Hey all!  Just a quick reminder.  Or you haven’t heard about it, do you know:

“If the scanned price of a qualifying item at the checkout of a participating store is higher than the price displayed in the store – or advertised by the store – the lower price will be honoured. If the correct price of the product is $10 or less, the retailer will give the product to the customer for free. If the correct price of the product is higher than $10, the retailer will give the customer $10 off the corrected price. If multiple units of a given product are involved in a scanning error, the policy will be applied to the first unit only.”

(from Consumer Council of Canada, http://www.consumerscouncil.com)

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(pic by PopBeauty)

Pop Beauty Pink Cabinet: $9.99 CDN (compared to £24.00 retail)

I’ve been eyeing this cabinet for a while.  But all of them I found were opened and tested.  Finally I found one that is all sealed!  So happy!  I don’t like the lip gloss too much (kinda sticky) but the blushes and eyeshadows are quite nice.

(pics from Sephora. Dr. Pepper Berries & Cream Body Lotion and Dr.Pepper Cherry Vanilla Body Butter)

Mmmmm more on10 goodies!  They are now on sale at Sephora for $6US each.  I got them at $5.99 CDN.  They are both pretty moisturizing, and don’t cause me any allegic reaction.  I like Berries & Cream better as it smells yummy and the lotion is easier to spread.  The Cherry Vanilla turns a little bit almondy then plasticky for me.
I also got a Tokidoki Crabby tank top for $9CDN (down from $16.99).  Happy!

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Sorry for the lack of updates! I haven’t really purchased anything new lately. I went to Rite-Aid the other day and found these new products. Some, I definitely want to try out!

I’ve been curious about NYC’s multi-color palettes for a long time but I noticed they only had one really nice pink palette.  These 2 new ones definitely got me interested!  I’ll wait for the next NYC BOGOfree sale at Rite-Aid to get them.

Oooo, new lip care from Sally Hansen!  Judy/Bittenbefore, I will get you one if these turn out to be nice!

While I’m good to go with my Bare Escentuals brow powder, I like that these new Prestige brow palettes offer more than just 1-2 colors.  BTW, I saw taupe NYC brow kits on clearance at Rite-Aid.

The most interesting thing on this display are the pink lipglosses.  Why?  Because they supposedly will do what Smashbox’s O-Gloss will do!

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I admit I collect foody lip balm.  There!  I said it.

I always want to try On10 lip balms, especially their Hershey’s line.  What stopped me was that they are quite expensive (originally $9 for a tin at Sephora).  Then their prices went down to $5 I thought it’s a good time to try so I went to Sephora, only to find out they don’t carry it (the one at Square One).  Disappointment!

Few weeks ago I went to Winners and I was pleasantly surprised to see On10 there.  I found Micky Combination Set (Minnie Mango, Micky Mint, and Wild Cherry in a cosmetic case), Are You a Schweppicure Combination Set (Dry Grape, Ginger Ale, and Tonic Water in a cosmetic case), Scheweppes Trio (Lime, Grape Fruit, and Tonic Water), and Hershey’s Trio (Almond, Vanilla Creme, and Milk Chocolate, not photoed).

I read reviews that some people think they are waxy and tasty plasticky.  Not me!  I think they are very moisturizing without the yucky waxy feeling (which I hate hate hate).  The Hershey’s trio don’t go plasticky on me neither.  Just sweet, wonderful, creamy.  I particularly love Minnie Mango, Dry Grape, Grape Fruit, Milk Chocolate.  Not too crazy about tonic water because it is not really scent-free, but with a faint weird taste… of… water? lol

I got the trio sets for $5.99 Cdn ($16US at Sephora), and the combination set for $12.99 Cdn ($18US at Sephora).  I think the Trio is very good value because each tim comes in 0.5 oz (14.2 g) which is quite a lot.  The skinny lip balms that come with the cosmetic case become very little when compared to the trios.  The comsetic clutch is very skinny too which you can’t fit too much in (possibly just coins and credit card?!) but then who cares?  The clutches are cute

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I went to Costco for garbage bags, and came home with makeup goodies!!!

What a big box!  It has:

Eyeshadow Palette
Charcoal Shimmer Eyeshadow
Cocoa Shimmer Eyeshadow
Waterproof Masacara
Brow Grooming Gel
Espresso Eyeliner
Black Precision Eyeliner
Black Glitter Eyeliner

Crimson Lipstick and Lip Liner
Berrywine Lipstick and Lip Liner
High Shine Lipgloss (Mocha Glaze, Clear, Peach Blossom, Roseberry, Pink Kiss)
Lip Plumper
Nude Precision Lip Liner
Natrual Rouge Glow Blush
Champagne Glow Blush
Shimmer Powder
Satin Bronze Nail Polish
Siren Nail Polish
Shell Nail Polish
Berry Glaze Nail Polish
Kabuki Brush
Pencil Sharpener

On the eyeshadow palette:

Wine
Charcoal
Chocolate
Deep Plum
Dark Blue
Pale Pink
Pale Gray
Khaki
Pale Lilac
Sky

Initial thought: The eyeshadow palette is not very pigmented.  The lipgloss are on the sticky side, but quite pretty.  The body shimmer powder is not quite shimmery.

The price?  $19.99!  It was $39.99 before now down to $19.99.  Those who are interested should visit your local Costco to take a look!

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SDM was having their extra reward redemption weekend again.  I’ve been waiting for this day muahahahaha

Ok it’s not some rare event; as a matter of fact they have it quite frequently I’m losing my points fast!

What it is:  SDM has a Shoppers Optimum point system.  You get 10 points for every $1 spent.   Their redemption tiers:

3,500	$5
7,000	$10
15,000	$25
30,000	$55
40,000	$75
75,000	$150

During extra reward weekend, we can redempt the same number of points for more money value:

30,000 for $75

40,000 for $100

75,000 for $200

I accumulated my points very fast during those 20x points event.  SDM pricing is usually higher than other retail stores, but I always shop when they have sales, and I use save.ca coupons.  So, win-win!

With 75,000 points = $200, there is no better time to make a cosmetic haul!  So I brought my mom.

What we got:

Benefit Instant Brow Pencil in Medium to Dark (mine)

Benefit Dandelion (mine)

GOSH! Lift me up foundation in 22 Natrual (mine)

RoC PROTIENT® Fortify Lift and Define Night Cream(mom)

HD Invisible cover Foundation #125 Sand (was for me, then mom grabbed lol)

Vichy Dermablend Corrective Foundation #25 Nude (mom)

Misc. Revlon nail polish (mom)

and 2 cases of diet pepsi >,>

Ended up I have to pay $34 after I redeemed 75,000 points.  That’s ok because I signed up for a SDM CC that day and I got a lot of points back.  Time to build up for the next extra reward weekend!

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I’ve had a really bad bout of chapped lips this winter season! Over the years, I’ve never really used lip balms as I hated the whole waxy feel so I would turn to lip gloss. Problem is, I don’t like using lip gloss while I’m at home. I feel too made up! LMAO!

So, I finally broke down and started buying some inexpensive lip care to get my chapped lip problem under control.

First, we have Softlips. Can you believe, this is the first time I’ve used a product from Softlips?

Packaging: 5 out of 5
Quality: 2 out of 5
Overall: 2 out of 5
Price: $1 @ Big Lots
Would I buy again? NO!

What the website says:

Softlips® raspberry with green tea extract lip protectant/sunscreen with SPF 20

Active ingredients:

Dimethicone 2% (Skin Protectant), Octinoxate 7.5% (Sunscreen), Octisalate 3% (Sunscreen),
Oxybenzone 3% (Sunscreen)

Inactive ingredients:

butylated hydroxytoluene, camellia oleifera leaf extract [green tea], carthamus tinctorius (safflower) seed oil, castor oil, cetyl alcohol, ethylhexyl palmitate, flavor, menthol, myristyl alcohol, myristyl lactate, myristyl laurate, myristyl myristate, oenothera biennis (evening primrose) oil, ozokerite, punica granatum extract [pomegranate], squalane, vitamin E, white petrolatum

What I think: I found this lip balm to be too waxy for me. I didn’t like the feel of it on my lips. I have a tendency to chew my lips from time to time and YUCK, I hated the waxy feel on my teeth! I know that a lot of people like this balm but honestly, I’m glad I only paid $1 for it. I can throw it away without feeling guilty for spending much.

Packaging: 5 out of 5
Quality: 4 out of 5
Overall: 4 out of 5
Price: $1 @ Dollar Tree
Would I buy again? Yes!

What the company says:

Our unique moisture replenishing system combined with a botanically enriched formula of vitamin E, jojoba oil and almond oils, delivers maximum hydration and shine. Enjoy the clean, deliciously crisp flavor experience of Aquafina lip oil.

Ingredients:

Polybutene , Ethylhexyl Palmitate , Squalane , While Oil , Menthol , Tocopherol , Sweet Almond Oil – Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis , Jojoba Seed Oil – Simmondsia Chinensis , Benzyl Alcohol , Hydroxy-Citronellal , Citral , Benzyl Salicylate , Cinnamal , Benzyl Cinnamate , Linalool , Benzyl Benzoate , D-Limonene , Propylparaben , Cinnamyl Alcohol , Orange 39 , Red 33 , Red 57 , Blue 27

What I think: I love this! I’ll admit, I was a little wary of using it when I first saw it at Dollar Tree. I had thoughts of a thicker oil but it’s pretty watery.

It seems to last a bit longer on my lips than lip balm does and it’s very hydrating! The applicator is nice in that it’s kinda spongy and it’s not messy at all!

The taste is interesting. It’s not overtly minty but neither is it foul tasting. I like that it’s just a hint of taste.

I got this when I purchased my favorite drugstore body lotion, Nivea Smooth Skin. It was free with the lotion. Heh, I almost bought it separately till I saw it was packaged with the lotion. Not a bad deal at all!

Packaging: 3 out of 5
Quality: 4 out of 5
Overall: 4 out of 5
Price: $2.49 – $2.99 @ Walmart/Target/Kmart/Rite-aid/Walgreens
Would I buy again? Yes!

What the website says:

NIVEA Lip Care ESSENTIAL with Moisture Store Effect:

* Provides long-lasting care for hours.
* Effectively protects the lips from drying out in all weather.
* Contains natural ingredients that pampers your lips: jojoba oil and shea butter.

The result is softer and healthy looking lips for longer.

NIVEA Lip Care innovative moisture store effect – highly effective formula based on skin’s own Hydramine and Grape seeds extract, supports the natural moisturisation of the lips for longer.

NIVEA Lip Care – live life with a smile.

Skin compatibility dermatologically confirmed.

Ingredients:

Microcrystalline Wax, Octyldodecanol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Cetyl Palmitate, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Myristyl Myristate, VP/Hexadecene Copolymer, Polyglyceryl 3 Diisostearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, VP/Eicosene Copolymer, Coco Glycerides, Pentaerithrityl Tetraisostearate, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), C20 40 Alkyl Stearate, Copernicia Cerifera (Camauba) Wax, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Glycerin, Panthenol, Beeswax, Water, Fragrance

What I think: While this balm does have some wax in it, the key ingredient that won me over was the Shea Butter. This balm is soooooooooo soothing on my lips! Not waxy and I can bite/chew my lip without feeling a waxy build-up on my teeth! It applies so lightly on my lips that it really doesn’t feel like you’ve applied a balm but almost like a lip oil.

Another plus, no taste! Some lip balms that claim to have no taste, have this weird after taste! This one doesn’t.

The only downside to this balm is that it doesn’t last as long on your lips. Well, I don’t mind that too much as it’s so smooth and soft gliding over my lips. I find myself carrying this in my pocket at home and reapplying it happily.

I’ve got a couple other lip care products to do comparisons before I give a final verdict on which is my HG (Holy Grail) lip care product. I will say that among these 3, the Nivea wins!

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