Archives 2022

“What’s in my makeup bag” is a popular youtube / blog topic, it’s fascinating to see what other people find to be so vital that they need to carry it with them in any way times.

Here’s the makeup bag I carry in my purse:

It’s an Inglot bag I got as a purchase with purchase for $5 at the now defunct Inglot store in Montreal. It’s made of strong nylon, quite similar to the MAC Softsac.

What’s inside – it’s nothing exciting:
I just don’t touch up my makeup all that much during the course of the day. My crucial priorities are: hydrating my lips, and ensuring my skin looks acceptable throughout the day.  That’s it, really.

Here’s a closer look at each item:

Anna Sui face Colour Brush $48 (select Bay and buyers drug Mart appeal boutique stores) – it’s a pricey item but so worth it in my opinion.  The brush twists up rather than pushes up, so there’s control over how fluffy or dense I want the brush.  The casing is made of metal, not plastic, so it can stand up to a bit of abuse.  The bristles are of natural hair (goat, I think), are soft and pick up a good amount of product (and look at the girly pink tipped bristles!) I’m considering getting a back-up.

Caudalie Lip Conditioner $12 for 4.5g (Sephora)– usually I use Dr. Hauschka’s Lip care Stick but this was included in a kit.  It’s respectable but I still like the Dr. Hauschka – I’ll go back to that once I’m finished this one.  I like these types of tube lip balms during the day time – they’re hygienic, hydrating but don’t add too much shine to my lips.

Prestige waterproof eyeliner in Suede $6USD (drugstores – I don’t think Prestige is available in Canada anymore, it used to be at Rexall) –  I tossed this little pencil nubbin as insurance during allergy season, in case the liner on my lower lash line rubs off.  I hardly ever reach for this (even though it’s a good product).

Shiseido Corrector Pencil in medium $24 for 1.4g (department and select Shoppers drug Mart appeal boutique and Rexall stores) – this helpful pencil concealer is terrific for in-depth spot concealing on the go or lining around the lips, or for the waterline (for that awake look).

KATE Stick Concealer in natural beige $12 for 3.1g (available online – I gotten mine on ebay.ca) – I pointed out this item in my best of 2014 discoveries – it’s a terrific touch up concealer considering that it doesn’t cling to dry skin and doesn’t look cakey if applied on top of existing makeup.

BECCA Boudoir Skin Mineral Powder in Rapture $10 for 7g (I got this at Winners – the regular price was $48. This particular item is discontinued and its replacement is the Perfect Skin Mineral Powder Foundation) – this has a sheer luminizing finish similar to that of MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural. I use this powder daily to touch up my skin around midday, dusting this on with the Anna Sui brush. This shade is slightly too dark for me but considering that it’s so sheer, I can get away with it. I would be the shade “Nude” in the new powder.

Anna Sui Lip Rouge jar in 001 $24 for 3.5g (select Bay and buyers drug Mart appeal boutique stores) – this lip gloss appears clear in the pot but changes to varying shades of pink once it comes in contact with body heat, depending on how hot you are (*fans self*). It’s gimmicky like mood rings but I really take pleasure in the flush it gives my lips – and the balm is quite moisturizing, to boot.

I also carry around a travel-sized tube of Kibio Ki-Creme (sadly this brand is now discontinued) which I really like for getting rid of dry flaky skin around my nose (especially if I have been blowing my nose).  It adds moisture without greasiness.

I do carry in my purse, separate from this makeup bag, my lipstick or lip gloss du jour – it’s a crapshoot if I even remember to reapply during the day though!

What do you carrying in your makeup bag?

Share this:
Share

Click to email this to a pal (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)

Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Like this:
Like Loading…

Related

Back-up worthy ItemsAfter being burned one too lots of times with discontinued or limited edition items that I LOVE, I made a decision to take matters into my own hands and purchased back-ups of certain products for insurance purposes.  Here are some items I have unopened in my stash: Anna Sui Dolly girl Lipstick in…
June 15, 2015In “Beauty”

Road trip skincare and makeup bagStarting this Friday, I’ll be on a road trip!  We’ll be heading to northern parts of our province, also known as “cottage country” (don’t let the word “cottage” deceive you, they have multi-million dollar homes that are owned by Hollywood celebs), and then heading to Ottawa.  We’ll be staying mostly…
July 6, 2015In “Beauty”

Travel makeup and Skincare: CruisingI’m going on a Mediterranean cruise coming up this week and we’ll be gone for 10 days. 😀 I want to pack incredibly light for this trip considering that it’ll be fairly casual, and considering that we’re going to warm places, I don’t anticipate wanting to wear too much makeup. and I’ve just…
September 14, 2016In “Beauty”

I was double identified for this Dragon’s loyalty Award!  I was nominated by StyledWithJoy and Plus+Beauty – 2 of my a lot of much-loved blogs to read! thanks ladies, it’s always the highlight of my day when I get to interact with you online!

“The Dragon’s loyalty award is an award for the devoted fan/commenter, whether the recipient is a fellow blogger or just someone who follows and comments regularly.” 

The Rules:

Display the award certificate on your website

Announce your win with a post and link to whoever presented your award

Present 15 awards to deserving bloggers

Drop them a comment to idea them off after you’ve linked them in the post

Post 7 interesting things about yourself

7 interesting things about me:

1. I really love the smell of pipe tobacco – it’s a sweet earthy scent that makes me want to relaxing up against the owner of that pipe, but normally it’s some old man!

2. I rarely match my nail polish to my toe polish – I’m normally service on the fingers and party on the toes  Speaking of party, has any individual seen these Bootie Babe nail polishes?  I need at least one bottle in my life.

3. I’m horrible with directions. I still have to use the the mnemonic “Never eat Shredded Wheat” to help orient myself.

4. I have 28 teeth – 14 up top and 14 lower. I googled “How lots of teeth must an adult human have” and the answer is 32.  I had a couple of “fangs” removed from the lower jaw due to overcrowding, and I think my top molars were removed when I got my wisdom teeth pulled too (go ahead, count your teeth with your tongue ideal now, I just did that like a sexy beast – how lots of teeth do you have?)

5. I do not comb my hair frequently (it’s about carry blade length ideal now).  I will often run a large tooth comb that I keep in the shower but that’s like maybe once every other month…

6. I really want to try coloured contact lenses (not those circle lenses) to change my boring dark brown eyes into something a lot more interesting like hazel, or grey – something subtle like this:

I’ve been too chicken to try them because I’m anxious I’ll damage my eyes somehow considering that I have no need for them.  I know they’re available in non-prescription, but I’m anxious I’ll scratch my cornea or something.

7. I love the shows Food Factory and how It’s Made – I’m always surprised how not automated a lot of the manufacturing process are!  I especially love the episodes that feature sweet treats!

I won’t be nominating anyone am only nominating mirrorthelove and Infinitely awkward for this considering that a lot of of you seem to have already received this award! But, if any of you want to make a post providing 7 interesting things about yourself, I’d love to read them!

* about the header image: When I first saw this award, I right away thought of the movie “Pete’s Dragon” – apparently they’re doing a remake of it to be released next year!

Share this:
Share

Click to email this to a pal (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)

Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Like this:
Like Loading…

Related

The versatile blogger award 2I was identified for this a while ago by Mecia of notquitelondon but my post was languishing in my draft folder, until I was identified again recently by A girl With Pink Cheeks which prompted me to post this already!  Thank you both for tagging me – I’ve took pleasure in getting to know…
June 7, 2015In “Beauty”

Versatile award & Premio Dardos AwardI was double identified by happiness of Styled with happiness and Crystal of nerdylibrariangirl for this award mash-up!  Both blogs are my must-reads and they’ve supplied lots of support on my blog!  Thank you very much! Premio Dardos is Spanish for “Prize Darts” and is an award in recognition of cultural,…
April 10, 2015In “Beauty”

Blogger recognition award and 250 Days of No-BuyToday marks my 250 Days of No-Buy! 😀 fun fact: As a Mandarin slang term, the number “250” (二百五 èrbǎiwǔ) is an insult indicating “stupid person” or “simpleton”. 😕 I was nominated sextuply (yes that’s the word) recently for the blogger recognition award – first by Katie of Plus+Beauty, secondly by Chris of…
September 26, 2015In “Beauty”

considering that the weather is turning a bit cooler, I thought I’d finally wear this polish which I gotten in January during one of my crazy no-holds-barred hauls:

Steel Grey caught my eye because of its greige tone and golden shimmer.

And let’s be frank, that Burberry packaging suckers me in every time.

The full name of this polish is Burberry icon Colour nail Polish.  I’m shocked that this isn’t called a nail Varnish or Nail Lacquer considering that that’s what all the high-end brands prefer… nail polish is so, pedestrian.

The outer cap removes to reveal a plastic cap that’s much much easier to handle.

The colour is quite eye catching in the bottle – the base is a neutral grey, but it is warmed up by a golden shimmer so the overall colour registers as an olive-y grey.

The formula is a bit goopy but I didn’t experience issues with the formula. It is nearly a one coater.

A second coat evened out everything, but where did the shimmer go?!!

This polish reeled me in with the fine golden shimmers as evident in the bottle. part of my brain already knew that the shimmer wouldn’t register as strongly on the nails but I still had to try it for myself.

Yup, the shimmer is non-existent on the nails. I really must listen to my brain more, huh.

The hidden shimmers are somewhat evident under certain lights.

Despite the case of the missing shimmers, it’s still a very elegant looking polish.  My coworkers gushed over how this colour looked on me. I felt the colour was just ok – nothing extremely unique.

Similar to fivezero, I found the brush to be lacking. The blunt shape isn’t the best to nestle against the nail bed. The width was also problematic – I had to turn the brush sideways to apply to my pinkie fingers.  Also, I found the nylon material Burberry used to create the brush to be a bit stiff and dragged the polish slightly during application.

And to add insult to injury, I experienced significant chipping.

The random item today is a mechanical pencil that I picked up in an Asian stationary store nearby.

It has a poop-shaped topper and reads:

Oh you!*

This polish is made in Luxembourg, which is apparently a hub for nail polish manufacturing now.

This costs C$23 for 8ml.  This bottle nearly feels like a tiny nail polish rather than a full sized bottle – it’s quite deceptive with the big metal cap on. This is the only Burberry nail polish I own, and I’m unlikely to get another unless they revamp the brush and give me a lot more than 8ml! given there are so lots of nail polish options out there, both high-end and lower-end – I’m not too sad about not getting a lot more Burberry polishes.

Do you have any higher end branded nail polishes? Did they deliver on expectations?

*  And “crazy shit” is also quite apropos for today. This isn’t a political blog, but I want to wish all my American readers a good election Day. Please go out to vote!  I truly hope everything will turn out well.

Share this:
Share

Click to email this to a pal (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)

Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Like this:
Like Loading…

Related

Teeez nail Lacquer in Melted CopperThis is unusual for me, this polish is the newest in my collection and I decided to wear it nearly ideal away. normally polishes languish in my untrieds pile for months and months… but this is just so different and stunning in its bottle that I had to get it on…
May 15, 2016In “Beauty”

The Body shop nail polish in got the BluesLast week I wore The Body shop Colour Crush nail polish in #620 got the Blues, which I got during the makeup 50% off sale back in May. This usually retails for $8 for a 6.8ml bottle. I’ve done a review on the Colour Crush nail polishes before, as one…
August 9, 2016In “Beauty”

CoverGirl Being BlondeFinally, a mani on a Monday. An actual Mani Monday! 😛 This is the nail polish that was one of my much-loved nail polish discoveries of 2016 and I even made the bold claim that it’s the best formula I’ve tried all year – it is: CoverGirl Outlast stay dazzling nail Gloss in #95…
March 20, 2017In “Beauty”

I believed I’d evaluation this clean sooner rather than later considering that it is a restricted edition item, as well as on Sephora’s site, it shows a couple of the styles (including this one) as “only a few left”.  So if any individual was thinking about getting one of these, now is the time!

As you may recall, I bought mine on total impulse upon seeing the screen at the front of the store in Sephora’s “Hot Now” section.  There are 5 brushes in this collection (ranging in cost between $38 – $68) which are described in detail on Sephora’s site so I won’t rehash it here.

I’m focusing on the Wedge Sloping Powder (Kusabi) clean which is explained on Sephora as: A big angled powder clean with a brand-new shape established by the Sephora pro team for the self-application of powder, bronzer, or for neck shading.

The very first thing you’ll notice about the clean is the packaging, each private clean is housed it a unique red textured cardboard box, extremely similar to exactly how Oriental calligraphy brushes are stored.

Since this is a partnership between famed Japanese clean brand Hakuhodo (side note: not sure why Sephora hyphenated “Hakuho-do”? Hakuhodo themselves don’t hyphenate) as well as Sephora, the styling pays homage to the source.

The second function of the clean is that it has cherry red lacquered handle:

And the ferrule is a matte black.  The pairing of the shiny red with the matte black looks extremely sleek.

I selected this clean shape since it’s special to my collection – it has a squared off head with a front sloping angle rather than a side sloping cut (think angled contour brush).  Since it has a much broader ordinary for the slope, it would – theoretically – supply a softer blend that covers a larger area.

The clean head is a square, measuring 4.2 x 4.2 cm at the widest as well as greatest points. The hand feel of the clean is quite soft, as well as the bristles are densely packed.

I checked this clean over a week, very first utilizing it with my Shiseido Sun security Compact foundation SPF35 which I dust on lightly as my setting powder:

The bristles had a great amount of flex as well as firmness, however, I discovered the clean to drag a bit over my face.  I had to revise my application method – instead of sweeping the clean over my face, I utilized a lot more of a patting motion.  I checked the clean with other powder products and, in the end, I discovered this clean much better fit for bronzing as well as patting on lightly pigmented blushes (since the clean was so dense, medium or extremely pigmented blushes would apply as well strongly).  It’s much better for patting colour on targeted areas like bronzer and blush rather than sweeping deal with powder around – because of the dragging problem I experienced.  I haven’t tried this with liquid products but I checked out on Temptalia that it’s rather streaky.  Overall, I was a bit underwhelmed by this brush.

Comparison of the Kusabi clean to others in my collection which are similar:

L to R: Real methods Kabuki Brush, hakuho-do + SEPHORA pro Kusabi Brush, Inglot 1SS Powder brush, Smashbox blush clean #16 (I generally included this because it has a red lacquer manage too)

In terms of shape as well as function, surprisingly the RT Kabuki clean is the most similar as it has a sloping head as well as synthetic bristles as well. I really like the RT clean much better since it doesn’t drag on the skin as well as blends powders smoothly.  In fact, I like all of the other brushes shown in the comparison much better than the Kubasi!

I feel this partnership between Hakuhodo as well as Sephora did not draw out the very best of both brands – the clean head shape was established by Sephora pro team as noted in the product description, as well as the synthetic bristles are likely also Sephora influenced.  Which leaves what part of the clean as Hakuhodo’s contribution?  Just the handle, the packaging as well as the actual manufacturing?  If I was doing a partnership with a brand understood for their soft elegant brushes, wouldn’t I want to bring that to the final product? They truly must have gone with natural haired bristles for this collection, in my opinion.  The clean manage style as well as presentation are top-notch, however type over function doesn’t cut it in my books.  This was my very first foray into Hakuhodo brushes, however I wouldn’t let this experience cloud my viewpoint of the brand considering that I’d state this was a 80/20 partnership with a heavy Sephora influence.

Lastly, I should note that while I was photographing the brush, I inadvertently scraped the manage idea against a piece of white paper, as well as the red lacquer paint made a mark on the paper like a pencil crayon would. I inspected the clean manage as well as it didn’t look worn away, however I suspect that over time, the red lacquer will wear off.  I tried scraping my Smashbox clean manage (the only other brand with a red lacquered handled clean I own) against the paper as well as it left absolutely no red mark.

Pros:
• beautifully presented
• special clean shape
• great for applying powder bronzer / light pigment blush
• does not shed
• laundries cleanly
• made in Japan

Cons:
• overpriced of what it is
• drags on the face
• not extremely great at multi-tasking as claimed

Bottom line: a great looking clean however I wouldn’t rush out to get it

Stash worthiness: 6/10

Have you seen these brushes at Sephora? Did you pick up one?

Share this:
Share

Click to email this to a buddy (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)

Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Like this:
Like Loading…

Related

Foundation Application techniques (+ Tools)It’s been great reading everyone’s joyful holiday articles however this year I just don’t seem to have anything Christmas-y to contribute. I feel like I’ve covered all the Christmas topics in years past – if you’re wanting some joyful articles from me, have a checked out with my Blogmas articles from…
December 20, 2017In “Beauty”

Surratt Artistique Cheek clean – evaluation as well as ComparisonI pointed out in my holy Grail appeal products publish that I haven’t done lots of clean evaluations so it’s time to treatment that. After rather a delayed gratification (I very first spied this clean in may of 2016, when polished as well as influenced pertained to Toronto for a go to as well as we pawed at…
February 20, 2018In “Beauty”

Hauluary 2018 – on the internet OrdersThese are an accumulation of on the internet orders from considering that late December up until now… Some parcels were shipped from regional sources while others came all the method from China as well as Japan. 🙂 Well.ca • CoverGirl Outlast stay magnificent 3-in-1 foundation in 932 nude beige – $15.49 $9.06 • Cake Milk Made…
February 22, 2018In “Beauty”

Now for something entirely different!  I pointed out in my intro post to this blog that I dabble in crafts – generally knitting and some jewellery making.  So I was pretty stoked when a new Michaels store opened up in downtown Toronto!  I finally had a chance to check out this past weekend and of course, I can never walk out of a Michaels store empty-handed:

In my defense all the beads were 50% off!

Here’s a quick look at what I purchased – I kind of group them into colour families:

Silvers

Close up:

Blues / greens

These are my favourites!

Earth-tones

The ones on the right are made of real stones.

What I like to make with these beads is simply string them onto stretch cord and make a bunch of coordinated bracelet stacks. Here’s an example of a bracelet stack I made; I love wearing at least 8 at a time, mixing bead types and styles:

You can go really fancy and use Swarovski crystals or semi-precious stones.  They’re so basic but impactful and also make terrific gifts!

My sister gotten a bunch of sock yarns.  I didn’t get any yarn this time but I’ll likely be going back soon to get some yarn for a project that I’m still trying to find an proper pattern.

I’ll post some DIYs in the near future! hope you took pleasure in a non-makeup post. Do any of you make jewellery or do other crafts?

Share this:
Share

Click to email this to a pal (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)

Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Like this:
Like Loading…

Related

Blogmas Day 8: diy Stardust jewelleryToday’s Blogmas post is a collaboration topic – we’ll all be posting diy projects.  My DIY will be a version of the Swarovski Stardust jewellery: You’ve probably seen these being advertised by Miranda Kerr. They’re stunning but the retail price for the Stardust necklace is $99 and the bracelet is $59…
December 8, 2015In “crafts”

Mediterranean cruise makeup HaulYou know, I really didn’t set out to haul makeup during my cruise trip but then Ms polished and inspired reminded me that makeup purchases made while on holiday do not count toward my Low-Buy, so thoughts of makeup seeped into brain while I was vacationing in the Mediterranean. I…
October 5, 2016In “Beauty”

Non-beauty Japan HaulHere’s a bit of a throw back Thursday post. It’s been nearly 2 months considering that I returned from Japan!  Here are some non-beauty bits I picked up from Japan. I didn’t do much clothing shopping in Japan. There wasn’t a lot there that I couldn’t get here at home. Although, I…
July 28, 2016In “crafts”

First, let me insert my usual disclaimer here that I’m no expert on skincare – I’m just a skincare enthusiast.  I’m also by no means a guru on all things Shiseido – there are just my experiences with these products.  I’ve been using skincare from this brand starting about 5 years ago.  I would categorize the brand as high-end but not luxury, with the skincare above the $50 price point and mostly below $100 each.  Shiseido is sold primarily through department stores and inside special beauty boutiques in some drugstores.  All of the products shown are made in Japan.  The line has some nice moisturizers and cleansers that I’ve repurchased – but like all brands, there are good and bad products within the range.

I thought I’d provide a quick overview of some of the products that I’ve tried.  I’ve categorized the items into Love, Like, and Loathe.

Love:

Bio-Performance advanced super Revitalizing Cream – $92 for 50ml and Benefiance WrinkleResist24 Intensive Eye Contour Cream – $65 for 15ml

I wrote about these items in my winter nighttime skincare routine.  They’re better suited for the winter months as they’re too emollient for summertime.  I’ve just recently put away the face cream for the season but I’m still using the eye cream in thin layers in the evenings.  The key ingredients aren’t that remarkable (glycerin, squalane, glycol and some antioxidants) but they feel very refined and they agree with my skin.  I have a difficult time finding eye creams that are hydrating enough but do not cause milia (those little flesh coloured bumps around the eye area) and this one satisfies both criteria.  Neither of these products have strong scents.

Benefiance extra Creamy Cleansing Foam – $42 for 125ml
I used to get this one confused with The extra gentle Cleansing Foam from their “The Skincare” line.  The Creamy version is SO much better than the Gentle one – it’s not as stripping or drying.  There are little bits of hydration beads in the cream which makes the cleanser feel super silky.  And this baby lathers up SO much! I only need to use a pea size amount as pictured.  A tube lasts me for months.

Benefiance instant treatment Eye Mask – $72 for 12 pairs
I posted a rave review about this. It was surprisingly effective – I likely won’t repurchase this but it did introduce me to retinoids for my under eye area, I’ll be looking for a cream or treatment in a less wasteful format after I finish these (I have 2 unopened cartons = 24 masks).

Like:

Bio-Performance super Corrective Serum – $98 for 30ml

I use this as an under eye serum – it makes the area look really smooth which is likely due to the high silicone content.  It also has some vitamin C and film-firming ingredients.  It’s not a miracle product but I like that it doesn’t cause milia around my eye area.  The vacuum pump is fantastic in keeping this product fresh.  This product has a light scent.

Ibuki Refining moisturizer – $52 for 75ml
The Ibuki range is relatively new for Shiseido – it’s supposed to help with “stressed” skin, whatever that means.  This is quite inexpensive for a Shiseido moisturizer on a per ml basis.  This is recommended for nighttime use but it’s very lightweight, so for me, it’s better for daytime.  It performs very well under sunscreen and foundation and keeps my skin feeling supple.  I really like the pump bottle, although I seem to be going through this product rather quickly due to its runny texture.  It’s quite fragranced, unfortunately.
White Lucent Brightening Moisturizing emulsion W – $72 for 75ml
I no longer have this but it’s very similar to the Ibuki one above – a very fluid milky lotion that I used as a summer time daytime moisturizer. It’s also very fragranced. However, I saw NO whitening when I used this.

Loathe:

Ultimate Cleansing Oil – $32 for 150ml
I don’t have this anymore –  I decided to try this because it was on a list of must-have cleansing oils.  This functioned ok as a cleansing oil but it is overly fragranced, and it not even a refreshing scent – it smelled like heavy old-lady perfume.  It was also quite drying – it’s a heavy duty cleanser which stripped my skin. I do like that Shiseido promotes this with their sunscreen as a sunscreen remover.  A lot of people complain about waterproof sunscreen breaking them out, when they’re not removing them properly.  But, don’t buy this one – try the MAC Cleanse Off Oil instead, that smells like lemon meringue.

White Lucent Intensive spot Targeting Serum (now renamed as total Brightening Serum) – $143 for 30ml
Expensive and useless!  No whitening, no targeting, nadda!  AND I just found an unopened bottle in my skincare stash. (I do like that all Shiseido products have safety seals)  I honestly don’t remember buying a second bottle of this snake oil!  I guess I’ll just have to use it up.

Bottom line: I would say that overall, the Shiseido skincare lines are more geared toward dry and normal skin, and nothing really caters to oily or blemished-prone skin.  The skincare is also quite focused on anti-aging and whitening, which are 2 key concerns in Asian skincare.  Many of the products are fragranced to varying degrees, so if your skin is sensitive to fragrances, skip the brand entirely.  Personally I would likely just focus on repurchasing the eye and face cream, the foaming cleanser and maybe the corrective serum for under my eyes.  The rest of the items I’m sure there are other brands out there that offer better products.

I’m mildly curious about Shiseido’s premium skincare line, called Future solution LX, which my friend swears by.  It is ridiculously pricey though, the face cream is $320 for 50ml!  What makes it worth that price tag?!

Have you tried Shiseido’s skincare?  What brand of skincare would you recommend for me to try?

Share this:
Share

Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)

Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Like this:
Like Loading…

Related

Hudson’s Bay Shiseido GWPI was reading online flyers on Friday morning – as you do! – and I came across this: https://www.instagram.com/p/BKI7KFxB6XL/?taken-by=stashmatters Shiseido gift with purchase (gwp) with $43 spend! I’ve been itching to replenish some Shiseido skincare so I hopped over to the counter at Hudson’s Bay on Queen Street. and again, this will…
September 11, 2016In “Beauty”

Road trip skincare and makeup bagStarting this Friday, I’ll be on a road trip!  We’ll be heading to northern parts of our province, also known as “cottage country” (don’t let the word “cottage” fool you, they have multi-million dollar homes that are owned by Hollywood celebs), and then heading to Ottawa.  We’ll be staying mostly…
July 6, 2015In “Beauty”

Skincare posts From 2015If you’ve followed my blog for any length of time, you know I love skincare! here are some highlights of posts on skincare on the blog from 2015: Grading My Friends’ Skincare routines Grading Skincare routines – part 2 Your Turn: grade MY Skincare routine Anti-aging products Shiseido Skincare Reviews…
January 15, 2016In “Beauty”

Helloooooo! I’m back from our little road trip across our province! Firstly, thank YOU for the birthday wishes here and on Instagram! I really appreciate it! I spent my birthday hiking through a Unesco world Biosphere Reserve, so it wasn’t a bad way to spend the day.

The Grotto, Tobermory
Before I get back into appeal posts, I thought I’d share some of the photos I took on the trip – I’ll try not to replicate the ones I posted on Instagram – and provide some quick tidbits about our trip:

• Covered 1,700 km and were on the road for 22 hours spread over 5 days of driving (plus a ferry ride) – stopping into 5 towns / cities along the way, ending with our country’s capital, Ottawa. (I must mention here that my title is a little misleading considering that Canada has SO much a lot more to offer than just the province of Ontario – just in case any of the West or East coast / Quebec get their panties all in a bunch – it’s just that “Canadian road trip” is a lot more impactful than “Ontario road trip” for my non-Canadian readers!)

• discovered our love for the podcasts The Bugle (British political satire with John Oliver and Andy Zaltzman) and stuff You must know (we listened to the episodes on street Gangs, Junk Food, Does the body replace itself? and 10 Bizarre medical Treatments)

• B&Bs do supply toiletries to varying degrees: of the 3 that we stayed at, only 1 supplied individual / travel sized shampoo / lotion similar to hotels – the other 2 supplied “communal” full sized toiletries like as if you’re checking out your relatives’ home.  One B&B even had a bidet which really grossed me out but I wished I had tried it… has any individual ever used a bidet before?

• The place that shocked us the most was Sudbury – if any Ontarians are familiar, this town has the distinction of being a bit of an industrial mining community (30% of the world’s nickel comes from Sudbury) but it has a beautiful waterfront and quite a lot of hiking / conservation areas.

• Didn’t have any wild animal encounters (no deer, moose, bears) but we did see a tiny rabbit and a couple of groundhogs… in Ottawa (which is funny considering that it was the most urban of all the places we visited)

• Saw Gord Downie (of The Tragically Hip fame) outside our hotel – he was in Ottawa for Bluesfest!

• We didn’t do any shopping save for a couple of silver coins from the royal Canadian Mint, a bookmark and a fridge magnet.

• checked out 10 museums / attractions during our trip including a very realistic simulated nickle mine, the animals inside Out exhibit by Body Worlds, and a real 1960’s Cold War bunker indicated for the Prime minister and 500 other top government officials.

Onto the pictures! (Yes, I took all of these pictures myself!)

MS Chi-Cheemaun ferry, Tobermory
Bruce Peninsula national Park
Little Tub Lighthouse, Tobermory
Big Nickel, Sudbury
Hermit’s Bay, Sudbury
Parliament Hill, Ottawa
Rideau Canal lock, Ottawa
Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica, Ottawa
Sparks Street, Ottawa
As you can see, we had amazing weather – the only rainy day was the last day which we spend indoors at museums.  I return with a layer of sunscreen covering all of my clothes, 5 mosquito bites (thankfully none of which are on my face or buttocks!) and probably 30% a lot more freckles on my face.  Now, I’ve got a lot of blog entries to catch up on! (Has WP messed around with Reader? It looks different!)  It feels great to be back.

Share this:
Share

Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)

Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Like this:
Like Loading…

Related

East coast Canadian tripAs you know last week I was away on a trip to the east coast of Canada, for a good friend’s wedding.  The wedding itself was in Labrador, but we took the opportunity to travel to Newfoundland prior to the wedding day.  Here’s a map to help orient you, Newfoundland…
September 24, 2015In “Life”

Road trip skincare and makeup bagStarting this Friday, I’ll be on a road trip!  We’ll be heading to northern parts of our province, also known as “cottage country” (don’t let the word “cottage” deceive you, they have multi-million dollar homes that are owned by Hollywood celebs), and then heading to Ottawa.  We’ll be staying mostly…
July 6, 2015In “Beauty”

Japan trip Photos!Helloooo, I’m baaaaack! 🙂 I’ve been back considering that last week and getting back into reading blogs a bit here and there… it’s always a challenge to get back into blogging for some reason. I think it’s about routine. having 2 weeks of unstructured time really makes it difficult to follow a…
June 13, 2016In “General”

It’s November! It’s officially:
• American election Time (finally)
• Movember (I must truly parlay the stock in stock matters into some Movember style thing…)
• Christmas music Time (too soon)

In situation you’ve been hectic preparing your immigration papers to find to Canada, here’s what you may have missed on the blog last week:

Project Pan: NYX Powder blush in Taupe PB11

Old version or new version, NYX Taupe is a fantastic drugstore contour option.

MUJI Skincare Giveaway WINNER!

Haha, I liked her reaction on Twitter:

Trash Stash: September as well as October 2016

It’s a doozy – serves me ideal to leave my empties for 2 months.

Sephora VIB Rouge buying listing autumn 2016 Edition

Spoiler alert: I’ve already made 2 on the internet orders as well as 1 in-store transaction.

MyLipAddiction.com appeal Podcast: Ménage à Trois avec Jodi

We had some technical difficulties trying to have a 3-way, however in the end we managed. I indicate a 3-way conversation on Skype, you perves!

October 2016 Low-Buy Accountability

I’m trying to figure out exactly how to make November Low-Buy look not so horrible considering that I’ve already blown my budget plan as well as it’s only the very first week of the month.

Schtuff:

• I interviewed a lot of candidates for a setting within my department at work… as well as I just want to state to any individual going for interviews: very first impressions MATTER. A lot. gown to impress. I understand it’s superficial however we’re human beings as well as those very first few seconds can make or break a decision. This is not a junior level position, as well as it’s in a fairly conventional environment. For women: no crazy manicures (I like colourful polishes as much as any individual else, however eco-friendly sparkly polish on pointy long nails just do not provide the ideal very first impression), no extreme makeup (red lipstick, incredibly dark eye makeup / false lashes, Instagram brows), no strong perfume. Guys: wear a damn fit as well as tie! It’s not Sunday brunch, you’re at an interview.

• I’m still doing laser hair removal for my underarms as well as I had a session last week. I got chatting with the receptionist as well as she was telling me exactly how she made the switch to “deodorants without aluminum” as well as that she’s been lecturing people about this. I just nodded as well as said, yes, “I made the switch too!” If she only understood I blogged about my shift from antiperspirants to deodorants rather extensively. Side note: I reacted terribly to this session of laser as well as my underarms established red upset itchy / unpleasant welts. My SO forbade me to ever do laser again.

• I believe I requirement to get an eye examination (it’s been years) since I’m discovering that my eyes get fatigued quickly particularly when I’m reading off my mobile phone. Ugh, I’ve handled so far in life not have to wear glasses however the time may be nigh…

And exactly how was your week?

Share this:
Share

Click to email this to a buddy (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)

Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Like this:
Like Loading…

Related

Project pan 12 Collab: autumn 2016 EditionHappy labour Day!  Hope you’re enjoying the long weekend!  And welcome to one more collab with the Canuck gang! We are when again, trying to chip away at some appeal products in our stash. this time around we are selecting 12 products to try to pan / empty. The length of this…
September 5, 2016In “Beauty”

Stash Dash: Oct 23 – 29How is it the end of October already!?! 😮 as well as tomorrow is Halloween! Here’s what’s went down on the blog last week: job Pan: Lancôme Khol in like eye liner in chocolate affair I likewise compare a whole lot of brown eye liners. Nordstrom Toronto appeal department – very first Impressions…
October 30, 2016In “Beauty”

Muji haulI’ve been semi-naughty as well as gotten a few things from Muji.  Nothing is outright makeup, however it’s all appeal associated products that I don’t truly need.  In my defense, I’ve been after these Muji products ever considering that they opened their very first Canadian store last November.  But it was mayhem after the…
July 5, 2015In “Beauty”

stating indeed to all the things!
You’d believe logic would dictate that a makeup look with a very little base would equal very little products on your face, however if you like appeal products as much I do, you understand that’s not always the case.

It’s a bit something I like to phone call “the job junkie’s curse” — when you willingly as well as happily slather on every lotion as well as potion in the quest of an allegedly very little look.

ADVERTISEMENT

The curse hit me difficult this morning. I was getting prepared to satisfy my good friend Judy for coffee as well as only had 10 minutes before I had to get out door, and, so, of course, I used all the skin care products. Then, I used some a lot more as well as then even a lot more after that. I understand you feel me!

For glowing, healthy-looking skin, I utilized five hydrating products from cruelty-free brand sincere Beauty.

Oh, by the way, you might’ve observed that some sincere appeal products look a bit different than they utilized to. The brand just recently altered their packaging to make it a lot more sustainable as well as recyclable, so if one of your favorites is on this list, as well as it looks different; that’s why!

ADVERTISEMENT

Cats & makeup Sweatshirt ??

$42

Shop Now

1. elevated Hydration Mist

Oh, is today health club day? since whenever I spray this lavender-scented deal with mist, it definitely smells like I’m cocooned in a candlelit space with a soundtrack of gentle whale sounds. The ultra-fine spray showers skin with delicate droplets and, not one, however two kinds of hyaluronic acid level-up your mug’s moisture. produced all skin types. J’adore! $17.99.

2. whatever primer glow + 2HA

Hyaluronic acid as well as fruit extracts moisturize thirsty skin! If you like a radiant fresh face, this primer is for you. I wear it on very little makeup days together with mascara as well as brow pencil, since it smooths out pores as well as imparts a barely-there pearly sheen. Of course, you might layer it beneath your preferred tinted moisturizer or foundation for an extra-smooth canvas, too. $22.99.

3. Depuff +C Eye Cream

There’s all type of stuff in this lightweight eye cream, like vitamin C, hyaluronic acid — two kinds, sodium acetylated hyaluronate as well as sodium hyaluronate — as well as a hold of botanicals, including sunflower seed oil, daisy extract, hieracium pilosella (commonly understood as mouse-ear hawkweed) extract as well as shea butter. When I pat-pat-pat this cream on my eyes, I vow it feels like my skin is tightening up a little, and, attempt I say, I look a teensy less tired. It might be wishful thinking, however I do like exactly how my skin feels, so I keep utilizing it. $23.99.

4. Calm & Porefect Serum

Made for all skin types, even the most sensitive skin (it has even the national Eczema association seal of Acceptance), this serum moisturizers as well as exfoliates. I feel like a elegant woman when I hold the glass bottle, which, FYI, is recyclable. just be sure to totally rinse out all of the product before chucking it in the recycling bin. $29.99.

5. Hydrogel Cream

ADVERTISEMENT

Jojoba, squalane as well as hyaluronic acid nourish thirsty skin in this lightweight however moisturizing deal with cream. Its dewy surface is crucial to the whole fresh-faced aesthetic, which is why I like it. $19.99.

Your friendly community appeal addict,

Karen

right here we go again. It’s practically time for everybody to lose their minds since it’s Sephora VIB sale! I handled to accomplish VIB Rouge condition last year on my No-Buy ( ) so I get early gain access to as well as 20% off, starting November 4th up until the 7th. then the VIB level will have 20% off from Nov 11-14th.  It’s the greatest discount rate level that Sephora provides in the whole year, so it’s the very best time to stock up!

I just got this in the mail – I believe my SO tried to hide it from me at first…
I made a stop at Sephora just recently to refamiliarize myself keeping that store… I feel like I’m drifting away from Sephora lately!

Some of these are residual products from the last VIB sale buying list… it should imply something if I still have them on my mind.

100% possibility I’ll purchase these:

Viseart Eyeshadiow combination in 01 Neutral Matte – $100
If I pick up just ONE product from the sale, it will be this! I will be so mad if it’s out of stock on the internet (it’s in stock now however come VIB sale, it’s always gone!)

Nars Audacious Lipstick in Anita or Vanessa – $39
I ought to just purchase one as well as stop pining after it!

Surratt charm Revelee Lash Curler – $33
The Surratt screen at the Sephora store I went to doesn’t look like it’s getting much love, as well as I dislike to state it, however I believe its days are numbered. The brand would fare much much better over at Nordstrom or even Saks. I feel like I have to get my hands on any type of Surratt products now if I want them (especially at 20% off!). The lash curler would be a back-up because I like it.

Surratt charm Artistique blush in Se Pomponner as well as / or Rougeur – $35
Oooh, just as polished & influenced advised, they added much more colours to their blush line! appears like there are double the colours now. I’d have to see the new shades in person – many of them look shimmery. I’ll likely just get Se Pomponner since Rougeur has been out of stock for ages.

Shu Uemura Murakami x Shu Uemura Collection:
Blossom Nova Eye Trio – Cosmikawaii – $39
Drawing Pencil in M Purple Black 04 – $28
Clarifying Cleansing Oil – $44 for 150ml
These are just as well dang adorable to pass up! The eye shadow trios rather than the big style palettes are much more of my thing – I just like exactly how Shu Uemura combines colours. then the liner, well, you’ve seen exactly how amazingly well the brown one uses – this purple will be a good addition to my non-black liner collection. I’ve only ever tried the Shu Uemura cleansing oil in a sample size – as well as it was great however I don’t keep in mind much about it because it was just a single utilize sample. I can’t phone call myself a cleansing oil junkie without getting a full size of it!

Lavanila The healthy Deodorant in Vanilla Coconut – $17
I thoroughly delighted in the Vanilla Grapefruit version of this as well as I believe I would like the Coconut one.

50% possibility I’ll purchase these:

Sephora favorites Skin Wonderland or charm Unmasked set – $76 and $47
Everyone always go nuts over these sets. I purchased one years back as well as I liked about 60% of the products from the set… that’s not as well bad. as well as because these are Sephora exclusives, I like to take advantage during VIB sales. any type of suggestions for other sets that may be great (and in stock) to inspect out?

Lancome Grandiôse Bendable liner in 02 Brun Mirifique – $40
Since my Guerlain died a horrible death, I’m believing of trying this out next. I’m just so psyched somebody is providing a liquid liner in brown for once!

bareMinerals skin tone Rescue tinted Hydrating Gel cream in 4.5 Wheat – $36
This is completely Ingrid’s influence. I don’t have instant requirement for a foundation however this is high on my listing of new ones to try. I haven’t evaluated which colour match I would be so this is just a guess.

Too dealt with Semi wonderful chocolate Bar – $59
I’m getting this based on the suggestion of Kaily who recommended that as well dealt with is one of her favourites for eye shadows in terms of formula. I’ve been wanting this specific version rather than the original chocolate Bar since of the shade Peanut Butter!

Bésame Boudoir long Hair completing Powder clean – $62
I want this out of sheer curiosity as well as novelty! Don’t judge me.

25% possibility I’ll purchase these:

Surratt Prismatique Eyes in beauty Eyes – $45
I played with these at the store as well as this is SO PRETTY. I checked out the performance is quite bad though, so likely I’ll just admire from afar.

Kat Von D shade & Light Eye Contour combination – $55
This has been on my desire listing for ages. The packaging irks me however I want the glory of all those mattes. However, when I own the Viseart Neutral Matte palette, it may render this moot.

Surratt Artistique Cheek clean as well as deal with clean – $125 as well as $250
Lately I’ve been believing about getting the SUQQU Cheek clean (aka that damn Lisa Eldridge brush!). According to my clean hero, Sonia G., the Surratt brushes likewise just as drool worthy. When polished & influenced was in town in May, we felt these up as well as both our eyes lit up – softer than kitten’s belly, I’m telling you! Price-wise, they’re on par to the SUQQU. getting 20% off would be sweet.

Bite charm amuse Bouche Lipstick in benefit or Rhubarb – $30
I’ll most likely wait up until I go to their Lip lab as well as make my own distinct “Stashy” shade!

Kat Von D Lock-It Concealer Crème in Light 7 – $34
I evaluated this in store as well as liked the protection – general evaluations seem positive about it. However, because I just purchased the cult preferred Clé de Peau concealer, I truly have no company taking a look at one more concealer for a long, long while.

Kevyn Aucoin The Sensual Skin Enhancer in Sx07 – $58
I got a sample of this from Nordstrom as well as I’ve tried it a few times now. I do truly like it and especially like the concept of taking this on trips because it’s so compact as well as portable. I’m still experimenting with different mixing medium with this. Also, is it a jerk relocation that I got a sample from Nordstrom however turn around as well as purchase it elsewhere?

Originally I believed about getting some skincare however I chose to focus my skincare efforts with suggestions from the esthetician instead.  I don’t believe I’m going to make Rouge this year as well as I’m completely okay with that! What a silly “perk”. What’s on your Sephora VIB sale desire list?

Share this:
Share

Click to email this to a good friend (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)

Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Like this:
Like Loading…

Related

Sephora VIB Sale autumn 2016 HaulAnd here’s the reckoning. reality time: I put 3 orders on the internet as well as made 1 in-store purchase. 😀 I requalified for VIB Rouge for next year again! But, not since of my own purchases, however my good friends pooled their purchases with mine (I’d state the breakdown was 30% me, 70% them).…
November 18, 2016In “Beauty”

Sephora VIB buying listing April 2016 EditionIt’s that time of the year again. the time when wishes take over typical sense, when the line between “Needs” as well as “Wants” blur – it’s Sephora VIB sale time! 😆 I understand that in previous years, my buying pattern during Sephora VIB sale has been this: I do some online…
April 7, 2016In “Beauty”

Sephora VIB Sale autumn 2017 HaulFinally, I’m publishing about my Sephora VIB sale haul! I had early gain access to so I was able to begin hauling on Nov 3rd. After the very first window of shopping, this is what I ordered: As discussed in my buying listing post, I truly did not requirement numerous things. The ONE…
November 30, 2017In “Beauty”