It may only be early October, but in the makeup and fashion world that officially means it’s the Holiday season! The Holiday collections have begun rolling out, and there are so many exciting launches! I recently got the chance to play with the new PUR Sweet 16 collection, and as soon as I saw the sequin packaging I knew I needed to write about it!

Above images are from the PUR website!

This year marks the 16th anniversary for the brand, and they are celebrating with a special edition Holiday collection: the PUR Sweet 16 Collection! Working as a makeup artist for the last 5 and a half years, I’ve had the pleasure of watching them grow immensely in that time. They have rebranded, repackaged, and have really stepped up their game to become huge contenders in the competitive cosmetic industry. In my opinion, they are the perfect example of a brand listening to their consumer requests and using that feedback to grow and improve.

The PUR Sweet 16 collection just went live in stores, and online this month. It features 7 items:

The collection features gorgeous white packaging, with a sequin design. What makes the packaging so unique is that the sequin/glitter is cased inside the front cover.

The Celebrate Your Selfie Blockbuster Set is definitely a standout product in my opinion. Not only because the eyeshadows are stunning and super pigmented, but also because it’s such a great value! You get 16 eyeshadows (matte, shimmers, and pressed glitters), a mini lip gloss, mini mascara, set of false lashes, 2 blushes, and a highlighter! The only aspect of this I didn’t like is the box, as it’s neither storage nor travel-friendly. However, I have it on good authority that the eyeshadows are magnetic and can be (carefully) detached from the box. You could likely de-pot these and pop them into a magnetic palette!

The next item on my radar is the Love Your Selfie III Sweet 16 Face Palette & Mini Mascara Set. I am always a sucker for PÜR eyeshadow palettes, as their formulas are incredible and they perform so well. I always find the colours to be super pigmented and easily blendable! This has a range of warm tones with a couple of neutral shades, and a mixture of mattes, shimmers and pressed glitters.

 

The Sweet 16 Kiss of Confidence Set comes with 3 lipsticks, and 1 hydrating lip balm with. It’s a clear balm with a hint of sparkle that you can wear under lipstick to prep the lips, or over top to add some extra sparkle and hydration!

Above image is from the PUR website!

 

They also launch a limited edition brush set every year, and these are one of my favourite items to get as they’re such a great value! This year’s set features the oval brushes. If you’re a fan of oval brushes, these are some of the best quality on the market (in my opinion!) The bristles are soft dense, and of course cruelty-free!

PÜR also launched 2 exciting new skincare items in this collection!  A new gold sheet mask set, and a skincare set featuring exciting new launches! It contains an illuminating setting spray, the 4-in-1 primer, a gold peel-off mask, and a shimmering dry oil! These products are infused with some amazing ingredients, like liquorice extract, vitamin C, ginseng, and green tea.

 

Overall, I think this collection is absolutely gorgeous. The palettes are definitely the biggest wins for me, as PUR’s formula is incredible and they are such a great value!

What are your thoughts? Are there any stand-out products for you?

 

 

*This post is not sponsored, all opinions are my own. Some links may be affiliate links, in which I can earn a small commission if you choose to purchase product through my link. You are in no way obligated to do so, but it is much appreciated!* 

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The long-awaited Sephora sale for VIB and VIB Rouge members is finally here! This is one of the most anticipated times of the year for beauty-lovers, as it offers a discounted price for VIB and VIB Rouge members! From August 24th until September 3rd 2018, VIB members can receive 15% off with the code “YESVIB” and VIB Rouge members can receive 20% off with the code “YESROUGE” (once online, and unlimited use in store!)

For beauty lovers or anyone on a budget, the Sephora sale is the perfect time to stock up on necessities, or products you’ve been eyeing – especially since Sephora carries a plethora of luxury items with a hefty price tag!

I’ve had my eye on a couple of products, and have been waiting for the sale for months! I always like to read other people’s shopping guides to see what products they recommend and what’s trending now. For this year’s sale, I thought I’d put together a list of some of the newest and hottest products at Sephora – and all from cruelty-free brands!

What’s On My List

There are so many exciting new launches at Sephora, from new concealers and foundations like the Becca Longwear concealer and the Too Faced Born This Way concealer. There are also brand new lines finally available, like Jouer! I’ve been wanting to try Jouer for so long now, and am so excited that it’s available online from Sephora! I definitely have my eye on the powder highlighter, the foundation, and the Long Wear Lip Toppers! I also think sales are the perfect time to get value sets, as you’re getting even more bang for your buck! I’ve been so curious about this set from Milk makeup, and Nudestix!

Last but definitely not least – eyeshadow palettes. I am a sucker for eyeshadow palettes, and there is no shortage of  palette launches this year. The stand out ones to me are definitely the Norvina palette from Anastasia Beverly Hills, The Violet Voss Flamingo Pro palette, the Fenty Beauty Moroccan Spice Palette, and the Urban Decay Born To Run palette. The Sephora Sale is the perfect time to save a few dollars on that palette you’ve been wanting!

Check out my previous Sephora cruelty free shopping guide for more recommendations:

 

What’s on your Sephora sale wishlist this year?

 

*this post is not sponsored, but may contain affiliate links in which I can earn a small commission if you choose to purchase product, at no extra cost to you. You are in no way obligated to use my links, but it is greatly appreciated!*

 

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This is a super easy, quick summer makeup look using cruelty free brands. It’s great for days when you wake up feeling (and in my case, looking) like you walked off the set of The Walking Dead. It’s my go to look for the summer, using a simple trick to make the eyes look bigger and brighter!

Products used:

Promo Codes:

Azeredo Cosmetics Lashes – Use code “MeganC10” to get 10% off!

Sigma Beauty: use code “RAINCOATESBEAUTY” to get 10% off!

*This post is not sponsored, but contains some affiliate links in which I can make a small percentage if you choose to purchase, at no cost to you! – you are in no way obligated to use my links, but it is super appreciated!*

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There are always so many exciting new launches at Sephora, especially during May-June. This is peak time for Summer launches, and this year definitely has no shortage of newness. I put together a list of the new & hot launches at Sephora – all of which are from cruelty-free brands!

 

Oh boy. Where does one even begin? My wallet is practically weeping – I want everything! These are all prestige brands, so they are pricey – however, these are some of my all-time favourite brands. They are high quality, high-performance brands focusing on quality ingredients – and most importantly, they are cruelty-free (because really, it’s 2018 and testing on animals is barbaric and unnecessary!)

Products On My Radar

Powders

I’m most intrigued by the Hourglass & Marc Jacobs setting powders, as they’re rumoured to be absolutely incredible. I love using loose powder to set my makeup, especially ultra finely-milled powder as it looks the most natural and undetectable on the skin!

Lip Glosses

Lip glosses are one of the most popular trends for the summer. While this may not be particularly groundbreaking, I’m a firm believer that you can never have too many lip glosses. There are so many shades and formulas, and this season sees a surge of high-shine and metallic glosses. The Becca Glow Lip Gloss looks stunning from what I’ve seen in review videos! The Marc Jacobs Enamored Hydrating Gloss Stick has definitely sparked my interest. I love the regular glosses, so to see a new formula in a stick?! I’m not sure what to expect from this, but I shall have to investigate further!

Setting Sprays

In the sun and heat, we need all the help we can get to keep our makeup looking fresh. Setting sprays are an absolute must for me. Not only are they key to absorbing any excess powder sitting on the skin and adding a healthy glow, they also help to lock your makeup in place to prolong your makeup wear!  Cover FX recently launched the High-Performance Setting spray, and I’ll definitely be trying it once I’ve used up my Urban Decay All Nighter setting spray!

 

 

What new products are you most excited for?

*this post is not sponsored, but may contain affiliate links in which I may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase products through my links, at no extra cost to you* 

 

Check out my previous posts: 

Free Downloadable Wallpapers For June

Kim Kardashian Met Gala 2018 Makeup Tutorial

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For Blogmas last year, I did a roundup of products I recommend to help combat that dreaded winter-induced dry skin (you can read that here!)
I wanted to include an updated list with a couple of my current favourites, as my skincare routine is completely different this year. I’ve begun trying to only purchase from brands that don’t test on animals, so this list features skincare items that are not tested on our furry friends!

blogmas 22 collage.jpg

Dr. Roebucks “Face” cream: I have become absolutely obsessed with this Australian brand. It was created by physician parents in the 70’s, with their Pure cream to treat their children’s eczema. They’re all about natural ingredients, with maximum efficacy. The products are all formulated without harmful chemicals, fillers, BPA, or parabens. They contain no synthetic fragrance or preservatives.

This cream is marketed as an anti-aging cream, which is why it took me so long to try it. It wasn’t until my coworker told me her teenage sister has been loving it to help treat her acne that I knew I had to give it a try. It is a super smooth hydrating cream that helps fight against aging, but also helps with acne and uneven skin tone! It has natural macadamia oil, vitamin E, rosehip oil, and lavendar oil – all of which are amazing for keeping the skin smooth and reducing inflammation! I noticed a difference literally overnight. I haven’t had any major pimples since using this (and while that is partially due to my change in diet, my skin hasn’t been this clear in months!!) It’s also helped keep my facial eczema flare ups at bay and keeps my skin so soft and hydrated. It’s good for all skin types, and best for dry skin but is also safe for oily skin!

Lush Catastrophe Cosmetic Face Mask: Lush is very well known in the cosmetic industry for actively fighting against animal testing as well as many other important issues. They truly are an incredible brand, and my obsession for them has grown substantially in the last year. This mask is one of my absolute favourite Lush products!

This mask is phenomenal for calming, balancing, and detoxifying the skin. It’s jam-packed with fresh blueberries, calamine powder, chamomile oil, rose absolute, sweet almond oil, and more. Its blend of ingredients makes it suitable for all skin types, specifically sensitive, dry, and combination or problematic skins. I love using this in the evenings when I’ve had a heavy makeup day, when my skin is breaking out, or when I feel like it needs a deep clean. It helps clean and clear up the skin without stripping your natural oils, so it doesn’t leave your skin feeling dehydrated or uncomfortable.

Lush Sleepy Body Lotion: I was so ecstatic for this limited edition body lotion to launch for Lush’s Holiday collection (you can read my post about that here!) This is an ultra-soothing and moisturizing body lotion, full of amazing ingredients to help you relax. Oatmeal Infusion, Almond Oil, Lavender Water, Jojoba Oil, Cocoa Butter, Lavender Oil, Tonka, Ylang Ylang oil, and more. You can apply this on any dry skin areas on the body.

It smells like sweet lavender and cocoa, and leaves your skin so silky smooth. I love to apply this to my elbows, arms, and neck before bed. Since it has the natural essential oils, applying it to your neck will help calm and soothe you with aromatherapy.

Sadly this cream is limited edition (hopefully they’ll launch it permanently!) so I’d highly suggest getting your hands on it while you can!

Lise Watier HydraForce Lip Balm: this is without a doubt my new favourite lip balm. Lise Watier is a Canadian brand, and has been one of my favourites since I first started playing with makeup. This lip balm is from their relatively new HydraForce line, and it features a really cool ingredient called Gaspé algae extract. It’s found in harsh climates, and helps plants to hold on to moisture and prevent from dehydration. It does the same for our skin! With dry skin comes dry lips, and lip balm is a must!

I slather this on my lips before bed, and in the morning my lips are still quenched. This is a great alternative for those wanting deep, long-lasting hydration without the thick goopy texture of the Bite Agave Lip Mask!

Aromic Citrusy Nighttime Face Oil: I have been loving this all-natural face oil. I just posted a full review of this oil, which you can read here! 

 

Previous Blogmas Posts: 

Holiday Makeup Inspiration (Blogmas 2016 Day 21) 

Kylie Cosmetics Review – Blogmas 2016 Day 20

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