Review: The Body Shop Hemp Body Butter

Hi everyone! Hope no one had a hard time adjusting to the DST today. Mondays after a DST change is really a challenge because we lost an hour of sleep. The only positive thing from this is that the sun is shining brighter everyday. Spring and summer is coming! So excited! 

For today, I will be sharing with you all the product that saved my skin from drought this season. As you know, during winter, you will be spending 90% of your time in a dry air environment because all buildings (and even buses) have their heater on 24/7. Dry air can really really make your skin dehydrated quite easily. Even when I was applying lotion everyday after shower, it was just not enough. My skin will get scaly, itchy and bumpy easily especially since I have atopic dermatitis. This irritation leads to cracking of the skin which was never good coz it was painful. 

Last year when I arrived, I just used regular lotions which is enough if I re-apply it throughout the day religiously, but I am too lazy to do that and I don't have the time. In short, I always end up with raw skin especially on my hands because I wash so frequently. Luckily, one of my friend told me about the body butter she uses from The Body Shop which she claims really works for her and it was made from Hemp seed oil which I never heard of before. 

According to The Body Shop website:

Our famous Body Butter with hemp seed oil for very dry skin. Quickly absorbed, it provides round-the-clock hydration. Dermatologically tested.

• Body moisturiser
• 96 hour hydration & protection
• Restores moisture and helps protect ultra dry skin
• Essential fatty acids, Omega 3, 6 and 9
• Community Trade hemp seed oil from France
• Dermatologically tested

Net Wt.: 200 ml / 6.75 oz / 192 g  

*Also available in a bigger tub*

Price: C$ 21.00

Made In Germany

What I liked:

- This is heaven sent for very dry skin. I can just apply this once or twice a day all over my body and I am good. It helped in preventing scaly skin and bumps especially on my legs throughout winter. 

- Not sticky at all. Gets absorbed quite easily but still leaves a thin layer of moisture on the skin as well. Not greasy at all.

- Solid consistency like a balm. Compared to other The Body Shop body butters, this is quite solid and firm. I liked this thick consistency a lot since it doesn't get used up fast.  

  

- Always on sale. The Body Shop here in Canada frequently have a Buy 3 Get 3 promo so it is easy to stock up.

- I did not get any adverse reaction from using this which is a huge plus because I have sensitive skin.

- This Hemp line also has lip balms, face moisturizers and lip balms that works as well as this.


CONS:

- I really am not a fan of the scent. My husband likes it but I really don't. I just got so used to using it that I don't mind it now. So definitely smell it first in stores and if you can get past the scent, I would really recommend you try it for yourself. 

- I don't think the Hemp line is available in all countries. I am pretty sure places that medical Marijuana is not legal will have this banned as well because the hemp plant is related to cannabis.


WILL I RE-PURCHASE? 
Definitely! I have actually finished 5 tubs of this already and will definitely buy some again for next winter as well. 


What about you, guys? What are your favorite body lotions? I would love to hear your favorites so I could try them as well. 😊


Thanks for dropping by!

The Cold Never Bothered Me Anyway: Winter Essentials PART 1

Did you sing the title? LOL ... If this is your first time in my blog, welcome! I promise I'm not this weird haha (most of time anyway) 😜

Seriously though, as many of you have known, I was born & raised in Manila, Philippines where the climate is very tropical and the coldest temperature you could experience is around 20 degrees unless you live in the mountains. I have experienced an 8 degree temperature when we went hiking at Mt. Pulag and that's it. I am the type of person that can't stand being in an air-conditioned room that has a temperature of 23 degrees without wearing a very thick jacket. So imagine the surprise of all the people who know me when they learned that I am moving to Winnipeg, Manitoba where it is considered one of the coldest provinces of Canada. Winnipeg even gained a nickname of "Winterpeg" because it has very long winters normally. 

I arrived last year during the tail end of the winter, max temperature was -25 degrees. Then I experienced my full winter after that wherein I experienced commuting by bus in a -40 degree weather & needing to wait 25 minutes in a bus stop without heating with strong winds of at least 30-40kph just to go to work. I swear, having a car here is a necessity for survival (if only I have driver's license). 

So today, I wanted to share with you all my winter essentials in terms of gears that had helped me survive the Canadian winter.

#1 Weatherproof Down Jacket

It really doesn't matter what brand you get, as long as it has a weatherproof outer layer to keep moisture & wind out. It also must have a down lining to keep you warm. Winter jackets can go from C$100 to as high as C$1000 per piece so it really depends on what brand and style you want. Mine is just a generic Canadian-made jacket that costs C$150 but it works really well. If you get cold easily like me, I would suggest getting a longer length one where it reaches the knees. This way, your whole body will be covered from the wind and the rest can be covered by your boots. I would also suggest getting a size up to allow you to put layers underneath without restricting your movements. Also make sure you have pockets where you can put and warm your hands in. I prefer the hoods of my jackets to be fur-lined (faux fur of course) so that it weighs it down when it is windy. All the small details matter when it comes to winter jackets. In my opinion, this is the most important gear you need in order to survive winter so be very careful in choosing.

#2 Winter Boots

This is very personal as people prefers different things when looking for footwear. Me, personally, I go for comfort and functionality. I prefer mid calf to knee length to cover more area. I also always gravitate to soft boots as I walk a lot. My 2 favorite winter boots are my Columbia Omni Heat and Airwalk knee high boots. Both have polyester faux fur lining that keeps my feet & calves warm and have flexible soles that makes them easy to walk on. Snow boots are too heavy and stiff for my liking even though a lot prefer those as they are more durable.    

As you can see, this model has a heat tech lining on the foot area to add some warmth on your feet. I prefer to use my Columbia omni heat boots if the weather is around -30 to -40 degrees and I need to be out because this pair really keeps my toes toasty warm. I got a bigger size because I wear very thick socks with this pair and I need some room. This costs around C$200, I got mine on sale for C$70. 

My Airwalk knee high boots is the cruelty-free version of UGGs. I really love the style of UGG boots, they are also really comfortable and warm but they uses sheep skin and fur on their shoes and I don't want to support that industry. This pair really keeps my calves very warm and I usually wear this on a regular winter day when I don't need to wear very thick socks. This is not as warm on the toes though so I don't like wearing this if I need to walk in the snow very long. I got this from Payless Shoe Source for C$60 when I first came here last February. Always wait for end of season sale or any promo as Payless always have a sale going on.

#3 Toque (also called bonnet or beanie in some places)

These are the 3 styles I like wearing. I just alternate them depending on the windchill for the day. If it is really cold & windy, I prefer my pilot hat because it covers a lot of areas- forehead, ears, back of the neck- and I can lock it under my chin so it won't fly away. This is perfect especially if the hood of my jacket gets removed at least my head is still warm enough. It also has a polyester lining that retains heat.

For everyday, I just alternate between a plain one or something with pompoms on top. It would really depend on what look I am going for and what kind of ear cover I will use. As long as it can keep my head warm under the hood, then that's good enough for me.

#4 Scarves & Neck Covers

Covering your neck and face is very crucial especially if it is really windy. The cold wind really feels like something is cutting your face so you need something to cover you at all times. I always have a scarf with me for that purpose. Or if it's really really windy, I just wear my neck cover that I can pull up to my nose. Guys prefer wearing baclava instead of wearing all these gears but I still want to look cute so I choose scarves haha 😜 

#5 Gloves / Mittens

Keep your hands warm at all times because it will help your body stay warm. I prefer wearing gloves coz it is easier to carry stuff but mittens are warmer. You can buy any brand as well, the blue one on the picture is just from Dollarama for just a couple of bucks and it works well for layering. 

#6 Ear Covers

If you are wearing a pilot hat style toque, you won't need this but if you decided to just wear a regular beanie or just hoodies, it is better to wear ear protectors. Keeping your ears warm is crucial as they can easily get frostbite. The brand and price doesn't matter as well, as long as your ears get covered completely it is all good. The poofy one is warmer for me but the plain one is less bulky under the hood of my jacket. It really depends on what your style is.

#7 Thick Socks and Leg Warmers

Don't forget to stock up on socks if you are going in a cold place. I usually wear a thin cotton one first to absorb perspiration then a thick fleece-lined socks on top to keep my toes warm. I naturally get cold feet easily but they perspire a lot too so it was a bit tricky for me. I also love wearing leg warmers if I decided to just wear lower cut boots or I just wanted extra warmth if it's a really cold day.

#8 Fleece-lined Leggings

Layering is key during winter. My favorite leggings to wear under my pants are made by Cozy. A pair of leggings costs C$25 but I usually wait for a sale wherein they offer it 2pcs for C$40 or during their store closing sale where they sell everything for just C$10! Cozy is a seasonal brand and their stores are only open during winter time. I actually just stocked up for the next winter last month before they close hehe. In my opinion, layering 2 cozy leggings is way warmer than wearing just leggings & jeans. 

#9 Fleece-lined Sweaters or Hoodies

I am so in love with my Under Armour sweaters because they have kept me warm during this winter. I just need to wear a longsleeve or a T-shirt underneath this and I'm all good. Another hoodie on top if it's really chilly then I'm all set to put my winter coat. This is really one of my winter essentials. I even have this in 4 different colors to alternate hehe. Will definitely get new ones for next season as well.

BONUS #10 Ski Pants

And lastly, if you really can't take the cold anymore, go wear a pair of ski pants on top of your pants. I usually wear mine if it's really windy and the wind chill is around -40 degrees. Standing in a bus stop that has no shield from the wind is really hard so any added layer to keep the wind at bay really helps. This is also helpful in keeping you dry just in case you slipped on the sidewalk and you landed on your butt in the snow hehe you know me, accidents can happen because I'm too clumsy. 

I say layering is crucial because you never know if it will still be that cold in the afternoon as it was in the morning. At least it would be easier to remove layers if it get warm enough. Just look at this picture I took last year. From snowing to nothing in just a span of 6 hours hehe. Winnipeg weather is just so finicky 😝

So that's it! I know it is a very long post but I hope this is really helpful for all of you who wanted to visit another country during winter or you are also planning to migrate. Thank you so much for reading through until the end!   

Till next time!

Review: BH Cosmetics 3rd Edition 120 Color Eyeshadow Palette

Back in the day, when I was just starting with makeup, Coastal Scents & BH Cosmetics were the go-to brands when it comes to affordable color makeup. My first eyeshadow palette was actually a Coastal Scents 88 matte eyeshadow palette (click here for my review of that).  I enjoyed playing with that but when I started earning money and learned enough in makeup application I just stopped using that palette and moved on to higher end brands. Moving forward, 7 years later, I am in the same boat when I moved to Canada. I didn't have a job yet so I don't have any money to replenish my makeup immediately, and I only brought with me the basics when I migrated here. When I saw this BH Cosmetics palette at Winners for only C$19.99 I grabbed it! I know that I needed a colorful eyeshadow palette so that I can do occasional colorful looks especially for Halloween and such haha. I actually wanted to buy the Sephora Pro palette but that is not cruelty free so this is better.

Total Net wt. 3.18 oz / 90 g - 60 eyeshadows per tray x 2

(1 eyeshadow pan is dime sized)

Price: C$ 19.99

WHAT I LIKE:

- Aside from being cruelty-free, this is a very affordable brand. 20 bucks for 120 eyeshadow shades is a steal! This is really perfect for beginners or if you are like me who just like playing colors but is in a budget.

- Very pigmented and easy to blend. 

- Long lasting with or without primer.

- Packaging is a sleek matte black with a good sized mirror which I prefer.

- Lots of option and you can definitely follow majority of the looks you want to recreate. I tried doing a neon skull look last Halloween inspired by James Charles and I was able to do it with this 😁

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:

- Only available online. I just accidentally found this at Winners so I bought it but it's rare that you can find it in a store.

- Pigmentation is not consistent for all the colors as is the case with any palette.

- A little powdery and is pressed softly so you need to really tap off the excess or else you'll get lots of fall outs. 

- Probably made in China & is generic. You can definitely find something similar without a brand stamped to it that is gonna be cheaper online.  

- If you are allergic to talc, this might not be for you as Talc is the 2nd ingredient on all of the shadows. 

WILL YOU RE-PURCHASE? Probably not. I already have the means to buy better quality products and that are not as softly pressed as this (as I've said before I am really heavy handed hehe). I really prefer eyeshadows that are pressed hard like the ones from The Balm or Urban Decay because I can dip my eyeshadow brush as hard as I want and it won't crumble. 

RECOMMENDED TO: Teenagers, students on a budget or someone who just want to have a colorful eyeshadow palette but won't be using it everyday. Or if you want a minimalist makeup collection, having an all in one palette will be helpful in saving space. 

What are your budget friendly beauty products that perform well? Do share them below! 😄 

Thank you for dropping by,

  

Top 5 Products I Regret Buying from Sephora in 2017

Happy Sunday everyone! I hope all of you had a good rest during the weekend and is now ready to tackle another week. 😄

For today, I wanted to share with you all the Top 5 products I bought from Sephora last year that I really regret buying. I got all of these because of the hype and I wanted to try them myself, but sadly they didn't work for me. This just shows that every skin is different and every product will perform differently for each one of us. If you love these products, I am so happy that they worked for you. 

Without further ado, here's my list:

#5 NARS Pro-Prime Smudge proof eyeshadow base

Net wt. 0.28oz / 8g

Made in USA

Price: C$33.00

I got this eyeshadow primer early last year when NARS was still cruelty-free. I have heard so many great reviews for this product for more than 5 years so I just bit the bullet and bought it to satisfy my curiosity. I guess it was my own fault that I had too high of an expectation and sadly it was not met. Don't get me wrong, the product is not bad at all as it did make my eyeshadows lasts longer. My problem with this is it pills so bad on my lids especially on the edges of my eye making the eyeshadows hard to blend. It also makes my concealer look crepe-y and uneven whenever I use this on my bottom lashline.  Lastly, since this is clear, it didn't make any difference with the intensity of my eyeshadows. For the price, I really expected to have a smooth base for my shadows for easier blending but at the end of the day I just preferred using my Essence eyeshadow base which sells for only a couple of bucks and performs like I want it to.  

#4 HOURGLASS AMBIENT LIGHTING EDIT PALETTE VOL 3

LIMITED EDITION

Net wt. 0.04oz / 1.3g (x6)

Made in Italy

Price: around $90+ CAD - I forgot the exact price but with the tax it was over C$100

This one is such a bummer for me. I was so disappointed with this that I returned it to Sephora. I actually love the sleek rose gold packaging, the size and feel of it whenever I swatch it in store. I even told myself that this is gonna be my birthday gift coz it was just so expensive. I bought this because for years Hourglass ambient powders are always in top 10 best products list of beauty gurus and I wanted to have one... But I really can't make it work for me. The powders emphasizes all the pores & texture on my skin and the blushes looks blotchy. I even went back to Sephora to ask for assistance on how to properly apply it as I really am at lost why it doesn't look good on me. In the end, I just lost all hope. I didn't like how glittery the ambient powders are so I can't use it as my setting powder all over my face, I can't even use it as a highlighter because it lacks the shine I want in a highlighter. The blushes doesn't blend well on me regardless of what brush I use and the shades doesn't look good on my complexion. For the price, I just need to return it coz I know I will not use it anyway and that would be such a waste of money. I might try another Hourglass ambient powder in the future if ever my skin gets smooth as a baby's bum. 

#3 TARTE LIP FACIAL LIP SCRUB

Net wt 0.10oz / 2.83g

Made in USA

Price: C$ 21.00

When I first came here in Canada, I didn't expect that my oily skin will be so dry that I need multiple layers of moisturizer to make me feel comfortable. I also didn't expect that my dry lips could get any drier during winter. I asked a sales associate at Sephora to give me a suggestion on what I can apply on my lips to help with the dryness and she told me to try the Tarte Lip Facial to remove the dead skin cells first then apply my lip balm after. So I got this even though it was so pricey for a lip scrub coz I have already tried a couple drugstore brands and nothing had worked. I love the sweet peppermint flavor of it. I even enjoyed how easy it is to scrub my lips with it as it is in stick form. Packaging is great because it is much sanitary compared to lip scrubs in a pot and I can carry it around on my purse without worry of it leaking. My only problem is that it is not effective in smoothing my lips...actually it makes the dry skin more evident after I use this product. It also leaves a weird white film that I needed a wet cloth to remove. That being said, I wouldn't suggest this product to anyone. My husband even tried it and it doesn't worked on him either. Such a waste of money.

#2 BECCA EYE LIGHTS PALETTE from the APRES SKI GLOW COLLECTION (2017)

LIMITED EDITION

Net wt. 6 x 1.4g / 0.05oz

Made in USA

Price: Around C$55 but I got it on sale for C$35

First off, I love the packaging! The snow flakes on a mirrored surface really appeals to me hehe I think that's one of the reason why I got this in the first place. Anyway, these eyeshadows are supposedly made with the same formulation as with Becca's shimmering skin perfector pressed highlighters. Even the shade names are the same: Rose quartz, moonstone, opal, pearl, topaz, toasted marshmallow & hot cocoa. I haven't tried any of the cult favorite Becca highlighters (at the time I bought this) and if this has the same formula then this would be a steal! I could use this palette for both my eyes and cheeks which would be awesome in my mind. 

Well, all I could say is, I was so let down with the quality of these eyeshadows that I went out & got myself a mini size of a Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed highlighter in Vanilla Quartz just to compare. And my opinion solidified...These eyeshadows are not the same with the cult favorite highlighters. Yes, they are both smooth to the touch and has no chunky glitters but that's the only thing similar with these 2. The eyeshadows don't have any pigment at all and doesn't even have any shine that will make it a topper to make up for the lack of pigment. I can't make it show on my lids regardless of how many layers I put on, and even when I apply it with a damp brush it doesn't give a good shimmer. My Wet & Wild eyeshadows have more shine and pigment than these ones which makes me sad.

These swatches will show you how bland looking it is for something that is supposed to be a "shimmery" eyeshadow. And I swatched these heavily with my fingers, mind you, dipping in the eyeshadows multiple times just to make it show in the picture. Once you blended it in the eyes, the color washes away too so you need to keep on re-applying. In conclusion, I will just stick with the highlighters when it comes to Becca. I don't think I will get sucked in to buy another eyeshadow from this brand regardless of how beautiful the packaging is.


#1 FIRST AID BEAUTY COCONUT SKIN SMOOTHIE PRIMING MOISTURIZER   

Mini size: 0.75oz / 21.3g

Made in USA

Price: C$18

This product is another case of Youtube Made Me Buy It haha. As I've said, my skin is dry during winter and I wanted to make my makeup application a lot smoother over my flaky skin. This is the first moisturizing primer I've tried and I had high hopes for it since they said this is a good dupe for Too Faced Hangover Rx primer which is a dupe of the Marc Jacobs coconut primer. It has also been included in a lot of the top beauty products list of the beauty gurus that I follow. Well, it does moisturize my skin well. My makeup applies beautifully and it helps with the dry areas which makes my skin healthier. The price is reasonable as well, a full size of this only cost C$35 for a 50ml tube. I only have 2 problem with it: (1) it has coconut as the main ingredient & I've learned that it is very comedogenic and (2) this makes my skin oxidize so bad. I already have acidic skin and that's the reason why all of my foundation and powders are a shade lighter because regardless of the primer I used it is guaranteed that my base will oxidize. Well, this primer made it worse. I already tried different combination of products and I still have the same conclusion that this is the source. My skin turned so dark that it looks dirty and unflattering. 

So there you go, those are my top 5 regrets for 2017. I prefer buying in Sephora because I know that if something doesn't work for me, I can easily return it, no questions asked. I have actually only returned 1 product to them and that is the Hourglass palette because that's too expensive to sit on my dresser. I am actually hoping I could return the Becca palette as well but it's already past the 30 days period so I will just pass it to my teenager cousin who might be able to appreciate it better. 

What about you guys? What are your regrets for the last year? Please share them in the comment section below so that I will stay away from them when I see those in store haha. I get sucked in quite easily by marketing and packaging so I need all the help haha 😁        

Thank you for dropping by!

Review: Colourpop Dream St. Eyeshadow Palette

Hello everyone! Happy Louis Riel Day fellow Canadians! :)

I am back after a few weeks of being MIA, so sorry for not posting. I wasn't planning on taking that long of a break but life got a hold of me. I worked for almost a month straight without any day off as I was transitioning between 2 jobs and it drained my energy mentally and physically. All I wanted to do when I get home from work is sleep coz I know I will be waking up at 5am again the next day. Finally, my 1st day off came this weekend and I will now have fixed weekends off together with holidays. I'm so happy! I therefore conclude I really can't have a second job as it was so draining LOL. Now, I can start posting regularly again as my schedule is more fixed and predictable. Thank you for bearing with me! 😂

Today we are going to take a look at my first ever Colourpop product - Dream St. eyeshadow palette by KathleenLights. I decided to get a palette from them to check for myself if it really is worth the hype. It is also very affordable so I didn't mind trying it at all, just $16 US for 12 eyeshadows! Out of all the eyeshadow palette released by Colourpop lately, I went for the Dream St. because I loved all the looks created by not only Kathleen Lights herself, but also other Youtubers who have the palette. I was so tired of all the neutrals and the reds that were coming out so seeing blues and greens paired with neutral everyday colors got me sucked in. I also got lip products and brushes too but I haven't tested those out yet so review for the lipsticks will be coming in a separate post in the near future.

*The shade names at the back of the packaging is exactly the same in terms of orientation. 

The 1st color on the upper left is Shooting star while

the blue green pigment on the lower bottom right is mermaid boy*

Here are the finger swatches, applied dry without primer. 
I wanted to show you guys how much intensity it can go when you build it up:

Net wt: 12 x 0.85g (0.03oz)

Price: $16 (around $20 CAD)

Shipping to Canada: FREE for $50 & up (the reason why I got other stuff too coz I didn't want to pay shipping haha 😆)


WHAT I LIKED:

- Nothing can beat the pricing of Colourpop products. Everything is so affordable! This palette alone is a good example, just $1.33 per shadow! 

- Good quality. The shadows are pigmented, easy to blend and buildable. I can amp up the shine of the shimmer shadows easily with a damp brush if I want to or pat it in dry for a much subtle and everyday look. 

- Very versatile. I can create a variety of looks with this palette alone. I won't need to get a supplementary palette coz I have all the shades and finishes I need to create a complete look. You have neutrals, light & dark, pops of colors, matte & shimmer.

- Travel friendly. This palette is very light and thin. Very easy to pack in your travel makeup bag. It also has a strong magnetic closure so it won't open easily.

-  I like how I can build up the intensity slowly. It makes blending so much easier for me. I have a tendency to be very heavy handed so this is perfect for me coz I won't over do it quite easily.

- Lasting power is good too. Even with just a drugstore eyeshadow primer underneath, it can last me at least 8 hours before it starts to fade.

- Coourpop shipping is so hassle free. After I paid, my order got processed and shipped withing 24 or 48 hours. My package also arrived in good condition. Nothing is broken because every piece is packaged carefully.


WHAT I DIN'T LIKE:

- It has some powder kickback because of how it was pressed. The shadows are very soft and buttery so you should be careful and must not dig in your brush when picking up color. Make sure you tap off the excess too so that you won't get any fall out.

- I don't suggest applying the shimmers dry because they are not pigmented enough to give you the high shine glittery look you want but also the glitters migrate everywhere. I can't even pack it with my finger too coz I still get fall outs of glitter all over my face. The only way I can appreciate them is to foil them using a setting spray.

- I do love the cream & rose gold marble design of the packaging but it gets so dirty quite easily. I also wish it came with a mirror for ease of use.


WILL I RE-PURCHASE ANOTHER COLOURPOP EYESHADOW PALETTE? 
I am not actually sure. Maybe if they release something that I really wanted, I might, but the hassle of ordering from the US and waiting for it to come in the mail is not for me. I kept on thinking I will need to pay custom fees that will amount to more than the price I paid for for the products I bought haha. Also, it also has the same price with my NYX ultimate palettes which I loved more and I can easily find in Shoppers Drug Mart. 

FINAL THOUGHT: I am actually not a fan of softly pressed shadows because like I've said, I am heavy handed and I usually am usually in a rush so I don't have the time to be careful every single time I want to do my makeup. This palette needs extra care or else I will get lots of fallout and my palette will be messy from all the kickbacks. This is perfect for anyone who likes taking time in doing their eyeshadow looks. The shadows have great quality and it is a steal especially for the price. 


What about you? Do you love Colourpop products too? Please suggest which items I should try next in the comments section below. :)


Thank you for dropping by!

    

Review: Kat Von D Saint & Sinner Eyeshadow Palette (+ swatches for Urban Decay Heavy Metals Eyeshadow Palette)

Welcome back! 😄

As I was checking through my Sephora app for new releases (like usual, window shopping is real  hehe), I noticed that the Kat Von D Saint & Sinner eyeshadow palette is now back on stock! I was actually sad that I won't be able to review this because no one can get it anymore. So this news is great because when Kat Von D says limited edition, once it's out, it is out forever.  

This is my first ever first ever high end palette here in Canada. I have contemplated for so long before I picked it up because (1) it is so expensive & (2) I'm not sure I can get a lot of use out of it. I was actually encouraged to get it by the Youtubers that I respect the opinions of when it comes to quality of products. Jen of JenLuvsReviews, Liv of Livloveshermakeup & Jkissa all raved about the good quality of these eyeshadows & the ingredients so it really made me want to but it more. I convinced myself that with the 20% off from the VIB sale, it would be worth it LOL 😂 

Vegan

Made in Canada  -  Net Wt. 24 x 1g (0.04 oz)

I really liked the packaging. It is not practical but is really gorgeous. It is said that Kat Von D designed this herself. It is shaped like a cathedral and the shade arrangements reflects the colors of stained glasses in churches. The palette is divided into 2- the SAINT side which is the more natural, everyday colors & the SINNER which consists of more vibrant and fun colors. This has a mixture of mattes, shimmers and toppers. 

Look how vibrant the swatches are! These are all finger swatches without any eyeshadow primer. To be honest, I am really attracted to the Sinner side more because I just love colors so much! 

 WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS PALETTE:

- Cruelty free & Vegan. This means this product don't have any carmine (pigments from bugs) in it which is very rare in the cosmetic industry. If I can get a product without killing any kind of creature then that's the best way to go.

- Very pigmented & consistent. I have tried a lot of eyeshadows that swatches beautifully but doesn't translate to your eyelids, and I am glad to say Kat Von D shadows not only applies smoothly on the lid with or without primer but it also stays vibrant throughout the day too.

- Buildable & blendable. I know others prefer to have a very strong pigment at one go but I prefer it to be buildable because it is easier to blend. I can just get some product little by little and then blend. This way, I don't make mistakes easily and I can achieve the look & intensity I want depending on what I like at that moment. 

- I really enjoyed the color selection. I can create a complete look with just this palette. I have shades for crease, highlight, lid, accent & even colors to deepen the look. I won't need other supplemental palettes or eyeshadows because everything I need is here.

- Packaging is sturdy. I can travel with this palette & not worry that the eyeshadows will get crashed. I also love that it has magnetic closure that doesn't open up very easily.

- I am happy that I could create lots of looks from this ranging from no-makeup makeup look to edgy & colorful. I really am surprised that I get inspired whenever I open this even though I am not an artist 

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:

- The price. It is so expensive! $83 CAD plus 13% tax, all in all almost a hundred bucks for a palette of 24 shadows. I don't think I can buy this without the discount. 

- Even though I love the packaging, it is so hard to store since it is big. Maybe once I get a vanity table I can look for ways to display it haha

- It says in the packaging that this will expire in 9 months after opening. Although I don't follow the expiry date, I am worried that this will go bad faster than my other eyeshadows.

- Limited edition. I hate limited edition products because once I used it up or something happened to this, how will I replace it?

- Other people might get a hard time creating looks from this palette because of the arrangement of the shadows. I didn't mind it but others can get overwhelmed easily & get stuck on ideas because the shadows are scattered & was not layed out in a way that guides users in creating a look.

RECOMMENDED?

Definitely! You should buy this if you love a very versatile eyeshadow palette & you love playing with colors. These are very pigmented & blends easily so it is perfect for regular makeup lovers like me. I will definitely buy more Kat Von D eyeshadow palettes in the future if there will be new releases since I really love the quality, though I wish her products are not so expensive haha that's really a draw back most of the time.

  

By the way, sorry if I don't have any pictures using this palette. I was planning to do so but my eyelids were still super dry & flaky until now from the extreme weather conditions here in Winnipeg (-40 degrees!). I am not wearing any makeup for the last 2 weeks now because my skin from head to toe are so dry. I promise to post makeup looks soon once I get better skin condition. Crossing my fingers my new moisturizer will help.

  

BONUS:

I got the Urban Decay Heavy Metals eyeshadow palette last Christmas when it went on sale for just $35 from $72 CAD. I was actually aiming to get it when it first came out but I can't get over the price especially since I just bought the $82 KVD palette. Lucky for me, they went on sale and was able to grabbed it before it went out of stock. Although I have seen it on Shoppers Drug Mart website a week ago so I'm not sure if they still have some on stock. 

I have actually not used this yet on my eyes, but based on first impression with the finger swatches, this will look bomb! I bought this because I love very shimmery eyeshadow looks but I hate the need to use glitter glue, so this is perfect. Also, it has all the shades I will need to create a look & it will go nicely with my other eyeshadow palette that lacks glittery colors. 

Bulk Made in USA, Assembled in Dominican Republic 

Net Wt. 20 x 0.8g (0.03 oz)

What are your favorite eyeshadow palette? Please share them on the comment section below. 😄  


Thank you for dropping by!