Becca x Jaclyn Hill Shimmering Skin Perfector in Champagne Pop

I was never a huge highlighter junky. I probably have only one highlighter in my makeup collection (if you guessed The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer you are correct!). Becca is well known for their Shimmering Skin Perfectors (aka highlighters), so when I heard all the hype about this new Becca and Jaclyn Hill collab I figured maybe it was time to add another highlighter to my collection. 

The box is gorgeous, a champagne gold colour with water droplets embossed. (I think 1/4 of my money went into designing this box ha..). Unfortunately, you won't find any indication of this being a Becca x Jaclyn Hill collaboration on the actual compact itself. It looks like a standard Becca product.

Jaclyn marketed this as a highlighter that is ideal for all skin colours, so everyone could wear it. I thought it might be a bit too dark for my NC20-ish skin, but I took the chance and bought it anyway! It definitely is not too dark when using a brush but it can be if you apply it with your finger. I do recommend using it with a brush though, or applying it with your finger and then a brush to blend out.

The description on Sephora says it is a 'soft white gold with pinky peach undertones'. I don't think I can describe it better. It gives off a very peachy glow and it can be worn subtle using a sparse brush, or stronger using your finger to apply and a brush to blend it out. The texture is smooth, the pigmentation is strong, and I probably couldn't ask for anything more in a highlighter. I have been using it almost every day and feel like I need it now to complete my look (this isn't good btw!..).

The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer (a popular highlighter) in comparison to the Becca x Jaclyn Hill Shimmering Skin Perfector in Champagne Pop

It was hard to get the highlighter to show on camera in natural lighting, but I tried my best from a few angles! Overall I am very pleased with Champagne Pop and would purchase again (I'm debating if I need to stock up...) The Becca x Jaclyn Hill Champagne Pop is suppose to be LIMITED EDITION and so everyone was going crazy over it when it came out. It is still in stock on Sephora's website (not sure about the stores) and available for $46 CAD. It definitely is a high price to pay for a highlighter but considering it will last quite a long time it can be worth it.

St. Tropez Self Tan Luxe Facial Oil Review

I'm an avid user of self tanning mousse, and I'm sure those of you that can relate have heard of St. Tropez. The brand is very well known for their self tanning products! One of their newest releases is the Self Tan Luxe Facial Oil, a 30ml bottle of non-greasy oil with a wonderful natural scent designed to give you a natural healthy glow (translation = a slight tan). It is ideal for all skin types and delicate skin as well, formulated with 100% natural DHA and essential oils.

The instructions on the bottle say to apply 2-3 drops and blend over face and neck, then wait 4-8 hours before getting the face wet. I found that 2-3 drops didn't evenly cover my face, so (TIP!) I prefer to mix a few drops in with my moisturizer and then apply. Seriously, this will probably make for a more even glow and avoid using up the bottle too quickly (this stuff ain't cheap!).

The oil is not greasy at all, it feels a bit sticky on the skin but dries in about 10 minutes or so. I prefer to use it at night with a moisturizer because I don't like using self-tan products during the day. However, this can definitely be used morning or/and night. The scent is so different from typical self tan products. It is very tolerable and I can't describe it as anything else besides a grassy/herbal scent. The oil itself does work to add a glow/slight tan to the face. It really won't drastically make you darker, and is probably best suited for lighter skin tones.

I pretty much just threw a few drops on my arm one night and this was the morning result. 

Don't buy this expecting to get a very noticeable, dark tan! I am quite pale and use a self tanning mousse once or twice a week. I don't use the mousse on my face and instead have been using this. It doesn't get as dark as my St. Tropez Self Tanning Mousse gets my skin, but it also doesn't clog my pores or break me out. But with a bit of foundation and bronzer my face and body are an almost perfect match. It is comparable to the Clarins Golden Glow Booster, but with a slightly subtle colour and definitely a better scent.

I love the scent of this product and it is definitely suitable for a light glow for my face. Any darker and you will start to get problems. This is perfect for a 'no-worry' light glow! St. Tropez Self Tan Luxe Facial Oil can be found in Canada at Shoppers Drug Mart stores, Murale, murale.ca, Hudson's Bay, and London Drugs for $43 CAD.

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

Make Up For Ever Andreja Pejic Artist Shadow Palette

Be Bold. Be Unexpected. Be You.

This gorgeous limited edition eyeshadow palette is one of two to kick off the "Be Bold. Be Unexpected. Be You" campaign in collaboration with actress/fashion blogger Jamie Chung, transgender fashion model Andreja Pejic, and makeup artist Melanie Inglessis. The campaign aims to promote individuality and self-expression. 

The palette I have here includes 4 colours carefully chosen out of 200 by Andreja Pejic. I am simply in love with the neutral mauve-brown shades chosen because they are easy to wear on a daily basis and super easy to blend.

The box has a fun look to it and features 4 creative looks created by Melanie Inglessis on model Andreja Pejic. The actual casing of the palette is a little tin box that snaps closed. It is quite simple, a little boring, but it is magnetic and the shadows are interchangeable.

The 4 shadows included in the Andreja Pejic Palette are I-526, I-662, I-544, D-652. The shadows themselves are not limited edition but being able to buy them in a quad palette for $56 ($111 value). Make Up For Ever doesn't name their shadows on the packaging (hate this) but they do on their website. So I did a little research and included the shadow names below as well.

L to R, Top to Bottom: I-526 (Pearl Beige), I-662 (Amber Brown), I-544 (Pink Granite), D-652 (Celestial Earth)

I  = Iridescent Finish
D = Diamond Finish

I've tried Make Up For Ever's Matte Shadows before but I find these 2 finishes a lot easier to blend. They are as smooth as butter and of course the pigmentation doesn't disappoint. They work together so well and I've included 2 looks below using the shadows.

Discover the campaign hashtag #BeMakeUpForEver and express what a bold and unexpected look means to you. (Tip: Check out @JamieJChung Instagram to enter to win a custom palette + $500 worth of MUFE products). Unfortunately, I believe the Andreja Pejic Palette just recently sold out online, but it hopefully can be found in stores. The Andreja and Jamie Chung palettes are limited stock and retailing for $56 CAD in Sephora stores and online.

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

Bioderma Sensibio Cleansing Milk Review

I'm a huge fan of Bioderma's Sensibio Micelle Solution (reviewed here) and it's ease of removing my foundation. Bioderma has recently launched a Cleansing Milk in a very similar bottle to their iconic Micelle Solution. I have to say, I am drawn to the packaging, and I wouldn't be surprised if others who are fans of the Micelle Solution have stared at it on the shelves too. But is it worth it? And how does it compare to the Micelle Solution? 

The packaging of the Bioderma Sensibio Cleansing Milk is quite like the Micelle Solution, but in an opaque white bottle with a pink label. The bottle is to be used as a squeeze tube and is fun, but will be annoying once I've got less than half a bottle left.  

The Cleansing Milk claims to be a 3-in-1...

•  Cleansing Milk, Toning Lotion, and Eye Make-up Remover.

•  Is formulated with selective active ingredients.

•  Is hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, and preservative-free.

•  And is ideal for dry, sensitive skin.

Bioderma Cleansing Milk also contains patented Toleridine complex designed to improve the skin's tolerance and make it more resistant to external attacks. It's hard to prove or say whether this really works or not, as I have no idea the science behind it and have not particularly noticed any tolerance improvement. 

On to the actual quality of the product... The texture is light and milky, it is best applied onto the face and then wiped off with a cotton pad. I find my cotton pad absorbs the product so quickly so putting the product directly onto the cotton pad just feels like a waste. Regardless, I can see myself running out of this stuff really quickly. The product also feels a bit too cold and icky on the face.

It definitely removes foundation decently, but it didn't get everything completely off and I find it to be a bit too gentle and not as effective as their Micelle Solution. I really prefer to wash my face afterwards with a cleanser because it feels like this leaves a bit of stickiness to the face, but this is definitely ideal for camping or those nights you are just too lazy to wash your face.

See my Bioderma Sensibio Micelle Solution Review here

Overall, I definitely prefer Bioderma's Micelle Solution over this, and I probably won't purchase this once I run out. It just isn't effective enough to remove my everyday makeup (I pretty much wear a somewhat full-face of makeup on a daily basis). It doesn't feel great on the face to me and takes longer to use. 

Bioderma's Sensibio One Step Cleansing Milk is available at Shoppers Drug Mart in Canada for $18.95 (250ml). The Sensibio Micelle Solution is also available at Shoppers Drug Mart (there are various sizes, I think I get the huge 500ml bottle for $24 or so).

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