Beautylish Original Lucky Bag (2021)

My 2021 Lucky Bag came in today.........! Did it meet my expectations? *sees tinier box than last year, and label listed weight of package as 2lbs*....................oh, that's.. okay,  can't judge a book by its cover, right?

1. SKIN INC SUPPLEMENT BAR Optimizer Voyage Tri-Light++ (rose gold limited edition) - $265.00 USD
   
   This is sold out from the Beautylish sites, so I don't know its exact value. My first impression of this....what the? Seriously? This looks cheap to me (never heard of this), but is valued at around 265 USD?! How am I supposed to use this when I don't have the serums lol and sorry, I don't like that I need batteries for this, I wish it was USB rechargeable. IDK HOW I FEEL.
   
   
   
2. CHARLOTTE TILBURY Hot Lips 2 (Red Hot Susan) -  $37.00 USD 
   
   Wasn't expecting lipstick, but why must lipsticks, when given at random, always be red (ie Sephora's birthday gift - makeup option)? I do like CT lipsticks, so I'm not THAAT disappointed... but I wish that the luckybag would also ask what your undertone is than JUST your complexion shade range.... waaay too general when all you can choose is fair to med, or med to dark.
   
   
   
3. GOOD MOLECULES Discoloration Correcting Serum - $12.00 USD
   
   Okay, not against another Good Molecules skin care item, maybe I will use this with the voyage tri-light lol. 
   
   
   
4. NATASHA DENONA Love Palette - $65.00 USD
   
   I like pinks but these shades of red and pink all look very similar, or is it just me? 
   
   
5. JUNO & CO. Microfiber Rosé Velvet Sponge - $6.00 USD
   
   LOL AGAIN? Alrighty, to my sister this goes (I just don't need two right now....I haven't really needed to wear foundation since around March 2020 when we declared our state of emergency.)
   
   
   
6. WAYNE GOSS Brush 20 Eye Shadow Smudging Brush - $22.00 USD
   
   YES NOW I HAVE A SONIA G & A WAYNE GOSS BRUSH!! It's so soft and I can't wait to use it (when I feel like doing my face again lol)
   
   
7. RCMA MAKEUP Illuminating Sticks Set - $36.00 USD
   
   Oooh I love highlighters, but not cream formula since it tends to not agree with my skin x_x. These colours 

In conclusion, the value of this lucky bag is, apparently, approximately $440.00 USD. Okay, let me just take out item #1 of $265.00 USD....so, $175.00 USD.  This valuation makes more sense. Why would I do that? Well...my Lucky Bag had 7 items versus my sister's that only had 6. Compared to my sister's lucky bag, we got the exact same items, except for the brush (she got a different Wayne Goss eye brush), the highlight (she got a highlighter by Jouer), the sponge (she got a clear makeup bag), and the lipstick (she got a different ND lipstick). 

The Lucky Bag I received last year was valued between $222.50 ~ $262.00 USD (price variation from the Sugarpill x Little Twin Stars Collection).

I have mixed feelings and am not sure which year's bag that I received I enjoy more! Even though I didn't love the Jeffree Star Cosmetics liquid lip colours and the colours from the My Little Twin Stars collection, the latter was super cute and a happy surprise. I hope that in the future lucky bag order process, it would be more tailored to our undertones, and hopefully, Canadians would have the option to order the XL size!

Beautylish Original Lucky Bag (2020)

I know I am a year late to this post, but I still wanted to document it and have it on record >__> On a happy note, I did purchase the 2021 Lucky Bag, so I will make it a goal to post that the week I receive it!

 I actually did start drafting it, but forgot to finish. I am forever a procrastinator lol how did I ever graduate from post-secondary. I guess I need a deadline to be my motivator. ANYWAYS...

This was my first lucky bag from Beautylish. I usually stick to the same few brands for makeup/skincare, and wanted some variety to my collection (of junk.. LOL)

A lucky bag is a mystery bag where the contents are entirely random and sold at a discount. The concept originated from Japan  (in Japanese it is called a 福袋 fukubukuro) .

1. Sugarpill x Little Twin Stars Collection  - $79.00 USD/26.00 USD (Beautylish vs Sugarpill site)
   
   Wow, I was genuinely surprised! Did they give this to me because I'm Asian (and knew I'd like it, haha)? While I don't love the colours thaaat much, I do love the packaging. This isn't something I would personally purchase, but my sister likes this Sanrio character more than I do, so I will probably give this to her.
   
   
2. SONIA G.. Pencil Two Brush - $26.00 USD
   
   SCORE. I WAS HOPING I WOULD GET A SONIA G. OR WAYNE GOSS BRUSH. I believe this is the Pencil Two brush, as it is dense and dome shaped. It feels really nice. I don't own any expensive brushes... I'm so cheap that I just own ELF brushes lol (and some Real Technique brushes that were gifted). Truthfully, I had no issue with them so I never felt the need to splurge. But the longer I use makeup, over time, I wouldn't oppose to spending a little more on a couple of brushes that I use on a regular basis (ie: a foundation brush or a highlight brush).
   
   
3. JEFFREE STAR COSMETICS 5 Year Anniversary Velour Liquid Lipstick Bundle - $75.00 USD
   
   A bit mixed emotion when I saw this. In the beauty community, when you hear/see the name JS... everyone has an opinion, lol. I have never owned any of JS' products, and although I have wondered what the hype is all about, I would never really make it out of my way to decisively purchase something just to satisfy that curiosity. I am more of natural-look makeup kind of gal, so... the white and green colours, obviously, did not make me jump for joy!
   
   I actually don't know what to do with this.
   
   
4. JUNO & CO. Microfiber Rosé Velvet Sponge - $6.00 USD
   
   I have not opened this yet, I still have a bunch of beauty sponges to use first. I'm trying to stop opening new products when the old variation has not been thrown out yet... sigh
   
   
   
5. BEAUTYLISH PRESENTS Faux Fur Brush Roll - $14.00 USD
   
   I quite like this, I hold my most frequently used eye brushes here. Glad they sent me the black and not the pink (prevent getting dirty!)
   
   
6. GOOD MOLECULES Niacinamide Brightening Toner - $14.00 USD
   
   YAY! I was genuinely excited when I saw this because I love the Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% by the Ordinary. I never knew how much my face was missing niacinamide lol darn you, stubborn blemishes. I haven't tried this yet, since I have like 2-3 other toners open at the moment.
   
   
7. NATASHA DENONA Camel Palette - $48.00 USD
   
   Yay for neutrals!! I like ND palettes, this was a happy loot.

I don't even need to ask if I'd buy one again, because I already did lol hopefully the bag will come to me next week....  as of today, January 211st, it is in Calgary (shipped on January 12th), and I live in Vancouver, BC. Let's see how lucky I'll be this year.

Review: Laduree Les Merveilleuse Beauty Products (replicas)

I hope my blog/this post won't be flagged...... :'(

When you find something really nice, you want to share it with others, right? At least I do :P

YouTube video

I discovered these Les Merveilleuse by Laduree "inspired" products when I was shopping on AliExpress and I was very curious about them. I accidentally stumbled upon the hand mirror, as I was browsing for a new one, and lo and bold, there was Laduree. I read some decent reviews and decide to purchase and see for myself (hand mirror, blush pot, and pot holder).

I won't list the seller's information (to prevent their store from closing), but when you search for the, you just need to type the brand's name, or something like "(vintage) pot holder". It will take some time to find, and although I have not personally seen or touched the authentic products, I can assure you that these replicas are very high quality and well worth your money!

See the following exhibits

 

Each product came in their own carefully packaged box. From first impression, I was already blown away (as stupid as that sounds, yes, the damn box made me pleasantly surprised) because of how good quality the cardboard box was LOL

Mirror with bag

Price:  ~$8 CAD

This mirror was heavy and sturdy. As far as I know... the actual mirror is a gold colour, but this one that I purchased is silver.

Blush Pot Holder

Price: ~$15CAD ~$30 CAD

The famous petal blush pot holder. This is absolutely gorgeous and well made too!
This also comes in a gold/black version.

Brush Holder

Price: ~$12

Again, it is high quality, smooth, and did not fail to deliver :)

Hand Mirror

Price: ~ $10

Elegant as well, right? Look "expensive"? I was looking forward to this hand mirror and was expecting it to be small, but the fact that it felt so light-weight definitely lowered its quality.
---------------------------

I know, I know, some people think buying replicas is tacky. I realize the post before this is also about buying "fake stuff" off of AliExpress... man, I guess that makes me really fake person *sarcasm*--- but no, I'm not trying to be someone I'm not LOL it's called being cheap cost-efficient. I just really like the look of these items is all :)

If you haven't shopped on AliExpress before, I advise you to read my previous post for some tips before you decide to (become a shopaholic like me) ^^"

Haul: Random Rexall Pharma Plus Shopping

Today, after work, I decided to head to a stationary store to replace this card holder that I recently lost. When I arrived, I was out of luck.. it was closed... :(

Instead, I walked into Rexall, which is across from it. WHY?! I told myself that I would ONLY walk into that stationary store, so I would save money.

As I walked to the beauty aisle, I asked myself a bigger WHY because... there were plenty of sales:

• 40% off all Physicians Formula products
• 30% off Loreal products
• $6.99 on Almay or Revlon eye makeup
• $3 off Maybelline products
• $4.46 on select Sally Hansen nail polish

Sales end on May 30th, 2013.

I didn't pick up too many products, because I wanted to make sure I wouldn't over spend. Here's what I purchased, as well as short descriptions about each:

1. Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Nail Polish -  404 Greige Gardens
   
   A gorgeous gray-lavender colour. Neutral colours are my absolute favourite!
   • Dries quickly
   • Not too pigmented-- needed to apply 2 coats
     
2. KIT Nail Polish -  R247 Blue Ivy
   This is one of the things I like most about Rexall-- you are eligible for a free product for spending a certain amount. In this case, this KIT nail polish was complimentary, because I had spent over $25
   
   • Super pigmented 
   • One coat is enough
   • Dries quickly


3. Physicians Formula Youthful Wear Youth-Boosting Dark Circle Corrector + Concealer in Light+Yellow 7881C
4. Physicians Formula Youthful Wear Youth-Boosting Corrector/Concealer in Light+Yellow 7583C
   
   To be honest, I don't know what the major difference between the two PF products are (perhaps one is newer) . Both essentially function similarly in that they are a corrector and an anti-aging product, which is an amazing concept. I am excited to try them out!

Review: NYX Lipsticks

Hello everyone!

I've been super occupied with school, and life ....and, well, I've been lazy :P Hence the lack of updates.
Today, I will be doing short reviews on some NYX lipsticks that I currently own. I purchased them from my local drugstores, online, and IMATS =).

  Swatches

Lip Smacking Fun Colors - LSS 630 Pumpkin Pie
Lip Smacking Fun Colors - LSS 628 Tea Rose 
Lip Smacking Fun Colors - LSS 640 Fig 
Lip Smacking Fun Colors - LSS 626 Vitamin
Tinted Lip Spa - TLS 04 Vintage
Matte Lipstick - MLS 22 Strawberry Daiquiri

Bare lips

The following three lipsticks are very similar in their formula:

• Very moisturizing; no lipbalm is required before application, unless used during winter
• Very pigmented; leaves a nice, creamy finish

Pumpkin Pie

This is a nice warm-toned coral nude shade.

Tea Rose

This colour is very similar to Fig, expect it is more on the purple side.

Fig

This colour is very similar to Tea Rose, except it is more on the bright pink side. My white balance is actually  off in this photo (sorry about that >.<), so it looks cool toned.

Vitamin

I'm not a big fan of this lipstick. Although moisturizing, it comes off quite sheer and glossy. It's not very pigmented on the lips.

Vintage

This is a nice light orange lipstick. If you're looking for a bright coloured lipstick I recommend this one for starters. It isn't too bold.

Strawberry Daiquiri

This is matte red lipstick with a warm undertone. I enjoy this lipstick because I am able to use it without worrying about my lips looking chapped compared to other matte lipsticks (like the Revlon Matte Lipsticks. I really don't like the formula of those). It's not dry at all.

Thanks for stopping by =) I hope this was useful in some way.

Review: e-glips & Peripera lipsticks

I've heard great things about the Korean cosmetics brand Peripera, so I decided to try out some of their lipsticks. Because #20 in Pink Beige was a popular liking, and I saw how amazing it looked on most, I knew I had to get my hands on it. Aside from purchasing lipsticks from Peripera, I came across another brand called e-glips, which I've never actually heard before. I discovered e-glips when I was browsing through some eBay sellers shops. They were only about $5 each, and the colour selection caught my eye, so I thought, why not? :)

My purchases (left to right)

• e-glips real color lipstick #27 Gracy
• e-glips lolly flower lipstick #17 Ylang Ylang Peach
• Peripera My Color #14 Mandarin Orange
• Peripera My Color #20 Pink Beige

Packaging
Here's how the packaging of each look like. As you can see, the packaging for these Peripera's lipsticks are very unique! Asian cosmetics are known for their beautiful packaging. However, some may find this bulky and a little too excessive.

Swatches (with flash)
I didn't go for colours that were too loud. I felt it was safer to purchase these kinds of colours, because afterall, when you buy online, you can only base the colour on what's shown as the description image. They all have some slight shimmer to them, but it is really not noticable when applied



(no flash) 

My bare lips

e-glips real color lipstick #27 Gracy


(on my lips)

 I think it is very close to the image provided. It's definitely a beautiful, soft pink nude. I've been looking for a shade like this for the longest time! The formula is quite nice, too. It's not heavy feeling, and I didn't have to  moisturize my lips before application.

e-glips lolly flower lipstick #17 Ylang Ylang Peach

(on my lips)

 Another gorgeous shade. This is a nice colour to go for when you're just starting off with lipsticks and don't want to go too bold. Again, the formula is great. This has a slight peachy-sour scent to it.

Peripera My Color #14 Mandarin Orange

 To be honest, I'm not too impressed with these Peripera lipsticks. The formula doesn't work for me. My lips actually got chapped when I applied the lipstick without and with a lipbalm. Don't get me wrong, this shade is a pretty orange, but it's just the formula the bugs me.

Peripera My Color #20 Pink Beige

I had high hopes for this one. There are some days where this lipstick makes me look dead, or passable. I think that depends if my BB Cream makes my complexion look darker or lighter. But nonetheless, there is some purple in this, so those with a more cool undertone could appreciate this lipstick more than I :(

Overall, I enjoyed the majority of these lipsticks and may consider purchasing other lipstick shades by e-glips. You can buy Peripera products on their official website here, or on other online pages such as eBay (be cautious of counterfeits).
Feel free to leave me any questions or comments :)