fun size beauty

The fourth instalment of the MAKE UP FOR EVER Artist Palette is serving up all sorts of matte fall magic. The MAKE UP FOR EVER Artist Palette Volume 4 - Shadows ($52 CAD) features 9 matte eye shadows in the Artist Shadow formulation.

You might hear about an all matte palette and think "BOH-RING" however the Artist Palette Vol. 4 is anything but. Matte eyeshadows are ideal for HD camera and video, as the non-reflective finish translates true to colour and provides more contrast than a shimmery shadow.

The palette is compact and housed in cardboard with a mirror inside. There are 9 shadows total - each 0.04 oz. The shadows are about 57% of the full size product, which means the palette has a total value of $128 CAD. 100% worth it, in my opinion.

Make Up For Ever Artist Palette Vol. 4 Swatches (two layers): M-126 chalk, M-546 dark purple taupe, M-530 eggshell, M-536 milk tea, M-802 antique pink, M-620 grey brown, M-240 prussian blue, M-842 wine, M-100 matte black

The Artist Palette Vol. 4 is well-curated people of all levels of expertise. There's 6 staple matte shades which include M-100 matte black, M-620 grey brown, M-126 chalk, M-536 milk tea, M-530 eggshell, M-546 dark purple taupe. Then there's 3 pops of colour for some added versatility in the palette - M-842 wine, M-802 antique pink, M-240 prussian blue. And if you're not sure how to combine the colours together in the look, the palette comes with an insert with a few looks by founder and creative director Dany Sanz.

The "Romantic Look" from the Make Up For Ever Artist Palette Vol. 4 - Shadows

The Make Up For Ever Artist Shadows are some of my favourites. The formulation features a gel-like powder that features intense and blendable pigments with very little fallout. Compared to some of my Make Up For Ever Artist Shadow singles, the shadows in the palette feel a touch more powdery. Alas, they're still amazing - particularly M-240 Prussian blue (turquoise green) and M-842 wine.

All in all, stellar shadows in a well-curated palette. It's limited edition, so get your hands on it while it's still around at Sephora and Sephora.ca.

Have you tried MUFE shadows yet? YOU MUST.

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A few weekends ago I visited Hand & Stone Massage and Facial on the Danforth in Toronto. With over 20 locations in Ontario, Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa is all about affordable luxuryand helping clients feel refreshed and rejuvenated after their treatment.

I had the Rejuvenating Facial at Hand & Stone ($119.95 CAD for guests, $89.95 for members) to repair and restore dry or mature skin. An antioxidant mask is applied to diminish the appearance of fine lines, improve texture and achieve an overall healthy and youthful glow and the esthetician used DIego Dalla Palma product - a cosmetic brand that's very popular in Europe. The treatment seemed appropriate given that the week before the treatment, my skincare routine was not ideal while traveling for work and my face wasn't handling the recent drop in weather.

On entering the spa, I was greeted by multiple staff including Maroika (the esthetician that did my facial), offered a glass of water and handed a two-page questionnaire asking me to detail my medical history, physical conditions, past facial treatments, skin type and current skincare routine.

Maroika then lead me to the room and instructed me to undress and take off my shoes, put on a little towel/wrap over my top bits, and hop onto the massage table. Spoiled by a few extravagant facials courtesy of the blog, I was a little disappointed when I hopped onto the facial table and it wasn’t heated.

In general, the Rejuvenation Facial was pretty standard. The treatment started off with an analysis of my skin. Maroika was blunt and noted that I had lots of dead skin, large pores around my T-zone and some sun spots around the sides of my face - nothing I didn't already know. Maroika went through the typical motions of facials I've had previously - cleansing, steaming, extracting, massaging, mask-ing and moisturizing. Instead of ambient music in the background, Maroika was a wealth of skincare advice and knowledge.

Noteworthy moments during the facial included the microdermabrasion and the extractions, which differentiated Hand & Stone Massage & Facial quite a bit from the experiences that I had at the Pure and Simple Kitchener Waterloo and the Caudalie Spa at the Shangri-la Hotel in downtown Toronto.

To treat the buildup of dry skin, she did quite a bit of microdermabrasion – a procedure that I had never had before. It’s a cosmetic treatment in which a tool of tiny crystals buffs off dead skin cells. The microdermabrasion felt like a combination of light scratching and suction simultaneously. I was afraid that it hurt but it was just a strange sensation that I haven’t experienced previously. After the microdermabrasion, Maroika gave me a mirror to check out all the dead skin that was scratched off - gross but also relieving!

After microdermabrasion came extractions. Instead of using an extracting tool, Maroika used her fingertips, tissues, and a needle. In a reflection above me, I could see blood and was a little rattled. Maroika assured me that she was letting the fluid out of my skin to clean the pore so that it would heal faster without scarring. Additionally, it was reassuring to know that she was trained in Europe and had over 40 years of experience. She also let me know that my ears have the same skin as my face, which means that those with earring holes are prone to buildup of sebum and dirt inside them. Apparently I had pimples in my ears... I'll stop there because it was good to know my ears were being cleaned but it wasn't pretty.

The end result? My skin felt like new. Baby's butt would be the appropriate phrase to describe it. I even got my mum and a friend to feel my skin and they thought so too. Days 1 to 5 after the facial I experienced a lot of peeling around my T-zone and areas that had pimples extracted. One week after the facial, pimples/acne had diminished and my skin still felt smooth.

Overall, the Hand & Stone Rejuvenating Facial was both informative and effective. I didn't find it to be the most relaxing or luxurious experience, however post-treatment, the Rejuvenating Facial had some of the most visible results that I had ever experienced after a facial.

Will you be visiting Hand & Stone for a facial?

FTC: Complimentary facial service provided in exchange for a review.

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First came Alchemy I, then there was Alchemy II (2), and now we've got Formula X Alchemy III (3) ($17 CAD). The Formula X Alchemy line is a series of special effects polishes available at Sephora.

Formula X Alchemy III is described as a rose gold multi dimensional shimmer. I tried Formula X Alchemy II last year, which was more of a metallic bronze. Formula X Alchemy III is very peachy (as opposed to rose) and very sheer. The polish requires three coats for full opacity, by which point you've got intense, glittery nails.

Formula X Alchemy III is smooth for a sparkly polish. The microshimmers are so fine that you can put a cream polish over top without any funky lumps and bumps. But it's equally as difficult to remove as a glitter polish.

I don't find Alchemy III to be particularly wearable on its own. It's too shimmery and festive for everyday wear. So above, I've paired it with OPI Yank My Doodle - a burnt orange - in some quick stripey nail art.

All in all, I'm a fan of Alchemy III. Though I won't be wearing it on the daily, it's unique to my collection and very appropriate for the upcoming holiday season!

What do you think of Formula X Alchemy III?

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The Too Faced Let It Glow Highlight and Blush Kit ($32 CAD) contains 3 of Too Faced's best selling face powders - the Too Faced Candlelight Glow Highlighting Powder Duo in Rosy Glow, Love Flush 16-Hour Blush in Love Hangover and Snow Bunny Luminous Bronzer - and a mini kabuki brush.

Too Faced does it again with the packaging. Not only does the little box of wonders get me all excited for the holidays but it's compact and to the point. Each of the Candlelight Glow, Love Flushed Blush and Snow Bunny Bronzer are deluxe sized. The packaging is reminiscent of the full sizes but much thinner and lighter. The set also comes with a flat, heart shaped kabuki brush that's super soft and actually useable.

Too Faced Candlelight Glow Highlighting Powder Duo in Rosy Glow, Love Flush 16-Hour Blush in Love Hangover, Snow Bunny Luminous Bronzer Swatches

New to me is the Too Faced Candlelight Glow Highlighting Powder Duo in Rosy Glow. The powder is super smooth and blends instantly on the skin. It's a pearly pink and more than anything, a natural sheen of a highlight. A little too subtle for my tastes and I find it won't build up a whole lot.

I've reviewed both the Too Faced Love Flush Blushes and the Snow Bunny Luminous Bronzer in the past. Love Hangover is a warm pink, while Snow Bunny is a light bronzer with a radiant shimmer. Too Faced does a mighty good face powder (pigmented, longwearing, smooth, blendable) and the minis included in the Too Faced Let It Glow Highlight and Blush Kit are no exception.

Wearing the Too Faced Candlelight Glow Highlighting Powder Duo in Rosy Glow on the cheekbones, Love Flush 16-Hour Blush in Love Hangover on the apples of the cheek, Snow Bunny Luminous Bronzer below the blush

Is the Too Faced Let It Glow Highlight and Blush Kit worth it? Yes but it's not a discount deal. The mini 0.07 oz. blush is worth $10.60 ($32 for a full size 0.21 oz. blush), the mini 0.08 oz. bronzer is worth $10.86, the mini 0.08 oz. highlight is worth $8.69. That's $30.15 CAD total value (not including the kabuki brush). Attribute a $2 value to the brush and you get what you pay for with Too Faced Let It Glow Kit.

All in all, I think that the Too Faced Let It Glow Highlight and Blush Kit is a winner and the perfect way to try some of Too Faced's best.

Have you tried the Too Faced Candlelight Glow, Love Flush Blush or Snow Bunny Bronzer?

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They say that diamonds are a girl's best friend. Maybe if I could afford diamonds, that friendship could be a real possibility. A more affordable bff? Lipstick - the perfect addition to any girl's makeup collection. This holiday season, Quo Cosmetics (exclusively available at Shoppers Drug Mart) has a plethora of gift giving ideas... including the Quo Cosmetics Luxury Lip Set ($30 CAD), which contains 4 lipsticks, encased in a luxe rose-gold bullet.

In terms of packaging, Quo Cosmetics did it right with the Luxury Lipstick Wardrobe. The limited edition rose gold bullet is chic and also different from the packaging of Quo's regular line. In fact, the Quo lipsticks contained in the set look like they could retail for much more than $7.50 per piece.

Quo Matte Lipsticks:

Creme (nude)

Fig (brown rose)

Orchid (light pink)

Raspberry Red (pink-based red)

I would liken the lipsticks contained in the Quo Luxury Lipstick Wardrobe to the Marc Jacobs Beauty Le Marc Lip Cremes. The Quo Matte Lipsticks are bold in colour and the texture is mousse-like which wraps around the lips beautifully. The Quo lipsticks have a touch of hydration that allow the matte formulation to be comfortable. For me, the Quo lipsticks are less hydrating and less longwearing (~4 hours) then the Marc Jacobs Le Marc Lip Cremes but at the $30 for 4 price point for Quo, I'm not really complaining.

The Quo Cosmetics Luxury Lipstick Wardrobe is a decent range of wearable colours - a nude, a pink, a rose and a red. There's nothing too out there. I think that out of the 4, I would only wear Fig and Raspberry Red, as I find Creme and Orchid wash me out.

Quo Matte Lipstick in Creme Swatch

Quo Matte Lipstick in Fig Swatch

Quo Matte Lipstick in Orchid Swatch

Quo Matte Lipstick in Raspberry Red Swatch

Is the Quo Cosmetics Luxury Lipstick Wardrobe worth it? Yes. The lipsticks have luxurious packaging and an expensive-feeling formulation. A full-sized Quo lipstick retails for $14. The set contains 4 full-sized lipsticks with a total value of $56. That's $26 of extra value that you get from purchasing the gift set instead of 4 individual lipsticks.

Will you be picking up the Quo Luxury Lipstick Wardrobe?

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Atelier Cologne Maison De Parfume Paris is fragrance brand dedicated to the creation of Cologne Absolue, pure and luxury fragrance for men and women. The Atelier Cologne Nécessaire Curated by Sylvie Ganter & Christophe Cervasel Holiday Set ($95 CAD at Sephora) aka "Founder's Favourites" is a taste of Atelier Cologne.

The Atelier Cologne Nécessaire Curated by Sylvie Ganter & Christophe Cervasel Set contains 6 of the founders' favourite fragrances:

Sud Magnolia is a floral and fresh fragrance with notes of magnolia from Louisiana, bitter orange from Seville, and atlas cedarwood from Morocco.

Notes: Bitter Sevillian Orange, Pomelo from Florida, Blackcurrant, Magnolia from Louisiana, Bulgarian Rose Absolue, Indian Saffron Flower, Atlas Cedarwood from Morocco, Sandalwood, Musk.
Style: Sophisticated. Refined. Romantic.

Pomélo Paradis is a new and unexpected fragrance experience. Fresh and sparkling pomelo from Florida floats over rich notes of blackcurrant bud and the complexity of Haitian vetiver.

Notes: Pink Pomelo, Calabrian Mandarin, Blackcurrant Bud, Moroccan Orange Blossom, Bulgarian Rose Essence, Mint, Haitian Vetiver, Tuscan Iris, Amber.
Style: Unexpected. Casual. Chic.

Orange Sanguine, a zesty and energizing burst of crushed ripe fruit, plays sweet blood orange juice against bitter orange peel and sensual notes of geranium.

Notes: Blood Orange, Bitter Orange, Jasmine, Geranium, Amber Woods, Tonka Beans, Sandalwood.

Style: Zesty. Energizing. Playful.

In Vanille Insensée, an electrical current runs through the subtle sweetness of vanilla, jasmine, and fresh lime to bond with rich oak moss, woods, and spicy coriander.

Notes: Lime, Cedrat, Coriander, Jasmine, Vetiver, Oak Moss, Vanilla, Oak Wood, Amber.
Style: Magical. Evocative. Electric.

Bois Blonds, a sophisticated yet mischievous elixir, entwines unique and precious woods and incense with sensual orange flower and vetiver.

Notes: Tunisian Neroli, Pink Pepper, Moroccan Orange Flower, Incense, Blond Woods, Musks, Vetiver.
Style: Sophisticated. Mischievous. Sensual.

Cèdre Atlas is a woody and citrus fragrance with notes of atlas cedarwood from Moroccan rif, lemon from Sicily, and white amber. The clean citrus top gives way to an earthy depth reminiscent of snowy woods and clear skies.

Notes: Sicilian Lemon, Calabrian Bergamot, Blackcurrant Bud, Atlas Cedarwood from Moroccan Rif, Jasmine, Apricot, White Amber, Indian Papyrus, Haitian Vetiver.
Style: Sophisticated. Unexpected. Woody.

I'm not going to take credit for putting any of these descriptions together - the Sephora website is a wealth of knowledge. I've tried them all a number of times and by far, my favourite is Pomelo Paradis. It's fresh, bright, citrusy and fairly long-lasting on the skin. I also like Cedre Atlas, which is what I like to refer to as a "climbed up the mountain but still smell great" scent.

Is the Atelier Cologne Nécessaire Curated by Sylvie Ganter & Christophe Cervasel Holiday Set worth it? Yes....and no, by dollar value it's cheaper to buy a full-sized 100mL bottle, which retails from $125 to $165. However, a 7.5mL travel spritzer retails for $30. The set contains 6 x 4.14 mL, which totals to 24.84 mL worth $31.05 (per the lowest full-size price) OR $99.36 (per the travel size). Perhaps what you're paying for is the packaging, the variety and the curation of the set. In any case, if you already know what you like then it's a better deal to commit to 100 mL.

That being said, Atelier Cologne makes some gorgeous scents. It's a rarity for me to talk about fragrance here on the blog. I hardly ever wear it (because I always forget in the morning). But I think I've found a fragrance that's worth putting on in the morning. Despite the price tag, the 6-piece set is the perfect starter set for one who is figuring out their fragrance preferences (me) or as a sampler for someone who loves any and all fragrances.

Do you have a favourite fragrance?

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A new product, from a new to me brand. glo Minerals is a line of cruelty-free, talc-free, non-comedogenic mineral makeup suitable for sensitive skin.

My first thought when I took the glo Minerals Cream Stay Shadow Sticks ($26 CAD) out of their packaging was ... HEY. These look a lot like the Make Up For Ever Aqua Matic Eyeshadow Sticks - from the packaging with the hidden sharpener to longevity claims, right down to the price point.

glo Minerals Cream Stay Shadow Stick Swatches in Beam, Gold Blush, Keepsake, Metro, Concord & Pitch

There are 6 shades in the Cream Stay Shadow Stick range - all fairly wearable, neutral colours, nothing out of the ordinary (no bright blues or electric lime greens). Beam is a shimmery white gold, Gold Blush is a neutral pink with golden shimmer, Keepsake is a shimmering bronze, Metro is a shimmering purple-grey, Concord is a matte deep grape and Pitch is a matte black. My favourites are Beam (the perfect inner corner highlight) and Gold Blush (for warming up any look).

The glo Minerals Cream Stay Shadow Sticks are wonderfully pigmented. The texture is smooth and creamy, but they set quickly (~30 seconds) and require some swift blending. What the product lacks is staying power. After about 4 hours, my oily eyelids eat up the product and I'm left with some seriously unflattering creasing. Of course, this can be avoided by setting the product with a powder which makes the product last all day long. However, this means that I can only use the glo Minerals Cream Stay Shadow Sticks as eyeshadow bases, not standalone eyeshadows.

Wearing the Glo Minerals Cream Stay Shadow Stick in Metro on the inner and outer corners, Beam on the centre of the lid and Pitch as liner.

All in all, I like the stance of the glo Minerals brand. Unfortunately, the glo Minerals Cream Stay Shadow Sticks didn't survive the test of time (or my oily eyelids). Perhaps if you've got drier skin these would work better for you. That being said, I'll still be using the Cream Stay Shadow Sticks as bases.

Have you tried glo Minerals?

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The Sephora Collection "The Mini Team" Holiday Set ($27 CAD) contains six adorably mini-sized (read: FUN SIZED) lipsticks in two formulations from Sephora Collection - the Sephora Rouge Shine Lipsticks and the Sephora Rouge Creme Lipsticks.

Sephora Rouge Shine Lipstick

No. 29 - Latin Lover (sheer orange coral)

No. 64 - Summer of Passion (sheer pink-purple)

No.14 - Love Spell (sheer light pink)

Sephora Rouge Cream Lipsticks

No. 23 - Crush (deep reddish plum)

No. 04 - The Red (classic bright red)

No. 20 (pale nude)

Hand for size reference! The lipsticks are so itsy bitsy

If anything, I'm enamoured by the size of the Sephora Collection The Mini Team Lipsticks. I like that the formulation of the lipsticks are distinguished by the packaging - silver for the Sephora Collection Rouge Shines and black for the Sephora Collection Rouge Cremes. They're also the same packaging as the regular full-sized products.

I've tried both the Sephora Collection Rouge Shine and Rouge Cream Lipsticks in the past.

The Sephora Collection Rouge Shine Lipsticks are sheer and glossy. They're quite hard for something so shiny and require quite a few layers to build colour. The lighter shades like summer of passion sink into my lip lines, which is not particularly flattering.

The Sehpora Collection Rouge Cream Lipsticks are quire potent in colour and have a shiny finish. They're smooth on the lips, which is a both a pro and a con. It looks great but isn't particularly longwearing. I find the lipsticks to be quite slippy and prone to migration outside of the liplines. Lip liner, particularly with the darker shades, is a must.

Both formulations are decent, but not my favourite for a number of reasons.

Sephora Collection Rouge Shine Lipstick in No. 29 - Latin Lover Swatch

Sephora Collection Rouge Shine Lipstick in No. 64 - Summer of Passion Swatch

Sephora Collection Rouge Shine Lipstick in No.14 - Love Spell Swatch

Sephora Collection Rouge Cream Lipstick No. 20 Swatch

Sephora Collection Rouge Cream Lipstick No. 04 - The Red Swatch

Sephora Collection Rouge Cream Lipstick in No. 23 - Crush Swatch

Is the Sephora Collection The Mini Team: Rouge Cream & Shine Lipstick Set worth it? Full-sized Sephora Collection lipsticks retail for $16 for 0.14 oz. The minis are 0.04 oz, which means that the set has a total product weight of 0.24 oz. worth $27.40. So yes, it is worth it, but you're not getting a deal. You do, however, get to try a number of variety of different colours from Sephora Collection!

Sephora Collection lipsticks - YAY or NAY?

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The Formula X City Chic Clix! Travel Set ($25 USD) is 6 polishes in a compact, travel-friendly package. Sephora always does these adorable little polish sets for the holidays, so let me break it down for you...

The packaging is deceiving. I don't think it's travel friendly, personally. Where is the top coat and the base coat? I think a set like the XCEL System to Go is more practical because instead of including all the colours it includes everything you need for a manicure on the go. Perhaps the set would be a bit more travel friendly if it included a base and top coat + 4 colours, instead of 6 colours total.

The colour selection is good and bad. Good because the colours are cute and bad because there's quite a few repeats from last year's holiday collection. Dark Matter (black) seems to always make an appearance in holiday sets. If your friend likes nail polish, he/she probably already has a good black in their collection. Same goes for a deep red like Ignite. The rest of the colours, I'm into. I went through the entire bottle of last year's Thrilling, Elite is the perfect everyday brown, Fine Like Einstein is a fun glitter and Blazing is a more exciting take on a dark red.

Formula X Thrilling (pastel grey, limited edition)

Formula X Elite (medium grey brown, limited edition)

Formula X Fine Like Einstein (pink silver chunky glitter)

Formula X Ignite (smoking red)

Formula X Blazing (deep red with pearly sheen)

Formula X Dark Matter (black)

Is the Formula X City Chic Clix! worth it? No. $13 CAD for 0.4 oz., so 0.1 oz. is $3.25 x 6 polishes = $19.50. You're paying for the small sizes and the limited edition packaging.

Favourites from the set are Fine Like Einstein, Thrilling, and Elite. And of course they're all limited edition... so I won't be able to find a full size for the time being. Here's to hoping that the shades will be in next year's Formula X Holiday sets.

What do you think of Sephora's Formula X City Chic Clix! Set?

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Too Faced's Melted Liquified Lipsticks are some of the best. First there was the original satin finish Melted Long Wear Liquified Lipsticks, then came the Metallic and Chocolate Liquified Long Wear Lipsticks and the latest in the range is the Liquified Matte Long Wear Lipsticks. The Too Faced Merry Kissmas The Ultimate Liquified Lipstick Set ($32 CAD) contains 4 of the most popular Too Faced Melted Liquified Lipsticks.

Too Faced Melted Liquified Liquid Lipsticks in Chocolate Honey, Chihuahua and Matte Lady Balls

Too Faced Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipstick in Fig Swatch

Too Faced Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipstick in Chihuahua Swatch

The Too Faced Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipstick in Fig is a rosy orchid, while the Chihuahua is a light dusty mauve. The Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipsticks are some of my favourites. These are traditional lipsticks in a bullet, melted into a squeeze tube with a sponge tip applicator. The Melted Liquified Long Wear lipsticks have a satin finish and are very comfortable to wear. On my lips, they last about 4 hours and leave a nice stain thereafter.

Too Faced Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipstick in Chocolate Honey Swatch

The Too Faced Melted Chocolate Liquified Long Wear Lipstick in Chocolate Honey is a medium brown nude. The Melted Chocolates are the same formulation as the original but smell of cocoa powder. YUM.

Too Faced Melted Liquified Matte Long Wear Lipstick in Lady Balls Swatch

The Too Faced Melted Liquified Matte Long Wear Lipstick in Lady Balls is a matte true red and the most like a traditional "liquid lipstick" with a doe foot applicator. There's zero transfer (unlike its non-matte siblings), while the formulation is slightly more drying due to the matte texture. The lipstick lasts all day long if you avoid eating anything oily.

Is the Too Faced Merry Kissmas The Ultimate Liquified Lipstick Set worth it? Yes! 3 x 0.16 oz. and 1 x 0.12 oz., which is 0.6 oz. product total valued at $37.50 CAD ($25 CAD for 0.4 oz. for a single full-size product). So, if you like all of the colours included in the Merry Kissmas set, you're getting a $5.50 discount and 4 adorable minis.

Which Too Faced Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipstick is your fave?

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There's nothing quite as cool as receiving one gift from a friend but actually getting three different things in the package. This is what makes the Smashbox Light It Up 3 Palette Set for Eyes, Contour and Lips ($55 CAD) a fun and unique beauty gift. Smashbox's Light It Up Holiday Collection for 2016 is in collaboration with Meryl Pataky, a San Francisco-based neon artist. Hence, the neon box and neon palettes.

Smashbox Light It Up 3 Palette Holiday Set Review

The set contains three palettes and within those palettes includes six eyeshadows, 1 contour, 1 bronzer, and 6 lip colours.

EYES

Smashbox Photo Op Eye Shadow in Vanilla, Flamingo, Russet, Totally Nude, Amethyst, Dark Cocoa

The eyeshadows were not as impressive as other Photo Op Eyeshadows that I have tried in the past. The colours swatch nicely but look a bit muddy and sheer when applied. They require a primer or a bit of water to make the pigments pop. I like the varieties of colour that Smashbox chose to put in the palette. Vanilla (matte bone), Russet (satin bronze), Totally Nude (matte pink beige) and Dark Cocoa (matte brown) are basic neutrals, while Flamingo (peach with gold shimmer) and Amethyst (purple with gold shimmer) add interest to the palette.

Both Flamingo and Amethyst are best worn foiled (spritz a little water or setting spray onto the brush before dipping into the eyeshadow), as the foiling technique is the best way to get the wonderful golden shimmer in these particular shadows to stand out.

Amethyst on the lid, Russet and Dark Cocoa in the crease and Dark Cocoa on the outer corner

FACE

Smashbox Step-By-Step Contour Palette in Contour, Bronze, Highlight

The Smashbox Light It Up Palette Set was my first experience with Smashbox face products. I have to say that I'm impressed. The powders are smooth, adhere onto the skin staying all day long and can be blended without fading away entirely. The Contour and Bronze shades are perfection for my currently faded tan. My only issue with the palette is the sizing of the powders. They're TINY. I find it extra difficult to fit my face brush into the palette without picking up one of the other shades. Perhaps Smashbox could have done without the highlight and just had two bigger bronzer and contour shades.

LIPS

Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick Swatches in Cognac, Pretty Social, Inspiration, First Time Matte, Jam On It Matte, Bing Matte

Like the face powders, Smashbox's Be Legendary Lipsticks are also new to me. The Smashbox Lip Palette is by far my favourite of the 3-piece set. There are three cream finish lipsticks and three matte lipsticks, all available in Smashbox's permanent range. Congac is a warm raisin cream, Pretty Social is a light lavender pink, Inspiration is a bright fuchsia pink, First Time is a neutral coral, Jam On It is a raspberry, and Bing is a slightly orange red. The only shade that I don't find to be wearable for my colouring is Pretty Social, the light lavender pink.

With both finishes, the Smashbox Be Legendary Lipsticks are comfortable and smooth. Not surprisingly, the matte lipsticks last for 4-5 hours on my lips, while the cream lipsticks last 2-3 hours depending on how much and what I've been eating/drinking.

Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick in Cognac Swatch

Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick in Pretty Social Swatch

Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick in Inspiration Swatch

Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick in First Time Matte Swatch

Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick in Jam On It Matte Swatch

Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick in Bing Matte Swatch

Is the Smashbox Light It Up 3 Palette Set: Eyes Contour Lips worth it? YES. I'm all for 3 in one, and the holiday set is a stellar value. A 0.10 oz. Be Legendary lipstick retails for $25. The palette contains 6 x 0.08 oz., which means the lip palette by itself is $120. The Full Exposure Mini Palette is 13.92/.1 oz., which means that the shadows in the Light It Up Palette (6 x 0.1 oz) are worth $80 total. And I'm not even going to calculate the value of the contour palette because there must be something wrong with my math...

Will you be picking up the Smashbox Light It Up Palette Set?

This is not a sponsored post. Reimbursement was provided for the purchase of this product for a sponsored Instagram post with Shoppers Drug Mart. You can find the Light It Up Palette Set at Sephora as well :)

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Bath and body gift sets have a bad rap for being the fallback/cop out present when yourself/Mom/aunt/family friend had little to no time to do the holiday shopping (between cooking holiday meals, baking cookies and working a full time job) and decided to pick up the gifts for everyone on the shopping list in the same store.

But you know what? Bath and body gift sets are some of the most useful things you could pick up for a loved one. Who doesn't want to be clean, smell fresh and feel like a baby's bottom all over? Bath and body gift sets bound to be emptied before the next holiday season or if anything they can easily be re-gifted with a fresh bit of wrapping paper ;)

Here are a few bath and body gift sets that are sure to please:

Philosophy Amazing Grace Holiday Collection ($60 CAD, $113 value)

My goodness is this a stellar deal. The Amazing Grace Fragrance itself is valued at $60 a pop. Philosophy's bestselling Amazing Grace is a very perfumey floral scent with top notes of mandarin orange, grapefruit and bergamot, middle notes of fresia, jasmine and rose and a base note of musk. This set contains the Amazing Grace Fragrance Eau de Toilette (2 oz.), Amazing Grace Shampoo, Bath and Shower Gel (8 oz.) and Amazing Grace Whipped Body Creme (8 oz.). When I received it in the mail, I had to oohhh and ahh at the pretty packaging. My favourite of the three pieces is definitely the Amazing Grace Whipped Body Creme - it absorbs in the skin instantly.

The Body Shop Strawberry Festive Picks Gift Set ($26 CAD, $35 value)

This set includes The Body Shop Strawberry Shower Gel (250mL), Strawberry Body Butter (50mL), Strawberry Body Polish (75mL), Strawberry Bar Soap (100g), Mini Red Bath Lily. It's an easy gift that comes pre-wrapped with a festive box and a bow. Ironically enough, I don't love The Body Shop's strawberry fragrance. For those that are with me, the set also comes in Satsuma, British Rose, Moringa, Mango, Fuji Green Tea, Coconut, Wild Argan Oil, Coconut and Shea (mmmmm... Mango and Satsuma!).

Philosophy Snow Angel 4-Piece Set (~$35 USD, ~$50 CAD value)

The limited edition Snow Angel scent is described as capturing the scent of freshly fallen snow. I was not aware that snow even had a scent but apparently it smells sweet, fresh and slightly floral (as opposed to being rich/sweet like a cupcake). This set contains the Philosophy Snow Angel Shampoo, Shower Gel & Bubble Bath (6 oz.), Snow Angel Body Lotion (4 oz.), Snow Angel Body Polish (4 oz.) and Snow Angel Perfumed Body Spritz (4 oz.). My favourite from the set is the body polish, as it was surprisingly abrasive (which is how I like it). Also worth mentioning, I don't love the Snow Angel Perfumed Body Spritz as I find it smells like alcohol, rather than sweetly fallen snow.

The Body Shop Best of Body Butter Festive Dome ($20 CAD, $30 value)

If you like slathering yourself with The Body Shop Body Butters, when you wake up, before bed, post-shower and just all the time in general, consider picking up the Body Shop Best of Body Butter Festive Dome. It contains 5 travel-sized body butters in the Strawberry, Fuji Green Tea, British Rose, Shea Butter and Coconut scents.

Do you like to give/receive bath & body gift sets?

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9 MAKE UP FOR EVER Artist Shadows, one holiday palette. It's the MAKE UP FOR EVER Artistic Eye Shadow Palette ($58 CAD)!

The MAKE UP FOR EVER Artistic Eye Shadow Palette contains 9 MUFE Artist Shadows:

S-102 - Onyx (Satin)
D-552 - Crystalline Grey Beige (Diamond)
I-220 - Sapphire (Iridescent)
ME-302 - Peacock (Metallic)
ME-122 - Snow (Metallic)
ME-108 - Steel (Metallic)
ME-614 - Graphite Brown (Metallic)
D-712 - Creme Brulee (Diamond)
ME-912 - Orchid (Metallic)

The packaging of the palette is a tad bulky for my preferences but the graphic on the tin is beautifully festive and designed by Creative Director, Dany Sanz.

If you don't know how I feel about MAKE UP FOR EVER eyeshadows, you're late to the party. The Artist Shadows are in my top 3 eyeshadow formulations of all time. All of the colours that I've tried are mighty bold, there's a ridiculous selection (200+) in varying finishes, and the gel-like pigment is easy as pie to blend.

Like OMG. Look at those swatches...

MUFE Artist Shadow Swatches in ME-912, D-712, ME-614, ME-108, ME-122, ME-302, I-220, D-552, S-102

All of the shades have some sort of metallic or diamond finish, which means that you'll need to source your own matte blending shades from another palette. Without a doubt you cannot use the MAKE UP FOR EVER Artistic Eye Shadow Palette on its own. Then again, I don't think this is a palette for beginners or neutral lovers. I think this palette is for someone that already has all the matte bone, browns and blacks in their collection and wants to acquire a few some that are fun and unique.

Wearing the MAKE UP FOR EVER Artist Shadows in ME-302 - Peacock (Metallic) on the inner and outer corners, D-552 - Crystalline Grey Beige (Diamond) on the centre of the lid and D-712 - Creme Brulee (Diamond) in the crease

Is the MAKE UP FOR EVER Artistic Eye Shadow Palette worth it? TOTALLY. The Artistic Eye Shadow Palette contains 9 x 0.05 oz. of product. A full-sized MUFE Aritst Shadow weighs 0.07 oz. Therefore, the Artistic Eye Shadow Palette has a value of $60... which means that purchasing the palette instead of 9 individual shadows is ~$100 in savings. And the formulation is amazing, just saying.

What do you think of the MAKE UP FOR EVER Artistic Eye Shadow Palette?

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FINALLY. I can say that I've tried the Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stains, a liquid lipstick that is wildly popular in the beauty community. For the holidays, Sephora's got a set of mini Cream Lip Stains ($15 CAD) in 4 bestsellers - Always Red, Infinite Rose, Cherry Blossom and Blackberry Sorbet.

In this case, mini means baby-sized, like smaller than my pinky finger.

Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stains:

Infinite Rose (shimmery, sheer gold/peach nude)

Cherry Blossom (blue pink)

Always Red (true red)

Blackberry Sorbet (deep plum berry)

In terms of colour selection, I'm not in love. Other than the red, I don't think any of the colours really suit my skintone. I really, really, really wish Marvelous Mauve was included in the set because that's the colour that I've had my eye on for a couple years now. Infinite Rose was particularly meh for me. I was surprised that it's a bestseller because it's 100% bleh on my colouring.

In terms of formulation, they're wonderful. Very potent in colour but I found Blackerry Sorbet to be a touch patchy. They're a little drying and uncomfortable but not the worst that I've experienced. Rather than being a full on "liquid lipstick" that flakes peels off, as the Sephora Cream Lip Stain wears off it leaves a nice bit of colour. That being said, once it's on... it's on for good, which means that precision is key (particularly with Blackberry Sorbet). Apply ever so slightly too far outside the lip lines and you're kind of stuck with the overdrawn lip look for the rest of the day. The Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain lasts about 5 hours on my lips.

So, while I don't love all of the colours in the set, I'll be picking up Marvelous Mauve in the near future.

Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain in Always Red Swatch

Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain in Infinite Rose Swatch

Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain in Cherry Blossom Swatch

Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain in Blackberry Sorbet Swatch

Is the Sephora Collection Mini Cream Lip Stain Set worth it? Yes. The set contains 4 x 1.3 mL = 5.12 mL total, which is valued at $18.43 ($18 CAD for the full size individual Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain). That's $3 in savings for the set. That being said, if you're not into the shade selection within the set, go for one colour that you'll love for sure.

Have you tried the Sephora Cream Lip Stains?

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The Caryl Baker Visage Holiday 2016 Collection draws inspiration from the True North... Canada! A majority of the collection is pretty standard for Caryl Baker - 6 eyeshadows, 2 blushes, 4 lipsticks and 6 of their new lip lacquers - all named after Canadian symbols and iconic cities like Jasper, Tofino and Nanaimo.

And then there's the Northern Lights Glow Palette ($46 CAD), which really got me excited. For one, seeing the Northern Lights (aka Aurora Borealis) is on my bucket list. And secondly, I've seen and tried lip products, eyeshadows and blushers from Caryl Baker Visage - but not a highlighting palette.

The Caryl Baker Visage Glow Palette in Northern Lights contains three face powders - Golden Mist (bronzey glow), Rosey Quartz (flushed glow) and Pale Diamond (tint of glow). The powders are triple milled and they sure feel like it. They're soft and smooth, granted there is a ton of fallout and the black palette is never without a layer of powder.

Golden Mist reminds me of MAC Oh Darling! (but less metallic) and Make Up For Ever Pro Light Fusion in Gold (but with smoother, more powdery pigments). I'd liken Rosey Quartz to something a tad lighter and cooler than NARS Orgasm, as Rosey Quartz has a nice amount of golden shimmer like Orgasm. Pale Diamond is similar to the Make Up For Ever Pro Light Fusion in Rose Gold but slightly less pink.

On my light/medium skin tone, Golden Mist is too dark in the winter but perfect in the summer, Rosey Quartz is a year-round radiant blusher and Pale Diamond is an ideal winter highlighter. I think the palette is suitable for those that are between pale and medium in colouring.

Golden Mist, Rosey Quartz, Pale Diamond Swatches

The Caryl Baker Visage Glow Palette in Northern Lights gives me life. The highlighting and illuminating palette is mettalic and shimmery and glowy in all the right ways. I find the powders to apply fairly sheer for a subtle glow (like the Make Up For Ever Pro Light Fusion) but they can be built up to something more beam-like if that's what you prefer. Oh - and they're shimmery but not too much so. In addition, although Caryl Baker doesn't market the Glow Palette as being long-wearing I've experienced impressive wear-time with all of the powders (10+ hours).

Wearing the Caryl Baker Visage Glow Palette in Northern Lights

Above, I'm wearing Golden Mist and Pale Diamond mixed together on the cheekbones and Rose Quartz underneath. THAT GLOW THO!

All in all, the Caryl Baker Glow Palette in Northern Lights was an unexpected love. I'm picky about how I like my highlighters and the Caryl Baker Glow Palette really hit the spot for me.

Have you ever seen the Northern Lights? What do you think of the Glow Palette?

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Today, we're rounding up this year's best gift sets for your favourite lipstick junkie. I've tested out a majority of the sets in previous posts, so be sure to check out the fully fledged reviews as well!

Too Faced Merry Kissmas The Ultimate Liquified Lipstick Set ($32 CAD)

Includes 4 of Too Faced's cult lip products in the original, chocolate and matte versions.

Sephora Collection Mini Cream Lip Stain Set ($15 CAD)

The Cream Lip Stain is one of Sephora Collection's most popular products. For the past couple years, liquid lipsticks have been all the rage and then some. The minis are tiny but the set is a nice taste of the Cream Lip Stains.

Sephora Collection the Mini Team: Rouge Cream & Shine Lipstick Set ($27 CAD)

If liquid lipsticks aren't your thing, try the Sephora Rouge Cream and Rouge Shine Lipsticks. The Mini Team set includes 6 adorable minis of some of Sephora's best lipstick shades.

Marc Jacobs Up All Night Five Piece Petites Le Marc Lip Creme Collection ($61 CAD)

The priciest set but if you know someone that love's luxury beauty, this 5-piece set will be worth it to them.

Tarte Kiss Bliss Tartiest Creamy Matte Lip Paint & Crayon Set($60 CAD)

Includes 10 of Tarte's latest lip product releases. The Lip Paint and Lip Crayons are matchy matchy. I wasn't a fan of this particular set, but you might know someone who loves Tarte products.

Quo Cosmetics Luxury Lipstick Wardrobe($30 CAD)

I'm all about the luxurious gold packaging and comfortable matte lipstick formulation that feels similar to the Le Marc Lip Cremes but at an easier price point.

Sephora Collection the Mini Kisses Set ($14 CAD)

Need a break from lipsticks? Try the Mini Kisses Set, which contains 3 of Sephora's Kiss Me Balms that feature both moisture and a hint of tint.

Which holiday lip sets have caught your eye?

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The Kat Von D Shade & Light Palettes (for Face and Eye Contouring) are some of the most popular products sold at Sephora. I've finally gotten the opportunity to test them out and colour me impressed, I should have taken notice to these sooner.

Kat Von D Shade & Light Eye and Face Contour Palettes

The packaging of the two I have on hand is special. I couldn't find the Shade & Light Eye Contour Palette ($55 CAD) with the plastic packaging on the Sephora website so I feel like this one is limited edition, but the regular old cardboard packaging is part of the permanent collection. The Shade & Light Refillable Face Contour Palette ($64 CAD) in the plastic casing is part of the permanent collection, as is the non-refillable cardboard Shade & Light Face Contour Palette ($55 CAD) .

Kat Von D Shade & Light Face Contour Palette Swatches

Kat Von D just released the Kat Von D Shade & Light REFILLABLE Face Contour Palette ($64 CAD), which features the same all matte shades as the regular Shade & Light Face Contour Palette:

Lucid - pinkish nude
Lyric - yellow beige
Levitation - soft peach
Sombre - true taupe
Shadowplay - soft brown
Subconscious - deep brown

I find all of the shades to be smooth, highly pigmented, buildable and appropriately blendable. I also appreciate that the Light shade names start with "L" and the Shade names start with "S". So thoughtful.

What makes the Refillable Palette special is that the pans of this palette are magnetic and removable, while the palette itself has little pinholes at the back so that you can pop out the pans with ease. The refills of the highlight shades (Lucid, Lyric, Levitation) cost $18 each, while the contour shades (Shadowplay, Sombre, Subconscious) cost $21 each.

Because I would only really use Lyric and Shadowplay (the two medium shades), for the regular gal I would suggest picking up the refills only and placing them in a Z-Palette. However, if you're a makeup artist then I can see how the refillable palette would be useful.

Kat Von D Shade & Light Eye Contour Palette Swatches

The Kat Von D Shade & Light Eye Contour Palette ($55 CAD) is not refillable but the product is still of a similar high quality to the Face Contour Palette. The shadows feel smooth to the touch, very finely milled with some fallout when using a brush. On application, they're quite full in colour (without primer) but blend very easily into the skin and into eachother. Oddly enough, the Kat Von D shadows are also longwearing. Most eyeshadows get eaten up by my oily eyelids throughout the day but the Kat Von D ones appear fresh all day long.

The Shade & Light Eye Contour includes 12 eyeshadows - 3 larger base shades and 3 each of contour, define and highlight shades. Again, any "shade" eyeshadows have names that start with an "S" and "light" eyeshadows start with an "L".

Lateus - creamy nude
Lazarus - cool taupe
Ludwin - peachy bronze
Samael - dusty fawn
Solas - espresso brown
Lucius - soft beige
Saleos - smoky brown
Shax - jet black
Liberatus - pinkish ivory
Succubus - rich rust
Sytry - chocolate brown
Latinus - golden bisque

My favourite shades are the two warm shader eyeshadows at the far right Succubus (rich rust) and Sytry (chocolate brown).

Wearing the Kat Von D Latinus on the lid, Succubus in the crease and Sytry in the outer corner

All in all, the Kat Von D Shade & Light Palettes contain every matte neutral eyeshadow that you'll ever need in your makeup collection. Great colours, great formulation... what more could one ask for?

Do you own either of the Kat Von D Shade & Light Palettes?

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This year's OPI Holiday Collection is inspired by the classic film "Breakfast at Tiffany's" featuring none other than the iconic Audrey Hepburn. The collection is meant to channel Hepburn's "special brand of chic" and sense of playfulness.

The collection contains polishes in the Infinite Shine, Gel Color and regular Nail Lacquer formulations in classic light Tiffany blues, along with a ton of reds, a few deeper shades and even some holographic glitters. This collection has holiday written all over it...perhaps too much red for my liking but it's fun, beautiful and sophisticated nonetheless. Onto the swatches!:

OPI Breakfast at Tiffany's Infinite Shine Polishes ($16.95 CAD)

OPI I Believe in Manicures Swatch (also available in GelColor and Nail Lacquer) - Tiffany blue

OPI Girls Love Pearls Swatch - silver pearl

OPI I'll Have a Manhattan Swatch - dark purple

OPI Party at Holly's Swatch - burnished mohgany

OPI Can't Tame a Wild Thing Swatch - daring red

OPI Breakfast at Tiffany's Nail Lacquers ($13.50 CAD)

OPI Can't Read Without My Lipstick Swatch - elegant maroon

OPI Apartment for Two Swatch - romantic raspberry

OPI Fire Escape Rendezvous Swatch - matte, glittery ruby

OPI Five-And-Ten Swatch

OPI Got the Mean Reds Swatch - deep red

OPI Rich & Brazillian Swatch - rich burgundy purple with golden glitter

OPI Meet My "Decorator" Swatch - hot orange red

OPI Black Dress Not Optional Swatch - shimmering black

OPI Champage For Breakfast Swatch - holographic silver glitter

OPI Sunrise...Bedtime Swatch - holographic pink glitter

My six favourites from the collection are I Believe in Manicures, Five-and-Ten, Sunrise...Bedtime, Breakfast at Tiffany's Champagne for Breakfast, and Can't Read without my Lipstick.

What do you think of the OPI Breakfat at Tiffany's Holiday Collection?

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Tried and true beauty products for that friend that looks like a makeup artist (but isn't) and always knows when Kylie Lip Kits are in stock.

Sephora Collection Sparkle and Shine Z-Palette ($38 CAD)

Z-Palettes are a game changer. If you thought you didn't have enough space for all of your makeup, think again. Depot everything, stuff it into a Z-Palette and you've got room for the next release of the Chocolate Bar Palette.

House of Lashes X Sephora Colletion Lash Story Deluxe ($156 CAD)

House of Lashes is worn by the likes of celebs and youtubers alike (Desi Perkins, LustreLux, Sophie Turner, Selena Gomez and Kerry Washington). The House of Lashes Lash Story is the ULTIMATE 10 piece set of false eyelashes including but not limited to the iconic Iconics, as well as essential clear lash glue and black lash glue.

Make Up For Ever Artistic Flash Palette ($110 CAD)

Have you ever watched one of those videos where the person does their entire face using the Make Up For Ever Flash Palette? If you haven't, you should! The MUFE Flash Palette is a cult product in colour cosmetics. The Artistic Flash Palette includes multi-use 12 colours that can be mixed, matched and applied on the eyes, face and lips.

Clarins Beauty Flash Balm ($50 CAD)

Sold once every 20 minutes worldwide, the Clarins Beauty Flash Balm is an oldie but a goodie. It's a non-oily brightening, tightening and moisturizing mask that I love to use underneath my makeup when my skin is feeling bleh.

Caudalie Beauty Elixir ($58 CAD for 100mL)

Another pick-me-up skincare product, the Caudalie Beauty Elixir can be used before or after makeup. It contains mint oil and grape water for a tingling, tightening effect. For bonus points, pick up a bottle of the gorgeous limited edition Caudalie X Jason Wu Beauty Elixir.

Beauty Blender Pro ($28 CAD)

The black beauty blender is my fave because it never looks dirty! Not sure how I even applied foundation before I had a beauty blender.

Tweezerman Love Story Gift Set ($59 CAD)
Impeccable brows and lashes require the solid beauty tools. The Tweezerman Love Story Gift set includes the iconic Slant Tweezer and ProCurl Eyelash Curler, along with a travel case - all in a beautiful rose gold.

Guerlain Meteorites Perles ($75 CAD)

Celebrating it's 30th year in 2016, the Guerlain Meteorites Perles were at the forefront of today's strobing and highlighting trends. The powder contains a multi-coloured mixture of green, yellow, pink and silver pearls for brightening, anti-redness and anti-dullness. It's use is a bit confusing but after disucussing with with an MUA, it's multi-purpose and can be used as a light, non-cakey setting powder or a highlight when applied generously onto the high points of the face.

Have you tried any of these cult beauty products?

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It's always nice to see a drugstore brand come out with an advent calendar, so I was excited to receive the NYX Wanderlust Advent Calendar ($50 CAD) in the mail.

The calendar features 24 days of NYX inspired by international destinations like Seoul, Rome, Manila, Stockholm, Monte Carlo and more. The graphics in the calendar are fun but not childish and the calendar itself is a good size (not difficult to carry home from the post office).

I don't think I have enough self control for advent calendars because I ended up opening 12 of the 24 days by December 3rd. And from there, I just wanted to see what was in the rest of the box. I couldn't even make it half way.

What's inside? 12 NYX eyeshadows and 12 of the NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams (mini). The Soft Matte Lip Creams are 12 of the 34 permanent collection shades, while the eyeshadows are of similar quality to those found in NYX eyeshadow palettes. Both are of wonderful quality (see swatches). In a nutshell, the Soft Matte Lip Creams smell like vanilla, dry down completely and wear for 5 hours with eating. I'll swatch the Soft Matte Lip Creams all in a later post. The eyeshadows are pigmented, smooth and blendable - lightly powdery but nothing overbearing.

The mini Soft Matte Lip Creams are adorable but the individually packaged cardboard eyeshadows are not practical. I depotted all of them into a metal palette because if I hadn't they'd be collecting dust somewhere at the back of my collection.

Shades included in the NYX Wanderlust Advent Calendar:

Addis Ababa - bright fuchsia

Cannes - matte muted mauve

Copenhagen - matte rich plum

Manila - coral with pink undertone

Milan - medium blue-toned pink

Monte Carlo - deep cranberry red

Morocco - matte coral orange

Prague - matte merlot

Rome - medium nude with red undertone

Seoul - violet

Stockholm - medium beige pink

Trasylvania - matte deep violet

Is the NYX Wanderlust Advent Calendar worth it? Yes. Absolutely. The mini Soft Matte Lip Creams are 58.75% of a full size that retails for $6 each, so the 12 mini lip products are valued at $42.30. Eyeshadows included in the set are 120% of the size of NYX Shadow Refills ($4 each), which means that the 12 included in the set are valued at $57.60, bringing the total product value of the advent calendar to $99.90.

Overall, you'll be overwhelmed if you love the NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams and Eyeshadows but underwhelmed if you're looking for product variety. As someone who has never tried the Soft Matte Lip Creams, I'm a happy camper.

What do you think of the NYX Wanderlust Advent Calendar?

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MAKE UP FOR EVER Artist Palette Vol. 4 - Shadows

The Rejuvenating Facial at Hand & Stone

Formula X Alchemy III (3)

Too Faced Let It Glow Highlight and Blush Kit

Quo Cosmetics Luxury Lipstick Wardrobe

Atelier Cologne Nécessaire Curated by Sylvie Ganter & Christophe Cervasel

glo Minerals Cream Stay Shadow Sticks in Beam, Gold Blush, Keepsake, Metro, Concord & Pitch

Sephora Collection The Mini Team: Rouge Cream & Shine Lipstick Set

Formula X City Chic Clix! Travel Friendly Nail Polish Set

Too Faced Merry Kissmas The Ultimate Liquified Lipstick Set

Smashbox Light It Up 3 Palette Set: Eyes Contour Lips

EYES

FACE

LIPS

GIFT GUIDE: Bath & Body Gift Sets

MAKE UP FOR EVER Artistic Eye Shadow Palette

Sephora Collection Mini Cream Lip Stain Set

Caryl Baker Glow Palette in Northern Lights

GIFT GUIDE: The Lipstick Lover

Kat Von D Shade & Light Face Contour Refillable Palette and Eye Contour Palette

OPI Breakfast at Tiffany's Holiday Collection 2016

OPI Breakfast at Tiffany's Infinite Shine Polishes ($16.95 CAD)

OPI Breakfast at Tiffany's Nail Lacquers ($13.50 CAD)

GIFT GUIDE: The Makeup Addict

NYX Wanderlust Advent Calendar 2016