Holiday Gift Sets

I got bored and decided to put together a list of neat (cruelty-free) make-up sets and palettes available at Sephora that I think would make great gifts. Above is the Smashbox Eye Wish palette. Every WISH purchase donates $1 to the Children's Miracle Network up to $25,000 USD. Children's Miracle Network helps with research, education and medical care to injured and sick children. The palette costs $45 USD, and contains 12, 0.63 oz eyeshadows in Champagne, Soft Grey, Matte bone, Ballet pink, Shimmering Bronze, Mauve, Aqua, Cool Grey, Warm Brown, Eggplant, Deep Teal and Charcoal. Also included are 4 cream eyeliners (Dark Brown, Black Violet, Blue-Black, and Gunmetal), a mini eyeshadow primer and a mini DNA mascara. The palette is limited edition.



Beauty in a Box are Sephora's main deal packages, and this Nars Junkie one is no exception. Though seemingly quite expensive at $69 USD, the set is worth $121 USD (as Nars is quite expensive!) Included is a lovely eyeshadow palette that has 5 powder eyeshadow and 1 cream eye shadow. The powder eyeshadows are in Night Star (Sheer Peach with Gold Pearl), Galapagos (Rich Bronze with Gold Flecks), Nepal (Rose with shimmer), Ondine (Plum with Gold Shimmer), Thunderball (Midnight Grey) and the cream shadow is in Unconditional Love (Peach-beige with shimmer).
Also included in the kit is a lip gloss in Ophelia (Strawberry Nectar), a mini multiple stick in Orgasm (Peachy-Pink Shimmer), and a mini Bronzer in Laguna (Brown with golden shimmer- you could use this as a nice eyeshadow too!) Included are 3 step by step guides to different looks as well. Overall I know I'd be happy if I got this as a gift!



Laura Mercier is a brand well known for it's high quality items. I love all my Laura Mercier items and this lip kit certainly looks like it will live up to the rest of the brand. Named Laura's Secrets Volume 1- Flawless Lips and priced at $59 USD this high end brand doesn't come easily but it sure does include lots for all the lip product lovers out there. The little quad palette is 4 different lipstains in Mocha, Shy Pink, Sugar Violet and Mulberry. Also in the cute little brown bag is a Lip Glace in Pink Diamond, a Lip Balm in SPF 15, a Lip Pencil in Chestnut, and a double ended Lip Colour Brush.



Liners anyone? This kit by Urban Decay has got you covered in all different colours! The Jackpot 24/7 eyeliner pencil kit has 9 mini liner pencils and 1 full size one (in Zero a black). If you haven't tried these pencils before they're awesome, soft so they don't tug, highly pigmented, and they last all day too! The colours included are El Dorado (Bright Yellow Gold), Stash (Gold Mossy Green), Mildew (Mossy Green), Electric (Bright Blue), Binge (Dark Metallic Blue), Ransom (Bright Purple), Rockstar (Deep Reddish Purple), Gunmetal (Dark Metallic Grey), and Whiskey (Dark Brown). Tons of great colours! Costs $39 USD.



Korres Brightening and Anti-Aging Rose Collection is (according to Sephora) worth a whopping $133 USD, but it's available for $54 USD. I've not tried it myself but I'm tempted to get it for my mom, as it's supposed to be chock full of anti-oxidants and Vitamin C. Included (all in Wild Rose) is a Moisturizer, Serum, Mask, Shower Gel, Body Butter and Lip Butter. Certainly looks and sounds decadent doesn't it?



Stila Lip Glaze Set, perfect for lip gloss girls everywhere! This $25 USD kit (a great deal) contains 8 lip glosses, 4 best selling ones and 4 limited edition. The Best Sellers include Kitten, Guava, Grapefruit and Apricot; while the holiday exclusives are Seashell, Blush, Majesty and Merry Merry. They all look like nice very wearable colours to me.



Last one for now is the Fresh Sugar Plum Let It Glow! Set. It costs $28 USD and consists of all mini. It also has lovely silver and purple packaging on it. Included is a Sugar Plum Tinted Lip Treatment in SPF 15, A Supernova Mascara, Twilight Fresh Face Glow (an illuminator) and Citron de Vigne Eau de Parfum. A nice little multipurpose set that goes well with the season.

Next week I'll do some more of these gift ideas as we're closely approaching December (Gosh it's going by so fast isn't it?)

Korres Raspberry Antioxidant Liquid Lipsticks- Swatches

Left to Right: 10-Nude Beige, 25-Natural, 28-Berry, 54- Fuchsia, 56-Red

A little while ago Korres, a Greek natural focused make-up and skin care line released their Raspberry Antioxidant Liquid lipsticks. These lip products that are like a mix between a gloss and a lipstick are water based and actually contain both raspberry and pomegranate extracts as antioxidants. If you don't already know antioxidants are widely renown molecules found in richly coloured plants (especially fruit and vegetables) that fight off free-radicals; unstable molecules naturally around us that accelerate aging. These lipsticks are said to harness this to provide softer, smoother, younger looking lips. Korres also excludes parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrance, GMOs, phthalates, and triclosan from the formula. 

In person these lipsticks look beyond lovely. Exactly like juicy, ripe berries. But don't take my word for it, take a look at the swatches!

Left to Right: 30 Nude Beige, 25 Natural, 54 Fuchsia, 28 Berry, 56 Red

Bottom to Top: 30 Nude Beige, 25 Natural, 54 Fuchsia, 28 Berry, 56 Red

Right to Left: 30 Nude Beige, 25 Natural, 54 Fuchsia, 28 Berry, 56 Red

I can't give a full review as I don't own any (maybe some day! I know I'm really digging 28 Berry) but I know I'd love to give these a try. Keep in mind because they are liquid lipsticks they're most likely to wear quicker- reminiscent of a gloss. If you do get one, let me know how you like it! I'd love to know! These beautiful lipsticks are avaliable at Sephora for $22 USD for a 0.12 oz tube. 

But I Don't Want It To JUST Prime!

Primers, I've found have moved from just bases to make foundation last longer into a product that does many things, both aesthetically and preferably health-wise as well. Personally, I want quite a bit from my primers, especially because foundations have made such leaps in wear time lately (Estee Lauder Double Wear is a favourite of mine, and everything I've heard about the to be released (already out in the UK) Mac Pro Longwear is positive).
I know many people are confused about the point of primers, and so in continuation of the theme for the last couple of days, I thought I'd list the things I expect and demand my primer to do and things I'd consider a bonus if my primer could do (that I've seen primers advertise to do this- I swear I'm not going to make up fantastical benefits such as create gold over night, I promise!) Of course, take into account that these may not be exactly what everyone is looking for but just to give a general idea. :D

Expectations:

• Extend foundation wear time (i.e. keep the foundation on, and looking nice the whole day long)
• Make the foundation apply easier
• Minimize the look of pores and fine lines
• Be free from silicones and other acne causing ingredients! (i.e. mineral oil is not appreciated!)
• Dry fairly quickly and actually soak into the skin, no oily residue or feeling afterwards
• Reduce oiliness as the day goes on (or doesn't make me feel as oily as normal)
• Doesn't have a smell that puts me off
• Has decent packaging for easy dispensing, and doesn't let the product evaporate or go off
• Does NOT ball up under foundation

Extras:

• Makes my skin look luminous, hides redness, evens skin tone etc. with a slight tint (Can you tell I'm still mourning the blue MUFE HD primer?)
• Smells nice
• Soothes irritation (redness)
• Works to minimize pore size and fine lines over time
• Works to make skin more hydrated
• Works to keep skin elastic and youthful (anti-aging/ prevention benefits)
• Sun protection from UVA and UVB that won't sting when going on and won't cause break outs
• Has acne fighting benefits
• Is priced well
• Has a pump and can be placed standing on a flat surface (i.e. vanity table)

So, what am I using at the moment? A sample of the Nars non-SPF primer, but I'm almost out (as in I have enough for today) and I hope to get more samples of some other primers this coming weekend to try out, heres what I may try out (as samples, I'm a university student, I don't have the moola to buy all these!):

--> Korres Silicone-free Natural Origin face primer (I had a sample of this before, but other reviews scared me off from using it as it supposably acne causing. Not to mention it looks quite gloopy and thick.): They say it improves condition of skin with anti-oxidants, preps skin for foundation so it applies better (implied it will last longer), and reduces the appearance of pores and fine lines. Also is silicone free.

--> Cargo Activating Face Primer (I'm doubting I'll be able to try this as it's not available in my Sephora and Canada doesn't have Ulta *sigh*): Said to reduce shine, be oil and silicone free, refine pores, visibly reduce wrinkle appearance, and will make skin look better in 30 days.

--> Tarte Recreate Primer: It's suppose to increase skins moisture, decrease the appearence of pores, make foundation last longer and apply better, have an anti-inflammatory effect, improve skin condition and reduce the appearance of fine lines. Honestly it'd be great if it will do all these things, but I'm a little skeptical as Tarte has had many claims before on past items I've tried that haven't lived up to their claims (such as the lip stain pencils). Also silicone free.

How about everyone else? What primers are you using at the moment? What primers are you itching to try out, or look great to you?

Silicone Free Primer Price Comparison List

Silicone-free primers have been all the rage lately, mainly because companies are starting to realize that silicone causes breakouts for those acne-prone among us. I know I certainly fall into this category, and I want primers that help my foundation stay on longer, look nicer, and disguise pores too! So this post is the start of a couple of primer related posts I'm going to be doing over the next few days.
Some of the primers below are not named as primers, for example the Korres Wild Rose Serum. However, the company states that it works well as a primer too, so I've included it as part of the list. The below silicone-free primers are listed from best value to most expensive price per 0.1 oz of product. I've checked all the ingredients myself on these to make sure none contain silicone, but because everyone's skin is different, I can't guarantee these won't break you out. So without further ado:

1) Fyrinnae Velvet-Gel Silica Primer, 0.75 oz, $5.50 USDà 0.73

2) Laura Mercier, Foundation Primer, 1.75 oz, $30 USDà 1.71

3) Josie Maran Argan Primer Mist, $36, 2.0 ozà 1.80

4) NARS, Makeup Primer $33 USD, 1.7 ozà 1.94

5) Bare Essentuals Prime Time Foundation Primer Oil Control, 1 oz, $21 USDà 2.10

6) Lorac, aquaPRIME Oil Free Makeup Primer, $30, 1.35 ozà 2.22

Korres Face Primer $28, 1.01ozà 2.77

6) Korres, Quercetin & Oak Age-reversing Primer, 1.1 oz, $33 USDà 3.00

6) Urban Decay Complexion Primer Potion – Brightening, 1 oz, $30 USDà 3.00

8) Tarte, ReCreate™ Silicone-Free Primer with Wrinkle Rewind™ Technology, 1 oz, $32 USDà 3.20

8) TARINA TARANTINO Pearl Glow Primer, 1oz, $32 USD->3.20

8) Cargo Blu_ray activating primer, $32 USD, 1 oz à 3.20

11) Fresh, Rose FreshFace Primer, $36 USD, 1 ozà 3.60

11) Fresh, Twilight Freshface glow, $36 USD, 1 ozà 3.60

13) Korres Wild Rose Brightening Serum, 1.01 oz, $41 USDà 4.06

14) Urban decay De-Slick In A Tube Mattifying Gel, 0.67 oz, $28 USDà 4.18

If I've missed one you know doesn't contain silicone please let me know! It's so hard to find Silicone-free primers (especially good ones!) so I'm keeping this list up so everyone can see the options available! And Bonus all the brands listed are cruelty-free. :D

ADDITION: I've found the Cargo Primer available for $28 CND on theshoppingchannel.com and it ships for free, so if you go by their lower price, it would rank lower on the list, just incase someone is interested. :D (I'm always on the lookout for good deals!)