Cleaning Your Makeup Pencil Sharpener(s)

Hey everyone! I just wanted to talk about a tool that we often use and rely on, but we often times forget to sanitize it. That item would be no other than your pencil sharpener hidden in a drawer in your makeup collection! I will admit that I am guilty of not cleaning my sharpener as often as I should. You are not alone!

You Will Need The Following:

- Q-Tips

- Rubbing Alcohol

- Your Dirty Sharpener(s)

What I like to start off doing is taking the little detachable black stick to remove all the build- up which is found in both of my sharpeners. MAC Pencil Sharpener & NYX Sharpener.

After I am done doing that, I take a Q-Tip and dip it into my rubbing alcohol. I then go throughout the sharpener(s) and get out whatever I can. This part may take a while and you may go through several Q-Tips depending on how dirty your sharpener is, but it's all worth it in the end. 

Now that you know how to clean your pencil sharpeners, you can say goodbye to old pencil shavings and clumpy lead that tends to build up! All that bacteria is gone and using the rubbing alcohol disinfected your sharpeners for you!

Until next time,

STAY CLASSY.

Berrz <3

P.S. This blog post is not sponsored.

Makeup Expiration Dates

Hey everyone! I just wanted to share with you some helpful knowledge regarding makeup expiration dates. Have you ever pulled an item out of your makeup collection and thought to yourself, "How long has this bronzer been sitting in my makeup collection for? When was the last time I even used it? Is it still good to use?"

Well if you turn that bronzer around, there is a little open container symbol that has a number followed by the letter 'M' and that means how many months it is good for after opening. For instance, take my NYC Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder (excuse the messy packaging, it has been well loved!)

 I have taken the liberty to circle the recommended expiration date for you. Like I previously mentioned, there is the little open jar symbol and it says '30M' which means that it is good for up to 30 months after opening.

Here are some more examples:

 

This is my Clinique Super Balanced Makeup. It is good up to 24 months after opening. That translates into 2 years.

MAC Select Cover-Up is good for 6 months of use after opening.

CoverGirl NatureLuxe Mousse Mascara (this is a discontinued product,) is good for 6 months after opening max. I would say that the lifespan of a mascara should be half of what it states on the label at most! It is very easy for bacteria to enter this product especially if you find yourself pumping the wand in and out of this product frequently. Please avoid doing this at all costs!

Nivea Lip Butter has a shelf life of 12 months.

One of the most talked about lip products in 2014 were the NYX Butter Glosses. These are no exception to the rule and they have a shelf life of up to 12 months.

Sometimes you have to really look for this little icon as it does not always stand out. On the packaging, there isn't always this little icon and it is up to you to use your better judgement. If you smell the product, and it has a horrid smell to it or if the product is clumpy, dried out or separated: THROW IT OUT BECAUSE IT IS TOO OLD TO BE USING ON YOUR LOVELY FACE! You don't want to start breaking out or getting an eye infection from a product you paid $6.00 for and refuse to throw it out. Because in the long run, treating that infection or problem will equate to much more than $6.00 and possibly many doctor visits.

Also, if you purchased an item that is brand new, still in the packaging and never opened yet you find yourself wondering about the little icon I mentioned. Well that rule only applies to products that have been opened, so you should just be fine if it is sealed.

Until next time,

STAY CLASSY.

Berrz <3

P.S. This blog post is not sponsored and all opinions are my own.

Target's Decision to Pull Out of The Canadian Market

Hey Everyone!

I can be quite opinionated and often times, decided to NOT voice my opinions on the internet. However, this time, I cannot be quiet. I feel as though I have a lot to say, both good and bad. I just want to be heard out and to have a voice on this breaking news topic which is Target closing down 130+ stores in Canada and over 17,000 employees losing their jobs.

I feel as though this decision made by Target did shock most people as it came out of the blue, but other people had seen it coming for a long time. Some consumers expected Target to close a few select stores, not to pull out of the Canadian market entirely.

I personally love Target and had been shopping in the U.S. before it even came to Canada. I was living in L.A. for a short period of time and would frequently shop there. Like most Canadian shoppers, when Target came to Canada, I immediately went into my local Target and began comparing not only the prices, but also the products. The brands I had fallen in love with in the U.S. were no where to be seen at my local Target in Canada.

I felt as though the product selection was so much better in the U.S. and that they had items we Canadians wouldn't be able to get here. Not to mention that the prices were cheaper in the U.S. as expected. However, that deterred consumers from shopping at the Canadian locations because they figured that they might as well wait until their next cross-border shopping trip to get what they need from Target because they will save money in the U.S.

Not all of us can get that time to go cross-border shopping whenever we wish as it takes a decent amount of preparation as well as planning. Also, with the snow that Ontario gets as well as Buffalo, making that commute to New York isn't always possible as there are set-backs such as the driving ban in Buffalo had a few months back. There is also a bridge most Canadians take to get to the U.S.A. and when there are high winds, that bridge gets closed because it is seen as too dangerous to drive over. Target: if you wish to not lose the business of Canadians entirely, then you should really look into letting us shop online on the American web site! You just need to adjust your prices to Canadian dollars which is really not that hard and the least of your issues/worries at this time.

Another point that I want to make which really bothered me for SOME TIME is that you COULD NOT shop on the target.ca web site! I do most of my shopping online just because that is my preference and I never understood why Americans can shop on the American web site but Canadians can't shop on the Canadian web site. Also, on the American site, it clearly states that there is no international shipping. Now that they have pulled out of Canada, will Target be willing to make an exception?

One issue that has not been addressed anywhere is what will happen to all the Target locations that implemented a Starbucks store into their retail location? I am not quite sure if the baristas work for Starbucks or Target. If they DO work for Target then disregard this point that I am bringing up completely. I wonder how Starbucks feels about this situation and if they are taking a huge loss from it?

I understand that Target was in Canada for a short period of time, about 2 years give or take, but wouldn't they have thought to not expand so quickly and to open a handful or so of store to 'test the waters' so to speak? I think that they blew up and expanded way too quickly only to fail in the end. I know they lost a lot of money here, but they were overly ambitious in my opinion. The market is very saturated and that's something Target should have considered before taking great measures for expansion.

Does anyone remember when Target had their 'soft openings?' I remember that they received a lot of negative feedback about them. It wasn't quite the response that they were anticipating. They have had their fair share of struggles and would it be fair to say that these opening were foreshadowing the future? I know often times the shelves were left bare and that just created frustration for shoppers. I had too been in those shoes at one point or another at my local Target when shopping for a specific item. Since I was used to shopping in the U.S. for my items from Target because I was living there, when Target first opened in Canada, I would see the EXACT same items I had purchased over there and right away noticed the price difference; it was always a lot cheaper in the U.S. for obvious reasons.

Also, if you are holding on to a Target gift card, make sure you use it before they are expected to close down within 4-5 months time. I am not sure if you can use a Canadian gift card in the U.S. You obviously can't use it online but hopefully things will change and make that exception.

A lot of consumers have grown accustom to doing most of out shopping here as Target can be seen as a one stop shop. Now our business will have to be taken elsewhere which is an inconvenience to us. 

I do applaud the CEO Brian Cornell for adding 70 million dollars into a fund for Target employees so that most of them are entitled to severance pay at the end of their journeys with Target Canada. This package will be for a minimum of 16 weeks.

I also heard on the news today that Target hired a person or a few people today in Canada and I would question why they would  do such a thing? Unless of course the management team was not aware of this situation until today when the media broke the news. They wouldn't be at fault in that situation. I find that to be terrible! I find that to be happening more frequently today which isn't right. They leave it up to management to tell employees that the business/store has come to an end. That is probably one of the hardest things that they have to do. They either hear it first from the media or their management team.

The big question NOW is: what will be replacing Target? I've been in maybe 4-6 different Target locations and the space they occupy has been quite large. Target replaced Zellers and before that, Zellers replaced KMART in Canada.

What will come next?   

Well that just about wraps it up. Like I had said previously, these are just my opinions. You are entitled to have your own that is completely fine. I just wanted to fill the empty blog post with words to let out my frustrations - to have a voice.

Feel free to follow me on Twitter where I post interesting articles and links!
@BeautyByBerrz

Until next time,

STAY CLASSY.

Berrz <3  

P.S. This blog was written just to get all my thoughts out and is not formatted in a very structured way. I do realize that. Focus less on the structure of it and more on the points I am addressing. 

The Forgotten Files Pt.3 - ELF Studio Matte Lip Color

Hey everyone! This is the third installment in my series. Today I will be sharing with you a product that I first tried out, loved and decided to buy every single collection in collection - something that I don't normally do. You may have seen this product in my July Empties. It is these six fabulous shades from the ELF Studio Matte Lip Color collection!

I love the look of matte lips and as far as the formula goes; it is easy to glide on, smooth application, it does not dry out my lips (just make sure to scrub your lips/moisturize before applying,) long lasting and I usually get compliments when I go out wearing any shade of this product.

Coral

Nearly Nude

 

Natural

Tea Rose

Praline

Rich Red 

I am biased because my favourite colour is Tea Rose. That is the first lip pencil I ever tried from this line and I have not been able to find a colour elsewhere similar to it. It has more of a purple undertone and can wash out darker complected people than myself so apply sparingly! Or even use a gloss or another colour on top to mute the Tea Rose slightly.

Also, when I wear Praline, someone had commented that it looked very similar to the popular colour that Kylie Jenner had been wearing throughout 2014. It is truly the perfect fall colour that goes with just about everything.

 Rich Red is definitely the most vibrant colour and it was the only colour that stained my skin a little bit when wiping it off with a makeup wipe.

 

Each lip pencil will run you $3.00 which is a price that can't be beat! You can buy all 6 lip pencils for under $20 at regular price! What I love most about this product is that you are able to twist up the product. Something a lot of people don't know is that on the back end, there is a small sharpener!

 Until next time,

STAY CLASSY.

Berrz <3

Please note: This blog post is not sponsored. All opinions are my own, no one is paying me to say certain things, all products were purchased with my own money but some links are affiliate links. They are provided by myself for your convenience.

The Forgotten Files Pt.2 - Estee Lauder Warehouse Sale 2014

Hey everyone! This is part two in my Forgotten Files series. I managed to take all the photos last year that I wanted to include in my blog post, I just never got around to it. Now, I am here to show you swatches and my purchases from last year's Estee Lauder Warehouse sale which was held at The Markham Fairgrounds on McCowan Rd. 

I went on Sunday, March 30th, 2014 with my friend and parking was free. You do need a ticket to enter this warehouse sale and you can only use the ticket once. After you are done paying for your items, you give the assigned employee your ticket before you make your way out of the building and she gives you a free gift. (A sample of the Clinique fragrance 'Happy' and a clear Estee Lauder makeup bag that I have put to good use whenever I travel.)

It's not a big deal if you do not have one because you can always buy one off Kijiji or Craigslist. I must warn you that it gets quite busy there so make sure you wear comfortable shoes! Heels are not ideal because the parking lot was very muddy because you aren't parking in a actual paved parking lot, it is a flat surface with some grass and a lot of dirt. You can also purchase snacks and beverages inside the building if you are needing a pick-me-up or if you are getting dehydrated.

Now getting to the brands that are offered at the warehouse sale:

Estee Lauder, Clinique, Origins, MAC, Bumble and Bumble, Coach, Michael Kors, Bumble and Bumble, Ojon, etc...

As you can tell, I purchased solely MAC products because that was just my preference at the time. If I decide to go again, I will venture out and buy from other brands as well.

When you enter the building, it can seem daunting and overwhelming but the important part is to not feel rushed - TAKE YOUR TIME! Sure there are predominately large crowds of women inside the building but that shouldn't force you out of the building, instead, there are many different sections of the building to explore so make sure to make your way through. I didn't have any specific purchase intentions and really didn't need any more makeup, but that didn't stop me from buying more in this case. 

What I Bought:  

2 Pro Longwear Eye Shadows - $15/each (labelled as 'blush' on the sign at the warehouse)

Endless Passion

Mauveless 

 

 1 Pro Longwear Paint Pot - $12 (estimated)

 Let's Skate!

1 MAC Glitter - $12 (estimated)

 Reflects Red

1 Lustre Lipstick - $10 (estimated)

Flamingo

1 Select Cover-Up - $9

NW20

This was my first time at this particular warehouse sale and I really didn't know what to expect. I am glad that I attended and look forward to the next Estee Lauder Warehouse Sale!

Until next time,

STAY CLASSY.

Berrz <3 

Please note: All products were purchased with my own money. This blog post is not sponsored and those are not affiliate links.

The Forgotten Files Pt.1 - Muji Drawers

Hey everyone! I mentioned in a previous post that I had many images that never made its way into a blog post. I have since found these files and want to share them with you- despite the fact that they have been taken some time ago. Also, I am still recovering from surgery and am doing better but can't be standing for more than a few minutes at a time. That is why I thought this would be a great idea for my blog! 

 Today's post will be talking about my Muji Drawers. I was using a very bulky black train case to store my makeup that I kept on top of my makeup table prior to getting these drawers. I felt as though the train case was taking up too much space and it was constantly getting dirty.

I had heard many YouTubers speak about these drawers so I decided to check them out for myself on their web site. Also, I know that Muji opened up their first store in the downtown core not too long ago, (I have since visited it,) but at the time of my online purchase, the closest store to me was in New York at The JFK Airport. I seen these drawers as two great pieces that would last me a long time and would make it easy to store all of my current makeup.

I want to start off by saying that they really know how to package their stuff! Sure there was a lot of of packaging around the actual products themselves, but I would rather that than not enough wrapping around the items. The end result is me opening a package with the contents broken inside by my very eyes. Because they excellently packaged my two items, I didn't have to worry about that.

The only thing that wasn't so pleasant was the shipping fee to Canada. It was $29.95. What I will say though is that after seeing how nicely they packaged everything, I soon forgot about the steep shipping and handling fee as it was the least of my concerns.

Surprisingly enough, I still kept the original invoice and managed to locate it. I placed my order in April of last year. The prices for these two items are the exact same on the web site almost a year later. I ordered:

MUJI Acrylic Case with 5 Drawers - I paid $27.95 USD

Thoughts: Initially, I thought that each individual drawer was way too small to hold my makeup items. I later realized that Muji knew exactly what they were doing upon production and that the drawers are the perfect size for not only lip products, but other makeup essentials as well.

MUJI Acrylic Case 2 Drawers with Lid - Large - I paid $26.75 USD

Thoughts: These drawers are a little bit larger (you can check out the dimensions on each of the web pages that I have provided and compare if you like for sizing reference.) Also, I love that the top flips open because whatever makeup I have that doesn't fit inside the drawers, I can just open the lid and place it inside without worrying about whether it will fit or not. You can just scroll down to see a picture giving you an idea of what exactly can fit on top.

 

This picture of my makeup collection was taken last year in April. Of course the contents inside have changed given that I have purchased new products, used up various products and even depotted other products to put into my palettes. What has stayed the same though is where my lip products go. I still keep them in the same location as shown below. I also opened a drawer to show you a rough idea of what can fit inside one single drawer. If you're wondering, most of the lip glosses in the open drawer are the Revlon Colorburst Lip Glosses. They are one of my all time favourite lip glosses hence why I have so many! 

 The verdict: As my makeup collection continues to grow, I will definitely purchase more of these drawers from Muji. The awesome part now is since they are in Toronto, I won't have to pay the expensive shipping fee and can just go in-store to make my next purchase! I am very pleased with my purchase and recommend these drawers to anyone who is looking to organize their makeup without having to shuffle around looking for a specific product. The drawers are transparent so generally, you will be able to see your makeup item before you get to it thus saving you time and effort. 

Final thoughts: As seen in the photo above, I stacked my two drawers together. That is optional and you don't have to do that if you do not want to. I just preferred to look of it and I felt as though it saved space on my makeup table for other things such as my stack of palettes!

Until next time,

STAY CLASSY.

Berrz <3

Update: I actually caved in to my no-buy January and purchased a finishing spray online from Skindinavia. They have an awesome promotion going on that actually ends tomorrow that I HAD to take advantage of. With every purchase, you receive: one free makeup primer spray (20 ml,) one free makeup finishing spray (20 ml) and free shipping for both Canada & USA! The promotion ends tomorrow 1/11 so take advantage of it while you still can! 

This came at a time where I had been running out of most of my necessities and would have needed to go to the store and repurchase them anyway. Not justifying or encouraging my shopping habits, just updating you and letting you know what has been going on.

Please note: This blog post is not sponsored. All opinions are my own and I purchased all these items with my hard earned cash.

New Year + 2015 Thoughts/Changes + Winter Essentials

Hey everyone! I hope everyone had a fantastic New Years Eve! Let me know how you rang in the New Year down below! Of course I want to address to stereotypical 'New Year = New Me.' I really do not want to make any promises to myself that I know that I won't be able to keep or fulfill because we all know where that leads us to - great disappointment.

Since my health took a turn for the worse halfway through 2014, I want to try and be as healthy as I can. Not necessarily joining a gym but making healthier food choices and drinking even more water that I normally consume on a daily basis. I feel as though smaller changes will be able to help me out in the long run. Funny enough, most people try to lose weight after indulging in amazing Thanksgiving dinners and eating too many Christmas sweets, but I fall within the small percentage of the population that should do the opposite.   

Anyway, moving onto a more positive note: I really did want to put up a Winter Essentials post for you all!

I received a Hollister Coat as a Christmas present! It is in size S but I felt as though I should have gotten and XS. It does have drawstrings that make it easier to cinch in the waist and make it tighter. It is still very warm (flannel lined,) goes over my bum so that I am able to withstand the cold Canadian weather. I did have another coat from Hollister that was brown, but it was too short (it ended at my hips,) and I was always still cold while wearing it. I ended up donating it and replaced it with this coat. I really do like the navy blue! It's different for me but it matches with everything just about.

 My lips are always chapped and flaky during the colder months. I end up going through a lot of lip products during this time. I find myself alternating between these two Nivea Lip Butters that came in a compact tin. The two that I am currently enjoying are: Vanilla and Macadamia & Raspberry Rose Kiss. I feel as though they really do a good job to moisturize my lips and they contain shea butter as well as almond oil. I like to put it on throughout the day multiple times as also, before I go to bed because I feel that it gives my lips the moisture that it is lacking.

Speaking of moisturizing, I really go through many lotions and creams during the winter season. I prefer something a little heavier and more dense such as body creams as well as body butters. I do have the older packaging, but I am currently using the Bath & Body Works - Warm Vanilla Sugar Body Butter. This really deep conditions my skin and it gives off a very pleasant fragrance. It is not too overpowering and it more on the subtle side. This scent is a repurchase for me and I had a boss who even complimented me when I was wearing this scent in the past!

When you go outside, a hood is not enough and will not suffice. They are generally too loose and cold air can still get into the empty space of the hood. I purchased two knit hats with pom poms from Ebay in black and tan. I bought two because I was due for a new hat and I can always switch it up between the two colours. They are very inexpensive and sometimes I feel as though, the dark hat is too dark against my already dark hair and a bit of contrast is nice.

Lastly, I wanted to include this item that I got as a Christmas present. It is the Disaronno Versace 750 ml bottle. I will be saving this lovely bottle after I finish all the product inside of it. It is too nice to throw away! In Ontario, you have to buy alcohol at the LCBO (Liquor Control Board of Ontario) or The Beer Store. It is not like some states in the USA where you can go to a grocery store, mass retailer or drugstore and pick up whatever that store is offering in terms of alcohol. You either go to one or the other. 

Obviously there are wineries, breweries, specialty wine shops, and so on that you can purchase alcohol at. However, most people go to the LCBO or TBS. This is a liqueur and is incredibly smooth. I included it because after a long day out in the cold, when you have some of this, it really does a great job at warming you up. Of course, drink in moderation, responsibly and only purchase if you are of age. 

 Alright, that about sums it up! Stay warm out there for anyone who is living in a colder climate or is dealing with winter where they live!

P.S. I may not be able to do a empties for this month because I have undergone surgery, and it will take up to a month for me to recover. With that being said, I am not even able leave my house yet because I am not fully mobile yet.

I hope you will be able to understand.

Until next time,

STAY CLASSY.

Berrz <3 

Final note: Of course, all products were purchased by myself with my own money except for the ones that were given to me by family members for Christmas. This blog post is not sponsored but some links are affiliate links. They are there for your convenience so that you are able to get a visual on what I have been speaking about.