FOTD + OOTD: The scars of your love they leave me breathless, I can't help feeling we could of had it all

I realize I don't post FOTDs or OOTDs often on here and I don't really have a proper reason besides lazyness. I must admit I never thought my makeup looks or outfits could be of any interest as I mostly stick with basic and neutral looks - boring much? - but these types of posts seem to be very popular on the blogosphere.

Anyway, I had a job interview two weeks ago (I got the job, yey!) and for once, I was not in a rush and I had the time to take proper pictures!

Face

Annabelle Zebra Bronzing Powder - Haute Gold

Annabelle Blossom Blush - Peachy

Eyes

Eyeko Big Eyes Mascara

L'Oréal Voluminous Carbon Black

MAC Frost Eye Shadow - Bronze (all over lid and outer corner)

Maybelline Unstoppable Eyeliner - Onyx (corner of upper and lower lashline)

Wet N Wild Coloricon Brow & Eye Liner - Taupe (brow)

Lips

FACE atelier Lipstick - Coral Reef

Cardigan - Stitches | Camisole - Jean Bleu | Skinny jeans - Sirens | Nail polish - Borghese Nail Lacquer in Venetian Red

Lyrics are from Rolling in the Deep, from Adele

Mail of the Week (April 4 - 8)

17 Vintage Love Metallic Nudes palette from B's giveaway: I'm so happy to have won this as there's no Boots here, and the shades are sooo gorgeous and pigmented! I'll be sure to write a full post about this palette, including swatches (if I finally bring myself to touch it, it's so pretty!) Thanks B! =D

Sigma Travel Kit Naughty in Black: I recently became a Sigma affiliate so of course I have applied for their incentive package. According to their table, I thought I would receive Miss Taylor Kabuki but for some reasons I got the travel kit, which is awesome! Here's what it includes:

• Pencil - E30 - Precise application of color on the crease, outer corner, and upper and lower lash line. Also ideal to smudge out pencil liner. Natural bristles. 
• Tapered Blending - E40 - Rounded and tapered top. Specially designed to apply and blend color on the crease. Natural bristles.  
• Eye Shading - E55 - Soft and dense with a rounded finish. Can be used to apply pressed or loose eye shadows and pigments. Ideal to build intense color on the eyelid. Natural bristles. 
• Large Powder - F30 - Very dense with a rounded top. Ideal to apply powder products on face and body. Natural bristles.  
• Large Angled Contour - F40 - The angled shape makes this brush ideal to apply blush or contour shades. Natural bristles. 
• Foundation - F60 - Can be used to apply liquid or cream foundation. It is also recommended to apply moisturizers and conceal large areas. Synthetic bristles. 
• Concealer - F70 - The rounded, tampered, flat shape makes this brush ideal to conceal the under eye area. It is also recommended for a precise application in small areas. Synthetic bristles.
• Duo Fibre- F50 - Specially designed to generate an ‘airbrushed’ finish when used to apply liquid foundation. It can also be used to apply blush, highlight shades and loose pigments. Blend of synthetic and natural bristles.

Biotherm products:  Wow, I seriously wasn't expecting that! I know L'Oréal has my mailing address, but I wasn't waiting for such a big package! Here's what they sent me:

• Sun Protection Ultra-Fluid Body Milk SPF 30
• Sun Protection Ultra-Fluid Body Milk SPF 15
• Sun Care Eye Contour Multi-Protection SPF 30
• Sun After Oligo-Thermal Milk 
• Sun After Oligo-Thermal Sparkle Cream
• Celluli Laser S.Code Advanced Smoothing and Firming Care (stomach-waist)

I don't think I will need to buy sunscreen this summer, that's the least I can say!

Dove Damage Therapy Intensive Repair Daily Treatment Conditioner sample: I totally forgot I have signed up for this sample on Dove's Facebook page, but it sure looks great! It's claimed to be "The most intense conditioner Dove has to offer", and it's exactly what my dry hair needs. All of the samples have been claimed though.

John Frieda Brilliant Brunette 7-Day Trial: I got these by "liking" John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Canada on Facebook. The samples are all gone but you can still enter their contest to win a trip to NYC.

Splenda No Calorie Sweetener Flavours for Coffee samples: I was lucky enough to be able to get some from Living Well.ca, as all of their promotions end up pretty fast. I'm normally not a fan of Splenda but I have tried the French Vanilla flavor and it's yummy!

Maybelline Fit Me samples and coupons: Maybelline New York Canada were giving away samples of their new Fit Me foundation on their Facebook page a while ago so that you can find your shade. If I'm right, I think I'm 115. Not sure I will purchase this foundation though.

May issue of FASHION: I seriously have no idea what's going on as my subscription expired in February... Here's the proof:

May issue of Glamour

♥

I really want to thank everyone who was kind enough to take the time to share with me their honest opinion on my Mail of the Week posts. I really appreciate your feedback, it's important to me. I will continue doing these posts, and I'm currently working on a way to let you know in advance when I sign up for a free sample so that you will be able to sign up for it too before the promotion ends. I've started using Twitter for that, and I'm thinking maybe my Facebook fan page could be useful too, what do you think? Feel free to let me know if you have any suggestion.

On another note, any of you going to Marcelle Spring Warehouse Sale this week-end?

Annabelle makeup: $1.50 / unit

Marcelle make-up: $2.50 / unit

Skin care: various prices

Friday, April 8: 4 pm to 8 pm

Saturday, April 9: 9 am to 4 pm

Sunday, April 10: 9 am to 4 pm

No invitation necessary. Open to the general public.

9200, ch. Côte-de-Liesse, Lachine, QC, H8T 1A1

Don't forget to enter my hairfreé Hair Brushes Giveaway! It ends Tuesday April 12!

Tag: 5 Beauty Items You Regret Buying

I've been tagged by the lovely Annabelle from Makeup Wonderland to list five products I regret buying. Now I'll be honest, I can't say I have really hated a lot of products, but for the purpose of this post, I have narrowed down some items that aren't given much love for a reason or for another.

o1. Annabelle Eye & Face Palette in Ibiza

I got this palette for only $1.50 at the first Marcelle warehouse sale I attended (see my super old post here). When I saw it, I thought it was a perfect neutral palette, but as I was a makeup noob at the time, I didn't swatched it before buying it. See the disaster for yourself:

The eyeshadows are sooo sheer and chalky, but the bronzer is great (althought a little too shimmery, but I bet it would make a great eyeshadow). I think I will depot the bronzer and give the eyeshadows away.

o2. Maybelline Expert Wear Eye Shadow Quad in Designer Chocolates

I bought it because it was on sale for $5 and it came in a package with something else... I think it was an eyeliner, I can't remember. I'm so disappointed as the shades are all so sheer and hard to blend.

You can't even see the lid shade, it's just shimmers! Same for the crease, and the browbone is almost invisible. The outer corner seems more pigmented but you need to pile on shadows to make it opaque and it's hard to blend. I'm sad because I've seen some many swatches of this quad in Chai Latte and other neutral shades and they all look pretty and pigmented.

o3. Avon Smooth Minerals Lipstick SPF 15 in Apricot Glow and Crystal Coral 

I bought these somewhere in October or September (see super old post here), when I was still an Avon rep, as I had a discount and they were already on sale. I think I got them for around $3. I was new to lipsticks then (and I still am!) but I really wanted to try a mineral lipstick, and I thought the shades looked pretty. The swatches in the Avon leaflets were always terrible, but I ended up getting two shades that looked natural.

I was disappointed to see that they are so shimmery. I was looking for a natural look, so I thought a mineral lipstick would be perfect for that. Those shades are sheer and natural, but the shimmers still bug me a little.

 Apricot Glow

 Crystal Coral

L-R: Apricot Glow, Crystal Coral

I love that they are sheer and feel almost like a gloss on the lips as they are so lightweight. These lipsticks are supposed to keep lips smooth as they are enhanced with shea butter and conditioning oils, but I don't think they could replace lipbalm if you have super dry lips like me. 

To be clear, I don't hate these lipsticks, I just wish Avon would picture more accurate swatches of their products in their leaflets. If I knew they would contain so much shimmers, I wouldn't have bought them.

o4. Avon Solutions Winter Moisturizing Mask (review)

I was thrilled to try this mask as it seemed to have been designed especially for dry skin that gets even more dryer in the winter, but it was a complete let down.

The mask has a subtle apricot scent and the texture looks great when you dip your finger in the tub, but it's a different story when applied to the face. It's too light for a mask and it's not moisturizing at all. What a waste of money!

 o5. Herbal Essence Dangerously Straight Pin Straight Hairspray

Wow, this is sooo old! I bought it when I was in high school, when I started envying the girls with super straight hair. I didn't know about flat iton at the time LOL. Needless to say, this is crap. It makes my hair stiff and sticky (even though it claims not to) and it doesn't help it stay straight at all.

January Empties

 ☑ Cranberry & Pear Bath Soak

I have too many bath products, I really need to use some up! This bath soak was part of a set of "no name" products that was on sale at Wal-Mart for Christmas last year. It doesn't really smell anything once poured in the bath, and I didn't notice any difference on my skin. Disappoing )=


Repurchase? no

What I'm currently using to replace it: a bunch of other bath products

 ☑ Bodycology Brown Sugar Vanilla Body Butter

Wow, I was so excited to try this when I first saw it at Wal-Mart, it looked yummy and everything, and it reminded me of another brand sold at Wal-Mart called SPAresource... but the scent makes me sick (it doesn't even smell like vanilla), and it's absolutely not moisturizing!

Repurchase? no

What I'm currently using to replace it: Fruits Scents Strawberry Body Butter

 ☑ Maybelline The Falsies Volum' Express Mascara in Blackest Black (review)

I love this mascara, even though I don't see the promised false lash effect. It's lenghtening and volumizing and it's easily buildable, which is exactly what I look for in a mascara. It does flake a little through the day, which is annoying, but not enough to stop using it =P


Repurchase? yes, definitely!

What I'm currently using to replace it: Yves Saint Laurent Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils

  ☑ Algemarin Dry Shampoo (review)

This is the first dry shampoo I have ever used, and it does the job quite well. I hate the mess it does (you have to cover your shoulders with a towel if you don't want to end up with white powder all over you), but I would repurchase it anyway, but it's quite hard to find.

Repurchase? yes

What I'm currently using to replace it: TRESemmé Fresh Start Dry Shampoo for oily/straight to normal hair

November empties

☑ Alibi Pure Petroleum Jelly

No, this isn't the real stuff LOL. But I got it for free so I didn't say no! It works, but the consistency is slightly softer than the real Vaseline.

Repurchase? no, I will stick to the real thing =P

What I'm currently using to replace it: Vaseline White Petroleum Jelly

☑ Revlon ColorSilk After-Color Conditioner

This came with the Revlon ColorSilk hair dye I used last month. This is the first after-color conditioner I use up in a looooong time! I always forget to use them LOL.

Repurchase? I'm still not sure if I would repurchase the hair dye, but it's not available in Quebec anyway (as far as I know).

What I'm currently using to replace it: Clairol Perfect 10 Nice 'n Easy Color Seal Intensive Conditioning Cream (6 weekly treatments)

 ☑ John Frieda Frizz-Ease Smooth Start Shampoo, Conditioner (8.3 mL) and Hair Serum (4.4 mL)

It was nice to try those products, but I don't really care because I don't have to deal with frizz. The serum made my hair silky soft, though!

Repurchase? no as my hair isn't prone to frizz

What I'm currently using to replace it: L'Oréal Paris EverStrong Sulfate-Free Fortify System Hydrate Shampoo, Conditioner and Overnight Repair Treatment

☑ Clairol Perfect 10 Nice 'n Easy Color Seal Intensive Conditioning Cream (6 weekly treatments)

Like all conditiong treatments that come with hair dye, this is great. It leaves my hair soft and shiny and it smells so good!

Repurchase? I wouldn't repurchase Perfect 10 as I didn't noticed anything different from any other hair dye

What I'm currently using to replace it: not sure yet

☑ Cellnique Vital Cellular Repair Emulsion (read my review here)

This is not enough moisturizing for my parched skin and it leaves tiny residues on my face when I rub it. Oh, and it's super expensive ($73.00 for 30g)!

Repurchase? no

What I'm currently using to replace it: Marcelle Hydra-C 24H Moisturizing Gel Cream for dry skin

 ☑ Thierry Mugler Womanity Perfumed Shower Gel

I'm not a fan of the fragrance, but the shower gel was OK. It was kind of cheap, though.

Repurchase? no

What I'm currently using to replace it: Caress Whipped Soufflé Body Wash Blackberry Cream

 ☑ Bella Spa by Ivy Castle Luxury Body Butter Coca Butter

I swear this made my skin even drier! It's from the dollar store so of course I wasn't expecting much, but I'm really disappointed. Oh and this is more of a body lotion than a body butter. Oh well, I won't complain for a little more than $1.

Repurchase? no

What I'm currently using to replace it: Fruits Scents Strawberry Body Butter

 ☑ L'Oréal Paris EverStrong Sulfate-Free Fortify System Hydrate Shampoo, Conditioner and Overnight Repair Treatment (0.3 FLOZ, 10ML)

The smell of the shampoo and conditioner is great and they leather very well. I'm not sure about the overnight treatment hough, I haven't really noticed a difference with my hair so far.

Repurchase? not likely

What I'm currently using to replace it: Fast Fortified Amino Scalp Therapy Shampoo and Conditioner and Hana Shine Shield

 ☑ Maybelline Great Lash Clear Mascara

I used this to tame my brows from time to time but they don't really need taming anyway. And look at how disgusting this has become -_-

Repurchase? no

What I'm currently using to replace it: -

 ☑ Klorane Citrus Pulp Shampoo with vitamins

I'm glad I got this as a gift with purchase, because it's totally disappointing. I needed tons of product to cover my whole head, and it didn't leather as much as I would have like.

Repurchase? no

What I'm currently using to replace it: L'Oréal Paris Vive Pro Colour-Vive Shampoo

Birthday FOTN, NOTW and presents

I celebrated my birthday with some friends Friday night. We went to my favorite restaurant, Jardin Thai (I ate sushis with cream cheese and smoked salmon and General Tso's chicken) , and we went clubbing at Le Vieux Shack.

Here's my FOTN:

Eyes

Annabelle Galaxy Eyeshadow Paletter - Shooting Star

Maybelline Unstoppable Eyeliner - Onyx

Maybelline The Falsies Volum' Express Mascara - Blackest Black

OLAY Regenerist Touch of Concealer Eye Regenerating Cream

Face

Annabelle Zebra Bronzing Powder - Haute Gold

Annabelle Blossom Blush - Peachy

Lips 

Vaseline

(= ♥

I added eyeliner before leaving the house LOL. Don't you think it makes all the difference?

And here's my NOTW, using Borghese Nail Lacquer in Venetian Red (thanks again, Kim!) and Sally Hansen Hard As Nails Xtreme Wear Nail Color in Rockstar Pink:

with flash

without flash

Sara and my boyfriend got me some goodies for my birthday =D

 Sara decorated the bag and the box with words I say often like "man", "sex", "shit"... yes, typicial me LOL.

 Maynards Juicy Squirts Sours: These are my favorite candies ever!

 How cute is this!

Fruits & Passion Foaming Bath Collection: The collection includes 2 fl. oz of Blackberry Musk, Pear Peony, Grapefruit Guava, Orange Cantaloup, Georgia peach and Field Berries. They all smell yummy, and I can't wait to try them!

Maybelline The Falsies Volum' Express in Black Drama: I'm currently using the original The Falsies and loving it (even though I don't really see the "dramatic false lash effect"), so I'm sure I'll love this one just as much!

Burt's Bees Facial Care Kit: 

This set is sure to naturally cleanse and will leave your face feeling refreshed and radiant.

• Soap Bark & Chamomile Deep Cleansing Cream 170g
• Peach & Willowbark Deep Pore Scrub 15g
• Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil 4.25g

This set costs around $14 so it's a great bargain as the cleanser alone costs $12.99. I wanted to try a cream cleanser that wouldn't dry out my skin as it's already dry and it worsens in the winter so I'm very happy with this!

Sally Hansen Nail Art Pen in Black and Red: I wasn't sure if I wanted to buy some myself because I'm very lazy and I didn't think I could achieve something great, but I will definitely give it a try.

Jim Benton's It's Happy Bunny Socks: I needed socks, and I love Happy Bunny! Sara picked these out because it says things I can totally relate to those quotes:

 "I hate everything." (Typical me!)

 "I just don't listen." (I... just don't listen LOL)

 "It's all about me. Deal with it." (Yes, I'm selfish like that)

Jim Benton's It's Happy Bunny and Betty Boop Slipper Socks: Slipper socks are great to lounge around the house in, but unfortunately, these didn't fit, even though it says it will fit shoe size 4 to 10.

 "It's cute how you think I'm listening." (Typical thing I would say to my boyfriend LOL)

I'm not sure what happened here, but the design on the back of the socks seems to have been glued to iself and it makes the socks incomfortable to walk in.

Yoshi plush: I was in Future Shop with my boyfriend when I found some adorable Nintendo plushes and my boyfriend bought me Yoshi! Isn't it the cutest? ^^

I have the best friend and boyfriend hehe! =D