Review on 3 Drugstore Foundations

Hey everyone! I wanted to write a post on my thoughts and feelings on 3 different foundations from the drugstore. I absolutely love affordable products and wanted to let you know if each one is worth your hard earned coins or not!

Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation in 103 True Ivory ($9 ) - This is a product that I purchased on sale at Wal-Mart for $8 and although they didn't have the shade Light Ivory in-stock, I purchased True Ivory and it still works well for me. This is a mousse consistency and I love mixing it in with my Urban Decay All Nighter Foundation to get a flawless finish to my skin! I bought this because I have oily skin and anything that claims to help with the shine, I am automatically drawn to! This did in-fact help control my oils throughout the day to a certain extent. There are 7 shades and they also have a primer to go along with this foundation which I haven't tried out yet. If you are wondering, this is definitely a full coverage foundation, it is build able, I apply mine with a beauty blender and a little bit goes a long way!

COVERGIRL truBlend Liquid Makeup in l5 Creamy Natural ($10-$12) - I was actually sent this product to review and it is overall not a bad product. It is not one of my favourites however but I prefer it over the COVERGIRL 3-in-1 Foundation which I actually ended up returning because it didn't work out well for me. It also oxidized like crazy and I was looking like an Oompa Loompa during my shift. I digress, this foundation is a little bit too dark for me right now but I mix it in with another one to even my complexion out. They have an excellent shade range as they have 21 shades to choose from and for some, this can be a great every day foundation to wear to go to work or school. 

Since I have oily skin, I can't use this foundation alone and that's why I need to mix it with another one. My face gets way too oily and looks super greasy when I wear this product alone even when using other oil-control products. I feel like this product would be best suited for people with dry skin because the oils on my face really break-up the product and it ends up looking terrible throughout the day on me. I like that it does come with a pump and I would say that this is a light to medium coverage foundation because you can sheer it out or build up the coverage to your liking.

COVERGIRL Ready, Set Gorgeous Powder Foundation in 105-110 Fair ($8) - I was able to purchase mine at Wal-Mart on sale for $7 and I had a coupon for an additional $2 off which worked out well! I was in Rexall a few weeks ago and was originally going to purchase this compact, but I ended up putting it back on the rack (which I ended up regretting doing.) That's why when I seen this on Rollback, I didn't think twice about buying it! There are only 5 shades available though and I purchased this for days where I want a more full coverage look. I would go ahead and add this on top of my foundation to give me extra coverage to ensure that none of my freckles are peaking through. I haven't used a powder foundation in about 2-3 years and I honestly miss using one! 

It can also be used to quickly give yourself some coverage in the morning or you can slip it into your purse to use to touch-up throughout the day! It does come with a small makeup sponge and keep in mind that this is a small compact, you are only getting 10.5g/.37 oz of product in the pan. It does come with a mirror that I probably won't even use and this is a light to medium coverage product perfect for oily skinned ladies! Be sure not to use too much or be heavy handed with this because your face can start to look cakey throughout the day! I really want to try-out the foundation from the same line so let me know if you have tried it out and what you thought about it in the comments down below!

I also have an entire dedicated review on the Maybelline Fit Me Foundation that you can check-out which is another great foundation from the drugstore!

Until next time,

STAY CLASSY

Berrz

FTC: This blog post is not sponsored and all opinions are my own. I purchased 2/3 products. Some links are affiliate. 

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Essence Makeup Review & Swatches

Hey everyone! I have been hearing about Essence Makeup for quite some time now and I wanted to share with you my thoughts as well as some swatches of 3 different makeup products by them! I have seen Essence at Shoppers Drug Mart and Real Canadian Superstore (RCSS) for all you Canadian shoppers. You can of course purchase them online on their web site or at Walgreens and   Ulta if you live in the USA. If you live in Europe, check out their European web site. 

Essence All About Matt! Fixing Compact Powder - $4.99 CAD

I have very oily skin and I am instantly drawn to any product that claims to help mattify my skin. This along with all their other products, are very affordable and this powder was very soft. You have to be careful not too apply too much because this can leave a white cast if you overdo it and can make you look cakey! 

Essence Sun Club All-in-One Bronzing Highlighter #01 Sun Light - $4.50 - $5.99 CAD (Approximately) 

This claims to be for blondes and lighter skin. I am very fair right now and although I am not blonde, I can still get away with wearing this. It also mentions that it is for: eyes, face and body. The shades are quite pigmented and you can use a smaller brush if you want to be more precise when using just one colour, or you can take a fluffy brush to get a mixture of all the shades!

Essence Longlasting Lipstick in #10 Cotton Candy - $2.50 - $2.99 CAD (Approximately)

When I swatched it, I noticed that it was rather creamy, it was pigmented and it had a typical lipstick smell to it (which I do not mind.) This is a fun shade for the Spring and Summer which I will definitely get much wear out of!

I have a friend that loves their Express Dry Drops ($2.99 - $3.99 CAD - approximately) and I have seen her use them in front of me. They make such a difference and they are great for when you are in a rush or when you need your nails to dry very quickly. They do work and I want to pick up a bottle of this next time I visit the drugstore! I also heard that their I Love Stage Eyeshadow Base is great and doesn't crease!

Until next time,

STAY CLASSY

Berrz

FTC: This blog post is not sponsored and all opinions are my own. Some links are affiliate. 

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ColourPop Swatches & Haul

Hey everyone! A few days ago, ColourPop was having a sale where for every $20 that you spent, you received a free highlighter. With that being said, I received 3 free highlighters due to the amount that I had spent. That promotion only was happening for 24 hours. 

Another promotion that ColourPop is generously offering to their international customers is free shipping over $50 USD (after all discount codes are applied.) Or if your total doesn't meet the threshold, they are offering $4.99 flat rate shipping for their international fans! Currently, they are having a 20% off sale that you should check out on their web site!

I really love the packaging! The colours are beautiful and it was a lovely presentation!

I purchased: 2 Lippie Pencils, 1 Lippie Stix, 4 Ultra Matte Lips (M), 4 Ultra Satin Lips (S) and I received 3 complimentary Super Shock Cheek highlighters that I got to choose on the web site because of the promotion they had at the time. Three of the lip colours came in the set.

'Out & About' Trio

Viper (M), Baracuda (S), Times Square (M)

(Right to Left)

Baracuda (S), Viper (M), Times Square (M), Hutch (S), Are & Be (M), Femme (S), Dopey (S), Beeper (M)

(Top to Bottom)

ColourPop Lippie Stix in Cami (Matte x)

ColourPop Lippie Pencil in Bound

ColourPop Lippie Pencil in Lumiere

(Right to Left)

Swatches down below

Super Shock Cheek (Left to Right)

Over The Moon, Lunch Money, Candy Man

I didn't include swatches of the highlighters because they didn’t show up well in photos. Only Candy Man did because it is darker in colour. 

Check out my video to see finger swatches of these three gorgeous highlighters!

Until next time,

STAY CLASSY

Berrz

FTC: I purchased all these products with my own money and this post is not sponsored. Some links are affiliate. 

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The 7 Best ELF Products | All Under $12

Hey everyone! This post is inspired by a photo that I seen on Pinterest where someone was sharing their favourite 14 products by ELF. I decided to keep my favourites to a minimum and only chose to share my top 7 favourite items from ELF with my readers.

1. ELF Makeup Mist & Set - I talk about this all the time and it has been in many of my empties posts. I have gone through over a dozen of these and always have a few on hand at all times. I use this both under and over my makeup to set it in place - as a primer and as a finishing spray. I also apply this after my moisturizer on days that I am not wearing any makeup on my face. It both moisturizes and soothes the skin. Inside there are key ingredients such as: Aloe, Green Tea, Cucumber and Vitamins A, C & E. One bottle retails for $3 USD on their web site and you can even find them in Canadian stores now such as RCSS.

2. ELF Translucent Mattifying Powder - I have only had this powder for a short time but it already one of my favourites and it came at the perfect time! I do not use the sponge that it comes with and I like to apply this powder to my face with a brush. You could use the ELF Kabuki or Complexion Brush. The powder is very soft, silky, lightweight and easy to work with. I do have a very oily face and this helps me stay matte. I do have to reapply throughout the day though and this powder does not make me breakout. This powder does have some shimmer in it but it is not noticeable on me at least. You really can’t go wrong with this powder because it is only $3 USD on the web site and is one of ELF’s ‘Top Rated’ products.

3. ELF Powder Blush Palette in Light - There are 4 beautiful shades in this palette and there is also another version of this palette for deeper skin tones which I am going to purchase for when I am more tanned. It is going for $6 USD on the web site and that means that each pan is only $1.50 which is incredible! You can even mix two of the shades together to get your own custom shade. I love travelling with this palette and it is great to throw into your purse! It has the right amount of pigmentation and the shades are easy to blend out.

4. ELF Precision Sponge Trio - You get 3 different sized makeup sponges that are super soft. The largest size is pretty much the same size as a beauty blender. The smaller sponge reminds me of the beauty blender micro mini and I will be using it predominately for my under-eye area. I wish that they weren’t white because they will get stained and very dirty, but of course, that is something very minor. You are after all getting three sponges for about half of what one beauty blender actually costs. This trio retails for $12 USD on the web site and the breakdown is $4 per sponge.

5. ELF Matte Lip Colour - I have many of the shades and have used up an entire tube of Tea Rose in the past. You really can’t beat the price at $3 USD. The colour range is ever growing and when you see a shade that you like, made sure to purchase it right away on their web site because many of the colours do go out of stock frequently! These colours are pigmented and the three shades that I have been loving at the moment that are pictured above are: Tea Rose (A Light Dusty Pink,) Dash of Pink (A Reddish Pink,) and Wine (A Deep Berry,) that is perfect for fall! They are enriched with Vitamins A, C & E to help moisturize and hydrate the lips. Another plus is that there is a hidden sharper at the end of your pencil in-case you need to use one! 

6. ELF Kabuki Face Brush - I have had this brush for many years and it has held up through many washes. It has excellent reviews on the ELF web site and retails for $6 USD. You can use this to apply loose or pressed powder to your face but I like to use it to blend together my: highlighter, blush, bronzer and/or contour. This is a synthetic haired Taklon brush that is very soft and you can use it to apply wet or dry products to the face. You can even use this on your body to buff in product! 

7. ELF Complexion Brush - Again, I have had this brush for many years and I have used it numerous times. It is very inexpensive retailing at just $4 USD. This is part of their Studio Line and you can use it to apply powder but I really like using it to apply blush to the apples of my cheeks! It is soft, the perfect length and is very lightweight. This brush does most of the work for you! 

Honourable Mentions: 

ELF Shadow Lock Eyelid Primer & ELF Lip Exfoliator 

Items that I have used up that I no longer have to show you.

Until next time,

STAY CLASSY.

Berrz <3

P.S. This blog post is not sponsored but some links are affiliate links. 

Smile Brilliant - Use code beautybyberrz for 5% off your entire order
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Tarte Energy Noir Clay Palette Review

Hey everyone! I really love the presentation of this palette! Let's start swatching some shades and explore this gorgeous Tarte Energy Noir Clay Palette more in-depth shall we?

The Packaging
I love the gorgeous purple colour on the exterior packaging paired with gold surrounding the palette and on the bottom of it too! There is a nice sized rectangular mirror that would be awesome to do your makeup in! 

What You're Getting
I plan on bringing this when I travel next because you get: 6 square Amazonian clay eye shadows (4 matte and 2 shimmer,) 2 rectangular shaped Amazonian clay eye shadows that are both matte, one Amazonia clay highlighter that is the same size as the two aforementioned matte shadows and you also get an Amazonian clay 12-Hour blush. I do like that it comes with a step-by-step guide to recreate two different eye shadow looks using the shades in the palette. Another thing I did like is that it came with a plastic insert telling me the names of each shade but I feel like it can be easy to lose. I wish the names of the shadow were somehow incorporated directly into the palette on the packaging for easy reference.

The Pans Inside
Keep in mind that the blush is almost full size (in this palette, the blush is 1.91 oz and a single Amazonian clay blush from Tarte is 0.2 oz retailing for $35 CAD on the Sephora web site.) However, I couldn’t find a single of the full sized version of Unearthed which is the name of the blush in the palette, on the Sephora web site. The same thing with the highlighter Crystal Spark. If you love these shades enough, you will have to buy the palette again until they come out with singles or refillable palettes.

Swatches

I am not trying to sound picky but I do wish that there was a matte black and a matte white shadow in this palette. That would make it absolutely perfect! I am a highlighter junkie and I do wish that it was larger in size because dipping my brush into the shade may be a little awkward but I’m sure that I’ll make it work! 

I swatched the top three eyeshadows and the blush. The brown eyeshadow I found to be patchy.

I will be getting a lot of use out of this palette in the fall because the colours will be perfect to use during that time of year! 

Until next time,

STAY CLASSY.

Berrz <3

FTC: Not sponsored. Some links are affiliate. 

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Urban Decay All Nighter Liquid Foundation Review

Hey everyone! I had been really wanting to try the Urban Decay All Nighter Liquid Foundation for awhile now because it claims that it is: full coverage, long wearing, it is a matte finish, waterproof and that it is oil free. I love a great full coverage foundation that won’t break me out and was excited to test it out!

The Packaging
First off, we need to talk about the obvious: the packaging! It is simply gorgeous and who wouldn’t be proud to display that on their vanity? The gunmetal packaging on the box as well as the bottle looks edgy yet sleek and modern at the same time. I do appreciate that it comes with a pump because not all foundation come with one and that can get pretty messy. It also allows you to use up all of the product inside of the bottle.

Even the packaging inside the box is beautiful!

The Formula
Urban Decay claims that this formula has about three times more pigment than the Naked Skin Liquid Makeup. Applying multiple layers is not necessary because a little bit of this foundation goes a long way! They also claim that the “waterproof formula diffuses light to blur flaws for beautifully perfected skin, while it mattifies and absorbs oil to reduce the appearance of shine.” Another reason that I was drawn to this foundation is because it offers blurring technology which helps me deal with the larger pores around my cheeks, closer to my nose.

Undertones
I chose 3.0 because it is described as ‘light with soft warm undertones.’ I have a very yellow undertone to my skin and I am also in the neutral family which can be hard to find a foundation that matches me perfectly. It does oxidize and I suggest going into your local Sephora to swatch them out in-person. Also, another tip is to wait for the formula to actually dry before making up your mind! I may have to add in a drop of my other yellow-based foundation to this one but it isn’t something that I can’t fix myself. 

The foundation was still wet in this photo.

Tips For Application

I would suggest working quickly with this foundation when applying it because it does dry quickly but it is not drying on the skin! Another tip is to use a beauty blender rather than a brush because it is a thicker formula but it does not feel heavy on the skin. Also, if you have dry skin, make sure to really exfoliate, moisturize and prep your skin before wear or you are setting up yourself for disappointment! I have oily skin and I love a good matte foundation but it is hard to find one that lasts all day on my type of skin. 

Overall

I did really like the results that this foundation delivered but I do find the price tag a little steep. If you are interested in purchasing this foundation, it comes in 24 shades and is $49 CAD on the Sephora web site. I also found myself going through foundation that didn’t come with a pump a lot quicker than I had wanted to and by using less of this foundation to achieve the results I had been wanting, this was worth it!

I can’t wait to wear this in the fall and winter months with a bold, bright lip! 

Until next time,

STAY CLASSY.

Berrz <3

FTC: Not sponsored. Some links are affiliate. 

Third Love - Use code BRABLEMS for 15% off your next order
Uber - Get your first ride FREE using promo code: amandab9033ue

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Project 10 Pan - Round 3 | 2016

Hey everyone! Here is Round 3 of Project 10 Pan that I promised you a few blog posts back!

NYC Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder in Sunny

This was a repurchase and I have used this product for years. It is my go-to drugstore bronzer that can do no wrong in my eyes! When I am very tanned, I tend to use this as a face powder.

ELF Makeup Mist & Set

This is a holy grail item of mine and I have numerous back-ups. I will continue to use this as long as ELF continues to make it!

Clarins BB Skin Perfecting Cream with SPF 25 in 00 Fair

It claims to revitalize and protects the skin. It also evens out the skin tone. This was a decent product but it is very light. I have fair skin but this was even too light for me. I like that it has an SPF because it protects my skin just as it claims to do. The coverage is build-able and if I am in a rush some days, I layer it on my face and just add a little bit of concealer. 

Revlon Nearly Naked Pressed Powder in 030 Medium

I found this to be fairly light for a medium powder to be honest. I am comparing it to other shades from different brands of course. I did really like how soft and blendable this powder was however, what I did not like was the packaging. It is very bulky, not ideal to travel with and the white packaging got very dirty rather quickly.

Sonia Kashuk Brightening Powder 

I used this to bake with and it was very inexpensive but, I felt like I went through this entire jar in no time at all.

YSL Volume Effet Mascara in Baby Doll

I really liked this mascara and the brush was fantastic! It coated each and every lash! It was great at layering each coat and was easy to get in the inner corners as well as to coat the bottom lashes. The packaging is gold and luxurious.

Rimmel Super Curler 24 Hour Mascara

This particular product claims to be for volume and to also curl your lashes. I would say that it does not last 24 hours and I still had to curl my lashes before use. The wand is thick and chunky which I didn’t like. I have small eyes and this wasn’t ideal for me. This mascara reminds me of the Benefit Roller Lash mascara only difference is that I like that one much better and the wand isn’t nearly as large. I would not repurchase this mascara.

Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Swivel Stick 

This is a repurchase of mine and it is by far my favourite lip balm. I am sad to be out of it and will pick-up another one once I am in The USA.

ELF Matte Lip Color in Praline

This has been my every day lip colour and I have gotten so many compliments on it! Some even said that it reminded them of the signature Kylie Jenner lip colour. The only negative thing I can say is that mine broke on me and I obviously continued to use it. I just had to apply it awkwardly so that the stick would not fall out completely. One more thing that I just thought of it that it is hard to find in stores. I have had no luck in-stores in Canada and The USA. Your best bet is to order it online.

Mac Lip Liner in Stripdown

I have been pairing this with Praline and it has been my go-to lip combo! As you can tell from the photo, the pencil is very small and I have used it up entirely!

Until next time,

STAY CLASSY.

Berrz <3

P.S. THIS BLOG POST IS NOT SPONSORED. SOME LINKS ARE AFFILIATE LINKS.

Uber - Get your first ride FREE using promo code: amandab9033ue

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Coastal Scents - Get $5 off your next online purchase
Ebates Canada - Get cash back on your online purchases here
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Hautelook - A flash sale web site where I get most of my footwear and accessories from!