Tuesday 24 April 2012

Ulta Haul


Is a haul still a haul if I didn't purchase anything myself? My mama recently went down to the U.S. with a few friends for some good old cross-border shopping. She asked me if I needed anything and I did request a few NYX products. While you can buy NYX in Canada I find everywhere around me carries a limited inventory, and it is never of the products I want. However, being the fantastic mother that she is she picked up a little something extra she knew I would love :) Don't you just love when Mom's do that!


  • Naked 2 Palette by Urban Decay - This was the "little something extra" my Mom surprised me with. I had mentioned this palette before to her. Several times I called her because I was in line to purchase it and I needed someone to talk me out of it. I don't care who you are, $60 on a palette is a lot of money! So when she went into Ulta and they had a special on Urban Decay products, she picked up the palette for me :). I was really excited when she gave it to me... I can't even count the blog posts and Youtube videos I have watched on it.. and now I had one. It actually took me three days to finally work up the courage to use it... it just looked so pretty brand new! I won't go into too much detail on it. I'm still developing an opinion and I have an interesting review/comparison post I am going to do on it, so watch out for that!
  • Urban Decay All Night Setting Spray - This was an additional gift my Mom got when purchasing the Naked 2 palette. It is a great travel size version of the product, and I actually have this exact same size already, but I'm almost out. I wear powder foundation on a daily basis, and a couple sprays of this really gives my face a natural no-makeup appearance.
  • Urban Decay Eye Primer Potion in Sin - I own the full-size version of this in the original colour. This was another additional gift that Ulta was giving away when my Mom was down there. This version is a sparkly bronzed pinkish colour, that is actually quite nice just on its own. A couple times I have worn this as the only thing on my eyes and it looks quite nice. However, if I'm going to pay the $24 for the full-size I would get the original. This version has some serious sparkle and if you are using matte eye shadows, I feel the sparkle in the primer would show through.
  • NYX Shine Killer - This is a skin primer for people with oily skin. I saw this on the Ulta website, and being that I am always looking for something to tame my oily t-zone, thought I would ask my mom to pick this up for me. It is a clear gel consistency, and at first use  I wasn't crazy about the way it applied to my face. Still developing an opinion though, I am sure you will hear about it at one point!
  • NYX Eyebrow Push-up Bra - My Mom couldn't stop laughing when she was retelling me the story of trying to find this at Ulta. My mom simply printed a list of the three products I wanted, went into Ulta, and handed it to one of the girls to find them for her since she knew she would spend hours looking. Apparently, it took three employees to figure out what this was, because it is a new product, and they were stuck on the word "Push-up Bra". In the end though, I am glad she found it because I really love this product. The brown colour is pretty universal and blends nicely with my eyebrows, and the pink is perfect for highlighting or even covering a small blemish. It is a nice multi-tasking tool!
  • NYX Soft Matte Lipwear in Tokyo - I saw this in a few Youtube video's and have been dying to try it! The colour looks so pretty and I like the fact that it is a full colour gloss/lipstick mix. They were pretty inexpensive too. I'm not sure I'm in love with this. The concept is interesting, and it dries matte and true to colour, but it really highlights any of your lips imperfections, and has a tendency to since into your lips natural lines. I think I need more time to play around with it.


It really is too bad Ulta doesn't have stores/doesn't ship to Canada. While I have never actually been in an Ulta store (gasp!) I see their deals from time to time  on-line and they seem to be substantial. I apologize for the quality of my photo, I can't seem to get the right angle/lighting/location etc. Sometimes I feel uninspired to blog, and I think it is because I am less then impressed with my photos. I take a lot of pride in my blog and want to take pride in my photo's as well. I'm working on improving them so if you bare with me, hopefully things will get better!

I hope you enjoyed this little haul!

xo Kathryn

33 comments:

  1. Great products..Enjoy doll:)
    Sara xx http://beautifulworldoflennynb.blogspot.ca/

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  2. Great haul! Your mom did well! Lol I love the original Urban Decay primer as well!

    xx
    Giovanna
    www.oliveandanarrow.com

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    1. She did do well! hehe I use to settle with other primers but now that I've found Urban Decay.. I just can't go back!

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  3. This post really makes me want to go on a cross-border shopping trip! Looking forward to hearing more about these once you've had the chance to use them more :)

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    1. Me to! Haha I wish I could have gone with her. I definitely will either give a full opinion in reviews or a hit and misses post.
      xo

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    2. P.S I just awarded you a blog award on my blog! :) xx

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    3. Wow thank you so much! That's incredibly nice of you going to check it out asap :)

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  4. oh my gosh, what I wouldn't give for Ulta to come to Canada! although the deals/prices would never be as good as the ones in the USA anyway :/ You got a great haul!
    I agree with you about photographs. I am not a photographer. I love to write, but my photos are never as gorgeous as a lot of other beauty bloggers and I feel like it makes my blog look 'cheap' but I do not own a nice camera, I lack great natural lighting, and if I am excited to blog about something, I just wanna get pictures and post 'em even if they're not the best quality. I hope my writing and reviews make up for lack-lustre photography skills :)

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    1. You're totally right.. whenever a store comes to Canada the prices are never as good (i.e. Forever 21). And I have to say I love your pictures and think your writing is outstanding...we are all our own worst critic aren't we haha :)

      xo

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  5. Lovely products! Your mom is really nice :) That eye primer potion does sound like it would be nice on its own. I've heard great things about the setting spray, I'd be curious to see if it really works. And enjoy your Naked2 palette, I'll be looking forward to your upcoming comparison post!

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    1. Aw thanks hun. Ya the primer is great on its own and perfect for a lazy girl like me :) ox

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  6. Oooh, thank you mom!! You should check out Beautyjoint.com That's where I get most of my NYX stuff! Your blog is beautiful and it's the writing and the passion behind it that people love :-)

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    1. Ohh I've never checked out that website before.. going now! How is their shipping? Your so sweet Jayne thank you for the confidence boost on my blog <3

      xo

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  7. Great haul!
    Hope you enjoy your NAKED 2 palette, I've bought it lately and I love it!
    New follower from Italy :) xx

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    1. Thanks hun :) Wow all the way from Italy I'm totally flattered! Now following your blog xo

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  8. i wanted to try the nyx lip products as well- let us know if you can get the formula to work better for you :)


    Jordan xx
    - Boho Vanity Giveaway -

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  9. They are a cool concept.. still playing around but I think the problem might be the colour on me.. my lips are kind of dark and it might not be working well with the light pink. I'm not giving up yet though!!

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  10. What a great haul! It must have been so exciting to receive that UD palette - especially since you've wanted it for so long. I know what you mean about pictures - I've been trying to improve mine but it is a difficult process; I'm a writer first so the photography is a learning curve - but blogging is all a growing and learning process! You do a great job!

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    1. It was very exciting! Like I said it took awhile for me to get up the courage to use it haha silly I know. I definitely agree the photography is a learning curve and thank you for the confidence boost hun <3 I appreciate it!

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  11. thanks hun I appreciate the comment xo

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  12. I know what you mean about the shipping! It would make things so much easier if they just shipped to Canada!

    I got the Naked 1 palette for my birthday (my first expensive eyeshadow palette) and I use it literally everyday! It seems ridiculous, but now I kind of want the Naked 2 :S

    Andrea
    http://www.cutely-whimsical.blogspot.com

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    1. Doesn't seem ridiculous at all! I now want the Naked 1 Palette haha just to see how they compare :)

      xo

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  13. Yeah I read about this palette before, would really love to have it. :)

    - Malena
    www.fashioncontainer.com

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    1. It is a great palette but the price tag makes it so hard to commit!

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  14. Oooh - looks like your mom brought back a ton of goodies for you! I can't believe the great deals Ulta has..it's too bad they won't let non-US residents order online either (tried placing an order with them and wanted to have it shipped to my US address but they only accept payment from US banks or US paypal accounts).

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    1. Ohh that is good to know I know someone that owns a house in the states.. was thinking of shipping things there and having her bring it back for me but looks like that's not an option :(

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  15. great post!:)

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    1. Thanks hun! I appreciate you taking the time to leave such a nice comment:)

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  16. great buys hun I have a dupe of the NYX lip cream (is that the name) from Collection 2000:) Its a nice shade!

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