Holy Grail - Urban Decay Afterglow 8-Hour Powder Highlighter

I haven't delved too far into the world of highlights. I have only bought one before and I'm not a huge fan of it. It is very gold toned and I'm not about it. I wanted something that was more silver toned. And then in walked Urban Decay Afterglow 8-Hour Powder Highlighter in Aura. 

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It is a gorgeous iridescent light pink. The pink doesn't really translate on the skin (at least on mine) but the highlight it leaves behind is gorgeous! You can sweep it lightly across your face once for a little bit of a pick-me-up or you can build it up for a bigger glow. Either way, I am obsessed with it! It's so subtle in the best way!

First Off - Too Faced Shadow Insurance

Eye shadow primer is probably the most important step in your eye makeup routine. It will keep your colour bright and bold and in place all day. I've only have sampled Too Faced Shadow Insurance but one application doesn't always give you a real idea of how the product works and how you react to it. So I was excited to get to try it properly.

That said... I hate it. It irritates my eyes and then they water and my makeup gets wiped away. I recently applied eyeshadow and it did not retain any of the colour. This might not be the fault of the primer, but it was not something I had noticed with my other primer. When it isn't irritating my eyes, it does keep my shadow in place. It doesn't crease. It just bothers my eyes. Otherwise it's good.

I know that this is one of the biggest seller of eyeshadow primer, and I am going to keep giving it a chance. But I think I would use it when I fill my brows in different colours, instead of on my eyelids.

First Off - Urban Decay Beached Bronzer

Bronzer always makes me nervous. I am so pale that everything is way too dark or too orange for my skin tone. At first, this bronzer looks way too dark. But the swatch took more than a single swipe. It is pigmented, but it takes a little bit of building up. And it blends out very easily.

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This colour is called Bronzed. And I really like the colour. It's not too brown and it's not too orange. I think it will be perfect once I start getting a little bit more tanned. I don't think it will become my Holy Grail bronzer, but for now, I'm really liking it. 

First Off - Keihl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado

I feel like my journey of dry eyes has been well documented. But, in case you are new here, the skin around my eyes gets super dry and itchy. Especially when I am wearing eyeshadow on a regular basis. 

For years now, my Holy Grail eye cream has been Benefit's It's Potent. When I finished my last jar, I thought it might be time to try something else. My eyes were really dry and watering, and it was messing up my makeup. I was hoping that if the skin was better moisturized, it would stop happening. And so the hunt began.

It was not a long hunt. I wasn't looking for anything that would stop puffiness (my eyes don't get puffy.) If it would reduce dark circles, that would be great. But mostly, I just needed something super hydrating. I had heard wonderful things about the Keihl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado and the reviews were pretty good for it. 

The reviews were pretty spot on. A little bit goes a long way. Although, I usually put a heavier layer on at bedtime than in the morning. But it's creamy, fast-absorbing and doesn't leave the skin feeling oily. I put it on first, before moisturizing, and by the time I am ready to start applying eyeshadow, it has absorbed. 

It has definitely kept my eyes moisturized and soft. And it wasn't too expensive either! (I will never understand why eye creams are so expensive.) If you just need an eye cream to keep everything soft, I would really recommend this one.

Holy Grail - Bite Beauty Maple Agave Lip Mask

A while back, I got the original Agave Lip Mask. I only got to try it once before my Kitten Terrors got ahold of it and punched holes in the tube. But when Bite launched the maple line, I had get the maple lip mask.

The winters are cold and dry and every year my lips reach a point where none of my lip products are cutting it. Lip mask to the rescue! A little bit goes a long way and it's super hydrating. It completely changes how my lips feel. And, of course, there is the maple flavour that I am obsessed with. 

There are a few different options for this lip mask. There is the original, there is a champagne rose-gold one and a smashed on with a red wine finish. I think the maple is a Canadian release only. But the lip mask is a must have, just for your day to day lip care.

First Off - Marc Jacobs Birthday Gift

Every year Sephora gives out a birthday gift to the VIB members. And this year there was a choice. I can't remember what the other choice was. It might have bee some sort of skincare thing? Anyway, I chose the Marc Jacobs set. 

The set contains a mini Le Marc Crème Lipstick in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and a mini Highliner Gel Eye Crayon in Blacquer.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is a cream rose colour. One swipe is super pigmented. It feels creamy and wears pretty well. It's held it's own against my coffee while I was writing this. And the colour is just gorgeous! It is going directly into my purse for adult type situations. 

And the eyeliner is amazing. It wears really well and doesn't smear throughout the day. Mini eyeliners are my favourite because they are small enough to fit in my pocket for touch ups. But with this one, I don't need to touch it up. It comes in an entire rainbow of colours that I will be checking out. 

If you are able to pick a birthday gift from Sephora, I really suggest this one.

Holy Grail - Rimmel London Wake Me Up Concealer

In part two of my 'I Bought Drugstore Makeup On A Time Crunch", I present to you Rimmel London Wake Me Up Concealer.

There isn't much to say. I am obsessed. I have had people comment on the fact that I don't look exhausted. And that is more than enough for me! It does an amazing job covering the black holes that currently live under my eyes. And it wears well. It has a wand and blends out perfectly.You can build it up, but you don't really need to. And it doesn't crease. After the first time I used it, I was in love. You need this in your life! Unless you are on of those weirdos who doesn't have dark circles. 

Holy Grail - Body Shop Body Butter

I live in the freezing cold and it's always very dry. My hands and legs are always super dry and itchy as a result.  I don't like lotion in a pump because I feel like there is so much wasted product. I've had various lotions but I like the Body Shop Body Butter. And, as you can see, I may have a problem.

For the longest time, I was just using the Pink Grapefruit scent. I would walk around citrusy all the time. It was marvellous! There are usually sales so they are never the full $20 price tag. And when the sales come around, I've started getting all the scents. So I can make an informed decision, of course. I enjoy all of them, except the chocolate one they had for a while. And the Vanilla Brûlée one seems to get stronger as the day wears on. 

Right now, I am in love with the Japanese Cherry Blossom scent. And, of course, my default, Pink Grapefruit. And it keeps my skin soft all day.

First Off - Rimmel London Stay Matte Foundation

A while back, I was waiting for a friend and I was running out of time to do my makeup. So I ran into the drugstore and picked up some essentials so I could do my makeup in the car while I waited. I made my choices based on what was cheapest. And, for the most part, it worked out.

For foundation, I picked out Rimmel London Stay Matte Foundation. It's a liquid mousse foundation that blends out easily and has very good coverage. I just blended it out with my fingers, but a Beauty Blender works well too, if you aren't doing your makeup in the car. It lasts all day. I normally set it with a powder.

I've been using it on a regular basis and I'm loving it. I think I would buy this again.

This Moment's Obsession - Benefit's Hoola and Hervana

I am really bad for not highlighting and cotouring when I have a full face of makeup on. My cheeks are just naturally pretty bright red. And I have very full, chubby cheeks, and I haven't found a way to contour them where it doesn't look like a streak down my face. 

Ages ago, when I first decided to attempt the contour life, I bought Benefit Hoola. And then, for good measure (or impulse) I bought Benefit Hervana at the recommendation of the girl at Sephora. 

Hervana was recommended to me because you can swirl it together and have it be darker or have it be softer. I usually end up with a softer blush which is how I prefer it. 

I like Hoola as well. I think the color is a little dark for my skin tone. But it blends nicely. 

They come in the cardboard boxes with the magnetic close. They came with little brushes that my cats have had a blast playing with.