Sephora Skin Wonderland, HIT OR MISS?

This kit is $70 CAD and contains 11 items. There is only one full size product and the rest are either deluxe or regular sample size. All are luxury and really expensive brands that I was really excited to try!

I have not tried any of these brands before so I will give you a short review on each of them.

1. Jurlique Rosewater balancing mist (15 ml):  this is an hydrating mist to refresh both skin and mind. It has a strong rose smell (too strong for my taste). I thought the bottle would spray like the UD setting spray but it did not; it went straight to my eye and it was horrible. After putting on, I did not feel any difference on my skin. I prefer the UD setting spray.  MISS!
   
   

2. Clarins Tonic treatment oil 30 ml: tones and firms skin while leaving skin satin soft and supple. This oil feels really hydrating on the skin but I do not want to be rude, I get the same results using baby oil. MISS!
   
   
   
   
   

3. Nude oil treatment 10 ml: one of my favorite products. I used after the Ole Henriksen lemon strip flash peel and it absorbed really quickly. The smell is strong but it did not sit on my face. However, I will do not recommend this to someone with oily skin because it has a really thick consistency. HIT!    

4. L’Occitane Amande cleasing oil 75 ml: it transforms to foam when in contact with the water.   I like the product but I do not see myself repurchasing after. As well, it is not what I look in a luxury product. MISS!
   
   

5. Caudalie Hand and nail cream 75ml – Full size - $19 value: the smell is really strong. I did not like it at all, my hands felt really greasy for good 30 minutes. I did not like the formula and the consistency. MISS!
   
   

6. Josie Maran intensive infinity creamy oil 5 ml: it has a petroleum jelly consistency and it is really thick and creamy. It sinks in easily in the skin but is thick so I won’t recommend it for oily skin. This is one of my favorite items, however it is the smallest one!  HIT!
   
   

7. Lavanilla Labaratories The Healthy deodorant 25 gr: the good thing is that it does not have any harsh chemical in it and the smell is really pleasant.  It is a nice compact size so I am going to save it for when I go on vacation. HIT!
   
   

8. Amore Pacific treatment enzyme peel 7gr: powder that activates  with water. The only product that does not smell really strong. If I have to compare with something it will be the Tacha Rice Enzyme Powder. Both have the same consistency and I got similar results. I really liked but again the packaging is so small. HIT!
   
   

9. Kate Somerville ExfoliKates intensive exfoliating treatment -15 ml - $25 value: I have heard amazing reviews about this item and I know it is the perfect product for people who suffer from acne, I have not tried it yet but I think I will give to my sister and see what she thinks. I have a lot of exfoliating products so she will enjoy it better. HIT for her!
   
   

10. Ole Henriksen lemon strip flash peel 15 gr: I tried it with my sister to see which results this would give us. She felt an itchy sensation and I did not feel anything at all. The overall results were amazing; my skin felt so soft afterward. Another favorite! HIT!
    
    

11. Shiseido Benefiance wrinkle resist 24 express smoothing eye mask: I have not tried this product yet but I have read amazing reviews about it. I am just waiting for my final exam week to come so I can use it and give it a better review.  My under eye circle look horrible around the season!  

Overall like all other Sephora Superstars sets you get your money worth ($189 value) but I do not like it enough to recommend it, because if you are sensitive to smells (like me) or have oily skin this set won’t be worth it for you. Also, there is just one full size item, which is the one I hated the most.  As well, even though I loved several products, I cannot afford any of them in their full size version, which is so sad! This set is good if you purchase with someone else and try the products together like I did with my sister. We had a Friday night spa type of day where we experimented with most of products but again, $70 it is too much for my low overall satisfaction with this Sephora Skin Wonderland set.

As always, I hope this review was helpful to you.

If you’ve tried any of these products, which ones do you prefer?

Sandra

Sephora Endless Kisses: Glossy Lip Pencils

I debated with myself before getting the Sephora Collection Endless Kisses Glossy Lip Pencils Edition Kit but when I went to the store and I swatched the colours (plus it was the last set left) I felt like I had to get it!! This is a limited edition set for the Holidays which for a value of $34 you get 8 lip crayons ($4 approx each). I picked up two weeks ago and since then, they all have been my go to lip product.

I have tried the Revlon Colorbust (matte balm - $8.99 value) and I hated it. They were really hard to apply and, in my opinion, the matte formula is awful.

However, I wanted to try the Sephora version because I have had amazing experience with their lip products and these glossy lip pencils did not disappoint me. All of them are really creamy and easy to apply. They are not matte; they are more on the shimmery and glittery side but do not worry they won't make you look like a disco ball. The set comes with a variety of shade that will fit all moods and skin colours. You can also mix and match shades to create custom lip looks. The fact that they are not very pigmented but that the colour can be built is right on my alley.

 From right to left the colours are:

• 01 Copper
• 03 Soft Rose
• 03 Light Pink 
• 04 Coral (my favourite) 
• 05 Hot Pink 
• 06 Fuchsia (kind of matte)
• 07 Red
• 08 Purple 

From the swatches above (excuse the tattoo), you can see that the shimmer is really minimal and I found that hint of glitter is perfect for those days that you need an extra something on your makeup! 

I was really surprised that all the colours look good on my skin tone and on my lips! I would totally recommend this set if you like easy to apply, creamy and not to strong lip products. 

The pencils in this set are perfect for everyday wear. 

Which colour is your favourite?

XOXO, 

Sandra G

Holiday Beauty Gala

Beauty Boutique by Shoppers Drug Mart and the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation have partnered to host the Holiday Beauty Gala. Every dollar raised at the event will be used to purchase and equip mobile mammography vans with digital mammography technology.

For a $5 value (plus an optional $5 donation) you will get a makeover and skin consultation, samples, refreshments, games and much more. The space is limited so make sure you go a purchase your ticket, as soon as possible. The event takes place on November 8th, from 8 am to 11 pm, at different SDM location across Canada.

I purchased my ticket today and booked my appointment. Also, I got this goodie bag with the ticket.

• Revlon nail polish in Carioca Crush (I love the colour) - Full Size $4.99 
• L'Oreal Eyeshadow duo Hip Studio Secret in Flare (Gold and Copper) - Full Size 404 $6.99 
• Sally Hansen Hydrate cuticles - Full Size $8.99 
• Coupon with a $5 value 

I love everything about this goodie bag! I am so happy to get pampered and help the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. 

I hope you can get your ticket! 

Sandra G

Deal of the week: Bioderma trial kit

I have seen so many reviews about Bioderma Micellar Water I guess, unless you live under a rock , there isn't much more I can tell you about it! However, for all the ladies out there who like me have not tried this product yet, I have amazing news for you... Shopper Drugs Mart has this limited edition trail kit for only $6.95 plus tax!

It comes with: 

• A mini Bioderma 100ml (regular price $6) 
• Serum 15 ml (approximate price $4) 
• 3 foil package of night creme 5 ml each (approximate price $1 each)
• Bonus a $5 coupon when you expend more than $20

I used the Bioderma for taking off my makeup and OMG it worked wonders! I loved it so much that the same night I called my sister and told her she needs to get it; and she did. 

It removed my waterproof mascara like no other product that I have tried before and my skin felt really clean. The night cream (foil package) I did not work on my skin. The serum is really good but I do not see myself purchasing it again. However, the Bioderma Micellar Water is becoming my makeup remover. 

I jumped into the Bioderma Micellar Water bandwagon. 

If you want to try those products, I would recommend you to go to your nearest Shoppers Drug Mart as soon as possible. It is an amazing deal for 3 products that, counting the coupon you get, cost only $1.95! 

Have a FUN week, 

Sandra  

Holiday set edition: Benefit Cheeky Sweet Spot Box O" Blushes

Oops, shopping again! I was "browsing" at Shopper Drugs Mart when I encountered this beautiful limited edition Christmas set from benefit and due my previous blog post where I promise you guys to blog about those sets, I just had to purchase it (lol).

This set is so cute, it comes in a tin all decked out for Christmas. This little house makes the perfect gift for any makeup lover. It is a great chance to try the different types of Benefit blushes, highlighter and bronzer. You can leave the blushes in the pallette and use it as a decoration item, or, you can remove the blushes, place them in a Z pallette and use the box for another purpose.

This set contains:

• O.17 oz Dandelion 
• O.17 oz Hoola bronzing powder 
• O.17 oz Coralista a Rio pleasure face powder 
• O.17 oz Bella Bamba 3D brightening pink face powder 

• O.17 oz Rockateur Famously Provocative cheek powder 
• O.21 oz Sugarbomb rush flush face powder

• O.05 oz Watt's up! soft focus highlighter 

• Small Brush 

These are well known products, which have been on the market for a few years! My favourite are Hoola,  a perfect bronzer for contouring; Coralista is a beautiful blush and Watt's up is so pretty for that hint of light. Benefit products are of a nice quality, the pigmentation is really good, they are long lasting and they look really natural in any skin tone. The brush is not my favourite but it does the job. 

I would totally recommend this set for someone who loves Benefit and blushes. It is in quite expensive, at $43 but, you get to try all of them for pretty much a price of one ($36). That is $5 for each product, you sure get your money's worth!

Have you tired this set yet? 

Have a nice week,

Sandra 

Holiday set edition: Too Faced Melted Kisses

It's October but every single store that I go, I seem to see holiday set, holiday make up, holiday everything!! That makes me so excited! For that, I have decided to review a few of my favourites/resent picks. I am going to give you my feedback about the product and I will tell you if I feel is worth it or not.

I hope you enjoy this early Holiday Kits edition. I will try to do it once or twice a month.

The first kit that I purchased was Too Faced Melted Kisses at Sephora for $30 (4 lip glosses). I've been wanting to try them since they came out; however, I was not going to expend $25 for a lip stickthat I was not sure I was going to like.

The kit itself looks really cute; I think that is anyone will be happy getting those pretties as gift. Also, you could use them for stockings or give one to each of your friends depending on their preferences. 

I am sure you have read many reviews on these products. My opinion on these are simple: really creamy, they are not really easy to apply and they are durable. I used mine for 3 hours and it looked perfect but I have not worn it for a night out yet.

The colours that you get are (in other from box): Nude, Peony, Fuchsia and Berry which, I guess, are the bestseller. I liked the variety and berry is perfect for fall/winter. 

I experimented with them before actually wearing them out and I realized they looked better with lip liner so I matched them up with the ones that I already own. 

For Nude and Peony I used my go to nude liners; NYX in Vanilla Sky that perfectly match my natural lip color; and MAC in Hodgepodge that is a little bit darker but I like the contrast between them. 

For Fuchsia, I do not know a lip liner in that color, but I tried it with the NYX and it worked well. However, I am in the hunt for one in that color so if you have any suggestions, please let me know. 

Then Berry, when I put it on, I did not like it but, when I tried with MAC in color Nightmoth I felt in love. This lip liner is darker than the Melted but because my lips are thin, this colour help them to look fuller; both make my lips looked perfectly defined and my teeth looked amazingly white. 

In my opinion this kit is totally worth it, you get 4 Melted deluxe sample size (5 ml) for pretty much a price of one; plus you have the chance to try different shades and see which one suits you best. 

The nudes are amazingly wearable and they will look good on any skin tone. The Fuchsia I still do not know until I try it with a different lip liner and Berry is just perfect! 

If you have a chance go and purchase this kit! 

Have a nice week, 

Sandra G

First Chanel Nail polish!

I am lucky girl and I have a boyfriend that sometimes spoiled me too much! He surprise me with my first Chanel nail polish and I just could not believe it.
I have been waiting to buy one for the longest time but right now, being a college student those treats I can not afford.

Since the moment I opened the bag I was so excited that I decided to put it on. I just could not content myself. The nail polish that he got me with (Thank GOD) help of the Chanel store lady (Yorkville area, Toronto) was the "Vogue Fashion Night out limited edition Sweet Star". Such a long name for a nail polish!

I did my research and I found out this colour will be only available in a couple of Chanel Stores around the world. I always wanted a red Chanel nail polish but I think he did a better job in picking this one up for me!

The colour is hard to defined. For me it is a chrome colour with purple and green undertones, that depending of the lighting it looks different. 

The packaging is perfect and, the brushed is small and easy to use. 

As this was my first time using this lovely and beautiful nail polish; I did not know if I should used a base coat or not so I started to experiment in one of my nails to see how it will look better. 

After different attempts and filling I was wasting it. I decided to not use a base coat because when I put it with one on, the base coat started to created bubbles underneath and of course, I did not like the look. 

I used my regular top coat and I has been a week almost and not chip has occurred!! 

After getting my first nail polish and being so happy with the quality and the look; I feel I will be getting another one really soon! I will keep you updated in that! 

Have a fun weekend, 

Sandra