Summer Beauty Haul

I've picked up a few beauty items this Summer and I thought I would share them all with you in a haul post. These are items I got between June and August including some Birthday presents. Since I've been using some of these products for a while. I have some mini reviews to go along each product.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette
I'll start with my favourite product I got this summer. This was a birthday gift from my parents and I have been wearing it every day since. It's seriously makeup changing.

The first powder, Dim Light, is perfect for setting your makeup all over the face because it isn't shimmery but it gives your face the most natural glow while minimizing pores. The middle shade, Incandescent Light, is actually my least favorite of the three. It has tiny flecks of micro-glitter which makes it a nice highlighter. The final shade, Radiant Light, I have been loving using as a bronzer topper. I wear it around the perimeter of my face on top of a matte bronzer and it makes it look like I have a nice natural tan. I'm totally in love with this palette.

Din Light, Incandescent Light, Radiant Light

Annabelle Stay Sharp Self Sharpening Waterproof Lip liner in Vintage

This is a great lip liner from a Canadian brand I don't give enough love to. This liner is self-sharpening which is totally amazing as you can always be assured you'll get a sharp precise line. This colour Vintage, is also great for going under so many of my darker pink lipsticks.

Ardell Demi Wispies
After hearing so many bloggers talk about these lashes I just had to try them for myself. Applying lashes is definitely still a weakness of mine but I like how they look. Dramatic, but not too dramatic. You can see me wearing them here.

L.A Girl Glazed Lip Paint in Blushing

I picked up this inexpensive lip colour this summer. It is a really lovely, pigmented colour. The formula is super wet and since it's in a squeeze tube with no real good applicator, I would strongly suggest applying this with a lip brush (i.e. paint the colour on). It stays fairly wet and doesn't dry down very much which makes it prone to smudging so I wouldn't suggest eating with it on.

Marc Jacobs Sephora Birthday Gift

For this years Beauty Insider birthday gift from Sephora you got a choice of this Marc Jacobs duo or a Fresh Skincare set. I obviously went for the makeup and I've quickly become obsessed with this lipstick. It is one of the most comfortable lipsticks I've ever worn. It's not matte so it has a bit of a slip but it's super long-lasting, even through eating. Plus this shade, 216 Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is gorgeous.
The liner is also super creamy and opaque, and it is the most long lasting pencil eye liner I've tried.

Maybelline Eyestudio Gel Liner in Eggplant
I've talked about my love for the Maybelline Gel Liners before so I'll keep this brief. The colour is very nice. It has a bit of a shimmer but it's a dark purple so it's more natural looking than you'd think.

Did you pick up any new products this summer?

Lush and Sephora Haul

I hadn't bought anything new since February so it seemed like it was time for a little shopping. I didn't go too crazy but I did pick up a few things.

After exams I like to have a nice long bath to relax and unwind after the craziness of the last term. From Lush I picked up my all time favourite bath balm, Butterball and one I've never tried called The Experimenter. I also picked up a Bubble Bar in The Comforter.

While browsing the Sephora website I saw this Too Faced set and I'm a total sucker for value sets so I just had to buy it. I've never tried any of these Too Faced products but I've heard a lot about them. I actually prefer smaller sized products. I have a lot of makeup so I actually don't finish products very often making this set perfect for me. The set comes with: Hangover RX Replenishing Face Primer, Shadow Insurance, Chocolate Soleil Bronzer, Melted Liquid Lipstick in Chihuahua and Better than Sex Mascara. 

I also got some deluxe samples with my order including a mini Flash Photo Gloss from the Estee Edit and a mini Gravity Mud Mask from GlamGlow.

You'll probably hear about how I get on with these products in future posts.

What have you hauled lately?

California Beauty Haul

For my week off of University, my family and I went down to sunny Palm Springs for a well deserved holiday and while I was there I, of course, did some beauty shopping. I hit Ulta as well as Walgreens, Rite Aid and CVS. I didn't have much money to spend (and the Canadian dollar is in the dumps right now) so I only picked up a few items but I thought I would share what I got and give some first impressions.

Lorac Pro Palette
I've been lusting after this palette for years and I finally picked it up. It really is as good as people say. I love the Lorac Pro shadow formulation, as it's so pigmented and buttery. The shades in this palette are also beautiful. I'm working on a full review post to go up soon.

Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lipcolour in Seduction
This is a lovely nude matte lip colour. I picked this up because I was looking for a nude to wear on my trip and I wanted to try the formula. It dries matte but still feels comfortable.

Milani Powder Blush in 08 Tea Rose
I love the Milani baked blushes and the flower design on this blush was just too cute to pass up. The blush is nicely pigmented and applies nicely to the cheeks, I'm very happy with it.

Nonie Creme Colour Prevails Eyeshadow/Liner Duo
I hadn't heard of this brand before so I wanted to give something a try. The colours in this two in one shadow/liner looked really pretty so I picked it up. So far the formula seems a little crumbly but I'll have to spend some time working with it to see how good it is.

It's a 10 Miracle leave-in plus Keratin
I've heard people talk about this hair product before and I've always wanted to give it a try so when I saw this mini size I just had to have it. After only one use it left my hair super shiny and soft. I can't wait to use it some more.

Jordana Fabu Liner in Black
This is a repurchase for me. I love how matte this liner is and it's easy to apply. Plus it's really cheap. I already know it's a favourite so I'm glad to have it back in my collection.

Swatches- Revlon Lipcolour in Seduction, Milani Blush in Tea Rose, Nonie Creme Colour Prevails Eyeshadow/Liner Duo in Mocha and Purple

Overall my trip was totally amazing. It was a little weird to go from -40C to +31C  on the day we arrived and I already miss the warm weather but it's also nice to be home. 

Here are just a couple pictures from the trip.

The desert of Jasper Tree National Park

The Palm Springs Airport- Heading Home

Also remember to follow me on Bloglovin as I'm doing a giveaway at the end of April and once I reach 300 followers! 

Click here or the heart button in my sidebar. 

What I got for My 21st Birthday

 I was very lucky this year and I got a lot of really nice gifts. Because we have just come back from the UK, many of my gifts come from England.

I got this beautiful heart necklace from The Red Gecko in Brighton.

I also got the Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow Palette which I have wanted forever.

 From my best friend I got these 3 cute "good luck" bracelets. They come from a store in Banff.

 My big present this year was another lens for my camera. I have a Nikon D3100 which I use for all the pictures on my blog as well as other photography. The new lens I've got is for close up photography (which is my preferred style). It's an AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR for those wondering and I'm very happy with it!

As well as my new lens, I also got a beautiful London themed cosmetic bag from Milly Green.

From my brother I got a Rexall Gift card which will be put to good use buying makeup.

My final gift makes the 11 year old girl in me so excited. Growing up I was the biggest Harry Potter fan so on our trip we went to the Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio Tour and in the gift shop there were the wands of all the characters. While there, I made mention to my mom that I would have died if I had a Hermione wand when I was younger. She sneakily picked one up for me and I couldn't have been more surprised when I opened my gifts. I'm very happy to have my own Harry Potter wand, even if my Harry Potter obsession has died down a little (but only a little).

I hope you like this Birthday post. I was very lucky this year. As always with posts like these I am not trying to brag, just indulging all the nosy blog readers like me out there who like to see what others got for their Birthday :)

Massive UK Beauty Haul

So I just got back from my amazing UK holiday and I bought a few beauty items while I was there. Before I begin I have a few thoughts to share about my trip and my experience shopping for makeup in the UK. Keep in mind I'm still jet lagged so I hope this makes sense. 

I was gone for a month and my travels lead me to Ireland (Ring of Kerry and Dingle), Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Stirling, Lake Windemere in England, London and Brighton. I did all my shopping in Scotland and England but the conversion from the Canadian dollar to the pound is just over double so this was quite the expensive trip for me. I mostly shopped at Boots, Superdrug and Space NK. I loved how in drugstores in the UK you can actually try out the product before you buy it. I wish we had that here in Canada. It also seems like there are so many more drugstore (High Street) brands to choose from than we have in Canada. The products I bought were mostly based on recommendations from you guys or products I've often heard British youtubers praising. Let me know in the comments if you can guess which youtubers I watch based on my purchases :) I've already tried most of the products so I'm sorry that they look used, reviews will come soon!

So now what you've been waiting for... the HAUL!!

Eyeshadow

Kiko Long Lasting Stick in 38

L'Oreal Lumiere Eyeshadow in 502 Quartz Fume

L'Oreal Nude Eyeshadow in 201 Cafe Saint Germain 

Seventeen Eyeshadow in Rose Quarz 

Kiko Cream Crush eyeshadow in 05.

 (swatches in order as listed above)

Sleek

 Sleek Vintage Romance (14) Eyeshadow Palette

Sleek Blush by 3 in Pink Lemonade 

Sleek Face Contour Kit in Light

Eyeshadow Palettes

I <3 Makeup Naked Chocolate Palette

Collection Eyes Uncovered Nude Bronze Palette (as recommended by Parie Joshi)

 Bourjois

Bourjois Delice de Poudre Bronzing Powder (as recommended by Parie Joshi)

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum

Bourjois Aqua Blush in 01 Nude

 Soap and Glory

Products recommended by Danielle from http://www.daniellesbeautyblog1.blogspot.co.uk/

Check out her blog, her recommendations were amazing!

Soap and Glory Kick Ass Concealer in Light

Soap and Glory Solar Power Bronzer

Soap and Glory Archery in Brownie Points

Barry M

Barry M Gelly Nail Paint in Pomegranate

Barry M Silk Nail Paint in Orchid

 Face Products

 Max Factor Face Finity All Day Primer

Collection Lasting Perfection Ultimate Wear Concealer

Indeed Laboratories Hydraluron Serum

Youtuber Products

 Zoella Beauty Candy Cream 

 Zoella Beauty Fresh Fizz

 Zoella Beauty Fizz Bar

 Zoella Beauty Kissy Missy

Tanya Burr Individual Lashes

Real Techniques Bold Metals Flat Contour Brush

High End Products

Emma Hardie Amazing Face Moringa Cleansing Balm

Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray

By Terry Ombre Blackstar in Misty Rock

Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Pillow Talk

Let me know what you think about my purchases from my UK trip and if you have any of these products.

Quick Sephora Haul

Here's just a quick haul with some of the things I've gotten from Sephora in the past few weeks.

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal ($19)
I mentioned this in my June favourites. From the second I applied this I knew I was in love. This highlight gives the best, most natural, lit from within glow of any makeup product I've ever owned. It has already reached holy grail status from me and it's only been a few weeks. I wish I'd gotten the larger size bottle.

First Aid Beauty Spring Skin Savers Set ($54)
I got this set mostly for the Ultra Repair Cream (reg. $30) which was a repurchase for me. It was only a little bit more money to get the set and I got to try out 3 more full sized products. It includes a full sized Skin Rescue Purifying Mask (reg. $30) which works on my dry, sensitive skin. It's a peel off mask which I love because it's less messy. It leaves my skin feeling soft and my pores looking smaller. I also got the Ultra Repair Liquid Recovery (reg $38) which seems like magical water. I don't really understand how it works. It looks, feels and smells like water but it makes my skin feel more hydrated. I think I'll need to use it longer to see the full effects. The last item in the set was the Face Cleanser (reg. $10) which might have become my new favourite cleanser. It makes my skin feel clean without over drying it. I can see why it's so popular.

Laura's Flawless in 5
I finally cashed in my Sephora points on the 500 point perk which included 5 sample size Laura Mercier products. Included in the reward was the Matte Radiance Baked Powder in Bronze 03, the Flawless Skin Face Polish, the Tinted Moisturizer, the Foundation Primer in Radiance Bronze and a Lip Glace in Nectar. I don't have anything else from Laura Mercier so this was a good way to try a bunch of products.

New Year Sephora Haul

After my computer surprisingly crashed and I had to replace it I am now on a no spending kick until April making this my last haul for a while. This is just a collection of things I picked up from Sephora with a coupon and during Boxing Day sales. I didn't pay full price for any of the things mentioned here. I think all the items are no longer in stock on their website but I thought I'd share anyway because I always like looking at haul posts.

Smashbox Full Exposure Travel Palette

This is a mini of Smashbox's Full Exposure Palette. It's the exact size of my iPhone 4 screen and extremely thin. I especially like the matte shadows included in this palette. The shimmer shadows can be a bit glittery and have some fallout but overall I think it's a great travel palette.

Tarte Tres Chic Park Avenue Princess Contour Palette

I have gotten really into contouring these last few months. I really like this matte bronzer, it runs a little orange but not too bad for my skintone. The blush is a gorgeous pale pink and the highlighter is golden and gives a very subtle shimmer. I will say the packaging, although gorgeous, is very prone to fingerprints.

Sephora Favourites Give Me Some Lip

There were 6 high end lip products in this kit including 1 full sized lipgloss. The products included were the Nars Orgasm Lip Gloss, Buxom's White Russian Lip Cream, Marc Jacobs Lip Vinyl in Kissability, Bite High Pigment Pencil in Meritage, Urban Decay Lipstick in Naked and the full size Smashbox Be Legendary Lipgloss in Pout. I think my favourite from this kit is the Bite Pencil.

Josie Maran Winter Dreams

I may preach too much about the wonders of Josie Maran's Argan oil so I was really excited to try her other Argan products. This is a collection of 5 products including the Coconut Watercolor Eye Shadow in Rio de Rose Gold which I've been dying to try for ages, the Argan Black Oil Mascara, Argan Illuminizer, Argan Oil Light, and the Argan Infinity Lip and Cheek Creamy Oil.

Let me know if there's a certain product you would like me to do a full review on.

Holiday Drugstore and Lush Haul - ❄ Blogmas

I always treat myself to some lush goodies at the end of each semester. I find baths are a great way to relax and pamper myself and Lush is the best place to get bath products. I also have a few items I've picked up at the drugstore over the last month.

LUSH

I got some Lush limited edition Holiday Bath Bombs including:

Butterbear- Butterball is one of my favouroite Lush Bath bombs and this is just a cuter more festive version (this is also the only one I've actually used).
Dashing Santa
Golden Wonder
Shoot for the Stars

I was also talked into buying a massage bar in From Dusk till Dawn and the Vanilla Puff Dusting powder to go along with it.
I also got a Lush  Liquid Lipstick in the colour Confident as an early Christmas Present so I thought I would include it in this haul.

Liquid Lipstick and Shoot for the Stars

Vanilla Puff and Dashing Santa

From Dusk till Dawn Massage Bar

 

Golden Wonder and Butterbear

DRUGSTORE 

 I've been dying for the Maybelline Matte Lipsticks to hit drugstores in Canada so when they finally did I picked up 2. Siren in Scarlet (perfect for Christmas) and Touch of Spice which I've worn literally everyday since I got it.

Can you tell I'm really into matte lips lately. I got the NYX solf matte lip cream in San Paulo. I love the formulation of these.

I got two palettes from essence in how to make nude eyes makeup box and all about nude. I have a review coming on these two palettes later in the week.

Finally I've been looking for a brush to apply cream blush. I wanted the e.l.f small stippling brush but couldn't find it so I got the Sonia Kashuk Small Duo-Fiber Multipurpose brush instead.

Let me know if you see anything you'd like me to review.