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Friday, January 30, 2015

3 Outfits for Valentine's Day

Hey everyone! Valentine's Day is just around the corner. Either you are like me and have no plans but still want to have fun experimenting with different outfits or you know that will be doing something with your significant other, you just don't know what y'all will be doing quite yet. That's why I'm here to help with different outfit ideas fit for any occasion!

(Left to Right)

Outfit #1 Details:
Black V-Neck Long Sleeved Shirt (Boyfriend Fit) - PINK
Gold Layered Necklace - Love Culture
Red & Black Checkered Button-Up (fleeced lined) - Hope's
Black Studded Backpack - Marshalls
Black Leggings - Forever 21
Converse Low Tops, Canvas in Red (mine are in kid's size!)
Gold Bracelet is from Alex & Ani

Outfit #2 Details:
Gold Hoop Earrings - H&M
Black Leather Jacket - Danier Leather
Red Dress - Forever 21
Black Over-the-Knee Boots - Hautelook

Outfit #3 Details:
Black & Gold Statement Necklace - Hautelook
White Pullover Sweater - Forever 21
Faux Fur Vest - Forever 21
Black Faux Leather Leggings - Costa Blanca
Red Lace-Up Heels - Hope's 

Until next time,

STAY CLASSY.

Berrz <3


P.S. This blog post is not sponsored and all items were purchased with my own money.

Monday, January 26, 2015

January Empties | 2015

Hey everyone! It's that time again! I know I said in a previous blog post that I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to an empties for this month, but I managed to pull through. There weren't too many products, but I did go through enough that I was able to write about them. 
 

Clean & Clear Night Relaxing Deep Cleaning Face Wash - I liked the scent as it was very mild but I didn't feel like it relaxed me at night. It worked just the same as their other products. I enjoyed using the sample but I wouldn't commit to the full size. I received this as a sample when I purchased a full size version of one of Clean & Clear's other products.

L'Occitane - Light Comforting Cream - This sample came to me in the mail. It was a pleasant scent and the formula was not sticky at all. It absorbed into the skin nice and quick. My skin was silky smooth afterwards.

Bath & Body Works Anti-Bacterial Hand Soap in Japanese Cherry Blossom - I used to love this scent but now I am over it. I won't be purchasing this scent for awhile and this is their old packaging of this particular soap.

Frank - Original Coffee Scrub - Let me start off by saying that I had to purchase this product because I am a coffee addict. I found this scrub to be very effective. You can feel it working on your skin and your skin feels incredibly smooth after using it. Especially after you use the scrub and lotion afterwards! It does ship from Australia so if you live in North America, have some patience on delivery times. My package came relatively quickly though. Also, I must say that this scrub can get messy and get everywhere in the shower so make sure to get rid of the remaining coffee grounds in the shower after you are done using it on yourself. I just take the shower head and aim it on the shower curtain liner as well as the right side towards the wall. It's as easy as that. And no, it does not stain in case you are worried about that.

Clear Shampoo - Complete Care Anti-Dandruff - To clarify: I do not have dandruff but I do have a very dry scalp during the colder months. (It's not the greatest since I have dark brown hair, but it is something that I have to manage.) This helped my scalp out tremendously and I will repurchase as soon as I go through some of my other shampoos.

Vidal Sasson - Pro Series Repair Shampoo Restoring Repair - This particular product make my hair smooth and silky. Both the shampoo and the conditioner are at very affordable price points which is great if you need a great duo but want to stick to a budget!

Vidal Sassoon - Pro Series Repair Conditioner Restoring Repair - This product did not dry out my hair and did not leave it feeling greasy.

Calvin Klein - One Mascara in Black (800) - I got this as a birthday perk from ULTA. I found this mascara to be more of a gimmick and I was confused at first to switch up the wands. I later realized that you just need to turn the white part. I found this mascara to dry out fairly quickly and it really didn't do much to my eyelashes (either applicator that is.) Would not purchase as it tends to flake off throughout the day.

Essie No Chips Ahead Top Coat - This top coat lasted me a long time but I would not repurchase. The wand can be rather flimsy. There is a little bit of product left at the bottom but I got tired of tilting the bottom struggling trying to get it out. Sometimes I'd even ruin my manicure by doing that and it is just not worth it.

Nature's Bounty Optimal Solutions Hair, Skin and Nails Gummies - This is my second bottle that I have gone through and I can't rave enough about these. I love them! I even got a comment about my nails today and I always refer people to this product!

Aquafresh Extreme Clean Whitening Toothpaste - Anyone who lives in the GTA knows that when the CNE happens annually, there are always tons of Aquafresh samples to be had. I recently came across this one I had tucked away from the summer and decided to finally use it. It is a standard toothpaste and does the job.

Until next time,

STAY CLASSY.

 Berrz <3 

P.S. Some links are affiliate links. I have provided them for your benefit and to make it easier for your online shopping experience. 

Sunday, January 25, 2015

2014 Beauty Favourites

Hey everyone! It has taken me a while to really think about what my favourites are as well as my most used items of 2014 were. I finally narrowed them down and I'm here to share them with you today!


Face
Primer & Setting Spray: ELF Makeup Mist & Set
Concealer: MAC Select Cover Up NW20
Foundation: Revlon ColorStay Whipped Foundation  
Powder: Revlon Nearly Naked Pressed Powder  
Bronzer: NYC Smooth Skin Face Powder in Sunny  
Highlighter: The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer
Blush: None really stood out!

Eyes
Eye Primer/Base: MAC Paint Pot in Painterly
Eyeshadow Palette: Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette
Eye Liner: Marc Jacobs Highliner Gel Crayon in Black
Mascara: I didn't have one! I tried a lot of mascaras that I did not like in 2014!

Lips
Lipstick: LORAC Alter Ego Cream Lipstick in Goddess & Maybelline New York Color Sensational Creamy Matte Lip Color, Lust for Blush
Tools
Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler
Real Techniques Expert Face Brush
Sigma E40 - Tapered Blending
EcoTools Domed Bronzer Brush

Until next time,

STAY CLASSY.

Berrz <3

Disclaimer: Some links are affiliate links and others are not. I have provided them for your convenience and to make your life a little bit easier.

Friday, January 23, 2015

The Forgotten Files Pt.4 - Makeup Geek Eyeshadows

Hey everyone! A few months ago, I decided to purchase 6 Makeup Geek Eye Shadows. I had heard nothing about good things so I wanted to try them out for myself. The hardest part was deciding on which shades to order! There are so many fun shades to choose from!



Shimmermint (Discontinued)




Shipping
I just want to mention that the staff wrapped everything exceptionally! Not one shadow came broken and there was even a hand written note inside which I found to be a nice touch. Amazing work everyone! I also want to mention that shipping is available worldwide! 

Packaging
I love the packaging the eye shadows came in. It is very girly and they were able to make it fun, yet simple enough that it is also chic.


The Shadows Overall
They are all very creamy, smooth, buttery and very easy to blend with. The pigmentation is definitely there! I also love that there is the option to buy just the pan because I depot all my eye shadows and this saves me the work of having to depot them. Much appreciated! Another point: having the label on the back of the pan saves me the hassle of creating one of my own and is extremely beneficial to remember the name of the shadow in case I want to repurchase! The best part is that each eye shadow pan retails for $5.99 and is very budget friendly. There is also the option to buy the eye shadow inside the casing if you want to travel with it or if pans aren't your thing. I would not even hesitate to make another online order because even shipping is fast! The staff excels in customer service and really knows how to keep their customers happy.
 

Until next time,

STAY CLASSY.

Berrz <3 

P.S. This blog post is not sponsored and I purchased all six eye shadows as well as the Z Palette with my own money. All opinions are my own.

Thursday, January 22, 2015

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.

Sunday, January 18, 2015

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.

Thursday, January 15, 2015

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. 

Monday, January 12, 2015

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


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.