Empties: March 2012

March has finally reached its end and with that, I give you a new Empties post! This post is, of course, dedicated to the original Beauty Reductionista, Liz. Without further ado, here is my empties tally, collected from February 29 to today:

• Mario Badescu A.H.A. Botanical Body Soap (473 ml)
• Lush Whoosh Shower Jelly (240 g)
• Philosophy Dream A Little Dream Sweet Dreamy Fig Body Lotion (240 ml)
• Lancôme Nutrix Royal Body Intense Restoring Lipid-Enriched Lotion (200 ml)
• Fresh Soy Shampoo (300 ml)
• MAC Wipes (100 sheets)
• Chanel Mousse Exfoliante Pureté Rinse-Off Exfoliating Cleansing Foam Purity + Anti-Pollution (150 ml)
• Shiseido Pureness Balancing Softener Alcohol-Free (150 ml)
• Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex (50 ml)
• Lancôme Aqua Fusion Continuous Infusing Moisturizer (50 ml)
• Fresh Sugar Lychee Eau de Parfum (100 ml)
• MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation — NC40 (15 g)
• MAC Haute & Naughty Lash Mascara — Black (9 g)

Total: 13 products (11 full-size, 1 jumbo-sized, 1 gift set size)

Body Care/Haircare/Miscellaneous:

Mario Badescu A.H.A. Botanical Body Soap (473 ml) — Mary actually gifted me this when we met up last fall. It has an amazing scent that smells like real fruit (like papaya and grapefruit), and foams up really well with a shower pouf. It's gentle and non-drying but makes my skin feel super clean and smooth. And I swear it's actually helped in clearing up the keratosis pilaris on the back of my arms.

Repurchase? Definitely!

Lush Whoosh Shower Jelly (240 g) — You can read my review of this here. I didn't use this every day, but even on a semi-regular basis, this tub ended up lasting me nearly eight months. I love the clean, citrus, ocean-y scent; perfect for warmer months. And the jelly form is great for travel.

Repurchase? Yes, but maybe in the smaller size.

Philosophy Dream A Little Dream Sweet Dreamy Fig Body Lotion (240 ml) — I bought this as part of a set when Philosophy was on sale on Hautelook. Like most of Philosophy's scented body lotions, it hydrates well without feeling heavy or greasy. Those with extremely dry skin will probably need something richer, but this is great for dry to normal skin. The "dreamy fig" scent is more of a warm fruit smell (as opposed to a fresh fruit smell), so it was nice in the winter but I think it might be too cloying for summer. I believe this was released as a limited edition product for Christmas a couple years ago.

Repurchase? No, it was limited edition and is no longer available.

Lancôme Nutrix Royal Body Intense Restoring Lipid-Enriched Lotion (200 ml) — I actually got this full-size as part of one of Lancôme's Gift with Purchase events, but I have used it a few times before (when I worked for Lancôme). It's hydrating without feeling heavy or greasy, and has a light clean floral scent that isn't cloying and doesn't linger. I don't find anything special about this lotion, though; it hydrates just as well as many other lotions.

Repurchase? No, it's definitely not worth buying at full price ($48.50!).

Fresh Soy Shampoo (300 ml) — This is the second bottle I've ever bought. I love the scent (clean and citrusy), and it's gentle so it's great for everyday use. It leaves hair feeling clean and light, but I wish it was a more moisturizing. This shampoo didn't do anything that a much cheaper shampoo doesn't do, though.

Repurchase? At $30 a pop, it's just not worth it.

Skincare:

MAC Wipes (100 sheets) — Honestly, this is still the best make-up removing wipe I have ever used. It was originally made to use at fashion shows and photoshoots for a fast and effective way to remove make-up, and it's used by all artists at MAC counters and stores to take off any and all make-up including long-wearing and waterproof. I do prefer using a separate eye make-up remover for mascara, but for everything else, these wipes are the best. I use these mostly on my clients and for removing swatches nowadays, but if I need to take off my make-up in a pinch, these are great.

Repurchase? Yes, these are a must-have in my kit.

Chanel Mousse Exfoliante Pureté Rinse-Off Exfoliating Cleansing Foam Purity + Anti-Pollution (150 ml) — Whereas Lancôme's Crème Radiance is my favourite make-up removing cleanser, this is my favourite deep facial cleanser. It makes my skin feel ridiculously smooth and clean, and it has a wonderful fresh, clean scent. It's a thick, creamy cleanser that creates a really rich lather under water, and a pea-sized amount is all I need for my entire face. There are small micro-beads that provide mild exfoliation, but it's gentle enough to use everyday. This is especially phenomenal for combination to oily skin types. At $52, this is a really expensive cleanser, but one tube (used regularly) lasts me well over six months.

Repurchase? Yes, always!

Shiseido Pureness Balancing Softener Alcohol-Free (150 ml) — I have been using this toner on and off for years, and I always love it when I'm using it. It's simple and fuss-free, with a nice, clean scent, and most importantly, it's alcohol-free. I have combination/oily skin, and this is a non-drying toner that does what it's supposed to do (e.g. remove any cleanser residue, prep skin for serum/moisturizer) while leaving my skin feeling clean, refreshed, and balanced. And it comes in a handy pump dispenser! The only thing is that I go through a 150 ml bottle within a month and a half.

Repurchase? Yes, but only occasionally; it's too expensive to go through every 1.5 months.

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex (50 ml) — As much skincare as I buy and use, I credit Lauder's Advanced Night Repair serum as single-handedly fixing all my skin problems. I first started using this when I was 21; my friend worked at an Estée Lauder counter, and she was telling me how this serum would literally repair my skin. She gave me a couple of deluxe samples of it and just said, "Just try it. You'll see." I thought it was just for old people with wrinkles and dry skin (the opposite of what I have), so I was totally wary of using it... but within a week, my skin was clearer, smoother, more radiant, more hydrated. It makes pimples heal and scars fade faster. My skin's texture has never been better. Seriously, a skin saver, if there ever was one.

Repurchase? Yes, I always buy a back-up before I finish a bottle.

Lancôme Aqua Fusion Continuous Infusing Moisturizer (50 ml) — I actually bought this a couple years ago in NYC when I found out Lancôme was going to discontinue it (I bought out the counter's remaining two jars). I'd been using this for years as my winter night cream, and I refused to use anything else. It's essentially an oil-free moisturizer that hydrates extremely well and does not break me out at all; simple, but effective. When Lancôme originally discontinued this cream, they created Hydra Zen Neurocalm Cream-Gel to replace it, which has a lighter texture and absorbs better and smells better. Of course, Lancôme brought this back out last year under the name Bienfait Aqua Vital. But now I prefer the Hydra Zen.

Repurchase? No, I get the Hydra Zen over this one now.

Fragrance:

Fresh Sugar Lychee Eau de Parfum (100 ml) — This is my all-time favourite perfume. I've been using this since it was launched in 2007. I have gone through at least three full-sized bottles a year since then. It's a really clean, fresh citrus perfume (grapefruit, lemon, lime blossom) with a fruity sweetness (lychee, mango flower) that isn't cloying at all and a floral note (freesia) that adds more depth and doesn't give me headaches. There is a soft warmth (tonka bean, amber, sandalwood) underlying the citrusy sweetness that gives it a more complex base and lingers beautifully on skin. It's a little steep at $92 for 100 ml, but I have yet to find a perfume I love more and like to use all year round.

Repurchase? Yep, I just bought one.

Make-up:

MAC Haute & Naughty Lash Mascara — Black (9 g) — This is now my go-to mascara. I have really long, but really thin and straight lashes, and this amps up the volume like no other. And it doesn't smudge, even though it's not waterproof. The formula is really wet, though, so it can be prone to clumping and it can get a little messy around the tube opening... but the effect is totally worth it, 'cause I love huge, dramatic lashes.

Repurchase? Yep, I go through one in about 1.5 months, so I always have a back-up.

MAC Studio Fix Powder+ Foundation — NC40 (15 g) — This is my daily foundation, and I've been using it for years. I've realized that I actually hate using liquid and cream make-up products on my face, and was looking for medium-full coverage in a matte finish, and this powder foundation was the answer. It's sort of a love-it-or-hate-it product, but I can't live without it now. It's completely easy and effortless to use, and I get smooth, nearly full coverage in about 30 seconds. It's more ideal for combination-to-oily skintypes, though, because it will emphasize dryness and is prone to caking on dry skin.

Repurchase? Yep, I always have a back-up.

Not as good as previous months, but still decent!

Menchie's

Of course, no dinner date is complete without dessert! Mary and I had been talking about Menchie's earlier in the day, and it just so happened that there is a Menchie's just down the road from The Burger's Priest. It was meant to be! So when Mary and I finished our epic burgers, we walked down the street to get some frozen yogurt. I have been to Menchie's precisely one other time, and I remember it being really quite delightful, but their locations were too far from my house for me to make regular trips, so I forgot about it. But when the opportunity arose to go, I had to jump on it! The concept at Menchie's is really quite simple: You grab a cup, pick your frozen yogurt flavour(s) (they often have 12 or so flavours churning at the same time), pick your toppings, and pay. I like that you pay by weight at Menchie's, so you can really choose how much of everything you want (there is one cup size, so you can fill it all the way or only part of the way, and also determine the ratio of your yogurt to toppings).

While I went the chocolate and candy route last time, I decided to get something lighter and healthier this time around (also given that we had just come from a most delicious but ultimately greasy dinner from The Burger's Priest). So, I mixed the Original Tart and Pineapple Tart frozen yogurts (tastes just like a piña colada, I swear), and topped it off with strawberry chunks, pineapple chunks, mochi balls, and coconut shavings. What can I say? I was feeling tropical. With chocolate and candy in general, I can only eat a limited amount otherwise it starts to get too sickly sweet. With tonight's combo, it was light and tart with a hint of sweetness, so I didn't feel sick or bloated afterward. Just perfectly content. (Thanks for a great date, Mary!) But most importantly, I recently found out that Menchie's opened up a location that is about a ten-minute drive from my house. So, guess what I'll be doing all summer?

The Burger's Priest

I went on a date with Mary this evening that started off with a shopping excursion at Yorkdale (where Liz also made an appearance!) and was followed by dinner at much-lauded The Burger's Priest, which Mary and I had been wanting to try for a while now (indeed, we were counting down the days to our meeting). It was fairly busy when we got there, but by the time we snagged seats (in a place that houses only 15 stools, this was quite a score) and got cash out from the ATM (they are cash-only), the line-up seemed to have quadrupled. We did get to order within fifteen minutes of getting there, though, and got our food about ten minutes later. It's supposed to be "fast food," just not at 8:00 on a Friday night.

Not knowing what all the options were (the menu doesn't explain what the items are, and only lists the names), we both got the cheeseburger with everything on it — their toppings are pretty much limited to ketchup, mustard, mayo, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, and onions — and shared an order of fries. In short, the cheeseburger was simple, fresh, and griddled to perfection. The meat is so moist, it almost melts in your mouth (in the best way possible). The bun was perfectly soft but sturdy enough to withstand the meat, cheese, and toppings (that were fresh and colourful). Likewise, the fries were perfectly salted and perfectly crispy in all the right places — fries that you could easily eat without any condiments because they stand well enough alone.

Reading the menu online now, of course, I know what I will order next time (The Priest, which is essentially the cheeseburger with The Option, which is a portobello mushroom stuffed with cheese and then fried — this is The Burger's Priest's version of Shake Shack's Shack Stack, my current favourite burger of all time). And, then, of course, I will need to try items from their secret menu (I am especially determined to try The Vatican City). Ultimately, for me, The Burger's Priest was absolutely worth the hype. While the original cheeseburger was smaller than I had expected, it's clear that they value quality over quantity at The Burger's Priest. If you can get over the small space and the ridiculous line-ups, you need to take part in this epic deliciousness immediately.

Stila Love at First Sight Blush Palette

On that same trip to Shoppers Drug Mart when I bought Benefit's Hervana blush, I had picked up a second blush 'cause, you know, you can never have too much blush (at least, in my world). While I had actually gone to Shoppers actively looking for Hervana, I totally picked up Stila's Love at First Sight Blush Palette on a whim. (Yes, I'm very much an impulse shopper, if you didn't already know.) I missed out on Stila's heart-patterned blush last year (called "Make Me Blush") even though it was ridiculously adorable, so you know I had to have this one (or so I tell myself). It's a limited edition product that Stila released around Valentine's Day (I think?), so I assume it will be available until vendors sell out of it. Each blush comes in a square black plastic compact with "xoxo, Stila" stamped in gold on the clear lid. It comes with a total of 6.2 grams of product, and retails for $18 wherever Stila is sold.

Top colour, middle colour, bottom colour, and all three colours mixed

The Love at First Sight Blush Palette features three different shades incorporated into a heart-patterned design. The top shade is a light soft lavender pink with shimmer, the middle shade is a light-medium cool-toned pink with shimmer, and the bottom shade is a medium-dark cool-toned berry pink with shimmer. When mixed together, they create a soft muted medium cool-toned pink with shimmer. Because the surface area of the blush is fairly big, you can choose to just use the top and middle shades together or the middle and bottom shades together, creating two varying looks. The powder is soft and finely milled, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium pigmentation and semi-opaque buildable colour pay-off. The shade created from mixing all three colours together is like a softer and shimmery version of MAC Dame; it is much lighter than MAC Coygirl, and slightly darker than MAC Well Dressed.

This blush definitely leans on the cooler side, so those who prefer warmer or peachier undertones to pink blushes probably won't reach for this. I personally don't have a preference between cool or warm undertones in my colour make-up, though those with cooler undertones in their complexion may prefer the shades in this blush, while those with warmer undertones might feel like this blush won't work as well with their complexion as a warmer blush would. Either way, the texture of the this is really nice — it goes on smoothly and blends out really well, but also builds up well so you can play around with the intensity of the shade(s). And at $18, it's one of the more affordable blushes from a higher end brand.

Survey Says...

This week's Survey Says... from Temptalia:

1. Favourite face cream? Lancôme Bienfait Aqua Vital Continuous Infusing Moisturizer Lotion and MAC Lightful Marine-Bright Formula Moisture Creme for day; Lancôme Hydra Zen Neurocalm Extreme Soothing Moisturizing Cream-Gel and Chanel Hydra Beauty Gel Crème Hydration Protection Radiance for night.
2. Favourite face cleanser? Lancôme Crème Radiance Clarifying Cream-To-Foam Cleanser for make-up removal, and Chanel Mousse Exfoliante Pureté Rinse-Off Exfoliating Cleansing Foam Purity + Anti-Pollution for deep cleansing (could that name be any longer?).
3. Favourite face exfoliator? Chanel Gommage Microperlé Pureté Deep Purifying Exfoliating Mousse for more gentle exfoliation (though I think this is now discontinued and I have to find another favourite), and Lush Ocean Salt for hardcore exfoliation.

China Glaze & The Hunger Games: Capitol Colours Nail Lacquer in Smoke & Ashes and Luxe & Lush

I ordered five of the shades from China Glaze's The Hunger Games Capitol Colours collection, which arrived just yesterday. When I first saw the colours of this collection, I was kind of disappointed because I knew I wouldn't wear half of the shades. Not that they weren't pretty; they just weren't very unique (like, another taupe? Really?). But I understand that they created a shade for each of the 12 districts in The Hunger Games, and I do feel like the shades represent the districts fairly well, for the most part. The five I chose are what I think are the prettiest and most interesting of the collection. In general, the colours are definitely more suited to autumn/winter, but if you're like me and you just don't care about trends, you'll rock these year-round. I decided to test out two of the shades together as one nail look:

Smoke & Ashes (one coat) with Luxe & Lush (two coats)

Smoke & Ashes is a dark blue-based black with fine blue and green holographic shimmer. This shade is named for District 12 for mining. It is on the thicker side, but it goes on smoothly and evenly without pulling, streaking, or bubbling. It goes opaque in one medium-thick coat. I found that the gorgeous shimmer that you see in the bottle doesn't translate very well on the nails; to me, it just looked like black nail polish with barely susceptible shimmer. You can really only see the blue-green holographic aspect of the shimmer in natural lighting and, even then, it's really subtle. I couldn't think of a dupe for this, though.

Luxe & Lush is a clear top coat with duochrome flakes. This shade is named for District 1 for luxury. This is a really, really pretty top coat, 'cause the flakes will reflect different colours depending on the lighting; it will reflect orange, gold, green, teal, and pink, to a lesser extent. If you decide to wear it on top of another colour, it will also help determine what colours the flakes will reflect. I also find that the flakes look more stunning and defined on top of a darker nail colour (as opposed to a lighter one). One coat of this will give a decent amount of flakes on the nail, but two coats will make it more even across the nail bed. I couldn't think of a dupe for this, but Zoya's Fleck Effects top coats are similar in concept.

I'm actually really loving the look of Luxe & Lush on top of Smoke & Ashes, which look so stunning together but not nearly as exciting when worn separately. I was kind of disappointed that the shimmer didn't show up very well in Smoke & Ashes, 'cause it looks so damn pretty in the bottle. I'm really glad I got Luxe & Lush, though, 'cause I totally refrained from buying Zoya's Fleck Effects, even though I really liked the look of them. What are your thoughts on this look? Are you going to pick up any shades from China Glaze's Hunger Games collection?

Lush Godiva Solid Shampoo

I went into Lush last week to look into their solid shampoos. A lot of people on YouTube and on beauty blogs have raved about these colourful hockey puck-looking bars, so I made a mental note to check them out. I was intrigued because I had never used solid shampoo before — I am very much in the liquid shampoo boat. I don't like using bar soap in general, because I just find that it doesn't foam up as nicely as liquid soap. And I am all about the foam. But my dear friend at Lush told me that these shampoo bars foam up like crazy. He was like, "Just try it. I swear you will become obsessed with it." So, I picked out Godiva, a bright sunshine yellow 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioning bar that "conditions your hair follicles with moisturizing nut oils and shea butter to care for dry, processed locks and leave you with glossy, shiny, and softened tresses." And apparently, they can last for up to 80 shampoos. It didn't seem too steep at $10.95, plus my friend threw in a shampoo bar tin for free (tins are recommended so your shampoo doesn't break or melt in the shower).

Godiva is very much a floral shampoo: It's made with jasmine absolute, jasmine flowers, ylang ylang oil, cypress oil, hibiscus extract, and gardenia extract. I'm not usually a floral person (or a strong fragrance person, for that matter), but the smell is equal parts intoxicating and nostalgic for me — my parents would bring home a Narcissus plant every year in the winter so it would bloom just around Chinese New Year (you know, for luck and prosperity or whatever), and it would fill my house with the most amazing scent. Lush says it's jasmine-scented, but I swear this shampoo bar smells exactly like that plant. So it was love at first whiff. I admit I picked Godiva solely based on the scent, though it just worked out that it was also great for dry, damaged hair (which my hair is now, after so much blow-drying and straight-ironing).

As I mentioned, I had my doubts about the foaming ability of this shampoo bar. But as I swiped the bar back and forth on my wet hair, it produced the most amazing, thick, rich, foamy lather, ever. So I obviously love it even more now. And it's gentle enough for every day use! Lush also says that this is a 2-in-1 product, but I recommend using a conditioner afterward because I don't find that it's as conditioning and detangling as a separate conditioner. However, it leaves my hair soft and shiny without weighing it down, and that gorgeous scent totally lingers in your hair, even after conditioner and blow-drying. So, now, after I wash and dry my hair, I totally leave it down just so I can bring it up to my nose to take a deep, long whiff. Lush friend was right: I am obsessed with it.

7 Deadly Sins of Beauty

I'm not a "beauty guru" on YouTube, but I thought this was a fun tag, so I'm doing it, anyway.

Greed: What is your most inexpensive beauty item? What is your most expensive? My most inexpensive beauty item is probably the CoverGirl Lash Blast Luxe Mascara that I got for $2 with Janetta's coupon. My most expensive beauty item is my Lancôme Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate.

Wrath: What beauty product do you have a love/hate relationship with? What product has been the hardest to get? The beauty product I have a love/hate relationship with is mascara. I love mascara and never go out without it, and it's my favourite make-up item of all time, but I still haven't found the perfect one. Even my current favourite, MAC Haute & Naughty, has something I don't like about it — it's a wetter mascara, so while it has amazing volumizing abilities, it is also prone to clumping. I love Lancôme Hypnôse, but it tends to smudge (the non-waterproof formula, anyway), and while it doesn't clump like the Haute & Naughty, it also doesn't give me as much volume. The product that has been the hardest to get is Chanel's Jade nail polish. And it's pretty much impossible now, given that it's a limited edition product from two years ago, and I don't want to pay like, $100 for it on eBay.

Gluttony: What are your most delicious beauty products? Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25. The Lemon & Chamomile tastes like lemon cupcakes, and the Grapefruit & Ginger tastes like grapefruit soda.

Sloth: What beauty product do you neglect due to laziness? Lip scrubs and body scrubs. I have really nice ones that work well and smell amazing (Fresh Brown Sugar Lip Polish, and Kiehl's Grapefruit Gently Exfoliating Body Scrub), but I rarely ever use them 'cause I forget about them or I'm just too damn lazy.

Pride: What beauty product gives you the most self-confidence? It's a tie between foundation and mascara. My skin's texture is decent, but I do have uneven skintone and hyperpigmentation, so foundation really helps even out my complexion, which I'm kind of insecure about. And mascara makes me look more awake and makes my eyes look bigger, and I just can't go out without it.

Lust: What attributes do you find most attractive in the opposite sex? Two words: Ryan Gosling. He has everything that is attractive about the opposite sex: Charm, charisma, humility, intelligence, manners, and sense of humour. Physically, he has nice eyes, great hair, fantastic body... And he's talented to boot. He's the closest thing to perfection in a man, really.

Envy: What items would you most like to receive as a gift? In terms of beauty, I would say Jo Malone perfumes, Amore Pacific skincare, and make-up from Tom Ford, YSL, Burberry, Chanel, or Dolce & Gabbana. And if you count it as beauty, Diptyque candles. If we're not talking beauty, then I am seriously lusting over Miu Miu's Vitello Lux handbag and Balenciaga's Town Bag.

I tag Mary, Liz, Sydney, and Irene!

Estée Lauder Warehouse Sale (Spring 2012)

Dropped by the Estée Lauder warehouse sale this afternoon to see if there was anything worth picking up. For the most part, I didn't feel like there was anything overly exciting in terms of product this time around, nor did I feel like the prices were particularly amazing. But I totally forgot that Lauder acquired Bumble and Bumble a couple years ago, and was completely surprised at seeing so much of their product at this sale. Not only that, but nearly all the products were discounted by 50% or more! So I took the opportunity to snatch up some goodies:

• Wear and Care Bb. Quenching Conditioner (1L) — $35, originally $80
• Bb. Seaweed Shampoo (250ml) — $12, originally $22.50
• Bb. Thickening Spray (250ml) — $15, originally $33
• Bb. Styling Lotion (250ml) — $15, originally $31
• Bumble South Surf Spray (125ml) — $10, originally $29.50
• Bb. Classic Hairspray (300ml) — $18, originally $28

Other goodies I picked up included:

MAC Beauty Powder in Her Own Devices (for $15, originally $30) — This is a medium pinked nude highlighting powder with champagne shimmer. This was originally launched with 2010's Venomous Villains collection in the Cruella de Vil packaging. I didn't pick it up back then, so I'm glad I got a chance to grab it now. I'm not sure why it's in last holiday's Glitter & Ice packaging, though. Maybe they were going to launch this shade during the holidays but changed their mind.

MAC Studio Careblend Pressed Powder in Gold-Go-Lightly (for $15, originally $33.50) — This is a warm golden tan bronzing powder. This was originally launched with last year's Surf, Baby! collection. I'm really surprised this was at the sale, because it was a really big seller when it was released. I picked it up when it launched and it was nearly finished by the end of summer; that's how much I loved it. It has such a gorgeous satin finish that goes on so naturally and blends like a dream... I'm still hoping they'll make this permanent at some point, but I'm glad I got a back-up for now.

Mineralize Face & Body Lotion (for $5, originally $38.50) — This was one of the two items from the $5 charity table (it's cash only, and all of the money raised goes to breast cancer foundations). It's a nice, lightweight lotion that can be used for face and body, though I use it for body only. This product is actually still permanent at MAC, but it's called Mineralize Charged Water Face and Body Lotion now. It's nothing special, to be honest, but it's nice to keep in your purse or to travel with. And it's fragrance-free, so it's good for those who are sensitive to scents. For $5, I thought it was worth it.

MAC Ice Parade Snowglobe Eyeshadows in Warm (for $5, originally $45.50) — This was the other item from the $5 charity table. I actually already have this palette, but I thought it would be nice to give away as a gift. Again, for $5, I thought it was worth it. Seriously, it's cheaper than drugstore eye palettes.

MAC #42 Lashes (free, originally $18) — This was the free gift from this sale (they always give away one item to every attendee as a gift at every warehouse sale). I don't wear false lashes, so I'll most likely be giving these away or keeping it in my kit. I'm not sure if these were discontinued or limited edition, but it's no longer available in stores or online.

You know, I always go to these sales in hopes that there will be some amazing deals (a pack of MAC Wipes used to be $2!) or at least some great underrated products that were limited edition or discontinued... but I was quite disappointed this time around. There was not a single eye or lip product that intrigued me. And they have the exact same skincare and body products at every sale, and they are never a good deal ($18 for a MAC cleanser is not a bargain). I swear, some of the products there have to be at least five years old by now. I'm not even sure if that's safe to use. On that note, I'm pleased with the products I got, for the most part. I was disappointed that the $5 MAC charity table only offered two single products instead of a bag of four or five products like they used to. I mean, they're good, solid products that people would pay full price for (whereas the grab bags with multiple products would often have one or two products you would rarely, if ever, use... like MAC Lipmix in navy blue...), but I feel like these sales get more and more stingy every year. At least I have enough conditioner to last me half a year.

A-England Nail Varnish in Saint George

After having used Dragon last week, you know I had to try another A-England polish. I had bought four from Llarowe, and I had a serious debate as to which shade to try next. (First world problems.) However, knowing my affinity for blues, you know I picked Saint George.

Saint George is a dark green-teal with fine holographic shimmer, so it will flash more teal in one angle and more green in another. Even though it's not as cool as dragon scales, the effect of this polish is just as dazzling as Dragon. Every brand has done a dark teal shade, so Saint George might not seem so unique at first, but the it's the holographic shimmer that really makes this polish truly stunning. And if I thought the formula on Dragon was just a one-off, I was totally wrong; Saint George is just as phenomenal. That is, it applies smoothly and evenly with no streaking, pulling, or bubbling, and it is so pigmented that it will literally go opaque in one medium coat. I sense an A-England binge coming on, guys.

Survey Says...

This week's Survey Says... from Temptalia:

1. Favourite purple eyeliner? MAC Pearlglide Intense Eye Liner in Rave and MAC Fluidline in Ash Violet.
2. Favourite grey eyeliner? MAC Fluidline in Midnight Snack.
3. Favourite green eyeliner? MAC Pearlglide Intense Eye Liner in Black Line.

Benefit Hervana Boxed Powder

I finally got around to picking up Benefit's Hervana boxed powder blush. It actually launched in January, but I totally forgot about it until I was at Shoppers Drug Mart a couple days ago. Hervana marks the ninth addition to Benefit's boxed powder collection (though Georgia was discontinued a while ago), and is apart of their permanent line-up. Hervana is available at all Benefit retailers, including Sephora, Murale, and Shoppers Drug Mart's Beauty Boutiques. This powder, like all of Benefit's boxed powders, now comes in a flip-top cardboard container with a little mirror on the inside. Each powder comes with a small angled face brush with a purple wooden handle, contains 8 grams of product, and retails for $36.

Hervana

Hervana features a pinwheel design of four different shades: a soft pale beige with a satin shimmer, a medium apricot-peach with subtle golden shimmer, a medium peachy rose with a satin sheen, and a medium-dark cool-toned pinky plum with a satin sheen. When mixed together, they create a medium soft peachy pink with a satin shimmer-sheen. This powder is by no means frosty or shimmery, though; it has just enough shimmer-sheen to make skin look glowy. The powder is soft and finely milled, so it goes on very smoothly and evenly. It has medium pigmentation, and semi-opaque buildable colour pay-off. It's a bit cooler than MAC Dainty Mineralize Blush, but more pink than MAC Warm Soul Mineralize Blush. Compared to other Benefit boxed powders, it is much lighter and more peach than Bella Bamba, lighter and much less peach/coral than Coralista, and much more pink than Sugarbomb.

I know I don't need another blush, but guys, this is just gorgeous. I love that it's buildable in colour, 'cause you can get a really pretty soft sheen or a more intense flush without looking too harsh. The powder is so soft and smooth and easily blendable, and it leaves such a nice glow on the skin without emphasizing your pores. Plus, it'll suit every undertone; those with cooler undertones will pull more pink and those with warmer undertones will pull more peach. This will work well on those with fair to medium-dark skintones, but might not show up very well on dark and deep dark skintones (though it will add a lovely sheen!). Hervana is the type of colour that will look good with every make-up look — it's a super-wearable, every day kind of colour, and is just so perfect for Spring and Summer.

Sunday Pancakes

Sunday off means making pancakes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Models Own Nail Polish in Emerald City

I'm not Irish, nor do I drink, but I thought I would celebrate St. Patrick's Day in my own way. Which means, on my nails. (Obviously.) It seems that I love wearing Models Own glitter polishes for holidays. A new tradition in the making, perhaps?

Emerald City is a medium bright cool-toned emerald green glitter suspended in a clear base. After the first coat, I thought I'd have to put at least another two or three coats to get it opaque, but it was all good after only two! Very impressive, considering the clear base. It went on quite smoothly and evenly, as well. But, really, this shade just epitomizes my love for green polishes and glitter. Perfect for St. Patrick's Day, no? (And you know I had to take advantage of wearing a green glitter polish during non-Christmas seasons.)

Friday Five: Go Fly A Kite

This week's Friday Five:

1. When was the last time you flew a kite? I actually don't remember. Maybe when I was 4 or 5, but I guess I was really bad at it, 'cause I don't recall doing it ever again.
2. When did you last jump into a lake? Never.
3. When did you last get outta town? In February, when I went to Montreal.
4. When did you last take a hike? I want to say never, but I mean, what constitutes a hike? Walking in natural environments? If so, then like, today. On an actual hiking trail? Erm... Never.
5. When did you last play in traffic? Wait, what?! Who plays in traffic?

Glymm: March Box

I received my March Glymm box yesterday and decided to post about it before I forgot, like I did with my February box... Whoops. For those who haven't heard of Glymm, it's a beauty subscription program very similar to Luxe Box. It's $10 a month, and you get a box of four to five deluxe beauty samples sent right to your door. This program is good for those who want to try a different assortment of beauty products without having to actually buy the products. However, the products in each box are a complete surprise every month, so I would not recommend joining if you have certain expectations, because there are bound to be some products that you'll be disappointed in. As far as I know, Glymm is a Canadian-only beauty subscription program, but there are many similar programs offered by different companies all around the world.

This month, I received:

NuMe Feather Hair Extensions (full size, one piece): NuMe hair extensions are "100% cruelty-free, synthetically crafted from real human hair and ready for heat styling." I, for one, have never gotten into the "wearing feathers in your hair" trend. And I don't think I ever will. That being said, this is not a feather. Feathers, I can deal with. This is actual hair that has been crafted to look like a feather. That's all fine and dandy, but hair extensions, wigs, and any synthetically crafted hair completely freak me out. I can't even touch them. (It's a weird phobia, I know, but I think it stems from my phobia of clowns.) Needless to say, I won't be opening this package and will be giving them to someone, anyone, else. Ack!

M. Asam Vino Gold Perfect Teint (sample size, 5 ml): This is essentially a primer for the face that "fills in fine lines and evens out the complexion of the skin for a flawless, satiny smooth, matte finish." It has a silicone-based texture that "settles into lines and wrinkles making them appear invisible." For what it's worth, this is actually a pretty decent primer, and I think those with more mature skin would appreciate this product. When you put it on skin, it really does look smoother, like it's been airbrushed. However, I personally don't like the texture of this primer — it's rather thick and filmy, almost grainy, and feels like I have a layer of silicone on my skin. I also don't like the fact that it comes in a jar, which is really unhygienic. But you do get enough of product in this sample container to really test out the effects of it. In the end, though, if you like more of a silicone-based texture in your primers, I think you're better off getting Smashbox's version, which is similar in effect, comes in a pump bottle, and is more widely available.

M. Asam Vino Gold Magic Fini (sample size, 5 ml): This is a foundation with a silicone-like texture that "blends beautifully into your skin to conceal uneven skintone for a light, matte, natural-looking finish." It also promises to "smooth away the appearance of wrinkles, enlarged pores, and imperfections to reveal a sun-kissed, healthy-looking skintone." It reminded me a lot of Benefit's Some Kind-a Gorgeous foundation in the sense that it seemed to really even out my complexion, in both tone and texture, though it gave me medium coverage at most. It is meant to give a "sun-kissed" look, so it does make skin a tint darker, though I did find that it made my skin look quite ashy over time. Like the primer, it gives that smooth, airbrushed quality to the skin, but it also felt like there was a filmy layer on my face, which I don't like. The biggest flaw here is that they don't make different shades of this product, which is a huge turn-off to me. This would be ideal for those who have medium to medium-dark skintones and enjoy multi-tasking products, 'cause this is like a foundation and a bronzer in one. Unfortunately, this will never replace my foundation or bronzer, 'cause it ultimately doesn't give me the coverage, texture, or colour I want.

Ocean Fast Drying Long Lasting Nail Lacquer in Pink Illusion (full size, 15 ml): I'd never heard of the Ocean brand, but the formula on this particular shade goes on really smooth and even, with excellent pigmentation. It goes opaque in two coats, with no problems with streaking, pulling, or bubbling. However, this shade is not something I would ever wear. Pink Illusion is a medium warm pink with micro-shimmer that gives it a pearlized effect. It sounds pretty, but it just reminds me of something a 75-year-old woman would wear. Or a shade you might find at the dollar store. I might be interested in some of their other shades, especially if the formula in those is as good as it is in this one. But I will definitely be giving this shade to someone else. Like, a grandma.

Guys, this box was such a bust for me. There is not a one of these products that I would use, aside from testing purposes. I just feel like Glymm is getting worse and worse over time. There is absolutely nothing personalized with these products; it seems like they are just giving me random shitty samples, regardless of my age, skintone, skin type, and preferences in general. I am so, so disappointed. At this point, I honestly can't wait until my subscription is over.

St. Louis Bar & Grill

Day off means enjoying nice weather with friends and buffalo ranch chicken wings.

Survey Says...

This week's Survey Says... from Temptalia:

1. Favourite lip balm? Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25 in Lemon & Chamomile.
2. Favourite lip scrub? I actually don't use lip scrubs often because I tend to forget to use them, but I really like Fresh Brown Sugar Lip Polish when I remember.
3. Favourite my-lips-but-better lip colour? MAC Sheen Supreme Lipstick in Bare Again, Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in Peach Parfait, and Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Boy.

A-England Nail Varnish in Dragon

A-England's nail polishes have gotten a lot of hype on beauty blogs in the past year, and when I finally saw swatches of The Legend collection last month, I knew I wouldn't be able to resist much longer. Their products are, for whatever reason, not available in stores in Canada, so when I found out Llarowe shipped to Canada (for a really reasonable price, too!), I snatched up four shades. The first one I decided to try was Dragon.

Dragon is a medium-dark lush green with fine holographic shimmer, so it can appear to be warm or cool, depending on the lighting. In one angle, the shimmer will flash gold-bronze, and in another angle, it will flash teal-blue. In a word, amazing. This is seriously what I imagine dragon scales to look like, just like Mermaid's Dream was exactly what I imagined a mermaid tail's scales to look like. It is also one of the most unique colours I have ever seen in a nail polish, which is a huge feat considering the hundreds of thousands of shades out there (and the nearly 300 I have in my personal stash!). And, as if the colour wasn't amazing enough, the formula? Is one of the most phenomenal I have ever used. That is to say, the consistency is not too thin or thick, with no streaking or pulling or bubbling, and it is so richly pigmented that I have to quote the ever-eloquent Liz: "This is a one-coater, you guys!"

Cross Out The Eyes

The first time I listened to this song was in Grade 9. I was 14, and I had picked up my copy of Thursday's Full Collapse, which, I still remember, was selling for a ridiculous price at HMV due to their label's extremely limited distribution at the time. The first time I had heard of Thursday, they were a little, unknown, indie band from a small town in New Jersey, playing shows at the tiniest, shittiest venues across North America. Just starting out. I had heard about this band through my friend, who was older and more mature (and, therefore, way cooler than me). She had burned me their first album, Waiting, the year before — that was the beginning of my relationship with Thursday. But it wasn't until Full Collapse that I fell into a full-blown love affair with them. Thursday was different to a lot of bands that were out at the time, and beautifully so; their music is aggressive, melancholic, loud, and melodic. Before "post-hardcore" or "screamo" was even a genre.

Full Collapse would prove to be the soundtrack to the rest of my "angsty" teenage years and well into my 20's — that album has been with me through three Discmans, three iPods, and two iPhones; hell, through three continents and 15 countries. It is still my favourite album to this day: An album that is not catchy, but is so beautifully written and instrumentally complex that I can never get sick of it. I saw Thursday in concert nearly every year since that album came out, all the way from their days as an opening band at The Opera House, to their headlining days at Vans Warped Tour, to their tenth anniversary concert in honour of Full Collapse last year. I still have the negatives from the two rolls of film I took at their show with my shitty Pentax camera from nine years ago. So when I read the announcement that they were going to stop making music, my heart broke. I didn't realize how fully invested I was in this relationship until that moment.

So, consider this my ode to Thursday. The band who inspired so much of my artwork, from illustrations and photography in high school to full-blown graphic designs and web layouts I created when I owned a domain. The band whose lyrics inspired the dove tattoo I have on my forearm. The band whose song is the name of this blog. I thank them, their music, their lyrics, and their creativity for the past 14 years for inspiring me in ways I could never imagine.

What's In My Bag?

I don't think I've actually ever done a "what's in my purse" post, so here we go:

• Marc by Marc Jacobs patent leather wallet
• Marc by Marc Jacobs nylon cosmetics bag
• Pens (Muji, Uniball)
• Tissues
• Bath & Body Works green apple anti-bacterial hand gel
• Keys (house, mailbox, storm door, car)
• Fresh Sugar Lychee Eau de Parfum (100ml)
• Apple iPod Classic 160GB (for my car)
• Apple iPhone 4S
• Michael Kors watch
• EOS Cucumber Hand Lotion
• EOS Sweet Mint Smooth Sphere Lip Balm
• MOR Basil & Grape Hand Cream
• Jack Black Lemon & Chamomile Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25
• Tatcha Original Aburatorigami Japanese Blotting Papers
• MAC Dame Edna compact mirror
• Excel Mist peppermint gum
• Cigarettes
• Lighter
• Advil

And what's in that make-up bag?

• MAC Lipstick in Viva Glam I, Viva Glam Cyndi, Scarlet Ibis, Party Parrot, Pink Pigeon, Flamingo, Watch Me Simmer, Lady Danger, Force of Love, and Cherish
• MAC Cremesheen Glass in Narcissus, Right Image, Japanese Spring, Richer, Lusher, and Boy Bait
• MAC Sheen Supreme Lipstick in Korean Candy, Zen Rose, and Blossom Culture
• MAC Pro Longwear Lipcreme in Love Forever!
• MAC Pro Longwear Lip Pencil in In Anticipation, More to Love, Etcetera, What a Blast!, and Kiss Me Quick
• Illamasqua Lipstick in Corrupt and Resist
• YSL Rouge Volupté Lipstick in 4 Sweet Honey, 11 Rose Culte, and 12 Forbidden Burgundy
• YSL Rouge Pur Couture Lipstick in 5 Beige Etrusque
• Chanel Rouge Coco Shine Lipstick in 50 Rivage and 52 Fétiche
• Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Lipstick in 37 L'Exubérante and 40 La Sensuelle
• Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in Peach Parfait, Strawberry Shortcake, and Berry Smoothie
• MAC Medium Dark Blot Powder (in Give Me Liberty of London compact)
• MAC Lingering Eyebrow Pencil
• MAC Boot Black Liquid Eye Liner

I really need to learn how to minimize...