Sparkled Beauty

Here it is, a perk from my US trip, one of the most talked about products that us Canadians want to get our hands on: Real Techniques brushes by Samantha Chapman of pixiwoo.

I was able to get this Travel Essentials set from Ulta, reg. $15.99, with a 20% off coupon that they had on their site at the time. Often enough, Ulta has the $3.50 off $10 purchase coupons, helps you save a bit of $.

I also wanted the Core Collection set but it was out of stock in both visits I managed to make to the store :( Hence, this is the only review from the brand, for now.

This set comes with 3 brushes:
- Essential foundation brush (orange)
- Multi-task brush (pink)
- Domed shadow brush (blue) and
- Brush case,
Housed in a sturdy clear plastic packaging.

If you haven't noticed, Real Techniques brushes are colour coded - orange is for your base, pink is for your finish and blue is for your eyes. Convenient and fun, isn't it?

The elastic band to hold the brushes on the case is quite strong, also there is a plastic insert placed at the bottom of the brushes to hold them in place. Your brushes won't be going anywhere outside the case, let me tell you.

The case is made of a strong padded material that won't bend easily except for the slot where it is supposed to bend (to turn itself into a brush stand). A nice thing to have.

Here are the brushes side by side, just to give you an idea of their sizes. The bristles are synthetic taklon, hand cut and 100% cruelty free, FYI. They are soft but give a firm hold at the same time, help the deposition of products. I didn't see any fall outs while using or washing them. No particular smell on the brushes either.

The ferrules are made of aluminum, so they are light weight, balanced with the weight that the wooden end of the handles add on. The brushes feel comfortable in my hand. I also like the fact that the ferrules are extended longer down the handle than most brushes.

Here are the brushes, in their own spotlights:

The Essential foundation brush is meant for liquid foundation or concealer. And I use it for just that. The bristles are firm enough to spread the product evenly without scratching my face. However, I found it a little smaller than I would like for foundation, takes a little long to cover my whole face. It works better for concealer, to my taste.


The Multi-task brush does a decent job with my finishing powder, powder blushes and highlights, whatever I might need it for in a particular day. I wouldn't use it for cream blushes though, even when it is a synthetic brush, as it is a little too soft for that.

The Domed shadow brush is medium sized, works well in padding colours on my lids and even blending them out a bit at the edges. I still need a blending/ crease brush with it to complete a look but it does well what it is meant to do.

So, all in all, this is a good little nifty brush set to travel with you, for basic makeup needs. I would love to see Real Techniques come out with bigger sets in the future, as 3 brushes won't be enough for me. But they have done things right with this set, and I hope to get more next time I'm around an Ulta.

There are online tutorials by Sam on Real Techniques website, quite helpful to get your started. The site also mentions a seller for those of you who don't live in the US: Love Makeup, from the UK. I can't comment on their shipping cost or whether they ship to your country, as I simply don't know the details - but they are working on that. There is hope, lol.

Hiiiii, I'm back :) The last 2 weeks went by so quickly - always the case when you are on vacation, isn't it?. I'm enjoying an extra day off (it's Victoria Day in Canada) before going back to work. Just started sorting out pictures and stuff I bought, so this is going to be a picture heavy post. Be warned!

Cherry Culture had 50% off certain NYX products about 2 weeks ago, I placed an order and sent it to the bf's. I also added a few other long term lemmings, as I'd doubt I can find them anywhere else.

- Milani Enchantment and Whimsical (from the Black Magic collection back in 2009), $3.49 each (full price). I totally missed out on this awesome collection and have been meaning to collect a few.

- NYX Girls Deep Space, Purple Noir, Royal Purple, Smoldering, Fame and Golden Lavender, $1.50 each.

This is a new line of polishes that NYX came out with, lots of exciting shades and finishes. A few popular shades were already sold out on the site, so I only got 6.

- LA Girl Glitter Addict in Purge and Nostalgic, $2.99 each. Can't turn down pretty glitters, especially when Lawtons doesn't have them.

- LA Girl Rock Star in Groupie, $2.80. I missed this shade when hauling at Lawtons clearance sale a while back.

- Jordana Orange Gleam, Fuchsia Flicker, Purple Glam and Yellow Dazzle, $1.49 each. My first Jordana's, the cheaper dupes of the Milani Welcome Back Colour collection (2009) which I also missed out.

While visiting the bf, we accidentally found some beauty supply stores with so many cosmetic brands that made my head spin. I tried to be good and only got some selected shades and brands lol.

KleanColor:
- What Girls Really Talk About glitter mini collection (5ml bottles), from L-R: Black Out, VIP, Kiss Goodbye, Grand Finale, 24 Carat and Peaceful Heart, $4.99 ($8.99 on KleanColor website)
- Red Crackle, Purple Crackle and Teal Crackle, $1.99 each (retail $3.99)
- Blue Satin, Peaceful Heart and Metallic White, $1.49 each (retail 3.49).

Awesome prices, aren't they? I was planning an order on KleanColor website before my trip, so glad I found them for cheaper. No sign of the awesome chunky holos yet though.

And the big brand NYX, of course.
- First row: NYX Girls Frizzy Spots, NYX Purple Ave and Blue Ave, NYX Girls Super Funk

- Second row: NYX Girls Enchanted Forest, Carnival, Under the Moon, Maven and Sea of Cortez.

The NYX Girls ranges between $1.49 - $1.99, NYX $2.99 each, better than Cherry Culture regular price points. Though I recently found Beauty Joint who sells NYX and KleanColor for cheap (I'm talking half retail price), plus they ship internationally with reasonable cost. Might place an order once I get over the high of this haul.

- Ruby Kisses HD nail polish in Mediterranean Nightsky, $2.49
- Ruby Kisses Red Romance and Baby Blue, $.99 each

- J2 Patent Leather and Steel Etto, $1.99 each.

Can't say I know much about these brands (and many more brands at these stores), certainly wanted to try them out. Lots of pretty colours, picking a few wasn't an easy job.

Those of you who live near these beauty supply stores are so lucky!

Five Below is a neat store chain that sells things for $5 or less. I couldn't miss checking out their home brand Funky Fingers. Not many selections at the store I went, only got Sand and Stilettos, Golden Coast and Cheshire, 3 for $5.

Ulta has buy 2 get 2 free deal on their home brand, I got Alter Ego, Jaded (x2) and After Party, reg. $5 each.

Also found on clearance: Ulta Bombshell $.99 and Underground $3.75.

No special offers on other nail polish brands there this month.

At Sally:
- Finger Paints Prints & Printess, on sale for $3.99. I needed a fun orange for this summer
- Finger Paints Merry Mittens, $1.99 (clearance)

- Orly Gilded Coral, $1.99 (clearance)
The girl told me she just put these shades out on the clearance shelf, guess I was there at the right time.

- China Glaze Cha Cha Cha, free with a coupon (Spend $10 get a free China Glaze nail polish). Too bad the coupon excluded crackles, otherwise, I could grab an extra crackle to add to my collection. Passed on the Sally Hansen crackles at drugstores, as they retail $6.99, not my kinda price.

Walgreens clearance sale:
- Maybelline Express Finish Timely Turquoise, Sunset Prisms and Go Go Green, $2.29 each (50% off). Found some $1 coupons on a display, so I paid $1.29 each.

- Sinful Colors Wild About Color mini set (5ml bottles), from L-R: San Francisco, Sugar Sugar, All About You, Rich in Heart and Secret Admirer, $2.50.

Can't tell you how many drugstore runs we did during this one week I was in the States. The bf did have tremendous patience to drive me places.

The CVS clearance sale started the last day I was there too. I didn't have a full list of stuff on sale, and some stores didn't have stickers up yet.

I bought:
- Sally Hansen HD (first release): Three D, Lite and Pixel Pretty, $1.75 each (75% off). Also used $1 coupons for these, so they only cost me $.75 each.
- Sally Hansen Complete Salon Lavender Cloud, $2.07 (75% off), before $1 coupon
- Rimmel Lasting Finish Pro Marine Blue, $1.15 (75% off)
- Essie Coat Azure, $4.15 (50% off). Was happy with this one, never saw Essie on sale this much.

Rite Aid had sale on Petites nail polish a while back, $.99 each. This bunch was courtesy of the bf :)

From L-R: Black Diamond, Violet Frost, Fairy Pink, Twilight and Wild Plum.

My first Petites as well. Have already tried one shade (Wild Plum, btw it is a purple, not dark blue as shown in the pic). Not bad quality and application at all.

I don't think Petites is available outside US.

Dollar Tree hunts weren't very fruitful. I've gone to quite a few locations, didn't find anything exciting. Wouldn't it be fantastic if all Dollar Trees stock those precious old released nail polish that people found.

What I got for $1 each:
- Nailene DuraColour nail strips
- LA Colors Nail Art Deco in Green Glitter
- LA Colors Jewel Tone, and
- Sally Hansen Smile Brightening Lip Treatment gloss in Gleaming.

My Dollar Tree wish list was untouched, remained long :(

Last batch:
- Big Lots: Wet n Wild megalast duo, no individual name, $2. We quite enjoyed Big Lots, lots of cool stuff for cheap

- CVS: Revlon Top Speed Electric, $5.99. No discount but I got it as part of the "Spend $15 on Revlon, get $7 Extra Bucks" deal, worked out to be 50% off. This shade is a dupe for the famous Chanel Mimosa.

- Rite Aid: Wet n Wild fastdry Party of Five Glitters and Teal of Fortune, $1.99 with BOGO :)

How did you like my come back post? Exciting enough? Let me know if you are curious about any shade, I can start swatching it for you :) Have a lovely day!

I just saw this post on Bare Budget Beauty about the 85% off sale at Ulta for Max Factor, Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired by Carmindy, Jane, etc. And then 40% off on Maybelline, Revlon, Almay, and ULTA brand. I want some nail polishes.

The list is quite long but these are the 3 brands I'm most interested in. Max Factor and SH Natural Beauty are not available in Canada, and Jane is a hard to find brand here, so I'd kill for some products. Remember my post about the Sally Hansen Natural Beauty kit? Who doesn't want it?

Is there any US blogger out there who lives near an Ulta interested in doing a CP for me, or even better, a swap with me? Greatly appreciate it.

Leave me a comment, email or catch me on twitter. Whatever way is easier for you. Thanks!

EDIT TO ADD:














There is a Fekkai Shampoo Swap going on this Thursday, September 17, at both Nordstrom and Saks.

Rules: "Bring a full sized shampoo you currently use (can be full or empty) and exchange for a full sized complimentary bottle of Fekkai Advanced shampoo of your choice ($23 value). One per customer, while supplies last".

Looks like there are 3 formulas with this shampoo: Volume, Glossing or Technician Color Care. I never try any Fekkai product, but heard it's good. Have fun ladies!














This offer is from Ulta, but it is a good one, so I thought some of you might be interested.

Rules, directly from Seventeen website:
"Starting September 15, bring the October 2009 cover of Seventeen (or a printout of the seventeen.com home page) to any participating ULTA store to receive a full-size tube of Benefit BADgal Blue Mascara (retail $19).

8,000 will be given away, between 12 and 24 at each ULTA store location. One per person. Giveaway ends October 19, or while supplies last. Must be female, between the ages of 13 and 29, and a legal resident of the 50 United States, District of Columbia, or Canada. Void in Puerto Rico, Quebec Province, and where prohibited by law, unless otherwise noted".

I don't know why Canada is included, as we don't have Ulta around here. Even if we do, I'm out of the age range, lol. Can't people over 29 use a mascara now?But anyway, go get yourself a free mascara (I have been curious about it for a long time) and let me know what you think about it, please :-)