Btch Reviews

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Ipsy: November 2016

For this month, I found the bag to feel cheap and as if it was made from a poor material. Nonetheless, let’s move onto the products inside (because it’s what’s on the inside that matters - right?) 

Benefit Cosmetics: the POREfessional 

Ah, the porefessional. The idea of this product is nice - hide large pores. Unfortunately, I never reach for this product. It barely reduces the size of pores and I find it actually clogs mine, which causes more breakouts. So, I have used this product before and I was disappointed to see this in my bag as I think it sucks. 

Hey Honey: Good Morning Honey Milk Face Serum 

According to the description, this product can: moisturize, calm skin, and prime. That’s a lot of pressure to put on one product. 

In terms of moisturizing, I think it’s suited for people with normal to oily skin as it wouldn’t do much for those with dry skin. I felt it did moisturize but it didn’t do it enough and I had to apply moisturizer anyways. 

I was surprised to see it made the redness on my face disappear so it does work in terms of calming irritated skin. 

As a primer, I can’t say it did anything for my makeup and I can’t say it didn’t. I didn’t notice any changes between using this compared to not priming my face. 

Ciate London: Liquid Velvet Matte Liquid Lipstick in Diva 

The first thing I noticed when I applied it was how unevenly it applied. There were parts of my lips which appeared to have less product than others but I do have to admit it didn’t feel as drying as other liquid lipsticks Throughout the day, I did notice it faded oddly. Inner parts quickly rubbed off while outer parts wouldn’t budge. Therefore, I don’t think I’ll use this product too often. 

BH Cosmetics: Foil Eyes To Go

To test these out, I wore them to work (with my Too Faced eyeshadow primer). I used the pearl shade on the inner corners of my eye, the grey as my liner, the shimmery peach on my lower waterline, the light bronze as a base, and the darker rusty brown as a crease. I never heard too many great reviews on BH Cosmetics so I was hesitant but I love the way they apply (very smoothly and with much pigmentation) and they mostly lasted through my shift. The colours did fade a little but it was never enough to be noticeable and I was very pleasantly surprised with these. So, I discovered that I do love this palette and the colours that are in it. 

OFRA Cosmetics: Banana Powder

Words cannot express how excited I was about this because the banana powder in my Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit just hit pan. The best part is how much more pigmented this is compared to my ABH kit. It also has full coverage, which is perfect for concealing my undereyes before I go out. This product lasts throughout the day and night and it doesn’t crease or melt away (because I have oily skin on some parts of my face). To be honest, I love this product and these days, I use it more than banana in my ABH kit (which means I don’t even have to buy a refill for that yet - which is another plus). 

Conclusion:

I liked 3/5 products in this month’s bag, which is nice. 

- A

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Bite Beauty: Amuse Bouche Lipstick

Bite Beauty: Amuse Bouche Lipstick - Mauvember ($30)

An exclusive, super hydrating, high-impact lip color that's crafted for your beauty to support men’s health.

On the last day of the Sephora VIB Rouge sale, I quickly dumped this in my cart and checked out as soon as possible. I have always liked Bite Beauty products and I figured, with this product donating half of its profits to the Movember charity, why not? 

The colour is mauve, as stated in the name. It also has an adorable mustache and 2016 imprinted into the lipstick. 

Pros: - easy application - glides on smoothly  - great pigmentation 

Cons: - poor lasting power 

Conclusion:

Though I do love the lipstick and the formula and the colour, it is unfortunate that the lipstick rubs off very easily and for that, I am very disappointed. 

- A

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Sephora VIB Rouge Sale Haul 2016

As there is twice a year, this haul was from the Sephora VIB Rouge Sale (meaning I got 20% off my total purchase). For the most part, the products I purchased were to restock my stash. 

Brigeo Blossom & Bloom ginseng + biotin volumizing shampoo ($30)

A sulfate-free formula that effectively cleanses without removing essential oils or dulling the look of hair.

The problem with me trying new shampoos is that, for some reason, my hair is problematic. I often use intense cleansing shampoos to ensure that it doesn’t become greasy over the day and so it doesn’t feel weighed down but for the sake of my hair, I decided to buy a shampoo that I could use every day without wearing it down. 

Pros:  - smells great (like ginger and orange)  - volumizes - leaves hair feeling light and soft  - gently cleanses hair without stripping it of oils  - good size for price 

Cons:  - none. 

Conclusion: 

I think I’ve found my new shampoo and it’s time to leave the cleansing shampoo to be used once a week rather than every day. 

Elizabeth and James: Nirvana White 3 Piece Gift Set ($94)

A captivating blend of delicate peony, chic muguet, and tender musk, Elizabeth and James Nirvana White is a feminine scent with dark sophistication.

Being a fan of Nirvana White in itself, I thought this set was perfect. I loved the rollerball and the hand lotion so I figured I would love the perfume and the body lotion as well as the dry shampoo. 

The set includes a 1oz perfume. 

Note: there is a new set which includes the larger perfume. 

Anyways, I love this perfume and sometimes, the perfume differs from the rollerball but I found the two to be the same and the scent was still as light and sweet as I recalled. 

Pros: - sturdy packaging  - scent is light and sweet, not too overwhelming - lasts throughout the day 

Cons:  - small for its price (I wish I got the larger one as this is my every day perfume) 

A while ago, I purchased the hand lotion so I figured the body lotion wouldn’t differ too much but it was different in formula. While the hand lotion was thicker, the body lotion felt more like gel. The hand lotion felt moisturizing and the body lotion feels more hydrating. Nonetheless, I still use it every day and it leaves my skin feeling soft. 

Note: it doesn’t dry out skin the way most fragrant lotions do. 

Pros:  - hydrating - compact  - smells great

Cons: - scent doesn’t last  - not good for intensive moisturizing 

The dry shampoo is a small travel-sized bottle and I don’t use dry shampoo but I did give it to somebody who is experienced with the product and this was what I received as feedback from her. 

Pros:  - does its job - smells great - easy to apply

Cons:  - there are cheaper alternatives that work better - too small 

Conclusion:

I love a majority of the items from this box and I would definitely purchase their full sizes (except the shampoo because I don’t use it). It’s very worth the price. 

beautyblender: Two.BB.Clean ($52)

A set with two award-winning beautyblender® originals and a liquid blendercleanser®—all wrapped up in a giftable cleanser kit.

Okay, because nobody can have too many beautyblenders. After my scare of not having one, I now have 3 in storage. As anybody would know, the beautyblender is one of the best spongest for makeup application. With this set, it has two beautyblender sponges as well as the cleansing soap. Considering how it costs $25 for one sponge, this is the ideal set for those who use this religiously (since the sponges have to be replaced every 3 months or so). 

Regarding the sponges, they expand to nearly double their size when wet and they help apply liquid foundation and they blend makeup to appear flawless. 

The soap is similar to the solid soap, in which it severely dries out my skin, but it does its job and intensively cleans the sponges along with other makeup brushes. 

Conclusion:

This is the best value set for purchasing the beautyblender because you will get more than your money’s worth and all these products are fantastic and everybody should have them in their makeup stash. 

- A

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Maybelline : Dream Wonder Liquid Touch Foundation

Price: $12.99 

I think this was on sale because there would be no other reason as to why I would be buying more foundation. Anyways, here is what the product looks like. 

At the moment, this colour does not suit me but it will once summer comes around.

Pros:

very lightweight

medium coverage

easy to build up

good for dry skin 

gentle formula 

Cons:

greasy feeling 

bad for oily skin 

does not last throughout the day 

limited shade choices

Conclusion:

Since I have dry skin at the moment, this is great. It covers what it needs to. It evens out my skin tone. It leaves my skin feeling soft. Almost everything is perfect. But it dos not last. No matter what primer I wear, I can start the day with a good coverage but end the day seeing my acne scars. Also, this is a little darker than I need but with this line, the shades jump from 25 to 40. If they had a 30, it would’ve been perfect. Until they have a shade I can wear, I will not continue using this and I will not repurchase it since it is only suitable for pale people and tan people. 

- A 

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Kat Von D: Tattoo Liner vs. stila: Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Liner

Price: stila - $29, Kat Von D - $23 

stila: applicator 

Kat Von D: applicator 

stila (left), Kat Von D (right) 

Okay. Here we go.

In the past, I have voiced my dislike for liquid liners. Recently, I discovered they weren’t too bad and they were much quicker to apply than I thought. When I turned to Sephora to purchase a new one, I was faced with two choices. Both the Stila liner and the Kat Von D liners have received high praise so I had to buy both. On one hand, Stila was the one I used up but others say Kat Von D’s was much better. 

Here’s the thing. 

When it comes to pigmentation, stila clearly has the advantage as it is far darker whereas the Kat Von D is more sheer (so I have to layer for it to appear to be equally as dark as the stila). On the other hand, the Kat Von D liner has a brush tip which allows the application of the liner to glide on more effortlessly and more precisely and it just hugs the lash line better. 

As you can see, there are two very important factors which both have dominated in. stila has the best colour pay off in all the liners I’ve tried. Kat Von D has the best applicator. 

Now both claim to be waterproof and promises no smudging. 

As for the smudging claims, stila does not budge. It is as stubborn as an ass. Kat Von D, on the other hand, does wear off (even with primer on). 

So it appears the stila liner has the advantage. 

With the lines on my hand, I took a shower and guess what? Both liners were off by the end of it. Neither proved to be completely waterproof. Then again, I did use cleanser that night... Anyways, I tried again. With one eye lined with stila and the other with Kat Von D, I used a wet towel to wipe. Neither proved to be stubborn when it came to being water resistant. 

Conclusion:

The Kat Von D liner applies like a dream and it allows for the most beautiful cat eye lines. On the other hand, stila stands proud with their perfected formula which lasts through an entire day and still staying true to its jet black colour. I wouldn’t recommend one or the other for a day at the beach. But I do find myself reaching for the Kat Von D liner more often because it just applies easier. But if I have time, I usually go over it with the stila. So despite being one of the best liners I’ve tried in a while, stila still reigns supreme in this battle. 

- A

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real techniques: powder brush

Price: $13 (at a little beauty shop at the back of Pacific Mall) 

I was just looking for any brush to apply my Hourglass powders with and when I stumbled upon the Real Techniques selection in the shop, I knew it was a sign. Since I was already looking at the brushes on Amazon, I figured I may as well save on the shipping and taxes and just buy it here. Rather than buying the set (as i originally planned), I settled on one brush because it was all I needed. 

So I brought it home and I washed it and once it dried, I used it to apply my makeup. Here’s what I discovered. 

Pros:

picks up powder (as it should)

very soft

bristles do not shed

applies powder smoothly 

Cons:

a very large brush (so no under eye, just face powders) 

Conclusion:

If I needed to buy it again, I would. This has left a good impression on me to want to continue buying Real Techniques brushes. It is good for applying face powders such as foundation and lightening powders but is it not good for any spots that need to be targeted. Overall, I was impressed and I will start buying my brushes from Real Techniques because it’s just as good as my Sephora brush for about half the price. 

- A

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Nyx: soft matte lip cream

Price: $10 (at a small beauty shop at Pacific Mall) 

Shade: 08 San Paulo 

When I saw the Nyx section in the store, I was overjoyed. Ordering Nyx online was not an option with the way the Canadian dollar was holding up so this was the next best thing.

Pros:

easy to apply

super buttery 

moisturizing

Cons:

difficult to find

does not last well  - it turns out to be more of a stain but even so, that comes off by the end of the day

Conclusion:

I understand why people like it as it isn’t drying (like other liquid lipsticks) and it is much cheaper than others but also, they have much better products for the same price and I find it to be average. I wasn’t too impressed but I wasn’t entirely let down either. To be honest, I found it hard to think of what to say because though I do reach for it often, it’s more because I want to use it up and I’m probably not going to buy this again in the future. 

- A

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Hourglass: Ambient Lighting Palette

Price: $70

A palette featuring three shades of Ambient Lighting Powder, the high-tech, soft-focus finishing powder that recreates the most exquisitely flattering types of light.

Shades (left to right): Dim light, Incandescent light, Radiant light. 

NOTE: the colours in the photo are not exact to the way they appear in real life.

The first time I tried anything from Hourglass was their travel sized Ambient Lighting Powder, in Dim light. I typically used the product for under my eyes and to brighten up my face. Once that ran out, I decided I wanted to try the full palette. 

Dim light: I use this one under my eyes to help get rid of dark circles and it really does help brighten up the area. It is more of a bright beige which is a very natural colour. I also used to use this on my T-zone and on my cupid’s bow. 

Incandescent light: This one is used for a subtle highligher as well as on my T-zone. It has a slight shimmer to it and it is much more white compared to the other two shades. 

Radiant light: I use this one as an all over the face setting powder to my BB cream or foundation. It is a dark peachy colour with a little shimmer (but not enough to be noticeable) and I find it brightens up my complexion well. 

With the three powders used every day, I can vouch and say that it does help brighten up one’s complexion as people have commented that it appears like I’m glowing when the light hits me. By glowing, it is in a good way and not as an insult. It helps mimic light hitting the face in the most flattering way and it makes my skin look almost flawless. Also, it is an amazing setting powder. 

Conclusion:

I highly recommend it. It is the secret to glowing skin and a flawless finish. Though it is pricey, it is worth it because these three shades work wonders together. If you are hesitant and would like to try, they also have a travel size version of Dim light for $27 or they sell these as individuals for $52 each (which are bigger than the ones in the palette though I think the palettes are the best deals for these products). 

- A

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Clinique: Clear Skin, Clear Skin Acne Solutions Sonic Cleansing Brush Set - Week 1

Well, it's been a week. I stopped using this set since the third day. Though it quickly got rid of my acne, it was not worth the new set of problems it gave me. My skin was so sensitive that it hurt to dry it with a towel. My skin was so tight that it hurt to smile. My skin was inflammed. It was dry. It started flaking. I understand that it might purge but at the same time, it should not make it painful to have skin. After a week of intense moisturizing, my skin has finally went back to being its soft and clear complexion. Therefore, I highly recommend to avoid this product if you have combination/sensitive skin. - A

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Clinique: Clear Skin, Clear Skin Acne Solutions Sonic Cleansing Brush Set - Day 3

I have very mixed feelings about this product.

It does help with my acne. My skin cleared up a lot since I started using it. On the other hand, the acne brush is far too abrasive for my skin. It has left my skin very dry and rough. But this can be helped with beauty oils and moisturizer. Luckily, this system also comes with a sensitively/gentle brush which I will purchase and try. In the meantime, I will switch from using it twice a day to once every two days and I will see how that works until I get another brush head. Also, I find the acne solutions kits to be very harsh and very drying as well.

- A

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Clinique: Clear Skin, Clear Skin Acne Solutions Sonic Cleansing Brush Set - Day 1

Since the device is instructed to be charged for 24 hours before the first use, I couldn't use it the day I got it but today is 24 hours later. The biggest factor in choosing the Clinique system over the Clarisonic was because the brushes were much softer. With the acne brush, I find it to be a little too rough on my skin. As for acne, I can't say if there is a difference but the acne solution line does leave my skin feeling dry and itchy. But I do see that even one try greatly helped with my blackheads. Still, I'm not sure if the cleansing gel works. The clarifying lotion leaves a burning sensation and it reeks of rubbing alcohol. I find the all over clearing treatment to be fine. That is my first impression of the first use and I will update in a week's time.

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Clinique: Clear Skin, Clear Skin Acne Solutions Sonic Cleansing Brush Set - First Impressions

Price: $99

After a long and grueling couple days of researching, I finally logged in my answer choosing this over the Clarisonic. Though the Clarisonic is supposedly one of the best options in the market, I have very sensitive skin and this product was better suited for me. 

The set comes with a charger, the Clinique Sonic System with the Acne Solutions Deep Cleansing Brush Head, and three deluxe samples from their Acne Solutions line. 

Charger

I do find it interesting there is no specific hole to dock the device into and I was anxious it didn’t work until the light lit up. Not having a place to dock is the best option because it means the system is good in water. Also, I’m glad the wire is long enough to connect from the outlet to my desk. 

Sonic System with Acne brush

The vibrations feel powerful while the brush feels extremely soft. Having sensitive skin, I am very cautious with the products I choose to use on it. 

Acne Solutions: Cleansing Gel

I like the smell. I like the texture. But I do not know whether it works or not yet. 

Acne Solutions: Clarifying Lotion

This feels more like a toner than a lotion. It smells too strongly of alcohol though I was surprised to find it did not irritate my skin. Also, it was surprisingly moisturizing. 

Acne Solutions: All-over Clarifying Treatment 

This product does not smell too horribly. It did dry my skin but it also dried up the acne I had. But this is too early to make a judgement on the product. 

- A

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tarte: park avenue princess contour palette

Price: original - $41, sale - $31 

I own the bronzer in park avenue princes and I love it. I use this bronzer every day for my daily routine along and I use it for contouring my nose, jawline, and cheekbones as well. As for the blush, it is a bit too light for me (light-medium) and I don’t like it. As for the highlighter, champagne gold is a very bright and shiny powder. I only use it for more nightly appearances while I barely use it on a daily basis. For this price, this set was a pretty good deal.

- A

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BareMinerals: Bare Tutorials eyeliner

Price: original - $36, sale - $28.80

When this was on sale, I couldn’t resist not buying it. After all, it was around finals and I needed something to cope with the stress. Nothing helps more than shopping. Anyways, Bare Minerals was the brand I started my makeup obsession with so I will always have a soft spot for it. 

Flawless Definition Mascara

This mascara is great for an every day look and it is very gentle. The formula is consistent and it does not clump. There is nothing else I can say about it. 

Onyx Shadow in Shadow (jet black)

As a powder liner, this works well. They advise me to add water to make it a gel liner but I did not like the way it looked that way. Maybe I’ll find purpose for this as an eye shadow in the future.

Mini Line and Detail Brush

I love the detail part of this brush. I use it with my Bobbi Brown gel liner and I find it applies perfectly so I will use this as my new liner brush. On the other hand, the liner side came rather twisted up and I could not use it (which was very disappointing). 

Lasting Line Long-Wearing Eyeliner in Absolute Black

This comes with a pencil side and the other side has a smudger and a sharpener. This pencil liner does not work for water lining and it is not the best for lining in general. I do not like this product and since I used it that one time, I never used it again. 

- A

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Tarte: Coloured Clay CC Primer

Price: $44 original, $22 sale

I purchased this in Light when I got an e-mail about VIB’s getting 25% off sale products. Seeing how it was a 50% decrease, I figured I’d give it a try. They had run out of medium so I bought light. When I received it, I worried that it might be too light. But this stick helps balance my skin tone and it helps mattify my skin. I reach for it every day whether I apply makeup or not. Currently, it is out of stock at Sephora and I’m not sure whether they will restock it. But this is a great product and it does its job of colour correcting, brightening, and enforcing makeup quality. 

- A

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Urban Decay: Eyeshadow Primer Potion

Price: $24 

This is the primer everybody I know has been raving about and it’s finally time I got my hands on it. Originally, I didn’t believe in primers. Correction: I didn’t believe I needed an eyeshadow primer. But everybody was right. The formula is a little thick and it blends in well. It is pretty pricey for the size. On the other hand, it ensures any eye product to stay on and to keep its pigmentation. This truly is the best and I stand my opinion where I think Urban Decay has the best formulas and products locked up in their company. 

- A

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Sephora Favourites: Superstars

Price: $91 

Every year, Sephora has a set with its top sellers and it comes in the most reasonable price as well considering seven of the products are full sized. 

beautyblender: the original beauty blender (full size) - $28

Though there are many options of makeup sponges to choose from, the beauty blender is the top on the market for a reason. This sponge is perfect for blending out foundation for an airbrushed appearance and it is perfect for applying concealer as well. Despite looking tiny for its price, this product does become nearly double its size. For example, if it were wet, it would grow into the size of my palm. Despite having other options, this is the best product used to apply liquid and cream products and I will defend it until my grave (or at least until something better comes out but this is not leaving my makeup desk anytime soon). 

Benefit: They’re Real! mascara (sample)

Every time I get a sample of this product, I give it to my friend. According to her, it’s amazing and she likes it a lot. On the other hand, I despise this product. Though it does lengthen, it does not thicken and it leaves my lashes looking stringy and frail. Overall, I find this product works extremely well for some people while it does nothing for others. 

Clinique: Chubby Stick Sculpting Highlighter (full size) - $26

The pigmentation on this stick is pretty good. As far as it does for highlighting, it is not my favourite (but I reach for Benefit’s Watts Up way more when I need a cream highlighter). All in all, there is a high chance I may never touch this product again. 

Lancome: Drama Liqui-Pencil Longwear Eyeliner (full size) - $31 

This eyeliner has a very creamy texture and a nice dark pigmentation. On the other hand, it is not the best for waterlining which is what I prefer to use pencil liners for. In the case where I did use it for normal lining, it was easy to apply and it didn’t smudge once it was set. On the other hand, I may not reach for this often because I only use pencil liners for my waterline and this one does not work well as a waterliner. 

Laura Mercier: Matte Radiance Baked Powder Compact (sample) 

Though the picture doesn’t show it, this is my favourite highlighter. I use this almost every time I need to strobe or just to highlight. This is the best powder highlighter I own. The powder stays on well. The light hits it perfectly. It’s not too overly shiny and it is not too light. It was just right for brightening and highlighting. 

Make Up For Ever: Step 1 Skin Equalizer Hydrating Primer (sample)

This product does do its job in the sense that it hydrates and it helps makeup stay on. Other than that, I can’t boast about it but it does do everything its intended to do. 

Nars Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow (full size) in Himalia - $36 

I have never tried a Nars eyeshadow before. Urban Decay has my heart in that category. The pigmentation is amazing. I love the colour, though it is too much to use for an every day look (aside from the corners). This eyeshadow doesn’t fade too easily. As a matter of fact, it stays on perfectly when used with the right primer. Still, I prefer the formula in Urban Decay because though this is an amazing eyeshadow, the formula is not as great as Urban Decay’s (and I know I shouldn’t compare the two but with the similar prices, I still favour the Urban Decay eyeshadows). Nars does have an amazing set of other products but their eyeshadows are not my favourite. 

Smashbox: Photo Finish Primer Water (sample)

Since this came out in the market, I have been dying to try it. So the first time I used it, I had some impressions. I was not a fan of the smell and I was nervous about whether it worked because it is just a spray. When the end of the night came, I was pleasantly surprised to see my makeup still in tact so I must conclude this does work. Nonetheless, I still prefer a more solid type of primer because it feels like I waste less. 

Stila: Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner (full size) - $29

I can’t deny this eyeliner is one of the best. It doesn’t smudge. It is precise. It has great pigmentation. But I never liked liquid eyeliners and I never will. I have three of these from other sets and though I have kept one, I have given the other two away which is what I will do with this one as well. 

Tarte: The Sculptor Contouring Face Slenderizer (sample)

I have the Tarte bronzer powder in Park Avenue Princess so I have tried this shade but unlike the powder, I find this to be too light for contouring (although it is okay to use on my nose). This is too light even for somebody with light-medium skin. But I do love this product and when I get the full sized, I will buy a shade darker. 

Tarte: The Slenderizer Bamboo Contouring Brush (sample)

I can’t say this is a sample brush but more of a travel sized brush. It does work well to blend out the contouring for the Tarte Contouring Stick but I do find it works best for contouring my nose over any other park of my face. This is a great nose contour brush, although I wouldn’t buy the full brush because this one is just perfect for what I need it to do. 

Stretchex: Stretch Lash Effect Mascara (full size) - $25

This mascara isn’t the best but I do find myself reaching for it when I need a more natural mascara. The formula is light and it does not clump easily. Other than that, there is nothing special about it. 

Urban Decay: Eye Shadow (full size) in Lounge - $22 

This shade is a brick red with a green shimmer. If I hadn’t searched it up on the website, I would’ve continued calling it peacock. With a brush, the powder is much less dramatic and can be used for a more natural night out look whereas when applied wet, it has high pigmentation and it is perfect for a more dramatic night out style. Also, it is no secret that Urban Decay is probably one of the best makeup brands and they are my all time favourite. This eye shadow is no exception because though I don’t use it every day, I certainly do reach it when I need a look for a night out. Despite not being able to use it every day, I love this eyeshadow. It has the same amazing pigmentation and creamy formula all Urban Decay shadows have. I am in love. 

Conclusion:

This is an amazing set with great value. The product received are worth more than the price and the products are the best in Sephora for the year. Every year, I look forward to grabbing this kit and this year was certainly no exception.

- A