There's a little story to accompany my haul.
A few weeks ago I had a disappointing experience at Sephora.
Long story short what it amounted to was poor customer service and I lodged a
complaint with Sephora. To be honest, it was very unlike me to bother. It’s
probably only the second time I have ever bothered (I have been in customer
service and I know that the staff are only human and everything isn’t going to
be perfect all the time). What crossed the line for me this time was that I was
in incredible pain at the time. I am in the third trimester of my pregnancy and
my back was just….. unbearable. I shouldn’t have walked up there. It really is
largely my fault. The problem is, I thought at the time that it would be the
last opportunity I would have to go to Sephora before the baby was born so I stubbornly
made my excruciating way from work to the shop, only to find that it was
impossible to get served and to turn around and walk all the way back without
buying anything.
So pregnant grumpy me got on my phone and sent through a
complaint.
By way of apology, one of the managers arranged for me to
have a complimentary makeup session. I didn’t think I would be able to take up
the opportunity but as fate would have it I ended up back in the city and was
able to book an appointment.
Although it was complimentary and I could have left with a fabulous
face of makeup at no cost), of course I just had to spend some money.
I spent a total of approximately $90.00 and came away with
three new products and three samples.
Click on "Read More" for more details about my purchases.
It Cosmetics CC+ Radiance Ombre Blush (Colour Correcting +
Anti-Aging Blushing Veil) from the Je Ne Sais Quois Collection.
It Cosmetics says this about the blush: Your gorgeous
flush of color and radiance is just a brush stroke away with this innovative
color correcting radiance Ombré Blush. The exclusive Je Ne Sais Quoi® shade
transforms from matte to radiance and is formulated to bring out your
individual healthy flush of color and glow! Perfect for all skin stones. Clinically
proven, all day waterproof! Using your favorite IT Cosmetics® Brush, lightly
dust over the apples of your cheeks using circular, upward sweeping motions.
Apply to bare skin or on top of makeup for an instant flush or vitality-filled
color, radiance and color correction.
Would you look at this pretty! I would be lying if I didn’t
say that what really drew me to this blush was how pretty it looks in the pan.
I am wearing it for the first time today and it looks
amazing, it lasting longer than every other blush I own (I know that’s a big
claim to make on day 1 but I promise so far it is true) and it just looks like
such a natural, brightening flush of colour on my cheeks. It might be love. I
can’t wait to keep testing this and write a review.
Bite Beauty Luminous Crème Lipstick in Grenache
I have been eyeing these off for months, ever since I saw
Emily from Beauty Broadcast rave about them on her channel. It’s funny. Emily
from Beauty Broadcast if my most trusted You Tuber. Her reviews are thorough,
articulate and honest and she always looks beautifully put together without
looking overdone. She is basically my makeup idol.
Yet, every time I have purchased a lipstick on her
recommendation, the lipstick has fallen short of my expectations. I think that
we must have very different lips. Nonetheless, I can’t help myself. If she
recommends something, I just want to buy it.
So buy it I did – the Bite Beauty Luminous Crème Lipstick in
Grenache. I actually swatched just about every colour that they had but I
couldn’t help but think each time that I already had something similar in my lipstick
collection. There didn’t seem to be any ‘unique-to-me’ shades. Grenache was the
most unique to my collection which is why I ultimately chose it. It’s also a
very pretty colour. When I swatched the lipstick, it was very glossy which
makes me worry a little about the longevity. Nonetheless, I am very excited to
try out my first Bite Beauty Lipstick.
Tarte High Performance Naturals Mini Duo in How Sweet It Is
This was an impulse purchase I made on my way to the
registers. I wasn’t too sure about it, but when I swatched the little blush I
decided that I would have to try it.
The Tarte How Sweet It Is mini duo kit contains a mini blush
in the shade sweet and mini Lipsurgence Liptint in the colour Sweet.
Both of them are a very pale pink with a lot of gold shimmer
through them. The blush reminded me a little of Nars Orgasm but it is a very
pale pink (rather than a very bright pink) and is far more glittery.
Again, the Lipsurgence Liptint is quite glossy and so I will
be interested to see what it’s longevity is like. I know that glittery blushes
can emphasise pores (something I have a real issue with) but I just couldn’t
help myself, it looked so pretty I had to have it.
Samples: Marc Jacobs Genius Gel and the Cover FX Calming Primer
When I had my makeup application, the lady doing my makeup
used a combination of the Cover FX Calming Primer and the Marc Jacobs Genius
Gel. She said that she chose these two products because I had told her when we
first started talking that my skin had been playing up a little with my
pregnancy and instead of the usual oil slick I have actually been getting some
dryness in different areas.
I was a little worried particularly about the foundation. It
is water based and has “gel” in the title – definitely to sorts of things I
would normally avoid with skin like mine.
I was pleasantly surprised however. It looks flawlessly
natural when applied, certainly better on initial application that any other
foundation I own.
So, I asked for a sample pot of both the products to try out
at home and see how it held up to a typical daily routine. With a price tag
like the Marc Jacobs Genius Gel, I want to know it’s going to last through an
entire work day before I commit to spending that much money.
Samples: It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream
I have been thinking about this cream for quite a long time.
I like to use a BB Cream when I am just going to do the groceries or go to the
shipping centre or do something similarly mundane where no one really is going
to be looking at me and I could just wear no makeup if I didn’t enjoy applying
it so much.
I usually use the Maybelline BB Cream (better match to my
undertones) or the Garnier BB Cream (better longevity) (or a combination of
both - in an attempt to get the best of both worlds).
All of the positive reviews of this product mention that
this product had good coverage and good staying power for a product of its type
but I have read very mixed reviews about how it applies on oily skin. It also
costs a small fortune for what it is and so I want to know that it is pretty
bloody special before I spend that much money on it. So I was matched to the
shade Light and now I just need to find the right opportunity to test it and
see how it performs.
