Sparkled Beauty

I Live to Shine

8/31/2012

Weekly flyer deals

Posted by Halifax @ Sparkled Beauty

It is the long weekend, finally. We are gonna be school supply shopping for those stupid coloured duotangs. At least, Squirt is excited about it :)

Shoppers: x20 Optimum points with $50 purchase on Saturday only. Stock up your points, cause it's bonus redemption next weekend with an extra redemption level for $50 (new).

Also note that it's the last week of 30 Days of Beauty. If you haven't already, take advantage of the bonus Optimum point offers with your purchase.

*** Sat only: Almay eye, Wake Up/ Smart Shade makeup: 30% off (rest of the week: 15% off)
*** All week:
- Olay, No7, Avene Essentials skin care: 20% off
- RoC, Reversa skin care: 25% off
- Neutrogena skin/ hair care: 25% off
- Marcelle Gene Youth skin care (selected types): CAD29.99
- Palmer's Cocoa Butter Therapy oil, Bio oil, Aveeno daily moisturizing lotion: CAD9.99
- Gosh/ Marc Anthony hair care: CAD7.99
- Bioderma Sensibio/ Sebium makeup remover (250ml): CAD22
- L'Oreal Double Extend mascara, True Match makeup: 20% off
- L'Oreal One Sweep shadow, Sculpting blush, Magic Smooth Souffle: 15% off
- Maybelline Eye Studio eyeshadow, Lash Stiletto mascara, Superstay 10hr stain gloss: CAD9.99
- Maybelline Baby Lips, Great Lash mascara, Shine Sensational gloss: CAD5.49
- Cover Girl Lash Perfection mascara, Outlast lip, Advanced Radiance, Nature Luxe, Trublend makeup: 20% off
- Cover Girl Clean, Ultimate Finish makeup, Eye Exact: 15% off
- Revlon Custom Eyes mascara, eyeshadow, ColorBurst, ColorStay lip: CAD9.99
- Revlon ColorStay eyeliner: CAD7.99
- Revlon ColorStay makeup: CAD15.99
- Rimmel Extra Super Lash mascara, Glam Eyes single shadow, Vinyl gloss: CAD4.99
- Rimmel Exaggerated lip liner, Lasting Finish lipstick, foundation: CAD5.99
- Annabelle BB cream, Perfect bronzer, Skinny eyebrow pencil, TwistUp lip crayon, Big Show lip shine: 15% off
- Physician's Formula: 30% off (and 2,000 bonus points)
- Quo Perfect Portfolio, Play Time palette: 15% off (and bonus points)
- Revlon nail polish: CAD4.99
- Sally Hansen Insta-Dri nail polish: 2 for CAD8 (or CAD4.99 each)
- Sally Hansen magnetic nail polish, Salon Effects nail polish strips, Complete Care treatment: CAD8.99
- Rimmel Lasting Finish Pro nail polish: 25% off
- Essie nail polish, base coat: CAD8.99
- Nicole by OPI Celebrity nail polish: CAD8.99
- L'Oreal Color Riche nail polish: CAD5.99
- Quo by Orly nail polish: CAD8.99
- Gosh nail polish: CAD4.99
- Elizabeth Arden GWP of $38 or more, valued $113
- Smashbox Studio Groupie kit: CAD68 (valued $172).

Lawtons:
- Got 2b hair care: BOGO
- Nicole by OPI nail polish: CAD5.99
- Del Sol nail polish: 15% off
- L'Oreal True Match Lumi: CAD14.99, Colour Riche lipstick: CAD8.99, Skin Beautifier BB cream: CAD9.99, Voluminous Power 24h mascara: CAD6.99
- L'Oreal RevitaLift: 25% off
- Maybelline Volume Express mascara: CAD5.99, Baby Lips CAD3.99, Dream Fresh BB cream: CAD6.99
- Revlon Just Bitten lip balm stain, lip balm: 20% off
- Almay eyeshadow, mascara, eyeliner, brow liner, makeup remover: 20% off
- Vasanti: Free single eyeshadow of your choice with $30 Vasanti purchase
- Mistura compact, Luminada Illuminating moisturizer: BOGO
- Fruits & Passion Argan collection: 20% off
- Marcelle makeup remover, cleanser, toner: 20% off
- Vichy Normaderm: 20% off, Dermablend cosmetics, Purette Thermale cleanser: 25% off
- Avene sun/ skin care: 20% off
- Montagne Jeunesse masks: 20% off.

Superstore: It's tax free Friday and Saturday in NS.

Zellers: F&F event this weekend only with this coupon - 15% off with Hbc credit card or MasterCard, 10% off with other cards.

The Body Shop: 4 for $30 Summer essentials this weekend, in stores and online. Based on the selections on the site, I see body butters, hand creams, selected hair and bath products.

Sleek Makeup: 20% off until September 5 to celebrate their "revamped" website (which doesn't work, at the time of this post). Discount automatically applies at checkout. Note that certain i-Divine palettes are not shipped to North America.

I have been trying to place an order for days but was always stuck at the address page. The drop down menu for "Country" never worked. Be warned.

Other Labour Day promotions that aren't beauty related:
- The Bay: Extra 15% off with Hbc credit card or MasterCard in stores and online until Monday, with exclusions (sadly including beauty department). Material Girl shoes and handbags: 25% off
- GAP, Old Navy and Banana Republic: 25% off until Monday, online only
- Forever 21: BOGO clearance. Items with lowest prices in the whole cart will be free, so you can't pair items with the same price to get better saving
- Joe Fresh: Get a $10 gift card with $50 purchase until September 7. Coupon can be found at the coupon board near the door or at the Joe Fresh cashier.
- Top Shop: Free international shipping, today only. Again, nothing happened when I hit "checkout", so I can't tell you if the site is actually working.

Don't forget to use ebates when online shopping. My referral link is also on the left side bar, if anyone needs it.

8/30/2012

Make Up For Ever event & giveaway

Posted by Halifax @ Sparkled Beauty

If you are local, there is an exciting event hosted by Make Up For Ever at our Sephora next Saturday, September 8, from 12 - 6pm.

The team of Make Up For Ever pro makeup artists will offer one-on-one consultation to help you find your perfect HD foundation match. No appointment needed.

And if you make a purchase of the HD Complexion Starter kit at the event, you'll receive a free gift, while supplies last. See my Make Up For Ever experience post for more information about the kit.

And for those of you who can't attend the event but are in Canada, there is something for you too. Enter the giveaway below to win the HD Complexion Starter kit for yourself, customized to your HD foundation shade.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Have fun and good luck!

8/29/2012

La Roche-Posay skin and sun care

Posted by Halifax @ Sparkled Beauty

It has been a delight to see La Roche-Posay being more media active lately, as the brand deserves proper recognition, in my opinion. I was lucky to be offered some new products to test out.

I kinda jumped when I heard about Mela-D Pigment Control Concentrated Dark-spot Correcting serum, it was right up my alley.

The claim: After 2 weeks, dark spots are visibly reduced. Over the period of 8 weeks, appearance of size and colour intensity of dark spots are significantly reduced. Skin complexion is more uniform and skin is more radiant.

What it has:
- 2% Kojic Acid: reduces dark spots and skin discoloration
- Lipo Hydroxy Acid (LHA) and Glycolic Acid: help shed dark cells from the skin surface, increase radiance
- Thermal Dermobiotic: calms the skin.

A few warnings:
- Avoid eye area and direct contact with eyes, lips and nostrils. Use maximum once a day (recommended at night, after cleansing)
- AHA may increase skin sensitivity toward the sun and sunburn. Suggest a UVA/ UVB sunscreen of SPF15 or higher, and reapply when necessary
- Do not use at the same time (or within 24 hours) of using other exfoliating products, dermabrasion or treatments containing retinoic acid, phenol or salicylic acid
- Do not use the product if you have undergone a tanning treatment within the past 7 days.

Ingredients: Water, Alcohol Denat, Glycolic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Potassium Hydroxide, Kojic Acid, Ammonium Polyacryldimethyltauramide, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyltaurate, C12-13 Alkyl Lactate, Disodium Edta, Hydroxyethycellucose, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Vitreoscilla Ferment.

The serum is a clear liquid, comes in a glass bottle with a dropper. It is suggested the amount of one full dropper each time but I actually only need half of it. I follow the warnings closely, though it was not easy not to use the Clarisonic, scrubs or my acne spot treatment.

The result: the dark spots on my cheeks (left behind by old acne) are getting lighter. Not an overnight sight, mind you, but it is gradually noticeable. The long term effects (8 weeks, I'm not there yet) are still to be determined, but I have something to hope for and work toward.

The serum is Hydroquinone/ fragrance/ paraben free. Full size is 1oz/ 30ml, retails $55.

Next is the Effaclar Mat Daily moisturizer for oily skin, anti-shine, anti-enlarged pores. With its sebulyse technology + micro-exfoliating LHA, it is to reduce sebum production and restore balance in oily areas, moisturize the skin. Suitable for sensitive skin.

Suggested use: Daily, morning and/or night for the whole face. Excellent makeup base.

Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Isocetyl Stearate, Alcohol Denat, Silica, Dimethicone/ Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Acrylamide/ Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, PEG-100 Stearate, Cocamide Mea, Sarcosine, Glyceryl Stearate, Triethanolamine, Isohexadecane, Perlite, etc.

I love multi purpose products. The moisturizer has replaced my regular primer/ mattifier every morning now. I'm already worried I'd run out of it soon lol.

The result: My face literally stays matte the whole day until I remove my makeup at night. No blotting needed, period. I rotate my foundation during the testing period, and they all hold on well.

The moisturizer is non comedogenic and paraben free. The bottle is 1.35oz/ 40ml, retails $30.

The next product comes really handy pairing with the two products above (remember the warning about the need of a sunscreen with the serum?) - Anthelios with Mexoryl Ultra-fluid lotion, SPF60 Broad Spectrum UVA/ UVB protection for Face.

Suggested for daily use (shake well before use), excellent makeup base. Quick absorbing, matte finish. Ultra light, suitable for oily skin. Exactly how I feel about this sunscreen. No glamourized claims here.

It comes out of the bottle as a white liquid (not lotion), but turns to a powder finish as soon as it hits the skin. I have never seen any sunscreen like this. There is no wait time between it and the moisturizer, as it dries instantly. And SPF60 is a great level of protection. Love and totally recommend it!

Active ingredients: Homosalate 10%, Oxybenzone 6%, Octisalate 5%, Octocrylene 5%, Avobenzone 3%, Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid (Mexoryl) 2%.

The sunscreen is non comedogenic, fragrance/ paraben free, water resistant. It is 50ml, retails $26.

And lastly, the icing on the cake after a long day out in the sun: Posthelios Hydrating After-sun Melt-in gel. Doesn't it sound wonderful already?

The formula is enriched with lipid-restoring agents to soothe dry skin under stress from sun exposure. The skin will feel moisturized, rehydrated, nourished with moisture. Suggested use: Massage in lightly after a bath or shower.

Ingredients: Water, Butyrospermum Parkii/ Shea Butter, Glycerin, Paraffinum Liquidum, Octyldodecanol,  PEG-30 Stearate,  Glyceryl Stearate, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetyl Acetate, Acetylated Lanolin Alcohol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, etc.

Don't know if I need to say anything else about this gel other than it does a wonderful job as its name suggests. It calms my skin right down, and has replaced my bath oil after shower for days that I am outside a lot.

The gel is paraben free, nickle levels guaranteed lower than the threshold for allergic reactions in sensitized subjects. Good size (200ml), retail price $26.

I am very happy to find another successful skin care routine that target my skin concerns. If you are tired of reading my ramblings here, head on to My Skin Check website (created by La Roche-Posay) to learn about sun protection and more.

8/28/2012

NOTD: W7 Mosaic

Posted by Halifax @ Sparkled Beauty

As a follow up from the big huge Nail polish haul yesterday, I am showing you the swatches of W7 Mosaic today.

Like I mentioned, Mosaic is the confirmed dupe of Nails Inc. Pudding Lane, just in case anybody is wondering.

However, I think it's fair to just review it the way it is, not in comparison with Nails Inc. I don't own Pudding Lane anyway, and don't plan to purchase it. $11 is a lot, especially when I already own Mosaic. Just saying!

First off, Mosaic is a complete beauty. Just that blue/ aqua shade alone is totally summer appropriate, though I would still wear it all year round.

And then the glitters are the icing on the gorgeous cake. Navy and gold "icing", to be exact. They aren't too fine, not too chunky either.

This is 3 coats of Mosaic by itself, no colour base, as I wanted to test its opacity and colour payoff. But to conserve the goodness and easy removal afterward, I'd suggest using a light blue nail polish underneath.

And one more shot of it, I couldn't decide which pic to leave out lol. Mosaic wore pretty well on my nails - 2-3 days on average. The brush was a little wider, easy to work with.

I'm complete smitten with Mosaic, if you haven't figured that out by now already. Totally worth the £1.95 price tag. Maybe even worth coming back to the site if W7 has more shades like this, even with the communication issue Nail Polish Direct had. That's how much I love Mosaic.

A few more days and my favorite month of the year is over. The month I spent $$$ lol. Have a great day, everyone!

8/27/2012

Nail polish hauls

Posted by Halifax @ Sparkled Beauty

This is a huge collective haul from different places at different points of time. I was waiting on things to come in the mail to post them all together :)

I jumped on the W7 bandwagon in a heart beat as soon as I saw all 3 shades I wanted were in stock on Nail Polish Direct.

I didn't know much about this UK brand other than the fact that they made cheaper Nails Inc Sprinkles alternatives, only £1.95 a piece vs $11.

From L-R: Mosaic (dupe of Nails Inc. Pudding Lane), Salt n Pepper (close to Nails Inc. Sugar House Lane) and Lava Flow.

The brand only has these 3 shades with this type of glitter mix so far that I know of.

W7 is also known for some cool duochrome shades, I took full advantage of the cheap shipping - £2.95 for 9 bottles.

First row: Metallic Mercury, Metallic Jupiter and Metallic Neptune

Second row: Metallic Mars, Metallic Venus, Metallic Saturn and Diamond top coat (free with purchase of 5 W7 nail polish).

Shipping took a bit more than 2 weeks. My Metallic Saturn came without a name sticker, I tried to email and FB them with no answer. This turned me away from ordering more from them (was lemming some Barry M), so be warned.

With Shoppers' very first BOGO event on nail polish about 2 weeks ago, I got:

- Quo Center of Attention (from a LE display)

- Nicole by OPI Back to Reality... TV (Kardashian Kolor 2012 collection), Coral Denominator (One Less Lonely Girl collection, supposed to be a Canada exclusive originally), and A Million Sparkles (a 2012 shade).

I was glad to see Shoppers starting to offer some great sales like this. The key point to success is to pick the location with good stock level.

From the Cult Nails birthday sale near beginning of the month for $7 a bottle (reg. $10), I got:

- Annalicious, Feelin' FroggyManipulative (all are to be discontinued soon), and

- I Got Distracted. I've been eyeing this one for a while now, glad to finally own it.

Shipping for 4 bottles was $8 to Canada. I am already looking into another order, cause Cult Nails is coming out with the colour changing top coats, hard to resist.

Killed 2 long time lemmings via Ninja Polish: Floam and Sticks 'n Stones, $9 each.

These weren't on sale or anything, but they were really really hard to catch whenever they were back in stock on the site. They sold like hot cakes, I was just lucky that day.

Floam was originally from Nail Venturous but now is bottled under Ninja Polish brand, I'm not sure what the story is, doesn't really matter though.

Canada shipping starts at $3.50 for the first bottle, then $1 for each additional bottle.

I heard about Candy Lacquer over at a few nail blogs and loved the shades they offered. The day their etsy store opened, great shades were sold out within 5 minutes. Craziness!

I missed out on the great LE shades, only got Honey Bee, City Girl and Argyle, $8 each. These are glitters with interesting shapes and combination, definitely stand out to me.

Canada shipping was $5 + $1 for each additional bottle. A little higher than I wanted, but it was worth it to splurge on these.

A CP from the US, thanks to a blogger friend, for some shades that I couldn't get here at the time.

- Revlon Moon Candy in Supernova and Cosmic. These have showed up at our Walmart now :)

- Sinful Colors in Why Not, Dressed to Kill, Let's Meet, Leap Flog and Cinderella.
This wish list was before the drama that Sinful had with nail bloggers. I'm glad to have these colours now, but probably won't buy anymore until I hear some good settlement.

I did really well at Sally this month. These are from 2 different trips - one when I first heard the China Glaze Summer Neons collection was on clearance for $3.29, and one when clearance items were extra 50% off (last weekend).

First row: Beach Cruise-R, Under the Boardwalk, Ride the Waves

Second row: Hang Ten-Toes, Love's a Beach, Surfin' for Boys, and Orange You Hot.

Still missing the green and yellow :(

Other random shades on clearance, also at Sally.

First row: Finger Paints Go Van Gogh; and Late Night Rendezvous (Summer in the City collection)

Second row: Orly Forever Crimson; Sterling Silver Rose; After Party and Dayglow (Feel the Vibe collection).

No sign of the great bright shades from Feel the Vibe nor the Orly Glam Fx :( If you can find them, you'd be one of the luckiest people in the world.

This last bunch was a surprise, as I thought they were long gone. Crackle fever might be over, but I couldn't resist the shimmers, especially when they were $1.50 each.

So here are China Glaze Glam-more, Luminous Lavender, Gleam Me Up and Jade-D.

It's always a good idea to call your store before heading over, as I found Sally's sale isn't necessarily the same across provinces. I had one fail trip where a sale hosted at my friend's store was not at mine.

Layla is on 30% off at Lawtons this week, the best sale I have seen on it so far. The price came out to be around $11 after discount.

Lawtons only has the shades from the first release, so I only got Flash Black and Ultra Violet (which, by taking picture, I realized that I grabbed a tester of, lol).

The OPI Spiderman collection was on clearance, $3.49 a piece. I got Number One Nemesis and My Boyfriend Scales Walls.

Phewww, that is all, for now :) Hope this is a fun read for you on a Monday.

8/24/2012

Weekly flyer deals

Posted by Halifax @ Sparkled Beauty

Shoppers:
*** Sun & Mon:
- Cover Girl lip, eye, makeup: 30% off (rest of the week: 20% off)
- St. Ives/ Noxzema (selected types): CAD2.99 (Limit 4, after limit and rest of the week: CAD3.49)

*** All week:
- Neostrata/ Cliniderm/ Vichy skin care: 20% off
- Avene/ RoC (selected lines) skin care: 20% off
- Nivea skin care (selected types): 30% off
- Simple skin care: 15% off
- L'Oreal Sublime, Ombrelle, Coppertone sun care: 20% off
- Exuviance/ Eucerin skin care: 15% off
- Treseme/ got2b hair care: CAD3.99
- Marcelle Duo eyebrow-pro, Essentials gentle makeup remover, Lux cream eyeshadow, primer, Xtension Plus mascara: CAD9.99
- Marcelle New Age skin care: 15% off
- Essie nail polish: CAD8.99
- Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear, Rimmel Lasting Finish Pro nail polish: CAD3.99
- Sally Hansen crackle, nail art pen, Nail Growth Miracle nail polish: CAD5.99
- L'Oreal Color Riche nail polish: CAD3.99
- Quo by Orly LED lamp, Gels starter kit, gel nail polish: 20% off

No special weekend offers, so take advantage of the bonus Optimum points as part of 30 Days of Beauty event, if you plan on getting something.

Lawtons:
- Almay: 30% off
- Revlon mascara, eyeshadow, eyeliner: 30% off
- Revlon beauty tool: 25% off
- LA Girl/ LA Colors: 20% off
- LA Splash: 20% off
- Bonne Bell eye/ lip liner: 25% off
- Vasanti: 15% off
- Layla Hologram/ MagEffect nail polish: 30% off
- Red Carpet LED Gel manicure: 15% off
- Nicole by OPI nail polish: CAD5.99
- Vichy skin care: 25% off
- Garnier Body Intensive 7 Days lotion (250ml): CAD4.49
- Garnier Moisture Rescue skin care: 30% off
- Marc Anthony hair care: BOGO
- She's g.a.l/ Ultimate makeup brushes: 25% off.

Walmart:
- Treseme shampoo, conditioner (900ml), styling products: CAD3.50 (reg. CAD5.26)
- John Frieda shampoo, conditioner, styler: CAD6.96 (reg. CAD8.72)
- Got2b hair care: CAD3.97 (reg. CAD5.67)
- Olay Age Defying moisturizer: CAD14.84 (reg. CAD17.87)
- L'Oreal Voluminous Power 24hr mascara with bonus liner, Colour Riche Caresse lipstick: CAD9.97
- Revlon classic, Top Speed nail polish: CAD3.96 (reg. CAD4.47 - CAD4.96)
- St. Ives facial scrub (33% bonus): CAD3.77
- Clean & Clear Morning Burst skin care: CAD6.34 - CAD9.34 (reg. CAD7.54 - CAD11.57)
- Bodycology bath & beauty products: 2 for CAD10 (or CAD5.97 each).

Sally: Extra 50% off on clearance items until Sunday!

The Body Shop: $10 off $20 coupon, good until Sunday. It was tweeted by TBS, so I assume it is not user specific. Last time, the store refused my coupon, saying it was meant for selected users but unintentionally leaked on the internet.

TBS BB cream just hit the store, only 3 shades, $20. You only have to pay $10 for it with the coupon, unless you have LYB card (then your total is less than $20).

The B3G2F, B2G1F, B1G1 50% promotion (skin care and makeup) is still on, if you plan to get more than one thing :) Selected body butters are on for $10 (reg. $19).

Bath & Body Works: Paris party is on Saturday. You get a gift (valued $15) with any full size Signature Collection purchase (excludes clearance). The gift includes Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin mini candle and mini To Go body lotion, Caramel Apple PocketBac and holder.

Zellers: 10% off with Hbc credit card or Mastercard until Saturday, $10 off $40 coupon, just in time for back to school shopping.

The Bay: Until Sunday, with $75 purchase in store, you will get a $25 saving card, redeemable on a $100 purchase until August 30 (excluding cosmetics, fragrances and online purchases). And it looks like the 25% off women's handbags and wallets are still on (online and in stores).

For local readers, Micmac Mall is doing a lucky draw until September 2. For every $50 (before tax) you spend at the mall, you get a ballot from the Micmac Lounge to win a $1,000 shopping spree. If you are there shopping anyway, might as well getting some ballots :)

8/22/2012

Make Up Academy haul

Posted by Halifax @ Sparkled Beauty

My pretties came in a day or two ago, from the Make Up Academy (MUA) sale I told you before. For a UK company to offer 25% off and free international shipping, it was almost unheard of. I was glad I jumped on it.

The package came in a bubble envelope, with products inside individually wrapped. I'm just glad none of the eyeshadows broke.

Eyeshadow palettes were £4 originally, cost me CAD4.80 each after discount and exchange rate.

First row: Dusk till Dawn and Poptastic
Second row: Heaven & Earth and Undressed.

These look even better IRL, I am telling you, good size (9.6g), with sturdy cases and fabulous colour combinations. They also have plastic wraps all around the cases, no contamination :)

Needless today, Undressed is what I want to dig my brushes in first, Urban Decay Naked dupe or not!

I also grabbed a few other things from the brand to try out:

- Love Hearts lip balm in Kiss Me, £2 (cost me CAD2.40), just because it looked cute

- Nail polish #15, £1 (I paid CAD1.20). I didn't see many swatches of their nail polish, just got one to test the water

- Lipsticks £1 (I paid CAD1.20) - #1, 2. 3. 8, 12 and 13. MUA's lipsticks have been braved about a lot on youtube. But isn't it about time to give all the products names instead of numbers?

I haven't had the time to try anything yet, unfortunately. Did you get anything from the sale, tell me! MUA is gearing up for 30,000 FB fans to launch another offer, I hope it's good :)

8/21/2012

Tatcha skin care line

Posted by Halifax @ Sparkled Beauty

I have been really committed in testing out a new skin care "ritual" from Tatcha, sent to me a few weeks ago. I want to say I love it because I do, not because of the hype. And I do :)

First off, the packaging got an A+. Call me biased but I'm a big fan of beautiful Asian packaging.

- The catalogue was beautifully done. The picture and paper were of good quality, product information provided was clear and to the point

- The cover letter and envelope were made of gorgeous paper with beautiful white patterns, very luxurious feeling. And there was the gold Tatcha logo sticker to seal them

- The media kit was neatly packed inside a matte paper pocket with similar pattern, and another beautiful picture on the front

- The full size product (the serum) came in a envelope box made out of brown sturdy paper, inside was a little paper roll that included a letter from Tatcha's founder about the company background, information about the product and use instructions. The bottle itself was of a beautiful shape, gorgeous metal logo on the front, swirly patter on the paper seal that ran across the lid.

The whole Tatcha skin care line was built around the signature Hadasei-3 bioactive complex - rice bran, red algae and green tea to improve the appearance of elasticity, moisturize skin and reduce the appearance of hyper-pigmentation. The Ritual (as Tatcha calls it) is the East (geisha's flawless skin secrets) meets West (simple skin care steps for gorgeous skin) concept, with 4 steps to be used daily (morning and night) and take 3 minutes or less.

Step 1: PURE One Step Camellia Cleansing oil - Dry hands, dry face.

As instructed, use your dry hand to apply the oil to your dry face. Camellia and Hadasei-3 lifts away impurities and makeup. With waterproof liner and mascara, I still go over my eyes with eye makeup remover, to be thorough. And I only use this oil at night.

Formulated without: Mineral oil, Synthetic colours/ fragrances, Sulfate Detergents, Parabens, PEGs, PPGs, Urea, DEA, TEA or Phthalates.
Actives: Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran oil, Camellia Japonica Seed oil, Algae extract, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf extract.

The formula is a blend of camellia and rice bran oils, no mineral oil. It emulsifies completely, leaving the skin fresh without double cleansing. My skin felt awesome and ready for the next step.

These are the sample size - 1oz/ 30ml, the full sized bottle (5.1oz/ 150ml) retails $48.

Step 2: POLISHED Rice Enzyme powders - Wet hands, creamy foam, wet face.

The powder is water activated powder, so you just add a few drops of water in the powder and lather it up. Note that it does not require lengthy time on the skin nor hard scrubbing. Go less than a minute, depending on the desired level of exfoliation, as it is strong as it says.

The formula is a blend of rice and papaya enzymes, and Hadasei-3, to remove debris without burning, tingling or hard abrasives. Skip step 1 and use this for days you don't wear makeup.

Formulated without: Mineral oil, Synthetic fragrances, Sulfate Detergents, Parabens, PEGs, PPGs, Urea, DEA, TEA or Phthalates.

Actives: Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate (Licorice Root), Papain (Papaya extract), Algae extract, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf extract.

There are 3 different blends:
- Gentle (pink, for sensitive skin) with licorice root extract to soothe
- Classic (white, for normal skin) with pearl to condition
- Deep (green, for active skin) with dokudami to soothe and reduce appearance of blemishes.

I am still lingering at the Gentle blend, as I think it is the perfect level for me. A packet (0.04oz/ 1g) was good for 2 uses for my face. Also only use the powder at night, every other day.

I got the sample packets, the full sized jar (2.1oz/ 60g) costs $65.

Step 3: RADIANT Deep Brightening serum - 1, 2 pumps.

This is full size (1oz/ 30ml), just look at the bottle!

Asian botanicals and HADASEI-3 Bioactive Complex boost the skin's moisture, prevent future age spots, clarify existing ones.

Formulated without: Kojic Acid, Hydroquinone, Mineral oil, Synthetic colours/ fragrances, Sulfate Detergents, Parabens, PEGs, PPGs, Urea, DEA, TEA or Phthalates.

Actives: Squalane (Olive extract), Oryza Sativa (Rice) Germ oil, Inositol (Rice extract), Sericin (Silk protein), Algae extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root extract, Zizyphus Jujuba Fruit extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin (Soy derivative), Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf extract.

This is the most expensive product in the ritual, $150. Users are supposed to see results in 4-8 weeks. I am almost 3 weeks in, gotta say the brightening effect is not very  noticeable. The moisturization, however, is. The product is nice to have to complete the routine but not a must have, in my opinion.

Step 4 - SUPPLE Moisture Rich Silk cream - pearl sized amount.

The cream is made of liquid silk protein designed to form an invisible moisture-binding element on the skin. Thyme, ginseng roots and royal jelly promote skin moisture, including hyaluronic acid synthesis and amino acid balance.

Formulated without: Mineral oil, Synthetic fragrances, Sulfate Detergents, Parabens, PEGs, PPGs, Urea, DEA, TEA or Phthalates.

Actives: Squalane (Olive extract), Oryza Sativa (Rice) Germ oil, Inositol (Rice derivative), Sericin (Silk protein), Algae extract, Thymus Serpillum (Wild thyme) extract, Panax Ginseng Root extract, Royal Jelly extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin (Soy derivative), Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf extract.

Again, it works really well with the rest of the line. Potent it sure is, and costly (also $150 full size, 1.7oz/ 50ml). It absorbs quickly and can be used as a primer for makeup afterwards. I only use it at night, as it does not feel light enough for day time use, to me.

Extra: PETAL FRESH Aburatorigami Japanese beauty papers - 30 sheets.

These are all natural and biodegradable leaflets, powder/ fragrance/ pulp free, handmade, suitable for all skin types.

The sheets are not supposed to disturb makeup or steal moisture from the skin, can be used on both sides.

Made without: Mineral oil, synthetic colours/ fragrances, powder or pulp.

Contains: 100% abaca leaf, gold flake.

These are great to have in the hot summer days where you can't help to be oily on the face. Retails $12 for a pack (30 sheets), $40 for 4's or $150 for 10's.

Note: Shipping is free in the US, flat rate $20 for Canada (or free with orders of $250 or more). International shipping is available.

So I would say if I were to pick a favorite, I would go with either the cleansing oil or the powder. They are amazing and worth the money. And if you have extra cash to invest, this skin care ritual is a good one to have. The rest, like Tatcha says, "May the gift of enduring beauty now be yours!".

8/20/2012

NOTD: Revlon Moon Candy Cosmic

Posted by Halifax @ Sparkled Beauty

A little change in schedule again, so it's NOTD Monday today :) This is one of the shades from Revlon's Moon Candy Nail Art line - Cosmic.

Since the display is now at our Walmart, I figured it's the right time to show it to you.

The Moon Candy nail polish are dual-ended bottles, which house a base colour on one end and a flakie top coat on the other. The tubes are only 0.26oz/ 7.68ml for both ends, retail $8.96 each.

Cosmic is eye catching because of this dusty olive shade, and I just know I have to have it. This is 2 coats, could use another coat for full opacity. I like this type of colour, dark enough but not black.

And this is with the Nail art shade on top. The flakes are chunkier than those in Sally Hansen Hidden Treasure and the likes, look like shards of glass on the nails.

The base is clear but a little thick. I applied 2 coats (with dabbing motions) for denser appearance, and it feels thick on the nails afterward. I already added some drops of nail polish thinner on this end of the tube.

Gold flakes on dusty olive green? Pretty, I must say!

Close up, with indirect flash. These flakies are just too beautiful to look at, and I'm glad the beauty transferred equally to the nails.

Under certain lighting and angle, the flakes look gold and orange alternatively, exactly like Hidden Treasure, just a little bolder and visible.

I'm digging this type of packaging for travel, and the option to pair either of these 2 shades with other nail polish is endless. The only thing I was not happy about with Cosmic was the imperfect brush one end had. It flared out awkwardly, I might have to cut off part of it.

Last pic, with direct flash to show you the intensity of the flakes. Told you I like it dense :)

All in all, despite a few flaws, Cosmic is cool. I like the colour range offered in this line. I only got 2 shades, but if there's a sale in the future, I might grab more :)

What do you think about these Moon Candy tubes? Have you tried any shades? Thoughts?

Happy Monday!

8/17/2012

Weekly flyer deals

Posted by Halifax @ Sparkled Beauty

Shoppers: Sat & Sun: Spend Your Points event - 50,000 points = $100 or 95,000 points = $200 on cosmetics, select skin care, hosiery, fragrances, jewelry, hair colour, bath foam & gel, and nail care.

*** Sun & Mon: Quo brushes: 40% off
*** All week:
- L'Oreal Visible Lift makeup, Voluminous mascara, Colour Riche lip: 30% off
- L'Oreal Voluminous Power 24h mascara: CAD11.99
- L'Oreal Youth Code BB cream: CAD19.99
- L'Oreal BB cream, True Match makeup: 10% off
- Revlon PhotoReady eye primer + brightener: CAD12.99
- Revlon Grow Luscious lash liner: CAD9.99
- Revlon ColorStay Overtime mascara: CAD7.99, ColorStay Smoky shadow stick: CAD9.99
- Cover Girl Eye Enhancers quad: CAD6.99
- Cover Girl LineBlast 24hr eyeliner, LashBlast 24hr mascara: CAD8.99
- Cover Girl & Olay pressed powder: CAD14.99
- Maybelline Fit Me blush, foundation, powder, concealer: CAD7.99
- Maybelline Expert Wear Luminous Lights shadow: CAD8.99
- Maybelline Volume Express mascara, Lasting Drama gel liner: CAD9.99
- Almay Amazing Lasting/ liquid liner, Intense i-color liner, One Coat mascara: CAD7.99
- Rimmel Glam Eyes shadow, Vinyl Max gloss: CAD5.99
- Rimmel Sunshimmer bronzer, Clean Finish foundation: CAD6.99
- Rimmel Glam Eyes liner, Scandal Eyes mascara: CAD7.99
- Annabelle brow pencil, eyeliner: 15% off
- Annabelle Volumelash.com mascara, Smoothie eyeshadow pencil: CAD7.99
- Annabelle i Transformer, BB makeup: 10% off
- Marcelle BB cream: CAD17.99
- Quo lashes: 2 for CAD11.99 (or CAD6.99 each)
- Quo Perfect Portfolio, Play Time palette, liner, mascara, eyelash curler, tweezer: 15% off
- Aveeno/ Biore skin care: 25% off
- Balea/ Life Brand skin care, shave, sun care: 25% off
- Pur Minerals skin care: 50% off
- Garnier body lotion (400ml): CAD6.99
- Garnier Dark Spot night peel, Dark Spot correction: CAD16.99
- RoC Complete Lift skin care, Soleil Protection sun care: 20% off
- Yes To, I Love... skin care: 15% off
- Clearasil acne care: 20% off
- Revlon ColorStay, Moon Candy nail polish: CAD6.99
- Revlon Top Speed nail polish: CAD3.99
- Sally Hansen Gem Crush/ Smooth Perfect nail polish: CAD5.99
- Sally Hansen Salon Effects nail polish strips: CAD8.99.

For bonus Optimum points as part of 30 Days of Beauty event, check my previous Weekly flyer deals post.

Lawtons: bonus Airmiles week
- $50 worth of L'Oreal, Maybelline, Garnier = 25 bonus Airmiles
- $15 worth of Belvedere (Live Clean, One Step) = 15 bonus Airmiles
- $15 worth of Idelle Labs (Infusium, Pert) = 10 bonus Airmiles
- $20 worth of Burt's Bees = 15 bonus Airmiles
- L'Oreal: 25% off
- Maybelline foundation, powder, concealer (including BB cream): 25% off
- Revlon Super Lustrous, ColorBurst lip, Colorstay lip liner: 25% off
- Revlon Just Bitten lip balm stain: 10% off
- Marcelle New Age Precision skin care: 25% off
- Marcelle makeup remover: 10% off
- Annabelle i Transformer, BB: 10% off
- Garnier body lotion (400ml): CAD5.99
- Dermaglow: 20% off
- Ombrelle sun care: 30% off
- Avene sun care, TriAcneal, Cleanance: 20% off
- Essie nail polish, treatment: CAD8.99
- Revlon nail polish, treatment: 20% off.

Walmart:
- Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit acne care: CAD6.94 (reg. $8.96)
- Clean & Clear Advantage, Fruit Infusions: CAD6.97 - CAD9.57 (reg. $8.47 - $11.97)
- Clean & Clear base/ makeup remover: CAD5.44 (reg. $6.47)
- Nivea Visage 1-2-3 regimen: CAD5.97 (reg. $6.26 - $7.77)
- Garnier Moisture Rescue Dry Skin: CAD7.97 - CAD9.97
- Revlon Just Bitten lip balm stain: CAD8.46
- Hard Candy mini face kit: CAD7.98
- Revlon Brilliant Strength nail polish: CAD5.96
- Maybelline Volume Express mascara: CAD5.96
- Rimmel Scandal Eyes Lycra Flex mascara: CAD5.98.

Superstore: Until Sunday, earn x10 PC points with $25 Joe Fresh apparel purchase, using PC Financial Mastercard.

The Bay: From now till September 3, Estee Lauder has GWP of $36.50 or more, valued $105. Bonus gift (lower left corner) with purchase of $80 or more.

Feel free to click the link above or the pic to see details and options for the gifts.

Plus, from now till Sunday, with an Estee Lauder of $75 or more using Hbc credit card or MasterCard, you can get a $25 saving card, redeemable on your next purchase of $100 or more until September 2 (excludes cosmetics and fragrances).

Note that there is another $25 saving card offer for $75 purchase in store (no brand specific) this weekend, but the card is only good until August 30 and not redeemable towards cosmetics, fragrances or online purchases. Plus, extra 15% off for Hbc credit card/ MasterCard holders for denim (exclude Material Girl), luggage and backpacks.

Sears: This weekend, get $25 e-cash card when spend $75 online for family fashions, footwear, accessories, jewellery, luggage, items for baby, toys, home furnishings & decor, bed, bath & window fashions, housewares, fitness and outdoor living products. The e-cash is redeemable on purchases of $75 or more on Sears.ca from August 24 - 27. Check exclusions before you shop.

8/16/2012

Palmer's Giveaway

Posted by Halifax @ Sparkled Beauty

Palmer's was very generous to offer my Canadian readers a prize pack that includes some of the most well known products from the brand.

The prize: Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula jar, lotion, concentrated cream (pictured), and Skin Therapy oil (not pictured).

Check out my Skin Therapy oil review, if you missed it.

To enter, please fill in the widget below. Good luck to all of you!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

8/15/2012

Palmer's Skin Therapy Oil

Posted by Halifax @ Sparkled Beauty

I jumped on the oil wagon when I was offered Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Skin Therapy Oil for review.

Palmer's Skin Therapy oil is a multi-purpose skin perfection product for body and face. It is a dry oil, light weight, non greasy, non staining and preservative free, supposed to help improve the appearance of scars, stretch marks, dry/ damaged skin, uneven skin tone and aging skin.

Cocoa butter smells like chocolate to me, and the scent is mild and lingers just a bit. First great selling point! Cocoa butter retains skin moisture, fights stretch marks and scars; then vitamin E is an antioxidant; Rosehip oil is high in fatty acid and Vitamin C, and Canola oil has Vitamin E and Omega 3 fatty acids.

Ingredients: Canola oil, Isopropyl Myristate, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed oil, Dimethicone, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed butter, Tocopheryl Acetate, Fragrance, Rosa Canina Seed extract, Citronellol, Coumarine, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool.

Here is how I have been using this oil, using the Head-to-Toe Beautiful Skin Checklist that Palmer's included in my package. Note that the bottle now has a No Mess pump dispenser, works great.

- Face cream, hand and feet moisturizer, nail & cuticle treatment: It worked really well. Being an oil, it did take a little time to fully absorb (more time on the face than on the body), so I preferred using it at night. Going to bed smelling good was a great feeling.
- Bath oil and after shave: I did not use the oil in my bath water but used it right after the bath, while my skin was still damp. The effect lasted a longer this way.
- Hair oil: it was great to untangle my hair and tame fly-aways. I use this oil for this purpose the most, every morning, I must say. My hair was easy to brush through and stayed less tangled throughout the day.
- Eye makeup remover: it did remove my makeup and most of the waterproof mascara. However, I can't get used to the feeling of oil on my lashes. Just personal preference.
- Lip balm: the oil did not leave a taste or any oily feeling, moisturized my lips well. Take note of this next time I travel, bringing just this one product.
- Anti-aging skin support and acne scar treatment: I can't confirm this without watching the effect for a long time.

To sum up, this oil smells great, works well as a moisturizer, and then some. Other than my lashes, I would basically use it all over. Available at Walmart, Shoppers Drug Mart and Loblaws/ Superstore for $13.99 (150ml).

8/14/2012

Birthday hauls

Posted by Halifax @ Sparkled Beauty

I had shopping in the brain and found some good deals to share with you.

Over the last few months, I have become a frequent customer at the Bay - a Canadian department store. It all started the day I found out that they carried BCBGENERATION bracelets, which I had been searching all over the internet for.

From one of the hauls, in the middle is the Fearless Affirmation bracelet in mint colour, on both sides are the Pyramid bracelets (Beige and Teal, not blue as it appeared in the pic), reg. $18 each.

My collection has grown since the day I took this pic. There seem to be only 4 colours of Pyramid, but endless options for Affirmation. They just keep popping up online (my store doesn't have these).

Also since then, I ventured out to their Expression and Material Girl jewelry lines as well. Remember this pic from a clearance sale haul back in June? This stash has grown too lol.

I am really into fashion jewelry right now, and find their pieces are pretty on trend, also reasonably priced (between $16 - $40). They are on sale often enough, so I don't pay full price ever.

From jewelry, I moved on to clothes (Material Girl, Topshop, etc.) and shoes, all the fun stuff. Between online and stores, sales don't necessary run the same, so I normally check both.

These are my latest finds from the clearance bin at my the Bay, yellow tagged, extra 40% off. Using some discount/ special promo they were running in the weekend, I got a really good deal.

Excuse my use of stock pics, as I can't get a good angle to show you the whole gorgeousness of them with my camera.

This one is R&Em Percy satchel in Malt, reg. $95. After all the discounts, I paid $22. Light yellow on the outside, red on the inside. Pretty awesome.

I never heard of this brand, but the style just got me. The material is really soft, and the bag is of a good size. I'm a little worried about the light colour, easy to get dirty, but I couldn't pass it up. Notice the little knot after the buckle? I do my belt the same way when the end is too long to let loose. Instant connection lol.

The second bag is Chocolate New York Chantel in Black, reg. $70, cost me $17. I could not find a pic of the black bag, so beige it is lol. The lace detail on the flap is harder to see with black anyway.

I really take advantage of my Hbc Mastercard, as the Bay always offer extra discount for card holders. Plus you get free shipping with $45 purchases (or $29 with beauty department) instead of the regular $149 with other cards.

With all this talk, please don't assume that I am doing any affiliation work for this company. I'm just an obsessed customer, they took all my money :)

Another store that I all of a sudden shop so much at: Old Navy. Fun clothes and shoes, especially when they are on sale, pretty cheap. There is always a coupon somewhere - in their emails, FB, on their receipts, etc.

Happened to come across these wedges on sale online, never saw them in stores. I was actually surprised that they were comfortable lol. Old Navy offer free mail return, or you can return in stores. Shipping is free with orders of $50 or more. Not hard. Again, in store and online deals aren't necessary the same, so browse both. I am actually waiting for another order on its way to me :)

First pair is the Color Block cork wedges, reg $29.94, cost me around $9 after all discounts. They look pretty well made, and not heavy. Cool bright colours, the ankle straps are helpful too. Awesome deal eh?

Second pair: Scarf wedges, reg. $27.94, I paid $14. The back of the shoes only come up to where the heels are, then the ankle wraps keep them in place. Even more awesome than ankle straps lol.

Other stuff that I found worth noting: selected sport bras (reg. $19.50) are on sale between $9 and $11 online. Didn't see the same deal in store last time I went in.

That's it for some of my bday finds, celebrating the day I turned older :) Hope to give you a bit of info about sales and where to find them. No makeup, but I hope it's helpful nonetheless.

8/13/2012

Birthday nails

Posted by Halifax @ Sparkled Beauty

Guess what? I went to bed last night, and woke up a year older. The magic of birthday, just like that and you are no longer as young as you thought :)

Don't know if you remember my birthday nails last year, I still love the idea but want to do something different this year. A little darker and more subtle, and I think I love this just as much.

I wanted a purple base that shines through the glitters, so I used Orly Purple Velvet. It is matte, but it doesn't really matter in this case.

The star glitters I chose was Cult Nails Captivated, totally birthday worthy. It has a light orange base, which lightens the purple base a little and makes it look more like a plum/ maroon shade, with the orange flakes floating around. Loving it!

On the accent finger is OPI Save Me, another awesome glitter shade. Multi coloured bar glitters and fine silver shimmers, just look at it in the bottle!

I'm disappointed that I couldn't show you how great these 2 shades are. If you have them and haven't worn them yet, do it now.

Glitter galore, isn't it? What did you wear for your birthday nails (or what do you plan to wear, if it's coming up)? I need some new ideas.

Hope everyone had a great weekend. It was rainy here but I guess the grass and flowers needed that. It feels a little odd posting a NOTD on Monday. I did "gift" myself with stuff over the last week or two, mostly clothing, jewelry and purses. And nail polish, of course. A birthday at this age only means one thing - a very proper excuse to shop lol.

It also feels odd that this is my first birthday spent being single. Bitter sweet. Squirt and I are going out for dinner tonight, playing low key.

Have a great day, everyone! Happy birthday for all the Leo out there.

8/11/2012

Well.ca flash sale

Posted by Halifax @ Sparkled Beauty

There is a great Saturday's Daily deal on well.ca today that I thought you might be interested. For today only, you can get this deal for $69.99 (save $42).

The Well.ca Family Grab Bag (affiliate link) includes:
- Zoku Quick Pop maker (reg. $69.99)
- Summer Infant Car Seat shade ($15.00)
- Badger Lightly Scented sunscreen SPF 30 ($15.99)
- Badger Balm After Sun balm: Blue Tansy & Lavender ($7.99), and
- Vital Baby Free Flow cup ($3.99).

You pretty much pay for the Zoku and get all the rest for free. I myself have been eyeing this item for a long time, couldn't pull the string because of the price. I was happy to see this deal :) Already placed my order.

Well.ca ship free in Canada. For the US, except for American Samoa, Guam, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, shipping is free for orders of $99 or more.

For those who do not want to use my affiliate link, here is the direct link. Well.ca also offers the Referral program "Give $10 get $10" where I can give you a coupon code for $10 off $40 (new customers only). If you use my code (SparkledBeauty), I'll get a code for myself too.

This sale ends at midnight tonight. Have fun shopping!

8/10/2012

Weeky flyer deals

Posted by Halifax @ Sparkled Beauty

Shoppers: Sat & Sun: x20 Optimum points with $75 purchase of cosmetics, select skin care, hosiery, fragrances, jewelry, hair colour, bath foam & gel or nail care.

The 30 Days of Beauty event has started (from now till September 7) with the most insane bonus Optimum points offers I have ever seen.

I noted them all down so you can pick and choose the offer(s) that work well with your purchase, if you decide to participate. You have a month, but keep track with flyer deals as well, Sparkled Beauty style :)

- x20 points with $10 purchase of Gosh products
- x20 points with $25 purchase of Etival products
- x15 points with $25 purchase of Quo products
- x10 points with $30 purchase of L'Oreal Colour Riche lipsticks, Intense liners or Voluminous mascaras
- x10 points with $50 purchase of Clinique products
- x10 points with purchase of 2 CLEAR Scalp and Hair Therapy products
- x10 points with purchase of 2 Treseme products
- x10 points with purchase of any Gosh  hair care product
- x10 points with purchase of any Nexxus hair care product
- 15,000 points with purchase of 2 Biotherm Aquasource products
- 15,000 points with purchase of 2 Lancome anti-aging products
- 8,000 points with purchase of Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum or Healthy Mix concealer products
- 8,000 points with purchase of Smashbox BB cream
- 8,000 points with purchase of $70 Lacoste fragrances
- 6,000 points with purchase of Fekkai hair products
- 5,000 points with $50 purchase of Lise Watier makeup products
- 4,000 points with purchase of any La Roche-Posay Mela-D Pigment Control, Effaclar Mat or Toleriane Ultra product
- 3,000 points with purchase of Clarins Super Restorative Total Eye Concentrate, Extra-Firming Day cream or Gentle Foaming cleanser
- 2,500 points with purchase of any Marc Jacob fragrance
- 2,000 points with purchase of 2 Elizabeth Arden Visible Difference skin care products
- 2,000 points with purchase of 2 Cover Girl products
- 2,000 points with purchase of 2 Revlon lip/ nail products
- 2,000 points with purchase of 2 Maybelline Dream Fresh BB cream, Dream Bouncy blushes, Eye Studio or Volume Express Mega Plus mascaras
- 2,000 points with purchase of Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow brightening makeup
- 2,000 points with purchase of 2 L'Oreal Elnett products
- 2,000 points with purchase of 3 L'Oreal Arigine hair care products
- 1,500 points with purchase of 2 John Frieda hair care products
- 1,000 points with purchase of any Pur Minerals product
- 1,000 points with purchase of any Juicy Couture fragrance
- 750 points with purchase of 2 Marcelle BB cream products
- 500 points with purchase of 2 Annabelle TwistUp products or selected BB cream products.

Now the deals to pair these offers with:
- Revlon ColorBurst lip butter, matte lipstick, Super Lustrous lipstick/ gloss: CAD7.99
- Revlon ColorBurst lipstick/ gloss: CAD8.99
- L'Oreal Colour Riche balm, Voluminous mascara, HIP duo eyeshadow: CAD6.99
- L'Oreal Colour Riche lip: CAD9.99
- L'Oreal Infallible lip: CAD11.99
- Maybelline Volume Express mascara: CAD7.99
- Maybelline Color Sensational/ SuperStay 14hr lipstick: CAD8.99
- Rimmel 1000 Kisses lip liner, Lasting Finish lipstick: CAD4.99
- Rimmel Stay Glossy/ Vinyl gloss: CAD6.99
- Rimmel Natural bronzer, Sexy Curves/ The Max mascara: CAD7.99
- Cover Girl Lip Perfection lipstick/ liner: CAD8.99
- Cover Girl Blast Flipstick: CAD9.99
- Annabelle Volume Lash mascara, Eye makeup remover: CAD4.99
- Annabelle Le Gloss Lip shine, Rouge Velour lipstick: CAD6.99
- Annabelle Big Show Lip shine, Volume Lip gloss: CAD8.99
- Bonne Belle: 25% off
- Neostrata selected skin care: 30% off
- L'Oreal skin care/ shave (including BB cream): 30% off
- L'Oreal Ever, Gosh, John Frieda, Aveeno hair care: CAD6.99
- L'Oreal Elnett: CAD12.99
- Essie nail polish: CAD9.99
- Nicole by OPI nail polish: CAD8.99 (buy 2 get 1,000 points)
- Revlon nail polish/ treatment: CAD5.99
- Sally Hansen Complete Salon, Diamond Strength, Insta-Dri: CAD5.99.


Lawtons:
- L'Oreal lip/ Maybelline eyeshadow: 25% off
- Milani: 15% off
- Marcelle BB cream: 15% off
- Annabelle eye/ lip: 20% off
- Almay powder, blush, foundation, concealer, primer, makeup remover: 20% off
- LA Colors/ LA Girl: 20% off
- L'Oreal Dermo-Expertise Age Perfect: 25% off.

Walmart:
- Simple moisturizer: CAD10.94 (reg. CAD12.97)
- Garnier hand/ body lotion (250ml): CAD3.96.

Superstore: For NS: Tax free Fri and Sat
- Maybelline Volume Express Mega Plush mascara, Color Tattoo eyeshadow: CAD5.97 (save $2)
- Maybelline Master Precise eyeliner: CAD5.97 (save $3)
- Maybelline SuperStay10hr stain gloss, 14hr lipstick: CAD6.97 (save $2)
- Maybelline Dream Fresh BB cream: CAD7.97 (save $2)
- L'Oreal Infallible eyeshadow: CAD7.97 (save $2)
- L'Oreal Voluminous Power 24h mascara: CAD7.97 (save $3)
- L'Oreal Infallible Lacquer liner: CAD9.97 (save $2)
- L'Oreal Skin Beautifier BB cream: CAD12.97 (save $3)
- L'Oreal True Match Lumi makeup: CAD13.97 (save $4)
- AlmayWake Up eyeshadow: CAD7.97 (save $2)
- Almay Wake Up liquid makeup/ Smart Shade Perfect & Correct primer: CAD12.97 (save $3)
- Cover Girl 24hr mascara/ liner, Blast Flipstick: CAD8.97 (save $1)
- Cover Girl + Olay pressed powder: CAD11.97 (save $3)
- Cover Girl Tone Rehab 2-in-1 foundation: CAD13.97 (save $3)
- Revlon ColorStay nail polish: CAD4.97 (save $3)
- Revlon Just Bitten lip balm stain: CAD7.97 (save $1)
- Revlon ColorStay Overtime mascara: CAD6.97 (save $1)
- Revlon ColorStay Smoky shadow stick: CAD7.97 (save $2).

The Bay: Until Sunday, save extra 10% with Hbc credit card/ Mastercard, plus with $75 purchase, receive $25 saving card, redeemable with next purchase of $100 in stores from August 10 - 30, excludes cosmetics and fragrances.

Zellers: Until Sunday, spend $50 on your Hbc credit card/ Mastercard, get a $10 saving card, redeemable with next purchase of $20 from August 20 - 23.
- Fashion jewelry: BOGO (reg. $3.97 - $24.97)
- Cover Girl LiquilineBlast, Shadow Blast: CAD7.99, Outlast lipstick: CAD8.99, Outlast lip stain: CAD9.99.

8/08/2012

Quick deals

Posted by Halifax @ Sparkled Beauty

There are some great deals going on this week that are time sensitive, I just want to make a post real quick to tell you.

This has never been offered before, I thought I should mention, just in case you are not subscribed to Shopers' email updates. There is a BOGO promotion on all nail polish, happening today between 6 and 9pm at all Shoppers with the coupon.

They suggest to check with your store to find out if there is a limit of the number of polish you can get. What and how many do you think you plan getting? :)

This next deal is good worldwide: Make Up Academy (MUA Cosmetics) is offering Free international shipping and 25% off on orders of £10 or more with code "MUA25" until 5pm tomorrow (UK time). Information is on their Facebook.

I have already ordered a few lipsticks and eyeshadow palettes (Undressed is supposed to be a really close dupe of UD Naked palette, for a small fraction of the price, couldn't miss it).

Now if only Sleek or Bourjois UK offer something this good, so I can stock up some more goodies.

Elf is still celebrating their 8th birthday and offers another 50% off sale on orders of $20 or more with code "BD50", this time only for 8 hours (8 - 4 EST).

There is a count down clock on the top right corner of the site, so you know how much time you have on this sale. Note that maximum discount is $100. And check out via paypal so you can avoid the extra charge on Canadian orders.

Have fun shopping!

8/07/2012

Konad Stamping Nail Art kit

Posted by Halifax @ Sparkled Beauty

If you have been reading the blog for a while, you know I hardly do any kind of nail art. Stamping, as easy as it might sound to lots of you, intimidates me. I love seeing images on other people's nails, just don't know I have that kind of skills.

Courtesy of Nail Polish Canada, the real thing from Konad showed up in my mail box. I have no excuse to procrastinate. Might as well jump right in then :)

This is a Konad Stamping kit with plate m36, special nail polish in White (0.175oz/ 5ml), a stamper (with metal blade) and a scraper.

Directions found on the box:
- Apply Konad special nail polish to the desired image on the plate
- Lean the scraper over 45 degrees and scrape the nail polish off the image quickly and strongly
- Quickly press the stamper onto the plate to pick up the design
- Stamp the image onto the nail with a gentle rolling motion (or press down and lift up immediately).

Konad suggests a base coat (or a regular nail polish as base) and a top coat, also to shake the nail polish before each use (which I didn't do - I don't normally shake my nail polish unless there is some separation in the bottle).

My first run, result as is, no fixing/ Photoshopping. The base is Orly Purple Velvet on top of a base coat. Purple Velvet is matte, and I didn't use a top coat afterwards to keep it that way.

I stamped on the middle finger first, where you can only see a few strokes of white. The index and ring fingers were next and the image was transferred a lot better, down to the delicate details of the flower petals.

When I decided to use a different image for the pinky, the tail of the bigger butterfly didn't show up after stamped. So my conclusion is first stamp would probably not come out perfectly but keep at it and you will stamp like a pro in no time :)

Second try, I used Revlon Midnight Haze as a base. A charcoal (almost black) with grey sheen, and not matte.

I used 2 different images and they showed up really well. The one on my index (and thumb) was more like a corner piece, great for larger nails.

Konad's slogan is "It's fun and easy - Salon looking result in seconds", and I do think so. Make the first step, and it'll get easier!

The Stamping kit is available on Nail Polish Canada for $17, free shipping with $25 orders. The plates are available individually for $8.75 and ship free. There's a contest to win a Konad Nail prize pack on the product page at the link above, enter away!

Talking about Konad stamping nail polish, here is a comparison between Konad Black nail polish and 12 other black shades by soguesswhat11. Thought it's relevant.