12 Days of Blogging Day 5: Amrezy Highlighter Review

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I missed out on this highlighter the first time it came around. So when I heard it was dropping for a second time I couldn’t resist ordering it. When it came in the mail it was all the glory I thought it would be. I don’t personal follow Amrezy on Instagram but from the description on Sephora she is an Instagram beauty sensation, I personally bought this highlighter purely on how pretty it is and how universal it is.

On Sephora this is described as a light brilliant gold and is supposed to be that second skin finish for a natural glow. The colour of this is accurate – it is a light brilliant gold. Comparing this to other highlighters in my collection, nothing is the same. I compared it to my NARS, Maybelline, ELF pressed highlighter and a few other ones – nothing compares to this shade of gold. It is hard to describe – while it is a light gold it also has some undertones of champagne so it doesn’t look like a gold strip on my cheekbone. The packaging is great, it has the nice snap closure so it stays secure and is sprinkled shiny bronze gold stars on the packaging. Yes, this shows fingerprints but not as much as other Anastasia packaging like their palettes.

The formula: This is a beautiful, buttery formula that gives a glossy finish on the skin. It isn’t a metallic highlighter but it’s a soft, yet tightly packed powder that can be used wet or dry. This also would work for a variety of skin tones and mature skin. Due to it’s non metallic nature, this works for anyone who has texture. NOW will this somewhat emphasize texture – of course all powder highlighters will but let’s face it, we all have texture.

The swatch: this swatched beautifully, it can be blended into the skin to give a “I’m just a bit dewy” finish but can be built up to be poppin’ like the Becca Champagne pop highlighter. What I like about this when I wear is you can’t really see it unless you turn your head into the light, making it the perfect work highlighter or alternatively a highlighter for going out for a night on the town. In low light this looks sublime.

Overall rating: 5/5 stars. YES. I love this. This highlighter adds value to my collection and is different (at least to me) from anything else I own. I also think this would be a great starter highlighter – especially because it is $36 CAD which is an amazing price for a highlighter considering some stuff in the Canadian drugstore is upwards of $38 (looking at you Pixi).

Have you tried this highlighter yet? If so, what are your thoughts?!

12 Days of Blogging Day 4: Brands I want to Try in 2019

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I know that I am not the type of person to go on a year long no buy, but I also want to make better decisions about my purchases. I wanted to do a post outlining some brands I want to try in 2019. I think this will be a nice reference point for me, first so that I can try new things, but second, that I won’t just willy nilly buy things (drugstore products looking at you) but items that I’ve really been eyeing for awhile. You will notice there are a few luxury brands in here that I might not get to but I wanted to put on this list. I also got this idea from Samantha March who I saw do this type of video but I’m not sure who invented the idea!

Charlotte Tilbury

I have been eyeing this brand for so long. It just became easily accessible in Canada this year. I want to try a few items from this brand, mostly the filmstar bronze and glow and the Hollywood Flawless filter. While Charlotte herself sleeps in makeup – not sure how I feel about this, however I like that the brand’s ethos is making you feel confident. This can be seen as preying on our insecurities that we need to be perfect, however at the same time she is unapologetically sexy which I think is powerful in its own right.

Cheekbone Beauty

This is an amazing Canadian brand founded by an Indigenous woman named Jenn Harper. Their liquid lipsticks are the star of show according the chatter in the beauty sphere, so I’d definitely like to try a few of those along with their highlighter palette (cause who can resist a face palette, not this kid). Harper’s personal journey and makeup story is poignant. The brand supports the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada which I think is even more reason to support the brand. I first heard about this brand on the Breaking Beauty Podcast so if you want to listen to that I urge you to download it!

Kosas cosmetics

I have also been eyeing this brand for awhile but never took the plunge. Kosas is a clean beauty brand and according to their website formulates their products with prestige ingredients. The philosophy is integrated layers of self which I can get down with. I want to specifically try their tinted face oil, lipstick and the cream blush/highlighter duos.

Glossier

I’m a bit late to the game, but I really do want to foray into the glossier world. I would like to try their makeup and skincare. They do some good sets so if I do end up ordering from them I will likely get a few of those. I enjoy the brand’s ethos, however I recognize that it’s quite elitist and exclusionary to many folks who just can’t use their products for one reason or another. Again, I’m not sure if this is one I will actually get around to, but it’s on my list.

Tom Ford

I know. Wtf. why is this on my list? I don’t know either to be honest. But I love ttsandra, she is such a classy cool lady and she is always using Tom Ford Nude Dip and Cocoa Mirage  eye shadow quads and has talked about the Tom Ford Foundation stick. So listen, I get it. These are two overpriced mofos. But for some reason, as I foray into the adult world and ideally I will have a full time job by the time I plan to buy these items, I think this would be a good treat yo self brand to get. These will also be VIB buys I think.

I wanted to do this post because I honestly think this will help me curb impulsive makeup buying. I tend to do that especially with drugstore and I think having an idea at the beginning of the year of what I want to buy will be a lot more helpful than just randomly going along and buying what I want. This isn’t to say I won’t buy other things but I want to try to curb my spending and limit additions to my collection that don’t bring it any value and don’t bring me the joy they should.

What brands do you want to try in 2019?

*disclaimer: none of these photos are mine, I have taken them from the individual brand website, or the google, or sephora.com*

12 Days of Blogging Day 3: My Favourite Red Lipsticks

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I love red lipstick. Unfortunately, because of my allergies I find myself not wearing if very often. BUT during the holiday season I tend to wear it a bit more often than usual and I wanted to outline a few of my favourite red lipsticks I have in my collection.

The warm red

Covergirl Succulent Cherry

Covergirl Succulent Cherry, it’s a nice warm red with a hint of orange. It’s a more low maintenance red with a slightly shiny finish. I like this lipstick because it doesn’t overpower you and can be worn in an office environment. I wouldn’t wear this for Christmas dinner due to it’s creamy nature, but for a day red or a Christmas party red this is a go to for me (lol not that I attend any Christmas parties).

The blue red

Wet n wild Spotlight Red 

The Wet n wild lipstick in Spotlight red has survived quite a few of my declutters. This lipstick is super affordable and gives intense colour payoff. This is also a long lasting lipstick so I feel safe to wear this when I’m eating, drinking etc without worrying about it. Bonus it makes your teeth look nice and white.

The bright red

Bite Beauty Cayenne is described as a bright red. I love this lipstick. I really like bite beauty lipsticks, if I had to pick this formula and the Burt’s Bees formula are my all time favourite lipstick formulas. This has a beautiful opaque finish in one swipe. It instantly brightens up any look and I absolutely loves the smell of it.

Bite Beauty Cayenne

The low maintenance red

Burt’s Bees Scarlet Soaked

Burt’s Bees Scarlet Soaked is possibly one of my most favourite reds. I find that it is the most low maintenance red you could have. You can blend it out to be a nice stain or have it to it’s full opacity. It is also easily fixable if it fades you can just press your lips together and it goes back to normal.

The liquid lip

Stila Beso

The Stila Liquid lipsticks are a great liquid lip formula, the only one that I really own. The shade beso is such an amazing true red and isn’t too matte. It fades beautiful into a stain like finish after you have eaten and drank anything. This is the only liquid lipstick other than the NYX soft matte lip creams that I have kept in my collection.

What is your favourite red lipstick? 

12 Days of Blogging Day 2: AM skincare routine

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As you may or may not know, one of my goals of 2018 was to find a skincare routine that works. That meant that I would have to try and try different products. I think I have finally found a AM skincare routine that works for me. I also have a PM skincare routine I shared on Instagram (cheeky plug you should follow me) in the little highlights section. But I plan on doing a blog post about that later! The biggest question I get on the daily: is how is your skin so glowy. The answer is skincare! It sounds cliche but it’s true, I using hydrating products, I drink water, and most importantly I was blessed with pretty blemish free skin due to my genes.

Something that I stopped doing when I moved out and started uni was using a cleanser in the morning. Instead I bought an obscene amount of face cloths and I started using a warm cloth in the morning. I find that by doing this I’m not stripping my skin of any of it’s natural oils but again if you want to use a gentle cleanser in the morning go right ahead, it’s all about what works for your skin. 

Next I used a toner. I have been loving the Thayers toner because it’s gentle balancing and hydrating. I use my hands with my toner, the K-beauty way. I usually squirt a bit into my hands and press it onto my face. After this I will spray my face with the Avene thermal water (which yes is a can of overpriced water

My next step is moisturizing. I use a lot of moisturizer. Like probably a bit too much. First I used about four pumps of my Neutrogena hydro boost serum and really press it into my skin. I will say, after using this serum for about 4 months my skin has greatly increased in hydration. I feel like when I don’t use this, I notice that my skin is a bit more dull. Again, this is personal preference but I like to use this every day morning and night. I don’t know if that’s too much but I do it!

After my hydrating serum I use a moisturizer. Usually about a pump and half of the Cerave moisturizing lotion. I’d like to try the cream as well as I’ve heard it’s a bit thicker and hydrating. The lotion is great for under makeup, it has hyaluronic acid and ceramides making it the perfect protector and hydrater in one.

What is your favourite skincare item? 

12 Days of blogging Day 1: The Beauty Gift Guide

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I wanted to do another gift guide – one for your friend or really anyone that would like these items. I wanted to curate something for you all if you are stumped on what to get someone in terms of beauty, body and skincare! Of course I candle is sauced in here too – because we all love candles. I didn’t want to name this a gift guide for her, because beauty is for ALL, not matter your gender identity beauty should be a space for folks who want to practice self care or just like makeup.

My first item is little eye shadow palettes – drugstore or high end. The one I have chosen for this guide is the Rimmel Crimson palette purely because of it’s festive nature. This is also a nice stocking filler as well.  Now – this isn’t by any means the palette you need to buy nor do you have to buy it, but I think that if you know someone that enjoys makeup or would like to foray into eye shadow any drugstore palette would be a great option. Covergirl (also cruelty free) makes AMAZING eye shadow palettes. I have hit pan on almost every shade of their nudes palette and two shades on their roses palette. Rimmel makes good ones, as does Milani. NYX has a variety but they are more on the pricier side.

The second suggestion I have is some skincare. I for one LOVE trying and buying new skincare. I think that if you know someone in your life who loves skincare – the Summer Fridays Jet lag mask or the Summer Fridays Overtime mask is are two great options. They are pricey – but in my opinion anyone would like them. The Jet Lag mask is perfect for hydration and I have rather sensitive skin and it works really well for me. Same with the Overtime mask (which I always use after night shift) and it just refreshes and brightens my skin. I also wanted to throw in a Lush product. Now, Lush makes so many good things – and is a brand that I can always get behind. They also sell a lot of other things like bath bombs, body creams, body wash, shampoo, face masks. Anything skincare and scented, Lush is your one stop shop for literally everyone on your list. The next skincare related item is the Fresh lip balms. These are hands down the BEST lip balms that I have ever used. They are again pricey, but I feel like if you want to get someone that one nice item they will use all the time, getting them a beautifully packaged lip balm is a great gift.

Next is body care. Personally, as I said before I love the Lush body creams (particularly dream cream) but the Body Shop ones are just a great. I LOVE their Christmas scents this year. I think that if you don’t know what to get someone, the body shop is always a good bet. If you know they don’t like scents go with the Almond Milk and Honey or the Aloe range. If you know someone that loves a good festive scent – go with the Peppermint range!
Ah yes the non beauty related one but a self care favourite. I know you can’t access these candles…but I swear you can use any candle but I think a great addition to any gift is a beautiful festive scent. Personally, I love the Forest Glen Candle co Flannel scent and basically any of the scents. I think it’s always a nice touch for anyone you know to add a nice scent onto any gift.

Project Pan Roulette: Update 1

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Ah yes. The first update to my project pan roulette. This is a huge collaborative project with a ton of amazing YouTubers and Instagramers. I’ve made some stellar progress on some items and less on others. It was started by Rebecca Morgan and Alexandra Sjösten. If you want to join just message one of them for the categories. 

A drugstore product

Intro
Update 1

The Physicians Formula butter blush.  This has no progress – I used it a lot this during November but again, the butter butter items from Physicians Formula are super difficult to go through. Hope to get get a least a little bit of a dip by the next update.

Something in your favourite shade

Intro
Update 1

The Body shop eye shadow is cyprus bronze. Again, not a lot of progress on this one. I didn’t really gravitate towards it but am hoping to get more use out of it before the next update.

A product you always buy on sale

The Maybelline luscious lashes mascara is really nice, but it’s so difficult to take of at the end of the night. Even with an oil makeup remover, it is so hard to get off my lashes without looking like you are losing your lashes. I’m hoping by March to have this done as it will be expired and hopefully done.

An old favourite

Intro
Update 1

The Lipstick in Burt’s Bees suede splash definitely is showing some progress. I LOVE this shade so much. It is the perfect, dark, rose brown nude. It feels nice on the lips and is a simple lipstick to throw in your hand bag and use while you are on the go.

A product you’ve already hit pan on

Intro
Update 1

The ELF golden bronzer. The existing pan has definitely expanded since the intro. This is a really nice winter bronzer since it’s not super pigmented. I have been layering it with other bronzer or over cream bronzers for a bit of a glow. I hoping by March 5 to expand the pan by quite a lot.

A collab product

Intro
Update 1

For this one I chose the Colourpop Super Shock eye shadow in shade cornelius. This is one of the products that has shown a lot of progress. I use this almost everyday under my eye shadow look or just as an eye shadow with a bit of highlighter on the inner corner.

Let’s be friends: 

Instagram: @thegordonedit

Twitter: @thegordonedit

Flatlay of all products

Things I liked and did: October and November

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I missed this post last month cause I just didn’t have a ton of stuff to discuss! I decided to combine October and November. I  have had an interesting past few months in terms of life decisions and experiences that are the beginning of this adult life. I also have a flop I wanted to share because it didn’t warrant a full review!

Makeup

Physicians Formula highlighter - open, pearly white shade with a creamy texture
Hourglass ambient lighting unlocked palette - all shades being displayed including finishing powders, bronzer, nude blush, plum blush and champagne highlighter.
Nudestix Pencils three shades
Covergirl Palette - open

The Physicians Formula butter highlighter. Since this is in my project pan 12 Pans of Christmas I have been using this quite a bit. I love it. I liked it when I got it but because I’m always trying new things I often forget to give myself the time to really love something. It gives that beautiful satin sheen to the skin without being glittery and can be built up to full opacity. I really have been enjoying this and want to keep using for my rolling 10 pan in 2019.

Hourglass Ambient unlocked palette. All I can say is this is luxury beauty dreams. This palette isn’t the best value for money but it’s so convenient. It has everything you need for an entire look! Including eye shadow, which is amazing! All the powders seamlessly blend onto the skin and make for that lit from within look. Unfortunately this is only available in select stores now so my review isn’t really needed anymore if you can’t access it! Due to the strike I got this quite late then I was working so alas! If you would still like a review comment below. 

Covergirl Trueblend Super Stunner Highlighting palette in the shade  it’s lit . I talked about this in my highlight round up. These are great highlighters. A bit on the powdery side but don’t come off as powdery on the skin. All the shades work on my skin tone and they have another palette as well. I have been enjoying this also on the eyes as an inner corner highlighter. Can’t recommend this enough. Covergirl also just went cruelty free!

Nudestix eye pencils. Can confirm – these do not crease. Literally every other fricken eye pencil I’ve used creases. Not these! I love all Nudestix products and these are no exception. They blend beautifully with a finger or a brush and give enough dimension to make it look like you have a few different colours on. I also like to use them for that “model off duty” look I attempt to go for.

Skincare

GlamGlow moisturizer - nude shade
Vichy Thermale Cleanser - white bottle, blue cap.

Glamglow mega illuminating moisturizer. I never thought I would buy a $62 moisturizer but I have. This is a beautiful effective moisturizer. It gives the right amount of dew that and sits beautifully under makeup.

Vichy 3 in 1 cleanser. This was a product I bought on a whim at shoppers. I was curious about its effect as it’s a three in one cleanser. I have to say since I’ve started using this my skin has been a lot clearer than it used to be. Not that it was bad before but I find this is so nice and gentle my skin isn’t the slightest bit irritated

Other stuffs

Being a coach again! I still love coaching and learn something new each time from my former coach and mentor. I love teaching the skaters and giving them life lessons while I’m at it (just like my coach used to do for me). It’s nice to be home and be able to volunteer at a place I love volunteering for.

The flop


The biggest flop of the past two months is the Covergirl Trueblend liquid foundation. This is the one shoppers sent me and it’s not what I ordered … and they never responded … in any case I kept it because upon swatching it on the back of my hand it was fresh and dewy. I thought great maybe a dupe for the Body Shop Fresh nude foundation (I really must do a review on this one as I haven’t yet). wrong I was. This foundation gave my skin quite the reaction and looked horrible on my skin. It was breaking up and emphasizing peach fuzz and also it didn’t sit well under powder. I really wanted to like it but alas tis a flop.

Up next: Project pan roulette update 1, Beauty gift guide

12 Pans of Christmas: Update 1

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It’s that time of year, the time for my first 12 Pans of Christmas update. I LOVE the items in this project and have been really enjoying using them. I don’t wear a lot of makeup to work – generally I use the Physicians Formula butter highlighter when I go to work because I love having a glimmer but this is definitely the product I’ve used the most. I also don’t have specific goals for these items. Mostly, I would just like to get use out of them and maybe finish up my Gosh foundation.

The base products

All my base products have the same story, you cannot tell how much I’ve used. The Andalou Naturals CC Cream is the easiest to tell the progress. I think I’m close to being done but there is so much product in the tube. As you can tell by the tube it’s quite well loved. Same with the Gosh foundation, I cannot tell how much I’ve used but I have been using this mixed in with the Andalous Naturals cc cream so it is definitely feeling lighter in weight. This foundation is alright. I do like that it doesn’t feel heavy on the skin or make my skin react, but it’s probably my oldest foundation (about a year and a bit old) so I’d like to see this done by the end of the project. The collection lasting perfect concealer – again I can’t really tell how much I’ve used but I LOVE this concealer. I swear if any of you UK people want to send me a lifetime supply after I run out of all my other concealers please do let me know. The Too Faced sculpting multi use concealer. This concealer will last me forever, but my opinion has not changed. I don’t think this is worth the money for the pure reason that my drugstore concealers perform the same way if not better. It’s all just brand preference! I like Too faced as a brand so I’m happy to work my way through this.

The eye products

Intro
Update 1
Intro
Update 1

My Naked heat has no goal – really I just want to put a dent in my most used shades. The shade sauced is one that I used almost every day. There is an evident dip. I have really been enjoying this palette and want to do a three looks one palette type of post. This is the perfect rusty warm toned palette that suits all my needs. The bite beauty multistick, I haven’t made a whole lot of progress on this one – it has been used but I can tell its drying out a bit since the packaging broke and is no longer magnetic. Hopefully I can use this a bit more.

The Highlighters

Intro
Update 1
Intro
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These are all showing good progress – in my humble opinion anyways. The Nudestix nudies all over face stick in illuminaughty is a really interesting highlighter, in a good way! It doesn’t completely dry down but also doesn’t go away so you get that glossy sheen all day long. As you can see – the progress isn’t significant but it’s there. I used this the other day under my makeup and it worked really well for an inner glow. The Physicians formula butter highlighter. There is definitely more of a dip in this, but I have really been enjoying it…like a lot. I always buy highlighters on a buy, try, review basis. Okay maybe not all of the time but this one was a highlighter I bought with my bff so we’d having matching ones and then I only used it  twice. I have been LOVING this. It’s a beautiful creamy, satin formula and goes with so many looks. The NARS Forte De France highlighter, this is also been going well. I still love this, you can’t really see any progress but this is quite tightly packed so I don’t see myself hitting pan anytime soon.

The random three products

Intro
Update 1
Intro 
Update 1
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Update 1

Wet n wild oaks on you contour bronze stick – this is nice. It’s not my favourite but I have been enjoying it. I haven’t really used it a lot this past month but want to start using it more as it is a nice shade and blends out really nicely. The Hourglass ambient lighting palette in surreal light. These are kind of domed marble products but I can tell I’ve used quite a lot and the pans are becoming more flat. Finally, the Burt’s Bees lipstick in Scarlet soaked – I had a feeling this wouldn’t show much progress. I was right – only looks a bit shorter because of the angle but my goal is to get it down to nearer to the notch that’s already in the lip stick.

Do you have any projects on the go? How are they going?

Local Gift Guide

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If you didn’t know or haven’t figured out by I live in a really small town. Similar to Stars Hollow without a Luke’s (which by the way would be a great idea) but I guess the 17 is sort of a similar vibe if you were looking for something like that. In any case if you have seen on my Instagram – I sometimes say my location is in Blind River. My hometown, that I never really wanted or thought I would end up in but have somehow found a job in my field and am living at home, so really it was a blessing in disguise! I really wanted to do a local gift guide – and while most of you can’t access these wonderful items I think it’s really important to emphasize a shop local mindset. When I can, I like contributing to local businesses in my town and support local people. I wanted to highlight some great little stores you can get some holiday shopping done at!  As a disclaimer, I wanted to say that I understand that local shopping can be pricey and this comes from a privileged point of view to be able to shop local. I am in no way opposed to shopping big box stores because for a lot of folks that is the most affordable for the majority of people. Without further ado please enjoy my little curation of local gifts for everyone on your list. 

The Birch Tree

This is your classic knick knack store. It’s really not comparable to other stores I’ve been in. The closest I could think of is Claire De Lune but even then The Birch Tree has a really good variety of things. Clothing, jewelry, candles, decor, food items, purses, scarves. soap! Anything you might want to buy someone – they even sell olive oil and balsamic vinegar they order from a store in Sudbury. For this gift guide I got a few knick knacks they sell. My personal favourite items to buy from the Birch Tree is soap from the Old Soul Soap Company. They sell wonderful smelling bar soap, shower steamers, body butters, breathe easy chest rubs, lip balms and bath bombs! The best thing about this soap is it really moisturizes your skin and doesn’t leave your body feeling stripped. If you are looking for some great stocking stuffers their unique food items like the gourmet coffee from Orange Grate that’s located in Mississauga ON and an Onion Chive dip mix are great bits to put in someones stocking! They also sell little zero waste tools such as beeswax wraps and bowl covers!

Le Beau Corset

The local bra store – might be seen as scandalous to some but it’s a great little shop. My mom loves their bras and I love their underwear. They sell lovely brands that you can find at big box stores but are right here in our little town. I personally love the blush underwear in the hipster style and the blush bralettes. They also sell skincare and personal care items. If you are looking for a more zero waste or low waste beauty item this is the place to go. They have face cream, body cream, and serums! I bought the shampoo bar. They sell a brand called the Naked Beauty Soap Co where everything is made in a near by called Thessalon that makes zero waste beauty items!

Haggars

The local clothing store. My mom also loves this store. She tends to buy me items from here. They sell your run of the mill brands including Silver Jeans, Under Armour, Bench and Columbia. I recently bought a few clothing items from there and love them! They also sell the classic roots style socks there and fun printed socks for men and women. You can find gifts for everyone on your list- they sell scarves, jewelry, accessories and both men and women’s clothing.

Forest Glen Candle co

My favourite candle place. This is ran by a young women named Courtney who is about a year older than me, amazing! She makes great, clean candles that fill the whole room with the scent. I need to go buy more winter scents…in any case they have expanded into selling reusable produce bags and other Eco-friendly goodies. Don’t forget there is also a beautiful photography studio done by Courtney’s friend Sarah who is a wonderful photographer! If you have a friend that loves scents and zero waste goodies this is a great place to check everyone off your list. 

The Timber Village Museum

This is perhaps one of my most favourite places to find locally created art and gifts. You can find anything for everyone on your Christmas list. I picked up a few items I think would make great gifts. First is a sugar scrub in the lavender scent from Lakeside acres goat milk soap products. I love everything I have tried from this brand. This is a perfect gift for anyone on your list and smells lovely. The museum also has different art shows and most recently (it’s still going on) is an acrylic on canvas show created by two local artists. I bought two of the mini paintings. These would make a great gift for anyone that loves art! The knick knacks here are great for stockings, if you know someone that loves ornaments why not buy a nice handmade one? As well they have a variety of cards that are different. This gives a card a special edge if they are handmade and you are supporting a local artist!

What is your favourite place to shop where you live? 

Drugstore Highlighter Round up

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The Instagram wanted a highlighter round up so here I am, doing a highlighter round up. I have rounded up all my drugstore powder highlighters (because I’m going to do a cream post later on) for you. There are not many standards I have for a highlighters as I basically like all of them. Metallic, glossy, satin, subtle you name it.

Maybelline

The Maybelline master chrome highlighter is one of the most beautiful highlighters I have ever experienced. Period. Not just “for drugstore”. It can be applied with a brush or with a finger and if its blended into the skin it can give a less metallic look. Its creamy and buildable. I think that if you want a highlighter that has the same popping metallic sheen (not glittery) as Champagne pop this is the highlighter for you.  

Covergirl

The Covergirl highlighter palette in “It’s Lit”.  This is a beautiful palette. The highlighters aren’t quite as bright as the Maybelline but they are buildable. They colours are all great for my skin tone and they do have a darker palette. I really like this. It is more on the powdery side but I find on the skin it doesn’t come across as that “powdery” cakey look.

Joe Fresh

This highlighter is the most beautiful subtle light champagne shade. It does kick up quite a bit of powder, but on the skin it gives a nice inner glow vibe. The drawback is there is only two shades. This highlighter gives off a subtle glow so if you are a beginner with highlight this is a good one to go with.

Essence

Similar to the Joe Fresh highlighter this one gives a nice sheen as well. It’s more of a subtle nude highlighter but on the cheek gives a nice glow without being glittery. I would say this highlighter has almost a peachy undertone to it and gives a nice “nude glow” as the name might suggest. This is also only $5 so is a steal!

Annabelle

The Annabelle perfect glow highlighters are the hidden gems of the Canadian drugstore. These are smooth and buttery and look beautiful on the skin. It gives a nice glow without being chunky and rivals some of its higher end counterparts.

ELF pressed highlighter in starlight glow

This highlighter is a beautiful. It gives a nice subtle sheen and can be built up to be a popping highlight. There are a ton of shades and the formula is smooth and easy to work with.

Wet n wild

Perhaps the most chunky highlight of the bunch. Don’t get me wrong – this is a great highlighter but of all of them this is the most high shine metallic one that has that initial chunky application. However, personally this isn’t a highlighter that I don’t gravitate towards as much as others, however it is a nice formula and I recommend this if you want a super high shine highlighter.

ELF baked highlighter

I have recently rediscovered this highlighter. I love that it gives a nice subtle glow. It has a beautiful sheen without being glittery. 

What is the main difference that I see between high end and drugstore highlighters? The lasting power. Some of these – like th ELF baked highlighter fad quite quickly despite using a setting spray. However, the covergirl and maybelline I find have the best lasting power (at least on my skin) of all the highlighters I mentioned.

Products on the Chopping block: Update

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Sorry folks, it has been more than two weeks. I got busy! But I have quite the update for you on the items from my last post. It was actually really telling how my tastes have changed from when I bought these products to what I use now! 

What I’m keeping

Wet n wild photo focus foundation. Okay so. I mixed this with my body shop drops of Youth Essence – beautiful finish. Bear in mind I really sheer it out so I can barely feel it on my skin. I think sheering out helps but again, the smell is off putting. I think I’m going to keep this for more of the spring-summer months.

The Rimmel Contour kit. I wish Rimmel would make the bronzer in a single because I have really been enjoying using it. When I first got this before using any other bronzers I thought this was so pigmented but as I was using it, the bronzer gives really a nice warm glow to the skin and you can’t really over do it (at least in my opinion). I’m going to keep this just for the bronzer and try to hit pan on it in the next year. 

The Elf baked highlighter in blushed gems. I really like this product and will be keeping it. As I have used it more – I really like the subtle highlight it gives the cheeks. I have been into that for work and such so this definitely has a place in my collection. 

What I’m not keeping

Burt’s Bees goodness glows foundation. I CANNOT make this work. I really wish I could make this work but it just doesn’t melt into the skin in the way literally all of my other foundations do. Alas, this is going to be thrown out – which I hate to do but I don’t think anyone I know would want this foundation.

ELF contour kit. I didn’t reach for this. Once. It’s a great product but I don’t use it. I’ll try to see if anyone I know wants this but if not then it will have to go. The same goes for the ELF baked bronzer in St. Lucia. I didn’t reach for this AT ALL. I think that just proves that this isn’t a product I use anymore. I used to use it all the time but again, I’ve discovered bronzers I like better than this one.

The Wet n wild cream blushes. I didn’t reach for these. At all. They are not bad products at all. But, I have other cream blushes I prefer. Again, since these aren’t very old I’m going to see if anyone in my life wants them and if not they’ll have to be tossed. 

The Wet n wild comfort zone palette. Again, I have accepted I am a warm neutrals, light pink and brown eye shadow girl. I just do not reach for this. Since getting my NYX Olive You palette this one sits on the back burner. Again, I will see if someone in my life would like this palette but if not unfortunately I will be throwing it out.

Have you decluttered anything lately? 

Sephora VIB Sale Haul

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This haul is kind of cheating – I bought a few of these items after the sale but I wanted to include them in this haul! This is a very skincare heavy haul but I have been wanting to revamp and try a few new higher end skincare items. First I will start with the sale items then go into the items I picked up after the sale.

The skincare

I fell into the Instagram aesthetic trap. I bought both Summer Fridays masks. The Jet lag mask and the overtime mask. I have tried both a few times and they are wonderful. I haven’t formed my full thoughts to do a review just yet but will in the future. The next two skincare items are got are both hydrating products. I bought the GlamGlow illuminating moisturizer in nude glow. It smells like a creamsickle and is AMAZING. It gives a beautiful glow and I like to use this when I have an early shift. I also picked up the Kiehl’s ginger and hibiscus firming mask. I used a sample of this and it was great.

The makeup

I broke ya’ll. I picked up the Hourglass Ambient lighting edit unlocked palette. I wasn’t going to pick this up but couldn’t resist the late night shopping so alas it happened. I LOVE this palette. I want to do a full review in due time because it is so beautiful and these are all new powder shades which is even more exciting.

The non sale stuffs

I really love Nudestix and want to do a brand focus on them. Their products are lovely and their brand story is great, and as an added bonus they are Canadian. I got both of their new limited edition holiday sets. The gloss balm set and the smokey golden eyes set. I really like both of these so far and can’t wait to try them out a bit more. The second product I got is the Too Faced Hangover Rx setting spray. I know what you may be thinking – Chrisinda you just got the Rimmel one. Unfortunately the Rimmel one makes my skin feel and look quite dry so it’s going to just have to be an eye shadow intensifier.

Did you pick up anything during the sale?

12 Pans of Christmas

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I’m SO EXCITED to start the 12 pans of Christmas. I also wanted to announce that instead of doing blogmas I think I’m going to a 12 days of blogging or something just to make it easier on myself so I can balance all the adult things in my life.  Stay tuned for later in December.

I’m really excited to start this project since my 13 by Halloween was so successful I am really excited to start this project. I have selected 12 items and this project will end on Dec 31. This project is a shortie but goodie.

Foundations and Concealers

I wanted to chose a few foundations that I have and that are a bit older in my collection to attempt to use up for this project. First is the Gosh Foundation Drops. I do really like these and I think that I can use a lot of them up. I don’t wear foundation to work as its long shifts but otherwise on my days off I will be either wearing this on its own or mixing it. I also wanted to utilize the Andalous Naturals CC cream sheer tint because I am very close to using this up and since it’s so sheer it’s great for work and otherwise. Okay so controversial – and you all know my feelings on this concealer, but I want to try to use the Too Faced Scuplting concealer because it is so light and brightening I think it might work well for my winter skin. I also wanted to throw in another concealer that is a bit “older” in my collection (I got it in July but you know I love it and want to use it) is the Collection Lasting Perfection concealer.

The Eye Products

I want to use my Bite Beauty MultiStick in Brioche. I really like this on the eye and mixed in with a lip gloss and on the cheeks when applied with fingers and sheered out. For an eye shadow palette the Naked Heat. I really do love this palette and it’s really a classic warm toned palette that can work for several holiday looks.

Did I select too many highlighters? Yes I did.

I LOVE the Nars forte de France Highlighter so I thought I would throw it in this project. You might notice all of these highlighters are in my makeup stash Fridays posts but I thought in an effort to use up things in my collection I’d put them in this project. I also chose the Physicians Formula Butter Highlighter in Pearl. This is a beautiful icy highlighter that has a stain finish. The third highlighter I want to use is my Nudestix illuminaughty Highlighter. I really like this for just an everyday easy glossy highlighter. As for goals, I know I realistically won’t hit pan, but I want to just make a dent in these items. 

The Face palette and Random wet n wild product.

I feel like I always have some sort of wet n wild product in my projects. I want to use the Wet n Wild Contour stick in Oaks on You. I actually really like this product I just rarely stray from my powder products and from my Nudestix Cream bronzer. I also wanted to throw in the Hourglass Ambient lighting palette in surreal light. I use this all the time. It’s so easy for work, everyday and can be built up to glowy goodness. I also wanted to throw in a red lipstick because it is the holiday season after all. I love the Burt’s Bees Lipstick formula and equally love the shade Scarlet Soaked. It\s a low maintenance red that is good for every day but can be built up to full opacity for holiday gatherings etc.

Are you planning on panning anything for the holiday season? 

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