Where to shop for makeup and beauty in Toronto!

Ever been to Toronto or planning to or wondering what to ask your friend/cousin to bring back from TO?

As a makeup addict and shopaholic, I have found Toronto a great place to shop for, though definitely not as best as its neighbour – NYC [sigh!]

So this is a shopping guide based on my experience of shopping for makeup & beauty stuff here and hope it’s useful for you!

Some superb Canadian makeup brands:

1.      Bite Beauty – Yes, this superb lipstick brand is from Toronto –so 3 cheers! http://bitebeauty.com/blog/sample-page/

2.      Cargo cosmetics - http://www.cargocosmetics.com/    Never tried anything yet.

3.      Vasanti Cosmetics: www.vasanticosmetics.com/ca           - Never tried any of their products but everything looks tempting!

4.      Annabelle and sister company Marcelle - www.marcelle.com http://www.annabelle.ca I love Annabelle’s twist up crayons and Marcelle BB and CC creams.

Drugstore Shopping

1.      Shoppers Drug Mart : I don’t know if its fair to categorize Shoppers as a drugstore as it carries high end makeup as well. They have a specialized Beauty boutique in select locations.

For the budget conscious, they carry Essence Cosmetics which is an awesome and fun brand.

What I like: Lots of stores, friendly sales staff and if you’ve signed up for their Optimum card, you get coupons every Friday

What I don’t like: They can be pricier than other stores. 

Details on brands and locations: https://www1.shoppersdrugmart.ca/en/Home

Online store: www.murale.ca [high end boutique]

2.      Rexall: This is also a popular drugstore and carries NYX and recently Wet n Wild [though usually never the latest offerings from these brands! L]

What I like: They are usually faster in carrying the latest products; I found NYC lip crayons, Revlon balm stains launched 1^st here . Also for some products, they can be cheaper than Shoppers

No online store

Website: http://www.rexall.ca/

3.      Walmart: Well, I don’t think they need intro. Curiously, I find that Walmarts in Toronto are kind of messier and carry lesser product variety than Walmarts in places like Kitchener.

What I like: Sometimes they have good deals. Depending on which store you go to, you can find Milani, Wet n Wild etc. Don’t expect any high end brands.

What I don’t like: Counters are usually messy; products are often left used. Very few staff to support and help.

Details: www.walmart.ca

4.      Real Canadian Super store and Zehr’s : I love these stores cos they have nice displays which are better maintained that Walmart. They carry Milani, Wet n wild and I have seen new ELF palettes sometimes.

What I Like: Better selection and well maintained stores

What I don’t like: Nothing much except that I wish they had more drugstore brand range similar to US stores.

5.      Target: In Canada, Target doesn’t show in full potential – I must admit I am a bit disappointed with them; there was such an expectation and hype of Target bringing some new goodies with it.

What I Like: You can buy Sonia Kashuk and Pixi here. Sonia Kashuk lippies are great; I have never tried Pixi yet.

What I don’t like: It’s a bit disappointing to visit Target after watching all those Youtube haul videos where they show case the amazing stuff available at Target US.

6.      Winners: These are a set of retail stores – similar to Marshalls; they sometimes have ELF and some other cosmetics.

Not a favourite as displays are usually messy and weirdly priced.

Website: https://www.winners.ca/en/index.asp

7.      Marshalls: These stores are part of TJMAXX group but I am not sure if they are as good as their parent stores.

I have not found many brand offerings here; they carry ELF and some other stuff. I go there if I need to find a cute top.

https://www.marshallscanada.ca/en/index.asp

Department stores:

1.      Sears: Again, no need of intro. They carry high end brands like Clarins, Clinique and usually have some or other promotions running.

Again, don’t expect brand availability like their US stores.

However, I never find their sales staff available in most of the stores I have been to in GTA area.

Online store: http://www.sears.ca/

2.      Hudson’s Bay: They have a history in Canada and is the oldest in NA. I also find their stores excellent from an ambience and brand selections view.

They carry MAC along with other high end brands. They also have Fashion Fair – a line for women of color and Illamasqua.

Online store: http://www.thebay.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/en/thebay

3.      Holt Renfrew: This is a luxury department store; I have never been to one, may visit soon.

They carry Laura Mercier and I have read somewhere that Lime Crime is also available there.

Website : http://www.holtrenfrew.com/

Speciality stores and others:

1.      Sephora: Again, no need for intro. I love em! Its like going to a wonderland

Website: http://www.sephora.com/

2.      Claire’s and Icing: These are a set of retail stores targeted for Teens. But nothing to stop us from shopping.

I like their brushes and eyeshadow sets.

http://www.icing.com/icing/ca/

http://www.claires.com/store/ca/index.jsp?locale=en_CA&flag=CA

3.      Sally Beauty Supply: Mostly targeted for business buyers but they carry lots of interesting stuff like Palladio, Femme Couture & Sally girl.

They usually have deals and if you get a beauty card, you get good discounts

Website: http://www.sallybeauty.com/

4.      Lush: No need for intro, they have amazing bath and beauty products. I especially like the Eaton centre one, the staff is so warm and friendly

Website: www.lush.ca

5.      Yves Rocher: It is a French beauty brand and they have a good store at Eaton Centre. However I prefer buying online as I find more deals and offers.

Website: http://www.yvesrocher.ca/control/main/

6.      Forever21: I like their lipsticks and face wipes. This is not for the serious buyer, but for the fun-seeking ones.

Also if you’re on a budget you might like trying out their products

Website: http://canada.forever21.com/Product/Main.aspx?BR=F21

7.      H&M: They have some cosmetics but it differs from store to store. Not a fan of this, but if you are looking for fun products, why not!

Website: http://www.hm.com/ca/subdepartment/LADIES?Nr=4294966132

8.      Victoria’s Secret: The lingerie brand has some amazing cosmetics; they don’t need any additional ads, just look at their models!

I got a highlighter from their Eaton Centre store and I am sooooooooo in loveeee.. A lipstick costs $14 [MAC costs $15] so they are definitely not a drugstore brand!

Website: http://www.victoriassecret.com/beauty

Malls:

1.      Eaton Centre -> Busy, crowded always but I love shopping at this iconic place. Stores- MAC [not a great store, staff kinda snooty], The Body Shop etc.

2.      Fairview Mall -> More peaceful; has Face shop, L’Occitane –so well worth a visit

3.      Pacific Mall -> Again crowded. I found this kinda confusing on my 1^st visit. Reputed to have some great Korean stores

4.      Scarborough Centre -> I found this mall kind of dingy.

5.      Dufferin Mall -> Okay Dokey but if you are visiting Toronto, don’t waste time going here!

6.      Square One, Mississauga -> Awesome mall; wear a pair of nice walking shoes cos it goes on and on… Lots of stores so a great place for full day shopping  

Makeup Artist shopping:

I am adding some links below for store. I have visited only the KW Magic store. The staff was nice but I find that its easier to do a one-stop shopping during IMATS.

http://www.kwmagic.com/

http://www.blurmakeuproom.com/

http://store.malabar.net/Make-up-Beauty-Make-up/

http://www.hiscott.ca/plus/list.php?tid=48

http://www.candyscostumeshoponline.com/

http://www.alchemycenter.com/makeupartstudio/store.html

Some great online stores:

1.      www.nailpolishcanada.com  - Love, love, love… I got Lime Crime from there recently; superb customer service and FREE SHIPPING!!!!

2.      www.well.ca – a really great online store; I make at least one purchase per month. Only complaint is that they don’t send any coupons or offers…

3.      www.iherb.com – This is a US based store but they carry lots of interesting stuff

4.      www.urbanoutfitters.com – A Great store to check out…lots of brands and options!

This is a living list- let me know of brands and stores you love!

My hair loves..... HASK Argan Oil Healing Shine Hair Treatment

I am very conservative & sensitive when it comes to hair care.

I trust in tried & tested grandma recipes for hair packs and I usually stay away from Hair styling products.

Now don't get the wrong idea - I have nothing against hair sprays; I just can’t stand them as they give me an instant migraine [Don't ask Why and How].

I would love to style my hair and get those beach waves or curls but anything of that shape in a NO-NO.

So the best hope I have to flaunt my mane is by making sure it looks as silky and shiny as possible.

During the last 3 months, the winter here nearly made me go EEEK whenever I looked at my hair.

So, I was searching for a lightweight hair potion that I could use daily, protect my hair from the blow-dry & A/C and yet would not trigger my sensitive migraine mechanisms.

Does this sound a bit like I am asking too much?

I was planning to try Argan oil products as I have read some good reviews.

When I saw this mini HASK Argan Oil  Hair Treatment for $3CAD at my local Walmart, I was like ‘Oh yeah, something new to try”..

 

You know what they say about good things come in small packages –well, that is true for this mini hair-rescuer.

Ever since I started applying this on my hair after bath or any time I use my blow dryer, my hair has started looking sleeker, shinier and silkier.

I also love the scent of this product- reminds me of some sensuous scents I’d tried at a spa in India…

The liquid has that gel-oil-ish consistency that hair serums have; it is pretty easy to apply and 1 tube lasted me for around 10 uses [I have long hair and I apply this from shoulder to the hair ends]

Overall: I agree with the product claims- it does rescue hair without leaving oily residues.

I have already got around 3-4 vials as back-up and I will be getting more n more.. :

Tips for Office: How to look sick without looking SICK :)

This is something that I thought of, as part of 2 different scenarios:

• One, my colleague came after 2 days of sick leave looking pretty fresh and with good makeup...Her boss remarked to me - 'Looks like someone took sick leave for a vacation, she doesn't look like she was sick!'
• Two, another colleague came after a cold & flu bout looking like fresh out of sick room and my friend said, 'I am not going to talk to her, she looks pretty sick and yuck!'

So, I thought, how to strike a medium? I have  written a post previously on How to Dress when Sick... but that article is when you don't want to look sick when you are sick.. This article will help you on how to dress without either making people wonder where you actually were or looking like a zombie from hospital..

The concept is to avoiding looking fresh or bold while adding fragility to your look; Elegance is the key.

Here we go:

Avoid fresh or bold lip colors
This is the best time to go for nude or neutral colors. If you are not a fan of nude colors, or find it boring or is wondering how to use it, you can try them for 1-2 days after your sick leave.

My pick is Revlon's Ginger Rose or Demure from their Super Lustrous line.

Avoid Blushers, Bronzers or Highlighters
I know, this is the hardest step for me and for many... But trust me, nothing makes you look a bit tired than skipping that blusher. If its real hard for you, go for your fall shades -dark mauvish ones.
Also avoid cream blushes  - you don't want a dewy glow!
My pick would be NYX Dusty Rose.

Say No to Bold Eyes
Again, a very hard thing for me to do, but nothing brightens your face like a nicely done eye look, so try avoiding that. This doesn't mean ignoring your eyes completely. I suggest either skipping your mascara or liner or toning down the intensity a bit - if you usually apply 2 coats of mascara, go for 1. Also avoid any Cats-eye, winged eyeliner looks.

Also, avoid black for your eyeliners; instead go for shades of brown. The intent here is to look tired yet perfectly made up.

Say Yes to Clean Matte Look
A dewy look is again NO NO - go for a clean matte finish, so bring on your powder foundations to get that clean, elegant yet fragile look.


These are my tried and tested ideas... Let me know how this work for you and also if you have any ideas :)

Brow colors for Just $2 - Wet n Wild Color Icon Brow and Eye Liners in shades Mink Brown and Charcoal and some tips on eyebrow-ing

Wet n Wild has some great products that doesn't hurt the pocket yet meets the need. This is one of them. I am not comparing these to Anastasia Brow pen or so, but if you are looking for a budget brow liner, this is something you can try -  just for $1-2 [depending on sales and location].



There are around 14 shades but I could find only 3-4 shades in the Walmart here in Toronto; anyways I don't think I will be wearing Green or Purple shades on my brows yet, so that is fine. I usually wear black on my brows but I got these 2 shades, to play a bit with my brow shapes.

 Mink brown is a dark coffee colored brown that is not too red and easily helps in creating a softly darker effect for my darker brownish-black eyebrows. This is especially good for day time looks.

Charcoal is a greyish-black shade. I find it more useful as an eyeliner for creating smokey eyes than as a brow liner. However, I find that if I use this on the arch and tail area of the brow and  apply a darker shade lightly, it gives a very elegant look to my brows.

For both the colors, the pigmentation was very nice; there was no tugging and it applied smoothly. However I would suggest this as a standalone eyeliner especially in the lower eyelid area as it can smudge if not set. If you are using this as an eyebrow pencil, you don't need wax, but you would need some dark brow powder to set it for a longer wear.

Michelle Phan, the famous Youtube guru, emphasizes a lot on brow makeup; while I do agree with her on how effective a nicely made brow can look, I do wish that people really take effort to learn from a Pro on what makeup suits their brows the best. My advise for anyone playing with eyebrows is to err on the safer side;if you are not sure what and how to do the shaping, either trust a good professional or check out some Youtube videos to guide you. Here are some tips I have learnt through experience:

1. If you are in a hurry, don't try to do your entire brows. Instead concentrate on shaping the arch and the tail. Light brush the hairs near the starting area of your eyebrows but don't try to color too much.

2. Working on arches but not sure which shape works best? The most commonly flattering shape would be a high arch, so lightly brush your arch in a soft inverted V motion. Do not use too much color in a single swipe, slowly built up the color to your best intensity.

3. Black is not a universal color, medium dark brown is better suited to be a universal shade.

4. Ignored your eyebrows for a month and just remembered you have a party to go tonight? Instead waxing or hurriedly tweezing your eyebrows, concentrate on trimming the wayward hairs at the starting point of the eyebrow. If you have too many wayward hairs growing all over your brows, then concentrate on finding a softer shape with a light-medium brown brow liner and use a spooly to brush the hairs neatly.

5. Avoid making your eyebrows too thin - it ages you very much. A well shaped eyebrow is different from a fine narrow eyebrow; if you have sparse eyebrows, use a brow liner one shade lighter, not darker - this will give a more natural finish to your eyebrows.

5. Finally, visit a good salon before you try radical new eyebrow shapes to find out what suits your face the best. Most natural shapes are beautiful and needs only a bit of a structure. A pro would be able to suggest the best eye shape, which would depend on your nose shape, your eyes and your overall face structure.

Drugstore beauty: ELF Essential Liquid Eyeliner in Midnight

ELF Essential Liquid Eyeliner in Midnight is one of those non-fussy yet superb performer from Drugstore. For $1, this is a product that delivers everything it claims - astonishing is it not?

What ELF says about their Liquid Eyeliners [from website] : "No more tugging or pulling on your eyelids with this easy glide Liquid Eyeliner. The smudge-proof liner is rich in color, creating a long lasting defined look. The fine tip brush creates easy and precise definition for natural or dramatic eye effects."



My Experience:

I agree with everything the brand promises with this product. This is a slightly thick yet very smooth liquid liner that is superbly easy to apply. With one swipe you get enough color for a light lining; the intensity can easily be built upon.



The color is a beautiful indigo blue that would look especially amazing on green-hazel eyed beauties. I can easily get a cat-eye or a winged eyeliner look with this liner. The eyeliner tip is very fine, soft & flexible, that makes any kind of designing a piece of cake.



As ELF says, there is no tugging, no smudging once it sets and it lasts for an average of 5-6 hours and more if used above primer or concealer. This is not waterproof, but I actually prefer my eye makeup to be non-waterproof for daily wear usage so that is fine with me.



Overall: I love this eyeliner and would recommend it to everyone, especially to those who are just starting to play with winged eyeliners.

WARNING!! Stay Away from Sally Hansen Insta Smooth Pods Creme Hair Remover, if you value your skin and looks!

I don't any pictures to show you here. I didn't take my pics during the time of my suffering because to be honest, I never want to see my face looking like that ever again.

2013 April: 

I had just joined for my makeup artist class and was superbly excited about it. I was busy planning my wardrobe and lipsticks, when my husband suggested that I clean up my upper lips as my 'moustache' was showing a bit. That day, when I visited a local drugstore, I noticed these Sally Hansen Insta Pods and bought it for the hair removal. I do all my hair removals at night as the skin is pretty sensitive and I didn't want to irritate it in sunlight.

Immediately after application, I noticed that my skin was hurting a lot; I couldn't take it after 2 mins so I removed it. My skin was an angry red and I immediately applied aloe vera to cool it down. I hoped by morning it will be all okay. The next day when I woke up, I took one look at my husband's horrified face and then rushed to check the mirror.

I almost wept - the area around my mouth, nose and chin was dotted with burn wounds. I remembered once seeing a lady who suffered from oil wounds on her face- my face looked pretty similar. The next day I was supposed to join my course and I almost signed off as I didn't want to look so bad when I am going to a makeup artist class!!

However I did go and I am happy I did because the course was great. Though none of my classmates said anything about my scary looks, I couldn't try any of the makeup tricks on my face and instead of all the glam looks I planned for my course, I looked recently hospitalized with all the band-aids over my face.

My skin is not sensitive. I have normal to oily skin and I use a variety of products. In fact, it is rare that I use the same products everyday for a week. I have used Veet's hair removal cream without any negative effects.

I can only imagine what would be the effect of this cream on a sensitive face. I dont know what kind of harsh chemicals went into this product that within 2 mins it clean burnt my face!

My advise is stay away from such cream products for face. Try either waxing or any other method of hair removal.

Sunscreen for Sensitive skin: Lumixyl Moisture Lock Sunscreen SPF 30

I got this as part of a trial kit, while I was doing my makeup artist course at Canadian Beauty College. I was suffering from some chemical burns [Darn you, Sally Hansen Insta Pod Hair removal cream!] and my face looked scary. The worst part was I was traveling and I needed a sunscreen but couldn't use my regular ones as it irritated my wounds.

The lovely Jen at the CBC Mississauga office suggested using this cream and she gave me a trial kit free [thank you Jen!] along with my purchase of Lumixyl's Topical Brightening cream. I tried the sunscreen for a week and more; it was a good time to try as it was April-May here in Toronto when we get some nice summer sun.

About the product: Lumixyl is one of those Spa/Speciality-Retailer-Only kind of product that is not easily available in stores.  I read in their website that some of their products are developed through research at Stanford, which is impressive.



This product costs around $50 which is kinda high for a sunscreen. You can read more about what they have to say about this sunscreen here: http://lumixyl.com/4-protect/


My Experience: I used this over my wounds during my travels and I must say - this is one of the very few products I could use on my face without any irritation. This is a white lotion that looks and feels like most other sunscreen lotions.  On massaging on to face, this initially leaves a white cast which then gets absorbed pretty fast. One thing I liked is that this didn't leave much oily sheen on face like many other sunscreens. Regarding whether it protected me effectively, I have no idea of measuring except by noticing that my skin didn't darken as it usually does if I don't apply sunscreen.

 Overall: I am okay with the results, but I wouldn't repurchase because:
1. My skin is normally not sensitive and even if sensitive, I have got my trusty Lotus Herbals sunscreen with SPF 70 :). So I don't the point of using this as it is just SPF 30.

2. It is expensive for a sun-screen.

3. Lumixyl sells in China and they must definitely be doing animal testing- so another reason to say Hi to Lotus Herbals Sunscreen.

Beauty @office- Easy to Do Skin care tips [espl for those in IT]

Everyday we spend around 7-8 hours at office - ever thought of using some of those break times for taking care of your skin? As a full time IT worker, my skin suffers greatly from the harsh a/c and long hours without any activity.

So last few months and more, I have been trying out different Do-At-Office Skin care tips that you can try out in the 5-10mins rest room break you take or at desk in your office.

1. Coffee & Sugar scrub

If you have coffee powder and sugar at your office kitchen, you have ingredients for a great exfoliant ready for you; if not, too bad- bring from home :)

Mix some coffee [any coffee] and some sugar crystals. Add milk or honey or even any cream you have right before you use, to make a thick mixture.

After a tiring morning, take this mix with you to the rest room before or after your lunch break. Wet your face and slowly massage this for 3-5mins. To avoid any spillovers to your dress, use a wet napkin to slowly remove the scrub.

Coffee refreshes your tired skin, sugar is a great exfoliant and milk/cream moisturizes your skin. You can even use this as a lip exfoliant if you are prepping for that office meeting.

2. Skin and Eye Refresher - Tea Bags

If you get tea bags at office, don't throw them away after use [if you use milk, then throw it]. After making your tea, keep the tea bag with you.



Whenever you feel your skin is looking extra tired, dip this tea bag in hot water till water becomes warm enough to wash your face with this lightly tea infused water.

Leave that tea bag in the office fridge; you can use this later when your eyes feel tired - just keep it on your eyelids and keep your eyes closed for 2-3mins.

3. Mini Face Packs for a quick facial

Moisturizing pack: Mix any of the following ingredients from the base and pack group-
Base - Milk or Water
Pack- Milk Powder, oats, cocoa or chocolate powder


Refreshing Face Pack: Mix any of the below ingredients from base and pack group - 
Base - Water, Tea water [see above], Milk [if you have dry skin]
Pack - Cocoa or Chocolate powder, Coffee powder

Apply this till it becomes semi dry and use a wet napkin to remove this.

If you can get any of the below cut fruits from your local deli, squash and mix with your pack for a bonus benefit:
1. Watermelon - Hydrating effect
2. Blueberry - antioxidant effect
3. Black berry - antioxidant effect
4. Kiwi - exfoliation

4. Essential oils for skin care
If you dont wish to remove your makeup, try the below steps:

1. Bring a soft cotton or sponge. For eyes, use a Q-tip.
2. Get your favorite essential or skin care oils. Mine is a mix of Rose Hip Seed oil [for anti aging] and Orange [for brightening]. Take 3-4 drops of the oil.
3. Dip the cotton or sponge in the oil mix and slowly press the sponge against your face. Use a press-and-go motion, dont rub or massage. For eyes, use the q-tip for under eye skin.
4. Once you cover the whole face, use your palms to slowly tap the face for better absorption and easier blood flow. Using your palms will avoid disturbing the makeup.
5. Using oils gives a glow or slight shine to face which I like [ gives a more youthful look]. For a matte finish, reapply your powder.

Hope this helps you as it has helped me so far.. :)

Adding below the essential oils I use:
Rose hip: www.iherb.com/Now-Foods-Solutions-Rose-Hip-Seed-Oil-1-fl-oz-30-ml/1147
Orange oil:http://www.iherb.com/Now-Foods-Essential-Oils-Orange-1-fl-oz-30-ml/953

$10off 1st buy@iHerb : iherb.com/?rcode=ZJR651

My night time cleanser: The Face Shop Rice Water Bright Cleansing Cream

My interest in Korean cosmetics started with BB creams, CC creams and all the reviews in the Blog world that claimed the superiority of Korean makeup & beauty products compared to their Western counterparts.

I was not very sure of testing out the K-beauty products as, to be honest, I am a bit wary when I cannot read the ingredients [no knowledge of Korean]. So after deliberating for sometime I got some K-beauty products and I must say, I am impressed by the few I have used so far.

The Face Shop Rice Water Bright Cleansing Cream [hooo..the name is a mouthful!] caught my eye cos it was supposed to be a 'Naturally Brightening Solution with Rice Water'.  I have no idea what Rice Water is or what it is supposed to do. My grandma used to make a paste of rice flour with honey and used to apply it on my face for brightening effect; I am assuming this cream also has that kinda effect.

This cream retails for around $15 CAD for 200 ml of the product; you can buy this from Cosmetic Love website here

I am not a fan of the tub packaging for hygienic reasons; however this looks kinda pretty and the wide mouth of the tub makes it easy to scoop the product out. The cream is slightly thick, applies very smoothly and has a very old-world kinda scent which I like.

How I use: I use a coffee stirrer to scoop out enough product and massage them lightly all over my face. I find that it cleans better after I wash my face with warm water. On massaging, the cream turns a bit oily, which I think helps with any makeup removal.

I could notice the slight brightening effect; what made me love this cleanser is that it removed makeup very effectively without drying out my face. After cleansing, my skin felt moisturized and very soft. Once I removed my makeup at night, even if I forget to apply my nightly serum, my face doesn't dry out -which is pretty neat considering the harsh winter here.

What I wouldn't suggest: Using this to remove eye makeup. I tried and it did remove makeup, but it hurt a bit when some product accidentally touched my cornea; I think it is the effect of the oil content in this product.

Overall: Loved this product but I may not repurchase the exact product if I find something better :)

Ipsy Glam bag for February 2014: Look of Love

I got my February Glam bag 2days ago and to be honest, I didn't get much time to review the products. So this is just to show what I got and I will review the products soon [hopefully].

As usual love the pink cover, but really wish they had a nice design on the pink Ipsy bag as well. I got 5 products and its a nice mix of Face, Eye, Lip and nail products.

Ipsy has done a nice job in balancing the products; I have updated my profile as I want more skin care products.

POP Beauty Plump Pout Mini 

I got the shade in Peony Petal. This looks like a nice safe shade. 

City Color Be Matte Blush

I got Fresh Melon, a good one for summer.

Tini Beauty Eyetini Cordial Cream Shadow + Base In One

I got the shade Ambrosia; this is the one product I am not very happy about as its a very common shade and I am not an eyeshadow fan.

Pacifica Hawaiian Ruby Guava Body Butter

I always wanted to try Pacifica products, so here is my chance.
 

Zoya Nail Polish in Odette

I am very happy with this shade as it looks like a nice one for winter. This is from their Naturel collection.

Ipsy bags are a great way to try some new products without burning a hole in your wallet. If you wish to join, check my referral code here: http://www.ipsy.com/r/1m3y

Skin Care update: A New favorite daily moisturizer with Vit C from iHerb.com

This is my current favorite face lotion- Aroma Naturals Amazing C, A & E Vitamin Lotion. I got this from iHerb [adding link below]
http://www.iherb.com/Aroma-Naturals-Amazing-C-A-E-Vitamin-Lotion-1-oz-30-g/49604

iHerb says about the product that "This antioxidant Vitamin C Lotion delivers long-lasting moisture and helps to support new collagen production, skin tone rebalancing and less noticeable fine lines. Fortified with Coconut Water, Aloe Vera Gel and Green Tea for rapid Hydration, and synergistic Vitamins A & E with Alpha Lipoic Acid. Our patent pending Omegas 3, 6, 7, & 9 complex is high in Essential Fatty Acids, helping to restore elasticity and resilience. Organic Cocoa Butter and Organic Shea Butter rapidly smoothes and soothes your skin, and are great for helping scars and stretch marks be less noticeable."

My experience [ normal to dry skin, Early 30s]

This is a good moisturizer - tested in the Winter here in Canada, so this is good. I apply this in the morning and at night; it  kept my face hydrated for the whole day except for some very dry patches around the mouth [I use my clear lip balm in those areas]

Regarding the fine lines and scar reduction, I cannot say much cos I have neither. But I couldnt see any special effect on the pigmentation on my face. This gave a slight brightening effect on application and I found that this worked well as a primer too.

For me, this met my expectations of a light weight soothing non irritant easily absorbed moisturizer, that I could use with my sunscreen and apply under makeup. And at $4.00CAD approx, this is a good buy for me!