ColourPop x My Little Pony Collection

Confession: I have a weakness for My Little Pony.

This isn't holiday, but I wanted to sneak in this review before ColourPop sold out of the entire collection. This is fun and colorful- and perfect for an 80s kid like myself. My mother has tapes of me somewhere playing Ponies as a toddler. Apparently I had different voices for them all.

No wonder I ultimately ended up learning how to ride horses...

Sorry for that digression- let's get back to the collection. In full disclosure, I haven't put this through the normal rigorous testing that I do behind the scenes before posting this- I'm overwhelmed with trying to rapidly test and review the holiday products. I actually see this as more of a January-February-March collection for me. I have done a couple of different looks, but I didn't put it through all of the paces.

I picked up three of the products from the ColourPop x My Little Pony Collection.


 Let's start with the Pressed Powder Face Highlighter in Trickles ($8)

The outer box is stunning- and a collector's item itself! WOW! Now, let's look at the product inside.

Not quite your average ColourPop packaging. This was the first product I unboxed initially, and this made me feel really good about the collection. It's clear that ColourPop spent some serious money after getting the My Little Pony rights- that bodes well for quality products inside.

Before we open up the compact, let's just chat. That $8 gets a single pan that contains 6.5g of product. The packaging itself is a lilac plastic but it feels very secure and doesn't seem cheap. Well done!

OK, let's look at the pan:

Wait. There's a mirror! OK, ColourPop, I see you. I'm feeling you on this.

OK, back to the pan:

Trickles is a pinky lilac shimmer that flashes a lot cooler on the skin. ColourPop says it's "lavender with pink opal duochrome flip." I see the pink more in the pan- but that's my complexion doing that I suspect.

This is strangely really wearable, and I adore these types of shades. So far, we're 1 for 1 with this collection. Despite it looking unicorn-esque, it's wearable on my skin M-F.


Next up, the Super Shock Shadow in Cherries Jubilee ($5)

I have an unrelated story to tell about why I want to pick up a few just to keep for nostalgia reasons. As a child, we had this custard stand in my hometown that had different flavors every day. My favorite flavor of all time? Cherries Jubilee.

So I had to buy this shadow. It's a combination of My Little Pony (a childhood favorite) and my favorite frozen custard of all time. To be honest, it could've been crap and I'd love it.

ColourPop really kept the excellent packaging up, even with this small box.

For $5, you get 2.1g/0.07oz of the unique creme to powder eyeshadow texture that made the brand famous. And this has the same lilac packaging as the highlighter.

According to ColourPop, this is "opalescent pink with hot pink glitter."

My camera didn't pick up the pink shift in the pan- but it's prominent in person. I found one place in the swatch where you can see it subtly- but it's not subtle.

This is a true glitter topper. It's not normally my cup of tea but as I already conceded, I love it no matter what.

Next- and finally- it's the My Little Pony Eyeshadow Palette ($16)

That same packaging continues through in the box, and the shade names are given on the back of the box:

Let's take a look at the palette. This is different packaging than the others- it's cardboard.

I know this is an odd angle, but it's to show off the color shift in the decals on the front!  The back of the palette more clearly shows the shade names:

Although I've tried the pressed powder eyeshadow formula before, this is the first palette I've purchased from ColourPop. That $16 gets you 12 pans of 0.85g each- slightly more than half of their usual 1.5g pan size.

No mirror, but that's no problem. Let's take a closer look at the colors.

And now, the swatches.

Row 1:

I was surprised with how pigmented Butterscotch is, and Bluebell is a totally wearable everyday lid shade.

Row 2:

Skydancer is one of the main reasons why I bought this palette. I'm in love.

Row 3:

Firefly and Snuzzle are nighttime shades for me- I can't wait for a reason to pull them out.


Certainly after Subculture, I tend to look more closely at the post-swatch pans:

No problem here.

If you use the warmer neutral shades, a work-ready look can be made from it. I can't wait to dig into more of the brighter shades.

I highly recommend checking out this collection before it's gone for good!

Kiko Trick and Treat Mask

Happy Halloween!

A recent trip into my local Kiko store yielded this awesome discovery- the Kiko Trick and Treat Mask ($4).

I probably should've reviewed this before now so that you could pick it up before the holiday, but I picked it up way too late to do so.



This is a hydrating mask with a twist- it's shaped like a bat!

Looking at the ingredients, the actives are supposed to include chamomile, carrot, cucumber, and hyaluronic acid. They're at the tail end of the ingredient list, so I'd just call this more of a "feel-good" novelty item than a serious treatment.

I found this to be a cute little treat and won't hesitate to pick up a future holiday-themed mask. It worked well and I enjoyed the experience.

Trick or Treat!

Sephora Dark Rainbow PRO Flawless Airbrush #56

I have a quickie review for you this evening- mostly because the VIB sale is coming up and I wanted to get in as many holiday posts as I can.

Yes, I'm a brush junkie. I used to purchase every single special edition I could get my hands on, but I've been more selective as of late.

Meet the Holiday 2017 Sephora Dark Rainbow PRO Flawless Airbrush #56.

Oh, the holo! She's beautiful!

OK, focus.

First, the basics. The Sephora Dark Rainbow #56 brush is exclusive to Sephora (duh) and retails for $32. I purchased mine from Sephora.com, and didn't check if it's in stores yet. One of the things I truly appreciate is that the regular brush also retails for $32. Nicely done, Sephora!

This is my second #56 brush- I picked up the Mara Hoffman collab a couple of summers ago.. I also have a mini since it was the Rouge renewal gift for 2017.

According to Sephora, this is supposed to be a synthetic foundation brush; I prefer a stiffer brush head if I'm going to use a brush for foundation. I find this to be nice for any number of powders- all-over face, finishing, even some cheek work. (For that matter, you don't have to use brushes for their stated tools- just understand what types of products they work well with and what might work with your personal technique!)

I really like this oil slick color- it's a beautiful addition to my collection that I can actually spot. Now, let's talk about the brush itself and whether it's worth picking up for you.

As I mentioned, this is a synthetic brush. It's got medium-long bristles, and it's initially fairly flat as it's packed from the factory:

Over time, this does have the tendency to spread but it's not by a lot. I find this most useful for applying cheek powders that you want a little precision with- but not a pointed brush. I've used it for a bronzetour and also for blush. Due to the density of the head, it does pack a punch. I find it's best with items that are firmly pressed- the synthetic bristles can pick up even the firmest pressed powders.

Is it worth $32? I don't know because there are more and more brushes that are kicking butt at the drugstore (hello, Wet n Wild) and this is a synthetic brush. I tend to hate synthetic brushes, but it's nice to have a few in my collection. This is a highly popular brush at Sephora because it can multi-task. If you've got one, I wouldn't rush out to get this. However, if you've been looking to pick it up why not grab the pretty rainbow one?

QBB's Sephora VIB Sale Recommendations

I know everyone out there is giving their recommendations, but here are my two cents on what you should look at. I've tested all of these products and truly recommend them all. I'll keep it short and sweet here- but here's my best of the best in a few different categories.

Skincare

In general, I think you can take two approaches to the sale. First, you can buy all of the shiny new things. Or, you can stock up on skincare and you were going to buy the shiny things anyway...

I fall somewhere in the middle. I think this is an excellent time to splurge on some goodies. Here are some of my top recommendations. Although there isn't much text, I've been thinking about these for a few months. So this is the best of the best, guys and gals. I'm happy to answer questions in the comments.


1. Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum ($80)

I just replaced mine at full price. I mean it when I say my skin visibly responds to this one. It's now a HG product for me. At the least, pick up a kit with the smaller ones to try. This is an example, as is this.


2. Shiseido Facial Cotton ($10)

If you've ever tried these, you know how good they are.


3. Laneige Water Bank Sleeping Mask ($25)

I've had this in my stash for years and am happy to see this brand at Sephora. This is a great hydrating mask- and just before winter is the time to load up on products like this!

4. Shiseido Benefiance Eye Cream ($57)

This is my HG eye cream, and I always recommend it to anyone looking for a hydrating, plumping eye cream. It's not targeted for dark circle reduction, but it helps with mine.


5. Shiseido Benefiance WrinkleResist Pure Retinol Eye Masks ($17.50-65)

Here's the deal. I can't use these, but they're fantastic. I'm extremely sensitive to retinol, but these masks are truly effective. These depuff and demonstrate a fast effect on your undereye. If you can stand retinol, I recommend picking up at least the three-pack.



Makeup

I'm going to largely avoid the holiday releases (except for two) and focus on the permanent good stuff here. I'll try to keep my selections in line here.

Eye Palettes:

1. Viseart Eyeshadow Palette- Neutral Mattes ($80)

What else were you expecting? I find all of these palettes amazing, but the Neutral Mattes (available in all Sephora stores on an endcap) is a classic palette that is worth the splurge. I do have a review on the blog.

2. Kat Von D Saint and Sinner Eyeshadow Palette ($62)

Review coming Saturday, but it's that good, guys. These are colorful, pigmented, and blendable shadows that are worth every penny.


3. Tarte Clay Play Palette ($46) or Tartelette in Bloom Palette ($46)

I'm cheating here- I wanted to give a top 3 but I love these two neutral palettes for many reasons. Clay Play is quiet, steady, and your new best friend. I'm closing in on completely using up my Tartelette in Bloom. It's not been shown on the blog for awhile because it looks sad. Sad in this case is good.

I could keep going, but those are my top 3.


Face:


1. NARS Soft Matte Concealer ($31)

I rarely talk about this product, but it's a quiet staple in my routine. I would've panned mine already but I stopped using it this summer for shade match, and I'm currently using up a stick concealer. I normally don't like pot concealers, but this is a great one.

2. Tarte Colored Clay CC Underye Corrector ($25)

I've used up so many of these. I find this formula (which comes in 2 tones) to be essential for my undereyes, and any number of concealers just work over it. I think this is a highly underrated item worth looking at,

3. Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector-Pressed ($38)

Pick your favorite (I can't believe Sephora still has Prismatic Amethyst in stock!); this is a great time to try this cult-favorite.


Again, I've got far more recommendations but these are my top 3.

Lips:

1. Hourglass Confession Lisptick ($34, refills $22)

I'll be sharing my thoughts on the holiday set later this week, but  I'll tip my hand. I think this is an incredible, beautiful formula and will be picking up some additional refills myself.


2. bareMinerals Gen Nude or Statement Matte Liquid Lipsticks ($18)

This is my favorite liquid lipstick on the market. It's so comfortable. I love both the nude and statement versions. If you're indecisive, there's also this holiday set that has three of the liquid lips and three of the glosses that are awesome.  They don't dry out your lips, and there's a color out there for everyone. I'd call these a gateway to more matte liquid lips.


3. Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip Primer ($16)

I don't hear anyone talking about this ever- but it's been a lifesaver for me. I can wear more matte formulas comfortably.


Bonus: Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb ($18). It's gorgeous and perfect on everyone!



Other:

1. Living Proof PhD Dry Shampoo Set ($22)

This is my HG dry shampoo (like many others), and you get the free travel size for the same price as the regular bottle. What's not to love? Come to think of it, this will probably end up coming home with me- even though I just picked up a backup from Ulta when I had a 20% off coupon.


2. Drybar Hot Toddy Heat & UV Protectant ($30)

I have thin hair. I color treat, and it's prone to breakage. Therefore, I've tried most of the heat protectors on the market and I keep coming back to this- despite the price.


3. Drybar The Tress Press ($150)

I wish that this year there was a kit to up the value on this, but this is my current flat iron- and my favorite ever. It goes down to 280 degrees, and up to well over 400 (not sure since I never go that high!). And it's digital. It's worth the investment- my hair has ever been happier than when I started using this.

I could keep going about the products I love from Sephora, but I won't. If you have questions on any particular products, please let me know and I'll happily answer!

Happy VIB Sale!

Sunday Dreaming: My Sephora Sale Wishlist

OK, I honestly feel a bit guilty writing this up. I'm not sure why, since I use cash or debit (ok, with Ulta I use their credit card, but pay off in full the instant that it posts to the account for the double points) and I don't go into debt or go without to support my makeup buying.

Maybe blame the 15-minute, $250 romp through Ulta with a 20% off coupon that included Prestige last week.


As a result of that, and just dumping 2100 Ulta points yesterday, my list is a bit shorter than normal. That, and the F&F hauling I did.

OK, let's jump into this. I use this sale to grab some of the high ticket priced items... there are other things I'd like to pick up and will if money allows, but these are the essentials.

1. Viseart Bridal Satin Eyeshadow Palette ($80)

2. Viseart Editorial Brights Eyeshadow Palette ($80)

3. Viseart Boheme Eyeshadow Palette ($80)

OK, let's lump these together. During the upcoming VIB sale, I want to finish up my collection of the 12-pan eyeshadow palettes. I did snag one with a F&F code, so now I'm down to these three left. Yes, I went for the neutrals first. I hope you're enjoying Viseart Fridays. Once I finish these palettes, I'm trying to figure out what I want to try from the brand next.


4. L'Occitane Advent Calendar ($69)

I buy these each year and love them. If I can nab during the sale, that's even better. Otherwise I'm ok just going to my local boutique.


5. Bite Agave Lip Mask ($26)

Yes, I'm testing the Agave Gift Set, and the fact that this is on my VIB Sale Wishlist is all I have to say. This stuff is good. If it's a mild winter, I'm trying to hold off on splurging on By Terry Baume de Rose.


6. Clarins Shaping Facial Lift Total V Serum ($81)

I've raved about the Enlite serum that's said to be a dupe of this. Since it's coming to its end and CVS stupidly discontinued the line, it's time to just suck it up and try the OG.


7. Tom Ford Boys & Girls Lip Color in Joan ($36)

I plan to pick up two of these- one for me, and one as a holiday gift. Getting them at 20% off would be lovely. I'm seriously tempted to also replace my Flamingo as well...


OK, those are my must-haves. Now, let's talk about the items I may or may not pick up- and why.


8. Shiseido Benefiance WrinkleResist24 Eye Cream

This is my HG eye cream and I haven't had it in awhile. I did recently purchase an eye cream because I was running out- so I don't need it right now. I would like to have it on-hand for winter, but I'm more likely to nab it from Ulta to be honest.


9. Hourglass Peacemaker GIRL Lip Stylo ($32)

I'd been thinking that I was going to pick this up for sure, but the Confessions line really has me all tripped up right now (review of holiday set to come). I've nearly used up a deluxe sample of this and find it such an effortless nude.


10.Too Faced Hangover Rx 3 in 1 Spray ($32)

I'm in the final 1/3 of my bottle, and this is a daily staple. However, much like the eye cream, this is a likely Ulta purchase because of the superior rewards system. I try to buy as much in the cash back environment as possible and spend as little as possible with Sephora, whose rewards are inferior.


11. Too Faced Hangover RX Primer ($32)

I'd like to have this on hand for winter, but see the spray and eye cream for the more likely scenario.


12. Guerlain Holiday 2017 Meteorites ($65)

Yes, I'll be buying. If they're in stock during the sale for me, I'll purchase from Sephora. This is a luxe product that I don't need the discount to purchase,


13. Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder ($26)

I've really been missing this lately, and this should be in the first part of my list for sure. I have other undereye setting powders, but this one's been calling my name for months. I've finished a full container of this in the past- not sure why I didn't just repurchase at what I consider to be an affordable cost!

14. Burberry Festive Silver Shimmer Illuminating Powder ($68)

Argh, silver highlighters do things to me! This is so beautiful and so limited edition... not holding my breath on getting my hands on this one.

15. Hourglass Confession Lip Color Refill ($22)

I'm tipping my hand here, but the holiday set has left me wanting more. I see myself picking up one additional body ($34) but multiple of these interchangeable refills. I'm loving so many of these colors that I'm having a hard time picking.

I could keep going, but that's enough. I hopefully won't purchase 15 items, but this is the top of my actual list. I need to keep editing, as there are items I planned to purchase that didn't even make the cut! Hmm....

What's on your list this year?