Shoppers Drug Mart Beauty Haul

It is long weekend here in Canada(Canada Day). Happy Canada Day, my fellow Canadians!

I am visiting home in Toronto for the long weekend. Did a bit of shopping, of course.

Went to Shoppers Drug Mart at Bayview Village yesterday to get a few things. They are having the special "spend $75 and get 18500 optimum points" events for this long weekend. To me, seems like this is the best deal. I usually buy on their 20x points events and the "spend $75" event is even better to get your money a bigger stretch.

Origins Plantscription Anti-Aging Serum

Origins High Potency Night-A-Mins Mineral Enriched Renewal Cream

Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask

Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel

Clinique Lower Lash mascara in black

I love Origins skincare products. Yes, they are a bit pricey but well-worth it, in my opinion. I have tried all of them before. The serum and the charcoal masks, I have tried them in deluxe sample sizes and decided to get the full-sized products. The charcoal mask is really effective in clearing my pores and making it less acne-prone. The anti-aging serum is very smooth and does help with minimizing my fine lines. It is not a sticky formula which I love, especially in the summer. I got the Night-A-Mins moisturizer a while ago. I love how moisturizing it is but this time I got the oil-free version as I find it too much for my skin in the summer months. 

I have been wanting to get a cream bronzer for the summer. Read some reviews that Sonia Kashuk has a very good bronzer and almost a dupe for the Chanel version.

Sonia Kashuk Undetectable Creme Bronzer in Warm Tan (buy here)

I went to the 2 Target stores near my parents' and they don't have them in stock. I find the inventory of Sonia Kashuk at both locations is really bare. At one store, half of the Sonia Kashuk display is empty.

So went to get the Soleil Tan De Chanel which I have been eyeing for a few months.

The texture is unlike anything I have owned. It is not a cream and it is not a mousse. It has a more stiff texture. As the SA suggested, I would use a regular foundation brush if I use it for contouring. If I want to apply all over, I would use a stippling brush.

It is a very smooth application. Soft matte brown. Can't wait to try it.

The other product I got is the Clinique Lower Lash Mascara in black. This will be my second tube. I am really impressed with how well it is applied to my lower lashes. It does not smudge and the tiny brush is so easy for me to use on my barely-there lower lashes.

Even though it seems like I spent a lot in this haul(around $250). The SA at this Shoppers Drug Mart is so helpful. My purchase is divided into 3 transactions so I would get the bonus 18500 optimum points  with each transaction. I ended up getting 58000 optimum points yesterday, which equals to approximately $120 on bonus redemption days. So I spent $250 and getting back $125 in points later. Really it is an awesome deal. I usually get my Origins products from Sephora. Even though I can get Beauty Insider points, it is not nearly as good as the Shoppers Optimum program.

Urban Decay Glide On Cheek Tint

I received my small Hautelook order. My orders usually take a while to get here but they have good tracking notifications so at least I know when to expect.

Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray

Glide On Cheek Stain(here)

I don't recall ever seeing these glide-on cheek stain at Sephora. They are at deep discount on the Urban Decay website now. Not sure if they are discontinuing these or not.

Left: Score

Right: Fetish

Left: Fetish

Right: Score

Fetish is my typical mauve color and Score is a pretty coral color. These cheek tints are very easy to work with. Extremely silky and smooth and as the name suggests, it does glide on. Unlike my Stila or Tarte cheek stains, these require no effort at all to apply. I like to apply cream blush or cheek tint in the summer time. These are quite sheer though so very buildable. So depends on how much product you want. I often apply the cheek tint first as a base and apply my regular blush and my blush last much longer in the hot summer months.

Excited to try this highly-raved All Nighter setting spray. Today is the first time I try and I cannot tell you whether it helps my makeup last longer or not. Will be perfect to test out on a hot humid day like today.

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My Summer Essentials

Summer is here and I like to keep my makeup minimal for the hot humid months.

Batiste Dry Shampoo(Original)

I only wash my hair every other day and use Batiste dry shampoo in (between to keep my hair looking fresh. I have tried a few scents from Batiste and still like the original the best. The pink one(floral scent) leaves grey, white residue on my dark hair and it takes much longer to brush it out.

La Roche Posay Anthelios Sunscreen

This is my all time favorite sunscreen. I use sunscreen pretty much every day all year around. This ultra-light fluid sunscreen provides UVA/UVB spectrum. My skin gets more oily in the summer months and this sunscreen does not grease me up nor break me out. Highly recommended.

Chanel CC Cream

I have been in love with my new Chanel CC cream(see my first impression post here). I have been using this consistently for 3 weeks now. This has a very light coverage. Holds up extremely well on hot days. It basically does not move and when I checked my face at the end of the day, it looks exactly like when I first applied it. So impressed with this product. It does correct my redness and minor blemishes. 

Vichy DermaBlend Fluid Corrective Foundation in Nude

For days that I need extra coverage, I apply this foundation, usually a few dots on my blemishes. This gives great coverage and you only need a few dots and blend it out nicely to get the natural finish look.

Lush Ocean Salt Facial Scrub

I exfoliate my skin more in the summer time to clear pores. This is an awesome exfoliater. But if you have very sensitive skin, I would not recommend this as you may find the coarse salt too rough on your skin.

Tarte Smooth Operator Finishing Powder

Use this powder to set my CC cream every day. Skin stays matte throughout the day. Love this!

Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette

For minimal makeup looks, I tend to grab this palette more and more. Pretty and soft matte shades. Perfect for everyday wear.

MAC Nude on Board Prolong Wear Bronzer

This soft brown bronzer is my favorite bronzer so far. I use it pretty much every day since I got it. Not orange, not yellow on me and it just gives me the healthiest glow on my face.

Nivea Lip Butter in Vanilla & Macadamia

This lip butter must be one of the most popular lip products since the EOS lip balm. I got mine a month ago from Shoppers Drug Mart and once I started to use this, I can totally understand what the rave is about. I apply it and it is so moisturizing. It lasts quite a long time too. I apply it before I go to sleep at nite and by morning time comes, my lips still feel moisturized. Will have to go around and look for other flavors as well.

Regina Pierallini Necklace Giveaway Winner is...........

We have a winner for my Regina Pierallini Necklace Giveaway. Drumroll please...........

The winner is entry #117, Natalie J

Congratulations Natalie! I have emailed you already and please reply within 48 hours so I can send your necklace out.

Thank you to Regina Pierallini again for sending me this gorgeous necklace for my blog giveaway. I have a 20% promo code for her earrings collection SpringDrop20(code valid till June 30, 2013). Just go check the collection out.

MAC RiRi Collection

I received my orders from the much anticipated MAC RiRi Collection(my related post). If you don't know already, MAC collaborated with Rihanna and released an online exclusive collection which includes 3 lipsticks, a powder blush duo and lustre drops.

I opted for standard shipping for my goodies and pleasantly surprised to receive my orders the next business day. I am impressed with MAC shipping, considering this collection is one of their most popular summer collection.

Heaux

Heaux is a beautiful deep berry retro matte lipstick. I was not going to order any lipsticks from this collection as I prefer softer colors. But this one has very pretty berry color and I am so glad I gave it a try.

This is a retro matte formula and this is my first as I prefer sheer and more moisturizing lipsticks. This one is totally matte but surprisingly does not dry out my lips as I have anticipated. This is just one light swatch of the lipstick on my arm. Extremely pigmented.

The color is pretty intense and it was the first day I got it. I already had a nude lipstick underneath so the color does not look nearly intense as it would be applied solely on my lips. 

The other product I got is Hibiscus Kiss powder blush. When I saw pictures of the promo of this collection, that is the product interests me the most.

It is a duo blush, consists of a matte light to medium-toned bronzer and a coral blush. 

The colors look pretty pigmented in the pan.

When swatched, I find the bronzer's pigmentation does not show as well as I thought. Need a few swipes to get the pigmentation I want. The few reviews that I read, people are not impressed with the pigmentation. But I am ok with that as I would rather have a bronzer which I can build up rather than strong pigmentation. The blush is a nice pretty coral shade, leans towards the pink side. Pigmentation is quite good for the blush. Only thing is the side of the blush is quite small in the pan. Not sure I have a small enough brush to swirl around to get the color out without mixing the bronzer side.

Rihanna's online-exclusive Powder Blush Duo in Hibiscus Kiss combines two shades of M·A·C's celebrated colou

 cheeks and face. Cool coral complements a neutral matte bronze in one gorgeous package. Limited edition.

Last day to enter my Regina Pierallini Necklace Giveaway

This is the last day to enter my Regina Pierallini Turquoise Enamel Necklace giveaway here

This giveaway is open internationally

Crazy Online Shopping MAC RiRi Hearts

MAC just released its new summer collection today. If you are a MAC fan, you would know how much anticipation this collection has stirred up. Yes, I am talking about the RiRi Collection. The collection is collaborated with Rihanna and they released a first RiRi Woo lipstick earlier and it was sold  out in hours. 

This collection was scheduled to launch 2 weeks ago but MAC pushed back the launch date. Since the collection is limited edition and only available online, it makes purchase extremely challenging.

Hibiscus Duo powder blush, RiRi Woo, RiRi Boy, Heaux & Lustre Drops

MAC has the collection launch date and even time published a couple of weeks. They don't usually give a time on launching new collection. They have waiting rooms. Yes, it is the first time I was put in a waiting room. What it is is you would be directed to the RiRi collection. The products in this collection are shown and you click on the products you wish to have. Then you will be put on queue as your request is being processed. I was in the waiting room for a good an hour and a half. And finally when everything I wanted was put in my shopping cart, took another half an hour before going through the 4 steps at checkout. 

If the collection is released in store as well, I am assuming the craziness would not be like this. 

I have done crazy shopping before, not in the cyber world, in real life. A few years back, when Lululemon held its annual warehouse sale in Ottawa in January. I stood in line, outside, in the bone-chilling cold weather of -25C for 3 hours. 

But with crazy online shopping with the MAC RiRi Hearts collection is my first. It would be all worth it when my goodies are shipped and landed in my hands safe and sound. But I read from the makeup forum that a lot of orders are cancelled. I am keeping my fingers crossed with my order and hope everything will go smoothly from here.

Are you a crazy shopper like me? 

Enter my international giveaway to win this Regina Pierallini necklace here

HANA Professional Flat Iron 1" Review

I was contacted by Misikko and was sent a HANA professional Flat Iron 1" to try out. I have frizzy hair and with the summer humid months ahead, I am more excited to test it out.

HANA Professional Flat Iron 1" (get it here)

It has blue ceramic groove surface, making it easy to slide your hair strands through it.

LED indicator light on/off button

Very sleek packaging

In the box also includes a flat iron travel bag, a heat proof silicone mat and a couple of nail filers. I find the heat proof silicone mat so handy. I don't know how many times I left hair styling tools on the countertop while they are so hot and almost ruined the finish of my bathroom countertop.

I have used this flat iron for 3 weeks now. I tested it out on very humid days when my hair is very frizzy and extra difficult to be tamed.

The 2 above pictures were taken after I just blow dried my hair. You can see how frizzy and the flyaway.

These pictures were taken after I used the HANA professional flat iron 1". As you can see, my hair is not frizzy anymore and it is much smoother and giving a very silky touch.

I have tried a few different brands of flat iron. One is from a drugstore and let me tell you this, don't even waste your money on drug store brands. They just don't give the results they promised and they don't last long. For better results, I would much rather invest money on a professional hair straightener. They are much better quality and last a long time.

I have used this HANA flat iron for 3 weeks now and absolutely love it. It heats up fast and doesn't snag my hair while straightening. I have used other brands which my hair doesn't glide through smoothly and result in yanking some hair out. It has a wide temperature range setting. The LED light will blink until the desired heat setting is reached so you don't have to keep guessing is it hot enough. Highly recommend this flat iron if you are in the market for it.

**Still a few more days to enter my Regina Pierallini Necklace Giveaway here**

Makeup Geek Eye Shadows

This is my first purchase of beauty products from Makeup Geek. I am also fairly new to the founder and CEO of Makeup Geek, Marlena Stell and her youtube channel. She offers a lot of make up tutorials and product reviews.

I decided to try out some eye shadows from Makeupgeek.com as I need some basic neutral shades.

I got 4 shadow pans as I plan to put them in my MAC 4 shadow palette for easy traveling.

From the back of the packaging, you can see the labels attached to the shadows.

 Top left: Latte

Top Right: Beaches and Cream

Bottom Left: Mocha

Bottom Right: Creme Brulee

All 4 shadows are very creamy and pigmented. They are very affordable $5.99 each and they are one of the better shadows I have used under $10. There are so many drug-store eye shadows which have similar shades but most often they are very chalky and pigmentation is not impressive.

The sizes of these shadows are the same as MAC shadows and they also have magnets at the bottom if you are planning to put them on MAC palettes or Z-palettes.

Have you tried products from Makeupgeek.com? What is your favorite?

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June Ipsy Bag 2013

Received my June Ipsy bag today. Theme is Wild.

The goody bag is a leopard printed one to match its theme

1. J. Cats Sparkling cream shadow palette
2. J. Cats Eyelashes and glue
3. Starlooks Lip Pencil in Bare
4. Chella Ivory Lace Highligher Crayon
5. NYX Mosaic Powder in 07 Cafe

Top swatch: Chella Ivory Lace Highlighter

Bottowm Swatch: Starlooks Lip Pencil in Bare

I haven't heard of the brand Chella before. This highlighter crayon can be used under brows, inner corners of the eys. Texture seems quite creamy for easy application.

Starlooks Lip Pencil in Bare is a very pretty natural color. It is a mauve-pink with a hint of purple undertone. Really loving this color.

NYX Mosaic Powder in Cafe

This is a NYX blush that I have always wanted to try. Very nice blended color but a bit chalky. A bit of shimmer but not very visible on skin. Excited to try this out.

The other 2 products in this month's bag I'm not too excited about. The J. Cats sparkling cream eye shadow palette is not my cup of tea. Too shimmery and I am not a big fan of sparkling and shimmery shadows. Looks like I will give it to my niece. Other product is the eyelashes and glue which I don't and don't plan to use. So another giveaway.

Are you happy with this month's Ipsy bag?

Want to win this beautiful Regina Pierallini Turquoise Enamel Necklace?

Still have a week left to enter my giveaway

June Topbox 2013

Yes, it is that time of the month again. Beauty boxes starting to arrive and I cannot be more happy about receiving them.

I opted for the Estee Lauder prive box this month. I have not been trying out a lot of Estee Lauder products before so decided to give it a go.

Includes 3 sample sized products: 

• Perfectionist(CP+R), wrinkle lifting/firming serum (.24 fl oz/7 ml)
• Advanced Time Zone, age reversing line/wrinkle-creme broad spectrum SPF 15 (.17oz/5ml)
• Idealist, Even skintone illuminator(.24 fl oz/7ml)

"Supercharge your skin, breakthrough CPR-75 technology is proven to double skin's natural collagen building power."

I am always excited to try out new anti-aging products. These products are quite pricey and I definitely want to try out a good sample size before investing my money on those. 

"Our revolutionary Tri-HA cell signaling complex helps skin boost its natural production of line-plumping hyaluronic acid by 182% in just 3 days."

I don't know a lot about these fancy beauty chemical terms. Will have to do some research on line and learn more as to whether this cream is gentle enough to apply to delicate eye area.

"The first fast-acting serum from Estee Lauder Research proven to dramatically reduce the look of uneven skintone, including redness, acne marks, dark spots, sun spots and discolorations."

This one I understand better and most excited to try out. I guess will apply this as a primer after my usual morning moisturizer to even out skintone and reduce redness and a few high pigmentation spots.

Even though I am only getting 3 sample sized products in this Estee Lauder prive box, I am very happy with the products. They are quality products which I feel I can get a good taste of them before deciding to invest my money on the full-sized products.

What did you get in your June Topbox? Share in the comments below :)