Finish Six by Christmas Reveal!

Hello everyone! I hope you had an awesome holiday and enjoyed the break! I know I definitely appreciated being with family and ate way too much food! I am still currently enjoying the Christmas/New Year's holidays, but will resume my regular blogging schedule.

So without further ado, here's how my Finish Six by Christmas challenge went!

Sugar Lip Treatment: Clear (finished!)

Back in November

By Christmas!

Now this may look like an easy balm to finish off, but it certainly lasted a while! I was using this every day the week before Christmas, trying to finish off every little bit! I loved this lip balm's smell, which made it easy to use, and I also applied it nearly every night before bedtime. Overall, I'm proud of myself for using up this balm, has I've had it for a while, and now I can start on another one!

Makeup Forever Lipstick in No. 9
While I really liked the shade of this lipstick, the smell was quite unpleasant. (I can't describe it other than old-ladyish, classic smelling). While I liked the shade, I couldn't stand the smell, and I only ended up wearing it about three times. It's a shame, because this lipstick in quite pretty, and I don't have a shade like this in my collection.

Elizabeth Arden Skin Renewal Serum
I thought this was nearing it's last dredges, but this stuff kept coming and coming! I haven't finished this yet, but I'm okay with that, as I really enjoy how soft this makes my skin feel. I'm looking forward to finishing it up over the next month or so.

Burt's Bees' Super Shiny Lipgloss in Sweet PinkI believe I used this once or twice, but with all the other lip products I was using, this one fell to the wayside. I enjoyed using this lipgloss in the past, but I really don't wear gloss that often anymore, and it's more of a special occasion type thing. Nowadays, I'm more likely to wear a neutral lipstick than a gloss. Plus, I hate the hair getting caught in gloss situation that often happens. I thought this was one of the few glosses that wasn't too sticky, but nevertheless, it was still moderately sticky. I don't think I'll finish this off, as I simply was not drawn to wear it.

NARS Pore Refining Primer (finished!)
I almost forgot about this one! I enjoyed how this primer made my skin feel, and was able to finish this one easily, as it only had one use in it anyway.

Decco perfume sample (finished)
This sample was easily finished off, as I was just able to use it once. I won't repurchase it again, as I simply don't enjoy perfume that much, and no matter how much I appreciate the scent, it becames too strong after a while. I much prefer body sprays that have a pleasant scent and then eventually fade.

So overall, I finished 3 out of the 6 products I started with. Not bad, considering three of them were lip products, which I rarely use! For my first finishing challenge, I'm pretty happy! I'm hoping I'll do as well in my Finish 4 by the 14th challenge!

Were there any products you wanted to finish by Christmas? Let me know in the comments below!

Finish Four by Feb 14!

I think it's time for another finishing challenge! I know I still haven't completed by Finish Six by Christmas challenge, but I wanted to give myself a full two months to use up these products! Since it is incredibly hard to finish products, my goal for two of the products will be to diminish them rather than finish them.

Lip Smackers Lip Balm in Kiwi
I've had this a long time and it definitely needs to be used up! I've been so encouraged with my progress on the Sugar Fresh Lip Balm that I've decided to use up my other lip balms as well! This scent is quite yummy, and has certainly gotten some love!

Revlon Illuminance Cream Shadow in Copper Canyon
I've been working on that white gold shade for a long time, and I feel if I wear it every day, I might be able to finish it up! I've finished one Revlon cream shadow shade before, so I'm more confident in my ability to do so.

Revlon Berry Bloom Quad
I bought this quad way back when this collection was still around. I'm still a little miffed I didn't buy the lavender quad in this collection, as these shadows are quite pigmented and fairly long lasting. They can be a tad chalky, but I'm not too worried about that. The top light pink shade is one I'm going to be focusing on in the next two months, and I'm excited to diminish it!

Skin Rx Microdermabrasion Face and Body Scrub
I received this in a topbox, and I want to finish it up! Since I only use it about once per week, it will last for a while, but I thought I'd add this skincare product in to mix things up a bit.

For those of you who were wondering why there were five items in the picture, I've included a bonus item:
Maybelline Moisture Extreme lipstick in Nude Blush
I don't wear a lot of lip products; thus, that is why this is a bonus item. This is such a beautiful pink shade, and it is super moisturizing, which is a plus! It feels so smooth and like I'm applying a balm. And it has a yummy watermelon scent! This has since been discontinued, but I did buy a backup when everyone on YT was raving about this lippie. Overall, this lipstick is one I'm focusing on diminishing, since I know I'll go through this much more slowly.

Why I'm On A Makeup Shopping Ban

It's been four months since I've purchased makeup at a physical store. I wanted to write a little about why I decided to go on an extended hiatus from purchasing makeup.

Now for some common questions:

How long is it? I'm hoping to keep it up at least for the next three months. My ideal goal would be till June 2016.

What does it include? This applies to all makeup both in physical stores and online. This does not include subscription boxes, as that is something I've thought about and have decided to keep for now

And now, why did I decide to go on a shopping ban? Mainly a couple of reasons. First, I have way too much makeup! Let me tell you a little story. Back when I got my first job, I wasn't interested in buying shoes or clothes. Makeup was my number one purchase. I went a little crazy in buying palettes and eyeshadows and eyeliners. So I cut back. And during my years in university, I was able to get down to a reasonable makeup budget. But since graduating university, my makeup spending has definitely climbed back up. Not to the same extent, but a little more than I'm comfortable with.

Final Notes: I know some bloggers haven't included necessary repurchases such as eyeliner or mascara, but since I have a good stash, I don't anticipate running out any time soon. Same with foundation, powder, etc. In a couple weeks I'll post a shopping list and talk about makeup items I'm hoping to buy after the ban is over!

Have you even gone on a makeup shopping ban? How did it go? Let me know in the comments!

December Topbox Sneak Peek!

Look what came in the mail today!! Topbox is definitely on their game, shipping these out a little earlier than usual! I requested the Benefit privé box and was pleased to see this in my package! The privé boxes are not guaranteed if you request them. 

I'm super excited to try out these new products, especially the They're Real Tinted Lash Primer and the Gimme Brow Volumizing Fiber Gel! Look for a review at the end of the month!

Pan That Palette Finale!

And it's time for a (possibly final) update on my Pan That Palette series! I'm pleased to say that this month I've made some decent progress on some of my shadows, and I have enjoyed using most of them!

So first up, the L'Oreal Bit of Glam quad!

As of October

As of December

 I know I didn't make much progress with the bottom left shade this month. And to be honest, I'm not really enjoying this shade as much as I want to. I simply have other taupe shades that I like better. So I'm going to leave this shade out of the next update. I might give you another update of this shade in a couple months, but for now, this will be the last of this shade for my Pan That Palette.

Next up, the Wet N' Wild palette in Paradise Cove!

As of December

This shade didn't get quite as much use as it could have, but I'm still excited about how much pan is showing! I think if I work at this one, I'll be able to use up most of it in a couple months!

And finally, my favorite shadow, Annabelle Cloud

October

 

December

While you may not see a huge difference, in real life, I can tell how much more pan is visible. I'm honestly really proud of myself for making it this far! I used this shadow quite a bit during the last month, and I'm happy with the progress!

Overall, I'm fairly happy with how I did in this challenge. I was able to increase a significant amount of pan in two of the shadows, and I used them quite a bit. I think this will be the last panning update for a while. I'm planning on taking a break from the panning challenge after this year is over. I'm thinking I would love to work with other kinds of shadows instead of limiting it to this three. I'll have a clearer picture in the new year as to where I want to go with this type of challenge. Until then, see you next time!

November Topbox Review!

Hey everyone! It's time for another review of November's topbox!!

For those who don't know, Topbox is a Canadian beauty subscription box service that delivers 4-5 products every month right to your door! So far, I've been pretty happy with the box I've received, and I love receiving regular presents in the mail!

I confess, I did peek on Instagram before I received the products, but the ones I was hoping for came, so that turned out alright! This package came in a beautiful baby blue organza bag....so pretty! The bag itself is slightly shimmery, and very professional-looking. I've already re-used one organza bag for upcoming Christmas gifts, and I can definitely see using this one as well!

Now, onto the contents! There are four different products in this month's topbox, a flyer for The Face Shop, and a promo code for Novia Scotia Fisherman products.

Nova Scotia's Fisherman Lip Balm. The first thing I noticed about this package was the smell...the whole bag smelled like salted caramel! If you're not a fan of the strong caramel scent, you probably won't like this lipbalm. I, however, love it! The best part about this balm is that it smells and amazing and doesn't leave your lips sticky, like actual salted caramel food or beverages. The lip balm itself has a harder consistency and does need to be warmed up before you can smoothly apply it to your lips. But I am in love with this balm simply because of the smell!

Skin Rx Microdermabrasion Face and Body Scrub
I received two tubes of this product...the bottles are so tiny you definitely need more than one! These smell fairly plain, slightly like clean sheets. It is certainly a very fine scrub, as there aren't any microbeads, but rather has a consistency of sand/sugar particles amongst the foam. So far, I've enjoyed this gentle scrub, and it hasn't felt too abrasive on my skin.

The Face Shop Face Mask - Puppy
I was quite happy to receive another face mask, though I do think the artwork looks a little creepy! This mask is adorable with the puppy design. As I already have other masks I'm waiting to use, I did not try this mask out yet, but look for a review coming up in the next month or so! It comes in several other animals, including a pig, cow, monkey, and zebra. Note: I could not find these masks on the North American version of the site, but they are on eBay and Amazon!

Benefit Air Patrol Anti-Aging Eye Primer
I honestly don't think I really need the anti-aging properties of this primer, but I was excited to try it! The only other eye primer I've tried is the Urban Decay Primer Potion, which I love. This primer has a much waterier consistency, and it is more opaque, covering any veins or discoloration on your eyelids. Unfortunately, it did not live up to its claims of increasing staying powder of your eyeshadow. Within half an hour after applying my eye makeup, I found it creasing. I don't have much discolaration on my eyelids, so I can't speak to those claims, but I did not find this helpful as an eyeshadow primer.

Overall, I was a little disappointed with the products this month, as I did not like the Benefit primer, and I feel that the lip balm should be a tad softer. The mask and face scrub are fine, though I wasn't too thrilled to be receiving another mask the second month in a row. I think I'll wait to see what I get in December's topbox before deciding if I'll continue on with topbox....we'll see!

If you're interested in subscribing to Topbox, you can sign up for their waiting list, or if you want to skip the wait, I can email you an invite!

November Makeup Basket!

I wanted to share with you what was in my current makeup basket, ie what products I used every week in November:

Skincare:
Noevir Facial Cleanser
Noevir Moisturizer
MaskerAide Mask in All Nighter

Makeup:
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer
Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder
Annabelle Instant Perfecting Base - Luminous Finish
Maybelline Fit Me Foundation
Noevir lipgloss
Urban Decay Primer Potion
Benefit Air Patrol Eye Primer
Annabelle eyeshadow in Cloud
Annabelle trio in Haute Chocolate
NYX single in Iced Mocha
Wet N' Wild Comfort Zone palette
Revlon Colorstay Eyeliner in Brown
Benefit They're Real mascara
Sugar Lip Treatment
Nova Scotia Fishermen Salted Caramel lipbalm
Makeup Forever No. 9 lipstick

Finish 6 By Christmas!

 

In the spirit of using up my makeup, I thought I'd try this bold challenge to finish 6 products by Christmas! I have less than 40 days to go, but I figure I'd try this anyway! And the products I've picked are all sample size, so the odds of finishing this challenge aren't astronomical. :)

Full disclosure here: I have a really hard time using up my makeup. Whenever I use things like skincare or eyeshadow, I tend to only use a much as needed and don't tend to pile product on. I've never finished a lipstick, and hit pan on a handful of eyeshadows. So this challenge is a way for me to use a little bit more, and also enjoy products I haven't used in a long time.

Sugar Lip Treatment - Clear
This lipbalm smells so delicious! It smells exactly like lemonade! That said, I do find that it leaves my lips a little dry after it's worn off, so it's not my favorite. It's also a tad sticky, so I don't think I'll repurchase. I do, however, think I'll be able to finish it before Christmas!

Makeup Forever Lipstick in No. 9
Like many of us, I received this in a sample size during a Sephora Beauty Insider Birthday gift. While I didn't enjoy the Smoky mascara that came with it, I think this shade is pretty, as well as one that I would wear more often, since it's not too bold or bright.

Elizabeth Arden Skin Renewal Serum
I received this in last month's topbox and still haven't finished it yet. I know I'll be able to finish this one!

NARS Pore Refining Primer
I received this sample a way back, and again, I still haven't finished it! Another easy one.

Burt's Bees' Super Shiny Lipgloss in Sweet Pink
I don't wear lipgloss too much because I find they are usually too sticky for my taste. This gloss, however, is quite moisturizing, the glitter isn't super gritty, and does not make my lips sticky at all. I'm don't think I will finish this by Christmas, but we'll see!

And as a bonus, I thought I'd include the Deseo perfume sample for fun. I received it a long time ago, and have almost used it up. This one's just a little extra!

I know this will be a challenge, as I don't wear much more than lipbalm on a regular basis. I wanted to include mostly lip products to get myself a bit more comfortable wearing gloss or lipstick, and because they are way easier to use up than an eyeshadow! While this products may all seem easy to use up, I wanted my first challenge to be somewhat attainable. Wish me luck!

MaskerAide Review - "All Nighter"

I'm back with another review! This time it's the MaskerAide Mask in All Nighter that I received from last month's TopBox. Since I never use sheet masks, I literally had to schedule in some time to try out this one.

MaskerAide offers a variety to choose from, including masks to detox, refresh, heal, and repair your skin. This particular mask I received was to awaken and replenish dry and dull skin.



From MaskerAide's website:

"Apply our ALL NIGHTER sheet mask to awaken, refresh and replenish your skin. The cooling effects of the mask will help de-puff and awaken your eyes, while natural Peppermint Oil awakens your senses. Aloe, Argan Oil, Heartleaf (a powerful detoxifier), Honey, Super Fruit and Cactus Extracts work together to erase the signs of the previous night and get you “boardroom” ready!"

That sure sounds great! I wore this mask after a late night out and definitely needed some refreshment! First of all-and this was surprising-the mask was really cold! I certainly wasn't expecting it to be so cool to wear, as a mask newbie. I wore it for about ten minutes.

The mask has the basic eye, nose, and mouth cutouts to properly adhere to your face. Although the mask was a tad big for me, it wasn't too noticeable, and I was glad I could wear it, as I've heard reviews about some masks that are twice the size of one's face!

I did find that a couple sensitive areas on my face felt a little irritated, specifically breakouts that were still healing, probably due to the peppermint oil. However, after I finished wearing the mask, my skin felt much softer and smoother (specifically my cheeks), and slightly tingly. I will say that prior to wearing the mask, I had some dryness around my forehead area, and this mask did not help with that dryness. However, that fresh feeling lasted for several hours, and I am fairly pleased with the results of this mask.

Have you ever tried any MaskerAide masks? What are your thoughts on them?

Pan that Palette (or duo or single)!

One of the recent trends I've enjoyed watching this past year is the panning trend. It's been all over YouTube in the makeup community of people trying to use up their makeup and get their money's worth. A recent trend called Pan that Palette has surfaced this year, where you try to hit pan on every eyeshadow in your palette. So I've decided to commit to panning my palettes, singles, and trios, and will be posting updates every couple of months.

I actually started working on certain eyeshadows back in August. First up, is my Bit of Glam quad by L'Oreal. This came out way back during their Golden Globes collection. My goal was to try to use up the bottom left shade.

Bit of Glam back in August

As of October

The second eyeshadow is from the old Wet N' Wild palette in Paradise Cove. This has since been discontinued. The one shade I love from this palette is the bottom left shade. It is a gorgeous pale pink with a hint of lavender. Beautiful in a neutral or smokey purple look. This shadow has been easy to use up since it isn't as pigmented, and the pans are quite shallow

See how much pan is showing? That's pretty rare!

October 2015 - I was so happy with the progress!

Thirdly is the Annabelle single in Cloud. Longtime viewers of this blog will remember this one being mentioned in previous posts. I bought it several years ago on my birthday, and I have loved this shadow to pieces, as I've used in numerous times for a classic, neutral eye. This shadow is also quite pigmented and nicely packed, so it has taken years to get to this point. Unfortunately, you really can't see the difference too much:

My beloved shadow!

It's really hard to see, squint and spot the difference!

While that doesn't look like much, it's sure come a long way from when I first hit pan on the eyeshadow...

I'm always amazed at how tiny that first bit of pan looks!

I'm excited to keep up with this trend of using up our stash! I'll be back with another update probably by the end of the year!

October TopBox Review!!

Time for the monthly TopBox review!! This was my first ever TopBox, so I was really excited to see what I'd receive.

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Favorite Eyeshadow looks for every season!

So in my extended hiatus, I've certainly been experimenting with a variety of eyeshadow looks. I recently acquired the Urban Decay Book of Shadows IV palette, and the Ammo palette, which has given me a variety of colours to work with. I wanted to share some of my favorite eyeshadows for spring, summer, and fall, and once we get snow, I'll share some of my favorite winter eyeshadows!!

Spring 2015: I really enjoyed using Sin (the lower shadow on the right) on the lid, and a variety of other shades in the crease for a quick, polished look. Last Call (the burgundy) looked great in the crease, as did Smog (the golden brown shade). Maui Wowie is another gorgeous shade on the lid, though it does have a a decent amount of glitter.

Summer 2015: I didn't wear too much makeup during the summer, but when I did, I turned to bronzes and coral shades...they are perfect summer colours!

Fall 2015: Now that the leaves have changed colour and I'm wearing scarves again, I've turned to more taupes and deeper shades.Specifically, the lower half of the Book of Shadows plaette has some great neutral colors for fall. Bust is one of my favorite transition shades in the crease, and Missionary is great for an all-over shade. As well, I just love wearing purple...purple tops, sweaters, scarfs, and eyeshadow! Fall is the perfect time to break out the purple eyeshadow!

Well, those are some of my seasonal favorites! Let me know what favorite shades you have for every season!

Topbox!!

Hello, everyone! It's been a while, that's for sure. I wanted to update you all and let you know that I have jumped on the subscription box bandwagon and just signed up for TopBox! TopBox is a Canadian subscription service where you receive about 4 beauty products a month! It's $12 (plus tax), so it is one of the less expensive boxes out there. There is a wait list to get the box, but it varies from within a week to about a month, so not too long. If you all are interested, you can post your email and I can send you an invite so you can skip the waitlist!

Topbox charges you the month before they send you the box. Mine should be coming in a couple weeks, and I'm excited to share and review the new products with you!

Have any of you tried beauty subscription boxes? What do you think of them? Let me know in the comments below