Category Archives: Swatches

Swatch Sunday: Smashbox Santigold

Smashbox Santigold

Smashbox Santigold
Smashbox Santigold

I got the Smashbox Santigold in a blogger swap via Julie of Swatch & Review. At first I was like “looks okay, but whatever, I have those shades”. Wrong. So wrong. The green and the navy are INCREDIBLE, and the plummy shade on the right that has gold sparkles? They actually adhere to the lid. What is this sorcery?!?

Seriously though, look at this photo from my Instagram from ages ago (disregard my phone’s quality as best you can, because you can still see how pigmented the shadows are!):

 

Smashbox Santigold
Smashbox Santigold

Smashbox Santigold Swatches

Smashbox Santigold - green
Smashbox Santigold – green
Smashbox Santigold - navy
Smashbox Santigold – navy
Smashbox Santigold - plum with gold flecks
Smashbox Santigold – plum with gold flecks
Smashbox Santigold - cream
Smashbox Santigold – cream
Smashbox Santigold - emerald
Smashbox Santigold – emerald

QUO Prismatic Collection Spring 2016 (Review, Swatches & Look)

QUO Prismatic Collection Spring 2016

Spring collections are everywhere at this point, so what’s going to make them stand out one from the other? I mean… brights, pastels, florals… spring collections pretty much run all the same don’t they?

EXCEPT THE PACKAGING ON THIS QUO COLLECTION. Holy smokes! QUO is a brand I haven’t had a lot of exposure with, but they are actually killing me with this mottled graffiti-esque holographic packaging. It is GORGEOUS! (Caps for impact guys… it’s happening!)

So here’s a few items from the QUO Prismatic Collection that launched this month at Shoppers Drug Mart:

QUO by Orly - Always Chic
QUO by Orly – Always Chic

Let’s start out with the less obvious item for me on this blog – nail polish! The QUO by Orly nail polish in Always Chic ($10 CAD) took me by surprise. I really do not care about nail polish – it just doesn’t excite me, you know? And yet this shade is a very pale pink-lilac with a teal duochrome.  It’s so, sooo freaking gorgeous.

QUO by Orly - Always Chic
QUO by Orly – Always Chic

You can see a hint of the duochrome here, but I really haven’t a clue how to capture that on camera. Regardless, if you’re in a Shoppers Drug Mart, check this one out so you can see it for yourself!

QUO Prismatic Brow Kit
QUO Prismatic Brow Kit

I’ll mention the Prismatic Brow Kit ($12 CAD) briefly, but I won’t be reviewing it because I didn’t try it out. It comes with two brow powders (too dark and warm for me, hence my lack of usage) as well as a very soft eyebrow gel and a mini brushes for application. The packaging is small, compact and the mirror is extremely appreciated in a product such as this.

QUO Prismatic Face Palette in Moonwalk
QUO Prismatic Face Palette in Moonwalk

I’m quite a fan of these all-in-one face palettes by QUO since they’re sleek, compact (zero extra space for a useless brush – YAY!) and the mirror is ENORMOUS. The Prismatic Face Palette in Moonwalk ($18 CAD) is the largest sized palette in this collection and the one I was the most excited to use.

QUO Prismatic Face Palette in Moonwalk
QUO Prismatic Face Palette in Moonwalk

This is the lighter of two palettes (the other one is moderately darker, but not by much) and each colour packs a significant amount of pigment. Each shade does contain a certain amount of shimmer though – there’s no mattes to be seen here!

QUO Prismatic Face Palette in Moonwalk - swatches
QUO Prismatic Face Palette in Moonwalk – swatches

The blush and highlight shades have the most amount of shimmer (although I really only saw tiiiiny glitter particles in the blush), whereas the bronzer on the right side is much more subtle and thankfully pale enough for me to use right now on my winter skin.

QUO Prismatic Collection Look

In the shot above, I’m wearing all of the items in the face palette and the shot was taken in natural light. You can see the highlighter is *definitely* doing its job on the tops of my cheek bones and yet despite the sheen on all of the products, I don’t feel like it’s total overkill. I love how the blush, bronzer and highlighter all worked together to create a gorgeous enhancement to my face.

QUO Prismatic Eye Palette in Colourful Life
QUO Prismatic Eye Palette in Colourful Life

Next up… eyeshadows. There are three QUO Prismatic Eye Palettes in this collection, but I only have the one in Colourful Life ($18 CAD).

QUO Prismatic Eye Palette in Colourful Life
QUO Prismatic Eye Palette in Colourful Life

I’ll start out by pointing out the obvious – this is not a standalone palette that you could use daily unless you like really, really subtle eyeshadow shades. The darkest colour in the palette is the purple in the top row and that’s really not enough in a palette of 10 shades. Additionally, unlike the face palette, these are all mattes.

QUO Prismatic Eye Palette in Colourful Life - swatches
QUO Prismatic Eye Palette in Colourful Life – swatches

Swatched out, everything is decently pigmented for a pastel collection (which is unusual because pastels are usually quite patchy), so this is a good addition to your collection if you’re looking for a bunch of soft colours to add to your arsenal. However, if you’re looking for a standalone palette to use on the daily, you’re going to struggle with only one deeper shade.

QUO Prismatic Collection Look
QUO Prismatic Collection Look

In the look I created from this palette, I’m wearing one of the softer pinks through my upper crease, the light purple on the lid, the dark purple in the outer corner and the white shade on my brow bone. I also have the pale green on my inner corner, but it’s not visible at all (not in person and not on camera). This is the absolute DARKEST look this palette can go, so keep that in mind! I also had to use a white base to make sure the colours popped as well. I’m not in love with the eyeshadow palette, but I do love how the look came out anyway.

QUO Prismatic Collection Look
QUO Prismatic Collection Look – studio lights

Here’s a side face shot so you can see the eye makeup from a different angle as well as the Face compact products (took these with a ring light). I love how subtle the bronzer is on my skin (temple, backs of my cheekbones and along my jaw line), as well as how the blush and highlighter work together.

QUO Prismatic Eye Palette in Colourful Life
QUO Prismatic Eye Palette in Colourful Life

The quality on the shot above is abysmal, but here’s a closer look at the eyeshadows. While the purple worked well together with a white base, you can barely tell I put that pale green on the inner corner.

Final Thoughts

The Colourful Life eye palette is a clear miss for me – there just isn’t enough mid-tone and dark shades in it to get enough decent looks. That being said, the quality of these shadows are good so I’d encourage you to check out the other two palettes in the Prismatic Collection since they look like they’ve got more shade variety.

My absolute favourite product that I tried was the Prismatic Face palette in Moonlight. It’s AMAZING and I’d jump on that sucker immediately if the shades are appealing to you. I love, love, LOVE each product in that compact as well as the packaging. Solid, solid winner there. The nail polish was equally amazing in terms of colour (although I did find I needed three costs for opaque coverage).

The QUO Prismatic Collection for Spring 2016 is available exclusively at Shoppers Drug Mart in Canada (and it’s limited edition, so get it while you can!).

The products featured in this post were sent to me for consideration.

Clinique Pop Glaze Sheer Lip Colour + Primer (Review & Swatches)

Clinique Pop Glaze Sheer Lip Colour + Primer

Spring 2016 seems to be alive with sheer lip colours and I have to say… I’m surprisingly enjoying it! Brand new from Clinique are the Pop Glazes (also known as the Clinique Pop Glaze Sheer Lip Colour + Primer) and the formula leaves you with a gorgeously glossy, juicy lip.

Clinique Pop Glaze Sheer Lip Colour + Primer
Clinique Pop Glaze Sheer Lip Colour + Primer

First of all.. the packaging. I love it. Clinique has done a lot to step up their packaging game in recent years (starting with their Cheek Pops) and it’s helping to shed some of that older lady aesthetic (come on, you know your grandmother used Clinique!). I love the bold silver etched with the brand name, alongside the translucent coloured based that matches the shade of the lipstick inside. I know exactly what shade of lipstick I’m reaching or every time I grab for the product and that’s something a lot more brands should be looking to do (looking at you MAC!).

Clinique Pop Glaze Sheer Lip Colour + Primer
Clinique Pop Glaze Sheer Lip Colour + Primer

Clinique describes their Pop Glaze formula as “a pretty pop of bold yet see-through colour + smoothing primer in one coat. Luxurious yet weightless formula with built-in primer glides on effortlessly, wears for up to 8 hours. Keeps lips comfortably moisturized instantly and over time.”

Clinique Pop Glaze Sheer Lip Colour + Primer
Clinique Pop Glaze Sheer Lip Colour + Primer

I struggle a bit with their eight hour claim, but I won’t let it deter me from wearing these colours. In reality, this is such a smooth and creamy formula (not dissimilar to the feeling of a chapstick really – it’s SUPER comfortable) that it’s going to wear off a heck of a lot faster than if I was wearing a matte lipstick. And you know what? That is perfectly okay by me. This is the kind of lip product I love to put on when I know I’m going to be eating food. For example, I went to a friend’s place this past weekend for their birthday and I wore Licorice Pop. There was a lot of food and I was able to eat without worrying about my lipstick smearing everywhere AND it wore off evenly and nicely. All aspects of a lip product I *highly* appreciate!

Clinique Pop Glaze Sheer Lip Colour + Primer in Melon Drop Pop, Sugar Plum Pop, Sprinkle Pop and Licorice Pop - swatches
Clinique Pop Glaze Sheer Lip Colour + Primer in Melon Drop Pop, Sugar Plum Pop, Sprinkle Pop and Licorice Pop – swatches

You can see from the swatches that while the colours are pigmented, there is a lovely veil of translucency that makes them glossy and sheer. They are scent-free which makes them all the better for everyone to appreciate.

Clinique Pop Glaze in Melon Drop Pop
Clinique Pop Glaze in Melon Drop Pop

Melon Drop Pop is less orange on my lips than I thought it would be. Perfect spring/summer colour though.

Clinique Pop Glaze in Sugar Plum Pop
Clinique Pop Glaze in Sugar Plum Pop

Sugar Plum Pop is a soft purple-pink. It was the most sheer out of the four I have.

Clinique Pop Glaze in Sprinkle Pop
Clinique Pop Glaze in Sprinkle Pop

On me, Sprinkle Pop packaged the most colour punch. Every time I look at it I can’t decide if it’s more purple or more pink…

Clinique Pop Glaze in Licorice Pop
Clinique Pop Glaze in Licorice Pop

My favourite of the lot is Licorice Pop. I love, love, love the purple veil of this lip colour.

Final Thoughts

The Clinique Pop Glazes are the quickest and easiest to wear lip colours that I own. The feeling is akin to a chapstick, which is something I LOVE. My lips feel hydrated and comfortable when I’m wearing them which is a massive bonus.

Because of their sheer texture, these are incredibly easy to pair with any eye makeup because you won’t get a full on bold lip – just a lovely sheer pop of colour that helps brighten up your face. I love that they have no scent because it makes them accessible to everyone (while some lip scents are great, the reality is that not everyone is going to like every single scent – it’s better to have unscented products in the long run).

In short, I love these! I’m currently in the midst of collating my “Top 10 Favourite Lipsticks” and I thought I had the line up locked and loaded… but having tried these over the past few weeks, I’m going to have to sneak one of these guys in because they are so freaking wonderful! There are a few more shades in the collection and I think I’ll be picking up Fireball Pop next!

The Clinique Pop Glazes can be purchased on clinique.ca for $22 CAD each or on ulta.com for $18 USD each. (I can’t find them on Sephora’s site yet!)

The products featured in this post were sent to me for consideration.

Swatch Sunday: Wet n Wild QuartzCenter

Wet n Wild - QuartzCenter

Although previously called the Paris Runway palette, this Wet n Wild palette now goes by the name QuartzCenter. It was part of the Fergie collection, so I’m not sure if it was renamed for release in Canada, or if Fergie’s contract with Wet n Wild expired.

Wet n Wild - QuartzCenter
Wet n Wild – QuartzCenter

Either way, this palette is surprisingly good given it’s inexpensive price point!

Wet n Wild - QuartzCenter
Wet n Wild – QuartzCenter

Wet n Wild QuartzCenter Swatches

Wet n Wild - QuartzCenter - Shade 1
Wet n Wild – QuartzCenter – Shade 1
Wet n Wild - QuartzCenter - Shade 2
Wet n Wild – QuartzCenter – Shade 2
Wet n Wild - QuartzCenter - Shade 3
Wet n Wild – QuartzCenter – Shade 3
Wet n Wild - QuartzCenter - Shade 4
Wet n Wild – QuartzCenter – Shade 4
Wet n Wild - QuartzCenter - Shade 5
Wet n Wild – QuartzCenter – Shade 5
Wet n Wild - QuartzCenter - Shade 6
Wet n Wild – QuartzCenter – Shade 6
Wet n Wild - QuartzCenter - Shade 7
Wet n Wild – QuartzCenter – Shade 7
Wet n Wild - QuartzCenter - Shade 8
Wet n Wild – QuartzCenter – Shade 8
Wet n Wild - QuartzCenter - Shade 9
Wet n Wild – QuartzCenter – Shade 9
Wet n Wild - QuartzCenter - Shade 10
Wet n Wild – QuartzCenter – Shade 10
The product featured in this post was sent to me for consideration.

BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Pearl (Review & Swatches)

BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Pearl

Snow Queens out there can rejoice: there’s finally a highlighting shade pale enough out there for you! And it’s all wonderfully packaged into one of the best performing highlighting brands ever: BECCA!

BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Pearl
BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Pearl

It was so strange… for the longest time, BECCA Cosmetics had Pearl as a staple colour in their Shimmering Skin Perfector liquid and poured line up. But never in a pressed form…. until now!

BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Pearl
BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Pearl

As the name would suggest, Pearl is a very, very pale highlighting powder and it actually packs a significant white pigment punch. While most highlighters are chockful of shine and occasionally shimmer and glitter, there’s usually very, very little apparent pigment. (You know what I’m talking about – when you swatch a highlighter and all you get is sheen? That’s what I mean.)

Pearl compared to Champagne Pop
Pearl compared to Champagne Pop

So here’s a comparison between the newly pressed Pearl and Champagne Pop. While Champagne Pop definitely looks like it’s got some colour to it, when you swatch it on the skin…

BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Pearl and Champagne Pop - swatches
BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Pearl and Champagne Pop – swatches

…it’s Pearl that comes across wayyy more pigmented. Surprising, and yet somewhat impressive.

Wearing Pearl
Wearing Pearl

On my cheeks, Pearl adds an incredible white sheen. I may actually be slightly too dark in tone for the highlighter, but I do not freaking care – I love how this makes me look I’ve been snow-kissed. This is such a stunning highlighter for the winter months because I feel like snow angel.

Wearing Pearl - close up
Wearing Pearl – close up

Here’s a close up shot. You can see the added whiteness in the pigment really helps to brighten up the skin on my cheekbones.

Final Thoughts

I fell madly in love with BECCA‘s Shimmering Skin Perfectors when I got my hands on Champagne Pop last year and Pearl is keeping that flame burning! If you’re a very pale person who is in need of a highlighter that won’t look too dark on you, this has the potential to be your absolute holy grail item. (If you’d like to see Pearl in action, I used it in a recent makeup tutorial.) The product itself is smooth, blendable and I experience no fading throughout a 10 hour work day.

The BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Pearl can be purchased on sephora.ca for $46 CAD or on sephora.com for $38 USD.

The product featured in this post was sent to me for consideration.