themakeupnut: 2015

Annabelle Smoky Nudes Eyeshadow Palette

This August, Annabelle Cosmetics is launching their Fall 2015 line. I was pretty excited to get a sneak peak at some of the goodies coming this fall. Nude is the word for this fall and no Beautista should be caught without the perfect smoky eye! Annabelle’s Smoky Nudes Eyeshadow palette will meet that need.

The Smoky Nudes Eyeshadow palette comes with 10 warm and cool tones shadows. The majority of the shadows are shimmer with 3 matte tones. The case is small and compact making it a good travel companion. The Smoky Nudes also comes with a dual ended brush; one side has a small blending brush and the other has a curved tip sponge brush.

natural light

Top Row (L-R)

Light matte pink
Rose gold shimmer
Taupe shimmer
Medium grey shimmer
Matte black

Bottom Row (L-R)

White shimmer
Yellow Gold
Bronze shimmer
Black with red undertone with gold micro glitter
Matte dark brown

with flash

I swatched theses shadows over an eye primer as that is how I would normally wear any eyeshadow. While these shadows were not buttery, they were soft and didn’t have a lot of powdery kick up. Some swatched better than others but they were overall nicely pigmented. The pink shadow totally blended into my skin tone so it was very hard to get it to show up. That makes it the perfect blending colour for me. The two dark mattes didn’t swatch that great and were a little patchy but I was still able to blend them on my eyelids with no problem. I just had to build up the intensity. The gold was the only real disappointment for me. It swatched a bit powdery and seemed to turn into a matte. I wanted it to have more pizzazz.

But some of these shades are pretty awesome and are reminiscent of the some other shadows from some very well known Naked palettes; like the black glittery shadow on the bottom row instantly reminded me of Naked 3’s Blackheart and the bronze (bottom row) is a good dupe for Naked’s Smog. Excited yet? Yep me too!

The rose gold, taupe and bronze shimmers would look great on any eye for a daytime look. Overall, I think this is a great drugstore alternative to the very much pricier natural palettes that are out there and maybe a better option than the more recent palettes from L’Oreal and Maybelinne.

Since this is a smoky eyeshadow palette, I created a night time smoky eye using the grey shadow all over the lid and into the crease as well as smoking it out under the outer 2/3 of my lower lash line. Then I darkened the outer V with a mixture of the black and dark brown. I used the pink to blend out the outer edges of the grey and finished up with some of the gold (wet) and a bit of the white in the inner eyes. I then lined my eyes with the Annabelle InstaGlam Kajal liner and added about 3 coats of the CoverGirl SuperSizer mascara.

The Smoky Nudes Eyeshadow palette ($12.95) will be available in August at London Drugs, Shoppers Drug Mart and online.

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July 2015 Topbox

Hello Makeupnuts, the July Topbox is here! When I saw the Instagram pics of the July Topboxes, I really wanted the Alex Fashion Beauty one. It had a really cool pink Ceramic Glaze polish in there that I wouldn’t have mind getting. Then I realized I already have all the items in the box with the exception of the Ceramic Glaze polish. So I guess it is better to try something new.

I am pretty happy with the one I did get though. It included almost all makeup so that is always a big hit for me.

Let’s see what I got;

So Susan Rose Quartet Lip and Cheek Cream full size

Full size $12
A richly-pigmented hydrating lip & cheek pomade that delivers 12 hours of continuous wear without dryness, creasing or smudging.
These cruelty-free lip creams are pigmented, I can confirm that! Such pretty colours! Plus they are very moisturizing. Almost like a balm. I am already sporting the nude peach. I couldn’t wait.

Shu Uemura Essence Absolue Nourishing Protective Oil deluxe size

Full size 150ml/$69
Multi-use elixir that moisturizes and protects with intense nutrition. Rapidly absorbed into hair fiber, it rebalances the moisture level of dry hair. The soft- sleek velvety oil creates a supple touch with high shine and provides UV protection. Formulated for daily use. Safe on color-treated hair.
At first I wasn’t too excited when I saw this. I was like What? $70 for a hair serum? But holy crap, once I put one little pump into my hair I was hooked. My hair felt so smooth and hydrated. Almost like I just did a hair mask. Even my coworkers tried it out and loved it. It smells great and works like a dream at fixing dry dehydrated hair. I hope this 30ml bottle last me forever. $70? I don’t know if I can go there for a hair product.

Benefit They’re Real! Push Up Liner in Beyond Brown deluxe size
Full size 1.4g/$27
It’s the FIRST EVER lash-hugging gel liner in a pen! This matte gel formula won’t smudge, budge or dry out, and the innovative soft AccuFlex Tip hugs your lashline from corner to corner, the closer line, the bigger the eye!
I have the full size version of the black They’re Real! Push Up Liner which I do enjoy using. I did a review on it here. This AccuFlex Tip does have a bit of a learning curve with it though. I really liked the black liner because it was the blackest matte liner I have. All other gels have a bit of shine to them. From the swatch below, you can see this is a really dark matte brown and once it on and sets, it does not budge.

OFRA Cosmetics Universal Eyebrow Pencil full size

Full size $13
Can be applied directly to the eyebrow area then smudged gently with a small brush or brow wand applicator. Use a light hand with soft feather strokes for blonde/fair skin and heavier hand for darker brows till you see the color darken with more strokes. The more you apply the brow pencil the darker color you will get.
I have received this before in an Ipsy Glam bag and I was pretty Meh about it. The colour is a dark brown. Of course with a light hand any color will appear lighter but I do not think blondes or red heads will like this pencil. Plus it smudges. I forgot one day and scratch my eyebrow, then scratched my cheek and had brown eye pencil on my face. So this one is a pass for me.

L-R: OFRA Eyebrow pencil, Benefit They're Real! Push Up Liner, So Susan Rose Quaretet Lip&Cheek Cream

I have to say the stand out item this month would be the Shu Uemera Protective Oil. Oh My God! It’s amazing! Like I said before I cannot see myself spending $70 on hair oil but from how great my hair feels right now, I don’t know... That’s a haircut, bed, toys, food for my dogs, groceries, a pair of shoes, gas money. Yikes! There I talked myself out of it (for now). This is the dilemma I go through each time I think I see something I need. Anyone else need to do this too? Talk yourself in from ledge? No? Just me?

Anyhooo, how did you like your Topbox? Were you one of the lucky ones that got the Alex Fashion Beauty Box?

If you are interested in getting your own Topbox, go to Topbox.ca and sign up. It is $12 + tax. Ships within Canada only.

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A couple of weeks ago, I reviewed the Bioderma Sensibio H2O Miceller Water. I was totally enthralled by this cleansing water. I Loved It! So when I had the chance to try out some more from the Bioderma Sensibio line, I jumped at it.

All Bioderma Sensibio products are:

Fragrance-free formula
Hypoallergenic
Surfactant-free
Paraben-free
Non-comedogenic

Bioderma Sensibio 3 in 1 Milk

Sensibio 3-in-1 Milk $18.95/250ml
Sensibio 3-in-1 Milk perfectly cleanses and removes make-up from the face and eyes and does not need to be rinsed off. Like a real treatment featuring the Toléridine® patent, it biologically strengthens the skin's resistance to attacks and increases the tolerance threshold of sensitive skin.

A new biological breakthrough for sensitive skin, the Toléridine® patent, boosted by the D.A.F. (Dermatological Advanced Formulation) patented natural complex, inhibits the production of pro-inflammatory molecules and thus makes the skin less reactive.

The 3-in-1 Milk has the consistency of a thin lotion. It is not runny but isn't heavy either. There is no discernible scent and it truly was non-irritating on the eyes. I followed the instructions and put some of the 3-in-1 Milk on a cotton pad and wiped it over my face. I had to use quite a few cotton pads to get the makeup off and it took a few wipes to get all my mascara off.
I felt that it left behind a bit of residue on my skin so I ended up using another pad with the Sensibio H2O to see if there was anything left on my skin. There was still traces of foundation. Hmmph. But after a few minutes that residue-y feeling did go away and I felt like I had freshly cleansed skin. It left my skin feeling soft and hydrated. But did that residue feeling go away because I used the H2O? At any rate, it seemed like I had to use a lot of product to remove my makeup (4 pads both sides). But I also didn't need to use face wash, toner or a moisturizer afterwards. I did put a serum under my eyes because ...well ... I am old and I gots me some baby wrinkles I am trying to kill.
I think the 3-in-1 Milk would be great for someone who wears light makeup and wants a low maintenance nighttime routine. I am going to continue use the 3-in-1 Milk for my 'light' or non-makeup days.

Bioderma Sensibio Tolerance+

Sensibio Tolerance+: $26.95/40ml

An expert in skin biology, BIODERMA research has innovated and created Sensibio Tolerance+: the dermatological treatment which durably increases the skin’s tolerance level while respecting the skin’s natural biology.

At the heart of this treatment is Neurocontrol®, an exclusive complex made up of a tetrapeptide and a combination of soothing active ingredients*. Neurocontrol® reduces the hyperexcitability of the skin's nerve fibres and regulates the biological mechanisms responsible for the intolerance. The feelings of tightness and discomfort are soothed. The skin regains its original comfort.

Enriched with Sodium PCA, Sensibio Tolerance+ fortifies the skin's barrier function and provides optimal moisturising.

This is a skin life saver. Bible. Last week, it was 30°C and super sunny here in Winnipeg, Yeah I know weird right? But I burnt the tops of my cheeks. I was doing a bit of yardwork and was only out in the sun for maybe 20 minutes pulling weeds. Later on I noticed that my cheeks were still hot. Burned! I did have sunscreen on when I went out but I probably sweated that off in the first 5 minutes. It was seriously hot. Later that night, after I cleansed my face with the Sensbio H20, I applied the Sensibio Tolerance+ and for the next few days. I tell you my skin drank it up. There was no itching, no peeling, just moisturized skin. I was impressed. I even used this right over my eyelids, which is awesome for me. My eye area is super sensitive to SPF, eye and night creams. The only other lotion that I have found close to being as soothing is La Roche Posay Rosaliac AR Intense serum. Both are meant for sensitive irritated skin.

So if you have irritated skin crying out for help, I would suggest trying out Bioderma's Sensibio line. Especially the Tolerance+. The Bioderma Sensibio line is great for people with fickle skin. Like me! Really impressed.

Bioderma can be found at Shoppers Drug Mart, Rexall and online at Murale.ca.

**product provided for review. All opinions are my own.

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June 2015 Topbox

Hey there, I am back from my little vacay to NW Ontario. Nothing too exciting, I was just visiting family but it was good times, lots of food and very little sleep. I think me and my dogs need to nap for a day or two in our own beds to recover. The long drive and nights are what killed me.

While I was gone, my June Topbox arrived. There were a few Prive boxes to choose from for June but I opted for the regular Topbox once again. I love suprises...as in presents, not fees or unexpected car bills. Those kind of suprises I hate.

I have to say that the regular June Topboxes were pretty good. Let's see what I got in mine this month;

Physician’s Formula Argan Wear Ultra-Nourishing Argan Oil Bronzer

Full size: 11g/$20
Exotic bronzer treats skin with ultra-nourishing ingredients and delivers a sunlit glow as if you’ve escaped to Morocco. Improves skin’s brightness, tone, texture and elasticity.
This bronzer is sure pretty to look at. The golden compact. The golden spray overlay. All beautiful. But on my skin tone, I find this bronzer to be more of a highlighter than a bronzer. It doesn’t really show up other than the golden sheen. To me, that is a highlighter. There is a lot of golden shimmer in this bronzer and you do get quite a bit of gold glitter from the spray overlay.
My real problem with this bronzer is the Argan Oil. Normally I love Argan Oil. But seriously, how much is the Argan Oil going to benefit my skin? It is not like I am going to powder my whole face with this bronzer. Not unless I want to look like C3P0. Plus I find the Argan Oil scent overpowering. While very pretty, I think I will have to pass on this.

China Glaze Nail Lacquer – New Birth

Full size: 14ml/$10
I am smitten this polish. New Birth is white crème polish that has a slight hint of blue in it. New Birth was from last year’s The Giver Collection. At first I thought this was a light grey polish but it leans white. When I am inside, I can see a hint of blue. I did find that you need to work in thin coats to get this one to look good at full opacity. I needed three coats.

Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

Full size: 118ml/$26
Shrink enlarged pores with this 2% liquid salicylic acid leave-on exfoliant that removes old skin cells both on the skins surface and inside the pore.
Ohhhh if this shrink pores, I am going to be in love.

Fruits & Passion Face Mask

1 mask $2.50
This refreshing Face Mask contains an essence specifically formulated to improve the appearance of your skin. Your skin is moisturized, softened and more luminous.
I do enjoy me a good face mask. It has become a Sunday night ritual for me. As I wind down for the evening I will put on some PVR’d show and then I slap on a mask and relax for 10 minutes. The mask I received was Cucumber, which has hydrating and soothing properties.

Okay I was more thrilled with the skin care than then makeup, which is unusual for me!. This will be the first time I will be able to try a Paula's Choice product or a Fruits & Passion face mask. Sunday night is going to be so fun! It is too bad that the Physician's Formula bronzer was a dud, it was so pretty. The scent was just way too much for me. I kind of wish I had gotten one of the Benefit's liners instead.
What did you think of this month's Topbox?

Topbox.ca is a Canadian monthly beauty subscription service. Sign up at Topbox.ca for $12 + tax.

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CoverGirl Iflexiblesify Me! Liquid Liner

Get the control of a pencil with the intensity of a liquid eyeliner for beautifully defined eyes every time. Our all-new paddle-shaped tip gives you two looks in one—thick and dramatic or thin and elegant. The intense black formula glides on smoothly and dries quickly for instant drama. Clinically tested, suitable eyeliner for sensitive eyes

Of liquid liners, I prefer pen felt tip applicators. I find them a lot easier to work with that the brush tips. The Intensify Me! Liquid Liner, with it's new innovative design, is just bit different than a regular pen liner.

thin side | thick side

The tip is a flexible paddle-like applicator. I initially thought this was going to be hard to work with but the product came off the tip so easily. I laid the wide side of the paddle down from mid eye and dragged it out to the outer edge. Then I turned the tip to the thin side and drew a line inward to the tear duct. Then I made a smooth transition from the thin line to the thicker line. Easy peasy.

The Intensify Me! (Intense Black) is a beautiful jet matte black that stays pretty bold all day. The swatches on my arm did not budge one it set. Unfortunately this is not totally waterproof. It held up quite well to a sprinkling of rain and a hot day but not to tears. I was driving to work one morning and I got something in my left eye. My eye watered pretty bad. Not even thinking it would smudge I carried on. By the time I got to work I had a very huge downward left wing smudge. Thankfully it was easy to fix. So if you are a big softy this may not be the best liquid liner for summer weddings.

CoverGirl Intensify Me! Liquid Liner swatches

Have you tried the Covergirl Intensify Me! Liquid Liner yet?

Here is the interesting thing. I was trying to find this instore but could not. I did see that Well.ca has the CoverGirl Intensify Me! Liquid Liner listed for $9.99. I will try to find out when it will be available in Canada and update. It is currently available in the US wherever CoverGirl is sold.

**product proved for review. All opinions are my own.

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Or as I like to call it the PA-POW! Mascara.

CoverGirl The Super Sizer by LashBlast mascara

The Super Sizer by LashBlast mascara gives you 400% more corner-to-corner volume for full, fanned out lashes. Our amazing Lash Styler transforms even small lashes— just twirl as you apply it to your lashes for an instantly Super Sized lash look. Opthalmologically tested, suitable for those who wear contact lenses.

I have the shade Very Black and it is a richly pigmented black mascara. The wand is what is really unique with this mascara. The flexible rubber brush applicator flares out at the tip and then tapers down. The spiky bristles are only on two sides of the wand.

unique tapered rubber brush - larger at the tip smaller at the base

I am in a contant quest for a mascara that will make my lashes look insanely long. I gots tiny lashes man. The Super Sizer mascara surprised me and gave me some pretty awesome lashage. It gave me quite a bit of length and a good amount of volume. It really makes my teeny lashes pop. I even felt that there was enough fullness that I didn't even need to use eyeliner after I applied it. That's a first for me!

I was so uncoordinated when I tried to follow the application instructions. I twirled the mascara wand as I went up the lashes but the more I thought about it the worse I got. So I just winged it and I think it came out pretty good. On my second coat, my lashed clumped together a bit but that didn’t bother me too much. I was just in awe of long and dark my lashes looked. Since then I just tried applying the mascara normally and I have gotten even better results.

The Super Sizer mascara lasted all day for me with no smudging or flaking. Another plus, I didn't have to curl my lashes. The Super Sizer curled my lashes for me. What, what? Plus it came off so easily at the end of the day.

The Super Sizer won’t give you soft fluttery lashes but if you are looking to be noticed give CoverGirl The Super Sizer by Lash Blast mascara a try. I think I may need the waterproof version for this summer. What do you think?

**product proved for review. All opinions are my own.

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I am loving micellar water cleansing products.

One of my favorite moments of the day – wiping away the gunk that’s left after a long day and then cleansing my face with a face wash.

Today I am reviewing the Bioderma Sensibio H2O. I did try a sample version of one of Bioderma micellar water in a beauty box before and I really liked it. Now that I tried it more than a few days I kind of understand the raves about it. The Bioderma Sensibio H2O is a fragrance-free, alcohol-free, paraben-free, hypoallergenic micellar water.

How to use the Bioderma Sensibio H2O; (Bioderma website)

·         Soak a cotton pad with Sensibio H2O.
·         Gently cleanse and/or remove make-up from your face and eyes.
·         Re-apply until the cotton pad becomes clean.
·         Lightly dab your face with a clean cotton towel.

I generally go though 2-3 cotton pads each night and one in the morning. I have to say that the Sensibio H2O excels at removing makeup. For the past two weeks, I have been using only this to remove my makeup and it does a great job even with my everyday gel eyeliner and mascara. I do find I need to whip out eye makeup remover to get waterproof mascara off.

foundation, eyeshadow, lip crayon, eye pencil, waterproof eye liner, mascara

after one swipe with the Bioderma Sensibio H2O

after several swipes - it took a bit of pressure to get the waterproof liner off

My face feels great after wiping the makeup away with the Sensibio H2O. I even feel a slight tingle as the solution dries off the surface of the skin. This sensation made me go back to reread the ingredients list but I was right, there is no alcohol in this product. The Sensibio H2O does not leave any residue once it dries down. The Simple Cleansing Micellar water and the Neutrogena wipes left a bit of a residue behind that would make me want to wash my face.

Ingredients:

WATER (AQUA), PEG-6 CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC GLYCERIDES, CUCUMIS SATIVUS (CUCUMBER) FRUIT EXTRACT, MANNITOL, XYLITOL, RHAMNOSE, FRUCTOOLIGOSACCHARIDES, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, DISODIUM EDTA, CETRIMONIUM BROMIDE

The Sensibio H20 would leave my face clean enough that if I had to leave it be, I could. Like if I was travelling or camping, I could use the Sensibio H2O with no rinsing. But as I mentioned in previous posts, I am hardwired to wash my face each night. I did try a couple of nights of no rinsing but I ended up washing my face in the AM. I feel guilty if I don’t.

I currently have the 500ml bottle and I have been extremely lavish with it over the past two weeks and I am only 1/3 of the way through the bottle. So keep in mind a 500ml bottle will last you approximately a month and half probably longer.

The only con I can see about this product is the price. Bioderma Sensibio H2O is available at Shoppers Drug Mart - 250ml $19.95 or 500ml/$26.95. Nowadays you can find micellar water at drug store prices $7-8. So is it worth the hype? The last two weeks would make me say yes. I experienced no irritation to my skin or eyes and there is no discernible scent. Plus the there is no residue left over at the end. This is perfect for people with really sensitive skin. Repurchasing might have to become a necessary splurge.
I did notice that this week at SDM, the Bioderma Sensibio H2O is on sale for $15.98/250ml and $22.98/500ml.

**product provided for review. All opinions are my own.

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