HAUL x FIRST IMPRESSIONS | Colourpop, Target and Bath & Body Works

Here is part two of my beauty haul from my short stop in Boston - I featured all the lovely products I picked up at Sephora in part one, and now it's time to share everything I hauled from Colourpop, Target and Bath & Body Works!

Let's get into Colourpop first, 'cos I have been obsessed with this brand ever since I did my first haul a few months back. I also totally made good on my promise that I'd pick up more products! Like a total badass, I ordered from Colourpop's website while I was in Rotterdam to have the package delivered to my hotel in Boston, and it got there the same morning I arrived. Talk about perfect timing.

Wisp | Butterfly Beach | Solow | Echo Park | Bichette | Brink

I absolutely love the first (and only) Colourpop highlighter I got, Lunch Money, and decided to pick up two more as gifts for my mom and sister. The price, quality and formula of these highlighters really can't be beat! I chose Wisp (golden champagne) for my sister, who is more warm-toned, and Butterfly Beach (soft peach with gold and silver highlights) for my mom, who has more of a pink undertone. But after swatching these, I am seriously regretting not getting duplicates for myself. What was I thinking?! For lips, I picked up another Ultra Matte Liquid Lipstick in Solow (neutral nude pink) which I found slightly more drying than the others, and tried one of the new Ultra Satin Liquid Lipsticks in Echo Park (warm peachy nude) which I am liking so far. It does transfer quite a bit - on everything my lips touch - but is much more comfortable on the lips and has decent staying power. I also tried one of the Lippie Stix in Bichette (deep red wine), which also transfers like crazy but leaves a stain on the lips thereby increasing the staying power. Lastly, I picked up another Lippie Pencil in Brink (warm dusty taupe) for my sister - I'm still loving mine in Lumière - and chose this shade since online reviews claimed it was a very close dupe for one of my all-time favorite lip liners from MAC in Soar. See the swatch below and you can judge for yourself, but to me it looks pretty darn similar!

Wisp | Butterfly Beach | Solow | Echo Park | Bichette | Brink

Colourpop Brink | MAC Soar

Now onto goodies from good ol' Target. I can spend hours inside roaming the beauty aisles (which I did), but I exercised some self-restraint and only picked up a couple essentials. For years, I've heard rave reviews about L'oreal's Telescopic Original Mascara and decided it was finally time to try it for myself (and will update you once I do!). I got backups of my all-time favorite drugstore concealer, the Maybelline Fit Me Concealers, in 10 Light, 15 Fair, and 20 Sand. The numbering can be confusing - 15 Fair is actually the lightest, pinkier shade, 10 Light is a tad darker and peachier, and 20 Sand is yellow-toned. I picked up some more e.l.f. Cosmetics brushes from their Essentials and Studio lines (and bought duplicates for my sister - aren't I just the sweetest). These include the Essentials Eyeshadow Brush, Essentials Eyeliner Brush (too thick for eyeliner but my go-to eyebrow brush for years), Studio Blending Brush, and the Studio Small Tapered Brush (which works perfect with my highlighter). The quality of the e.l.f brushes are quite exceptional considering the very affordable price point, and I would say these (along with the Real Techniques brushes) are some of my favorite and most-used brushes.

L'oreal Telescopic Original Mascara| Maybelline Fit Me Concealers in 10, 15, 20 | e.l.f Brushes

Last but not least, Bath & Body Works' "2 for $20" candle sale got me, yet again, and I picked up my favorite BBW candle scent, Georgia Peach (which smells like you're frolicking in a meadow of fresh peaches) and Vanilla Bean (that reminds me of my discontinued favorite, Homemade Cookies, and smells like creamy Vanilla and marshmallows). However, as much as I love these candles, I've realized that there might be better, cleaner and safer alternatives out there (such as candles made with soy or beeswax) that are less likely to produce potentially toxic chemicals when burning. This time around, I noticed both candle wicks burning with black smoke, and I guess you can never be too careful when it comes to your health and the environment you're living in. I will definitely keep you guys posted on any good alternatives I find. But I still love you, Bath & Body Works!

Vanilla Bean | Georgia Peach

I hope you enjoyed this two part haul from my trip to the US! As I've accumulated a lot of new products recently, get ready for a whole lot more product reviews and a whole lot less hauling (but no promises). Until next time!

PS. I didn't realize I forgot to include the Sonia Kashuk Undetectable Cream Bronzer until after everything was written and done. Of course. But fear not, it will be featured in my next post! 

HAUL x FIRST IMPRESSIONS | Sephora

Who's in the mood for a good Sephora haul? I know I am! As promised, here's a look at all the beauty bits I picked up at Sephora while I was in Boston last month. I also did some damage at Target and Colourpop, but I'll share those in a separate post 'cos there's so much goodness here already. Let's dive in!

The hotel we were staying at was located right next to a huge shopping complex, which - unfortunately for my wallet - included a very well-stocked Sephora. So naturally, I had to go in for a little peek. I take full responsibility for what happened next.

Becca x Jaclyn Hill Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Champagne Pop | First Aid Beauty Eye Duty Triple Remedy: Brighten, Depuff and Smooth in Fair/Medium | Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Complete Coverage Concealer in Light Warm | Fresh Sugar Sport Treatment Sunscreen SPF 30 | Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray

I finally caved - after months and months of telling myself that I didn't need it in my life - and picked up the Becca x Jaclyn Hill Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Champagne Pop, and wow. It is the most stunning peachy gold shade and I've been wearing it all day, e'ery day. It is truly all it's hyped up to be and more. The First Aid Beauty Eye Duty Triple Remedy: Brighten, Depuff and Smooth in Fair/Medium has become one of my favorite products to use in the morning - the applicator feels so cool and refreshing under my eyes and it truly does seem to depuff and brighten - but I still think the price ($36USD) is a bit steep for the amount you get. I wasn't that eager to try the Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Complete Coverage Concealer, only because the Nars Creamy Concealer in Custard has been my ride-or-die high-end concealer, but I must say I am pleasantly surprised - the consistency is lighter without sacrificing coverage, and the shade I got in Light Warm is much more suited for brightening the under eyes and highlighting the face. I picked up the Fresh Sugar Sport Treatment Sunscreen SPF 30 without even researching about it because I love the brand that much and trust the quality of their products. So far, I've only used it once on the face and lips and it's worked really well - it's not greasy and smells like brown sugar and citrus! I got a backup of the Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray, which I don't find absolutely essential for everyday, but is rather nice to have around for special occasions.

Sephora Collection Instant Nail Polish Remover + 14 Travel Size Wipes | Clinique Purifying Cleansing Brush Head Refill | BeautyBlender | Sephora Collection Classic Mini Multitasker Brush #45.5 | Sephora Collection The Natural: Citrus Brush Cleaner

I've been on the hunt for the Bourjois Magic Nail Polish Remover for years - you know, the one in the tub where you dip your fingers in - and have not been able to find it anywhere! So when I saw that this Sephora Collection Instant Nail Polish Remover + 14 Travel Size Wipes was only $7USD and was in the same tub format, I snapped up two sets. Such a good deal! I purchased the Clinique Sonic System Purifying Cleansing Brush about two years ago (which I would not recommend btw, since only the handle vibrates and not the brush head itself) and stopped using it after just a few months. I picked up a Clinique Purifying Cleansing Brush Head Refill so that I could give it another shot, and Clinique recommends replacing the brush head every three months. As I've mentioned before, I always get a backup of my favorite BeautyBlender in every Sephora haul, it's the absolute best. The Sephora Collection Classic Mini Multitasker Brush #45.5 is a completely unnecessary purchase - I already have the full-sized version in #45 which I love - but this was just way too cute to pass up. When it comes to cleaning brushes, I've been on the hunt for something fast and effective, so cue the Sephora Collection The Natural: Citrus Brush Cleaner. I tried it in store on a dirty display brush and it worked like a charm, dried super fast and also smells like oranges. At just $6USD, highly recommend!

Sephora Favorites Eau So Luxe Perfume Sampler | Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb Rollerball | Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Lolita

I have no willpower when it comes to picking up Sephora sample perfume sets - this one is the Sephora Favorites Eau So Luxe Perfume Sampler - because it's just too good of a deal to pass up. It's $25USD and you get six samples, but also a voucher that lets you pick up a full-sized rollerball of whichever sample you fancy most. So essentially, you're getting a free rollerball. Uh, yes please! I ended up using the voucher to get the Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb Rollerball, which I think every girl and her mother has tried and loves. What's funny is I distinctly remember disliking the scent when I tried it on a year ago - it was a bit too musky and spicy for my taste - but it has definitely grown on me. Hands down, the Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Lolita has been the hardest lip product for me to track down. Anyone else? It took me, no joke, over a year to finally find it in stores, and it's so surreal to now have it sitting in my makeup bag. I tried it on the second I got back to my room and it did not disappoint. I am and will forever be obsessed.

Sephora Favorites Paint It Pink

And perhaps the most exciting part of this haul is the Sephora Favorites Paint It Pink set that I picked up at the very last minute. Valued at $122USD, it was priced at just $40USD - which is an absolute steal considering a BeautyBlender is already $20USD, like what - and features eight beauty products, three which are full-sized, in everyone's favorite shade! The set includes a BeautyBlender (which I swear by), Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Rose Gold (who doesn't love rose gold?), Benefit Roller Lash Mascara (this is my current everyday mascara), Deborah Lippmann Nail Polish in Baby Love (definitely my kind of color), Laura Mercier Velour Lovers Lip Colour in French Kiss (a bubblegum pink shade that's too bright for me but has a nice formula), Make Up For Ever Artist Pexi-Gloss #202 (super shiny but also super sticky), Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Blissful (love this range and this color), and Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Scratch (a really soft and buttery rose gold). This set is currently out of stock on Sephora's website - hmm, I wonder why - but if you ever happen to come across this, snatch it up and don't think twice!

Phew, that was long. I feel like I need to go lie down now. 

Hope you enjoyed this Sephora haul and was inspired to make some beauty purchases of your own! I'll be posting part two of my Boston beauty haul soon which includes goodies from Target and Colourpop. Don't miss it!

REVIEW | Colourpop Cosmetics

Remember that massive US haul I did a few months ago? Well, I'm a knucklehead because I forgot to include the most exciting part - a haul from Colourpop Cosmetics! I've been itching to try products from this up-and-coming beauty brand, and I am obsessed.

Colourpop Cosmetics Ultra Matte Lip

$6 USD at Colourpop.com

43 shades

I had a very hard time narrowing down my selection on Colourpop's website (take a look and you'll understand). I ended up picking up four Ultra Matte Lips, one Lippie Pencil and one highlighter. I absolutely adore the packaging (holographic logos and sleek silver tubes - yum), and the quality of the products are unreal, especially when factoring in the very affordable price point. I'll go through everything I got, and show you swatches of them all at the end. Let's get started!

Midi | Beeper | Bumble | Tulle

First off, let me warn you that these Ultra Matte Lips are exactly how they're named - super matte (aka drying), so don't expect these to be the most comfortable thing you've ever put on your lips. If you don't like dry-feeling lips, do not buy these. I personally don't mind it at all, as the product seems less likely to budge or smear. I make sure to put lip balm on before application, and (sometimes a lip liner if I'm not in a hurry) and I'm good to go. 

All four shades apply very smoothly and have really rich color payoff, but they do dry quickly so work fast. They are also very long lasting and usually wear a good five, six hours on me (unless I eat something super oily then they start breaking down - had to learn that the hard way). I also recommend applying this in one go - layering is not ideal as it can get cakey.

Midi | soft neutral beige

I despised this color the first time I tried it on - it was too pale on my lips and three seconds in the mirror was all I could stand before wiping it off and cursing my decision to get it. I gave it another shot a week later (this time letting it sit on my lips for longer) and lo and behold, it had oxidized into a slightly darker, muted pink beige - so, so pretty. Just had to be patient - story of my life. 

Beeper | warm mid-tone taupe

This is one of the most popular shades, and it certainly does live up to the hype. It's a mauve-brown shade that's very on-trend right now, so for those of you who love the brown lip and want a liquid lipstick that's wearable and long lasting, definitely give this a whirl. 

Bumble | dusty warm terracotta 

If you want a color that you can wear everyday and in any season, this is the shade to get. It's a muted brick-red color that instantly brightens the face and looks so flattering and effortless.

Tulle | dusty mauve burgundy

I saw a swatch of this online and put it in my basket straight away. I love a dark vampy lip, but it's not always that easy to pull off. This shade would be my pick for a wearable vampy lip that still packs a punch. So far I've only worn this around the house (my parents were not amused), so I need a good GNO soon to rock this baby outside.

Colourpop Cosmetics Lippie Pencil

$5 USD each

24 shades

Lumière | dusty mauve pink 
I feel like my entire lip liner collection is the same dusty mauve shade (oops), but this one is a really nice addition - it has a creamy formula and feels really comfortable on the lips. It's a bit deeper than Midi, and I find pairing those two together make a lovely, MLBB lip for everyday.

Colourpop Cosmetics Highlighter

$8 USD each

17 shades

Lunch Money | soft light gold with reflective golden duo chrome finish 

You need to go out and get this right now. This is b-e-a-utiful. I don't even know where to start. It's really easy to use and blends into the skin so nicely. There is really nothing else to say other than this shade will make you look like the glowy goddess that you are. #werk

Midi | Beeper | Bumble | Tulle | Lumière | Lunch Money

Swatched in natural light

So, obviously, I am super impressed with Colourpop Cosmetics and will definitely, definitely be picking up more products when I get the chance (which is soon! Stay tuned!). They have so many products on their website and the quality and price point are hard to beat. I suggest you guys head on over and pick out a few to try for yourself - you won't regret it!

P.S You get $5 USD off your first order when you subscribe, and free shipping over $30 USD. What are you waiting for?!