September Ipsy Unboxing

I recently got my September Ipsy bag and I am pretty excited about it. For those who do not know, Ipsy is a monthly beauty subscription service that is completely customized to you. Each month, they send you a themed cosmetic bag filled with  four to five make up items, tools, shampoo, conditioner etc. It is ten dollars American (For Canadians add 4.95 for shipping). Here is what I got in my September Ipsy bag.

September's theme is Street Style

Mitchell and Peach Hand Cream

Out of everything in my bag, this is the item I am least excited about. This hand cream is blended with vitamin E, Shea butter and English honey. I don't use hand cream regularly but decided to give this a try. This product smells absolutely awful! I had to wash my hands to get rid of the smell and the greasy feeling this cream left. Overall, this was not a product I am going to keep.

Avon Big & Daring Mascara

This mascara is supposed to give "explosive" volume. I like having new mascaras to try and the Avon mascaras I have tried in the past have been quite good. I will say, I am a little disappointed that Ipsy included this product because I can always get Avon mascara. I am happy that this product is full size.

Swatch of  Basic Instinct

Caitlyn Art Touch Tinted Lip Gloss in 09 Basic Instinct

I have heard of this brand from other beauty bloggers but I have never tried it, so I am very excited about this. The color looks like a peach nude which is a great basic color for anyone in my opinion. The applicator is similar to the Hourglass Extreme Sheen High Shine Lip Glosses. I find this lip gloss to be thick and very sticky. It does have a great color pay off.




Be a Bombshell Smooth Criminal Powder

Again, I have heard of this brand but I have not tried it. I am very excited about this translucent setting powder because I want to see if it measures up to the Make Up For Ever HD Microfinish Powder. I am also very happy to receive this product because setting powders are always good to have.






Pacifica Nail Color in Red Red Wine

This nail polish is the perfect fall red. This nail polish is 100% vegan and it is cruelty-free. Also, this polish is seven free, meaning it is formulated without any of the harsh chemicals. The box the polish came in claims that the nail polish is fast drying and long wearing.

That is everything that came in my Ipsy bag. Overall, I am rating this bag a three and a half stars out of five because I am excited about the nail polish, the lip gloss and the setting powder. I like having the mascara but the hand cream was a giant disappointment. Are you a subscriber to Ipsy? What did you get in your September bag?

If you would like to sign up for Ipsy, please use my link: http://www.ipsy.com/r/1ik8u?sid=ipsypoints&cid=general

Stay beautiful
Sarah

*NOTE: The Ipsy link is an affiliated link. It gets me points that I can redeem for an extra product. Thank you*

Finish Five By Fall

I decided to take part in this amazing tag created by HollieEatsLipstick. Basically you pick five beauty items you want to finish and you have to finish them by the first day of Fall, September 23rd. I thought this tag was a great way to use up some items I have started but have never finished. I will share my progress with you on September 24th so you all can see how I did. Here are the five beauty items I want to finish by Fall.


Smashbox Photo Finish Primer

This is a sample size but I have included it because I have so many sample size primers that I am trying to get through. I started this in August but haven't finished it because I had to finish another primer. There is still quite a bit left. I personally don't know if I will be purchasing the regular size of this product because I don't like the way it feels.

First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser

This face wash removes surface oil, make up, dirt and grime, making it the perfect one step product. I want to finish this because I have another that I need to start using. I have enjoyed this product and I will be repurchasing it once my other face wash is done.






L'Oreal True Match Concealer

The true match concealer is my favorite but I want to finish this up. I really want to try the Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer, but I haven't opened it yet because I am not finish this one. There is quite a bit of product left but I think I can get through it.

Make Up For Ever HD Microfinish Powder

I got this sample in one of my Sephora orders. I started using it but stopped because I didn't like that it was a loose powder. This product works wonders and I will be repurchasing but in the pressed powder form.







First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream

We all know how much I love this product. I need to finish this bottle up before I start a new one. It is almost finished but I haven't been using it as regularly as I should be. I buy the small tubes because I don't like the idea of sticking my fingers into a tub. I have also been enjoying using this after the face wash. Since they are from the same company, these two products just work like a great team.

These are the five products I want to finish before Fall. What products do you want to finish up? Do you like this tag idea? I am also tagging all of you to pick five products and try to finish them by Fall!

Stay beautiful
Sarah

Wish List Wednesday - Too Faced

It is that time where we ask ourselves what is on our make up wish lists. This month I will be focusing my wish list on Too Faced items. Here is my wish list.

3-way Lash Lining Tool

Let me start off by saying, I have had this item before and I didn't see the huge deal with it. Now, that I haven't used it in about a year, I see the true purpose of it. I miss the way it made my lashes look fuller and how easy it was to line my eyes. This is literally a hidden gem in the make up world. I have added it to my wish list because I decided I needed to show this tool more love and appreciation.

La Crème Lipstick in Marshmallow Bunny

This lipstick is a baby pink with a hint of sparkle. This sparkle shows up lightly when I swatched this on my hand in Sephora. When I swatched this lipstick it felt very creamy and buttery. These lipstick are also very moisturizing. I've read mixed reviews on the lasting power of these lipsticks, some people say they are long lasting, others say you have to constantly reapply.

La Crème Lipstick in Naked Dolly

This a light nude with hint of pink undertones. Like Marshmallow Bunny this lipstick it felt very creamy and buttery. These lipsticks are also very moisturizing. I've read mixed reviews on the lasting power of these lipsticks, some people say they are long lasting, others say you have to constantly reapply.

Boudoir Eyes Soft & Sexy Palette

I am a sucker for simple eye shadows palettes like this. This palette is a mix of nudes and purples. The shadows are soft, have a great color payoff from the swatches I did and there isn't any fall out. From reading reviews I learned that these colors blend very easily like all other Too Faced shadows. I really enjoy how this palette is small and comes in a magnetic tin, perfect for travel. I also enjoy how the palette organizes the shadows into looks. The top row of shadows creates a day look, the middle row creates a day look and the bottom rows creates a fashion look. This palette also comes with a little instruction booklet showing you how to achieve the three looks. Of course, the possibilities are endless.

Lip Insurance Lip Primer

You apply this product before any lip color to achieve maximum color payoff. This product also makes lips look more full and it allows other lip products to glide on easier. Lip Insurance also stops lip colors from feathering, bleeding, fading or transferring. This primer stays it will stop all of these problems even "under the most extreme lip conditions ".  I thought this product would be fun to try and to put it to the test. Who knows, maybe this product is as amazing as it sounds.

That is all the items on my wish list from Too Faced. What is on your make up wish list? Do you wish for any Too Faced products?

Stay beautiful
Sarah

Drugstore Haul

I recently popped into my local drug store to pick up a few favorite products that I was running low on. Since there was so many good sales, I decided to pick up some items I have always wanted to try. I will only be sharing the new items I picked up because the rest is all items I have talked about many times. On to the haul.

Maybelline Dream Wonder Liquid Touch Foundation in 10 Porcelain Ivory

I have heard mixed reviews on this product but decided to buy it. I have tried this three times and so far I like it. The color is a perfect match to my skin tone and it blends really easily. I do find it is a light coverage but it can be built up. I have also found the best way to apply this product is by using your finger to dot it on your skin, use a damp beauty blender and stipple the product to get a good amount of coverage. The only negative comment I can make about this product so far, I don't enjoy using my finger to apply this product, it's just personal preference.


Essence Stay Matt Lip Cream in Smooth Berry

I was drawn to this product while shopping. This bold red color caught my eye and the fact that it was a great price (a dollar Canadian). This lip cream smells like vanilla but not too strong where it gets annoying. This product does dry matte and stay matte. It is a little drying on the lips like all matte lip products are and I do find I have to reapply often. This lip cream is from the summer collection and will soon not be available in stores.

Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer in Very Fair

I have yet to try this product but it sounds like it will be perfect for under the eyes. This concealer is supposed to be full coverage and it is supposed to reawaken and illuminate. This concealer also claims to have an anti-fatigue effect.



Essence Kajal Pencil in Beach Bum

 I grabbed this product because it looked like a fun color. This kajal pencil is supposed to be used for high precision application and it is also supposed to be long lasting. When I swatched this product for the picture, I found it to be very dry and it kind of tugged at my skin. This eyeliner is from the summer collection and will soon not be available in stores.



Rimmel Exaggerate Lip liner in 63 East End Snob

This is the perfect pinky nude. I saw Nicole Guerriero wearing this in one of her videos and went on the hunt looking for it. It becomes matte on my lips and it is a tad drying but it doesn't really come off. It also looks very gorgeous on.




Essence Eye shadow in Peach Beach

This eye shadow has a holographic effect according to the compact (whatever that means?). This is a beautiful soft peach shade. This eye shadow is super soft and buttery, but it does have a bit of fall out. This shadow is from the summer collection and will soon not be available in stores.

Essence Eye Shadow in Strawberry Ice Cream

This eye shadow has a shimmer effect but it is not overly shimmery to me. This eye shadow is super soft and buttery but it does have some fall out. This is a perfect icy pink shade which I think would look amazing as an inner corner highlight.



Essence Lash and Brow Gel Mascara

I have just started getting into this eyebrow trend, so I bought this gel to try. This gel does not pack onto the brush and it is really easy to run through your brows. It sets in just seconds and it keeps every hair in place.




Swatch of Strawberry Ice Cream Eye Shadow

Swatch of Beach Bum Kajal Eye Pencil

Swatch of East End Snob Rimmel Lip Liner

Swatch of Peach Beach Eye Shadow

Swatch of Smooth Berry Matte Lip Cream

That is everything I bought on this trip to the drugstore. What have you recently purchased at the drug store? Also, What products do you use to fill in your brows?

Stay beautiful
Sarah

L'Oreal Infallible Silkissime Liner Review

I was wondering the aisles of Walmart one day and found these eye liners by L'Oreal claiming to be a boldly colored silky pencil eyeliner. I purchased one of them that day to give it a try, fast foreword to now and I have five out of the seven colors. I decided to post a review on these drug store eye liners.

This is what the packaging looks like.

The pencils are super creamy. They don't tug at my lash line or m waterline at all. The pigmentation of these liners are incredible. The color comes out vibrant and intense. Also, what the packaging says the color is that is the color you get.

I also enjoy the color range of these eye liners. There are some vibrant shades and there is some neutral shades as well. I also enjoy that this line of eye liners includes a highlight shade.

Like I said before, I am missing two colors. The missing colors are Charcoal, a grey shade and Purple.

Plum; the prefect combination of purple and blue

True Teal; I think this one is my favorite

Black; Super pigmented

Cobalt Blue; A perfect ocean blue

Highlight; A beautiful champagne

I hardly put any pressure on the pencil while swatching them

I have found two negatives with these pencils. The packaging claims they are smudge proof and up to 16 hours of wear. These liners do smudge and I personally have not gotten 16 hours of wear out of them. The other negative I have found is the pencils gouge easily. Since they are so creamy, if you accidentally hit the tip with the cap, which I have done a few times now, a chuck of pencil will be on the lid.

Overall, I am impressed with these liners and I am determined to get the two colors I am missing.

Have you tried these liners? Are you impressed by them?

Stay beautiful
Sarah

* NOTE; All items above were purchased by me with my own money. These thoughts are my own. *

What's in My Bag - School Edition

An Overview

I started my second year of college yesterday and decided it would be a good idea to share what I carry in my bag with me to school. This isn't a beauty related post, but What's in My Bag posts are some of my personal favorites. So without any further delay, here is what I bring to school.








Longchomp Le Pilage Tote in Chocolate

I use a tote bag for my everyday school needs. I only use a backpack on Thursday when I will need to bring my writing books with me. This is a very simple tote bag, it only has a small inside pocket. This bag is also pretty deep and it holds everything I need. * Apparently the Chocolate color is not sold anymore, but the Navy looks awesome! *

Kate Spade 17 Month Agenda

I love agendas and they are basically my life in a book. I never go to school, go home or basically go anywhere without it. I write everything from homework to assignments to what blog post I am going to write to what weekends I am going home. For me a good agenda will make anybody more organized.


Glasses

Since I can't see anything far away, I have to bring my glasses to school. These are dark red Vera Wang's. This item is pretty self explanatory because without them I will be lost in class.

Pencil Case

My pencil Case is actually a cosmetic bag (similar) from Victoria Secret. I find cosmetic bags are easier to use because you can clean them if something spills. I have a ton of pens stored in here because I do color code my agenda and I like certain pens better than others. Some highlights include; Staples Highlighters and Le Pens.



Microsoft Surface RT

I basically do everything on this tablet. I take notes, I record important lectures, I write papers and I even blog on it. I like this especially because it is lighter than a traditional laptop and it does the same job. This tablet is also a touch screen as well.

Keys, Wallet, OMG I Wish I Had... Kit, Gum, Lip Products and Metropass

I grouped this items all together because they are items I carry with me every where. I use my metropass to get around Toronto, whether its going to school, going shopping or meeting up with friends this pass gets me on the subways, buses and streetcars. I need my keys to get into my building and condo. My wallet, pretty self explanatory, but I did write about it (here). I have gum to freshen my breath and to help my concentrate in class. My lip products include my EOS lip balm in Sweet Mint and what ever lip color I am wearing that day, Yesterday was Revlon Balm Stain in 001 Honey.  I wrote about my OMG I wish I Had... kit in my last What's in My Bag post (here).

The only item not pictured was my iPhone 4 because I was using it to take the pictures

Well that is everything I bring to school with me on a daily basis. What do you bring to school with you? And how was Everyone's first day back?!

Stay beautiful
Sarah

Empties + Mini Reviews

Apparently I have just been using all my products up. I have a new empties post for all of you. Lets go through my beauty trash and I will tell you whether I enjoyed the product or not. Here we go.

Benefit They're Real Mascara

I used to love this mascara for giving my eyelashes that false lash look. I still believe that this mascara is easily in my top five favorite mascaras, it just isn't that first one I grab any more. This bottle actually dried out because I didn't use it (oops). This mascara doesn't hold a curl great but it gives your lashes amazing length and separation.

The Verdict: I will most likely purchase this item in the future.

Batiste Dry Shampoo

This is the first mini bottle I've used up and I think I have found my new favorite dry shampoo. This is stuff is amazing. It sucks up all the excess oil but it doesn't leave a huge white mark in my hair. This dry shampoo also rubs in easily and it literally disappears. This is the original clean scent and it smells amazing. I have a second mini bottle of this scent that I can't wait to use.

The Verdict: I will continue to repurchase this product. It is one of my favorites.

Too Faced Primed and Poreless
This is a skin primer similar to Benefit's Porefessional. I got this sample size in a Too Faced value set I bought which sadly isn't available any more and I got about four uses out of it. Like I said  before, I don't have large pores so I don't typically buy these types of products, but if I have a sample I will use them so they don't go to waste. I will say this product did make my face smoother so it was easier to apply my make up.

The Verdict: I won't purchase this product for the poreless aspect but maybe for a smoother application of my makeup.

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara

I believe I got this in the same value pack as the primer. When I first started using this mascara, I really liked it. It held a curl well, it added more volume and length and it separated my lashes. However, after about two weeks this mascara started clumping and flaking, which made not like it. I have heard that sometimes the sample mascaras aren't as good as the full size. With that being said, I am not sure I am willing to take the risk and purchase the full size.

The Verdict: I might try the full size. I am not 100 per cent sure yet.

Covergirl Flamed out Mascara - Waterproof

I hauled this mascara back in June and I accidentally grabbed the waterproof version. This mascara held a curl for the whole day and it added length. I found this mascara flaked so much and it clumped my lashes together, making it look like I only had one huge eyelash. I wasn't impressed with this mascara and I actually didn't finish it, I just got so fed up with it flaking into my eye that I decided it was trash.

The Verdict: I won't be repurchasing this product.

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream

I got this sample with a Sephora order and I got two uses out of it. I have actually fallen in love with this product because it really works. I have extremely dry skin and this product delivers intense hydration but it is gentle at the same time, which is also perfect for my sensitive skin.

The Verdict: I have bought the full size of this product and I will continue to purchase.

Wand on L'Oreal Butterfly

L'Oreal Butterfly Mascara

I enjoyed this mascara. The unique wand shape actually helped to fan out my lashes. It held a curl okay and it wasn't very clumpy. The downside to this mascara is one coat just gives a little bit of length but if you try to build up the length with a second coat, your lashes get all clumpy.

The Verdict: I will most likely not be repurchasing this product.

New York Color Big Bold Curl Mascara

This mascara gives amazing volume and curl to your lashes. This product is also super cheap at 2.97 Canadian. The major problems I encountered while using this product is the fact that it smudged and it flaked like crazy. These flakes of mascara would get all over my face and in my eyes... not a fan.

The Verdict: Although it is a good price, I will not be repurchasing this mascara.

Covergirl Smoothers Pressed Powder

Although this product is not completely empty, I decided to include it because I do not like this product. I find this powder cakes on my face so easily doesn't matter how little I use. I also do not like the texture of it.

The Verdict: I will not be buying this powder.

Well that is all my beauty empties. I feel like I should have called this the mascara battle because I had a ton of mascaras in here. What products have you used up? What are your thoughts on some of the products I mentioned?

Stay beautiful

Sarah