April 2015 Haul (Makeup)

I honestly tried my best not to buy that much makeup in April, because I bought so much in March! But with the Sephora VIB Sale, I just couldn't help it, but I luckily didn't do as much damage as I thought I would do. Even just other makeup brands, they had specials going on, but I tried to tame myself! So here's my haul! I purchased from Sephora, Mac, Younique, The Bay, Walmart, Gerard Cosmetics and Makeup Geek. I'm really happy with my purchases this month! I have 2 orders that I've placed (Sephora and Morphe Brushes) that still haven't arrived, so I'll just include those in May's Haul. Anyways, here are some brief impressions on these new goodies! Leave a comment down below if you want me to do a in depth review on any of these products!

My April Haul

Before I start, I actually have one product that I didn't test out yet and it's the Burberry Spring/Summer 2015 Runway Palette. It's basically a Blush Highlighter and it's actually my first Burberry Beauty product, so I'm super excited! If you know me, then you know the main reason I got it is because of the packaging (makeup addict problems)! I couldn't resist, like it's so cute! I bought this online at The Bay website, it's pricey, but it feels so luxurious! I'll see what happens.

How beautiful is this Burberry Spring/Summer 2015 Runway Palette?

When I went to Walmart, I just bought 2 lip liners from Annabelle. I got the color Natural Rose (a pink rosey color) and Corail (coral/orange color). So as first impressions, I applied this before moisturizing my lips and it felt very dry! When I applied lip balm and then the lip liner, it felt normal. I would say it's actually similar to MAC's lip liners, but these are more drying (if you don't moisturize your lips)! I really like them and they were only $3.70CAD, so I will definitely be picking up more of these! The shade range is not as big as MAC's, but they have the basic colors!

Natural Rose & Corail

So speaking of lip liners, I actually got one from MAC and I only walked out with one product for once (yay!). I got the popular shade Soar (yes it's finally restocked!). Soar is just that mauve pink nude color that's been trending! I'm sure you guys have seen it everywhere! Not much to say about this product, because I absolutely love MAC lip liners and their shades are so beautiful! I'm happy that I finally got my hands on this one, it was worth the wait! This is a shade that will suit any skin color, so check this shade out if you're into the whole mauve pink nude lips!

The famous MAC Lip Liner in Soar

My next trip was at Younique (online). I don't think I've mentioned this on my blog yet, but I'm actually a Younique presenter! I'm sure you have heard of Younique, because of the famous 3D Fiber Mascara. If you're interested check out my Instagram for Younique which is @younique_by_divya . If you want to place a order, my website is www.youniqueproducts.com/divyapatel . They have some really nice products (no I'm not only saying this to sell) and they're all made out of natural ingredients! So, like I said take a peek at my Instagram to see which products I been enjoying from this brand! Anyways, they came out with these cream eyeshadows and the shades look absolutely gorgeous, so I bought one to test it out. I got the Splurge Cream Shadow in the colour Elegant. It's a beautiful shimmery beige color. These cream shadows are reallly shimmery, like really! It's definitely something I wouldn't use everyday, but for a party it's perfect! It's also super creamy and long wearing. So far so good! I will be getting the other shades for sure! I also bought the Cream Shadow Brush to go along with it and I really like it as well! The bristles are very soft and there was no shedding!

Younique Splurge Cream Shadow in Elegant and Brush

Next onto Gerard Cosmetics, I bought 5 lipsticks, because they were having a deal! I already own lipsticks from them and absolutely love them! I was excited to pick up their newer shades this year. I got the colors Fairy Godmother, Berry Smoothie, Rodeo Drive, Kimchi Doll and Grape Soda. So I won't go too much into these, because I will be doing a in depth review on these! But, let me say the formula is really nice and doesn't dry out your lips! I love all the shades I picked up, just Kimchi Doll washes me out a little (I'm medium skin tone), but I'm still playing with it. Follow them on Instagram to see what their deals are! Some of them are complete steals, like you won't regret purchasing from them!

Rodeo Drive, Fairy Godmother, Grape Soda, Berry Smoothie & Kimchi Doll

Next at Sephora, I only picked up 3 items for myself during the VIB Sale. I got the Bobbi Brown Long Wear Gel Eyeliner that I absolutely love! It really is long wearing and so creamy! I'm telling you worth every penny and they also come in several colors! I also finally got the Kat Von D Shade & Light Contour Palette and let me say I'm OBSESSED! I can't believe I didn't buy this earlier! The powders are so smooth (like butter) and so pigmented! It's also long wearing and the shades in this palette are PERFECT! Like I been using my Anastasia contour palette this whole time, but sadly it's being replaced with this one! It's worth every penny guys! Next, I got the Kat Von D Shade & Light Eye Palette. Again, the powders in this palette or so smooth and pigmented! They blend like a dream! The cool thing about this palette is that it's a eyeshadow palette, but the top 3 shades you can use to contour and highlight with! The contour is a bit light, but its really grey, so it's perfect for a natural contour! I find it a very handy palette! The eyeshadows seem more fall appropriate, but they're still gorgeous neutral colors! All the eyeshadows in this palette are matte!

Sephora VIB Sale purchases

Lastly, I purchased  from Makeup Geek! I bought the Duo Eyelash Adhesive. Lately, I been into false lashes and the glue I have is by Ardell and I'm not impressed. I heard really good thing about the Duo one, so I decided to purchase it. However, I didn't get the regular one, I got the Dark Tone one. So the glue is like a dark grey color. So far, I like it. I only used it twice so we'll see, however it's a lot better than the Ardell glue! Next, I finally purchased Makeup Geek eyeshadows and oh my god, why did it take me so long to purchase these?! They're amazing! I highly recommend these! They're so pigmented and come in so many colors/finishes! I'm honestly obsessed over these and they only cost $5.99USD! MAC pan eyeshadows are $10USD (Sorry they don't have the exact price in CAD for Makeup Geek products, so I'll just use USD as a price reference) and they're smaller than the Makeup Geek ones! Like the quality of the Makeup Geek ones are amazing and if you prime your eyes properly, they will last you for 8 hours and more! I won't go deep into these, because I'm planning on doing a review for these. I got the shades: Creme Brulee, Bling, Frappe, Beaches & Cream, Shimma Shimma and I got one Foiled eyeshadow in the shade Magic Act. I'm for sure creating a Makeup Geek eyeshadow palette. They also sell Z Palettes in different sizes and colors! I'm like super impressed and excited to be purchasing more from them!

Duo Eyelash Adhesive

Magic Act, Creme Brulee, Bling, Frappe, Beaches & Cream and Shimma Shimma

That's it for my haul. As I mentioned, I have 2 orders that still haven't arrived that I'm also excited for. If you guys want me to do a full review on any of these products, leave a comment down below!

Skin Care: All about taking care of your Pores

Before I get started, I just wanted to apologize for not posting anything in awhile! It was the end of the semester for me, so exam time! (university is brutal!). However, I finished my exams now, so it gives me a bit more time for my blog! So anyways, today's topic as you can see by the title is about how I take care of my pores. I decided to add skin care topics into my blog, because for a flawless makeup application, it starts with a nice canvas (which is your face). I will be talking about how I take care of my skin, because it may be useful to you! Anyways onto my pores. I actually only have pores on my nose and near the nose area. They're not huge or hard to manage, but when I don't have makeup on and I don't take care of my pores, my nose doesn't look attractive at all (black heads everywhere!)! My pores actually used to look really bad before, because I never took care of them. However, once I started getting into makeup, I had no choice if I wanted my makeup to be on point. They also used to be bigger before, but with time I was able to minimize them! So here are my tips and tricks to how I deal with my pores!

Some of the products I will be discussing

First things first, the main thing to do honestly is to wash your face everyday! Even days you don't wear makeup, always wash your face before going to bed! There's dirt and dust everywhere! You never know what flies onto your face! This actually makes a difference for your pores! I also know people that just use makeup wipes to take their makeup off. I know makeup wipes are super convenient, but makeup builds up onto your skin and even though makeup wipes removes surface makeup, it doesn't remove makeup that falls into your pores! So that's why use a facial cleanser and once a week or even once every 2 weeks, try one of these pore cleansers that I will be mentioning! Also, try not to wear makeup everyday! I know, I love experimenting with makeup and all, but you have to let your pores and skin BREATH! Even if you feel that you have bad skin, try your best to not have your makeup on 24/7! For example, as soon as you get home, just wash the makeup off! I know this may seem like common sense, but a lot of people tend to forget these little things that can escalate to pore clogging and skin problems!


There are several methods that have worked for me to clean and minimize my pores. The first is the steaming treatment! I love to get a facial done once every 6 months at least, because these steaming treatments really deep cleans your pores! If you're like me and  you clean your skin regularly, you don't really need it, but I like to get them done, just to make sure my skin stays on point! Also let's face it, who doesn't like getting pampered once in awhile (even if pore cleaning can be painful)? There are also steaming treatments you can do at home if you don't want to spend the money, but I haven't tried them, so I can't really give you my opinion on that! Another method I've tried in the past is the baking soda paste! If you have sensitive skin, you may get irritated, so be cautious! All you do is mix 2 tablespoons of baking soda with 2 tablespoons of warm water until it turns into a paste. Then apply it to your pores and let it sit for 20-25 minutes and then rinse it off with cool water. This method actually really works and you can use it several times a week. This is a great cheap alternative! The last method I tried is the Plain Yogurt one. It's really simple! All you need is plain yogurt and you apply a thin layer on your face for 10 minutes and then you rinse it off with water. I don't suggest you go over 10 minutes, because yogurt contains things such as lactic acid and probiotics, which can irritate the skin if you leave it on for too long! My grandma actually told me about this method and it really did help minimize my pores! I'm not a fan of the smell, but at least 10 minutes is doable! All these methods works and will eliminate black heads/minimize the size of your pores.


Now onto products. I know a lot of pore minimizing products exist. However, I only found one product which helped minimize my pores, which is the TruSelf Organics Detoxifying Mask. I honestly love this mask and I will be doing a full review of this in the future! I was using this mask twice a week for 3 months and I saw instant results! Especially with my pores, I find this mask helped minimize them, as well as clean them out! My face just looked fresh after this mask! I was so impressed and this mask made my skin overall look amazing! As mentioned, I will go into full details when I review this product in depth! It's completely worth it and you can buy it online on their site! I got the whole kit for around $55CAD (with shipping and taxes included). However, you can always just buy the mask itself, which is only $19.50USD. Other than that, I had samples of pore minimizing products, but I didn't find them effective (no results). If you guys know any good pore minimizers, leave a comment down below!

TruSelf Organics Kit (available online)

Other than pore minimizers, I just use products to clean out my pores. Before when my pores were bad, I was using products twice a week and now I do it once a week or once every 2 weeks. I go days without wearing makeup. My skin has been good, so it's not always necessary for me to use cleansers for my pores every week. However, even though I don't use pore cleansers everyday, I still use face cleansers after wearing makeup all day. I actually love using the Deep Clean Daily Scrub by Neutrogena. This is a drugstore product that I use at the end of the day to wash my face. I alternate between cleansers, but I'm mentioning this one, because it clears away 85% of built up oil, including oils that clog your pores. I've been using this cleanser for years and years now. It gets the job done! It doesn't have a heavy scent to it and it's a really nice daily scrub that is not harsh on the skin, but clears away most of the built up oil! Especially if you have oily skin, this will help control the oil! Also, it helps clear away my pimples, so I absolutely love this product for multiple uses! I believe this retails for around $10CAD.

Neutrogena Deep Clean Daily Scrub

Another product, I've been using for years is the Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips. These take the dirt right out of your pores! It's really effective and only takes 10-15 minutes! I always leave mine on until 15 minutes or even 20 minutes, so that it really pulls everything out! All you have to do is, take a towel and run hot water on it. Squeeze the excess water out and pat the towel on your nose to open up your pores! Then apply the strip directly onto your nose. It comes with instructions and everything, so it's very easy to use! However, these strips are only for the pores on your nose! I believe for 14 strips it retails for around $15CAD and you can buy them at any drugstore.

Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips

The next item that I absolutely love for cleaning out my pores is the Origin's Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask. I only bought this last November and let me say I'm obsessed! This is a effective product that deep cleans your pores! Just like the Biore strips, you have to open your pores with warm water and then you apply the product onto your pores. Normally it takes between 15-20 minutes for it to dry and then you wash the mask off with warm water. The first few times you will feel a stinging feeling, but it's a good thing, because it shows that its cleaning out your pores! Once you wash your mask off, it honestly leaves your face (well areas of the face you applied to) feeling soft! Unlike the Biore strips, this mask you can use it on any area of your face that has pores! You can buy  this product at Sephora and it retails $29CAD for 100 ml. A little goes a long way for this product, so a 100 ml tube will last you for almost a year if you use it twice a week. However, I only use it on my nose area. I know some people like to apply it all over their face, because it is a really nice mask that will clean out your skin! If you don't want to commit to a full size, there is a smaller size that you can buy at Sephora and it even comes in skin care value sets (which is a great way to try out skin care products!).

Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal mask to clear pores

The last product I enjoy using to clean out my pores is a very random product and some of you may be like "Are you serious?", because that was my first reaction! However, it works just as effectively as the products I've mentioned and it's a really cheap alternative! It's the Elmer's  white glue! I know this sounds crazy, but trust me it works! I heard about this from Huda from Huda Beauty (absolutely love her!). She actually made a Youtube video on her first impressions using white glue as a pore cleanser and she saw the results! So of course since I love everything about her, I tried it out for myself and I was like wow it really does work! It takes the dirt right out of your pores just like the Biore strips! You also have to use warm water to open your pores before using the glue. I normally pack on about 3-4 layers of the glue, because since it's a thin consistency, you need a thick layer for it to be easy to peel off or else it will rip into pieces! Also, since it dries clear, I recommend you rinsing your face with warm water to make sure that there is no leftovers! Since we pack on a few layers, this method does take a bit longer to dry. I would say 3-4 layers takes 25-35 minutes and you want it to completely dry for it to be effective. Also just to put this out there, this is not dangerous for the skin! It's a non toxic glue, that's washable, so don't worry! You can basically buy this glue anywhere, I'm sure you have it lying around the house and it costs like what $2CAD, so it's a really nice cheap alternative! Honestly, if you don't believe me, try it for yourself!

Who knew glue can clear pores!

So anyways that wraps up my post on pores. I love all these methods and cleansers I mentioned, so if you're having issues with your pores, give these a try,  because you won't regret it! Also, if you guys know any other products or methods you highly recommend, just leave a comment down below! I hope this was useful!

Sephora April VIB Sale 2015

Guys, I'm so excited for the VIB Sale!!! I started my list like weeks and weeks ago! Incase those of you didn't know, Sephora has 2 sales every year, one in April and the other in November. So for VIB Rouge members, you get 15% off your total order between April 12th-April 21st. For VIB members, you also get 15% off your total order, but between April 16th-April 21st. Lastly, BI members you get 10% off your total order between April 17th-April 20th. This applies online and in stores! I know sales can get overwhelming, because who doesn't want to buy everything at Sephora?! Like 15% isn't a huge discount, but I mean it's better than nothing, right? However, I'm sure most of you are on a budget, just like myself, so we can't go too crazy! Basically, I created this post to give you guys my tips on how I prepare myself for these kind of sales, as well as recommendations on products you should get!

From the Sephora site

First things first to prepare for the sale

1)Set yourself a budget!
The last thing you want to do is go overboard with your spending! So tell yourself, you know what, I just want to spend $100 and stick to that amount!

2)Make a list!
Making a list is honestly the smartest thing you can do! There is thousands and thousands of products at Sephora! So make a list of things you need or been wanting for a really long time! Do some research on the products! Look at the prices online and see which products will add up to your budget! Bring that list with you to Sephora and honestly stick to that list! Don't add on products for no reason!

3)Shop online!
Guys, every time I'm at Sephora I always pick up extra things I don't need! Which makes me pass my budget, so the best thing to do is, shop online! It will force you to stick to the products in your basket! I know for foundations, online shopping isn't the best option, but you can always go into the store, take samples and then order it online! Also, I've mentioned this a few times, but if you haven't made a account on Ebates do it! You're getting money back for shopping online, honestly doesn't get better than that! I started it in November or December and I already got 2 checks guys, so it's legit!! If you don't believe me, do some research!

4) Perfect time to get backups!
If there are products that you absolutely love and you use daily, it's the perfect time to get a backup of it! I know I love my Anastasia Brow Wiz and it's something that is pricey ($27), so it's on my list to get a backup of! Even things such as makeup wipes or brush cleansers, if it's something you use often, why not use the discount!

5)Perfect time to invest in Skin Care products
We all know that skin care products can be very pricey! If you have been eyeing a skin care product for ages, just purchase it now! Or if you still can't afford to get the full size, get the sample sizes! A lot of skincare brands have value sets of those sample size products (such as Origins, Ole Henriksen, Algenist, etc.)! It could be worth the investment!

6)Birthday Gifts
If you have a beauty addict in your life and you know exactly what  product that person been wanting, why not purchase it now? Less stress for later on and you get to save a little!

7) Get samples
As you guys saw, the sale isn't just for a day, it's several days! So go into your local Sephora now and get samples! Test it out before the sale starts (or during the sale)! Especially for things like foundations, it's best to try them out before committing to the full thing!

Basically those are my tips to you! Especially the whole budget and list thing is so important! Like this year, so many brands released new products! Like it's crazy how much there is now and all these products can get very overwhelming! So always do your research, because if you walk into Sephora, you're most likely going to end up spending more than you wanted!

Sephora site

I figured now I'd give you guys a few recommendations of products I absolutely love.

1)Palettes

-Anastasia Contour Kit
This was one of my first contour palettes and I absolutely love it! I know there are so many new contour palettes that came out, but if you been curious about this one, trust me it's worth it!

-Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette (The original)
I love this palette! You have a nice mixture of cool/warm tones! All the eyeshadows would suit any skin tone. These eyeshadows are so pigmented and blend like a dream! You can't go wrong with this palette! I can't believe I waited so long to purchase it, it's worth all the hype! I know Too Faced released the newer version (The Semi Sweet), I still didn't purchase it yet, that's why I can't really say much about it. I heard the quality of the eyeshadows are the same, but again I'd have to see it for myself, that's why I'm telling you to stick to the orginal!

-Customize your own Makeup Forever Eyeshadow Palette
MUFE have a customizing system, where they have a case for 2 or 3 eyeshadows. In November, I purchased the 3 eyeshadows and I been obsessed ever since! Guys, MUFE make the best eyeshadows in my opinion! First of all, they're huge!!! I can't see myself hitting pan, even though I use them so often! Second of all, they're so pigmented, they blend like a dream and they're long lasting! The texture feels amazing and they have so many colours and finishes! Like, picking 3 eyeshadows was so hard, because I wanted them all! I can go on and on about these eyeshadows for real, but it's completely worth it!!!

-Tarte Tartelette
Another palette I absolutely love! The Tartelette is all matte eyeshadow palette that contains both cool/warm tones. It has a mixture of neutrals and mauve colors! Absolutely gorgoeus! The eyeshadows are so pigmented, blend really nicely and are long wearing! It would look good on any skin color! I use this palette so much, it's one of my favorites hands down!

-Urban Decay Basics Palette (1&2)
I recommend both Basics 1 and 2 palette! These are all matte eyeshadows, except for the highlight shade. They're so pigmented and blend really nicely! This is my everyday palette! I love the neutrals in both the palettes! The original Basics has warm neutrals, mostly aimed for people with fair skin. Whereas, the Basics 2 has cool taupe neutrals, mostly aimed for medium and dark skin. I always mix my eyeshadows around from palette to palette! I'm not telling you to get both, but get the one you think you'd get most use out of (I'm just a makeup junkie that needs everything).


2)Highlighters
We all know that highlightning has been the thing, especially during summer time! They can be very pricey, so it's the perfect time to get them during the sale!

-Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector
Ok, Becca highlighters you just can't go wrong! Like the pigmentation is just wow! The colors are gorgeous! They're long lasting and blend like a dream! Most of all, it leaves you with the perfect highlight! You can tone it down or you can build it up to really glow! I have the colors Moonstone and Opal, I love them both! I find it will suit any skin color, just maybe Moonstone may be too light for dark skin, but I have seen it on dark skin before and it still looked really nice! You just can't build it up too much!


3)Blush
I'm not too strict on my blushes. I'm really open minded, because I have so many blushes that I love! But here's the one blush I use often

-Nars Deep Throat
I love this blush, it's the perfect pink/peach (more on the pink side) with the right amount of shimmer! It's not too shimmery (like Orgasm). It also blends really nicely and you can build it up or sheer it out! It just gives a really nice pop to the cheeks, without it looking like too much is going on. I find this blush suits any skin tone!


4)Bronzer
Again bronzers are something I' m not too strict on! As long as it's not too orange or red, I'm happy! But let me say, I have one brand in mind that makes absolutely the best bronzers!

-Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer
Too Faced makes the best bronzers in my opinion! They have a shade for all skin tones (light, medium, dark). These bronzers are matte so you can easily contour with them! They're not red nor orange, so they just look so natural! I highly recommend their bronzers! They also have other bronzers that have shimmer in them, if you are interested in!


5)Eyebrow Products
I only tried 3 eyebrow products and I highly recommend them!

-Anastasia Brow Wiz
Honestly, you can't go wrong with this! So easy to shape your eyebrows with this and it doesn't budge! It also comes with a spooly! There are also several shades! I'm telling you, you need to try this! It's worth every penny, like doing your eyebrows has never been so easy!

-Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade
I also love this product. Basically it comes in a container and it's like clay. This product is a bit hard to use at first (not as easy as the Brow Wiz), but once you get the hang of it, you will love it! It's cheaper than the Brow Wiz and you get a lot of product, so it's worth looking into!

-Clinique Superfine Liner for Brows
This to me is a exact dupe for the Anastasia Brow Wiz and it's a lot cheaper! I'm not even joking it works exactly like the Brow Wiz! The only downside, is that it only comes with 3 shades! So there could be a possibility that you fall in between 2 shades! However, still check it out at Sephora to see if one matches your shade. In Anastasia, I'm the color Ebony and the Clinique Deep Brown for me was perfect! It's a  tad lighter, but no one can tell the difference (I don't even know how I saw the little difference).


6)Brushes/Applicators

-Tarte Airbrush Finish Bamboo Foundation Brush
This is legit my favorite foundation brush! No other brush can compare! It really leaves that airbrush finish look! Like it's so soft and it just works like a charm! Buffing has never been so easy! It's a must! Don't even hesitate!

-The Original Beauty Blender (Pink)
I actually purchased the beauty blender in January and I been using it non stop! I specifically love to use it for my concealer and highlighting! Like it just leaves a perfect airbrush finish! I never found anything that worked better for my concealer! Most people also use it to apply foundation, but I prefer my Tarte brush, but again a must have!


Basically I think that's it. I love so many products, that coming up with this list was really hard! I basically chose products that everyone would enjoy! I didn't mention any foundations or primers or anything, because those are a bit tricky and I know that with different skin types/tones. I really wanted this post to target anyone and everyone! I'll do a in depth review in the future about my favorite primers and foundations (this post came out longer than I wanted, sorry!!) or any other products that I didn't mention!  I also didn't mention lipsticks or lip liners, because I have too many! Trust me I have a ton of favorites, these are just my  very highly recommended products!

If you're curious, these are the products on my list:
-Kat Von D Shade and Light Contour Palette
-Bobbi Brown Gel Liner
-Smashbox Step by Step Contour Stick Trio
-Hourglass Ambient Lightning Palette (This time I will get it no matter what)
-Too Faced The Little Black Book of Bronzers
-Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Resist 24 Intensive Eye Contour Cream

I know I'll do a mini research before the VIB Rouge event on Sunday, but those are the things I been eyeing for a really long time! I hope this post was useful and hopefully you guys get what you want! Again, check out the Sephora website, because there was a lot of new products that came out recently!

Nars: Dual Intensity Eyeshadow Palette Review

Nars has released several new products this year, but the one item that caught my eye is the Narsissist Dual Intensity Eyeshadow Palette! This palette has gorgeous packaging and it's not too big, so perfect for travelling. The outside is mirror with Narsissist written on it. It's a strong compact, so it's not easy to get it damaged. This palette comes with 8 eyeshadows and a mini eyeshadow brush. Each eyeshadow is 1g and the price of the palette is $90CAD (I know yikesss!). But, each individual Dual Intensity eyeshadow retails for $35CAD and you get about 1.4g of product. With that being said, the palette is actually a pretty good deal, because you are getting 8 eyeshadows for under a $100CAD instead of 3. The eyeshadows in the palette are almost the same size as the full sized eyeshadows. Either way, I do think it is overpriced, but because the Dual Intensity eyeshadows were so hyped about, I wanted to see it for myself! This palette is available right now at  Sephora and Nars counters!

Nars Dual Intensity Eyeshadow Palette

The packaging

The palette

So first of all, all these eyeshadows have shimmer and glitter in them. So if you're not about that glitter life, this palette may not be for you.  The eyeshadows are very smooth and swatch really nicely. It also feels like they have a gel base to them or something. They're also very pigmented! However, they don't appear as pigmented on the eyes. These eyeshadows can be used dry or wet. My personal preference is definitely wet! They appear way more pigmented and last a lot longer! I just spray MAC Fix Plus on the brush or you can just dip the brush in water! Both ways work just as good! They blend really nicely and I would say when used wet, they can last up to 8 hours! The color range in this palette is very unique. You have a mixture of warms and cools, as well as neutral and bold colors. I also like the brush that came with the palette. It's perfect to pack on the eyeshadows on the lid (I find it very useful!).

So staring from left to right:

Top Row
Europa-> A iridescent peachy pink color
Himalia-> A neutral metallic foil midtone brown
Ursa Major->A dark cool tone brown
Subra-> A blackened burgundy purple

Left Side are dry and Right side are wet (no edit/no flash)

Bottom Row
Andromeda->A irridescent white with beige undertones
Lysithea->A metallic foil silver
Giove->A blackened navy blue
Sycorax-> Black (fine shimmer unlike the rest)

Left Side Dry and Right Side Wet (no edits/flash)

Here are more pictures showing the difference when applied dry/wet

Himalia: left side is wet and right is dry(no edits)

Himalia: left side is wet and right side is dry (no edits)

You can see here clearly that when they're used wet, the finish is more metallic, which makes it appear more pigmented. If you want a sheer finish, then just use them dry. That being said, if you want to use the darker colors in this palette in the crease, then it's better to use them dry or else it may look like too much is going on, unless if that is the look you want. I personally don't like using a shimmery colors in my crease, so these eyeshadows I will use just on the lid and as a definer or inner corners of my eyes (just a personal preference). 

Close up with flash (Been using it quite a bit)

So overall, I do really like this palette! The colors that won me over are Europa, Himalia and Andromeda (absolutely gorgeous!!) The other colors are still really nice! If you are a type of person that want more than neutral colors, but still wearable ones, this palette may be something you can  take into consideration. I know the price of this is ridiculous, but Nars is a highend brand and overall the quality of the eyeshadows are worth it! Especially when you compare the individual eyeshadows to this palette, it's a great value! The Sephora sale starts on Sunday and ends April 21st. (VIB Rouge/ VIBS it's 15% off your order and BI 10%), so definitely buy it then if you been eyeing this palette! I don't think that you absolutely need this. I know the Dual Intensity Eyeshadows were raved about from mostly everyone, but there are foiled/metallic eyeshadows that are similar to this (for cheaper!). It's still a really nice palette! I used this palette several times, even on my clients and they absolutely loved it! I don't regret buying it at all! So, what are your thoughts? Have you tried these eyeshadows? What palettes are on your list for the Sephora sale?!

March 2015 Haul (Makeup)

I don't know why, but I picked up more products than I normally do this month. I find there is just so many new products this year, I just have to have them all (makeup addict problems). So, basically this is what I got this month. A few things I picked up at the end of February, but only arrived in the mail in March. I made one trip to my local Sephora, but I picked up mostly everything online at Sephora and Jeffree Star Cosmetics. If you haven't done this yet, make an account on Ebates to earn cash back! At times, the rates are pretty good! Like this month, cashback was 8% at Sephora and it does accumulate! In my opinion, it's completely worth it! It's also so easy, all you do is click on Ebates and then you look for the store you want to shop at. Honestly, that's it and you're basically getting money for shopping! But anyways back to the haul. I tried all these products, just so I can give you guys a mini feedback (sorry if it ends up being long!). The Sephora sale in April is quickly approaching and there are so many palettes and products out there, that I myself love to read reviews before I spend money (makeup can be very expensive sadly). So, I wanted to get more reviews out there for these popular trending products to help you guys decide. This is going to be a really brief reviews of these products, but if you want me to go into more detail, definitely leave a comment down  below to let me know! Most of the products in this haul, I absolutely loved!

March 2015 Haul

I will start with the products that I really liked! I will break them down into groups, since I have a lot. Here is a picture of the products I enjoyed using this month! I'm so happy that I purchased them!

My favs of the month :)

I will start off with the lip products. 

The first 3 products are the new Smashbox Be Legendary Matte lipsticks. I have already done a review on these, if you haven't, check it out  http://makeupcheckbydivya.blogspot.ca/2015/03/smashbox-donald-robertson-be-legendary.html The colors left from right are Femme Fatale Matte, Paris Pink Matte and Mauve Matte. I got mine in limited edition packaging, because the colors available on Sephora are in a collaboration with Donald Robertson. The packaging is so adorable and the lipsticks itself is very impressive! They're so creamy and pigmented! The colors are absolutely gorgeous, highly recommended! The next product is the Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Lolita. Unfortunately, Lolita is already sold out! It basically gets sold out within like a day (very popular shade). I love the texture and consistency of this liquid lipstick. It's very pigmented and lasts for a long time (I would say 5 hours, if you don't eat or drink). I also don't find these drying at all! The color itself is a dark mauve brown. I find it would suit any skin color! I highly recommend it. The next 3 products are from Jeffree Star Cosmetics and they're the Velour Liquid Lipsticks. From left to right, the shades are Unicorn Blood, Celebrity Skin and Redrum. I've tried several liquid lipstick brands and nothing compares to these! They're so pigmented and don't feel drying at all! You can pop these on without a lip liner! All these shades would suit any skin color (absolutely gorgeous!!!). I find these last basically all day! I drank and ate with these on and I needed very minimal touch up. They don't  disappear like most liquid lipsticks do. Also once they're on your lips, they don't budge! I know Jeffree Star is restocking most of the shades in April, so follow their Instagram for updates (just type in Jeffree Star Cosmetics)! I honestly can't wait to get all the shades, highly recommended (one of my favorite lip products!!). The last one is the Sephora Cream lip stain in the color Pink Souffle. This is such a nice wearable pink. It's not too bright or dark, just the perfect shade in between! These are non drying, but yet very pigmented. I find if you don't eat or drink, these last up to 4 hours without touch up. They're also cheaper than most liquid lipsticks/stains, meaning it is worth giving a try! Sephora also expanded on the shade range this year! 

Next, I have my highlighters of the month. 

From left to right, I have the Makeup Forever Pro Sculpting Duo In the shade Golden (color 2). So this comes with a highlighter and a bronzer. Let me say, I don't like the bronzer that much, but I LOVE the highlighter! That's why I put it under my highlighters category. Like the highlighter is so pigmented and leaves that beautiful metallic gold sheen. It's also long wearing. It will leave you glowing! Such a beautiful highlighter and this product honestly is worth getting! The shade and finish is very similar to MAC's Whisper of Guilt and Estee Lauder's Heat Wave. So, if you've missed out on those, this is your chance to get a dupe! Luckily, Makeup Forever is keeping this as a permanent in their collection! The next, I have is the new Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Illuminating Powder Gelee. Again, this is a product that I have reviewed, so go check it out if you want a in depth review http://makeupcheckbydivya.blogspot.ca/2015/03/estee-lauder-bronze-goddess.html . This infact looks like Estee Lauder's Heat Wave, but is completely different! This is very subtle unlike Heat Wave, but leaves a very nice natural glow! This is a light bronze rose gold highlight. It's pigmented and long wearing! I love both these highlighters. The Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess may seem way to subtle for some of you, but it's a perfect everyday highlight in my opinion! 

Now I just have a few random items.

The first is a Superfine Liner for Brows by Clinique. Let me say, this is an amazing cheaper alternative to the Anastasia Beverly Hill's Brow Wiz! It's pigmented and works just like the Brow Wiz! Once you apply it, it doesn't budge! Also, the fine point makes the application easier to shape your eyebrows the way you desire. The only downside is that Clinique does not have a wide range of shades (they only have 3), but it's worth going in store to check it out, because I find they have the basic shades! Also it's in a retractable pen, but once you twist it up, it won't twist back down, so be careful! The next item is the Koh Gen Do Natural Lightning Powder. I absolutely love this powder! The powder is super fine and it has a bit of shimmer (not too over powering). It's a perfect powder to set your foundation and even though it is super fine, it manages to cover pores, which I found incredible! Also, it's good for your undereyes! It will not leave that white cast when you use a camera with flash! I highly recommend both these products! 

Lastly, the products I have enjoyed are these 2 palettes.

The first is Tarte's Tartelette Amazonian Clay Matte Eyeshadow Palette. This paletteis one of my favorite eyeshadow palettes! The eyeshadows are so pigmented and blend so easily! The colors are beautiful and there's a mix of cool/warm tones! They also don't feel chalky at all. Like, even the lighter colors show up on the skin exactly like in the palette (very true to color)! I highly recommend it!!! I use it basically every time I do my makeup! The next is the Nar's Narisissist Dual Intensity Eyeshadow palette. There is a lot of mixed reviews on this palette! I personally really like it! I 'm not a fan of all the colors in this palette, however there's a few that I absolutely love (example: Himalia)! When you swatch them, they appear pigmented, but on the eyes not as much. If you really want them to pop, I suggest using MAC fix plus or just dipping your brush in water! It will make all the difference in the world! They appear much more pigmented with a metallic finish and last for a very long time! All the colors have shimmer. Unlike the Tartelette, this is a palette you would not use on daily basis. I use it basically when I have events or parties. It is a expensive palette, but if you always wanted to try the Dual Intensity Eyeshadows, this palette is a great way! 

Now onto the products that I'm on the fence about. I enjoy these products, but I'm still debating if I really like them or not.

The first product on the left is the Too Faced Soul Mates Blushing Bronzer in Ross & Rachel. The reason I'm on the fence about it ,is because I don't find this a necessity and even though the packaging is ADORABLE, there for sure is a lot of products similar to this. The bronzer is warm and light, therefore cannot be used to contour with. It's also shimmery, but not too over powering. The other thing I didn't like is how tiny the blush is. My blush brushes are way too big to fit in that little space! I always pick up bronzer with the blush. Also, the blush is pretty sheer, so you really have to dip your brush in several times to get the pigmentation. It's a cute concept, but could have been better. The next item, is the Sephora Cream Lip Stain in Coral Crush. I love the Sephora cream lip stains! I'm on the fence about it, because of the color. I'm comfortable wearing brights, neons, darks, blacks,... like you name it. I love a lip that pops out, but this neon coral color, makes me look like a clown. It's just too bright and too orange for my liking. I will try to mix shades to make it more wearable. The next item is the Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Armageddon. I loved Lolita, but I don't know about this one. I love pinks! I wear like the brightest pinks out there or the most neon ones, however, this one was just weird on my lips. I put on a lip liner and the product just outlined my lips, meaning it basically showed how I had lip liner on. If I don't wear a lip liner, it bleeds. Also, as you can see in the picture, the packaging like smudged off onto my hands... Like it was really weird, I had black all over my hands! I have no problem with Lolita and maybe I just got a defect, but I'm not ready to give up on it. I would exchange it, but since the writing on the tube came off, I highly doubt Sephora will take it back.


Now sadly I had 2 disappointments of the month. I wish they worked out and I played with these so much, but they're just not for me.

The first product on the left is the Clinique Line Smoothing Concealer (I got the shade Medium). This was described as  "A moisturizing concealer that actually "bridges" fine lines and wrinkles, smoothing and minimizing them for an instantly firmer look". I don't agree with that statement. I have a really bad under eye situation, because my fine lines are very fine! No matter what concealer I use or the technique and tricks, it always falls into my fine lines! So, I had hope when I read the description about this, but this product actually creased on me faster than my other concealers. So I was disappointed, maybe it worked for others, but it was not for me. I find my Maybelline Fit Me concealer did a better job. The next disappointment was sadly the Hourglass Modernist Eyeshadow Palette ( I got Infinity). I love Hourglass products (one of my fav brands), but this was a really big miss in my opinion.The palette is gorgeous! Like such a beautiful combination of colors! When I swatched them in Sephora, they were so smooth and pigmented. When I applied them (omg), there was so much fallout. I can manage with fallout, but I also found the eyeshadows didn't blend well with each other. I also had to build the pigmentation on my eyes (which was weird, because the swatches were pigmented). When I dipped my brush into the palette, there was a mess, because it crumbles. The eyeshadows are so soft that they're really delicate, which makes it hard to work with them. I tried so hard to love this palette, but it is just not for me.

So that is basically it for my March 2015 haul! Remember, this is just my opinion on these products. I'm sure the ones I didn't like worked for you. I hope you guys found these mini reviews useful and let me know your thoughts! If you want me to do a in depth review on any of these, leave a comment down below!