It has been awhile hasn’t it?

So my clever plan is to just step back into it and hope you don’t notice the long absence….

Anyhooo, I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Holiday and a Merry Christmas.  And that I miss you!

I was walking the dogs last night and I noticed something disturbing on the ground - Leaves!!! NOOOOooooooo!!! Canada Geese are walking unabashed throughout my neighbourhood. All omens…

So I am kind of back. I have been sort of around –lurking and reading blogs. But since I got back from my vacay this summer, I just haven’t been feeling the mojo for blogging. So I took a break.

August 2014 Topbox

This month, my regular Topbox included:



Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus Wrinkle Correcting Eye Cream

I can always use an eye cream. Always. Although I am a little leery about some eye creams, I know this Clinique RepairWear is face friendly for me. My skin has been getting better at tolerating products since I started using a glycolic acid toner. Toughen up baby.
 

Belvada Nail Polish Remover Pads

I kind of like these little tubes of polish remover pads. I kind of wish I got a different scent. This one sort of reminds of Sunrise dish detergent – that intense lemon scent I am sure.



LAQA & CO Lip Lube - Bee's Knees

I thought this was cute but it so similar to a lipstick I already had (and didn’t wear) that I gave this to a bestie. She is loving it so far.



Barefoot Venus Wild Flower Macadamia Oil Hand Cream

Potent scent – very floral but moisturizing. I actually used this at work and some asked if some sprayed some air freshener  O_o.



Swatch: Bee`s Knees



Marcelle.com

Just wanted to pop on and let you guys know that Marcelle.com has a $10 off coupon (located on their website) to use in store. If you purchase any 2 of the following Marcelle products, you can get $10 off;

• Cleansing Cloths 25 units
• Eye Make-up Remover Cloths 30 units
• Ultra Gentle Cleansing Gel 350 ml
• Oil Free Eye Makeup Remover Lotion 150ml
• Eye Make-up Remover Pads 80 units

Since I missed Marcelle's recent 40% off sale (doh!) I had to satisfy myself with this almost 40% coupon! :)  I wanted to restock on the Ultra Gentle Cleansing Gel which I have totally come to depend on at the end of the day. Plus I have always wanted to try their eye makeup remover. I think that this may be the first eye makeup remover I have purchased since subscribing to beauty boxes!

This coupon expires September 1, 2014. You will also need to print it out.

See the Canadian Human Rights Museum in the background? It looks awesome at night when it is light up.

Toodles!
 

Wow I am so late with posting. Summertime fun is getting in my way and I have been spending a lot of time outside and with friends lately! It seems like everyone has a birthday this month or we are celebrating all of them now... Plus with all the sitting by the pool, taking the dogs out, outdoor concerts, dinners with friends, Big Brother (hehe), my nights are pretty much spoken for lately.  I know excuses excuses... So I will just get on with it already!


July 2014 Benefit Topbox



July 2014 Benefit Topbox products

Stay don't Stray primer |  They're Real! Remover

They're Real! Push-Up Liner  |  They're Real! Mascara

Hello Makeupnuts.
Just thought I would show my nails from this past weekend. I just went to a friend’s BBQ party but I still did my nails. I <3 this NOTD so much I had to share!


I used Nicole by OPI polish in Don’t Over Pink It as my base and plastic wrap stamped OPI’s L..A.M.B over my middle nails. The pink and gold went together beautifully. I felt very summery and lady-like … LOL until I got the burps from the beer I drank. Hehe I try.


I liked the outcome after only one pass of the gold (using the plastic wrap method) that I stopped right there. I was going to use another pink on top but I left it as is. Tres fancy enough for moi! 


L.A.M.B. looks good paired with almost anything, don’t you think?
I only wish my cuticles weren’t so dry. Oops



July 2014 Ipsy Bag



July 2014 Ipsy contents

July 2014 Ipsy bareMinerals READY eyeshadow in Inspiration

bareMinerals READY® Eyeshadow 2.0 in Inspiration   $20 @ulta.com
bareMinerals READY® Eyeshadow 2.0 provides vivid, pigment-packed color with seamless blendability  that lasts up to 12 hours. Powered by the proprietary SeaNutritive Mineral™ Complex, it delivers skin-nourishing benefits including reduced appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and puffiness plus boosted moisture levels.
This is my first bareMinerals eyeshadow. I have heard great things about them and wow they were right. These shadows are pigmented, soft and buttery. They blend so easily. I cannot wait to try them out. Plus I am a fan of purple so they had me as soon as I opened the compact. Oh the teeny compact! It is so cute. It is a mini version of the regular duo shadow compacts.

July 2014 Ipsy pur~lisse and derma e

July 2014 Ipsy Pixi Mini Tinted Brilliance Balm



July 2014 Ipsy POP Beauty Sunkissed Bronzer

July 2014 Ipsy swatches

Overall a great Ipsy bag. My favorite item so far has to be the Pixi Lip Balm. What did you think of this month's Ipsy bag?

Did you know that you can get Sigma brushes here in Canada? Shipped free? No? Neither did I! Obsessed Look, sister site to Nail Polish Canada is now carrying Sigma brushes! The prices are only like a two dollars more than Sigma’s US site and the shipping is free in Canada. Plus Obsessed Look has tons of other brands, like TheBalm, Joico, Real Techniques and Cult Nails. 



Sigma brushes from ObsessedLook.ca

Today I am reviewing two Sigma brushes, the E40 – Tapered Blending brush and the E45 – Small Tapered Blending brush**.



Sigma E40 Tapered Blending brush

Sigma E45 Small Tapered Blending brush

The E45 Small Tapered Blending brush has more of a pointed tip. It is a lot smaller than the E40 but the tip comes into a soft point. When you first get it, it seems like it would be super pointy by as soon as you wash it, the tip softens out. I think this brush is great for applying more concentrated color to the crease (a defined crease) or the outer V of the eye. One thing to note, while this brush smoked out the shadow under my eye quite well, it felt a little prickly for that tender area. So I will keep it to the crease area. I did have some shedding with this brush; a couple hairs came out when I first washed it.

The handles of these brushes seem quite sturdy and have a nice non-slippy lacquer finish. They are clearly labeled and I love the holographic font.  I do recommend the E40 as a must have brush.

Summer 2014 Loose Button Luxe Box

The same day my Topbox arrived so did my Summer Luxe Box. Thank god! It eased my disappointment from my June Topbox.




products laid out (forgot the tweezers!)

Be a Bombshell The One-Stick in Southern Belle

Full Size / $16
An all-in-one multiple stick with a smooth texture. Apply to eyelids, cheeks or lips for the perfect pop of color anywhere!
You are supposed to be able to wear this One Stick on your eyes, cheeks and lips. It is sort like the Nars Multiples. Although I do not own any Nars products so I really cannot compare. So how about I just shut up about that? HA
I like Southern Belle better than the One Stick I received last December in my Ipsy bag. That was Flustered, a hot fuchsia pink, while Southern Belle is a more peachy pink. I wore it to work yesterday as my blush and I used a lip brush to put some on my lips. I think I prefer using these One Sticks as cream blushes. It suits me better. Lip wear was like a regular lipstick. It stayed on until I drank something.

Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner in Black

Retail Value: $19.00 (Full Size)
The easy-to-apply, liquid eyeliner pen allows you to create thick feline flicks or fine defined lines to accentuate your eyes. With the unique long-lasting formula featuring key ingredient Sodium Hyaluronate for a gratifying, colour-intense smudge-proof finish.
I have gotten this in a Luxe Box before (but I don't care!) and I have purchased one myself at Sephora. I love this eyeliner. It makes the perfect thin line for me. The previous two liners I have had lasted a long time and I am glad to get another one. The Eyeko was on my wish list of stuff to get. (It’s a long list). This is the one and only pen liner I can use easily. Most other liners I cannot get to work for me. I think it may have to do with the length of the felt tip. I kind of lay the Eyeko one down lengthwise and drag that across my lid to get a nice even line.  I am pen liner challenged.


Sample Value: $3.99 (3.75 mL)
When I saw this hot pink, it bloom my mind! Nicole by OPI puts salon quality at your fingertips…from the colorful world of OPI.
This sample is tiny but I think it is tres cute. I did try it out and I had to do three coats. Did anyone else have problems with bald patches when applying? I have never had an OPI polish weird out on me like that.



Barefoot Venus Coconut Kiss Macadamia Oil Hand Cream

Retail Value: $6.00 (60 mL)
Relieve dry and chafed skin with our nurturing and enriched lotion. Smooth it on and feel how quick the SOS is called off. Created with: Macadamia Nut Oil, Sesame Seed Oil and Wheat Germ. This smells great and I can always use another hand cream. Me loves coconut. This was slightly a bit greasier than I am used to and it does takes awhile for the lotion to sink into the skin. So no immediate web browsing on your tablet! But afterwards my hands felt great.

Luxe Box sample packets; Nexxus, Eslor, Crest

Sample Value: $2.00 (2 x 5 mL & 1 x 9 mL)
Introducing Nexxus® Color Assure™ with their first Pre-Wash Primer. Finally, up to 2x longer hair colour protection* that helps lock colour at the core of hair.
Really? A Pre- Wash Hair primer now? Another step? I already hate the current two step practice of shampoo and conditioner. Now there is another step???  HAHA I guess I am having a hard time wrapping my head around a primer, that you wash right out?  Don’t get me wrong, I love getting shampoo samples but I just don’t know. I guess I will have to try it before I knock it right? Okay off the primer rant, I do like that these are sulfate free and made to make you hair colour last longer.
 
Sample Value: $15.00 (4 x 5 mL)
Hydrate, protect and treat your skin with the Eslor Introductory Collection. 100% Free of Parabens, Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) and Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulphate (SLES).
We received a foil pack of each introductory step; Soothing Refiner and Cleanser, Replenishing Scrub, Comforting Mask and the Soothing Cream. 
I sort of wish I had a few more days worth of these sample foil packs. I thought it was a nice system. My face felt very clean and soft. Why does eSlor sound so familiar? Did I get a Eslor sample before? I can’t remember! The full sizes range between $30 and S70. Yoinks!

I can always use more tweezers. These seem to be pretty well made and sturdy. Sorry I forgot to take a pic of them but I started playing with them right away and totally forgot to put it back in the box. Ooops.

Crest 3D Whitestrips and Toothpaste x3 ($5 each)
Yeah I am getting quite a collection of Whitestrips going here. That’s okay.  now have enough for a five day run! YAY. White teeth here I come!