Quo 2015 Holiday Collection: It's Still Not Too Late!

I've been holding onto this stuff for a while now because I originally wanted to do a proper review on each of Quo's Holiday Sets that I have but wanted to wait closer to the holidays. Then I got swamped with life and that obviously couldn't happen. But I don't think it's ever too late to share these awesome holiday sets with you that you could still pick up as a last minute addition to a gift. 

First off, the Quo Cosmetic Cracker Set ($20). This is a set of 4 crackers with 4 lipsticks and 4 eyeshadow duos. There are two different types of crackers you could get. I'd say this is super fun for a girl's holiday party, or even a good idea for a birthday party! 

Secondly, the Quo Contouring Craze Set ($30). Comes with a contour powder, highlighter, and applicator. The two brushes are super soft synthetic fibers and kind of remind me of some of Sephora's holiday brush sets that I tried out last year. The products seem pretty unscented, the darker contour powder (left) is quite light and really likely won't show up unless used on very fair-light skin. The highlighter (middle?) seemed more like a mattifying powder to me, and the other contour shade (right) had a little more shimmer to it and I think would be ideal to add slightly more colour to the face after contouring.

And my favourite, the Quo Back to Basics New Nudes Eyeshadow Palette ($25). It is a gorgeous palette and soooo obviously a Naked Palette look-alike. I can't say it's a dupe though, because the pigmentation isn't the same of course. I was impressed with the shimmery shades in this palette but not so much the matte at all. 

And last but not least, Quo Lips All Around Lip Gloss Set ($25) comes with 8 mini sized lip glosses and the packaging is quite nicely done. The glosses are a mixture of a pigmented gloss and glossy shimmer shades. I think there are about 4 sparkly/shimmery shades and 4 without. I love the shades of these glosses and think this is an excellent present for a teenage girl. Not to mention they are mini sized, I think us girls love that. I think I was younger than my teens when I got into lip glosses and I had so many, I was obsessed so I know how badly girls can obsess over these things!

Overall, Quo makes some excellent holiday gifts but they are of course marketed to a slightly younger crowd of girls. I would highly recommend the Lips All Around Gloss Set and the Crackers as the best gifts out of the bunch! The best part about these sets are that the packaging doesn't totally scream 'holiday' and could definitely be gifted well after the holidays (well, except the cracker set, that screams holiday). Quo is available at Shoppers Drug Mart.

These products were received for consideration. All opinions stated are my own and are not influenced by any affiliates. 

Scarlet & Julia; A New Canadian Online Beauty Boutique

Scarlet & Julia is a new online beauty boutique based in Canada. Their website is composed of two sections, a Boutique section where you can browse and purchase many mid to high end skincare, haircare, fragrance and cosmetics. They have brands you can't (or may have a hard time) finding in stores such as Babor, Dr. Hauschka, Coola, Reversa, Lipstick Queen, Eve Lom, and popular brands such as Stila, Lise Watier, St. Tropez, Bliss, REN, Neostrata. There is also a Beauty Outlet section featuring exclusive member only time-sensitive deals.

Scarlet & Julia was kind enough to send me a giftcard to try out their new shopping experience and I ended up picking out two things. The Stila Eternal Love Liquid Lipstick Set and a Dr. Hauschka Concealer. 

Now I don't want to focus this post on the products I picked up, but just a quick first impressions.... I'm in love with the Stila Liquid Lipstick Set, it's a great value and I'd choose it again. Baci is my favourite shade from the trio, (see me wearing it here), Beso is a gorgeous vibrant red, and Ricco is a very dark red plum shade. I'll definitely work on a proper review for these liquid lipsticks. And then there's the Dr. Hauschka Concealer which I am SUPER disappointed with because the pigmentation is just not there at all.

Along with my order, I received a few samples which was a nice surprise. I'm not sure if they will be doing this with all of their orders but it is a great incentive to shop there again if they do!

So the major problems with online shopping is always: SHIPPING AND RETURNS right?

Scarlet & Julia offers a standard shipping service through Canada Post of $9.95 for orders $75 and under, but Free Shipping for orders above $75! Free shipping is my favourite word to hear when online shopping. The downside to purchasing from Scarlet & Julia is their return policy. Obviously, it isn't going to be as lenient as a place like Sephora. Scarlet & Julia requires items to be returned unopened and unused, and sent back within 15 days at your expense. So I'd suggest making sure you know what you want before ordering. 

Besides their low-cost/free shipping and samples with your order, Scarlet & Julia also created a Rewards Program for their customers. Receive 5% in credits on your order to be used towards your next purchase. And for just simply signing up, inviting friends to join, and for every purchase made there are points to be awarded! See more information, here.

PS! 1% of their sales are donated to Look Good Feel Better, an organization supporting women going through and battling cancer. 

They currently only ship to Canadian addresses but there might be room for expansion in the future (don't quote me on this one, I'm just guessing). I'd totally shop here again if I'm ever in the market for something they have on their website, and of course if I can make it over the $75 dollar mark to get free shipping! Would you consider shopping online at Scarlet & Julia?

On The 14th Day of Christmas Giveaway {Canada Only}

So on the 14th Day of Christmas (if this isn't a thing it is now!), I'd like to give you all a chance to win this beautiful and highly coveted Modern Muse Eau De Parfum by Estee Lauder, and 2 gorgeous Nail Lacquer shades (Blue Blood & Explosif). Okay.. well not everyone is eligible I'm sorry x100000. Because there are a lot of shipping regulations when shipping internationally, especially with perfume and nail lacquers, I will only be shipping the prize to a winner within Canada OR if they can provide a Canadian address. 

Prize:

• Estee Lauder Modern Muse 50ML
• Estee Lauder Pure Color Nail Lacquer in Blue Blood & Explosif

Rules: Must be 18+ or provide parental consent, provide a Canadian address and respond within 72 hours when the giveaway has finished.

Mandatory Entry: Comment on this blog post and make sure to fill out the Rafflecopter below. You can earn 7 additional entries!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Baci Lips and Matte Shadows

I've been more experimental with lip colours this year and have sought out to discover the new favourite lipstick - a liquid lipstick. I 100% wouldn't wear any other type of lipstick for the holidays because, face it, holidays means a lot of food, drinking, and lipstick smearing if you aren't careful! A liquid lipstick will last, and with a colour like Stila's Baci, I can be confident in because it isn't a stand out colour. It is a mauve nude and perfect for days you don't want to worry about touching up a bright red lipstick!

Ps. Baci means kiss in Italian. Fun fact!

I know it's typical to have a red lipstick for the holidays (because red + green are Xmas colours, obvi!) but I most likely will be sticking with a mauve neutral like this one for holiday parties. A shade like Baci is very 'in' lately and totally acceptable to wear just about anywhere. 

For the rest of my makeup, I went with a simple full coverage look. I used the Make Up For Ever new Ultra HD Foundation and mixed it with my trusty Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation. I've been doing this lately to get a natural but full coverage look. I've been obsessed with my Kat Von D Shade + Light Eye Palette lately, so I did a simple matte look on the eyes with a hint of shimmer over top of the crease using my Urban Decay Naked. A strong winged liner with Stila's Liquid Liner and perfected brows using Annabelle Skinny Brow Liner and Browshow completes the look.

Face: Indeed Labs Nanoblur Primer, Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Foundation (Y235) mixed with Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Gel Foundation (52 Vanilla), Maybelline Master Conceal in Light, Loreal The Touche Magique True Match in Ivory Beige, Nars Blush in Daydream, Kat Von D Shade + Light Palette, Make Up For Ever Pro Bronze Fusion in 25i, Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Champagne Pop, Illamasqua Cream Pigment in Hollow

Brows: Annabelle Skinny Brow Liner in Universal Medium, Annabelle BrowShow in Light

Eyes: Kat Von D Shade + Light Eye Palette, Urban Decay Naked Shades Toasted and Hustle, Maybelline Lash Sensational Waterproof Mascara

Lips: Stila Liquid Liner, Stila Liquid Lipstick in Baci

Some products in this post were received for review. (About 6 to be honest!) This is not a sponsored post and was originally written for Fashion Magazine's Beauty Panel.

Philosophy Purity Foaming 3-in-1 Cleansing Gel

Purity is a VERY well known cleansing line by the brand Philosophy, often spotted on the shelves of Sephora. You may be familiar with the Purity Made Simple that comes in a bottle, but I have a feeling this tube packaging might add a bit of confusion! This is the Purity Made Simple Foaming 3-in-1 Cleansing Gel for Face and Eyes, a slightly different product than the Purity we are all used to. 

This cleansing gel comes in a 225 ml/7.5 fl. oz squeeze tube for $28 CAD, and can get a little messy but oh do I like it! It removes all of my foundation, eyeshadow and liner but it isn't a miracle worker so it doesn't get my waterproof mascara off. It lathers well and I can see the tube lasting quite a while. I dislike the tube packaging for such a runny product because it can get pretty messy, and wish it came with a pump. 

This is something you NEED if you want a cleanser to completely remove your foundation and most of your eye makeup, but you just aren't feeling a cleansing oil. Personally, I just don't always want to use a cleansing oil because it tends to be messier. This is super effective at removing makeup and leaves the skin feeling clean. My favourite way of using this is to use a cleansing oil first, and then go in with the Purity cleansing gel to make sure all traces of my foundation are off so there are no chances of my pores getting clogged at night. It does cleanse strongly so it is necessary to add a moisturizer back onto the face afterwards. 

Tips:

If you just strictly want to remove your makeup with this, one lather and rinse will likely be fine for minimal makeup wearers. 

If you are wearing heavy foundation and makeup I would suggest cleansing with this twice, or double cleansing with a cleansing oil first!

Find it at Hudson's Bay in Canada.

Shop Philosophy Purity Foaming Cleansing Gel & Other Purity Products:

This product was received for consideration. All opinions stated are my own and are not influenced by any affiliates. 

eos Holiday 2015 Collection; Tackle those dry lips!

For a harsh winter in Canada, we constantly need something to keep our lips protected and moisturized. eos always comes out with the cutest sets for every occasion! This year for the 2015 holidays, they've packaged 2 familiar lip balms, Pomegranate Raspberry and Sweet Mint, and one Limited Edition Vanilla Bean with a special and fun surprise!

Included in the package of the lip balm trio are a TON of jewelled stickers ready to be stuck onto your favourite lip balms.

I have so many lip balms, but I still keep an eos or two by my bedside... and use one almost every night before bed. They are so handy and cute. Plus they take forever to use up! The stickers in this collection are such a bonus, and great as an early christmas gift or stocking stuffer for children or teens. Just be careful when applying the stickers! I did have a couple break on me as they are sooo delicate. But there will be plenty left over and I realized they don't necessarily have to be used on eos balms.. can you say cell phone case, mugs, cards, keychains?

Find the eos Holiday Collection in Canada at Shoppers Drug Mart, Walmart, Loblaws, ,
or shop the products below at Ulta and Target (US).

These products were received for consideration. All opinions stated are my own and are not influenced by any affiliates. 

Lisa's Cosmetics Warehouse Sale 2015 Haul

I haven't been to the coveted Lisa's Cosmetics Warehouse Sale in a couple years, I was enabled to go this year because of Shawna of Spill the Beauty's recent blog post (here)! She took some pretty detailed photos of the items available at the sale, and I suddenly felt like I needed a bunch of things (even though I definitely didn't). 

So I decided I'd go on Black Friday in hopes of everyone being at the mall instead. I've been to this sale twice, once in 2012 and once in 2013. During one of those trips I ended up lining up for 3 hours because I went on the first Saturday morning right when they opened. I wouldn't recommend going on the first day or first Saturday, but during the second weekend the sale should be fairly 'line-free'...but I'm not totally sure about this so take this with a grain of salt! I went on the Friday so I didn't encounter any lines whatsoever and there were plenty of cash registers open. 

My intention was to only pick up a few things, but you know what happens once you get inside these kind of sales.. 

I picked up Kaia Naturals Cleansing Cloths ($2.99), a 2-pack of Scotch tape ($1.49), 6 Colgate toothbrushes for ($8.99), Gypsy Lashes (1.99 each), Febreze Fabric Refresher ($2.99). I was excited to see Indeed Labs products there for such a good price, I picked up their Nanoblur ($6.99). Then my heart skipped a beat when I saw a few St. Tropez products! I re-purchased their Bronzing Mousse for ($30) and a mitt ($5). Lastly, I got a Secret Clinical Gel Anti-Persp./Deodorant ($2.99), and a small box of Crest 3D Whitestrips ($11.99). 

What else do they have? A little of everything to be honest. Lysol wipes, Axe/Dove Men's Body Washes, Deodorants, Axe Body Sprays, Olay facial products, Stila makeup, Annabelle & Marcelle, Joico shampoo/conditioner., Elizabeth Arden, H20, Revlon tools (tweezers, etc), a few drugstore mascaras, Bandaids, a ton of nail polishes, tons of perfume and colognes and gift sets, even boxers, socks, and chocolates. Definitely my favourite warehouse sale, and the only sale I've actually picked up useful products that I'll make use of. Totally worth going to, especially if you are in the area.

Location: *NEW* 135 Commerce Valley Dr. East, Markham, ON

Dates: Nov 20-23, 27-30, Dec 4-6

Hours: Fri 10AM-8PM, Sat 9AM-6PM, Sun 10AM-6PM, Mon (Nov. 23/30 Only) 10AM-6PM

Official Website: Lisa's Cosmetics

See previous Lisa's Cosmetics Sales posts:

2013 Haul

2012 Haul

Murad Skincare: Redness Therapy and Age Reform

Murad is a brand I've always wanted to try but just ended up staring at it on the shelves instead. I heard quite good things about the brand so when I was asked to review these 3 products I couldn't say no! I have here the Redness Therapy: Soothing Gel Cleanser, Age Reform: Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture for Eyes, and the Age Reform: Soothing Skin and Lip Care. There are plenty of other products that are apart of both lines but these are just the ones I have to share with you today!

Murad isn't a Canadian brand, but they have plenty of presence in Canada. Their Canadian website seems to offer great discounts on their products when joining their skin club. Upon visiting their page you can enter your email and get $20 off $100+. The Healthy Skin Club allows you to get your favourite products auto-refilled and sent to you at a frequency of your choice, as well as a discount on their products (up to 25%)! 

Oh and for your knowledge!: Murad was founded in 1989 in Los Angeles, by Dr. Howard Murad, a certified dermatologist and pharmacist. 

Murad Soothing Gel Cleanser claims to 'cleanse impurities while reducing irritiation, alleviate redness and relieve tightness, stinging, and sensitivity'. It contains Lactic Acid (an AHA) that can help to reduce skin discolouration, and Glycerin to help restore the skin and heal.

I didn't expect it to remove my makeup because it doesn't claim to but I tried it anyway. It didn't remove my makeup. It has a good lather and I wish it came with a pump because I tend to squeeze out too much using squeeze tubes. My skin feels squeaky clean afterwards but also very dry. I think this might be too strong for something struggling with redness or sensitive skin. I didn't notice if it helped with redness or not but I don't typically have too much of that. I likely wouldn't use this too much in winter because it was too harsh for my skin. I think it'd be ideal for excessively oily skin. Just be sure to add moisture back in once you've cleansed.

Murad Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture for Eyes is part of the Age Reform line, and is designed to be 'rich, provide all-day relief from dryness and other visible signs of aging. Infused with anti-aging peptides, nature's best antioxidants and 9 ultra-hydrating ingredients'.

This is definitely a slightly rich cream that absorbs into the skin and is good for night time use and I have no problem using it under my makeup during the day. After applied it does look like it hides my fine lines a bit (obviously temporarily). It didn't irritate my eyes. It also comes with a little spatula which I didn't even know about but would definitely come in handy if you are trying to be sanitary! I really didn't feel like it was anything spectacular, but it does contain peptides to improve skin and it seems to be hydrating enough and also daytime wearable. It is reasonably priced in compared to other higher end brands with a similar targeted customer.

Murad Soothing Skin and Lip Care is 'an intensive lip treatment to condition chapped and cracked skin. Ideal for dry lips, cuticles, and rough elbows'.

This lip treatment is a very oily type of jelly, which 100% looks like it is a lip balm so I will just ignore the fact that it says skin AND lip care. Kidding.. but in all honesty Iv'e only been testing this on my lips. And only at night time. This is really thick on my lips and not something I'd typically wear but I'm ok with wearing it to bed. It feels like a mask for my lips, isn't sticky, and I'm not too fond of the scent. My lips feel soothed and well protected with this on and it surprisingly has very minimal ingredients with one of the main ones being Petrolatum (figures!). I just wish it was better scented!

Overall, I think the one product I would think about re-purchasing is the Murad Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture For Eyes. I did get good results with the Soothing Skin and Lip Care on my lips, but the price is just a bit steep for me. Murad has a huge range of products and like I mentioned before, great discounts when ordering through Murad themselves by phone or online. 

These products were received for consideration. All opinions stated are my own and are not influenced by any affiliates. 

Real Techniques Nic's Picks Brush Set Review

I'm super obsessed with Real Techniques brushes, I have what I think is a bit of a wide collection and I use at least a few every day. When I saw the new limited edition Nic's Picks set I was in awe.. the metallic handles are gorgeous... but basically I just get excited over any new Real Techniques brushes. Anything to keep my mind off their expensive Bold Metals collection that I can't afford..

There are 5 brushes in the set.. I'll start with my least favourite, the Duo Fiber Face Brush. Probably the only brush in the set that won't really get used. I already have the Duo Fiber Set and this brush is identical to the Duo Fiber Face Brush in that set but slightly smaller. They recommend this brush for powder or pigments but I prefer to use my Real Techniques Powder Brush, so I don't really have a use for this brush other than applying a cream blush, or achieving a natural look from a product that is too pigmented.

The Cheek Brush (Exclusive) is one of my favourites and one of the reasons I wanted this brush set. It's ideal for blush across the cheekbones but I can also use it for bronzer, or even as a setting powder brush. It does need to be used with a light hand because the brush is so dense.  

The Angled Shadow Brush (Exclusive) is a fluffy brush designed for applying eyeshadow in the crease. It might be a little too big for some, but I find it works best for applying a slightly darker shade in the crease (sparingly) and just blending. You can create a super fast smokey eye with this too, as it applies the colour softly and thick across the crease, and then the rest requires minimal blending. If you don't have a lot of eyelid space, this brush might not be ideal for the crease. 

Out of the 3 eye brushes, the Base Shadow Brush is my favourite. I find myself using it for everything; applying colour to the lid, applying colour above the lid and in the crease, and blending. It really is a very versatile eye brush and I have been using it every single day. 

And last but not least, the Eyeliner Brush (Exclusive) is a stiff brush with an angled tip for control along the lash line. Personally, I prefer a different type of brush to use with liner so I use this with my Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade for my brows, but I can also use it with any powdered brow product.

All the Real Techniques Brushes are made of synthetic bristles, they are super soft and I can vouch for them lasting quite a while since I've had my other RT brushes for what I believe, is years now. You can find the Real Techniques Nic's Picks set on iHerb, in Canada at London Drugs, in the US at Ulta, and worldwide on LookFantastic. The price is not set, and seems to be vary from $30-40 CAD. 

These products were received for consideration. All opinions stated are my own and are not influenced by any affiliates. 

Empties #7: October 2015

Yves Rocher Express Cleanser for Sensitive Eyes: Best eye makeup remover ever! Oil-based formula removes waterproof mascara, eyelashes, etc with just a bit of patience. 

Purchase: Yes ✓

Kaia Naturals 24hr. Booster Serum: I did enjoy this serum and thought it was amazing but got a little weary of it when I heard it was discontinued.

Purchase: No ✕

Kiehl's Pineapple Papaya Facial Scrub: I bought this basically thinking it was amazing and you could see your dead skin rolling off when using it (as told by the salesperson). Turns out that was just the formula of the scrub.. This is about 5 years old so I think I'm just going to toss it.. a little overpriced imo.

Purchase: No ✕

Vichy ProEven Daily Dark Spot Corrector*: Loved this, I used every last bit. Worked well as a moisturizer or spot treatment. Review here.

Purchase: Yes ✓

Elizabeth Arden All Gone Eye & Lip Makeup Remover Sample: This was almost as good as my trusty Yves Rocher, but I don't think I could justify the higher price of this one!

Purchase: Neutral

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion Sample: Think I got this from a Naked palette or something.. great eye primer, I've already gone through a few full sizes.

Purchase: Yes ✓

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Gel Foundation: Great foundation I use every day. The coverage is medium and with a concealer it can definitely look full. Review here.

Purchase: Yes ✓

Tony Moly Coloring Browcara in Gray Brown: Best brow gel to use if you want to slightly alter the colour of your brows! I've already got my replacement. Review here.

Purchase: Yes ✓

eos Lip Balm: I think this is the flavour blueberry from the Alice in Wonderland collection. Only eos I've finished so far.. these last so long! Review here.

Purchase: Yes ✓

Avon Big Colour Eye Pencil Anitque Lilac & Surf: These are so old I can't remember how they performed. I do remember loving them back in high school though.

Purchase: Neutral

Annabelle Pop Stix Pink Parfait & Mint A La Mode: Also loved these back at the beginning of high school. They were quite pigmented for drug store and I'm not sure if they make them anymore.

Purchase: Neutral

St. Ives Smoothing Apricot & Energizing Citrus Body Wash: Similar scents! I would definitely repurchase because I love St. Ives, their availability and price point ($3-4 at Walmart) for the huge 709ml bottle is awesome.

Purchase: Yes ✓

Pantene Damage Detox Daily Revitalizing Shampoo (*): A minty fresh scent (contains mosa mint oil) and a fresh feeling on the hair. My hair doesn't feel any less damaged but a lot cleaner after using this.

Purchase: Yes ✓

Avon Tranquil Moments Bath & Shower Gel: Really wasn't a fan of this overpowering lavender scent. I would not purchase but it was useable.

Purchase: No ✕

Swisspers Organic Cotton Rounds (x2): My favourite affordable cotton pads for removing my eye makeup.

Purchase: Yes ✓

The Body Shop Mango Shower Gel: Omg amazing mango scent! I love it but the soap formula was a little thin for my liking.

Purchase: Neutral

Molton Brown Heavenly Gingerlily & Orange and Bergamont Body Wash: Both are great scents, and feel sort of luxurious on the skin. I definitely prefer the fruity Orange and Bergamont scent for sure.

Purchase: No ✕

St. Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Mousse: Favourite self tanner so far! I use this about twice a week or so. It really helps to add some colour to my skin

Purchase: Yes ✓

Secret Scent Expressions Antiperspirant/Deodorant in Lavender*: The lavender scent is very neutral for me and I love the gel formula. I don't think I'd ever purchase a stick deodorant after this.

Purchase: Yes ✓

Bath and Body Works Cherry Almond Shortbread & Maui Mango Mai Tai Foaming Soap: These foaming soaps speak for themselves.. I am so addicted to fruity and sweet dessert scents.

Purchase: Yes ✓

Dove Oxygen Moisture Shampoo/Conditioner: Purchase: Yes ✓

Klorane Shampooing: Purchase: Neutral

Montagne Jeunesse Dead Sea Mud Spa Mask: Purchase: Yes ✓

Vitabath Bleach Blossom Body Wash: Purchase: No ✕

L'Occitane Repairing Shampoo (x2): Purchase: Neutral

The Laundress Delicate Wash: This was a sample sent for review.. sadly turned out to be a packed sample, but I do like the wash for washing bras. Purchase: Yes ✓

John Frieda Tone-Correcting Shampoo (x3): Purchase: Neutral

Clean & Clear Oil-Absorbing Sheets: Purchase: Yes ✓

The Body Shop Tea Tree Blotting Tissues: Purchase: Neutral. I have before, previously really liked them. I prefer the Clean & Clear ones now. 

Kiehl's Blue Herbal Gel Cleanser: Purchase: No ✕

Philosophy Hope in A Jar Eye: Purchase: Would need more testing.

Proclaim Argan Oil Intense Hydrating Masque: Purchase: Yes ✓

Phyto Phytokeratine Reparing Conditioner Treatment: Purchase: Yes ✓

Phew, so there's my hoard of empties since February! I clearly don't finish too much, I think I have a problem with hoarding stuff once I see that it's almost done, and then I never want to use the last bit up! What did you finish over the summer?

(*) Indicating I received the product for review.

Pixi MatteLustre Lipstick, Endless Brow Gel Pen & Cat Eye Ink (Review, Swatches & Look)

For fall, Pixi Beauty has introduced some new makeup and skincare items to add to your collection! I've always been eager to try something from Pixi but these are actually the first Pixi makeup products I've tried and I am not disappointed. I have here the Endless Brow Gel Pen, Cat Eye Ink Liner, and 2 gorgeous MatteLustre Lipstick shades.

These two MatteLustre Lipstick shades are gorgeous, in Plum Berry and Pure Fuchsia. There are 11 shades available with Plum Berry probably being the darkest, and Pure Fuchsia the most vivid. They claim to be full-coverage, weightless and comfortable, and contain peptides and Vitamin C & E for fuller lips. 

These are quite moisturizing, and.. not matte! Like they name says, they are a "MatteLustre". I notice they have quite a moisturizing shine to them, and then leave a sort of 'matte' stain once they've kind of dried up (you know, from eating or dabbing with a napkin). Seeing that they left a stain was nice so I didn't have to worry too much about reapplying. I don't know if I noticed fuller lips (mine are already a bit full to begin with) but I was impressed that they didn't feel drying and did feel weightless and comfortable, as claimed.

MatteLustre Lipstick Pure Fuchsia

MatteLustre Lipstick Plum Berry

The Endless Brow Gel Pen is like it says, a brow pen with a gel texture (well it is a pencil, since it does have to be sharpened!) It claims to be waterproof with long staying power. 

It's a creamy pencil that can be a little thick when built up on the brows so you do have to use it right. It took me a couple times but I've finally got down the technique! I first outline my brows with a different brow pencil, and then I suggest using a light hand and the side of the pencil to apply this to fill in the brows. I apply most of the product to the bottom half of my brows so I can use a spoolie to brush it upwards. 

This is not ideal for outlining or creating the shape of your brows due to the texture of the pencil. It is strictly best for filling in any sparse areas and helping to groom and keep down the hairs at the same time. I really love how it helps to hold my hairs in place, gives my brows volume and makes them tame and look well groomed! This stayed on all day (12 hours) but I would avoid rubbing or wiping to ensure it lasting.

Initially I was so excited to try this just because the packaging is so cute. I love creating a thin cat eye line when I do my makeup. Pixi's Cat Eye Ink claims to have 12 hour stay, water resistant, non-feathering, and paraben free. 

Although the tip is not as thin as I'd like, I love this liner! The shape is so fun, and I can get such a straight and strong black line with this. The end 'flick' is a little tricky if you are trying to do a thinner line since the tip is a little thick. It dries quickly and wears very well. It lasts 12+ hours on me and still looks strong so I'm sure it could last a lot longer.

Wearing Pixi Endless Brow Gel Pen & Pixi Cat Eye Ink 

Wearing Pixi Endless Brow Gel Pen in Medium, Pixi Cat Eye Ink in Intense Black, & Pixi MatteLustre Lipstick in Pure Fuchsia

I was so impressed with these Pixi Beauty products, I want more! They seemed to do exactly what they claim and the Endless Brow Gel Pen and Cat Eye Ink will be apart of my daily makeup stash. Although I did like them, I will definitely have to get used to the bright shades of the MatteLustre Lipstick!

I know it might be tough to get a hold of Pixi Beauty products in Canada due to Target's recent closing, however, Target.com now ships to Canada and they have plenty of Pixi available! Pixi is also available on their website at PixiBeauty.Co.Uk.

These products were received for consideration. All opinions stated are my own and are not influenced by any affiliates. 

Lise Watier EYEvolution Fall 2015 Collection: Review & Swatches

I feel like I'm still holding onto summer, and we are already almost through with fall, aren't we!? For fall 2015, Lise Watier has brought out a new collection called EYEvolution, featuring a line of eye makeup products from shadows, a mascara, to a palette quad. 

Lise Watier Extreme Hold CC Eye Primer - $27 cad

This eye primer has a smooth tip applicator, but I still prefer to apply it with my fingers. The texture is dry but creamy and dries instantly on the lids. After 12+ hours of wear my eyeshadow is typically only a little creased, but my eyelids do not show as much oil as they do with other primers I use (Urban Decay, Too Faced) but also colour payoff on top of this was not as intense.

This primer does work well and also hides any discolouration of colouring on the lids. The only problem with this eye primer is that the shade is a bit dark. If you have fair skin you might find this tints your lids a bit too dark. I would definitely give this a try if you aren't a fan of typical tube eye primers.

Lise Watier Extreme Hold CC Eye Primer just applied on lids

Lise Watier Ombre Velours Supreme Eyeshadow - $25 cad

The Ombre Velours Supreme Eyeshadow range contains six shades -which are all matte! I have here the Vanille Velours and Sable Velours. There is a peach shade, and a few darker mauve and brown shades as well. I adore the shade selection they have for these shadows! Because these are in little pots I just get so excited as they remind me so much of MAC's Paint Pots. The texture is different though, this being a little more velvety with a cream to powder finish.  The formula actually contains Labrador Tea extracts for long wear. As much as I find these shadows so fun to use they did not wear as long as I liked on their own, but did work a little better with the Extreme Hold Cc Eye Primer.

Wearing Ombre Velours Eyeshadow in Vanille and Sable on the eyelids, and Intense Waterproof Eyeliner in Espresso

Lise Watier Intense Waterproof Eyeliner - $22 cad

These liners look so luxurious, I couldn't get over their gorgeous gunmetal caps. They do perform well and I prefer to use them on my waterline. They go on very smoothly. I have sensitive eyes and I have no problem wearing this on my waterline. Espresso looks almost black on the eyes and Blackest Black is the darkest shade. They work very well on top of the Ombre Velours Eyeshadows but I had a bit of trouble applying the black on top of the Eyevolution Palette shadows.

See above face shot for Espresso worn and below for Blackest Black worn.

Lise Watier Eyevolution Quartet Eyeshadow Palette - $37 cad (Limited Edition!)

This palette is beautiful, compact, and has an easy magnetic closure. It contains 4 shades, all being quite shimmery. The pink shade was a little disappointing for me, it isn't strongly pigmented and was very faint on my lids. The second taupey-gold shade is ideal as a base. The purple shade is my favourite, it showed up well and was easy to apply. The last shade is somewhat of a gunmetal dark grey, and it also worked decently well on the crease.

Lise Watier Dramatique Intense 3D Volume Mascara in Noir - $24 cad (Limited Edition!)

The brush is shaped as a tear drop to be able to define lashes in 'three dimensions and get maximum volume'. I couldn't give this a proper testing because I typically only wear waterproof mascaras (straight eyelash problems). I do find the brush a bit too large but otherwise the formula seems good if only they had a waterproof version!

Wearing Lise Watier Eyevolution Quarter Eyeshadow Palette shades, Intense Waterproof Eyeliner in Blackest Black, and Dramatique Intense 3D Volume Mascara in Noir.

Swatches:

L to R:

Lise Watier Ombre Velours Supreme in Vanille Velours, and in Sable Velours

Lise Watier Eyevolution Eyeshadow Quartet Palette swatched OVER the Extreme Hold CC Eye Primer

Lise Watier Intense Waterproof Eyeliner in Espresso, and in Blackest Black

Overall my favourites from the collection are the Waterproof Eyeliners and the Ombre Velours Supreme Eyeshadows in the pots. You can find Lise Watier products in Canada at Lise Watier, Hudson's Bay and TheBay.com, Shoppers Drug Mart, Scarlet & Julia.

What are you liking most from the collection? 

These products were received for consideration. All opinions stated are my own and are not influenced by any affiliates.