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Beauty Vixen

Almay has been a drug store staple for years, recently they launched a few new items that I was lucky enough to receive samples to review.

I am super excited to try these new items out, it has been a long time since I have tried anything from Almay but I have always had such good experiences with the brand that new items have me excited.

Smoky Eye Trios in Coppery Blaze and Smouldering Embers
These trios try to make shadow application easy for those who may not be the best at figuring it all out. With three shades clearly intended for different spots on the eye.

Coppery Blaze has green as its lid colour with charcoal as its crease and off white-green shade for highlight. Smouldering Embers is a Taupe for its lid, dusty purple for the crease and a light champagne-pink for the creases.
Copper Blaze
Smouldering Embers
Both these trios have lovely shades in them, but the payoff is mixed. Smouldering Embers has a softer texture and applies well because of it, while Coppery Blaze is stiffer and it takes a lot of work to get any pay off from it.

Goddess Gloss in Dreamy and Flame
I am not a huge lip gloss fan, but these glosses have won me over. They are prismatic glosses that are just pigmented enough that they work great on their own or even better as a topper. They are not sticky or goopy on the lips, which is a big part of why I love them.
Flame is a berry shade with flecks of shimmer in it. Dreamy is my favourite and it is a light pink-purple with a prismatic duo chrome reflection to it that works really well when I use a purple highlighter on my face.

Make Them Jelly Hi-Lite / Illuminator in 24k Dreams and Unicorn Light
These are shimmer jellies, and when I say shimmer I mean SHIMMER. The gel feels thick and not like a skin product but more a body product and the shimmer itself if very large and chunky.
24k Dreams has golden shimmer, while Unicorn Light has pink.
I realize that we are hitting the end of the '90s, beginning of the '00s in the make trend cycle and this actually seems quite in line with what I remember of the whole Y2K era. While not for me and most likely not for most faces it might make for a great body product.

Velvet Foil in Cupid Glaze and Golden Vibes
These foils come in little tubes that instantly remind me of Mac Paints (sadly discontinued). Packaged in a plastic tube that let you have good control over how much you can squeeze out.

I teenie-tiny amount of the cream shadow is all you need to get a ton of pigment that will create a foil effect. They take a few minutes to dry, so you have time to get them looking right on your lids. I like buffing them with a brush to avoid strong lines.
The brand boasts that they will last up to 24 hours and will not crease, smudge or fade. I had good results wearing them, I did make the mistake on wearing them on a particularly sweaty day at work so I did get some shimmer fall-out as the day went on, but overall they are quite spectacular and look amazing.

Cupid Glaze is a Rosey shade while Golden Vibes is an old gold shade. Both have lots of shimmer in them.
Shadow Squad in Unicorn and Less is More
These are single pan shadows that have one shade in four finishes. A matte, satin, metallic and glitter all in a monochromatic pan.

Unicorn is white and all the shades come off chalky, I really couldn't capture the shades that well in photos. Less is More is a light nude shade that is a lot more pretty and photographic.
Less is More
I created a look using the Smokey Eye Trio in Smouldering Embers, Velvet Foil in Golden Vibes as an eyeliner and finally Goddess Gloss in Dreamy on the lips.
Overall I think it was great to try out a bunch of new products from a brand that I was already familiar with.

I love the Goddess Gloss and would recommend it to just about anyone, I particularly like Dreamy. I think the Velvet Foils are fantastic and I will most likely be picking up some next time I see them on sale at my drug store.

The Smoky Eye Trios are pretty good for a drug store trio. They make creating a look easy and are not overly pigmented which actually makes them nice for a day or office look.

The Shadow Squad shadows are ok, I found them a bit chalky and pay off a bit iffy. but I generally like the idea. I think the quality depends on the shade so I would say they are a pass. The Make Them Jelly highlighters are just not my thing, they are too chunky and the gel doesn't play well with foundation. 

*Products were sent for review, all views and opinions are my own.
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Spring is just about here, and that can only mean one thing, a new Spring launches from Mary Kay. This Spring brings some new permanent items as well as a few limited edition ones.

Mineral Eye Colour Quad ($21 each) 
In the past I have been a big fan of Mary Kay's limited edition eyeshadow sets, they have great formulas, colours and they fit in their compacts or can stay in their case. This spring they have impressed me once again.
These quads are smaller and only take up half of their palette compacts but that actually is great because you can fill the other half with a blush or three other shadows of your choice.
Berry Haute is filled with purple and pink berry rich shades that I really am drawn to. 
Jade Go is a quad that features rich greens and a deep sapphire blue.
I am more in love with Berry Haute then Jade Go, but I think they both perform nicely, but not as nice as last years spring shades. I really like how they are half sized this time so you can do more with your palette.

Essential Brush Collection ($75)
Mary Kay has simplified brushes by creating a set of six brushes with shapes that help make applying makeup easy.
Made with synthetic fibers these brushes are stylish and portable in their own pouch. With an allover brush, cheek brush, all-over eyeshadow brush, eye crease brush, eye smudger brush and a lip brush.
I am an avid brush fan (I have over 300 brushes) so when I get the chance to try out something new I get pretty excited. Since I started using these brushes, none have had any bristle fall out....none not one. I really like the handles on these brushes, they get fatter at the ferrule which making holding them close to the bristles very comfortable. The cheek brush is my favourite, it is angled and has a little indent into the ferrule so you can grip it close and blend out your blush, highlight, bronzer or contour easily. The bristles also are very soft and densely packed in.

Satin Body Collection
This line of body care products features the light and lovely scent of White Tea and Citrus. The same scent was launched just over a year ago for their Satin Hands Pampering Set (which is a favourite of mine) and the Satin Lips Sugar Scrub and Butter Balm. The line also features Shea Butter to moisturize extremely well.
Revitalizing Shea Scrub ($22), is a creamy scrub that can be used daily to gently exfoliate dead skin. While I like the creaminess of the product and that it can be used daily, but it really isn't strong enough for my dry flakey skin and I did not find it really did anything for me. I do think it would be great for someone with very sensitive skin that reacts badly to stronger exfoliants.  Indulgent Shea Wash ($22), is a clear wash that manages o alter really well and leave my skin feeling very clean and soft without drying it out. I feel my skin always feels really nice when I am done using it. Silkening Shea Lotion ($22) is a lotion is a medium thickness for a lotion, which is much preferred to a more liquidy lotion to me. It smells nice and the scent manages to linger quite a while on the skin after use. I particularly like how it absorbs quickly but also is not greasy at all on the skin. Satin Body Whipped Shea Crème ($26), This is almost a body butter, super thick that you have to dent it when you use it. Due to the fact it is whipped it feels light on the skin. I love how thick and rich it is but also not greasy at all. My skin instantly feels relief from dryness and softer. This is the one product in the line that is Limited Edition, so get it while you can.
Overall I really like what Mary Kay has for spring this year. The body wash, lotion and creme are really nice and great for the spring, the smell is one I really like and the products work really well. The shadows are nice shades and bold for the springtime. The brush set has some great quality brushes that manage to feel soft and not shed while having a great design.

*Pr samples featured. All views and opinions are my own.
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Exciting news guys, Wet N Wild is launching a bunch of new products in 2018, and they are all coming to Canada! I for one am super stoked about this news because I just adore Wet n Wild and I manged to get a peek at the times at a showcase a few weeks back and everything was AMAZING! I really cannot wait.

Mega Cushion:
First up WNW's Cushion Colour Correctors, Highlighter and Bronzer are all coming to Canada in the new year. They have been in the USA and online for a while, but now we too can access them, and that is pretty exciting to me.

Cushions are such a popular trend right now, so it is only natural WNW would jump into making some themselves, but only a few high end brands make colour correctors in it, so it is nice to see that they are going to be much more accessible to the general public. 

The line will feature a Green, Peach and Lavender Correctors, a Bronzer and a Highlighter. The best part is (other then the fantastic formula) that they are going to be $7.99 Canadian, which makes snatching them all up extremely affordable.

Color Icon:
Another think that has gotten me super excited is that their eyeshadow palettes are getting a significant makeover. The trios are getting a fourth transition shade (thus becoming quads)  and the larger eight shade palettes are getting two new transition shades. They both are also getting newer improved formula. Since these are some of their most popular products, it is pretty exciting to be getting more shades and a formula upgrade. 

The best thing is that loved palettes aren't going anywhere. Below is a photo of the old and new Sweet As Candy palette as well as Comfort Zone. Plus they are adding new palettes to the ranges. The Quads are getting three new ones, bringing the total to number of palettes to six and the 10-Pans are getting three more making the total in the line four.
They WNW didn't forget their Eyeshadow Singles, they have gotten a new look and formula too. They'll be $1.99 Cad when they launch next year.
There is also going to be new Glitter Singles. Single pan glitter shadows infused with vitamin E in seven shades.

Hello Halo:
The product I am most excited for is Hello Halo, a liquid highlight. In a tube with super fat doe-foot applicator, these creamy highlighter are just freakin' awesome. I feel in love with them at the showcase, especially the Holographic shade.
There are going to be seven shades in total, ranging from halo, bronzy to rose gold. The shades Halo and Holographic both have me wanting them. Before I tried them I was obsessed with getting CoverFx's holographic shade, but as soon as I saw this that idea went out  the window. These are so darn pretty I just cannot properly express how great they are. And the best part is they are only $7.99 Cad, so you don't have spend a fortune to get them.

Other Additions:
In addition to these new items in the line up some other items are getting additions.  Their Perfect Pour Gel Lip Liners are getting six new shades bringing the range to total of twelve. Photo Focus Setting Spray will be gaining a Matte version. There are going to be new retractable Brow Pencils which look amazing. Those white and pink brushes that have only been in the USA or online for the last two years are finally making their Canadian debut. Finally their MegaGlow Highlighting Powder is getting some new shades added to its already popular line up, bringing the number available up to six.

All in all there are so many incredible new items coming to Canada from Wet n Wild it is a bit hard to contain myself. I am lucky enough to have a few already in my hands, but I am going to hunt down the Hello Halo sticks as soon as they get to Canada. As well I am going to update my eyeshaodw collection, I love my old trios, but the new quads look so much better and frankly for the cost there is no way I can pass up getting new ones.

What new Wet N Wild items interest you the most? What do you think of the new stuff?
*Products were given to me from PR for review purposes. All views and opinions are my own.
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Mary Kay's fall collection has launched and features a bunch of really pretty product that will get you excited for the fall and all its pretty deep tones.

Mary Kay Eye Colour Palette - Simply Smoky $27.00 (Limited Edition)

Simply Smoky features 5 lovely deep blue smokey and grey toned shadows. With varying textures of satin, matte and pearl they really all work together to create a very nice palette. I found all the shadows to be great in texture and application, I just don't tend to wear blue tones.
I really like how the shades all work together to make a nice palette, it really is coordinated very well. There is definitely some good colour pay off with them too, my skin is just too darn dry to show that off here though. It also fits into a standard Mary Kay palette, so if you have one you can use it or order one. I personally enjoy the plastic holder it comes in because you can see what is inside without opening it up, but for travel their palettes are a great option.

Mary Kay® Eye Colour Palette - Rose Nude $27.00 (Limited Edition)

Rose Nude is another palette with five shades, this one features rich pinky-plumb shades. Rose Nudes is definitely my kind of palette, I just love rose and plumb shades in the fall. It also features a mix of satin, matte and pearl finishes.
The colours look really similar in the pan but swatch and wear very differently which is nice to see. I am going to be bringing this one on my up coming vacation because I feel I can create so many interesting looks with it. It also comes in a plastic container and you can order a palette if you like, I am leaving mine as is (even for travel).

Lip Suede - Mulberry Muse and Rose Blush $19.00 (limited edition)

Nothing Says fall like a deep lip colour. Available in both Mulberry Muse (a wine-plumb shade) and Rose Blush (rosy with a bit of mauve). Mary Kay's Lip Suedes are slim tubed lipsticks that are have a ticker satin finish that provide a long wear and nice feel on the lips.
While the formula claims to be transfer-resistant and lightweight, I find it slightly denser and only mildly transfer resistant. That being said I like the way the shades look and feel on my lips and think the formula suits the shades very well.

Nail Lacquer - Rose Blush, Pink Escape and Violet Silk - $10.00 (Limited Edition)

I am a big fan of Mary Kay's nail lacquers, not only do they come up with great colours with each limited edition but the formula is always spot on and amazing.

This fall features Pink Escape, a light off white pink, Rose Blush a dark mauve and Violet Silk, a deep violet shade this time around.
My favourite is Violet Silk, I love the way it looks on both my finger and toe nails and am currently sporting them as my pedicure shade.

Overall I love this collection, it screams fall in the best way possible for me. The focus on the Rose Blush in all three products is a nice touch, I feel I can easily create a full look with the products without any real effort on my part (always a nice thing). Like always I love the nail polishes, but the new lip suedes really impressed me this time around, they are the perfect easy fall lip. The shadows are both really pretty for fall as well. I feel all the Rose Nude products are coming with me on my upcoming vacation because they have won me over so well.

What are your favourite shades for fall?

*Products were sent for review purposes, all views and opinions are my own.
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Mary Kay has launched some great new items this summer. New mineral blushes that portions of the process go charity, a multi-tasking charcoal mask and a limited edition kit that creates a beautiful look. 

Clear Proof Deep-Cleansing Charcoal Mask, $26
This mask is a triple power mask that helps cleanse your skin, reduce shine and help clear pores of impurities. Charcoal is known to help draw out and absorb impurities from deep down in the pores. Kaolin and Bentonite clays help boost the masks potency. It also has honeysuckle and navy bean extracts to help with the appearance of skin discoloration, which is great when you are suffering from post break out marks. 

While most clay and charcoal masks burn my skin, I find this one to be quite cool and soothing (it has rosemary and peppermint extracts in it). I love that as it dries I get to see all the little dots of oil and impurities in the mask.
Beauty That Counts Baked Cheek Powder, $23 each
Mary Kay has launched limited edition baked blushes this summer. Giving Heart with is a rosy colour and Kind Heart a luminous soft peach. Both blushes are in a cute heart shape and a sleek black compact. 
These blushes are soft and silky, apply really nicely and blend out well. I think they can be layered up quite nicely to the pigmentation you like. 
The best part of these baked blushes is that $2 from everyone sold between May 16th and August 15th will go to the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation. The foundation contributes to Look Good Feel Better which helps women dealing with all stages of cancer and by providing grants to women's shelter and community outreach centres. Overall it is a great cause and another good reason to like these blushes. 

Summertime Jewel Look, $89 ($97 value)
Mary Kay's Global Beauty Ambassador, Lusi Casco has created a set just for Mary Kay Canada. It features three eye-shadows (Sweet Cream, Hazelnut and Emerald), a mineral cheek colour (Sunny Spice), a black eyeliner (MKBlack) and a Semi-Matte lipstick (Mauve Moment). 
I personally really love the Semi-Matte lipstick line, and Mauve Moment was one of my favourites. 
As for the eye-shadows, I really like the Mary Kay formula, Sweet Cream and Hazelnut are fantastic matte shades that blend amazingly well and look great when applied. Emerald is a very pretty green but doesn't have a heavy payoff, you've got to pack it on. 
The retractable eyeliner in MK Black is a very dark solid black that is darker then many of the black liners in my collections. The formula is almost gel like (but not quite). The blush is a really nice mauve that match the lipstick perfectly. 
The look Lusi Casco created is has the Sweet Cream eye-shadow all over, Hazelnut in the outer corner, black liner along the lash line and then Emerald on top of the liner. Overall the set is a great set, I love how the lipstick and blush look great together, the green looks great with mauve.
I created this look but with the modification that I put Hazelnut all over my eyelid area.

I really like this look, it works really well and Emerald is given much more pop when placed on top of the liner then on its own.
Overall I am really loving this collection. The Summertime Jewel Look is a great set that I think will look great on lots of people. All the colours in it work really well together to make a great overall look. The blushes are a great mineral blushes that have a great texture and payoff. The charcoal mask that really helps pull gunk from your skin. Really it is a great overall collection.

What do you think of Mary Kay's Summer Collection? What products are you most interested in?

*Products were sent to me for review, all views and opinions are my own. 
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Jill Oliver-Fox is a Toronto based beauty blogger with a love for beauty, food, and pets. She began the blog in 2009 and hasn't stopped since. To read more about Jill and the Blog, click here.

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