Annabelle warehouse sale : OH MY ....HAUL !

So ...at the beginning of November, I decided to ban some items from my shopping list such as e/s : the following picture is the proof of my complete failure :

Tell me how am I supposed to resist pigments at 2$50 ? And who are you to judge (faking sobs in her voice) ?

As usual my swatches are of mediocre quality but I don't photoshop...

Pigments' description from left to right (Marcelle's minerals)

Amethyst : a gorgeous shimmery lilac with pink undertones (2$50 remember ?)

Snow : a immaculate white, fantastic for the inner corner (2$50 again...)

Silver : obviously a silver metallic pigment (for only 2$50, must I add...)

24 karat : a true gold (the one I 've been searching forever : not orange, not yellow, pure gold for 2$50)

Bronze : a rich copper color completely washed out in the pic (can't believe I picked it for 2$50)

Sapphire : a bright blue, my absolute favorite ( so for 15 $ aka less than a MAC pigment, I have those fantastic colors....)

Liners' description from top to bottom : it's getting even better (1$50 for each items listed below):

Smoky blue Smudgeliner: a dark navy liner infused with black. I can't believe I nearly didn't pick it : it's the same quality as my favorite Smudgeliner (Rich chocolate) and it's a nice alternative to the harshness of black. A definite favorite of mine !

Extra celestial Smudgeliner : a pale teal color. I can't see myself using it now cause it screams summer but we'll see.

Green tease Smudgeliner: a dirty, mossy gold. I used it today on my lower lashline. I's an amazing alternative to a white pencil (I can't wear white on my lower lash line, it looks so fake on me). The golden color just add a pop : the eye looks much more awake !

Envy Smudgeliner : gorgeous olive color. I am a big fan of Olive EOTD and I never found a color like that for a liner. I am so excited to try this one with Club (MAC) : it's his twin in a liner form

I also bought :

- an adorable mini Kabuki fro 25 cents (I should have picked 3-4 of them : it's awesome for the under eye area, the contour of the nose...)

- 2 bottles of Soothing Cleansing Water : it's working as well as my beloved but expensive Bioderma

- 2 mascaras : Volume precision in black is my Holy grail mascara.

- 3 sets of skincare : it was crazy I bought the 2 sets in the plastic boxes for about 10 $ each and a third one was offered for free : I picked the luxurious set with the pretty crocodile look. I am set for the whole year for 9$( price of the green set : hydrating one) + 13 $ (price of the orange set : Hydra C). You have a day cream, a foaming cleanser, an exfoliant and an eye make up remover in the 1st set while in the 2nd you find : a day cream, a night cream, a cleanser and an eye make up remover. In the luxurious set : day cream, eye cream, foaming cleanser and exfoliant. Make the addition : for 22$, it's unbeatable !

- a Haute Gold bronzer back up as I hit pan on my previous one : Holy grail contour bronzer for me !

I went with Gen, a friend and we had a blast : people were amazingly nice over there in spite of the crowd. The Haute Gold bronzer was missing when we arrived but when I asked for it, a sale associate took the time to try and find one for me....There were people all over the place and she took the time to find a 1$50 item for me, I was voiceless (MAC SA , can you note that please ?)

Sad part of the story, Gen said that she will never, ever go to a sale with me cause I stuffed her bag with everything I love from Annabelle-Marcelle and it seemed that I am a very persuasive SA !!! HAha

Have a nice Sunday evening

Caro-bankrupted xxx

OOTD : Temporary secretary dress in summer

OOTD : another Modcloth dress from Bettie Page ! When I received it, I wasn't sure I'll keep it. IT felt a little too "costumey" for me. But hubby and kids convinced me it still looked pretty....I use the belt over the cardigan to accentuate the hourglass figure.

As I decided to keep it, I played the vintage role ad nauseam : pearls and "don't mess with me, kids" look !

Shoes are from Winners, Cardigan from Urban behavior a 100 years ago...

Caro-feeling like a modest first grade teacher in the 50's xxx

Playing dupes !

I am ashamed of it but I must admit I am a little bit of a snob...I don't like that much drugstore products particularly matte e/s. But, I heard such good things about the Wet and Wild Color Icon Palettes that I had to face Wall Mart (yuck !) to go and see for myself. No swatches possible there, so I grabbed the neutral one : Vanity and the purple one : Lust. I paid 8 $ CAD for those 2 ugly big palettes ( told you I was a snob !)

Then, I swatched those little pans and decided that the beauty can all be in the inside...

Now the exciting discoveries of a lifetime : I don' t have that many MAC e/s but the pale pink is a perfect dupe for Yogurt (MAC) while the creamy white could easily replace Vanilla (MAC). I have many silvers, plums and purples but none of them are Mac so no other comparisons for the purple palette but my little finger tells me that the shimmery burgundy color could be Sketch's twisted twin (Grey's anatomy quote, girls !).

In the neutral palette , the matte pale brown is the little brother of Wedge (MAC). the shimmery off-white is Dazzlelight's (MAC) little sister and the shimmery brown is a warmer version of Twinks (MAC)

The snob in me let the nerd express herself : GOOD VALUE, YOU SNOB ! FOR 8 $ , you can't even grab 1 single pan at MAC and you have 12 e/s in here ! Shame on me ....

Swatches on my shivering skin : goose bumps pictures nicely , don't you think ? Look at those matte colors : one swipe. Pay off is awesome !

a moment of silence is needed, people ....No primer, no flash, no Photoshop : the truth just the truth, your Honor !

Caro-discovering new horizons xxx

April's favorites ? All time favorites reviews !

So As I had a post about hate yesterday...I decided to be full of love today! So here are my favorite products. Don't get too excited, though ! Nothing is brand new, nothing is limited edition. It is just products that :
1- I use on a VERY regular basis
2- Never disappoint me
3- I will repurchase once finished

LUSH big shampoo : Short and sweet nails is the one to blame here....She speaks highly about LUSH, so I had to take a look and came back with this strange E.T shampoo made of salt. For 1 month, I've been using it 2 times a week with the RETREAD conditioner on my very damaged long hair. What a change !!!! Shinny hair, where were you during all this years ? I was used to buy shampoo on sale as I use tons of them, but I'll be happily spending my money again on the combo retread-big once finished....FANTASMABULOUS !

Juicy couture perfume : May be you can't recognise the bottle as I decapitated the charm at the top to make it a necklace (isn't MUA a crafty girl ?). I did the same to my Viva La Juicy bottle (Don't bother, I did that to my Barbie dolls once a kid, it 's kind of a tradition too me !). Those 2 fragrances smells gorgeous. I prefer the original version but both smells amazing. Both are really girly perfumes so if you want more mature scents just go away , they are not for you !

Favorite lip combo : the weird and purple-pink Power from NYX topped with the Sephora gloss in precious pink: swatched there. It's the nuder I can go on my lips without looking like a corpse...The gloss has a strange and very strong scent though, so swatch it on your hand if you head to Sephora cause it can be overwhelming.

Favorite mascara : Marcelle Volume precision. This mascara is perfection : it elongates and gives volume. It never clumps even if you layer it over and over again. It's holy grail material...But you know that if you read me on a regular basis and this is why , I put in in my give away...to share the LOVE !

Favorite powder : Annabelle powder foundation. this is a mineral foundation , so on my lazy days, I just put my primer on (Monistat chaffing gel)and spread the powder over it with a flat top brush. The coverage is awesome for a powder foundation...The other way to use it is dabbed over my liquid foundation as a setting powder with a Kabuki brush. As I said in a previous post, I received compliments on my skin last month...Each time, I was wearing this powder ! Coincidence ? I don't care ! It became a staple product for me as soon as I made the connection...You can see how it works there. The girl is pretty good to explain but the guy holding the camera is sneezing and coughing all video long, it makes me laugh...(I am easy to entertain!)

Favorite e/s : Graffiti from Annabelle. A stunning black e/s infused with sparkles.Easy to blend, perfect in the outer V to glam a smokey eye. It is given in my give away too and swatched there. In fact, I love all Annabelle e/s ...

Hope this will be helpful for my Canadian readers. For the US bloggers, come across the border, we are fun people and we have great make up. For my European lovelies, Canada is wonderful to discover in summer (hollidays anyone ?)

Caro-raving about her goodies xxx

PS : disclaimer : The Annabelle powder was won in a contest so I didn't pay for it...but I will repurchase if I run out so it qualifies to my rules at the beginning. Marcelle is a cosmetic brand affiliated to Annabelle. And Annabelle sent me free products to review (Still following me ?). But, I purchased this mascara with my own money and will continue if big authorities have nothing against that (Capiche ?). Annabelle e/s were also purchased with my own money...I swear , spit and everything that this review is honest !

Review : Revlon foundations (HD OR COLORSTAY)

Here is my first review !

So as soon as I started diving into the make up craziness, I watched at numerous youtube videos and bought the Revlon Colorstay. I know that some people find it heavy and hard to work with but ..I don't ! It hides my rosy cheeks and if you apply it with the Sigma 187 , it melt in the skin perfectly.

But when the photoready was launched, I couldn't resist and bought it the same day I heard about it (impulsive buy, no ???)

so to compare :

Application : as I am used to a thicker foundation (colorstay), I have a hard time working with Photoready. I find that Colorstay is easily buildable in term of coverage but it's not the case with Photoready : it stays sheer even if you layer it... I tried the 187 brush, a damp sponge , my fingers...it seems that I never reach that flawless look I have with Colorstay and I don't like to work that hard at 7 am when I am on a very time schedule ....

Packaging : Photoready wins by far : a pump , Revlon, a pump !!! Yeah (cheering crowd) ...Hum, could you please do the same for colorstay, please ????

Look : Colorstay is high matte coverage, Photoready is sheer and dewy. So if you have something to hide, rely on Colorstay. If on the contrary , you already have a gorgeous skin and you just want to enhance it, go for Photoready.

The glitter issue : it seems that the MUAs that don't like Photoready, hate it because of the glitters in the formulation. That 's weird cause when applied on me I cannot really see the glitters so it doesn't bother me at all. OH My GOSH, may be I am walking in the street glittering like crazy ......

Results : I think Colorstay wins by far but it just my honest opinion. I will end up mixing both foundations not to waste the Potoready.

Conclusion : Be strong little Jedis of Make up and resist the hype if you already have a stapple foundation because I don't find the new Revlon is an Holy Grail foundation....