Sparkled Beauty

If you haven't indulged already, Lancome is having a GWP promotion at the Bay.

With a Lancome purchase of $35 or more, you'll get a free 8-piece gift, values up to $178. Yeah, take a deep breath to take it all in! The gift is beautiful and customized to you.

I was generously sent the gift pack to show you the options you can choose from. Keep reading for the breakdown :)

This is the red cosmetic bag with it, very luxurious looking with the embossed rose pattern. You can choose the dark blue if red is not your colour.

I was also sent the Dream Tone Ultimate Dark Spot corrector for Pigmentation Profile 1 - Fair skin tone. I have heard good things about this product, but we'll see if the shade works for me :)

Now where were we? Ah, the gift :) Like I mentioned, there are choices for you to make to suit your taste/ preferences.

First is the choice of serum & skin care duo:

- The black & white theme: Advanced Genefique Youth Activating concentrate (8ml) & Creme Bienfait Multi-Vital SPF30 High Potency Daily moisturizing cream (15ml)

- The purples: Renergie Lift Multi-action Reviva concentrate (10ml) & Renergie Lift Multi-action Lifting and Firming cream (15ml)

- The teal & white: Visionaire [LR2412 4%] Advanced skin corrector (7ml) & Absolute Premium βx Absolute Replenishing cream (15ml).

Make sure to talk to the SAs to choose the right products for your skin.

Next, choices for perfumed body lotion - La Vie est Belle or Tresor (60ml each).

Tresor is classic when it comes to Lancome's fragrances, at least to me. But I did splurge on the La Vie est Belle gift set before, because it's newer.

So if it's up to me, I'd pick La Vie est Belle body lotion. The size is a bit bigger than the one that came in the set, but is still travel friendly.

I can't wear fragrances to work (scent free policy), so I opt for wearing a scent to bed. These lotions would work for that purpose too.

Choices of makeup duo:
- Color Design 5 shadow and liner palette in Taupe Craze and Color Design Sensational Effects lip color in Pale Lip
- Color Design 5 shadow and liner palette in Petal Pusher and Juicy Tubes gloss in Raspberry Ice.

The lip product is a tough choice. I am not typically a gloss girl, but Pale Lip is quite nude looking. If Raspberry Ice is pigmented, I'd be happy.

Both eyeshadow palettes are shimmery, Petal Pusher more than Taupe Craze. I don't see much matte at Lancome in general anyway.

2 more items in the gift:
- Bi Facil Double action eye makeup remover (50ml) and
- Hypnose Star mascara (4g).

Bi Facil doesn't need any introduction? Mascara wise, I tried the original Hypnose but not Hypnose Star, so this would be fun :)

If you want either version of the gift, make your purchase by Sunday, November 3, in store or online. The gift did go OOS online last week (back now), yes it was popular.

Estee Lauder has a fun (and LE) PWP at the Bay too, available in store and online.

With any Estee Lauder purchase, you can buy the Colour Portfolio palette for $40 (values over $245, left in the pic). I went straight to the store to buy it, as the SA told me they only got about 15 of them. Didn't want to risk missing it.

The Holiday collection was out already, with its festive packaging. I decided to go with the Delectable Eyes set in Decadent Truffles ($42.50). The red box and polka dotted packaging theme definitely kill it!

There were a few other sets from the collection too, if you haven't seen them.

Decadent Truffles has:

- Pure Color eyeshadow compact (0.17oz/ 5g) with polka dots on the lid. The colours are Sandbar Beige, Lavish Mink and Wild Sable, all matte, yay!

- Double Wear Stay in Place Flawless Wear concealer in Light Medium (only 1 shade available, 0.06oz/ 1.9ml)

- Pure Color Intense Kajal eyeliner in Blackened Black (0.039oz/ 1.11g)

- Sumptuous Extreme Lash Multiplying Volume mascara in Extreme Black (0.27oz/ 8ml, full sized) and a polka dotted makeup bag.

The Colour Portfolio looks really nice in person, and is bigger than I thought. It has:
- 30 Pure Color eyeshadows (0.01oz/ 0.35g each)
- 11 Pure Color Long Lasting lipsticks and 4 Pure Color Crystal lipsticks (0.009oz/ 0.28g each)
- 3 Pure Color blushes (0.22oz/ 6.4g each) and 1 Bronze Goddess powder bronzer (0.21oz/ 6.1g)
- 2 Pure Color glosses (0.16oz/ 4.6ml each)
- a Pure Color Intense Kajal eyeliner duo (0.067oz/ 1.9g)
- Brush applicators, a mirror and 2 face charts.

The fold-in cardboard packaging in dark blue tone, with magnetic closure and stars all over the front, is very eye catching. The box is quite heavy too :)

The first flap has the mirror (took half the size) and 2 face charts at the bottom. The other two flaps both have the plastic covers with shade names (and finishes for the eyeshadows) printed on them. 2 glosses and the eyeliner are strapped in between flaps.

The Pure Color eyeshadows are in satin, shimmer and matte finishes. Interestingly, there are a few shades without the finishes noted, I'm not sure why. The size of each shadow is a bit small, but it is a trade-off with the number of shades you get, I guess. Lots of lighter shades, not enough dark ones, which is my only complain so far :)

The Pure Color glosses - Praline Paradise and Fuchsia Fantasy - are shimmery and festive, by the look of them.

Some brush applicators are included, but we all know we won't touch those unless we are in a pinch while travelling. I appreciate the plastic covers that help minimize contamination to the lip products on the other side. Powder and cream, you know what is waiting to happen!

The Pure Color Long Lasting and Pure Color Crystal lipsticks come in a good range of colours. Again, small size.

The Bronze Goddess powder bronzer in Medium (top left of the quad) has visible shimmers in the pan. The 3 Pure Color blushes - Sensuous Rose, Peach Passion and Pink Kiss - don't seem to have shimmers, but I haven't swatched them yet to confirm.

The Pure Color Intense Kajal eyeliner duo is in Blackened Black and Blackened Cocoa, good size, safe/ standard colours.

All in all, this is a good palette to get first dip of the Pure Color range offered by Estee Lauder, which I can't say I have tried a lot.

It is a bit heavy to travel with, but it does have almost all colours you need for the face. I'll have to swatch the shades to confirm the quality.

Grab some snacks, everyone. This is a long collective post of stuff I found in the last two or more weeks :)

This is my new love from the Bay. A good sized (if not large) Trapeze handbag, mint, studded, with a bow and on sale, enough said? This is Material Girl Romp bag in Mint, reg. $60, 30% off right now.

It was love at first sight and I took it straight to the cashier, not even thinking twice. Unfortunately, both versions of this bag (mint and white) went out of stock within a week, online and at my store. I am not sure when or if they would be back. Sorry if I enabled you with a hard to find item.

I have been wanting Lancome La Vie est Belle perfume (reg. $95 for 50ml) for a while, was happy to find the Spring gift set for $99 with:
- La Vie est Belle EDP spray (50ml)
- Body lotion (50ml)
- Shower gel (50ml) and
- Mini Hypnose Star mascara (2ml).

My pictures did not turn out well with the flash glare, so this is a stock pic which shows the items better.

There is another set called La Vie est Belle Hearts collection, with a mini EDP (5ml) instead of the shower gel and the mini mascara, same price. Both sets are LE, I heard.

And the GWP I chose:
- Bienfait Multi Vital SPF30 (15g)
- Color Design eyeshadow and liner palette in Mauve Cherie (not included in the pic, sorry)
- Blush Subtil powder blush in Brilliant Berry
- Absolue Rouge lipstick in Exotic Orchid
- Visionnaire LR 2412 4% Advanced skin corrector (7ml)
- Bi-Facil makeup remover (50ml)
- Hypnose Star mascara in Noir Midnight (4ml) and
- Polka dot cosmetic bag.
Also not pictured were the 3 bonus Juicy Tube glosses as I spent over $85.

Moving on to Sears with another GWP.

This is Estee Lauder Double Wear makeup lesson kit ($49.50, valued over $70) with:
- Double Wear Light Stay-in-Place foundation (30ml) - my shade is 2, the range is from 1 to 6
- Double Wear Stay-in-Place Flawless Wear concealer in Light Medium (1.9ml)
- Matte Perfecting primer (15ml)
- Foundation brush, and
- Advanced Night Repair Eye Synchronized Complex sample (0.5ml).

Considering the foundation itself sells for $42.50, I'd say this is an awesome score. I missed this set last time when Estee Lauder ran the promotion, not again this time :)

Also bought the Pure Color blush in The Siren, $32 to take advantage of the bonus gift and the $25 coupon (see below). An intense looking blush, sorry I forgot to take a pic of it opened :)

Now the gifts:
- Eyeshadow quad with Sugar Cube Satin, Amazing Grey Shimmer, Amethyst Spark Shimmer and Lavish Mink Matte, with Lilly Pulitzer print on the packaging
- Pure Color Crystal lipstick in Rose Petal
- DayWear Advanced Multi-protection creme SPF15 (15ml)
- Advanced Night Repair (7ml)
- Sumptuous Extreme Lash Multiplying Volume mascara in Extreme Black (2.8ml)
- Sensuous Nude Body veil (30ml), and
- Lilly Pulitzer cosmetic bag.

I'm happy that I now own something with Lily Pulitzer prints.

And more prints in the Deluxe gift, lots of pinks:
- Pure Color lipstick in Rubellite
- Double-ended Pure Color gloss in Mod Poppy and Shocking Pink
- Pure Color nail polish in Berry Hot (5ml) and
- Nail file with same Lilly Pulitzer print.

The $25 off $100 coupon was a bonus promo, I'm not sure if it's still on. Not redeemable on cosmetics and fragrances, so it was used on some swimsuits for Squirt and my niece (30% off), earrings on clearance (B2G2F) and an Attitude (by Jay Manuel) structured satchel in black and red (35% off) for me.

Yes, it resembles the famous designer bag that almost every fashion blogger owns one or several, just a lot smaller, fits my petite size :)

At Lawtons, I found Marcelle (LE) Nutrilux body line on 75% off. Only 3 products left:
- Supreme nourishing hand cream (75ml), reg. $10.96
- Supreme silky body lotion (300ml), reg. $16.96
- Supreme SOS replenishing butter (50ml), reg. $12.96.

I could not find the Supreme repair lip balm, which I heard good things about. Marcelle skin care products agree with my skin, so I'm excited to try this line out. If you tried it, let me know what you think.

I found the (untouched) Essence Vintage District display at Shoppers two weeks ago, just by luck. Surprisingly, I feel hard for the makeup and not the nail polish.

What I grabbed:
- Eyeshadows in I'm So Retro and Shopping @ Portobello Road, CAD2.49 each
- Blush in It's Popul-Art, CAD3.49
- Duo lipstick and gloss in Vintage Peach, CAD3.49
- Gel eyeliner set (the gel liner and mini brush) in Shopping @ Portobello Road, CAD3.99.

Note that Canada did not get the full collection (there is a red lipstick and gloss duo, a grey gel liner and maybe 2 more nail polish colours), but I'm happy with what I got. The blush is definitely a must have.

More items on sale at Shoppers this week:
- Neostrata Treat Yourself to Flawless Complexion set, reg. $72 (valued $109.50), 30% off.

The set includes a full sized Neostrata Intense Skin Brightener and 3 mini bonus gifts: a gel cleanser, a Night Repair cream and a jar of Vitamin C Concentrate capsules.

The box is super cute, with a white satin bow on top. There are two other sets with different main products, if you are looking for a treat to yourself or your mom this coming Mother's Day :)

- Gosh Waterproof Velvet Touch eyeliner in Ice Blue, on clearance for $3. I got it to compare with Rimmel Scandal Eyes Waterproof Kohl liner in Light Blue since they are both light baby blue liners for the waterline.

- L'Oreal Caresse Wet Shine stain in Pink Rebellion, CAD6.99 right now.

On to the finds in Toronto. From a meet-up with some blogger friends, I received two The Balm palettes - Balm-jovi and Nude Tude CP'ed by Rasilla during Rexall's BOGO sale a while back. I'm so excited.

Jillojello found some nail polish on clearance at her Shoppers and picked some up for me - Maybelline Color Show, Quo spring (LE) shades, even a Cover Girl Outlast, only $1 each.

Note that these shades are still on full price at other SDMs last time I checked, so don't run out to find them for cheap just yet, but keep an eye on the display :)

Rasilla also brought me a gift of the two holo nail polish and the sparkly black bow hair clip on the left. The rest were part of the bunch of goodies ettuandyou brought in for us to fight over lol. All around, it was a lot of fun chit chatting over beauty products and good food.

I also met my blogger friends over at My Numerous Diversions and Swatch and Learn for some Thai food and a 3-hour shopping walk for nail polish, fragrances and everything else. I was holding off and not getting anything, but that success did not last. See below what I brought home with me :)

I wandered into a Winners near my hotel and found a bunch of Smashbox makeup. I assume this was a new batch cause I can't recall seeing them at my location before.

I grabbed the Studio Pop eye palette from the 2012 Holiday collection ($19.99, reg. $56) and a Blush Rush in Gingersnap ($9.99, reg. $29).

Also saw the Photo Op Eye Enhancing palette ($14.99, reg. $44) and some liquid bronzer/ highlighter, but I passed. There were some Givenchy makeup too, from $25 and up. A quick check at my local Winners here did not yield the same result, unfortunately.

Found a Shoppers Beauty Boutique near there too, I grabbed Annabelle i-Tranformer (with bonus Studio Pigment) on clearance for $3 each (reg. $10, not including the pigments). Again, my local Shoppers did not even have these on the shelf.

And finally, a shout-out to Dixie Outlet mall. Awesome bargains I found.

Example: The Dynamite store had a "Almost Perfect" section for items with missing buttons or broken zippers. I paid $17.50 for a $60 blazer and $7 for a $40 pair of pants (which are currently on sale for $35 and $22 at regular Dynamite). I just had to sew the backup buttons back on, which I did not mind doing for the price.

Another example: Clearance handbags at the Aldo store there were extra 30% off and selected styles of bags and shoes were up to 50% off. So general conclusion: when there is an outlet mall, go! :)

We'll end this post with some eye candy who is also a do-gooder :) Don't you want to own one of those products with his autograph?