Maybelline The Blushed Nudes Eye Shadow Palette Review & Swatches

Hey everyone! Today I will be swatching and reviewing The Blushed Nudes Eye Shadow Palette by Maybelline.

Packaging & Shade Range

You are receiving 12 shades in total and only 1 shade is matte - the rest are shimmer shadows. It claims to be infused with rose gold pigments. They claim on the back of the palette that there are 13 looks in this palette that you can create and they even give you some colour combinations to try-out on yourself. It does come with an applicator which I will never use. The packaging is a nice rose gold metallic finish and the centre part is clear allowing you to see the shadows. 

Swatches

When swatched, the first shade (top left) was softer than the next two shades. The matte shade performed better than I thought it would and the last shade in the row was the most pigmented to my surprise. The top 4 shades when swatched, look very similar and the final two in that top row stand out to me. The first shade on the bottom row to the left is a nice rose gold shade but the brown right beside it was the worst shade in the entire palette. It was patchy, streaky and I wouldn't even try to use it. The third shade on the bottom row looked like a taupe shade but the shimmer was not as vibrant as the rose gold shade or the shade before it. The third last shade in the row reminded me of the same formula from the very first swatch that I had swatched as it was soft. The second last shade had to be built up and the last shade was just a deep shade with rose glitter particles in it.

Keep in mind that I had to build up these shades quite a bit and I couldn't just do one swatch using my fingers of each shade or else, you wouldn't be able to see the colours - especially the first 4 shades. Just for reference: one shade in particular, I had to go over 10 times when I was finger swatching it and then I stopped building it up because I was over it. These shades are very inconsistent in my opinion. These swatches were taken in natural lighting and I have not adjusted the brightness in either photo. The photo above was taken outside and the one below was of course, taken inside.

Where To Buy & Price Point

You can pretty much find this at any drugstore and they even sell it in the beauty section at various grocery stores. This definitely ranges in price depending on where you purchase it from but typically, it ranges from $10-$20. You are getting 9.6 grams of product in total or 0.34 oz. There are also different palettes with different themes that Maybelline has created.

Is It Worth Your Money?

I want to mention that the photos that I have seen online of this palette are very inconsistent and each one looks different. I urge you to check out the palette in person and perhaps swatch it for yourself if there is a tester available. I know that people were comparing it to the Urban Decay Naked 3 palette but there really is no comparison because the Naked 3 wins by a land slide. These honestly could have been more pigmented and if you love matte eyeshadows then definitely skip this palette. I would say to save your money and put it towards a more worthwhile palette.

Update: This palette has since been returned due to the quality of the shadows.

Until next time,

STAY CLASSY

Berrz

FTC: This blog post is not sponsored and all opinions are my own. All prices are in CAD unless stated otherwise. Some links are affiliate. 

Poshmark Canda: Use code BERRZZ to get $15 off your first order! 
Fab Fit Fun: $10 off your first box using this link
Alo Yoga: Get 10% off your first purchase

Smile Brilliant: Use code beautybyberrz for 5% off your entire order
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Disappointing Products | Volume 1

Hey everyone! I want to say that just because a product didn't necessarily work out for me, doesn't make it a bad product and that you should steer clear of it like the plague. I obviously have my reasons and will let you know down below!

GLAMGLOW SUPERCLEANSE Daily Clearing Cleanser (30 ml) - I do like the formula of this product and it is targeted to those with oily skin which I do have however, the pump is awful on this product. It always gets stuck and if one pump comes out fine, then next one to follow does not. That is why it is solely in this post. Pretty sure my bottle is the old packaging.

Derma Blend Long Wear Makeup Remover (30 ml) - I received this as a free sample from the Shoppers Drug Mart Beauty Boutique and I also do have an entire blog post dedicated to this product. Overall, it is terrible and I was actually scared to test it out again after it stained my sink the first time. This is the old packaging.

Forever Young by Jean Pierre Makeup Removing & Cleansing Wipes (25 count) - I basically only bought these wipes for the Halloween related packaging. These are fragrance free but they do have an odd smell to them. The wipes I found to be very thin and I didn’t enjoy using them on my face. I will stick to using them to remove swatches. I also bought them at Winners because they were very affordable at only $3.

L’Oreal Visible Lift Blur Concealer in 302 Light (30 ml) -You are actually getting a lot of product in this tube because usually, there is only half of that if not less. However, this I feel like made my makeup cake up throughout the day and it was messy to apply as the hole where the product dispenses out of is rather large. This is a more medium coverage concealer and the shade range is terrible as they only have 3 selections to choose from. This product is very difficult to find online and I have not seen it in the drugstores in Canada. This makes sense that it may have been discontinued because I picked mine up at the L’Oreal Warehouse Sale.

Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Lash Multiplying Mascara in 01 Extreme Black - I purchased this at the Estee Lauder Warehouse Sale and it was only $4. My issue with this mascara is that the wand is very thick and large making it hard to coat my small eyes. The mascara always looks clumpy on my lashes no matter how I apply it and I just dislike this mascara overall. 

Avalon Organics Nourishing Lavender Conditioner (325 ml) - I did not like this conditioner because it did not lather and it felt like I was applying a thick cream into my hair. The lavender scent was very faint also. This is the old packaging and that must have been the reason why it was on sale at RCSS.

Maybelline The Blushed Nudes Eye Shadow Palette - These shades were not very pigmented and there is only 1 matte eyeshadow in the entire palette. This isn’t amongst my favourite and I have an entire review on my blog if you want to see swatches. I returned this therefore it is not pictured above.

Until next time,

STAY CLASSY

Berrz

FTC: This blog post is not sponsored and all opinions are my own. All prices are in CAD unless stated otherwise. Some links are affiliate. 

Poshmark Canda: Use code BERRZZ to get $15 off your first order! 
Fab Fit Fun: $10 off your first box using this link
Alo Yoga: Get 10% off your first purchase

Smile Brilliant: Use code beautybyberrz for 5% off your entire order
MagicLinks: I use MagicLinks for all my ready-to-shop product links
Uber: Get your first ride FREE using promo code: amandab9033ue

Coastal Scents: Get $5 off your next online purchase

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Hautelook: A flash sale web site you don't want to miss out on!

Anastasia Moonchild Glow Kit Review & Swatches

Hey everyone! I have been trying to get my hands on the Moonchild Glow Kit for nearly a year and I am so excited to share this product with my readers! I was instantly draw to these unique and gorgeous shades. You can really do so much with them and Anastasia has never done me wrong!

Overview & Layout vs. Nicole Guerriero's Glow Kit

This palette is much smaller than the Nicole Guerriero Glow Kit and each pan is 4.2 g in the Moonchild Palette compared to 4.5 g in Nicole's palette. The pans in this Glow Kit are square and they are circular in her palette. The Moonchild Glow Kit font is Holographic which is the same on Nicole's Glow Kit. 

Shade Range & Packaging

Some of the shades may look similar in the pan but when you swatch each one, they are definitely different from one another. I feel like Lucky Clover is very unique because you don't really see any green highlighters on the market. The packaging is very lightweight and it is made out of hard cardboard with a magnetic closure.

Swatches & How To Apply

These are all very pigmented and they are buildable depending on how strong of a highlight you are going for. My favourite method of application is to dip my finger directly into the pan and then apply it generously over the high points of my face. I then use my makeup sponge to blend everything out seamlessly. I originally tried using a duo fibre brush but that wasn't my favourite way to deposit the highlighter onto my face. 

Price & Where To Buy

You can either purchase yours on the Sephora web site or the Anastasia Beverly Hills site. It retails for $40 USD or $52 CAD. Aforementioned, it did take quite some time for this palette to come to Canada and I'm just glad that I was able to get my hands on it! 

Final Thoughts

You can have a lot of fun with this palette and it is definitely the most fun palette in my collection! Lucky Clover will be absolutely perfect to use on St.Patrick's Day and it will be travelling with me on my trip that I am taking in the fall due to it's compact size. These fun, metallic highlighters do not look crazy on the skin and you really only see the actual colour of the highlighter when the sun reflects that shade on your skin.

Until next time,

STAY CLASSY

Berrz

FTC: This blog post is not sponsored and all opinions are my own. All prices are in CAD unless stated otherwise. Some links are affiliate. 

Poshmark Canda: Use code BERRZZ to get $15 off your first order! 
Fab Fit Fun: $10 off your first box using this link
Alo Yoga: Get 10% off your first purchase

Smile Brilliant: Use code beautybyberrz for 5% off your entire order
MagicLinks: I use MagicLinks for all my ready-to-shop product links
Uber: Get your first ride FREE using promo code: amandab9033ue

Coastal Scents: Get $5 off your next online purchase

Ebates Canada: Get cash back on your online purchases
Ebates (Everywhere else in the world): Get cash back on your online purchases
Hautelook: A flash sale web site you don't want to miss out on!

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Review

Hey everyone! I have been hearing about The Ordinary brand for many months now and I stumbled upon the actually store randomly just by chance. I instantly knew that I had to pick something up to review for my blog.

Overview & Claims

I mainly picked up this product because my skin has been very dehydrated lately and I was hoping that this would be the solution to my skin issue. The main purpose of this product is to hydrate the skin and also, to repair the skin. It is: alcohol-free, silicone-free, nut-free, vegan and cruelty-free. The ph balance is 6.50 - 7.50 if you were wondering.

Price & Where To Buy

I went to The Abnormal Beauty Company store in Kensington Market in Toronto, and they were sold out of a lot of the products that I wanted to try. I settled with this one and it retails for $6.80 - a price point that you really can't beat! You can also visit their online store and there are a few other locations in the Toronto/GTA area.

How It Worked & Formula/Consistency

Your skin care isn't supposed to smell good and a lot of added fragrance can actually break out your skin or irritate it. This doesn't smell good or bad, it is in-between and you are supposed to use it during both the morning as well as at night. You are to apply it after your toner and before your moisturizer. I usually mix serums and anything that comes in a dropper form into my moisturizer but with this product, it is important to keep this as a separate step in your skincare routine. I use two drops at night and about 1-1.5 in the morning. A little bit goes a long way and at night, 2 drops is enough for me to apply it onto my neck as well as some on my chest. It is a liquidy consistency and this bottle will last me for many months.

 Final Thoughts

I did like using this product and you cannot beat the price! With constant use and using the product twice daily, my skin definitely looked better, even under makeup! My skin doesn't look nearly as dehydrated and I love how quickly it absorbs into the skin! I wish that there were some locations closer to my house but that is only something minor and I really look forward to using more of their products in the line. I have my eyes on 'Buffet' which I actually almost picked up as well as 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil which they were sold out of at the time.

Until next time,

STAY CLASSY

Berrz

FTC: This blog post is not sponsored and all opinions are my own. I purchased this product myself. All prices are in CAD unless stated otherwise. Some links are affiliate. 

Poshmark Canda: Use code BERRZZ to get $15 off your first order! 
Fab Fit Fun: $10 off your first box using this link
Alo Yoga: Get 10% off your first purchase

Smile Brilliant: Use code beautybyberrz for 5% off your entire order
MagicLinks: I use MagicLinks for all my ready-to-shop product links
Uber: Get your first ride FREE using promo code: amandab9033ue

Coastal Scents: Get $5 off your next online purchase

Ebates Canada: Get cash back on your online purchases
Ebates (Everywhere else in the world): Get cash back on your online purchases
Hautelook: A flash sale web site you don't want to miss out on!

Colourpop Brow Pencil Review & Swatches

Hey everyone! I have wanting to try out Colourpop's eyebrow pencils for quite some time now and finally bought two shades to test out!

Black 'N Brown

Bangin' Brunette Pencil

Price & Final Thoughts
Each pencil retails for $5 and they also sells brow cream gels for $6 each. This brow pencil applied well on the brows, it comes with a great spoolie, I love the slim packaging but my only complaint is when you are twisting up the product. It feels stiff and tight when trying to twist it up. At times, it feels like you are not even getting any product to appear at the top although you are twisting it. 

On the lips: Colourpop Blotted Lip in Sucker

Anyway, I used the lighter pencil (Bangin' Brunette,) on the front part of my brows and used Black 'N Brown throughout the rest of my brows. I appreciate that the lighter shade doesn't pull red like other brunette eyebrow pencils tend to do. These are decent and great affordable options, but they still didn't take the place of my NYX Micro Brow Pencil which is my holy grail!

Also, can we take a minute to appreciate Colourpop's awesome packaging?

Until next time,

STAY CLASSY

Berrz

FTC: This blog post is not sponsored and all opinions are my own. I purchased these products myself  and all prices are in USD dollars unless stated otherwise. Some links are affiliate. 

Poshmark Canda: Use code BERRZZ to get $15 off your first order! 
Fab Fit Fun: $10 off your first box using this link
Alo Yoga: Get 10% off your first purchase

Smile Brilliant: Use code beautybyberrz for 5% off your entire order
MagicLinks: I use MagicLinks for all my ready-to-shop product links
Uber: Get your first ride FREE using promo code: amandab9033ue

Coastal Scents: Get $5 off your next online purchase

Ebates Canada: Get cash back on your online purchases
Ebates (Everywhere else in the world): Get cash back on your online purchases
Hautelook: A flash sale web site you don't want to miss out on!

Dove Shower Foam Review

Hey everyone! I was very excited to see that Dove came out with a new body wash! I'll be reviewing the Dove Shower Foam - Shea Butter with Warm Vanilla scent for you today! Let's get started!

The Scent & Formula
Most people want a product to use in the shower that smells great and makes them feel very clean after they get out of the shower. I chose this scent because I absolutely love the two scents separately and thought that this would be a great pairing to experience while in the shower! There are 2 other options from Dove that come with a pump: Cucumber & Green Tea (which I want to try next,) and Deep Moisture. This is definitely a foam like the name suggests and they are claiming that each bottle has over 250 pumps. I typically used between 2-3 pumps each time that I used it and the formula helps give you a both light as well as airy lather. Dove is also using Nutrium Moisture Technology that help deliver skin natural nutrients that help protect your skin and keep it hydrated.

Price & Size
I purchased my bottle from Fortino's but you can also purchase it at Walmart or your local drugstore. It retails for $7-$12 and there are coupons floating around out there on this product so be sure to keep an eye out. You are getting 400 ml of product and I was over the moon to see that it came with a pump for easy application! My usual body washes that I tend to use, do not come with a pump and I always wish that they did!

Was It A Good Body Wash?
As most of you know, I go between my Johnson's Baby Wash that I have been using for years and my Shower Gel from The Body Shop. After using this foaming body wash, I felt that my skin did feel smooth as well as soft. I used 2 pumps on average (sometimes 3,) and I pumped the product directly onto my loofah. I tried not using a loofah and it definitely doesn't lather as well. There were no suds left behind and my skin felt very soft after using it. I really do like this product, I have nothing negative to say and this is a great body wash to add to your shower routine!

Until next time,

STAY CLASSY

Berrz

FTC: This blog post is not sponsored and all opinions are my own. I purchased this product myself  and all prices are in CAD dollars unless stated otherwise. Some links are affiliate. 

Poshmark Canda: Use code BERRZZ to get $15 off your first order! 
Fab Fit Fun: $10 off your first box using this link
Alo Yoga: Get 10% off your first purchase

Smile Brilliant: Use code beautybyberrz for 5% off your entire order

MagicLinks: I use MagicLinks for all my ready-to-shop product links
Uber: Get your first ride FREE using promo code: amandab9033ue

Coastal Scents: Get $5 off your next online purchase

Ebates Canada: Get cash back on your online purchases
Ebates (Everywhere else in the world): Get cash back on your online purchases
Hautelook: A flash sale web site you don't want to miss out on!

StriVectin TL Advanced Tightening Neck Cream Review

Hey everyone! I have been hearing about the StriVectin TL Advanced Tightening Neck Cream for some time now and definitely wanted to see how it worked out on my skin!

The Packaging & Claims

The formula is housed inside a jar with a screwable lid that comes right off. It is a white jar with a yellow lid which I really like personally. This claims to 'visibly tightens, lifts and firms the look of neck and profile.' They go on to say that you can achieve a more 'sculpted and youthful silhouette' by using this neck cream. It will 'hydrate for softer, more supple skin.' They use a Gravitite-CF Lifting Complex which helps to improve the elasticity of the skin and it 'provides the appearance of visible lift.' There is patented NIA-114 technology that helps strengthen the skin's moisture barrier and helps to defend against environmental aggressors. Basically, it goes on to say that if you continue to use this product, 'over time, the effects of gravity appear reversed for more refined and toned definition.' I have the old packaging.

Where To Purchase, Price Point & Sizes

I purchased mine online from The Bay and it was on sale for $11.99 from $19.99. You are getting 0.25 fl oz/7 ml of product inside the jar. There is a larger sized jar where you get 1.7 fl oz/50 ml of product for $99 CAD. You can also find this product at Ulta, Shoppers Drug Mart Beauty Boutique or on their website.

Directions & How To Use

You can use this both in the AM and the PM. If I'm in a rush in the morning then I only use it at night time. You want to use it in upward motions (to fight the sag,) and a little bit goes a long way. They suggest that you use the StriVectin Tightening Face Cream in conjunction with this product.

Formula & Consistency

At first glance, it looks like a very rich, creamy and hydrating cream. This is definitely a thick cream that you can put onto your hands and it will not budge unless you cause it to. Keep in mind that a little bit does go a long way with this cream! It does have a slight scent to it which smells great! It did not feel sticky or greasy after using it.

Overall Thoughts

I was very impressed with this neck cream and it was my first time using any neck cream for that matter. My neck felt very moisturized and I thoroughly enjoyed using this product! I can definitely see myself incorporating this product into my PM skincare routine and I would purchase it again! I am not sure about all of the claims because I have only been using it at night time and not in the AM. I am only in my 20's but I definitely want to take preventative measure against aging. I have seen countless older women with beautiful faces but they have a neck that instantly gives away their age. I want my neck and face to both look as youthful as possible when I age gracefully!

List of ingredients:

Until next time,

STAY CLASSY

Berrz

FTC: This blog post is not sponsored and all opinions are my own. I purchased this cream myself  and all prices are in CAD dollars unless stated otherwise. Some links are affiliate. 

Poshmark Canda: Use code BERRZZ to get $15 off your first order! 
Fab Fit Fun: $10 off your first box using this link
Alo Yoga: Get 10% off your first purchase
Smile Brilliant: Use code beautybyberrz for 5% off your entire order
MagicLinks: I use MagicLinks for all my ready-to-shop product links
Uber: Get your first ride FREE using promo code: amandab9033ue

Coastal Scents: Get $5 off your next online purchase

Ebates Canada: Get cash back on your online purchases
Ebates (Everywhere else in the world): Get cash back on your online purchases
Hautelook: A flash sale web site you don't want to miss out on!

MAC Eye Shadow X 9: Red-Hot Times Nine | Swatches & Review

Hey everyone! This is actually my very first MAC Palette and I do own a lot of single eye shadow, but had never purchased one of their palettes until a few weeks ago! I purchased the MAC Eye Shadow X 9: Red-Hot Times Nine Palette that I will be swatching and reviewing here today!

Palette Overview & Size
I was actually shocked to see how small this palette actually is in real life. From all the photos that I had seen online, I thought that it would be a lot larger in size but it has a net weight of 0.8 g and each shadow is 0.02 US OZ. You are getting 9 stunning shades that are described as 'red-toned hues.' You are getting a combination of: matte, satin and veluxe pearl finishes. 

For size reference. Keep in mind that I have small hands but long fingers.

The colour layout

Exterior packaging

Swatches
They are definitely soft shadows but some of them require more work than others when you are applying them onto your eyes. The red shade and the pinks go on very patchy when finger swatching them. You need to take your time with these shades and give them some extra attention. I felt like these were powdery and chalky because there was kick-up. I would definitely have to do my eyes first when using this palette and put on the rest of my face makeup after the eyes are complete. The pink shade that is fourth from the right/bottom, was the worst and I went over it so many times just to finger swatch it but it still ended up looking terrible on my arm. 

You definitely will need to dip into the palette multiple times to get the colour payoff that you desire and you will ultimately be using more product to get the look you want. They aren't super vibrant on the eyes and of course you can make it more intense if you would like to. I would say that they aren't hard to work with, the colour payoff is just on the lighter side and that doesn't ultimately make it a bad palette. With that being said, you could wear these shades during the day and not build up the intensity on your eyes to give yourself a more wearable look.

This was taken outside in natural lighting. I have not adjusted the exposure of this photo.

This was taken inside and again, I have not adjusted the exposure at all.

Price & Where To Buy
I purchased mine from Hudson's Bay because they were having a sale and there was a promotion going on where you received free shipping with no minimum purchase. I definitely took that as a sign and hoped on Ebates before ordering my palette!

This screenshot is showing the discounts of this item and the StriVectin TL Advanced Tightening Neck Cream which were both placed in this order.

Final Thoughts
I originally picked this up because my eyes are hazel and I thought that these shades would really compliment my eyes! These shades can be worn during the day or night time and it is definitely a fall palette. I need to use this this palette more and experiment with different looks because I really want to give it a fair chance. I do love my single MAC eyeshadows that I currently own and they definitely out perform this entire palette. This palette has such a great colour range but certain shades really need to be improved in terms of the formulation. The last shade in the palette was cracked around the edges when I first opened it unfortunately. I am on the fence with this palette to be honest with you because I am still using it to give it a fair shot.

Cracked deep purple shade on the top right that reminds me of Indian Ink by Mac.

List of ingredients on the back of the box.

Until next time,

STAY CLASSY

Berrz

FTC: This blog post is not sponsored and all opinions are my own. I purchased this palette myself  and all prices are in CAD dollars unless stated otherwise. Some links are affiliate. 

Poshmark Canda: Use code BERRZZ to get $15 off your first order! 
Fab Fit Fun: $10 off your first box using this link
Alo Yoga: Get 10% off your first purchase
Smile Brilliant: Use code beautybyberrz for 5% off your entire order
MagicLinks: I use MagicLinks for all my ready-to-shop product links
Uber: Get your first ride FREE using promo code: amandab9033ue

Coastal Scents: Get $5 off your next online purchase
Ebates Canada: Get cash back on your online purchases
Ebates (Everywhere else in the world): Get cash back on your online purchases
Hautelook: A flash sale web site you don't want to miss out on!