FOTD + OOTD: Tell me what you want so we can do just what you like

I recently started working as a sales person at a clothing boutique at my local mall (I won't discolse the name here, I don't want any problem, but if you really want yo know, you can tweet me) and I love it so far, it's very different from my previous jobs but I'm always up for new aventures and challenges!

The employees have a dress code to follow and I'm actually enjoying having to get dressed up for work - and we are also required to wear lipstick or lipgloss, which is cool because I don't have lots of occasions to wear lipsticks and I have so many! So here are my FOTD and OOTD for my second day at work.

Face

Benefit The POREfessional*

Sheer Cover Mineral Foundation FPS 15 - Bisque*

OLAY Regenerist Eye Touch of Concealer Eye Regenerating Cream*

Physicians Formula Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting Powder - Bronzer

mark. Good Glowing Custom Pick Powder Blush - After Glo

Eyes

Rimmel Lycra Lash Extender - Black*

L'Oréal Voluminous Carbon Black *

ELF Eyelid primer - Champagne

Wet n Wild Coloricon Brow & Eye Liner - Taupe

Maybelline Expert Wear Eyeshadow Quad - Natural Smokes*

Lips

Marcelle Rouge Xpression - Sentimental (pearl)

Lace cami - Stitches | Pink top - Giant Tiger | Grey cardigan - Giant Tiger | Belt - Giant Tiger | Leggings - eBay | Booties - Wal-Mart | Key necklace - Etsy

* These products are NOT cruelty-free

Lyrics are from You Make Me Feel, from Cobra Starship ft. Sabi

Mail of the Week (October 24 - 28)

My prize from Joyce's Pick + Choose giveaway: Wow, I must be the luckiest bitch alive, seriously! Look at all that gorgeous stuff Joyce sent me! Joyce was giving away makeup products she got from a friend but that she won't use, and the winner got to pick ten items from the list. Here are my picks:

• Hard Candy Fox in a Box Blushing Quad in Hot Flash
• Milani Baked Blush in Dolce Pink 
• Physicians Formula Happy Booster Blush in Rose
• Physicians Formula Happy Booster Bronzer in Bronzer
• Physicians Formula Cashmere Wear Bronzer in Bronzer
• Physicians Formula Bronze Booster Glow-Boosting Pressed Bronzer in Medium to Dark
• Physicians Formula Bamboo Wear Mirror/Brush Compact + Bronzer Refill in Medium Bronzer
• Revlon CustomEyes Shadow & Liner in Naturally Glamorous
• Rimmel London Glam Eyes Eyeshadow Single in Spicy Bronze*
• Maybelline Expert Wear Eyeshadow Quad in Natural Smokes*

Thank you so much for this fantastic prize Joyce, I still can't believe my luck!


*I know that Rimmel and Maybelline test on animals but I was planning to give these items to my mother as she loves brown eyeshadows, just like me. 

Dr Hess products: Dr Hess Udder Ointment is said to be by far the best healing skin care ointment on the market today so I was very glad to be kindly sent these products to help with my eczema. Dr Hess products are recommended if you are dealing with problem skin, eczema, chafing, severe dryness, diabetic skin damage, cracked heels etc.

• Udder Ointment
• Udder Stick Mint Lip Balm with SPF 15
• Udder Stick Original Lip Balm with SPF 15
• Udder Stick Pomegranate Lip Balm with SPF 15
• Udder Stick Mango Lip Balm with SPF 15

Bronze Ambition Self Tan products: I kept hearing great things about these fake tan products on UK beauty blogs but I never saw them around here and I was really surprised to be given the opportunity to test drive some of them! I wouldn't say I'm complexed of my pale skin tone but I don't really like it and I like to use a little fake tan to give me a healthy glow, especially in the winter wher I can easily look dead. Here's what I was sent:

• Sun-Kissed Mist Instant Spray Tan
• Bronze Me Mousse Instant + Self Tan Foam
• Glow 'N 'Go Instant Tan Shimmer
• Fake Don't Bake Natural Look Tanning Cream

HANA Titanium 1.5" Flat Iron from Misikko.com: I have worked with Misikko in the past and I'm delighted to have the chance to team up with them again for another product review! Misikko seriously has the best customer service and they always spoil you when they send you a package. Alon with the flat iron, Brian very kindly included other products in my package such as heat proof pad and pouch, flowers shaped soaps, LA Color Eyeshadow, ELF Hypershine Lipgloss, hairbrush, etc.

Wet Platinum Silicone Based Premium Personal Lubricant sample and $1.00 off coupon: Get yours for free here (USA and Canadian residents only).

♫ In The Dark - DEV

FOTD + OOTD: Girl my body don't lie, I'm outta my mind, let it rain over me

My first day of Uni was on September 1st so this post is a little late but it's better late than never, don't you think? Oh and I'm not that pale in person, I blame the flash and the stupid cloudy weather we've had lately! Maybe it's time to fake tan?

Face

OLAY  Regenerist Eye Touch of Concealer Eye Regenerating Cream *

Benefit That Gal Brightening Face Primer *

Sheer Cover Mineral Foundation SPF 15 - Bisque *

Annabelle Rippled Sand Bronzer - Bali Bronze

100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Lip & Cheek Tint - Cranberry Glow

NYC Loose Translucent Face Powder - Translucent *

Eyes

Eyeko Big Eyes Mascara

L'Oréal Voluminous Carbon Black *

Annabelle Galaxy Eyeshadow Palette - Shooting Star (gold all over lid and dark brown in outer corner)

Maybelline Unstoppable Eyeliner - Onyx (corner of upper and lower lashline) *
Marcelle Multi-Colour Face Powder - Luminous Veil (browbone and corner of the eye)

Wet N Wild Coloricon Brow & Eye Liner - Taupe (brow)

Lips

MAC Cremesheen Lipstick - Shy Girl

Shirt - Pentagone | Denim shorts - old jeans from Stitches turned into shorts

* Product tested on animals. You may (or may not) be aware that Gaby's Beauty Blog recently went cruelty-free. However, I hope it's understandable that I can't simply throw away the products I have previously purchased that have unfortunately been tested on animals - believe me, I wouldn't hesitate if I were rich! My goal is to use up those products but not repurchase them in the future. Also, Gaby's Beauty Blog will no longer accept for review purposes products that have been tested on animals.

Lyrics are from Rain Over Me, from Pitbull ft. Marc Anthony

FOTD + OOTD: The scars of your love they leave me breathless, I can't help feeling we could of had it all

I realize I don't post FOTDs or OOTDs often on here and I don't really have a proper reason besides lazyness. I must admit I never thought my makeup looks or outfits could be of any interest as I mostly stick with basic and neutral looks - boring much? - but these types of posts seem to be very popular on the blogosphere.

Anyway, I had a job interview two weeks ago (I got the job, yey!) and for once, I was not in a rush and I had the time to take proper pictures!

Face

Annabelle Zebra Bronzing Powder - Haute Gold

Annabelle Blossom Blush - Peachy

Eyes

Eyeko Big Eyes Mascara

L'Oréal Voluminous Carbon Black

MAC Frost Eye Shadow - Bronze (all over lid and outer corner)

Maybelline Unstoppable Eyeliner - Onyx (corner of upper and lower lashline)

Wet N Wild Coloricon Brow & Eye Liner - Taupe (brow)

Lips

FACE atelier Lipstick - Coral Reef

Cardigan - Stitches | Camisole - Jean Bleu | Skinny jeans - Sirens | Nail polish - Borghese Nail Lacquer in Venetian Red

Lyrics are from Rolling in the Deep, from Adele

Mail of the Week (April 4 - 8)

17 Vintage Love Metallic Nudes palette from B's giveaway: I'm so happy to have won this as there's no Boots here, and the shades are sooo gorgeous and pigmented! I'll be sure to write a full post about this palette, including swatches (if I finally bring myself to touch it, it's so pretty!) Thanks B! =D

Sigma Travel Kit Naughty in Black: I recently became a Sigma affiliate so of course I have applied for their incentive package. According to their table, I thought I would receive Miss Taylor Kabuki but for some reasons I got the travel kit, which is awesome! Here's what it includes:

• Pencil - E30 - Precise application of color on the crease, outer corner, and upper and lower lash line. Also ideal to smudge out pencil liner. Natural bristles. 
• Tapered Blending - E40 - Rounded and tapered top. Specially designed to apply and blend color on the crease. Natural bristles.  
• Eye Shading - E55 - Soft and dense with a rounded finish. Can be used to apply pressed or loose eye shadows and pigments. Ideal to build intense color on the eyelid. Natural bristles. 
• Large Powder - F30 - Very dense with a rounded top. Ideal to apply powder products on face and body. Natural bristles.  
• Large Angled Contour - F40 - The angled shape makes this brush ideal to apply blush or contour shades. Natural bristles. 
• Foundation - F60 - Can be used to apply liquid or cream foundation. It is also recommended to apply moisturizers and conceal large areas. Synthetic bristles. 
• Concealer - F70 - The rounded, tampered, flat shape makes this brush ideal to conceal the under eye area. It is also recommended for a precise application in small areas. Synthetic bristles.
• Duo Fibre- F50 - Specially designed to generate an ‘airbrushed’ finish when used to apply liquid foundation. It can also be used to apply blush, highlight shades and loose pigments. Blend of synthetic and natural bristles.

Biotherm products:  Wow, I seriously wasn't expecting that! I know L'Oréal has my mailing address, but I wasn't waiting for such a big package! Here's what they sent me:

• Sun Protection Ultra-Fluid Body Milk SPF 30
• Sun Protection Ultra-Fluid Body Milk SPF 15
• Sun Care Eye Contour Multi-Protection SPF 30
• Sun After Oligo-Thermal Milk 
• Sun After Oligo-Thermal Sparkle Cream
• Celluli Laser S.Code Advanced Smoothing and Firming Care (stomach-waist)

I don't think I will need to buy sunscreen this summer, that's the least I can say!

Dove Damage Therapy Intensive Repair Daily Treatment Conditioner sample: I totally forgot I have signed up for this sample on Dove's Facebook page, but it sure looks great! It's claimed to be "The most intense conditioner Dove has to offer", and it's exactly what my dry hair needs. All of the samples have been claimed though.

John Frieda Brilliant Brunette 7-Day Trial: I got these by "liking" John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Canada on Facebook. The samples are all gone but you can still enter their contest to win a trip to NYC.

Splenda No Calorie Sweetener Flavours for Coffee samples: I was lucky enough to be able to get some from Living Well.ca, as all of their promotions end up pretty fast. I'm normally not a fan of Splenda but I have tried the French Vanilla flavor and it's yummy!

Maybelline Fit Me samples and coupons: Maybelline New York Canada were giving away samples of their new Fit Me foundation on their Facebook page a while ago so that you can find your shade. If I'm right, I think I'm 115. Not sure I will purchase this foundation though.

May issue of FASHION: I seriously have no idea what's going on as my subscription expired in February... Here's the proof:

May issue of Glamour

♥

I really want to thank everyone who was kind enough to take the time to share with me their honest opinion on my Mail of the Week posts. I really appreciate your feedback, it's important to me. I will continue doing these posts, and I'm currently working on a way to let you know in advance when I sign up for a free sample so that you will be able to sign up for it too before the promotion ends. I've started using Twitter for that, and I'm thinking maybe my Facebook fan page could be useful too, what do you think? Feel free to let me know if you have any suggestion.

On another note, any of you going to Marcelle Spring Warehouse Sale this week-end?

Annabelle makeup: $1.50 / unit

Marcelle make-up: $2.50 / unit

Skin care: various prices

Friday, April 8: 4 pm to 8 pm

Saturday, April 9: 9 am to 4 pm

Sunday, April 10: 9 am to 4 pm

No invitation necessary. Open to the general public.

9200, ch. Côte-de-Liesse, Lachine, QC, H8T 1A1

Don't forget to enter my hairfreé Hair Brushes Giveaway! It ends Tuesday April 12!

Tag: 5 Beauty Items You Regret Buying

I've been tagged by the lovely Annabelle from Makeup Wonderland to list five products I regret buying. Now I'll be honest, I can't say I have really hated a lot of products, but for the purpose of this post, I have narrowed down some items that aren't given much love for a reason or for another.

o1. Annabelle Eye & Face Palette in Ibiza

I got this palette for only $1.50 at the first Marcelle warehouse sale I attended (see my super old post here). When I saw it, I thought it was a perfect neutral palette, but as I was a makeup noob at the time, I didn't swatched it before buying it. See the disaster for yourself:

The eyeshadows are sooo sheer and chalky, but the bronzer is great (althought a little too shimmery, but I bet it would make a great eyeshadow). I think I will depot the bronzer and give the eyeshadows away.

o2. Maybelline Expert Wear Eye Shadow Quad in Designer Chocolates

I bought it because it was on sale for $5 and it came in a package with something else... I think it was an eyeliner, I can't remember. I'm so disappointed as the shades are all so sheer and hard to blend.

You can't even see the lid shade, it's just shimmers! Same for the crease, and the browbone is almost invisible. The outer corner seems more pigmented but you need to pile on shadows to make it opaque and it's hard to blend. I'm sad because I've seen some many swatches of this quad in Chai Latte and other neutral shades and they all look pretty and pigmented.

o3. Avon Smooth Minerals Lipstick SPF 15 in Apricot Glow and Crystal Coral 

I bought these somewhere in October or September (see super old post here), when I was still an Avon rep, as I had a discount and they were already on sale. I think I got them for around $3. I was new to lipsticks then (and I still am!) but I really wanted to try a mineral lipstick, and I thought the shades looked pretty. The swatches in the Avon leaflets were always terrible, but I ended up getting two shades that looked natural.

I was disappointed to see that they are so shimmery. I was looking for a natural look, so I thought a mineral lipstick would be perfect for that. Those shades are sheer and natural, but the shimmers still bug me a little.

 Apricot Glow

 Crystal Coral

L-R: Apricot Glow, Crystal Coral

I love that they are sheer and feel almost like a gloss on the lips as they are so lightweight. These lipsticks are supposed to keep lips smooth as they are enhanced with shea butter and conditioning oils, but I don't think they could replace lipbalm if you have super dry lips like me. 

To be clear, I don't hate these lipsticks, I just wish Avon would picture more accurate swatches of their products in their leaflets. If I knew they would contain so much shimmers, I wouldn't have bought them.

o4. Avon Solutions Winter Moisturizing Mask (review)

I was thrilled to try this mask as it seemed to have been designed especially for dry skin that gets even more dryer in the winter, but it was a complete let down.

The mask has a subtle apricot scent and the texture looks great when you dip your finger in the tub, but it's a different story when applied to the face. It's too light for a mask and it's not moisturizing at all. What a waste of money!

 o5. Herbal Essence Dangerously Straight Pin Straight Hairspray

Wow, this is sooo old! I bought it when I was in high school, when I started envying the girls with super straight hair. I didn't know about flat iton at the time LOL. Needless to say, this is crap. It makes my hair stiff and sticky (even though it claims not to) and it doesn't help it stay straight at all.

January Empties

 ☑ Cranberry & Pear Bath Soak

I have too many bath products, I really need to use some up! This bath soak was part of a set of "no name" products that was on sale at Wal-Mart for Christmas last year. It doesn't really smell anything once poured in the bath, and I didn't notice any difference on my skin. Disappoing )=


Repurchase? no

What I'm currently using to replace it: a bunch of other bath products

 ☑ Bodycology Brown Sugar Vanilla Body Butter

Wow, I was so excited to try this when I first saw it at Wal-Mart, it looked yummy and everything, and it reminded me of another brand sold at Wal-Mart called SPAresource... but the scent makes me sick (it doesn't even smell like vanilla), and it's absolutely not moisturizing!

Repurchase? no

What I'm currently using to replace it: Fruits Scents Strawberry Body Butter

 ☑ Maybelline The Falsies Volum' Express Mascara in Blackest Black (review)

I love this mascara, even though I don't see the promised false lash effect. It's lenghtening and volumizing and it's easily buildable, which is exactly what I look for in a mascara. It does flake a little through the day, which is annoying, but not enough to stop using it =P


Repurchase? yes, definitely!

What I'm currently using to replace it: Yves Saint Laurent Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils

  ☑ Algemarin Dry Shampoo (review)

This is the first dry shampoo I have ever used, and it does the job quite well. I hate the mess it does (you have to cover your shoulders with a towel if you don't want to end up with white powder all over you), but I would repurchase it anyway, but it's quite hard to find.

Repurchase? yes

What I'm currently using to replace it: TRESemmé Fresh Start Dry Shampoo for oily/straight to normal hair

November empties

☑ Alibi Pure Petroleum Jelly

No, this isn't the real stuff LOL. But I got it for free so I didn't say no! It works, but the consistency is slightly softer than the real Vaseline.

Repurchase? no, I will stick to the real thing =P

What I'm currently using to replace it: Vaseline White Petroleum Jelly

☑ Revlon ColorSilk After-Color Conditioner

This came with the Revlon ColorSilk hair dye I used last month. This is the first after-color conditioner I use up in a looooong time! I always forget to use them LOL.

Repurchase? I'm still not sure if I would repurchase the hair dye, but it's not available in Quebec anyway (as far as I know).

What I'm currently using to replace it: Clairol Perfect 10 Nice 'n Easy Color Seal Intensive Conditioning Cream (6 weekly treatments)

 ☑ John Frieda Frizz-Ease Smooth Start Shampoo, Conditioner (8.3 mL) and Hair Serum (4.4 mL)

It was nice to try those products, but I don't really care because I don't have to deal with frizz. The serum made my hair silky soft, though!

Repurchase? no as my hair isn't prone to frizz

What I'm currently using to replace it: L'Oréal Paris EverStrong Sulfate-Free Fortify System Hydrate Shampoo, Conditioner and Overnight Repair Treatment

☑ Clairol Perfect 10 Nice 'n Easy Color Seal Intensive Conditioning Cream (6 weekly treatments)

Like all conditiong treatments that come with hair dye, this is great. It leaves my hair soft and shiny and it smells so good!

Repurchase? I wouldn't repurchase Perfect 10 as I didn't noticed anything different from any other hair dye

What I'm currently using to replace it: not sure yet

☑ Cellnique Vital Cellular Repair Emulsion (read my review here)

This is not enough moisturizing for my parched skin and it leaves tiny residues on my face when I rub it. Oh, and it's super expensive ($73.00 for 30g)!

Repurchase? no

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

 ☑ Thierry Mugler Womanity Perfumed Shower Gel

I'm not a fan of the fragrance, but the shower gel was OK. It was kind of cheap, though.

Repurchase? no

What I'm currently using to replace it: Caress Whipped Soufflé Body Wash Blackberry Cream

 ☑ Bella Spa by Ivy Castle Luxury Body Butter Coca Butter

I swear this made my skin even drier! It's from the dollar store so of course I wasn't expecting much, but I'm really disappointed. Oh and this is more of a body lotion than a body butter. Oh well, I won't complain for a little more than $1.

Repurchase? no

What I'm currently using to replace it: Fruits Scents Strawberry Body Butter

 ☑ L'Oréal Paris EverStrong Sulfate-Free Fortify System Hydrate Shampoo, Conditioner and Overnight Repair Treatment (0.3 FLOZ, 10ML)

The smell of the shampoo and conditioner is great and they leather very well. I'm not sure about the overnight treatment hough, I haven't really noticed a difference with my hair so far.

Repurchase? not likely

What I'm currently using to replace it: Fast Fortified Amino Scalp Therapy Shampoo and Conditioner and Hana Shine Shield

 ☑ Maybelline Great Lash Clear Mascara

I used this to tame my brows from time to time but they don't really need taming anyway. And look at how disgusting this has become -_-

Repurchase? no

What I'm currently using to replace it: -

 ☑ Klorane Citrus Pulp Shampoo with vitamins

I'm glad I got this as a gift with purchase, because it's totally disappointing. I needed tons of product to cover my whole head, and it didn't leather as much as I would have like.

Repurchase? no

What I'm currently using to replace it: L'Oréal Paris Vive Pro Colour-Vive Shampoo