Sephora 15-20% Off "VIBR" Sale 2017

It's nearly over, and I'm sure you have seen even for weeks preceding the start of the Rouge weekend (November 3rd 2017) that this would be happening. It's an exciting time but also fairly rage-inducing. Customers set alarms in the dead of the night and line up at ungodly hours at brick and mortar stores to order hot-ticket items they don't want to sell out. I am definitely guilty, as I didn't quite hit Rouge before the cut-off and had to wait to start shopping on the VIB/BI weekend, starting this past Friday on November 10th.

I made 3(!!!!) online orders because I couldn't decide and added stuff after the fact. I also went in-store yesterday and picked up makeup items. All of my online orders are skincare, fragrance, and hair products. I really didn't want much makeup-wise this year. Or really ever again, if I'm honest with myself. If I never purchase another lipstick in my life I would be doing myself a huge favour!

Here is what I purchased in my local Sephora:

1. Anastasia Beverly Hills Subculture eyeshadow palette (regular $55CAD)

2. Cover FX Illuminating Prime & Set (regular $35CAD)

3. Elizabeth & James Choose Your Nirvana Floral Edition (regular $36CAD)

First of all, I was never thrilled about the colour story or drama surrounding Subculture. I thought it would be difficult to make complete looks, and I never gave it a second thought or even once considered purchasing it. It was very easy to overlook the entire release and act like it didn't happen. But then Prism came out and I have to admit that even after my post looking for dupes and stating I wouldn't be buying, I ended up getting it. I have had SO much fun with the Prism palette and I adore the metallic/shimmer shades. I hadn't had a single trouble with Prism's colours or formula, so when I came across some swatches of Subculture again.. I was smitten. A magic switch flipped between one week and the next and I really wanted to get Subculture. 

I have a couple really minor complaints - Cube is quite sheer and even difficult to apply with fingers, Roxy is quite powdery, and Axis stains a bit. But I don't mind these "problems" and can work with them. It's not at all like everyone said when it first came out and people were hitting pan with one application. It's crazy pigmented and kicks up a bit of powder but that's all in the method and application.

I bought the Cover FX set because I have never tried any of their products before. I have a feeling I might be a convert to the setting spray.

I love buying and sampling new fragrances. I will likely be purchasing a larger version of the Nirvana Rose ("a seductive floral blend embodying the heart of a dark rose with notes of Rose De Mai, Geranium, and Vetiver for a sultry refined scent with intrigue"). 

The rest of my "haul" looks like this (I ordered November 10th but honestly it hasn't even shipped and likely won't this week. I know they're busy with the sale so I can't fault anyone. I know some people ordered the 3rd and 4th and still don't have packages): 

• OLEHENRIKSEN A Brighter Truth™ Brightening Essentials Set
• NEST Indigo On-The-Go Set
• Origins Origins Bestsellers
• Foreo LUNA™ mini 2
• Drunk Elephant Volume 1: Hot Date™
• Drunk Elephant Volume 3: Let's Dew It™
• Drunk Elephant Volume 2: Come C About Me™
• First Aid Beauty Tales of FAB Skin
• Too Faced Kabuki Brush
• Verb Waves & Texture Kit

What did you buy or order?

How's the shipping going for you if you ordered online?

sweet shopping

I placed on order on cherryculture a couple of weeks back because my NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Stockholm broke! I was checking my mail and I pulled my keys out of my bag, but the tube was stuck in my keyring and I dropped it. The tube broke right where the cap screws on.. it was too messy to try and salvage and it's my all-time favourite "my lips but better" colour for all occasions, so I needed a new one! I decided to grab a couple of other small things just so I wasn't spending $12 on shipping for one tube of lipstick.. gotta make it worth it. ;-)

♡ China Glaze - For Audrey

♡ NYX - Tokyo Express & Pastel Pistachio

♡ NYX Lipstick - Femme 

♡ NYX Eye pencil - Yogurt 

My other shopping escapades lately include this bag ($50) in coral, these boots ($89), and a super comfy thrifted sweater ($3). The bag was a huge disappointment to me. I am still trying to decide whether or not I like it. I bought it from Uban Outfitters, something I don't have where I live. I was 100% in love with the bag and read tons of reviews before going through with the purchase because the shipping was $40 on top of the $50 the bag costs online - that's pretty expensive for me. They had a bright pink one that was listed as availiable/in stock until I got to the very end of checking out, when UO decided to tell me that it actually wasn't available. At all. I was devastated and wasn't sure I still wanted the bag (I was so set on the pink one), but the coral one looked nice so I still went through with it. The picture online looked light pink, but that colour is not accurate in the slightest. The bag I got is bordering on neon orange. It's really hard to photograph the colour, so I understand the mistake in looking at photos. Everyone tells me they love it, but I can't get over the fact that it's nothing like I expected. Plus the zipper is really shoddy. It gets stuck and the teeth will look bent, even though they can move back to place if you touch them. I just always feel like I'm going to break it so easily! The boots were a complete inpulse buy. I wasn't even shopping for anything in particular, just walked into Soft Moc and grabbed them. I'm very happy with them. I've been buying Minnetonka stuff for years, my moccasins always hold up super well. They're comfortable and I think they look good with everything. And.. baggy mansweaters are my weakness. I love Value Village so much.

Do you like my bag? Be honest. Sometimes I'm still sad when I look at it.

I bought myself some new clothes today after work. I am not very fond of attempting to photograph outfits and especially not myself wearing them, so snapshots of prints and colours will have to do. The top left corner is a dress and it's probably my new favourite thing!

shopping

I went to my Zumba class last night and I usually try to get out of the mall ASAP because I always end up buying something. This week I justified my purchases by saying it was my birthday gift to myself ;)

♡ Bras on sale for $9.99 at La Senza!

♡ Mesh skirt at Smart Set for $10

♡ Beaded top at Smart Set for $12

♡ Tights at Smart Set for $5

♡ Dress at H&M for $10 

Smart Set is always my favourite place to shop. They always have a sale section with pink price stickers and it's usually 50% off the pink price. I can usually walk away spending less than $100 and have multiple outfits. 

I debated for a few minutes bothering with the dress from H&M and I'm SO glad I caved. It was the only one left and I wasn't sure about the size because the arm holes looked huge on the hanger and they were closing soon so I couldn't try it on. Last time I left a dress and went back, it was gone. I love this! It even has pockets. 

I'm sorry I still haven't gotten used to taking outfit photos or whatever. Awkward pose is awkward.

The pattern of the tights! I'll see how well these hold up because I have really freaky big big toes that are longer than the rest. I always end up with holes in the feet of my tights and I've even ruined a couple of pairs of Vans with my cursed toes. If these are good tights, I'll be buying more!

Anyways, not too bad of a haul. I saw other things I wanted but didn't bother with at the time. Sometimes I see things and if I leave without them and they stay on my mind, I'll know I really wanted them and I'll go back. I hate to buy things on the fly and never wear/use them.

This is the mesh skirt. I bought it on impulse because I love this kind of thing, but now I can't decide what to wear with it. Plain black top? Or does grey/pink/black work? I tried with the grey tights but I don't like the way the pattern on the tights and the skirt go together. 

Suggestions? :)