Shopping | Clarins 2012 Fall Warehouse Sale

To be honest, I have never really cared about Clarins or any of the brands featured at their warehouse sale (Anna Sui, Pür Minerals, KIBIO, ROXY, etc) except NUXE but I was mostly happy with my last year's purchases and my mother and I enjoyed this time spent together so we decided to have a look again this year, since we were both free from work Friday (the sale was on November 9 and 10).

We were thankful to not have to wait too long before entering the Clarins building because it was cold and windy outside! Of course, inside, it was crowded - I am talking crazy ladies trying to make their way to the various stands with their handbag the size of an elephant - that I almost instantly gave up! I let my mother hadvea peek at the different products that did not interest me and I headed for the self tanners stand.

I can't say I was 100% happy with the previous Clarins self tanners I have tried but I figured out I had nothing to lose by trying one that a lovely lady at the sale recommended for my pale skin - the Delicious Self Tanning Cream ($14 instead of $42). This instant self tanner is said to smell like cocoa and to have a tinted caramel colour for easy application. Enriched with aloe vera, it is supposed to be moisturizing and to infuse the skin with a natural-looking golden glow.

While I was at the Clarins self tanners stand, I decided to have a look at their sunscreens - a girl always need sunscreen, right? - and the same very helpful lady recommended the Sunscreen Care Oil-Free Lotion Spray SPF 15 ($14 instead of $32)  as she said she sunbathed on her boat all summer long and she never got a single sunburn - wow! I have never used a spray sunscreen before so I am very curious to test it.

Then I headed for the NUXE stand and I almost imediately found what I was looking for - one of the best lipbalm I have ever used, Rêve de Miel Ultra-Nourishing Lip Balm ($9 instead of $19.50), even though my current pot is barely touched because I was too afraid of running out - silly, I know, but if you had constantly chapped and eczema-prone lips like mine, you would understand!

Last year, my mother bought three jars of  Rêve de Miel Ultra-Comfortable Face Cream ($20 instead of $40) and I absolutely fell in love with its thick and buttery texture that melts when in contact with the skin - exactly what I am looking for in a night cream! Now I know NUXE has an Ultra-Comfortable Face Cream for day and another for night, but mine is simply not labelled - I plan to use it at night anyway, as I am almost out of my beloved KORRES Quercetin & Oak Antiageing & Antiwrinkle Night Cream, which is really similar in texture.

The last thing I bought is NUXE Micellar Cleansing Water with 3 Roses and Green Tea ($10 instead of $23.50) because since I have discovered Marcelle Essentials Purity Soothing Cleansing Water, I am absolutely sold on cleansing water, and at $10, I simply could not pass up this one!

Please let me know if there is something you would like me to review!

Wildwood Shopping | Ross and Walmart

I enjoyed a much needed holiday in Wildwood, NJ, last week with my mother and my boyfriend and even though our hobby of choice is to relax on the beach and "play" in the ocean - my boyfriend and I almost drowned, but that's another story - we do like to wander around at night, especially in shops that we don't have here in Canada.

I did not really need something in particular when I stepped foot in Ross - which is the US equivalent of Winners, if I'm right? - but of course, some pieces of clothing catched my attention and at these prices, I simply could not pass them up! I did not go crazy though and I only left with two items, which go amazingly well together!

If you know me, you are surely well aware of my love for animal prints, so when I spotted this $5.99 leopard print tank, I did not even hesitate because, yes, it's a very basic tank, but still I don't have any with animal prints! Plus, it just goes so well with everything and it can easily dress up any outift.

Then, I fell in love with this $19.99 red faux-leather (of course!) cropped jacket - I have a thing for motorcycle jacket, and it's even better if it's cropped and if it has zippers. I bought it in Small and even though it does run small and it's not very stretchy, I love it and I can't wear for the weather to get a bit colder to wear it out!

Of course, we had to stop by Walmart! Honestly, the only reason why I really wanted to go there is because I remembered they sold Revlon ColorSilk hair color for less than $3, which is not even readily available in Canada for some stupid reasons, and having already tried this hair dye in Brown Black 20, I could not wait to try it in Burgundy, so I picked up the last two boxes. I also noticed that their packaging has changed and the formula seems to have been improved because it now features UV Defense. I even already used one box - you can see the results in the picture of me modelling my purchases - but of course, I will write a complete post about it.

Shopping | Apothica

I know, it has been a long time since I featured a shopping post on the blog but the truth is that I don't shop often because I really want to use up some of my stuff first. Still, I wanted to use up my Apothica gift card before it expired so after my positive experience with XEN-TAN Deep Bronze Instant Self-Tan I figured that it would be a great time to try XEN-TAN Deep Bronze Luxe ($39), which promises a darker tan. I also decided to try XEN-TAN Deluxe Tanning Mitt ($6) because I found that when I apply a self tanner with gloves, it goes on a bit streaky and patchy, which is incredibly annoying! I have also been told that a mitt makes the process easier and quicker.

I must say I was a bit disappointed with Apothica this time, here is why. When browsing for my items, I noticed that both were out of stock, but the weird thing is that I was still given the option to add them to my cart, which I did because I thought maybe it was an error of some kind. I proceeded on placing my order on July 25, and the same day, I received a confirmation email. About half an hour later, I received two emails saying the same thing:

At least they mentioned that the items would be automatically shipped, but I still think it's a weird practice because usually, when an item is out of stock, you don't have the option to order it as if everything was normal, only to be told after that it is out of stock! Or am I just weird? Not to mention that I chose the fastest shipping option at $25 - really?! - to receive my order in three days, but of course, that was a total waste, and that 15% off coupon surely won't make up for it.

On August 1st, I received an email saying that both items were back in stock, and another one to tell me that my order has been shipped. One week later is not that bad, I guess, the problem is that I did not receive my order until August 9, which is more than a week later, when I specifically paid to receive it three days later... and it's not the first time this happens! Also, I just don't understand why their shipping fees are so high, I mean, they are shipping from Utah to Canada, not to a foreign country! Oh well.

Can you see that weird spillage on the bottom of the tube, on the 'Dark' label...?

But it does not stop there! When I finally received my order, I was a bit disappointed to see that my tube of XEN-TAN had some spillage on it, and also, the mitt did not look like the one pictured on the website - mine just feels and looks cheap, compared to what I was expecting! I mean, I only used it two times, and it already shows bad signs of usage...

On a positive note, I like how they always make sure to include some free samples in each of my orders. I received a sample of CellCeuticals PhotoDefense Daily Skin Protector SPF 55+ which I will give to my mother and a sample of NUXE Fondant Body Scrub, which I'm excited to try as NUXE products rarely disapppoint!

Shopping | EdenFantasys

After receiving my first EdenFantasys order and being pretty happy with it, I could not wait to cross off some more items on my neverending wishlist so when I had the opportunity to order a few more things, I jumped at it!

I ordered only one piece of lingerie and two beauty products this time. As for my last order, everything came carefully folded in a sturdy cardboard box, protected by wrapping paper. I appreciated that the lingerie set came in a protective garment bag, and I liked that the hanger was included, which are always useful to store delicate pieces of clothing.

After my great experience with Coquette Red Leopard Chemise, I could not wait to try more Coquette products, that's why I ordered Coquette Red Leopard bra garter belt and g-string bra and panty set ($27.99) - I fell in love with this set the first time I saw it on the website but it was always sold out in my size (Small) so I could not let it get away this time!

I had high hopes about this set because it seemed to be everything I like - leopard prints, push-ups bra, sexy and affordable. The bra cups are nicely molded and comfortable although the underwire on the right cup seems to be a bit off - it won't hold my boob as securely as the other cup, preventing my breasts from enjoying the full push-up effect. It's nothing major because the bra is still comfortable but still, I was expecting a more noticeable lift.

Something I did not notice when ordering the Red Leopard set is the ruffle detaillings on the bra straps. When I received my order, I thought it was a cute and sexy touch, but when I put the bra on, I was super disappointed - the ruffles made me look like a little girl, and also, they make it impossible to wear the bra under a shirt! I guess this won't bother you if you plan on wearing this lingerie set solely in the bedroom but I decided to unsew the ruffles, which was very simple and tadaaah - a super wearable bra!

The g-string is suprisingly comfortable although it tends to sit a bit low on my hips - maybe a size Medium would have suited better? - and it's a bit cheaper than the bra and garter belt, but it's OK. The garter belt really adds a super sexy touch to the set, although I know I won't bother to wear it often due to laziness.

Coquette Red Leopard bra garter belt and g-string bra and panty set is made of nylon and spandex and is available in small, medium and large. It also comes in black leopard, which I'm seriously contemplating buying as well...

Next, I ordered my first ever Cake Beauty products! I can never say no to sweet fragrances so when it was brought to my attention that Cake had a perfume - Indulge Eau de Parfum ($47.99) - I knew it was going to be my next purchase! It's always a bit hard to know what to expect from a perfum from its description and even though it smells amazingly gourmand and delicious, I must say I was a bit disappointed at how similar it's to Aquolina Pink Sugar, which I own.

Because I still think dry shampoo is one of the most awesome invention of all times, I knew I had to give a try to Satin sugar hair and body Refreshing powder for darker hues ($17.99). I ordered this before highlighting my hair but I guess it will still works well because I haven't really had a problem with any dry shampoo on my dark hair before.

EdenFantasys is an online shopping site but also a welcoming community with a focus on intimacy, relationships, and sensual love. At EdenFantasys, in addition to adult products such as sex toys, you will find a wide selection of beauty and body products (yes, even makeup!), candles, lingerie, massage kits, and novelty items.

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Shopping: My First EdenFantasys.com Order!

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Shopping: Shoppers Drug Mart, Uniprix & Dollarama

I don't post "hauls" very often because the truth is that I try not to go shopping too often because 1. I hate shopping, 2. I try not to waste my money on things I don't really need and 3.I try to use up the products I already have at home. The problem is that one of my little pleasure is to look at the store flyers we receive at home every Wednesday or Thursday, and of course, something always caught my eyes, which happened again last week...

Revlon Lip Butter in Cupcake on sale $3.99 Shoppers Drug Mart always has these special deals every weekends that last only for Saturday and Sunday and of course, I could not resist to go swatch the highly raved about Revlon Lip Butters at my local Shoppers right after the job.

I have been a good girl though and I left with only one - after much hesitation between Cupcake, Cotton Candy and Strawberry Shortcake - I finally opted for Cupcake, which is a very pretty pale pink with blue undertones. These Lip Butters are usually  around $9, which I personally think is completely insane for such a little quantity of product that barely lasts 2 hours on the lips... but yes, Cupcake is extremely buttery, pigmented and it doesn't dry out my lips.

L - R: swatched lightly (one swipe) and swatched heavily (direct sunlight)

I'm not showing you more picture because I plan to write a post about this product very soon.

Carmex Cherry Flavoured Lip Ointment on sale $1.99 I recently purchased the Original Carmex Jar purely because of the hype and I guess it works OK but nothing miraculous as it's still not able to completely heal my extremely dry lips, but after wondering on Twitter what was the difference in formula between the jar and the squeezable tube versions, I have been told that the Carmex in the tube is creamier and thicker, and I have to agree. No, I absolutely did not need yet another lipbalm in my collection, but I figured out that because it has SPF in it, it will come in handy this summer.

Nivea Visage Natural Beauty Beautifying Eye Care $2 I love Dollarama because you can find great products from known brands at a really nice price, and I was going there with my mother for food but of course, I couldn't help myself from sneaking up in the beauty section to have a quick look, and I was surprised to find Nivea there!

For some reasons, I always had in mind that Nivea tested on animals, but after much research, I'm happy to report that I was wrong, fortunately! I don't think I have really tried something from Nivea before and I don't really know why, maybe because none of their products really appealled to me and because they tend to be a bit on the pricey side for drugstore products. Yes, I already have a ton of eye creams in my stash, but do you know how pricey eye creams can be? I personally like to apply a more thick and moisturizing eye cream at night an another one to brighten my undereye area during the day, and I think this one from Nivea is great for this as it's a bit pearlescent.

My VIP Weekend At Toronto!

I won't write a detailed and picture-heavy post about my trip because most of the pictures will be in my February in Pictures post anyway, but I will sum it up for those of you who are curious.

François and I in the plane

My boyfriend, my friends Yanick and Fred and me flew from Montreal to Toronto at 1:00 on Friday the 3th with Porter and we arrived at the Billy Bishop Airport around 2:10, where Tiffany from the Just Dance team and the very lovely Monique from Bravery Productions were waiting for us to do a quick interview in the limo on the way to the hotel. I was sooooo nervous, it was insane!

Yanick and I partying on the bed! Drunk? Nooooo...

Then they dropped us off at Hyatt Regency Toronto and we were free for the night so we ate at a random sushi place and brought some alcohol back to the hotel to party before going clubbing at XS Nigthclub. It was not the best club we have been to but I guess we chose the wrong night because we've been told that Friday are Asian Night and we felt sooooo out of place LOL!

Saturday morning, the limo picked me up at 8:45 at the hotel to drop me at H&M for a shopping spree with my personal stylist Darren and Monique and her cameraman. It was a very unique experience and what made it even more special is that I had never stepped foot in a H&M before!

At the CN Tower

The limo brought me back at the hotel at around 11:00, then my friends and I spent the day wandering around the downtown and we went to the CN Tower (I did not enjoy that, I was scared LOL!).

Partying at This Is London

At night, we went to This Is London (which has been recommended to me by the very lovely Cheryl) where we had a private booth right on the dancefloor with bottle service - it was awesome! Sadly, we were already back to Montreal at around 2:10 on Sunday.

I know lots of you lovely ladies were quite impatient to see what I bought at Toronto but the truth is that I have not really been shopping except for my shopping spree at H&M. I guess you know what it is to shop with guys... But of course I could not resist having a peek at LUSH in the Eaton Centre.

I'm really getting more and more interested in LUSH products, but I try to refrain myself from buying too many things because my LUSH stash is overflowing. However, I think their bubble bars is among my favorite items from them, and you know, I had to spend some of my prize money!

Magic Mushroom Bubble Bar $5.95 for 100g This is the only Valentine's Day product that really interested me because I'm a sucker for sweet and fruity smells, and this strawberry and vanilla scented cutie is a perfect mix of the two!

Ma Bar Bubble Bar $7.95 for 100g Chocolate and honey, yum! Yes, the brown sugary thing in the centre is really a lump of brown sugar - I tasted it!

Creamy Candy Bubble Bar $7.25 for 100g I have been recommend this product numerous time because I have dry skin, and I was delighted to learn that this is actually a combination of bath melt and bubble bar! It contains chunks of coca butter to moisturize and it smells divine!

No Drought Dry Shampoo Free sample It's actually the first time I received a free sample with purchase at LUSH and I'm glad I get to try their dry shampoo! At $12.95 for 130g, it seems a little pricey to me for a dry shampoo that comes in a simple squeezable bottle which is surely not the most convenient to use so I was not sure if it was worth it, but I can't way to try this sample!

And here's what the very lovely Monique and Darren helped me pick out during my shopping spree at H&M:

Cropped jacket $24.95 I fell in love with the color as soon as I saw this jacket, and I love how stretchy it is. I think it wil be great to brighten up any dull outfit.

Blouse $14.95 I've been a blouse like this for some time. I love how it is loose at the top yet a little more cinched at the hips.

Leopard print dress $29.95 When Monique spotted this leopard print tunique/dress, I knew I had to have it! In fact, I even wore it the same night to go clubbing at This Is London!

&Sqin Jeans $49.95 I have always wanted destroyed jeans, and I was actually surprised at how well these fit because I usually go for skinnies and these are slim legs. I also love the dark wash - it was definitely missing in my wardrobe.

Another thing I was firmly decided to get was the whole Chocomania range from The Body Shop but I was incredibly disappointed by the fake chemical scent of the body butter - not the quality I'm used to from The Body Shop! Very disappointing indeed ):

 It was a wicked weekend, thank you so much Ubisoft and Just Dance! =D

Shopping: Walmart

I went to Walmart in search of some dog food for my 8 weeks old Yorkshire Terrier puppy but that was a waste of time because I was already aware they didn't have a huge selection, but it has been a long time since I last checked so I figured out I had nothing to lose. I had a clear idea in my mind of what I wanted to feed Peach (as in Princess Peach, from Super Mario!):

• food that isn't owned by a company that conducts cruel tests on animals (companies to avoid: IAMS/Eukanuba, Hills Science Diet, Purina, Pedigree and their divisions)
• food that contains chicken as the main ingredient (yes, dogs are carnivore; no, I won't feed her vegetarian food because I'm vegetarian myself)
• food that contains no by-products
• food that is affordable

I figured out the only alternative was Walmart store brand but after a quick look at the ingredients, I quickly realized they were all crap (would you feed your dog food with corn as the main ingredient? WTF?). I finally decided to have a look at Mondou (why didn't I think of that sooner?) and the super nice SA pointed me two brands (exclusive to Mondou and without cruel animal tests) that would fulfill all of my demands (I finally opted for Vetdiet). Mondou is great because they don't sell animals in their stores and they even have a cool rewards program that lets you exchange points for cash rewards (:

In the meantime, I figured out I would have a look around while I was in Walmart...

Original Carmex Jar $1.98 I keep hearing so many great things about this lip balm and being a lip balm junkie, I just had to try it. At $1.98 at Walmart, it was pretty hard to resist! I think I withheld for so long because I was afraid that camphor and phenol could make my lips react (what usually happen with lip-tingling formulas), but so far, I have nothing to report except that this is an amazing lipbalm and I'm so glad I finally decided to give it a try! Now I'm lusting after the cherry version... Oh, and do I really have to mention that Carmex is not tested on animals? (:

g21 by George long sleeves striped pulls on sale $9 each (instead of $14) I know, I should not have a look at the clothes everytime I'm in Walmart because I always find something interesting and affordable! Can you believe there was only one XS of the black and grey shirt left? But hey, I really needed long sleeves tops because I'm always freezing! Oh yes, you may have noticed that I have a thing for stripes =P

Shopping: Apothica.com, Avon, San Francisco, LUSH & Jean Coutu

My order from Apothica.com I'm sad to say that I'm disappointed with their shipping this time. I placed my order on November 28, it was shipped on November 30 and I received it on December 6 - the thing is that I opted for the USPS Express Mail International, which means I was supposed to get my order within 3 days, not to mention I was provided with a tracking number that didn't even exist... well, don't waste your money on that. I'm not really complaining because I didn't pay for it (I had gift cards) but still, I wanted to warn you. At least I got my whole order safe and sound!

100% Pure Caffeine Eye Cream $18.80 There's been lots of buzz in the blogosphere about this product and having tried a few 100% Pure products in the past, I decided that I had to get my hands on this one as well. I'm 23 so I'm not really dealing with fine lines and wrinkles yet but I got into the habit of using an eye cream since I'm 16 as a prevention and I actually like it, it makes me feel pampered (:

Burt's Bees Orange Essence Facial Cleanser with Orange Oil $9.00 I looooooove this cleanser, it totally saved my skin last winter (or was it the winter before?)! You know I have super dry skin that is prone to eczema so I have to be careful not to use anything too harsh, especially in the awful winter weather. This cleanser is oily so it won't strip your skin of its moisture but leave it even more hydrated and smoothed! The only thing is that it does leave a little oily residue after but personally, I don't mind this because I like to think of it as a protective layer.

Stila Perfect & Correct Foundation in Tone $44.00 I never really used a foundation on a daily basis and I decided it was time I tried one for real! I have a few foundations in my stash but I never used them regularly but I decided that things were going to be different with this one. My skin is far from perfect but I don't think I need to totally cover it so I was looking for a light coverage and after browsing Makeupalley, I decided that I would give this one a try. I chose it in the shade Tone which appeared a bit dark on the website but I figured out I could make it work by matching it with another foundation.

theBalm Time Balm Concealer in Light $17.80 I don't have concealers that I really like in my stash and I've heard great things about this one so I ordered it in Light. I'm not sure I want to use it as an overnight treatment though, it seems a bit strange to apply makeup at night!

Voluspa Limited Edition Winesap Apple Spice and Truffle White Coca Handmade Candles $15.00 each I really wanted to get rid of the gift cards I had left so even though I think it's crazy to pay that ridiculous amount of money for such little candles (5oz), I ordered them because they seemed to smell sooooo yummy and I was right! I haven't lit them though so I won't get too excited but scented candles can be disappointing):

As always, I also received some free samples with my order that I will probably not use and give to my mother: Phytomer Oligopur Purifying Cleansing Gel, AHAVA Time To Revitalize Extreme Day Cream and NUXE Crème Prodigieuse Enrichie Anti-Fatigue Moisturizing Cream.

Avon Ultra Color Rich Lipstick in Pout and Sheer Naturale on sale 2 for $7.00 According to Temptalia's dupe list, Pout is a dupe for MAC Angel at 100% so of course, Angel being among my absolute favorite lipsticks (very original, isn't it?), I had to get my hands on it! Mélanie's mother is an Avon reprensentative so I ordered Pour from her and I wanted to take advantage of the special so I asked Mélanie for her advice and she recommended Sheer Naturale, which is a nude with a glossy finish.

After reading the comments on Makeupalley about these lipsticks, I had high hopes as some even said Pout was HG material, but I find these lipsticks to be incredibly drying and their lasting power is awful on me - they won't even stay on for one hour! I've read some comments about the poor lasting power of the Ultra Color Rich Lipsticks but that's not what bothers me the most as you don't need a mirror to re-apply these but from what I've seen on the net, these lipsticks are supposed to be moisturizing! That's a shame because I love both shades ):

San Francisco blouse on sale for $19.99 Ever since I first step foot in San Francisco, I spotted this blouse and I knew I had to have it, but it was something like $29.99 and because it's so light, I wasn't sure it was worth it. This blouse being in the fall collection, I knew it was going to be on sale soon... and I was right! I was soooooo lucky to get my hands on the only X-Small available! When I first put it on, I was unsure about it but when I roll up the sleeves and cinch a belt at the waist, it's actually great!

San Francisco tunic on sale for $19.99 I'm always on the hunt for more tops I can wear with leggings in the winter because they are the comfiest thing ever! At first sight, I wasn't sure about this one because I don't usually go for a warm piece of clothing with short-sleeves, but I just couldn't let it go at this price! When I tried it on another time once at home, I was a little disappointed to see that the cut isn't as flattering I thought it would be (it's not as close to the body as I usually like) but I still like it!

San Francisco cotton pants on sale for $19.99 No, I didn't need another pair of "lounging around pants" but I got tired of always wearing the same baggy pair and this one is soooo comfy and it fits so well... and it was on sale... and there was only one X-Small available... and it makes my butt looks so nice (:

LUSH The Rocketeer and Abombinaball Bath Bomb on sale BOGO and New! Shampoo Bar $10.95 The only sales I really wanted to chek out on the Boxing Day were the ones at LUSH, but I was disappointed. OK, maybe it's my fault, maybe I waited too long before going there but I was working the days after Christmas and the stores were all crowded and there's not a lot of things I hate more than crowded stores!

I went to LUSH yesterday actually and everything I wanted was gone but I grabbed those two bath bombs as a gift for my mother as Christmas items were BOGO, and I finally took the plundge and decided to try one of their shampoo bar. I must say the reasons that kept me from buying some was the price - but I've been told that one bar is equal to three bottles of shampoo - and also that I was afraid it would be hard to use and that it would not layther well but the sale assistant assured me that it lathers really well.

I was initally going for Jumping Juniper as it's designed for oily hair, but the sale assistant told me this shampoo did nothing for her oily roots but that New! was awesome for this, and that it was also great to stimulate hair growth. From the reviews I've read on the LUSH website, many people say this shampoo is drying but I really don't care as I use conditioner and leave-in conditioner everytime I wash my hair. I can't wait to try this!

Glade Sense & Spray Automatic Room Spray Lavender & Vanilla free I recently received a coupon for a free Glad Sense & Spray and the only scent available was this one (this wasn't totally free, I had to pay the taxes).