Colourpop has been launching so many things lately! Their lip products have been my fave but I was so intrigued by the new pressed powder stuff. I tried to love the super shock formula but I found it kinda hard to work with, or just harder than the "average" product. I picked up the Colourpop Pressed Powder Bronzer in Rodeo Drive. 

Prior to purchasing I couldn't figure out what shade of bronzer I wanted so I thought I'd do this swatch comparison post to help guide you. I'm thinking this is going to be a little dark, it's super pigmented and I'll need to tread lightly. I should be able to make it work. 

Make Up For Ever Pro Bronze Fusion 35M
Colourpop Rodeo Drive Bronzer
Becca Sunlit Bronzer Ipanema Sun
Too Faced Milk Chocolate Bronzer 

Colourpop No Filter Concealer Swatches

I'm a little late to chatting about the Colourpop No Filter Concealers for a number of reasons but alas, I finally got my hands on them! These have been so hyped up so I was super curious. Full disclosure, I haven't tried them yet - I'm holding on to use them in an upcoming get ready with me on my YouTube Channel. I did however want to get these swatches up as I had a hard time finding many comparisons. On first swatch impression they seem like they will be quite full coverage, hoping they have enough of a yellow undertone to suit me! 

"Our lightweight, creamy concealer was formulated with soft blurring pigments to give you a creaseproof, matte finish. No filter needed."

Colourpop No Filter Concealer 20 Light - light with warm undertones 
Colourpop No Filter Concealer 30 Medium - medium with warm undertones 
Colourpop No Filter Concealer 35 Medium Tan - medium tan with warm undertones 

tarte Shape Tape - Medium 
NARS Creamy Concealer - Ginger 

Clinique Moisture Surge 72-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator

Clinique makes one of the first moisturizers I ever tried, it's a classic, the Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel. More recently, the Clinique Moisture Surge 72-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator and I was intrigued .. 72 hours?! It retails for $46 CAD at Sephora for 1.7 oz but it does come in some smaller sizes which I appreciate. 

"A refreshing gel-cream that provides an instant moisture boost—and is now enhanced to deliver almost twice as much hydration at the end of the day than it did before." I've also tried the original Moisture Surge and was surprised to like that. I have oily skin and I feel like I've heard a lot of dry skinned people enjoy it. The Clinique Moisture Surge 72-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator is no different, this is fab! I can't speak for all skin types but it is recommend for all. It's formulated with hyaluronic acid to reduce dryness, fine lines, wrinkles, dullness and uneven texture. It's also non-acnegenic and free of fragrance and oil. 

Overall, I really like this! I think it can be used both night and day, it makes great makeup prep! The texture is so light and gel like, but still leaves my skin feeling hydrated - most importantly not greasy. If you have a drier skin type you still may want to incorporate an oil - I have a few times and liked the result. I can't speak to the 72 hour hydration but I have really enjoyed incorporating it into my skincare routine. 

*This product was provided for my review, all opinions are my own. Links are affiliate. 

Clarins Open Spa Review + Giveaway!

 I was recently invited to check out the Clarins Open Spa which I think is such a fabulous idea. The majority of us are super busy, strapped for time but ironically we need time to unwind. 30 mins, $35 ... sounds pretty doable on the time and money front if you ask me! See the end of this post to win a treatment there yourself! It's located in at Hudson's Bay on Queen St so you need to be in the GTA to attend/win :)

"For those in a hurry, or who don’t have the luxury of spending an hour at the Spa, Clarins has concentrated all its skin care expertise and plant‑based knowledge into a series of 30‑minute treatments: enjoy a 10‑minute personalized consultation and a 20‑minute treatment for immediate results and a wonderful feeling of well-being."

I have oily, acne-prone skin so I went for the detox. It's meant to help balance your skin as well as to refresh and add radiance. If you have a different skin type or other skin concerns they have treatments for dry skin, restoring youth, eyes and reducing tension. The treatment left my skin feeling AMAZING and most importantly to me it felt so good to relax. The massage portion is my favourite, of course.  

Over the past few years I've fallen in love with Clarins skincare. I truly see results when I use it which I can't say for a lot of products. Some of my fave items were used in the treatment along with some of their pro line. So if you fall in love with any items during the process you can take pick them up for your own skincare routine. 

*this treatment and prize were provided by Clarins Canada. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Benefit Bad Gal Bang Mascara Review + Before and After

Benefit has been hinting at a huge new launch for the past few weeks and finally last week we discovered what it was - the Benefit Bad Gal Bang Mascara! I was actually invited to the Benefit Canada offices about 2 week ago to celebrate the launch and try it out for myself, see it in this Facebook live. 

It claims to be "a 36-hour, full-blast, volumizing mascara that creates massive volume without weighing down lashes" It retails for $23 USD/$32 CAD at Sephora and is also available in a mini size. For the time being at least, it seems to only come in the shade black. If packaging matters to you (which it does to me) it's super cute! I love the matte black and soft feel, and the lid is not only adorable but it helps for grip as well. 

I don't see a waterproof formula but it does claim to be water-resistant and 36 hours, this is not something I plan to test :) I do however find it is harder to get off my lashes than most of my other mascaras, similar to They're Real but not as stubborn.  I don't have issues with it smudging or transferring. In this case, being stubborn is not necessarily a bad thing as you want your mascara to stick around as long as possible - just use a good makeup remover! 

The formula for Benefit Bad Gal Bang Mascara is super black and contains B5 to help condition lashes. The brush itself is very, very small, with short plastic bristle in a slight conical shape. It's surprising how much volume you get with this brush, this is something I would expect only lengthening from. It really does lift and lengthen the lashes, A LOT but also has a great amount of volume. Because the brush is so slim and small it can be easy to over do it, that is where this mascara is unique. It doesn't have the big cumbersome brush you come to expect from volumizing mascaras but it does need to be applied in light layers to avoid clumping.

Overall, I really like this mascara! I think it does exactly what it claims (I can't vouch for the 36 hours thing). The price tag is up there, but it you have the money in your mascara budget and were looking to try, you should! 

*This product was provided for my review, all opinions are my own. 

NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation Swatches

This just in from NARS, the NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation. It comes in 33 shades (YAY) and retails for $48 USD/$60 CAD at Sephora. If you'd like to see a full review head to my YouTube Channel. 

NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation is "medium buildable coverage, up to 16 hours of lightweight, natural, fade-resistant wear, featuring full-powered radiance to smooth the look of skin". It's said to be medium coverage with a natural finish good for all skin-types. 

I've had a great experience with this foundation, as someone with oily skin I was unsure of the "radiant" name but it really just has a skin like finish. Builds nicely, I wear it at about a medium coverage, nothing cakey or heavy on the skin. Wears really well too, doesn't get super oily, I powder about midway through the day. 

Estee Lauder Nude Fresh Foundation 4W1
tarte Rainforest of the Sea Foundation Tan Sand 
NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation Syracuse 
Maybelline Fit Me Matte and Poreless 310 
MAC Studio Fix Foundation NC42

*This product was sent for my review, all opinions are my own. Links are affiliate. 

Rimmel Magnif'eyes Color Edition Palette Swatches

Rimmel Magnif'eyes Color Edition Palette

Drugstore eyeshadow palettes, they've come along way. Finally, we are starting to see some better formulas and shade ranges that are more current! I was super excited to see the Rimmel Magnif'eyes Color Edition Palette - I've tried the other Magnif'eyes Palettes and I liked them but the colors never really spoke to me. This one does for sure. 

Rimmel Color Palette

The Rimmel Magnif'eyes Color Edition Palette is available wherever Rimmel is sold and is a permanent product. Depending on where you pick it up, it will retail for about $12.99 to $15.99. It contains 12 shades, a combination of shimmers and mattes. 

Rimmel Magnif'eyes Color Edition Swatches

Even though the shades look a little random I really think you can get a nice selection of day time looks, or something a little more bold. I will however always complain about palettes that don't have a decent matte brown, for me it's required. There's two very similar bronzy-browns, one could have been matte in my opinion. Otherwise, I'm really liking it! 

*This product was sent for my review, all opinions are my own. 

Origins Cleansing Makeup Removing Jelly Review

I've been discovering Origins over the past year and I've been super impressed. Their matte moisturizer is one of my faves, but now I have another. The Origins Makeup Removing Jelly is DELIGHTFUL. 

"It dissolves dirt, impurities, excess oil, and all traces of eye and face makeup as the lightweight gel formula transforms into a milky cleanser. Canadian willowherb and pink rock rose work to boost skin’s glow and the formula rinses easily to leave skin feeling soft and looking positively glowing."

The Origins Makeup Remover Jelly retails for $28 CAD and is suitable for all skin types. I especially think you'll like this if you have oily skin like me. It leaves no residue on the skin at all, but it also does not strip the skin and leave it feeling dry. I don't think I've ever loved a makeup remover so much, I have a lot that I really like but I cannot stop reaching for this one. Highly recommend! 

*This product was sent for my review, links are affiliate. All opinions are my own. 

Pixi MatteLast Liquid Lip Swatches

New to Pixi are the MatteLast Liquid Lip! They come in 5 different shades, all in the nude family - something for everyone in my opinion. They're available at Target and retail for around $14 USD/$18 CAD. 

The Pixi MatteLast Liquid Lip are infused with rosehip oil and I do find them quite comfortable! They do have a matte finish but they don't completely dry down which I don't mind. If you are looking for something totally transferproof this isn't it, but I don't mind that at all. As they wear off they wear down instead of something more dry that would flake off. I love the applicator too, makes it easy for application. My only issue, Matte Beige and Pastel Petal are SO SIMILAR, and I mean as a makeup junkie I see the slight different but with only 5 shades in the range there could have been a more varied shade. 

*These products were sent for my review, all opinions are my own. Links are affiliate. 

NEW Lise Watier Lip Designer + Shade Extension Swatches

Lise Watier has launched their new Lip Designers along with shade extensions of the Baiser Satin, Baiser Velours and Rouge Gourmand. These are available at Shoppers Drug Mart and wherever else Lise Watier is sold. As a Canadian, I always love to get the chance to chat Canadian brands. 

The Lip Designer is available in 6 shades and will retail for $24. It has a really creamy texture that you can use to line or completely fill in the lips. It also comes with an attached sharpener which makes it easy to keep it sharp! 

Lise Watier Sensational Kiss - Lips so Soft Exfoliating Balm 
Lise Watier Baiser Satin - Daring Kiss 
Lise Watier Baiser Velours - Forever Kiss 
Lise Watier Rouge Gourmand The Nudes - Cotton Candy 
Lise Watier Lip Designer Contour and Fill Liner - Linen 

*These products were sent for my review, all opinions are my own. 

Huda Beauty Warm Brown Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette Swatches

Huda Beauty Warm Brown Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette

As soon as I saw this palette, I knew I needed it. The Huda Beauty Warm Brown Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette is so cute and WARM. Looked great for travel, and my warm brown obsession ... see it in action in this video on my YouTube Channel. 

Huda Beauty Warm Brown Palette 

Huda Beauty Warm Brown Palette retails for $35 CAD at Sephora, great price for sure but keep in mind there is only 1.3g of product in there. When have I ever hit pan on an eyeshadow .. never. I'm okay with it! 

Huda Beauty Warm Brown Palette Swatches

Overall, I'm really happy with the palette tons of beautiful mattes and a great gold (deep gold) shimmer. The coral and orange really sold me. 

*Links are affiliate. 

Bite Beauty Prismatic Pearl Multistick Swatches

Bite Beauty Prismatic Pearl Multisticks

Bite Beauty has been KILLING IT with the launches, they are unstoppable. I'm always so impressed with everything they do. Not only are they Canadian but they are gimmick free with some quality products that are still super fun. The latest is the Bite Beauty Prismatic Pearl Multisticks. 

Bite Beauty Prismatic Multisticks

"This shimmering multistick delivers weightless, layerable color in a silicone-free formula. Like Bite Beauty's original Multistick, Prismatic Pearl Multistick is breathable, blendable, and buildable."

Bite Beauty Pearl Multisticks 

These retail for $28 CAD at Sephora and come in 5 different shades, these have all been in their glosses before if I'm not mistaken. If you're not familiar with the Multisticks they can be used on the eyes, cheeks and lips - their original formula is more of a cream while these have a more shimmery, "prismatic" look. 

Bite Beauty Prismatic Pearl Multistick Swatches 

*These products were sent for my review, all opinions are my own - links are affiliate. 

NARS Danger Control Eyeshadow Palette Swatches

NARS Danger Control Eyeshadow Palette Review

 NARS has been launching some absolutely fabulous palettes lately, I recently reviewed the NARS Wanted Palette if you'd like swatches. The latest addition is the NARS Danger Control Eyeshadow palette which is a limited edition Sephora exclusive. 

NARS Danger Control Palette - Sephora Exclusive 

"Danger Control is NARS Cosmetics’ newest limited edition eyeshadow palette. Featuring six intense holographic and glitter shades, the palette delivers high-impact, ultra-pigmented shadows that glide on effortlessly and leave a velvety finish."

NARS Danger Control Eyeshadow Palette 

The NARS Danger Control Palette will retail for $62 CAD with a value of $172. It contains 6 shades, all that are either a shimmer or iridescent. They contain pomegranate seed oil, vitamin E and ginkgo biloba that help to create a smooth base on the eye. These shadows can be used wet or dry depending on the finish you hope to achieve. So far the formula seems great! More than likely you'll need to lean on another palette for a complete look but moving into spring (eventually) these are gorgeous shades.

NARS Danger Control Galactic Glaze

NARS Danger Control Palette Shades 

Rave: shimmering white silver
Elektra: shimmering golden pink
Aeryn Sun: shimmering pale pink
Bionic: iridescent yellow
Haedus: iridescent purple
Tonic: shimmering lilac

NARS Danger Control Eyeshadow Swatches

Availability: 
January 31, 2018: Sephora Mobile first preview
February 1, 2018: Sephora.ca
February 9, 2018: Sephora

NARS Danger Control Swatches - with flash

*This palette was sent for my review, all opinions are my own. Links are affiliate. 

The Balm Liquid Highlighters - Mary-Dew Manizer & Bonnie-Dew Manizer

Mary-Lou Manizer was one of my first ever, if not my first ever highlight. There are SO MANY highlighters on the market, but the Lou Manizers will always have a special place in my heart. I was so excited to see the Liquid Highlighters from The Balm. 

"Creamy yet lightweight, these glow-getters can be worn alone on the eyes, cheekbones and cupid's bow for an intense highlight. Add some sheen to your favorite lip colors by dabbing on top of your lip look. Mix with moisturizer, primer, or foundation for a radiant dewy finish."

The shades are very accurate to their original powder formats but with even more of a metallic punch. They retail for just $14.50 USD which is amazing! Unfortunately, shipping to Canada is quite pricey so I recommend finding a friend to split it with :) 

*These products were sent for my review, all opinions are my own.