Products Worth The Splurge

Hello my coco puffs,

         So, I have a secret, I love drugstore makeup as much as the next guy, but I also have some splurge-worthy products that I could not replace with a drugstore dupe. I have tried so many dupes in my makeup junkie years and I have not found anything I like as much as these guys. I think sometimes, things are worth the splurge. And despite what they all say (Especially men), there is nothing wrong with splurging once in a while. Let's begin kids...

The Naked 3 Palette-$70

I do not care what anyone says about there being a million dupes for this palette. There no dupes for the quality for these shadows. Being a girl who often skipped shadow all together, when I splurged on this palette, my life changed. Not only are the colors gorgeous, but they apply like literal butter. They blend like a dream and give off a lovely pigment. 

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara-$30

Personally, I find the name of this product extremely unnecessary but the product itself is phinominal. The Packaging it's self is worth the splurge. This mascara packs your lashes with jet black, volume boosting, mascara and I absolutely love it! 

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz-$27

It took me forever to buy this brow pencil, but since buying my first one last year, I have gone through 3. This ultra-thin retractable pencil mimics hair strands and doesn't give off an overpowering color. I tried a few 'dupes' but so far, nothing does the job quite as nicely. Alot of people say the Maybelline Brow pencil is a dupe for this but, personally, I find the tip of that pencil far too rounded verses the ABH Brow Wiz' pointed end which mimics hairs. 

Benefit Erase Paste

This peach-toned under eye concealer is perfect for covering those blue-toned dark circles. This products has a very moist consistency that sheers out really nicely. What I like best about this concealer is how moisturizing it is, unlike other undereye concealers, it doesn't look as dry and flaky as the day goes on. I would suggest setting this lightly with powder. 

Tell me some of your splurge-worthy products below!

Until next time...

A Few Beauty Favourites To Share

1. Too Faced Hangover RX Primer - I use this lightweight primer as a moisturizer before makeup. It creates a nice dewy finish under your makeup for the day.

2. MAC Face and Body Foundation - This foundation is feather light and buildable. This foundation has a light dewy finish but set it with powder and you have a matte finish. When this foundation sets, it lasts forever. A great summer foundation.

3. The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer - My Holy Grail highlighter. This foundation is a highly pigmented, champagne highlighter. This gives a light glow to even the fairest skin.

4. Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette - I have had this palette for a while now and I literally use it everyday. My favourite colours are Limit and Nooner.

5. Coastal Scents 6 Contour Palette - This palette is dirty cheap and it great for a contour beginner. Even though these guys are cheap, they are extremely pigmented! They are also matte so they create a natural light contour.

6. Too Faced Better than Sex Mascara - My absolute favourite mascara!!! This guy is they most expensive mascara I own, but it is worth every penny. Gives great volume and length without alot of clump. LOVE!!!

MY EVERYDAY MAKEUP ESSENTIALS

Top Drugstore Products: Eyes, Lips & Nails ♥

Hello fellow Beautykins,

  

Yes, I just called y'all "Beautykins". I thought I'd give you a cute name. Anyways, welcome to part 2 of my top drugstore products. Today we will talk about eyes, lips and nails. The drug store has a plethora of these types of products, from shadows to eyeliners, mascaras to lash fibers, lipsticks to lip glosses and top coats to gel kits. The drugstore is like the cheap Sephora these days, and less cray cray. So, let's begin, shall we...

Tuesday Review: Physicians Formula FakeOut Mascara

Hello Beautiful People,

                  I hope you all had a great day today and are all ready to step into Wednesday. I know I am! This week is getting exhausting. Anyways, for today's review we are talking about Physicians Formula Organic Wear FakeOut Mascara. That was a mouth-full, try saying that 10 times fast...

              I picked this up about 3 months ago when I had a major car fire that totaled my car (obviously!). I was feeling really washed up and decided to treat myself to something. This was the one drugstore mascara I had hear lots of good thing about but never wanted to spend the $18 for it. I decided to splurge and get it anyways because I was feeling so sad. So here are my thoughts...

This mascara comes in a .26 oz Hot metallic pink tube. The brush is very thick and sport shorter bristles on the ends and they gradually get longer as you move toward the middle. This mascara has a ton of promises. This mascara claims to be the first ever mascara to have 100% natural origin lash extension fibers that claim to provide length and volume without the irritation of traditional fiber mascaras. Promised 100% natural origin ingredients, hypoallergenic, fragrance-free and safe for sensitive eyes and contact lens-wearers.

When I first used this mascara I noticed a difference right away! The lash fibers did really lengthen and volumize my lashes. The large brush really swept across my lashes with ease. After the day progressed I noticed that when I touched my eyelash while itchy my eye or whatever, the mascara was still wet. I also noticed that it did get on my lids because it wasn't dry as well. That was the one thing I really didn't like.

Overall, this mascara is good. I would, however suggest, pairing this with another mascara or sealing it with a waterproof mascara for the simple reason that it does not dry! I think it has something to do with the organics of the ingredients. Now, the price point is a little high for a mascara that does not dry. It runs for about $18 CAD. I will probably not repurchase this mascara. :(

So, that's it ladies and gents! I hope you enjoyed this review and I look forward to posting on Thursday.

I want to know, have you tried this mascara? What did you like? What did you hate? Will you purchase this product? Let me know below!

Until Next Time...
 *Disclaimer: I am not affiliated or sponsored by any of the above companies. The opinions expressed are that of my own!

Review: Maybelline Colossal Cat Eyes

Well Lovlies, I am back!!!

            The Pretty Pauper is rested and ready to take the blogging world by storm. I really enjoyed my few weeks off from the blog as it gave me an opportunity to catch up on other things in life. I had some family visiting for a weekend and then we went car shopping and I got back from a friends cottage last Thursday, so life has been good to me and I can't complain. But now I am back and I have some awesome stuff on the horizon but let's start off with a review, you know, since it's review Tuesday.

          Today, I am going to give you a review on the Maybelline Colossal Cat Eyes mascara.I will be honest in saying that I had this sitting in my drawer for a few months before I actually got into it. But I decided to give it another whirl and here is what I thought...

The Packaging and Product

The 'Claw' Brush

This mascara comes in a yellow tube with Goldy-orange lettering and leopard prints on the lid. When you take out the brush, it appears with a length-wise curve. The formula appears thinner than most mascaras. The smell was interesting to say the least. I don't even know how to describe the smell. This may sound weird but do you ever have someone sneeze next to you and you get a whiff of a random smell? That smell is what the mascara has. HA HA! You probably think I'm crazy but you need to smell it to understand. This product runs for about $7 CAD at Walmart.

The Promise

This product promises a black full lash with flared edges. It claims to have a collagen formula that gives up to 8x the volume in one swift stroke. It also claims that the 'claw' brush ( so that's what it's called eh?) helps to flair the corners for that cat eye look. It claims that for the best results, you need to apply from root to tip with one coat and remove with soap and water.

My First Impression

When I first tried this mascara I wondered what the rave was about. I didn't find it gave me the cat eye look at all. The formula was too thin to build and I didn't find that the 'claw' brush made a difference. Needless to say, I shoved this one away quickly.

My Second Attempt 

Months later I dug this bad boy out in hopes of my falling in love. I felt bad with it just sitting there in my draw collecting dust when I had paid money for it. I used it for a few days but I didn't notice the greatness until I applied it without any other eye makeup. I noticed that it looked like I was wearing false eye lashes although, I would not call this a one-coat wonder. I usually get by with about 3 coats. The formula was super black and i actually really liked the brush. It didn't flake and it looked great after an 8-hour shift!

So, lets sum it up with a round of Pro's and Cons...

Before Application

Pro's  

• The claw brush does extend corner lashes
• Good price   
• Gives the false lash look
• Super Black formula
• Not much flaking

 

 

Con's

• The smell is interesting
• Need more than the one coat promised

After 3 coats

So there it is Ladies and Lads! I hope you enjoyed this Tuesday review. Keep in mind that EVERY Tuesday, I will be posting a new review, so stay up to date by liking me on Facebook @ The Pretty Pauper on Facebook . Also, stay tuned for my Tips/Tutorial Thursdays and Fashion Saturday's!

I want to know, have you tried this mascara? What did you love? What did you hate? Would you purchase again? Is there something better? Let me know below and thank you all for reading my Lovlies!!!!

                                                   








Disclaimer: I am in no way sponsored by any of the products or companies listed above. The opinions expressed are that of my own. 

Summer-Proof Makeup & Hair Tips

Hey Beauties!

       Hope y'all had a fabulous weekend and are ready to start a new week! My weekend was super dramatic as my car caught fire on the highway yesterday as I was on the way to the beach. Super maddening, saddening and so cry worthy it's not even funny. But as Liz Taylor would put it, "Pour yourself a drink, Put on some Lipstick, and Pull Yourself Together'. That is precisely what I plan on doing this week. I will be busing it for a while, which means I'm going to be standing in the hot sun waiting for my wheels to work. Ick! So, what I need is a summer hair and makeup survival guide but since no such thing exists I compiled a few things that may help myself, and my beautiful readers, not to melt like a Popsicle when you hit the summer air. I am going to start with some of my favorite sweat-proof makeup items and then move on the hair. Keep in mind that some of these products may not be budget friendly but they get the job done! I am a heavy face sweater and I need products that can handle the job. So, let's get started...

Benefit Stay Flawless Primer

Let's start with a primer. The reason primers are good in the summer is because they create a barrier between your skin and your foundation. It also creates an adhesive that helps our your makeup stick better and helps it not to move out of place. So far my favorite primer is the Benefit Stay Flawless 15-hour Primer. The product is described as a makeup magnet. It creates a tacky surface to help your makeup to adhere and helps keep it from moving. This product really does stand up to the job. Although it would not personally say it lasts a whole 15-hours. But that is another story, for another time. I plan on writing a full review shortly.

Covergirl Stay Fabulous Foundation

Next up is a long-wearing foundation. I have oily skin so I need a product that wont slide off
when my face gets slick. I also need something light-weight that has good coverage. I have alot of hyper-pigmentation and acne scaring and I need something that will cover that so I don't need alot of heavy concealer. The more you have on the hotter you will get. When summer comes and the humidity gets to your skin you want as little as possible on your face. My favorite foundation is the Covergirl Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation. This product as gotten rave reviews from beauty experts everywhere including myself! I cover amazingly and the wear time is incredible. It is also a matte foundation with is not only excellent for oily skin but for the summer in general! The dewier the foundation the sweatier you look. I recommend this foundation for anyone and everyone and it's cheap. Around $12!

Urban Decay All-Nighter Setting Spray

Setting Spray is a must! I never realize how amazing these hidden gems can be. They help to set everything quickly so that when you hit the heat, nothing moves. Everything stays put and stays fresh. Urban Decay has a fabulous line of setting sprays. There are three different ones and the one I have tried and LOVED, is the All-Nighter Spray. The cool thing about this product is that when your skin temperature rises, it cools your makeup to avoid it from moving all over the place. It's like a thermostat for your skin!

E.L.F Tone Correcting Powder (Sorry about the broken part

If setting spray is out of your budget or you deem it unnecessary, then you want to set with a powder instead. It works as a blotting sheet, keeping the skin matte and absorbing oils as the heat rises. My favorite is the e.l.f Tone Correcting Powder. The has 4 shades that you mix together to combat redness, dark spots, etc. And it runs for about $3 which
is a steal!!!!

Essence Gel Liner and Femme Couture Liner

If you need you full-on eye makeup, I suggest a gel eyeliner for both eyes and eyebrows, yes I said eyebrows. Let me explain, gel eyeliner is usually waterproof, sweat proof and smudge proof! That means when the mercury rises, you can count on fabulous eyebrows. The trick with this is to get a brown gel liner and use it with a brow brush. Start application from the middle of the brow and work the product through. Don't re-dip, a little goes a long way. This a great way to make your brows last all day. My favorite on for brows is the Femme Couture Gel Liner in Brown. This formula is a bit dry which makes it ideal for getting the brows right. It helps avoid a application overload. My favorite for eyes is Essence Gel Eyeliner in Midnight in Paris. The formula is creamy and it wears all day, even through the sweat! This is one of my favorites and I use it everyday!

Maybelline Mega Plush Waterproof Mascara

I am a mascara junkie, Que Youtube video called "I am a makeup junkie!" and I never leave my home without it! But when the heat starts, so does the meltdown. That's when I use waterproof mascara. I personally only use it on the bottom lashes because my sweat usually accumulates down under my eyes. I use the Maybelline Mega Plush in Black-Brown.

OCC Lip Tar

Finally, keep those lips luscious with they help of a stain. Stains really give the lips the color they need without being too preachy. And they usually last a good couple hours. I love the OCC Lip Tar in Divine. I did a few review of these last week so check it out for details.

Refresh Dry Shampoo

Now come the hair. The worst thing is a hot, oily, greasy mess of hair. For the oily hair i suggest a dry shampoo. These bad boys don't replace washing but they can help your hair look cleaner when you are in a jam. They spray out a powder that helps absorb all the oils and help the hair look fresh!

De-frizz Wand

For the frizz i suggest a freeze zapper like the One 'n' Only Brazilian Tech Frizz Wand. This has a mascara wand that will help take the frizziest strands. Keep it in your purse for those frazzled moments.

Well, That's it! I hope these tips will help keep you looking fresh and sexy for the rest of the summer! Do you have any summer tips to share? Comment Below!

Have a fantastic week Loves!

Love
Sarah XXO

Bath and Body Works haul and more...

Hey hey everyone,

        Hope everyone's long weekend is off to a smashing start. What I love about the long weekend is that your like, 'dang! it's Sunday already. Oh, Wait! There's still Monday left!.' What have I been up to, you ask? Well, Last night I caught up with a local Ribfest (which was a-freakin-mazing), today I cleaned my car and went shopping, and tomorrow, I'm hitting up the beach. Yes, summer is almost done and it's gotta go out with a bang. Now, when I say 'bang' I mean 'spend all your money and don't give two-well you know the rest, a le Nicki Minaj. Yes, I have been burning bills like it's going outta style. This is bad when, well, it's all the money that you have until your next check.

       In light of such things, I wanted to share with you my haul, which consist of everything from, candles to jewellery. Let me begin with my most recent haul, which was my bath and body works haul that happened today. On the left you will get a glimpse of my haul. Ta-da! isn't it gorgeous?! And it smells amazeballs. I wanted to do a vlog post about my haul but doing vlogs is alot of work. You gotta look perfect and everything. This way I can look like a hot mess and still show you guys the goods. I going to list all of the stuff and describe it. Let's begin ladies and lads.

Bubble bath (Lavender Vanilla) $5 on sale- This is a bedtime bubble bath and I bought it at the last minute because i noticed it was only $5 (normally $15). I guess you could say it was an 'mpulse buy.' I am super excited to try it.

Concentrated Room Spray (Marshmallow Fireside) $5- It's only 1.5 oz but one spray fills the room. My bedroom is right above my neighbors kitchen, so I get there nasty food smells sometimes (fish is the worst, bleeek!). This caught my attention for that reason. The smell also made an impact. It really smells like an ashy, fiery smell and it has a hint of marshmallow sweetness. Yum! My room smells fab.

Mini scented candles (Cafe au lait, Sweet Macaron, French baguette) 3 for $6- These guys are too perfect. They are small enough to pic several scents and i honestly couldnt choose just one. The cafe au lait smells has a cinnamony, coffee-ish, vanilla scent. The Sweet Macaron has a vanilla berry scent and the french baguette smells like a sweet buttery bakery (if you can imagine).

Mini body lotion (Malibu heat) $2.50 on sale - This little lotion was regularly $5 and I got it for half price. It has a flowery light scent that's perfect for the beach. I was in love the moments I sniffed. aaaaahhhh...:)

My Favorite Product of the haul. Scented candle (Summer Boardwalk) $6.25 on sale - This guy is amazing. I don't even know how to describe the scent. It's like funnel cakes, sea spray and sun mixed into a candle. So fantastic. I look forward to setting this candle ablaze.

Now, all of that goodness came together at the grand total of $31.36. Not to shabby!


Next up...

Every year in Toronto we  have a thing called the Canadian International Exhibition. Basically, it's a national fair with shopping, food, a midway and shows. It's pretty much the highlight of my summer. They usually have a makeup booth with a ton of discounted drugstore makeup. I spent so little that I thought I'd share.

-NY.C eyeshadow palette for blue eyes
-Rimmel Scandleyes mascara in extreme black
w/ free black eyeliner
- Rimmel Stay matte pressed powder
- Rimmel sparkle it up eyeliner in purple

All of this came to a grand total of $11.30. Yeeeeuuuus! It was pretty amazing. The Ex is only on until tomorrow so if your in the T.O area, go check it out!

And Finally...

The is another local traditn that I have called the Ribfest. It basically a giant bbq. There are about 20 vender's who prepare ribs and pulled pork sandwiches. You vote and there is a winner crowned. The food is amazing. But the shopping is even better. I picked up an adorable Pandora bracelet for $30.

The price included 7 charms. These are the ones I got.

Fleur-de-lis- Mainly because it's a french symbol and I'm in love with France, like IN LOVE!

Martini- Doesn't speak for it's self?

Cat- I am a self proclaimed 'cat lady'. I have two.

Vanity- Well, if your going to  call yourself a 'beauty queen' wouldn't a vanity be vital?

Anchor- I have always had a fascination with anchors. Mainly because they rep sailors and pirates which I'm kinda obsessed with.

Starfish- Again, something to do with my sea fascination.

Eiffel Tower -Did I mention I was in love with France? :P

Well ladies and gents, That's my haul. I hope you enjoyed. Thanks again for reading.

Lots o' Love

Sarah