June Empties

☑ Marcelle Essentials Soothing Gel Eye Make-Up Remover review

As I said in my review, this is the first gel makeup remover I have used, and as good as it is (non-oily or greasy and doesn't leave residues behind), I hate that it stinks so bad if you happen to get some products in your eyes! I think it is very strange for a product that claims to be soothing...

Repurchase: no

What I'm currently using to replace it: OLAY Regenerist Advanced Anti-Aging Eye Makeup Remover + Anti-Wrinkle Treatment

☑ Cranberry & Pear Bath Soak

I had three of this thing if I remember well, and I'm glad I have finally used them all up! This does nothing at all for my skin ):

Repurchase: no

What I'm currently using to replace it: Radox Herbal Bath Salts Vapour Therapy

☑ EOS Ultra Moisturizing Shave Cream Pomegranate Raspberry

Personally, I like a very thick shave cream, and this one is super runny and light, I had to keep reapplying some product. It's a real mess to use! 

Repurchase: no

What I'm currently using to replace it: random bar of soap or shower gel

☑ Mary Kay Signature Lip Gloss in Pink Diamonds review

I like this, it's not very pigmented but it's very glossy and pretty without being too sparkly. Because of its small size, I liked to keep it in my handbag. It's a little pricey ($13), but I would recommend it anyway.

Repurchase: yes

What I'm currently using to replace it: Annabelle Le Juice Juicy Lip Shine in Strawberry Soufflé

☑ Juara Sweet Black Tea & Rice Facial Moisturizer (sample)

I've had two of these samples in my handbag for some times and I don't really know what to say about them because I didn't use them on a daily basis. It didn't seem really moisturizing on my dry skin though.

Repurchase: at $48, no thanks!

What I'm currently using to replace it: Marcelle Hydra-C 24H Moisturizing Gel Cream for dry skin

☑ 100% Pure Body Cream (samples)

The first thing that struck me with this body cream was the scent. My favorite by far was Green Apple - yum! They all smell amazing - and I'm not talking about that cheap chemical scent! I wish the scent would last longer on the skin but this body cream is still a pleasure to use regardless. As for the texture, it's just what I was expecting for a body cream: deliciously rich, non greasy and fast absorbing. There is a wide variety of scents available and they are all vegan, except Honey Almond, which is vegetarian.

Repurchase: yes!

What I'm currently using to replace it: Biotherm Sun After Oligo-Thermal Sparkle Cream

☑ Nexxus Therappe Luxurious Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner (89 mL)

I never really know what to say about a shampoo or conditioner, that's why I don't write reviews of this type of product. These are supposed to "provide nourishing moisture, leaving hair luxuriously soft, manageable and full of lustre". I'm not sure I can agree as I didn't notice my haire being especially shiny or healthy-looking after use, but I guess they did their job.

Repurchase: no

What I'm currently using to replace it: John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Shampoo and Conditioner (sample)

CLOSED - Giveaway: Enter My Mary Kay Satin Lips Set Giveaway!

I've been recently contacted by Wendy from Mary Kay, who kindly offered me to host a giveaway to give the chance to one of my readers to try Mary Kay Satin Lips Set. Perfect for the harsh winter weather, right?

The prize: Mary Kay Satin Lips Set (Mask and Balm)

Buff away dry skin with Satin Lips® Lip Mask (.3 oz. net wt.), then moisturize with Satin Lips® Lip Balm (.3 oz. net wt.) to keep lips soft.

Application: Gently apply mask to lips. Leave on for 1-2 minutes, and then remove. Follow with balm.

Characteristics: Fragrance-free

How It works:

• Lips have an extremely thin outer protective layer. As the body ages, the already thin layer becomes thinner. To compound the situation, we lose the oil and water barriers that keeps lips hydrated. Without the usual protective layer of sweat and body oils, the lips dry out faster, become chapped more easily, and can age faster than other areas of the skin.
  
• The Satin Lips Lip Mask contains miniature beads that gently, yet effectively, exfoliate dead surface skin cells that cause the lips to appear dull and lifeless.
  
• The Satin Lips Lip Balm contains a special complex of ingredients, including vitamin A and E derivatives and Ceramide 2, to help moisturize dry and rough lips. The balm moisturizes the lips for at least six hours, while providing an invisible barrier to keep the lips hydrated.
  

Use-Up Rate: Approximately 11 months, when used 3-4 times a week as a set.

Rules:

• This giveaway is open to US residents only (sorry!)
• You have to have an active blog in order to enter (no blogs made only for giveaways!)
• This giveaway ends on February 15.
• Please list all of your entries in only one comment. 

To enter (mandatory):

• Be a follower of Gaby's Beauty Blog
• Fill out this form (we only need your name and email address)
• Leave me a comment on this post including your email address

Extra entries (optional): 

• Post my giveaway on your blog, either in a blog post or in your sidebar, and include the picture above and the link to my giveaway (leave me the link to your post in the comment) +5
• "Like" Gaby's Beauty Blog on Facebook +2
• Follow me on Twitter and tweet about my giveaway  +2

Possible entries total: 10

*For privacy purposes, I will not publish any comment.  
 

Good luck!!!

Disclaimer: This giveaway is sponsored by Mary Kay.
 

And now, it's time to announce the winner of my Alpine Weight Loss Secrets giveaway! I listed the 10 entries in Random.org's List Randomizer and I finally picked a winner with the help of the True Random Number Generator.
 

And the winner is...

naudii beautii!

Congrats! I just sent you an email!

FOTD & OOTD: Geneviève & Donald's wedding

Saturday, my friends and I gathered together to celebrate our friends Geneviève and Donald's wedding, and I wanted to share some pictures with you.

The wedding was celebrated in a church somewhere in Laval, but I don't remember which one it was. The reception was held at Buffet Il Gabbiano, which is where my friends and I celebrated our prom!

Unfortunately, I absolutely didn't have the time to snap some close-up pictures of my makeup, but it was a basic gold and brown smokey eye - just like I always do (=

 The bride and the groom

We have known Gen since high school, so it's great to still be in touch with her and to have the chance to be with here in this very special day. Donald is also a great and funny guy!

I got this dress from Winner for only $25! 

 I tried to find pictures of the back of my dress, and those are the only ones I found.

Strapless dresses are so annoying, but I couldn't resist this one... especially in this color! I also wore some bracelets and earrings (the same the bride wore!) that I borrowed from my mother, along with a simple necklace I got from Etsy. I wanted all the attention to be on the dress!

Véro, Gen, Sara and me before entering in the church.

With the girls, again

With my other friend Gen (who reads my blog - Hi Gen!)

With Sara

 With my boyfriend ♥

 The cake! Yummy ^^

Everybody!

And these are the only pictures I found where you can - almost - cleary see my makeup:

Eyes

Avon SuperExtend Mascara - Black
Annabelle Galaxy Eyeshadow Palette - Shooting Star

Annabelle Glitterama Liquid Eyeliner - Funshine (upper lash line)

Maybelline Expert Wear Eyeshadow Singles - Vanilla (highlighter)

Maybelline Unstoppable Eyeliner - Onyx

Face

Annabelle Zebra Bronzing Powder - Haute Gold

Marcelle Minerlas Powder Blush - Natural Glow

Annabelle Satellite Pearl Powder - Celestial Pearl

Lips
Mary Kay SignatureLip Gloss - Pink Diamonds

For my hair, I went for the usual loose waves. At first, I wanted to curl it with a curling iron but I ran out of time. Next time, maybe?

Review: Annabelle Cosmetics Studio Pigments + FOTD

 left: Greed, right: Karma

These loose eye shadows were a part of my prize from the Annabelle Holiday Season Express Giveaway (read my post about it here.) I have them in the shade Greed and Karma.

Annabelle Cosmetics Studio Pigments

Price: 8.50$ for 0.02 OZ / 0.7 G.

The claims:

Join the Colour Cult and create a bright, unique makeup look with Annabelle Studio Pigments.

Recommended by the Makeup Artists in the Annabelle Studio, these professional performance loose pigments are highly concentrated with a superior colour pay-off. Their incredibly fine texture enables colours to blend quickly.

How to use:

Mix the Studio Pigments with water to create a more intense effect to use all over the lid or as an incredibly long-lasting eyeliner; or mix them together to achieve the colour you always wanted!

Ingredients: IMIDAZOLIDINYL UREA, METHYLPARABEN, PROPYLPARABEN. MAY CONTAIN: MICA, TITANIUM DIOXIDE, CHROMIUM OXIDE GREENS, MANGANESE VIOLET, BISMUTH OXYCHLORIDE,YELLOW 5 LAKE, IRON OXIDES, CARMINE, FERRIC, FERROCYANIDE.

Pros:

• highly pigmented
• true to the color in the compact

 Cons:

• fades through the day
• a little hard to apply (they go on kind of "patchy" on the lid)

What I think: What is the best about those pigments is that they are higly pigmented and true to the color in the compact. Otherwise, I'm not impressed by their staying power, with or without primer. And I find they don't go on the lid smoothly, even when gently pat on the skin.

*I have to say that I haven't tried to use them wet yet.

You can see some FOTDs I made with these pigments here (Karma) and here (Greed).

Greed

Can you see what I mean by "patchy application"?

Greed is a pale green. I'm not used to wear green on my eyes and I don't think it suits me well -_-

Karma

I love Karma. It's a very pretty purple.

from left to right: LOL, Greed, Karma, Magentini, Cobalt, Dragonette

Repurchase or recommend? no.
Rating: ★★★/5

Disclaimer: I received these products as a prize from a giveaway, and the fact that they were free absolutely does not influence my opinion.

FOTD:

I gave another try to Helium, this time paired with Toxic Garden.

You cannot see Toxic Garden AT ALL! Both shadows are way too sheer, and I always end up with shimmers all over my face -_-

Face
CoverGirl Tanfastic Bronzer - Soleil 315

CoverGirl Cheekers Blush - ? (the label has been torned)

Eyes
Lancôme Color Design - Strappy Sandals (used as highlighter)
Maybelline Great Lash - Clear (used as eyebrow gel)

Annabelle Studio Mono Eyeshadow - Helium + Toxic Garden

Maybelline Unstoppable Eyeliner - Onyx

Maybelline Lash Stiletto Mascara - Black

Lips

Mary Kay NouriShine Lipgloss - Pink Diamonds

I've got mail! + FOTD

OMG I was so surprised to wake up this morning and find a Marcelle package awaiting for me on the kitchen counter!

How I hate when Blogger turns my pictures upside down! -_-

Here are all of the goodies:

These are the new Studio Mono Eyeshadow limited-edition Trend Shades. They will be available from the end of February to August exclusively.

Helium - This is the shade I was the most excited about. I looks like a soft rosy gold.

Nymphet

Pinked

Toxic Garden

 B-Ray (discontinued)

I also received a Spring 2010 Annabelle Custom Quad to fill with the new Trend Shades.

The following are Annabelle Trio Eyeshadow. The first two have been discontinued, and the last two are the new shades that will be available as of the first week of March.

Amazon (discontinued)

Holy Smoke (discontinued)

Blue Hue

Grafix

I can't wait to experiment with all that stuff! I feel so lucky to be aware of the new trends even before they are launched on the market ^^ Expect lots of FOTDs and reviews in my following posts!

I was so excited to try on Helium that I decided to show you the FOTD I've came up with:

It's really sheer but it's nicely shimmery. It kinda reminds me of the shade Cake from mark.

Face
CoverGirl Tanfastic Bronzer - Soleil 315

CoverGirl Cheekers Blush - ? (the label has been torned)

Eyes

Annabelle Studio Mono Eyeshadow - Helium

Maybelline Unstoppable Eyeliner - Onyx

Maybelline Lash Stiletto Mascara - Black

Lips

Mary Kay NouriShine Lipgloss - Pink Diamonds