SDM - Beauty Boutique Gala

So, back in September Shoppers Drug Mart had a Gala event.  It was actually quite good.  I had set up an appointment to try Stila cosmetics.  The girl who did my makeover did a TERRIBLE job.  I looked like I had no makeup on and I can streaks of foundation. It was so disappointing that I didn't get a good impression of a lot of their cosmetics.  She used an apricot (like an old crayola "flesh" crayon) type pencil on my waterline..it looked like I had pink eye..ugh! The mascara did NOT show up.  It was just sad and I should have scheduled a Benefit makeover.  Stephanie does an amazing job and they're my favourite makeup brand.

Anyways... this trip was not without it's shopping...so read on it's picture heavy!

I did end up picking up a couple Stila items.  I think it was a bonus 6800 points if you purchased $60 in Stila cosmetics.  What I did like was this Stila one step bronze.  It is a skin tone illuminating bronzing serum.  It retails for $47.

"This innovative triple-swirled helix serum instantly illuminates, bronzes, primes and nourishes the skin. One step bronze immediately  creates a flawless glow, improves skin tone, and helps smooth fine lines and wrinkles."

-matte bronze - warms & colour corrects
-luminous bronze - enhances skintone & illuminates
-kitten shimmer - brightens, illuminate & helps diminish the appearance of sun spots.

-helps diminish the look of fine lines & wrinkles
-helps minimize pores
-helps hydrate & balance
-helps control oil

I just love the natural packaging of this product, as well.  I guess this is a Stila thing.

It's a pricey product, but it's a big bottle - 30mL.

I also couldn't resist picking up one of the Stila palettes.  I've been eyeing them for quite some time and with a bazillion Shoppers points, I thought this was the perfect time.  I picked up the "In the Moment" palette. There's that cute packaging again!  This retails for $50.00.

This is the extremely pretty palette, that flips up.  Inside there is a quote that says, "cherish the beauty of the moment."  I notice Stila likes to use all lowercase lettering on everything.

The back of the palette breaks down the colour names.

This is the palette opened...ahhh beauty! Purples and neutrals.  My 2 favourites. Down across the bottom is a smudge stick waterproof eye liner in tetra.

Top Row L to R: instinct, impulse, glance, improvise, catalyst.
Bottom Row L to R: desire, wonder, spontaneous, whim, captivate.

Closeup.  They've all got some degree of shimmer.  I LOVE shimmer!

I also wanted to try the John Frieda precision foam dye.  It was actually quite good and easy to use (says my husband. ;)) It was on sale for $12.99 I believe.  $2 off.

The Maybelline Lasting Drama gel eyeliner is my FAVOURITE gel liner (or any type of liner period!) This stuff is amazing and if you're terrible at applying liner..this just may work much better for you.  Mine is not anywhere near empty...but at 50% off I had to pick this up!  I think it was around $5.50.

Then, I also grabbed a Quo Pretty Fierce Lip Primer.  I'm a huge fan of Quo.  It's not your typical drugstore brand.  I've had amazing experiences with all my quo products.  This is high end stuff for a mid priced product! I've only ever tried a lip primer in a pot that looks similar to an eye primer.

Inside it looks like this:

You can see that the primer is infused in the centre of what feels like a moisturiser.

Next up, is a product I am SO in love with right now.  It's SO amazing.  If you haven't tried it...GET IT NOW!!! :)  This is the Quo Lip Crayon.  I think it's around $6 or $7.  It comes in 4 colours and I totally gravitated towards the Crimson.

This applies so beautifully!!! It's creamy, it's moisturizing, it's long lasting, it doesn't bleed. You twist it up, love that!  I am going to pick up 2 or 3 more to have when these are all gone!  This is THE most perfect shade of red.  I'll get a picture up soon.  I think it's universally flattering. If you're new to red, I totally suggest this lip crayon.  DH bought me a pink one now as well which is my perfect neutral everyday colour!

Next, was a pricey item that my husband asked me to get.  He knows how much I love sparkle and he loves red. It's Clarins Joli Rouge lipstick in hibiscus. It's $27.00. It has a sleek oval metallic case and is quite heavy. I've never felt a heavier lipstick.  It feels very expensive (duh! it is!)

The bottom basically shows you the colour.  It actually has the same amount of shimmer as it shows on the bottom.

This is what the lipstick looks like.  Love the little Clarins imprint.  It's a red colour with orange undertones.  It's very wearable and I'm loving coral so this is a nice one to add to my collection.  It smells amazing...like candy..nerds. :P

Here is a swatch.  Can you see the sparkle?

I couldn't leave shoppers without picking up something by Benefit. So, I grabbed the Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Brightening Makeup. The Hello Flawless powder coverup is something I NEVER leave home without...it truly makes my skin looks flawless. I had to add this one.  There aren't a lot of colour choices and I'm not sure any suit me to a T.  But, this one may work..hope so, it was $42.00 smackeroos!

"It's you... just more luminous & healthy looking! Our brightening makeup builds from light to medium coverage for a natural complexion you can believe in.  Goodbye imperfections. Hello flawless!"

The colour I picked up is Petal.  It's a 30mL bottle.  I haven't tried this yet..*gasp* I will soon though.  I just have too much makeup too use up! ugh! Inside was a foil sample of Porefessional.  I have a kajillion of these now..no more porefessional samples!!! lol

So, if you purchased the Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow, you got a FREEBIE...yah!!!

Inside is a 2.5mL bottle of cha cha tint, 4g tube of bad gal lash and a 7.5mL tube of the porefessional.  I use Bad Gal Lash religiously.  It's the best mascara I've *ever* used.  This deluxe sample lasts me a good 6 weeks to 2 months.  I know, I just finished using one.  I use it on top of a lengthening mascara.  The porefessional is a product I use on a daily basis as well.  I apply on my skin after moisturizer but prior to foundation.

ANOTHER FREEBIE!!!! So, just for coming to the gala everyone received this little goodie bag of...goodies! :)

Inside was.. a Smashbox Photo Finish primer foil sample.

Foil samples of Givenchy Electric Rose eau de toilette and Clinique moisture surge.

A sample of Diesel cologne for men. It's an oriental, woody and leathery fragrance.  It actually smells really good! Tested it out today on some man. :P

Then a 5mL sample of Avene extremely rich compensating cream.  It claims to be non greasy, we'll see!

Next, a 3mL sample of Vichy youth power serum.

A 7mL bottle of Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair.

Finally, a jar of Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair.  I imagine both of these are used in conjunction..but I will have to find some instructions as there is none on the bottles.

This is the whole lot of goodies:

Now...if you spent $100 (I think?) you got a gift box of sample goodies!! Yah!!!

Get to know your SDM ladies.  I made 2 separate purchases with the stuff above and they gave me a second box.. probably because I spent a small fortune. lol So, double the goodies...a better chance of trying the products out!

This is everything that came in ONE box. Everything was identical in both except for the Rimmel colour:

Inside was a full size Rimmel Moisture Renew cream lipgloss.

One box had Cherry Boost (top) the other had Purple Rescue (bottom).

Also, a full size essence lipstick in the colour Fifth Avenue.  Both boxes had the same colour.

Samples of reversa multi tasking care moisturizer, JR Watkins hand and body lotion in lavender and Vichy 3 in 1 calming cleansing micellar solution.

Samples of Biotherm blue therapy serum, NeoStrata Intense Anti Aging Serum (age 35+), ROC Multi Correxion, Purminerals Colour Correcting Primer and Bourjois healthy mix serum gel foundation.

Lancome Visionnaire advanced skin correctior, Elizabeth Arden Visible Difference Skin Balancing Skincare trio.

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer, Lise Watier Lift & Firm (this is for 40+).

BB creams by Gosh, Maybelline and Annabelle.

Marcelle energizing hydrating gel, porefessional and revlon crazy shine nail buffer.

Perfume samples: Vera Wang Princess Night, Lacoste eau de Lacoste, Lady Gaga Fame. Lady Gaga Fame actually does come out a muddy black colour..bizarre. It doesn't stain black or anything, but it IS a really pretty perfume! Sweet, candy sweet and floral.

Perfume samples: Thierry Mugler Alien, Ed Hardy Villain (it is for women), Justin Bieber Girlfriend.

And then... I went home.  The next day they called me and told me I won one of their baskets.  I don't have the greatest luck so it was fun!  Not the greatest basket, but how can you complain about freebies, right?

I deleted the content photos by accident, so you'll have to get by on a list...so inside:

*Green Lacoste duffle bag that was a GWP of $71.
*Foil packet samples of Clinique moisture surge, Clinique all about eyes and Jouviance antioxidant emulsion.
*Sample of Avene skin recovery cream.
*Ralph Lauren deodorizing body spray for men. (smells great!)
*ROC Soleil Protexion invisible touch with SPF 30.
*NeoStrata Invigorating Solution. (30 pre-soaked pads)
*Nina Ricci gift set with a deluxe size perfume (6mL) and a full size body lotion (100mL) in L'Air du Temps. I think I'll give this to my grandma, she would like it..it's a bit too mature for me.

*phew* This post has been in the works for quite some time! Thanks for sticking it through.  When stores (coughshopperscough) do freebie events I can't resist!

Weekend is here...so ENJOY!!

XO
~A