades are still great.
You'll like this if you:
- are looking for a neutral palette suitable for day / work
- want a travel-friendly palette (comes with a mirror)
- already tried Lorac shadows and love them
You won't like this if you:
- already own the Croc palette (similar neutral, safe shades)
- hate tacky packaging
By the way I've heard this is on sale at Sephora for US$20 (thanks May!). I believe its also on sale on the Lorac website but it'll probably be easier for you to get free shipping (and an extra 8% off at Ebates) if you go through Sephora.
Sadly for Canadians the discount doesn't apply when you click on Canadian checkout (I have no idea why, since they've fixed that same problem with the other sale items).
FYI Sephora is having a sale on several holiday sets and all Vincent Longo and Pop Beauty! I checked and it seems that most of these discounts do apply to Canadian checkout (it'll be the % off the Canadian retail price).
Since it was only available online I ordered Nars Aqua Gel Hydrator and Givenchy's Perfect Again concealer palette to go with it:
By the way...I discovered that some Nars items are sold to Canadians at the US price :)
I was quite upset a while ago when the Nars counter at The Bay told me the Aqua Gel Hydrator had a Canadian retail price of CAD$115. The US price is $76, and even with the weak Canadian dollar $115 is way too much of a mark up.
However I found that on Sephora.com, if you add Aqua Gel Hydrator to your cart and checkout, they only charge you CAD$75.24. They didn't charge me any duties on it either!
Same goes for Nars Mud Mask. It costs US$45 and probably more at The Bay Canada. However, when you do Canadian checkout at Sephora.com they'll only charge you CAD$44.55! How awesome is that :) So before you buy any Nars from The Bay, check Sephora's online pricing first.
It seems to work mainly with Nars products that aren't carried in Sephora Canada stores. When I tried this with Nars Vitamin Serum US$75 (which is sold in Sephora stores), it'll come up as CAD$91.
***
Review on the Lorac Snake Charmer palette
This was supposed to be a limited edition release last year, but somehow it came back again and has been available on Sephora.com and Lorac.com for a long time. Not so limited after all...
The palette itself has a snakeskin pattern and a red jewel in the centre surrounded by metal studs. Honestly I find it just tacky, especially if you compare it to the gorgeous beaded cover that the Showstopper palette has.
Colours
The colours are kinda washed out in the labelled pic so I took another one - this shows the actual colours more accurately:
Swatches
Enchanting Ivory: Shimmery off white colour.
Mystical Gold: Champagne-y gold. I have to pack it on for it to show
Charming Copper: It photographs a bit cooler than it actually is. Its actually a bit warmer in colour.
Royal Brown: Dark brown
Hypnotically Peach: Nicely pigmented peach blush. You do have to use a light hand to get a natural look, else it might be too orange.
These colours are more toned down and less shimmery compared with the Showstopper palette.
EOTD
Overall
Great palette for the price. Packaging is a bit tacky but shades are still great.
You'll like this if you:
- are looking for a neutral palette suitable for day / work
- want a travel-friendly palette (comes with a mirror)
- already tried Lorac shadows and love them
You won't like this if you:
- already own the Croc palette (similar neutral, safe shades)
- hate tacky packaging
By the way I've heard this is on sale at Sephora for US$20 (thanks May!). I believe its also on sale on the Lorac website but it'll probably be easier for you to get free shipping (and an extra 8% off at Ebates) if you go through Sephora.
Sadly for Canadians the discount doesn't apply when you click on Canadian checkout (I have no idea why, since they've fixed that same problem with the other sale items).
FYI Sephora is having a sale on several holiday sets and all Vincent Longo and Pop Beauty! I checked and it seems that most of these discounts do apply to Canadian checkout (it'll be the % off the Canadian retail price).
Quick look at Gel de La Mer
I picked up a sample of Gel de la Mer a couple months ago to try as they were out of the Creme. Even the sample jars are quite nice, like minature versions of the full size.
The gel has a light ocean-ish fragrance similar to that of the Radiant Infusion. I'm guessing most of La Mer's stuff probably has the same fragrance. The La Mer Tint has a much stronger scent I find...which I'll post a review on separately.
The gel is light and refreshing, similar to other gel-type moisturizers. In terms of feel, it has a much lighter feel than Clinique's Moisture Surge Gel (which feels thicker). Gel de La Mer also sinks in faster than the Clinique one. When comparing the two, I noticed Clinique's would leave a slightly sticky residue behind, while La Mer leaves a smooth feeling behind.
Some visual comparisons - they look pretty similar in terms of texture. Added Nars Aqua Gel Hydrator in there because it was lying around...
Moisturizing properties - it doesn't moisturize my combination skin enough, which gets dry and flakey in winter. It would be perfect for summer I think, although I may still need some extra moisturizer on drier areas like my cheeks. Very similar to Clinique's Moisture Surge in this area (see my review if you missed it).
Other benefits - I couldn't tell if the gel actually improved my skin because the sample jar was too small. It'd probably take a month to tell if there was any benefits. Unfortunately that amount you see gone was used up in two weeks, maybe because I have drier skin.
Overall
Nice lightweight texture, great for normal to oily skins. However for what it costs, I'd say go for Clinique's Moisture Surge gel instead, they both ended up being for about the same, but Clinique is cheaper and fragrance-free. I still prefer Lancome's Aqua Fusion gel cream over those two as it moisturizes my combination-dry skin better.
The gel has a light ocean-ish fragrance similar to that of the Radiant Infusion. I'm guessing most of La Mer's stuff probably has the same fragrance. The La Mer Tint has a much stronger scent I find...which I'll post a review on separately.
The gel is light and refreshing, similar to other gel-type moisturizers. In terms of feel, it has a much lighter feel than Clinique's Moisture Surge Gel (which feels thicker). Gel de La Mer also sinks in faster than the Clinique one. When comparing the two, I noticed Clinique's would leave a slightly sticky residue behind, while La Mer leaves a smooth feeling behind.
Some visual comparisons - they look pretty similar in terms of texture. Added Nars Aqua Gel Hydrator in there because it was lying around...
Moisturizing properties - it doesn't moisturize my combination skin enough, which gets dry and flakey in winter. It would be perfect for summer I think, although I may still need some extra moisturizer on drier areas like my cheeks. Very similar to Clinique's Moisture Surge in this area (see my review if you missed it).
Other benefits - I couldn't tell if the gel actually improved my skin because the sample jar was too small. It'd probably take a month to tell if there was any benefits. Unfortunately that amount you see gone was used up in two weeks, maybe because I have drier skin.
Overall
Nice lightweight texture, great for normal to oily skins. However for what it costs, I'd say go for Clinique's Moisture Surge gel instead, they both ended up being for about the same, but Clinique is cheaper and fragrance-free. I still prefer Lancome's Aqua Fusion gel cream over those two as it moisturizes my combination-dry skin better.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Review: Calvin Klein Secret Obsession
Quick review of CK Secret Obsession, of which I received a bottle to try a while ago. It comes in a large brown box, and the bottle itself feels quite hefty and luxurious.
Its hard to photograph but the bottle is actually a genie shaped bronze tinted bottle:
Notes
Exotic Plum, Mace, Rose de Damas, Egyptian Jasmine, French Orange Flower, Spicy Orchid, Ylang, Tuberose, Moroccan Cedarwood, Wormwood, Cashmere Woods, Burnt Amber, Madagascan Vanilla, Australian Sandalwood, Florentine Orris Root (source)
My impression
The top notes smell quite pleasant when sprayed on a tester stick, however when I actually sprayed it on myself I didn't like it. On me it reminded me of older ladies perfume, a very vanilla-amber-musky type of scent. Once it settled down though the scent was more tolerable. It would make a great exotic perfume for a night out, but the smell was definitely too strong for daytime or office wear. (I only used one spritz too!)
Packaging wise the bottle looks sophisticated and elegant, something that would appeal to all women (except maybe the under 20 category).
A side note
One of the things that came up when I googled Calvin Klein Secret Obsession was a mention of the ad starring Eva Mendes that was banned from TV. If you are curious (and not easily offended you can see it on the Secret Obsession website here, or even Youtube if you prefer). I thought the ad was very well done as it completely embodied what this fragrance stood for - tantalizing, forbidden, and sensual. Just a tad too racy for TV though.
Overall
It makes a great fragrance for a night out (or a hot date :P). Just make sure your friends / date aren't sensitive to perfumes as this was rather strong. This one's more of a special occasion splurge than a wearable everyday perfume.
Its hard to photograph but the bottle is actually a genie shaped bronze tinted bottle:
Notes
Exotic Plum, Mace, Rose de Damas, Egyptian Jasmine, French Orange Flower, Spicy Orchid, Ylang, Tuberose, Moroccan Cedarwood, Wormwood, Cashmere Woods, Burnt Amber, Madagascan Vanilla, Australian Sandalwood, Florentine Orris Root (source)
My impression
The top notes smell quite pleasant when sprayed on a tester stick, however when I actually sprayed it on myself I didn't like it. On me it reminded me of older ladies perfume, a very vanilla-amber-musky type of scent. Once it settled down though the scent was more tolerable. It would make a great exotic perfume for a night out, but the smell was definitely too strong for daytime or office wear. (I only used one spritz too!)
Packaging wise the bottle looks sophisticated and elegant, something that would appeal to all women (except maybe the under 20 category).
A side note
One of the things that came up when I googled Calvin Klein Secret Obsession was a mention of the ad starring Eva Mendes that was banned from TV. If you are curious (and not easily offended you can see it on the Secret Obsession website here, or even Youtube if you prefer). I thought the ad was very well done as it completely embodied what this fragrance stood for - tantalizing, forbidden, and sensual. Just a tad too racy for TV though.
Overall
It makes a great fragrance for a night out (or a hot date :P). Just make sure your friends / date aren't sensitive to perfumes as this was rather strong. This one's more of a special occasion splurge than a wearable everyday perfume.
25% off at Holt Renfrew, Dec 20th only
* a Canadian post*
Holt Renfrew is having a one-day sale, tomorrow only, with 25% off regular priced merchandise!
Unfortunately this doesn't include cosmetics, fragrances, or Chanel products. I'm not sure if it includes bags as well - the exceptions aren't very clear but call up the store before you go.
Happy Shopping!
P.S. If you successfully apply for a Holt Renfrew American Express card you get 10% off your first purchase (again, not including cosmetics/fragrances). Its probably too late to do that for tomorrow but might be useful for any future splurges :)
Holt Renfrew is having a one-day sale, tomorrow only, with 25% off regular priced merchandise!
Unfortunately this doesn't include cosmetics, fragrances, or Chanel products. I'm not sure if it includes bags as well - the exceptions aren't very clear but call up the store before you go.
Happy Shopping!
P.S. If you successfully apply for a Holt Renfrew American Express card you get 10% off your first purchase (again, not including cosmetics/fragrances). Its probably too late to do that for tomorrow but might be useful for any future splurges :)
Sunday, December 14, 2008
MAC Holiday sets 25% off
*Update* In reply to Jen - Nope you don't need a code! Just go to the store or fill up your cart online! Hurry though because I called a couple of locations and they were sold out of what I wanted :( Boo. I don't do online because I hate UPS and thats what MAC uses.
*Update 2* Rasilla - They do ship from within Canada so no duty, but with UPS still. The first and only time I ordered was last summer though so I don't know if they have changed carriers.
Maybe I missed this...I haven't visited the MAC website in a while but they're offering 25% off their Holiday sets!
That means the palettes, brush sets, lip bags, lipglass sets and pigment sets are all on sale. Excludes the colour collection. They also have free shipping at the moment to all US and Canadian addresses.
Now I wish I had waited to buy those pigment sets....Sigh. That also explains why the lipglass sets were all sold out at Eaton Centre's MAC store today.
*Update 2* Rasilla - They do ship from within Canada so no duty, but with UPS still. The first and only time I ordered was last summer though so I don't know if they have changed carriers.
Maybe I missed this...I haven't visited the MAC website in a while but they're offering 25% off their Holiday sets!
That means the palettes, brush sets, lip bags, lipglass sets and pigment sets are all on sale. Excludes the colour collection. They also have free shipping at the moment to all US and Canadian addresses.
Now I wish I had waited to buy those pigment sets....Sigh. That also explains why the lipglass sets were all sold out at Eaton Centre's MAC store today.
Review: L'oreal Double Extension Beauty Tubes mascara
I was asked a few weeks ago to test and review the L'oreal Beauty Tubes mascara. According to the product info on it, its the type of mascara that wraps around your lashes forming tubes that make it resistant to smudging. This product is already available in Europe and is just being launched in Canada. I saw it in a Loblaws Superstore last week but haven't seen it in all drugstores yet.
The product is a two sided mascara: One side is the base, which is white
The other side is the mascara itself. This side has a larger than usual brush, its probably better suited for people with longer lashes and larger eyes.
Its quite good at lengthening and separating lashes.
However the added effect of both the base and mascara tends to weigh down my lashes. Compare this pic with the one above and you should see what I mean...
Also when I'm applying it, the product does clump at the ends so I had to use my finger to sorta brush off the clumps while they were still wet. That annoyed me.
Ease of removal is the best aspect of this mascara - it comes off as little tubes once you gently rub your lashes with warm water.
Now you probably already thought this sounds exactly like Blinc mascara! Thats what I thought too, which is why I was excited to compare both and hopefully find this would be a cheaper alternative to Blinc.
You can tell it loses in the packaging department...but thats probably because of the price difference.
Comparing the brush sizes - see how much larger the L'oreal brush is? That could be a good thing for people with longer lashes, but with my short asian lashes the L'oreal brush is hard to manipulate.
Comparisons:
Blinc
L'oreal
Its probably hard to see from the pictures but Blinc provides volume and length, while L'oreal provides only length. I found that surprising since I was using Blinc without any base while L'oreal has the extra white base.
To its credit, the L'oreal mascara does separate lashes better than Blinc. See below how Blinc brush tends to make lashes more spiky.
Blinc
L'oreal
After comparing the two products, I would say the main failing of the L'oreal mascara is the brush. The base brush is a regular size and works wonderfully at dispensing product. However the mascara brush is too large, so its hard to manipulate the brush enough to catch corner lashes (which are already covered with white base). As a result there are some lashes where the white base still isn't covered by the mascara.
The bristles of the mascara brush are too fine to pick up enough product. As a result its hard to layer on enough mascara to completely coat over the white base. Also the fine bristles brush off too much of the base and cancel out any volumizing effect the base would have.
Overall
Price: 3/5 Its still pricey for a drugstore brand at CAD$13.49
Packaging: 2.5/5
Effectiveness: 3/5
Would purchase: No. If they improved the mascara brush then yes. Otherwise I am the type that would rather pay more for the ease of application that Blinc offers.
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