beautyblender pro VS. Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge

Hey everyone! There is a lot of talk about makeup sponges in the beauty community and I wanted to compare both a more expensive makeup sponge to a less expensive one to see which one is better all around!

 You can see that the beauty blender is slightly smaller than the Real Techniques makeup sponge. That gives you more control and precision when applying your makeup. I would say that the beauty blender is softer and more bouncy when dabbing out your product(s) on your face. I also felt that it gave me an overall more flawless finish after fully blending out all the products. It is also very easy to use and to clean. 

The Real Techniques makeup sponge is dual ended and has one more pointed end as well as a more flat side. Due to its size and the fact that it holds more water, I was using more foundation as well as more product in general than when I would use the beauty blender. It also absorbs more water and is harder to clean than its competitor.

The Verdict

My vote for the winner of this showdown is hands down the beauty blender. It is worth the investment because you will most likely get your money's worth out of it and it is just so convenient to use! It has definitely saved me time when applying my makeup and I enjoy using it! Don't get me wrong though, the Real Techniques sponge is a great alternative for someone who is just started out with makeup or someone is on a budget. It can also be for someone who enjoys using the flat side to get in all those corners!

Makeup Sponge Gone Wrong!

I tried the Studio 35 makeup sponge from Walgreens a while ago and it was AWFUL! It was hard even after wetting it and squeezing all the water out. I tried it several times and could not get used to the rock hard texture of it. I ended up throwing it out and that sponge doesn't hold a candle in the wind to these two!

Until next time,

STAY CLASSY.

Berrz <3

P.S. THIS BLOG POST IS BY NO MEANS SPONSORED AND I BOUGHT THESE SPONGES WITH MY OWN MONEY. SOME LINKS ARE AFFILIATE LINKS.

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Carli Bybel Eyeshadow & Highlighter Palette Review

Hey everyone! I have been meaning to write this review for quite some time and I must admit that it has been long overdue! I was lucky in getting my hands on the Carli Bybel Palette from the BH web site during the first day of the launch. The site was crashing, lagging and didn't accept my promo code but despite all that, I was able to get the palette successfully on the very first day! Shipping didn't take that long to Canada either.

Packaging

There is a nice sized mirror that comes with the palette and there is some extra information on the back as well as the ingredient list. Also, I want to mention that this palette is cruelty free!

Colours
I appreciate the range of colours and there are 4 mattes, 6 shimmers and 4 highlighters with a beautiful design in them. I fully agree with the write-up on the back of this palette stating that it is easy to go from day to night with this palette. You can either create an entirely new look or you can build upon what you are already wearing. These shades will look good on just about all different skin tones and will suit any eye colour. I can keep using this product when I am tan and will not have to worry about the shadows not showing up on my skin; which is great to be able to find a palette with enough neutrals and shimmers that I can wear year-round!

Swatches
I took these photos with my iPhone and these colours are so beautiful on their own that I did not even have to adjust the exposure! #nofilter They are highly pigmented and I can't say enough good things about them! They are: smooth, creamy, soft, buttery and easy to blend. I find myself reaching for this palette frequently to create many different looks. On the left are swatches of all the highlighters and on the right, is me showing you how pigmented these eye shadows are just by me dipping my finger in. I didn't use any base colour and no eyeshadow primer was used in showing these swatches - it is simply the product itself.

Pros:

I really do enjoy using this palette, Carli did a great job with it. I love that it is cost effective so that her supporters of any age can be able to afford it. It is very light weight and is easy to pack when you are traveling. It looks pretty and clean on a vanity & the white packaging doesn't get dirty easily (like the NARS packaging.) If something does get on it, it will most likely come off easily with a makeup wipe.

Cons:

The palette has a cardboard exterior and you have to be careful NOT to get it wet. Also, do not put any sharp items on top of the palette because you will get puncture marks due to the cardboard material. My mirror has some strange marks that look like scratches and others that look like dots. I'm not sure what caused them and I can't seem to make them go away. It's not a big issue because I rarely use the mirror in any palette or compact anyway. This is a minor suggestion but as far as the highlighters go, the shade that is second from the left, is not adhered properly to the bottom of the palette and therefore it wiggles every time I dip into that particular colour. Perhaps the manufacturer can use a stronger glue? I'm not sure if anyone has had that problem and again, it is minor and I just need to be gentle with that shade.

You can find this gorgeous palette on the BH Cosmetics web site! 

Until next time,

STAY CLASSY.

Berrz <3

P.S. THIS BLOG POST IS BY NO MEANS SPONSORED AND I BOUGHT THIS PALETTE WITH MY OWN MONEY. SOME LINKS ARE AFFILIATE.

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January Empties | 2016

Hey everyone! I decided to get my January Empties up a little early so that my lovely readers would have something to read over the weekend - especially if you live on the East Coast and are snowed in!

Face

Oxy Emergency Acne Vanishing Treatment Wipes (30 count) - I found these to be alright. There is 2.5% benzoyl peroxide lotion which helps target the acne quickly. The one thing I didn't like about these wipes is the packaging. Once it is open, you can't reseal it and you need to store them so that the label is facing down on the counter or else, they will dry out quickly. Even by doing this, I found that some wipes that I used were pretty dry and not as moist as I would have liked them to be. I would suggest putting the wipes in a different packaging to get the most use out of them!

Herb Day 365 Cleansing Foam - Acerola (The Face Shop) - This product lasted me a long time surprisingly considering the fact that there is only 100 ml of product inside the tube. I did like it because: it did not burn my eyes, it was very effective in removing my makeup and did not cause me to break out. 

Olay Fresh Effects Shine, Shine Go Away! - This is my second sample tube of this particular product from their line and I did like the fact that it easily broke down my makeup. I could conveniently reach for this at the end of the night knowing it was a product I could trust in removing my tough makeup. The only down side is that since it is a shine minimizing cleanser, you need to follow-up with a cream or lotion because it can dry out your face! If I use it again in the future, I would probably only use it in the summer months when I know that my face will be VERY oily!

Teeth

Colgate Total Toothpaste in Clean Mint - A very basic toothpaste that gives your teeth a nice clean feeling.

Colgate Total Whitening Toothpaste - I didn't notice a huge difference in terms of my pearly whites, it just helps to maintain that white smile.

Hands

Bath & Body Works Deep Cleansing Hand Soap in Bourbon Street Buttercream - I love this scent and have featured it in a previous empties blog post! On the side of the packaging, the description tells us that it smells like the "flavours of New Orleans." How can you say no to that?

Bath & Body Works Gentle Foaming Hand Soap in Boardwalk Vanilla Cone - You all know that this is a staple in my household and we are still working through our stash!

Bath & Body Works Anti-Bacterial Gentle Foaming Hand Soap in Vermont Sugar Maple - This is probably one of my favourite scents from BBW especially in the fall and winter! 

Bath & Body Works Anti-Bacterial Hand Gel in Vermont Sugar Maple  - I am sad this is done because for a little bottle, it really carried the scent well without being too powerful! 

Nivea Refreshingly Soft Cream - What I really liked about this product is that it was small enough to put in my pocket and easy enough to quickly use when I was at work. It is great for sharing and it states that you can use it on your face, body and hands but I stuck to using it on my hands mainly. 

Body

Organic Spa Exfoliating Body Wash - On the packaging, it states that it is "infused with sea algae extract and certified organic aloe vera." I quite enjoyed using this product and will check to see where I can pick-up a full sized bottle of this!

Johnson's Baby Wash in Vanilla Oatmeal - I love this scent and have been using it for years. It really conditions my skin and makes it very soft!

Vaseline Intensive Care Repairing Serum  - This is made with pure cocoa butter and has 10x the repairing power. I didn't notice that my skin had a radiating glow after use and I want to mention that I found this formula to be more on the "watery" side compared to the formula you buy in the larger size with the pump. I also went through this bottle VERY quickly when moisturizing my whole body once a day.

Versace Bright Crystal Eau De Toilette Natural Spray - I received this sample from Sephora and I enjoyed it. There are notes of: yuzu, iced accord, pomegranate, peony, magnolia, acajou, lotus flower, musk and vegetal amber. To quickly summarize: it is flowery, fruity and musky. 

Miscellaneous

Johnson's Baby Shampoo - I have been using this for years and is my go-to product to clean my makeup brushes as well as my Alex & Ani bracelets.

OrganiQ Spa Restorative Conditioner - I received this line of deluxe samples from a friend and I quite enjoyed them! The conditioner is "infused with sweet lupin complex and certified organic jojoba oil." Their products are made in Canada and worth checking out because they are: certified organic, they do NOT test on animals, they are paraben free and SLS free. 

Until next time,

STAY CLASSY.

Berrz <3

P.S. THIS BLOG POST IS BY NO MEANS SPONSORED. SOME LINKS ARE AFFILIATE LINKS.

P.P.S. I am working on a fun collaboration with a company that will be live on my blog in just a few days! You don't want to miss that!

P.P.P.S. I will be posting another Project 10 Pan blog post shortly! Stay tuned for that!

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Bluenotes, Sirens and Suzy Shier Outlet Haul

Hey everyone! I did some damage yesterday at the outlets and I wanted to share all my great finds with you! I spent under $100 on everything and I wanted to incorporate a new way of showing you how much I spent on each item instead of having a lot of text. Let me know what you think in the comments down below!

I usually do not shop at Bluenotes, but was pleasantly surprised to find some great items! The scarf is reversible and it was supposed to be 50% off $18 but as you can tell, I got it for MUCH cheaper! It was the very last one and I have been wanting one of these for quite some time! The grey beanie is super soft and fashionable. The socks are warm and will look great with boots. I bought the sports bra to wear with muscle tees or an open back shirt in the summer. Of course, I live in leggings and can never have enough! I bought these to "test them out," and if I do like them, I will go back and buy more because they are super affordable.

The long sleeveless plaid button up shirt is really my style and I will definitely pair it with this inexpensive beanie that I found at Suzy Shier along with my leggings as well as my black combat boots. The middle long sweater is fuzzy and was in the sample section. They sell samples that they want to get rid of for usually $5 or $10 depending on the store. I also texted a number while in line at Bluenotes to get $5 off my entire purchase (when you spend $10 or more,) so that is why I was able to get even further discounts off my items! I digress, but I almost bought an identical sweater online at Forever 21 but for $25 months ago. I'm glad I changed my mind! 

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle shirt is the EXACT style that I have been looking for all along! I love that it is the retro print and it appears to be resembling the front page of a comic book. I personally am not a fan of the modern day Ninja Turtle designs and also almost bought something similar 1 or 2 years ago on the Forever 21 web site during Black Friday or Cyber Monday, but it sold out before I could check out with it! It is a Men's XL and was the only one in the store, but I had to get it! I have a few ideas on how to style it despite it being way too big for me. I could also cut it but if all those ideas fail, I will just use it as pyjamas!

The black fuzzy coat on the left hand side was an unexpected find. I wanted something that I could wear with my long dresses, yet something that would still keep me warm in the colder months. It was a sample and the last one and the only one for that matter, in the store that I could find. I am trying to get into turtle necks again as I went on a long hiatus from them since I was in middle school or high school. I am obsessed with the camel coloured one because I have many items in my wardrobe that I can pair up with it already and the long grey turtleneck dress looks great with the black coat! On the right, the long navy blue dress and the brown over coat is most likely what I will be wearing to my friend's bridal shower. 

Some of the items do look dirty yes, that is because they are in a warehouse and are heavily discounted for various reasons. I will be washing most of my items before I wear them. I just wanted to give you the uncut raw version!

Until next time,

STAY CLASSY.

Berrz <3

P.S. THIS BLOG POST IS BY NO MEANS SPONSORED. SOME LINKS ARE AFFILIATE LINKS.

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

Shop Hope's Online - Get 15% off your first purchase here
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Ebates Canada - Get cash back on your online purchases here
Ebates (Everywhere else in the world) - Get cash back on your online purchases here
Hautelook - A flash sale web site where I get most of my footwear and accessories from!

Victoria Secret Sale - Free Sport Pant

Hey everyone! I wanted to come on here and tell you about an awesome sale that VS is having! If you purchase any of their sports bras, then you are able to receive a free sport pant of your choice! The bra has to be of regular price and you won't be able to receive a free sport pant on discounted sports bras.

I went in-store to take advantage of this deal yesterday and it was quite busy. I did have to wait in-line for a fitting room. The deal ends on January 20th so visit your local VS today! I went early because I wanted to be able to choose from a good selection of items rather than leftovers. You can shop online if you would rather save yourself the trip in-store.

You can see that I spent $45 (roughly,) and received a $80 pair of VS pants for free! This is an amazing deal and if you are on a fitness kick right now, GET IN THERE!

Until next time,

STAY CLASSY.

Berrz <3

P.S. THIS BLOG POST IS BY NO MEANS SPONSORED. SOME LINKS ARE AFFILIATE LINKS.

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

Shop Hope's Online - Get 15% off your first purchase here
*LOOK AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE FOR YOUR AUTOMATIC CODE!

Ebates Canada - Get cash back on your online purchases here
Ebates (Everywhere else in the world) - Get cash back on your online purchases here
Hautelook - A flash sale web site where I get most of my footwear and accessories from!

December Empties | 2015

Hey everyone! It's that time again! Time for another month of empties! What makes this post different is that it is the last empties post of 2015! Feel free to sort through my garbage with me one more time before the new year!

Also, I want to give a HUGE thank-you to all the readers because I have reached over 10,000 ALL TIME VIEWS! That is very exciting for me and I couldn't have done it without all of you!

Hair

Redken Scalf Relief Dandruff Control - The only reason why I bought this at Ulta is because I thought that I had psoriasis on my scalp but in reality, I just need a good clarifying shampoo to get rid of all the build-up from the products that I use on my hair. I can’t really give an opinion on this product but I wanted to use it up regardless.

L’Oreal Hair Expertise Fibralogy Hair Mask - This is my favourite hair mask on the market right now and I have been recommending it to all my friends! It works best on hair lacking thickness and it is an intense texturizing mask. My hair was getting very thin in the past months and I wanted something to help make my hair full again. This did just that for me and not to mention that it smells incredible! I already have the conditioner from the same line and I want to try other products from this line because I have had great results so far! This jar lasted me a decent amount of time as well! It is very inexpensive and I bought mine at Wal Mart.

Teeth

Crest 3D Luxe Whitestripes in Glamorous White - This are my go-to favourite white strips. I have repurchased and have not found any ones that work better so far. They do a great job at whitening your teeth. They are reasonably priced but I suggest trying to purchase them when they are on sale.

Crest 3D Luxe White Toothpaste - I have used this product before and it is in my top 3 favourite toothpastes to use. It really does a good job at cleaning your teeth and I like the mint flavour. 

Colgate Total Toothpaste in Clean Mint - This is a basic and very standard toothpaste. It doesn’t do anything out of the ordinary and I really don’t care for it. I probably just bought it because it was on sale to be honest.

Face

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleansing Cloths (25 count) - I used up another pack of these. I really like them because each towelette is a decent size, it does not break when you are removing your makeup and the cloth does not feel dry. It says on the packaging that it “leaves your skin feeling fresh and clean,” which I would have to agree with!

Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips (8 count) - These are my go-to and I will continue to use these for years to come! These strips really get out all my white heads and keep my skin in check.

Elta MD Skincare UV Daily SPF 40 Daily Moisturizing Lotion - I bought this from the laser clinic that I go to and this really does a great job at protecting my skin from the harmful UV rays. I use it daily, in the morning and it is great underneath makeup because this formula absorbs quickly into the skin. It is a little bit on the more expensive side but it did last me quite some time - maybe 6+ months with daily use.

Hands

Bath & Body Works Gentle Foaming Hand Soap in Cherry Blossom - This particular scent wasn’t anything special and I don’t feel the need to repurchase it.

Bath & Body Works Deep Cleansing Hand Soap in Boardwalk Vanilla - You already know that my household loves this scent and that I still have many more back-ups of this scent that you will see in upcoming empties blog posts in 2016.

Body

Bath & Body Works Intense Moisture Body Butter in Twilight Woods - I love this scent because it is musky and warm smelling. The body butter is just what I needed for the colder months. It really hydrates your skin and leaves it feeling moisturized.

Eucerin Original Lotion - My dermatologist recommended this to me when my psoriasis was at its worst. This really helped with the flaking and the dry patches. It didn’t irritate my skin at all and I can’t recommend this enough! I will definitely be repurchasing this in the future because it was a saviour! You can find it at your local drugstore and it if fairly inexpensive. My brother was even using this lotion because it is unscented and didn't leave him smelling like a flower.

Other/Miscellaneous

Nature’s Bounty Hair, Skin & Nails Gummies - This product needs no introduction and I have gone through yet another bottle.

Softswabs Cosmetic Applicators - I love these and find myself always reaching for these when I do my makeup. There is one pointed end and one flat end. I use the pointed edge to clean my my lipstick and also for the inner corners of my eyes as well as to clean up any smudged eye liner. The flat edge is great for right underneath the water line and to fix up any minor makeup mistakes such as fallout.

Polysporin Vitamin E enriched Formula - I have been using this since I was a kid and still find myself reaching for it. If I have a cut or anything that needs to be treated, this is my go-to! Like the packing suggests, it really helps the cut or blister to heal fast! 

Samples

Facial Oils:

The Body Shop Oils of Life  - I really do like this oil. I have used many samples of it and am considering purchasing the full sized version. It doesn’t leave my face greasy and leaves my skin soft.

Nude Omega Treatment Rescue Oil - This oil was alright. I feel like I would have to use it more to really get a better opinion of it. The scent of it did remind me of a plant which I didn’t mind.

Origins High-Potency Night-A-Mins Skin Refining Oil - I could smell the vanilla in this oil and really enjoyed that! I did enjoy using this sample

Moisturizers:

LaNeige Water Bank Moisture Cream - I really can’t remember the pros from using this product. All I can remember is that it did not stand out and i probably wouldn’t ever purchase it.

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Intense Repair with Fab Antioxidant Booster - I didn’t care for this cream but I did like the other cream I tried out from First Aid Beauty!

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration for Dry Parched Skin - I enjoyed using this sample more than the Intense Repair because I felt as though this targeted my skin’s concern better. I would considering buying this in the near future.

Makeup:

Sephora Colorful Blush No5 Sweet on You! - It was alright. Nothing that blew me away though. Just a standard colour with a standard formula. I wouldn’t purchase.

Lancome La Base Pro Pore Eraser - I really enjoyed using this sample and was sad when it ran out. I will consider purchasing this product when my Porefessional runs out. It helps minimize pore and your makeup glides on so much easier with this underneath. 

Lancome Miracle Cushion in 03 Beige - I hated the concept of this item. There is a cushion compact that you dab into the product and then apply to your face. This coverage is build able but I just didn’t think that it was full enough coverage for my liking. It is not cake feeling, it is actually weightless but I just can’t be bothered with this product. I also kept thinking of the bacteria inside the sponge that would occur with constant use.

Facial Masks:

Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber Gel Mask - I really enjoyed this product. From the cucumber scent to the feeling your face is left with after you wash this off, it’s really an awesome product. Luckily for me, I got  a jar of this in a Peter Thomas Roth Gift Set that I received for Christmas!

GlamGlow ThristyMud Hydrating Treatment - I really liked this mask! It was easy to use and the directions were easy to follow. There are many benefits to this product to such as: that it is paraben free, it is for all skin types and that it is for men and women.

Cleansers/Multiple Step Treatments:

Fresh Soy Face Cleanser - I liked this product because it did a good job at getting rid of my makeup. It is gentle and didn’t burn my eyes while using it. I am all for this product.

Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Ultra Gentle Daily Peel - Step 1 & 2 - I really do like this product a lot. My skin felt so refreshed and firm after 1 use! I wish that it wasn’t so expensive to buy otherwise, I would have already started using it already.

Ole Henriksen 3-Step System for ALL Skin Types - It was nice to use but I can’t see myself using this down the road. It comes with a facial gel, a facial cream and a facial serum. You use the serum in conjunction with the cream in the AM and then you switch over to the facial gel in conjunction with the same facial cream again in the PM. I wasn’t a huge fan of the Truth Serum Collagen Booster. 

Until next time,

STAY CLASSY.

Berrz <3

P.S. I DO plan on doing Project 10 Pan again in 2016 because I had fun doing it the first time around and it's a great way to set a goal for yourself to use up current items from your stash in order to make room for more items.

P.P.S. If you have been reading my blog for some time now, you may have noticed that I have updated the colours of my blog to incorporate the two Pantone Colours of this year which are: Rose Quartz and Serenity.

P.P.P.S. THIS BLOG POST IS BY NO MEANS SPONSORED. SOME LINKS ARE AFFILIATE LINKS.

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

Shop Hope's Online - Get 15% off your first purchase here
*LOOK AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE FOR YOUR AUTOMATIC CODE!

Ebates Canada - Get cash back on your online purchases here
Ebates (Everywhere else in the world) - Get cash back on your online purchases here
Hautelook - A flash sale web site where I get most of my footwear and accessories from!

Top 5 Affordable Holiday/Winter Nail Polishes

Hey everyone! I wanted to write a blog post about all my favourite nail polishes that have been in my rotation lately! I feel that each one can be perfect to wear at a holiday party depending on your style and what you are looking for in a nail polish or just on a regular winter day!

Nail Polishes (Left to Right):

Sally Hansen Hard As Nails Xtreme Wear Nail Color in #390 Red Carpet

Such a great festive color! It really brings attention to the nails and can glam up your hands instantly in just 1-2 coats!

Maybelline Color Show in #305 Gilded Rose

This is a fabulous glitzy, girly colour! There are chunks of rose glitter inside, and the base colour is gold.

L'Oreal Nail Color in #116 Brit Invasion

The base colour is purple/grey and there is gold shimmer which is a beautiful combination!

OPI Nail Lacquer in My Private Jet

I heard online a few years back that Kim Kardashian was using this colour on her nails. After I viewed a picture showing her wearing this colour, I immediately had to get it! It is a darker black nail polish colour that when held up to the light, appears to reflect a shade of burgundy and it also, has little silver sparkles inside. It is a truly unique colour!

Joe Fresh Nail Polish in Twilight 

This shade is probably my ultimate go-to colour right now and my favourite out of these 5 beautiful colours. I have a back-up in my collection ready to use! The base colour is a true black and there are chunky flakes of green, copper, orange and gold. I have YET to find a comparable colour from another brand.

Until next time,

Thanks for stopping by!

STAY CLASSY.

Berrz <3

P.S. THIS BLOG POST IS BY NO MEANS SPONSORED. SOME LINKS ARE AFFILIATE LINKS.

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

Shop Hope's Online - Get 15% off your first purchase here
*LOOK AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE FOR YOUR AUTOMATIC CODE!

Ebates Canada - Get cash back on your online purchases here
Ebates (Everywhere else in the world) - Get cash back on your online purchases here
Hautelook - A flash sale web site where I get most of my footwear and accessories from!