Elizabeth and James Nirvana Rose

I love living in Canada because we get a good taste of all the seasons. And while I love all of them for different reasons, fall and winter are probably my favourites. To start with, I don’t do well in the heat. My maxim has always been – if you’re cold you can put on more layers, but if you’re hot you can’t strip out of your own skin. I love the colours of fall – russets, burnt orange, fiery red. I love cable knit sweaters. I love pumpkin spice lattes, candy-cane hot chocolate, and eggnog.

Nirvana Rose 1.0 oz Eau de Parfum / sephora.ca

But I also love these cooler seasons because I feel like it’s the best time to wear perfume.

High end fragrances are some of my favourite beauty products, and I don’t always feel right wearing them in the summer. It’s hot, you’re sweating, there’s often already the smell of flowers and greenery in the air, people’s allergies are in full swing – plus I hate the idea of attracting insects like bees or mosquitos. So I tend to stick to very light, fruity body sprays or citrusy perfumes.

But in winter, it’s time to bust out all the scents I love – things that are dark, more heavily floral, anything with notes of bergamot or geranium. I love

Nirvana Rose by Elizabeth and James fits the bill perfectly. The fragrance embraces the darkness of rose – with hints of rose de mai, geranium, and vetiver. It’s seductive and sultry, but refined to the point where it’s very sophisticated. While I wouldn’t say that this is inappropriate for work or day wear, I would say that it’s borderline. I felt fine wearing it to class, but I could see it being too much for the workplace.

For me – this is the scent where, had I walked into an elevator that someone wearing it had just exited, I would think – I want to know what that is, because I want to buy it. If I was a man, the person wearing it would be someone I want to get to know better. It leaves a lingering impression of elegancy and luxury which is hard for a fragrance to achieve.

Nirvana Rose 0.34 oz Rollerball / sephora.ca

I love the bottle – the red with gold accents and the subtle textures is a perfect fit for the scent. It feels good to hold; like a fragrance that’s been around for decades and has become a classic.

You can buy it at Sephora right now for CAD $82 for 1 oz, $107 for 1.7 oz, and $30 for a 0.34 oz Rollerball. It’s also available as part of the Find Your Nirvana Rollerball Set for $35, in which you get 4 x 0.10 oz mini rollerballs in Nirvana White, Black, Rose, and Bourbon. It’s also available as a 100 point perk from Sephora’s Reward’s Bazaar for the moment, in the same size as the Christmas set.

I highly recommend this scent for a holiday party, date night, or if you feel like turning heads. Nirvana indeed.

Skincare Review: First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Hydrating Serum

We in the makeup world probably don't talk about skincare as much as we should. I know I've been guilty of neglecting to look after my skin in the most basic ways in the past - having a full skincare routine can be time consuming, and the last thing you want to do when you've finished studying at 2AM is anything other than falling into bed.

this summer, working my first office job, I realized I didn't have time for my full makeup routine in the morning - eyeshadow, mascara, lipstick and a little concealer were about all I could manage consistently. I realized I was getting really fed up with my skin - the texture, massive pores, sebaceous filaments in my nose, the pimples - and my face isn't even bad most days.

Any acne I get is mostly hormonal/stress/heat related. I'm also really bad at NOT LEAVING MY SKIN ALONE - remembering not to touch my face throughout the day, not missing with my blackheads, etc.

So this summer I set out on a journey to find a skincare routine.


It's important to note that you should first patch test everything on your arm before you use it on your face, only add one product to your routine at a time, and make sure to give it a full 30 days before you assume its actually doing anything to your skin. It generally takes around a month before your skin fully adapts to whatever product you've added.

So I've been set on my cleanser for a long time - Vichy Normaderm, in the big green bottle from Shopper's drug mart. It's not overly expensive, a bottle lasts me about 6 months, its gentle, and my skin doesn't feel overly tight after I use it. I also love my FOREO Luna Play - I got it in the Sephora Favourites set and will be buying the Luna Mini when the Play runs out of battery. My pores have been noticeably smaller and clearer since using it.


But moisturizer. Moisturizer is REALLY important part of one's skincare routine! Even if you don't think you should be using it, you should probably be using it. My skin tends to get oily because it's dry - it overproduces oil to compensate for dryness.


I thought I was doing well with a Garnier gel moisturizer, but nope, still an oil slick by noon. Then I tried a massive VIB sample of the Fresh Creme Ancienne - from last year's VIB sample bag - which lasted me a month. It retails for CAD $172/oz. I can't afford those prices, so while I really loved that product, it's not happening. Not until I make partner.

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Hydrating Serum / sephora.com

So moving on, I moved to the Ultra Repair Hydrating Serum from First Aid Beauty. It retails for CAD $45/oz. I found this product a bit confusing - it's described as a hydrating gel with hyaluronic acid that hydrates, plumps, and reduces fine lines and wrinkles. It also says that it's perfect for layering under your favourite AM or PM moisturizer. So is it a moisturizer? Or do I use it under a moisturizer? I...am not sure. I've been using it on its own, because I really don't want that many products in a skincare routine.


Guys. I do NOT like it. I dislike the scent, the texture, and the feel on my skin. It also doesn't actually seem to be doing anything.


Scent - it has a weird no smell scent - like its vaguely medical. First Aid Beauty says they're 100% scent free, so if you tend to have problems with scents, this is actually a bonus for you! They do market to sensitive skin, so I can understand this choice. My personal preference is for moisturizer to smell more luxurious, though.

Texture - The serum is a clear gel. It actually reminds me of a mask or peel that you would squeeze out of a tube - its thick, and very tacky. It feels really sticky, and not smooth.

Application / Wear - Fail. The product feels sticky going on, doesn't really rub in, and stays sticky for awhile after application. I've found that as I wear it, the stickiness changes, but doesn't go away. My skin doesn't feel soft or smooth - it feels kind of tacky, and reminds me of a bad sunscreen. My face feels less oily, but it also doesn't feel soft and smooth. I really would not anyone touching my face affectionately right now, because it just - ugh. I almost want to wash it off.

So I didn't love the product, but some of you might? if gel moisturizers have been your thing in the past, you might want to give this a try - but I definitely recommend trying to get a sample first. Of note - this brand is cruelty free! I don't like this specific product of theirs, but I would definitely support them on this basis if I find something else I like in the future.


IN SUM:
Love the company, don't like the product. Hated the texture and application/wear, didn't mind that it wasn't scented. Would not repurchase.

Sephora Favourites: Trending – Beauty’s Most Coveted

So all of us makeup addicts love the holiday beauty season. Value sets abound, allowing us to sample products we might not ordinarily buy on our own.

The Sephora Favorites line of sets is great for this, in particular. They usually have a few full sized products mixed in with several minis, and they’re usually all high quality brands. Often the sets have a decent mix of products that I’ve tried already and know I love (and will inevitably need to replace), along with high end products I wouldn’t necessarily buy on their own and unknown products that I’m willing to give a shot when they’re included in the set. This year I plan to try a few of the Sephora Favorites sets, but the first one I ordered was “Sephora Favorites Trending: Beauty’s Most Coveted”.

Retailing for $90 CAD, the set includes:

-       A BeautyBlender Nude

Photo Courtesy of Sephora.ca

-       0.08oz/2.51 mL Becca Cosmetics Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Moonstone

-       0.03oz/0.88mL Benefit Cosmetics Ka-Brow! In Shade 3

-       0.17oz/5.02 mL Cover FX Enhance Click in Bubbly

-       0.04oz/1.44 mL the Estée Edit The Edgiest Kohl Shadowstick in 01 Black Viper

-       FOREO LUNA^tm Play in Fushcia

-       0.3oz/8.87 mL Glamglow® Supermud®

-       0.02 oz/5.91 mL Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper

-       0.33oz/ 9.75 mL Laura Mercier Travel Size Translucent Loose Setting Powder + Puff

-       0.04 oz / 1.41 mL NARS Cosmetics Radiant Creamy Concealer in Custard

-       0.24 oz/ 7 mL Tarte Marine Boosting 4 in 1 Mist

-       0.11 oz/3.25 mL Urban Decay Vice Lipstick in 714

That’s a pretty solid list of products, no? for $90, you’re getting 12 products, all of which are from mid to high end brands. Let’s go through them one by one.

Beauty Blender Nude - $28 CAD

The beauty Blender Nude retails on its own for $28 CAD. You’re effectively paying $7.50 for it, if you divide the number of products (12) by the amount of money ($90 before tax). I have the original hot pink beauty blender, and I know I’ll have to replace it eventually – so having a second one hanging around isn’t a problem for me.

I’ve never tried other cosmetics sponges, but I swear by the beauty blender – it’s just the right texture, I don’t feel like it absorbs a lot of product, and I love the shape – the teardrop is perfect for blending concealer out in small areas under my eyes, while I love the bottom for bouncing foundation onto my nose. BBs are also super versatile – they can be used for cream, liquid or powder products.

Shimmering Skin Perfector (Pressed) In Moonstone - $46 CAD, Full size 0.28 oz/ 8 g

Straight up, I don’t use highlighter very often (And yet, I have Champagne pop, opal, rose gold, and now moonstone. Someone stop me). But you’re getting a pretty good deal for this. I don’t know anyone who’s EVER used up an entire highlight; unless you’re into the “do your whole face with highlighter” thing on a regular basis. That said, I love the texture of the Becca highlights. I tend to use them more often as shimmery eyeshadow. Take caution though: they are extremely shatter prone. Be careful with them.

Here’s how the cost stacks up, as well as the sample size compared to the full size.

0.28/0.08 = 3.5 – so the full size is 3.5x the size of the sample

46/3.5 = 13.14 – so the “price” of the sample, according to the dollar/ounce value of the full size, is $13.14. I’ll do this math for every product.

0.03oz/0.88mL Benefit Cosmetics Ka-Brow! In Shade 3 – Full size is 0.1oz/$30

This is a great product. It’s similar to the Anastasia dipbrow, but I find it a bit easier to use. It’s less finicky. However – the shade in this product is shade 3, Medium – described as light to medium brown, redheads (neutral warm). So if you’re very blonde, or very dark, this likely won’t work for you. It’s the one issue I have with the favourites sets – the things like concealer and brow gel that they put in are “one shade fits all”, which we know already isn’t true. It does make this set less worth it for POC or people that are outside “medium”, unless you sell the samples to your friends or something.

0.1/0.03 = 3.33 – full size is 3.3x sample size

30/3.33 = $9.09 – sample size is valued at approx. $9.

0.17oz/5.02 mL Cover FX Enhance Click in Bubbly – FULL SIZE PRODUCT;  $24

Bubbly is described as a “soft rosy peach shimmer”. It reminds me of Becca’s blushed copper; I think this is a great shade for a wide range of skin tones. It has a creamy texture, similar to Becca’s poured highlighters; and it requires a bit of blending to make it look less obvious. A similar product would be Benefit’s Watts Up. This is a full sized product – so you’re effectively paying $7.50 for it as one of the 12 products in the set.

0.04oz/1.44 mL the Estée Edit The Edgiest Kohl Shadowstick in 01 Black Viper – Full size is 0.049 oz, price $26

This is another one where you’re basically getting the full sized product. I don’t wear a lot of black eyeliner, I find it tends to look to harsh on me – but this one works surprisingly well because it’s so soft and smudgeable. It also stays on like no one’s business – that liner aint going nowhere, once it dries. It does feel a bit smeary though.

FOREO LUNA^tm Play in Fushcia – Priced at $49, other luna models retail at at least $150.

The Luna Play is the first time I’ve seen a “cleansing” device in a Sephora kit. I’ve seen skincare products before, but this was a first.

The Luna Play is meant to be an introduction to the LUNA line – it comes with a non-replaceable battery, with enough charge to last for 100 x 1 minute uses. The LUNA uses soft silicone “touchpoints” and vibrations to cleanse your skin – using a similar method to the Clairsonic or a konjac sponge. It also comes with a code you can enter at Foreo.com to get $49 off the purchase of one of the rechargeable Luna models.

I think this is a really cool concept, allowing you to “try” a product like this for long enough that you can actually see the difference in your skin, without making you buy the full size. Generally, if you want to try something like this, you just have to take the plunge and shell out for the regular product.

I’ve seen some reviews saying that the product conked out after a few uses, didn’t last nearly as long as it was supposed to, etc. I’ve also seen some people raving about the play. So far I haven’t had any problems with mine, and I’ve been loving it! My skin seems visibly brighter and my pores seem smaller. It’s also really relaxing. I think I’ll definitely purchase the full size when my Play runs out of juice. The only downside is that the discount code does not seem to work on Sephora.com, only the Foreo website – so I might have to deal with some shipping hurdles later.

With the set, you’re effectively paying $7.50 for a $50 product.

0.3oz/8.87 mL Glamglow® Supermud® - Full size is $79 for 1.2oz, or $24 for 5x0.1 oz single use treatments

I had actually picked up the single use treatment packs to try the Supermud before I got it in the set, so I knew I like the product and I was happy to have more of it. When I run out, I’ll probably shell out for the 1.2 oz size, because this stuff makes my skin feel AMAZING. I do have some other masks to try as well though, so if I can find a less expensive product that doesn’t break the bank I’ll probably go with that.  The mud is soothing, cooling, and has a pleasant anise smell. It washes off really easily, and my pores are visibly clearer and smaller. I love this stuff!

1.2/0/3 = 4 – full size is 4x the size of the product

79/4 = $19.75 (Value of sample)

0.02 oz/0.7 mL Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper – FULL SIZE, regular price $25.

Once again, a full sized product for $7.50. That said, I’m getting really sick of seeing Trooper in sets. It seems like they throw this liner in EVERYWHERE! I do like it as a liquid liner – I like the brush tip, the liner has great staying power, and its generally easy to work with. I do find it dries out a little too quickly and that it sometimes gets “sticky” when you use it over a shadow base.

But I have like 4 of these, I swear. STOP PUTTING IT IN SETS, I WANT SOMETHING DIFFERENT!

0.33oz/ 9.75 mL Laura Mercier Travel Size Translucent Loose Setting Powder + Puff

This product is offered in two sizes at Sephora already – the travel size, which retails for $28, and which is what we have in the set – and the 1 oz full size, which retails for $47. The puff costs $17, and is also included in the Sephora set. So you’ve gotten $45 worth of products (powder + puff) for $18, which isn’t bad.

I’ve never tried this before, but I’ve heard people raving about it – and they are right. There isn’t any flashback in photos, it sets your makeup beautifully, and there’s no annoying white cast. I also love the puff – it seems more effective than a traditional powder brush.

0.04 oz / 1.41 mL NARS Cosmetics Radiant Creamy Concealer in Custard – Travel size 0.05oz/$16, Full size 0.22 oz/ $36

This is another product that makes me cringe for POC or anyone who isn’t “yellow toned for light to medium complexion”. If you don’t fit into a very specific shade range, this product will not work for you, which is a shame. I think these favourites sets would be awesome if you could add your shade of concealer/brow gel or something like that at checkout. That said, it does work for me, and I like the texture. I like that it’s a bit thick, because my concealer tends to crease underneath my eyes and I need the yellow to cancel out my dark circles.

I’m going to do the price comparison to the full size, because the travel size has like 0 shade range.

0.22 / 0.04 = 5.5 – regular size is 5.5x the sample

36 / 5.5 = $6.54 – sample value is $6.54. This isn’t the greatest value – you’re actually paying more for the sample than it’s worth as part of the set. But I think the value you get out of the other products makes up for it. And hey, maybe you can sell this to a friend?

0.24 oz/ 7 mL Tarte Marine Boosting 4 in 1 Mist – Full size is 2.5 oz/ $30

I LOVE THIS PRODUCT! I actually got to try it as part of another Tarte set and ended up selling this to a friend for $5, because I already have the full size and use it often. It has a lovely citrus scent, and sets my makeup + waterproofs it like NOBODY’S business. I could get caught in a thunderstorm and this would keep me sealed. It also works great as a primer! Pro tip tho: don’t get it on your glasses. It’s a bit sticky.

2.5 / 0.24 = 10.41 – regular size is 10x the size of the sample

30 / 10.4 = 2.88 – value of the sample is $2.88

Again, not the best value. But this is great for travel, and it is a fantastic product. I would highly recommend it, and the rest of the set makes it worth it.

0.11 oz/3.25 mL Urban Decay Vice Lipstick in 714 – FULL SIZE - $21

714 is a “mega matte” bright red. It’s close to a true red, with a blue base. I love the VICE formula – the mattes are really comfortable, they have great longevity, and I probably would have ended up buying this anyways. Awesome product!

So that’s the end of the products – let’s talk about the value of the set in general!

FULL SIZED PRODUCTS:

Beauty Blender Nude – regular price $28

Cover FX Enhance Click – regular price $24

Estee Edit Edgiest Kohl Stick – Regular Price $26

Foreo Luna Play – regular price $49

Kat Von D Tattoo Liner – regular price $25

Urban Decay Vice Lipstick – regular price $21

TOTAL retail price for products: $173

SAMPLE SIZED PRODUCTS

Benefit Cosmetics Ka-Brow! – sample value = $9

Glamglow Supermud – sample value = $19.75

Laura Mercier Setting Powder + Puff – sample value = $18

Nars Cosmetics Radiant Creamy Concealer – sample value = $6.54

Tarte Marine Boosting 4 in 1 Mist = $2.88

TOTAL sample value of products: $56.17

TOTAL SET VALUE: $229.17

So you paid $90. That’s pretty solid, for almost $230 of product. And in my opinion, the majority of these products can be used by anyone, with the exception of the brow gel and the concealer. So is the set worth getting? YES!