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,

  

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! 

My Top 5 Most Used Products of 2017

Welcome back fellow makeup lovers!

Today, I wanted to share my top 5 most used products for the year 2017. I have tried so many products this past year that I was able to reach VIB Rouge status at Sephora in 10 months! And that's not counting the drugstore products that I accumulated too since I live near a Superstore (so bad for my wallet LOL 😄). Anyway, these contain mini reviews, but if you wanted swatches or in-depth reviews for any of these, feel free to comment below and I will be more than happy to do so. 

#5 Pixi Glow Tonic

This Glycolic Acid toner helped my skin so much over the past year. It helped me with my breakouts especially during summer and it kept my skin feeling smoother over time. Although this toner is very expensive for something from the drugstore (around $40 CAD!), even with everyday use a bottle will still last you 8 months to a year plus it is effective. Now I know why this is a cult favorite or so many years. 

#4 Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation

This is my go-to foundation since I got this in late 2016 as a gift from my sis when she went to Japan. I could use this on any season (summer to winter) and it will still perform the same. I just need to change my primer depending on what my skin condition is. This is very lightweight (you could hardly feel this on your face!), doesn't break me out even if I use it frequently and it gives the perfect light-medium coverage for everyday use. This also has SPF 25 PA++ which is nice especially since I use Vitamin C on my skincare routine. Shade 213 is perfect for me too which is a bonus since this foundation has a very limited shade range. I don't know what I would do when this run out because it is not available here in Canada.  

 #3 The Balm In The Balm Of Your Hand Vol. I Palette

I know this specific palette is limited edition and that there's a Vol. II now, but all of the items in this palette are in their permanent line so you can get them individually if you want to. This is one of the 3 palettes that I brought with me when I moved here in Canada. I know that I won't be able to bring my whole makeup collection and I knew this would be the best choice because everything I need to create a look is in here. The only item I wasn't able to use much are the lip products and the eyeshadows Lead Zeppelin & Insane Jane. The rest are used on a daily basis even when I have already built a new makeup collection here. These powder products got pigment, staying power and blendability. Consistent good quality performance every time. 

#2 Wet n Wild Megaslick Balm Stains

As you can see in the picture, these are well loved. I have used these lip stains for 3 years now and I keep on repurchasing. They are long lasting, non-drying and very affordable. What more could you ask for, right? If you really wanted a no fuss lip color that you can wear and forget about for a couple of hours, this is meant for you. I never worried about feathering or transferring on my teeth or fading unevenly. That is why this is my go-to lip product if I know I don't have enough time to re-touch and look in the mirror frequently.   

*My fave color is Made You Pink for everyday

#1 Marcelle Micellar Water

I can't count anymore how many bottles I've used up since I came here. This is the best makeup remover I've used! It is so gentle that it doesn't sting my eyes but it is so heavy duty that it can remove even waterproof mascaras. It doesn't irritate my skin or strip it with moisture, no breakouts too. Although this is not cheap compared to other micellar water available at the drugstore (around $20 CAD) but this the only cruelty free brand I can find here and it is so effective that I don't mind paying the price. I just wait for sales and hoard as many bottles I can get haha I never ran out of backups. Love the dispenser too, it makes getting just the right amount of product on the cotton pad faster.

Thank you so much for dropping by today! My next posts would be about my thoughts on the 2017 Holiday Collection/Limited edition releases. I know some of them are already out of stock but there are some that are still being sold at Sephora and on lower pricing too. Please watch out for that, and I will try to upload those in the following days. 😊  

XOXO,