Bronzers Comparison Swatches!

When swatching the lighter of the two shades of Julep bronzing powder I thought it was too dark for me.

Now from left to right is the Julep Pore Minimizing Bronzer in Light Golden Bronze, Guerlain Terracotta Mineral Flawless Bronzing Powder in 01 Light, Clarins Summer Fever Blush Soaleil Sun Blush in 00 Copper Sun, Guerlain Terra Inca Sublime Radiant Powder and Marc Jacobs Omega Bronze in 102 Tantric.

Now each one is swatched in the order shown above and with the exception of the Julep, each one is swatched REALLY heavily. Like 5-6 swipes of each. As you can see the Marc Jacobs and the Clarins ones are almost as dark as the Julep, but whereas those two are heavily built up with multiple swatches, the Julep one is swatched with only one swipe (though very heavily). So its just far more pigmented than the others. Its also so much softer (even than the Guerlain or Clarins powders) and thus....... it sounds weird to say the pressed blush is more powdery than the powdered mineral bronzers but it is.

Overall, I think its not as dark as I thought it was, its just so much more pigmented that its just far far too easy to get too much (that being said please don't think I would even try to put it on my face so heavily, its merely swatched like this to show you on the skin). I think if you are as pale as me it will be very hard to get a natural and subtle look with this but at the same time I think you certainly could. Overall, the Guerlain Mineral is certainly my favourite followed closely (ok, not SOO closely) by the Marc Jacobs. The Clarins is also a go too for me in the summer but it has a bit more of a satin as appose to matte finish that prevents it from being as much of a must have.

Garden Escape Collection For Clarins Spring 2015

I have been nothing but impressed with Clarins beauty over the last two or three years. I really truly think this is one of the most overlooked/under-appreciated brands in the makeup world.  While Clinique used the chubby sticks as a great way to step out of the "your mothers/grandmothers makeup, not yours" genre, I think Clarins still struggles with that title. Which is a darn shame since they make such gorgeous products. I can't say these shades jump out at me, but if they do you, I highly recommend trying an item or two! 

Garden Escape Collection For Clarins Spring 2015

Fab And Free Gift With Purcahse At Murale

From now until the 21st with a $125 purchase online or in store at Murale, look at what you get! I wish we had a Murale here! I may try to run to the one in Toronto this weekend!

Sun Safety Kit 2014 From Sephora

Its that time of year again! The Sephora Sun Safety kit comes out and all beauty addicts go wild! The price is a very reasonable $32US and only $38 here in Canada. So its nice that we aren't quite being gauged like we normally do.

Now the nitty gritty of what comes in it:

The Products:

1. 0.06 oz Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta® Daily Glow Moisture 
2. 0.5 oz Peter Thomas Roth Max Sheer All Day Moisture Defense® Lotion 
3. 0.14 oz Too Faced® Chocolate Soleil Medium/Deep Matte Bronzer 
4. 0.3 oz Clarins UV Plus HP Multi-Purpose Broad Spectrum SPF 40 Sunscreen 
5. 0.33 oz Murad® Oil-Control Mattifier SPF 15 PA++ 
6. 0.5 oz Tarte™ Brazilliance Skin Rejuvenating Maracuja Self Tanner 
7. 0.23 oz Stila Stay All Day® 10-in-1 HD Bronzing Beauty Balm Broad-Spectrum SPF 30 
8. Dr. Dennis Gross™ Alpha Beta® Glow Pad 
9. 0.15 oz bareMinerals READY Touch Up Veil Broad Spectrum SPF 15 in Translucent 
10. 1.69 oz St. Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Mousse 
11. 0.5 oz Origins A Perfect World™ SPF 25 Age-Defense Moisturizer 
12. 1 oz Supergoop! Sun-Defying Sunscreen Oil Broad Spectrum SPF 50
13. 0.64 oz Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 50+ For Face 
14. 0.5 oz Algenist Regenerative Anti-Aging Moisturizer SPF 20 
15. 0.08 oz Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment Sunscreen SPF 15 
16. 0.5 oz Ole Henriksen Protect the Truth SPF 50+ Broad Spectrum UV Protection
17. Travel bag 

And the biggest reason why I am debating getting it? $20 from the sale of each kit will benefit The Skin Cancer Foundation! TALK ABOUT GUILT FREE SHOPPING!

 

Now do I NEED this? Of course not. But I did want to pick up the St Tropez mousse anyways to try on my face (I hear its AMAZING) and its $22.50 by itself (yes, its a full sized!), and there is enough sunblock in spf 50 (between Shiseido and Ole Henriksen to make up the rest of the value to me. Then I can do what I do with most of my samples to the rest - "here mom!!"

On sale now at sephora.com/sephora.ca for VIB's and thursday (tomorrow) for the rest of you guys! 

Are you guys getting this? Did you get it in years past? I want your opinions/feelings on the set! 

Shoppers Drug Mart Spring Beauty Bonus

Ok, so one of the best things about Shoppers Drug Mart aside from the amazing rewards system (basically, if you time your purchases right, every $225 gets you $100 back in a gift card (literally!) is the seasonal gift with purchases. I am usually not blown away by them myself (same reason I am not a beauty box addict. I am too picky). But OMG! I knew it was packed, but I am totally impressed with the contents! Very heavy on the anti aging and firming products, but still enough value that even yours truly is totally pleased!

Now this was free with a $125 purchase and is available until day end today! I am so sorry it took so long to get this up! Let me know if you picked this up and what you thought of it if you did!

- cardboard sampler with multi colours of new benefit big easy skin perfector

Now there was supposed to be a benefit bigeasy multi blancing complexion pefection, but instead there is a little card saying sorry the circus is late arriving to your town, but bring this card in after april 15th and get it.

-2*2ml lise water lift and frim 3d duo

-7ml strivectin advanced retinol night

-5 ml prevage anti aging daily serum

-5 ml clarins super restorative day ast
-8ml lancome advanced genifique
-15ml clinique repairwear laser focus

-7ml neostrata youth factor gf total regenerating serum

-30 ml lab series multi action face wash for men
-5ml vichy liftactiv advanced concentrate

-10 sheets shiseido pureness oil control blotting papers
-30ml bio beauty by nuxe micellar cleansing water with orange water

-100ml bioderma sensibio h2o

-FULL sized lipfusion deluxe double ended lip duo
-4ml smashbox full exposure mascara
-4 ml lancome la vie est belle perfume (deluxe mini in a mini bottle, not a vial)

It also says there is supposed to be a dual ended rollerball from juicy with 5mls each of juicy couture and lala scents, but I got a full sized couture lala roller ball and not a double ended one. Not sure if this is all of them, or just mine?

-15ml Nuxe nuxellence jeunesse
-5 ml biotherm skin at its best serum in cream
-60g vitabath moisturizing bath and shower gelee in original spring green

-5ml st tropez self tan bronzing face lotion

Limited Edition Essentials Palette For Clarins Holiday 2013

So when I saw the above palette from Clarins I was really not interested. It seemed to be all purples. Now that there is the first sighting of it in real life though, OH MY GOSH I WANT IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now this is NOT my photo. But when i saw it posted on British Beauty Blogger I KNEW I needed it. And I needed to share it with all of you. I seriously LOVE Clarins makeup. I have some shadows, some liners and some lipsticks by them and everything I have tried has been fantastic!

Now I have used one of her images (below) but I hope you go her blog (linked in her oversized name) and check out all the photos she has of this. This is just a teaser, she has more photos and all the swatches for this. This may just be MY version of the Naked 2 palette. I knew I hadn't picked that one up for a reason! I love the look of this one, the shade range is more up my alley (more highlight shades and the darkest shades are must lighter). This is shooting right up to the top of my NEED list!!!!!

The Exclusive Beauty Swag Bag From The Bay

So who else is digging this swag bag from The Bay? Until this Thursday, spend $60 or more (thats just two of the new dior cream blushes. Just sayin.....) and you get a SEVENTEEN PIECE gift with purchase. I am not quite sure if its automatic, as it doesn't seem to have a coupon code attached to it.

Packing For a 10 Day Trip. What Do You Take?

So I leave tomorrow for ten days. And that means packing. But for me, its not just ten casual days. I have 11 events/dinners/shows that I have to go to. And that makes packing light oh so very stressful. I am actually quite proud of myself for how I much I am taking. I think its quite reasonable for such a trip!

It starts with two bags. Both are Dior. The white one I love, but the black one. OH. MY. The BEST BEST BEST gift with purchase I have EVER received. I love this thing. It is about hte size of a 3 inch binder. But its brilliant.

This is what it looks like when you open it up.

Notice it folds open to a full mirror (the size of a standard sheet of loose leaf).

And under that is a place for makeup brushes. Which means when I take this bag I dont have to take my travel brushes. I can take full sized brushes!

I have two Hakuhodo Face Brushes, My new Lise Watier foundation brush (which I like far more than my Bobbi Brown one) and my chanel concealer bursh (I dont love).

And 5 eye brushes

Also, the one makeup bag detaches from the case.

Here is what is in the mesh bag. My Clarisonic Mia and charger, the little clear bottles are my Clinique Acne Solutions Toner x3 (each one is tiny and holds about 3-4 days worth) and the pink liquid is astringent which is good to have for days I feel I need it. Also I have cotton pads, a travel size of my moisture surge moisturizer (I save this jar and then refill it when I travel), a very generous size of philosophy eye cream, a small travel size of my purity cleanser, and a deluxe sample of the clinique roller ball for under eye circles.

Safety pins (just because), tweezers, scissors,  a file, a light, a magnifying glass and more and a mini deodorant.

Then in the small pouch are 2 weeks worth of my pills/vitamins, q-tips, advil, toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, perfume samples, and hand sanitizer.

And here it is all folded up.

And the makeup bag. This was hard. I want options for different things, but I dont want to take 1000 items.

For the face:

1. Clarins Cotton Flower Face Palette to set my makeup
2. Edward Bess Kabuki Brush
3. NARS Deep Throat Blush
4. NARS Penny Lane Cream Blush
5. NARS Pro Prime Skin Smoothing Face Prep Base
6. The Balm Time Balm Concealer
7. Foundation (originally little tester samples that I now refill with my Dior Foundation)
8. Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Brightener
9. Laura Mercier Deluxe Sample Foundation Primer

For The Eyes

1. Dior Sunset Cafe Quint
2. Chantecaille Sea Turtles Palette
3. Estee Lauder Lash Primer Plus Deluxe Sample (I have about 12 backups of these! Obsessed!)
4. Deluxe Mascara Sample
5. Chanel Illusion D'Ombre in 82 Emerveille
6. Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion
7. Urban Decay Eyeliner in Mildew
8. Urban Decay double sided eyeliner in Zero and Whiskey
9. Anabelle Eyeliner Pencils in Auburn and Blonde

And for Lips:

1. Givenchy Rouge Interdit in Secret Pink
2. Clarins  Joli Rouge Lipstick in Hawiian Coral
3. Loreal Colour Riche Balms in Caring Coral and Plush Plum

So what do you think? Is this way too much? Let me know what you would do in the comments.

Also, with the eminent end of Google Friend Connect approaching I would love if you could take two seconds and click on the link in the top of the sideabar to add me on blog lovin!