when leopard gets a tan | nyx bronzer


A couple weeks ago, I finally made the effort to visit the NYX Cosmetic store on Queen Street. I hear wonderful things about NYX Cosmetics from readers and forums alike, so I felt that it was time to incorporate a couple products into my collection. The store was pretty amazing – I spent a ton of time roaming around and ultimately picked up two items – a jumbo lip pencil and the bronzer I will be talking about today, Tango with Bronzing Powder ($13cdn).

I chose the shade When Leopard Gets a Tan for two reasons: 1. the product itself is so ridiculously adorable and 2. I have nothing like this in my collection. The leopard print colours range from a shimmery peach to a hot pink to a deep tan, which made me worry that when blended, the product wouldn’t swatch too well. What I found was that it actually swatched similar to the Dallas Blush by Benefit (which I love for a natural look).

The NYX site describes this mosaic bronzer as a product that will “create a golden glow on the face and body – like you’ve just returned from a Caribbean getaway. Sun-kissed never looked this beautiful.


Packaging
The packaging does a pretty good job. The case is made of hard plastic; I found that after awhile, I needed to be extra cautious when lifting the lid, as the hinge seemed unstable. There are two compartments to the package – one for the bronzer pan and the second compartment used as storage space with a vent to hold the small brush that comes with it. Personally, I never use the small brush and would have preferred to have a sleeker case.

Product
I have been using this product on and off again for a few weeks now. I find the powder isn’t as finely milled as something like the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders, but for the price, this does a great job applying without streaking. I use a light hand with this product as it seems to grab onto my bronzer brush with ease. The colour is lovely and gives a more pinky tone than I thought it initially would. I feel it will fade more in the summer months when I become a bit darker naturally. When used with a primer, I had no problem with lasting issues. After a full day of wear, I still came home to this product on my cheeks.

NYX When Leopard Gets a Tan, Tango Bronzer Swatch

Verdict
If you’re looking for a shade similar to Dallas by Benefit but are on a budget, I recommend trying this bronzer out. It can work as a blush for lighter skin tones and a bronzer for medium to dark. The colours are undeniably beautiful and the outcome of all three shades mixed together is stunning.

Repurchase?
Yes, although the powder isn’t as finely milled as other brands I like, the colour and price of this product will keep me coming back for more.

blotterazzi by beauty blender


The beauty blender is my all time favourite tool to use when applying my foundation. The first time I read about the beauty blender and saw the price I was taken aback. How could a single sponge cost so much? During one of the bi-annual sales Sephora stores generally have, I caved and picked one up. The first time I applied my foundation with the beauty blender I wondered how I ever lived without one. Eventually, I picked up other blenders by different companies but the application just wasn’t the same. I have been a loyal fan of beauty blenders for quite some time now and have disregarded any foundation brush I own. I also get a little too excited when there is a launch of a new beauty blender colour (hello, nude!) or product in general.

Last year, beauty blender launched the Blotterazzi ($28 cdn) by Beauty Blender. I couldn’t wait to try this product out. I picked mine up at IMATS Toronto 2015 but they are still available at Sephora.

The Blotterazzi is made with the same material as regular beauty blenders but the primary purpose is to “absorb excess oil without disturbing makeup so that skin stays looking radiant. With the compact’s vented back and clear, hygienic separator, it ensures that the sponges keep their freshness.”


Packaging
The packaging is actually very cute. This is probably my favourite thing about this product. The hard case is sleek and sturdy. It has a pretty pearlescent plastic material and opens the same way a book would open. Inside there is a mirror and two slim beauty sponges. A plastic film to prevent cross contamination separates the sponges and a vent on the back allows breathability.

Product
As much as I love the beauty blenders, I’m not enthralled with this product. The concept is great, but the sponges don’t work well for my oily t-zone. It removes a bit of the excess oil, but not enough for me to use this on the daily. I patted and dabbed the sponge on my skin and my makeup remained in place and unmoved. However, when I did a swiping motion, my makeup came off with it. You could see the visible change of colour on the sponge. The sponge looks and feels like a slimmed down, flat version of the original beauty blender. I do like that this is reusable and I can clean the sponges the same way I clean my beauty blenders.


Verdict
Perhaps my expectations were too high on this one. I really wanted to love the blotterazzi as much as I love the beauty blenders but I can’t justify it this time around. The concept is great but the end result is extremely underwhelming.

Repurchase?
Unfortunately, I would recommend saving your money and picking up blotting papers instead. Alternatively, if you haven’t tried an original beauty blender, I would definitely recommend trying it out. I’m not kidding when I say I literally use the beauty blender every time I put makeup on. It’s really that good.

Have you tried anything from the beauty blender range?

march finds


Happy Easter Weekend! I figured after a week away from blogging, my first post back would focus on all the new items I’ve picked up in the past month. Unlike last month’s finds (here), which focused more on Korean skincare, this month had a good mix of high-end skincare products as well as drugstore brand favourites. Some of the items purchased have already been reviewed, while a few will be posted this coming week.

Although the NYX store opened up in Toronto many months back, I had yet to step foot in it. Queen Street used to be my old stomping grounds back in my university days, but recently, I don’t have much reason to head into the downtown core. A couple weeks ago, I finally made the trek down and spent an unhealthy amount of time browsing around the NYX store. This was my first time trying anything from NYX so I stuck with my “when in doubt” products.

NYX Tango withBronzer Powder – When Leopard Gets a Tan ($13 cdn) is a beautiful mix between a bronzer and blush. I picked this because I have nothing like this in my collection and let’s be real, how adorable is this packaging AND name?! This swatches like a dream and works wonderfully on my skin tone. I will be posting a full review within the next couple of days.

I’ve been less bold with my lip choices recently and have stuck to nude pinks as my go to colour. I know NYX is known for their velvet matte lip products, but I was in the market for a no mess, no fuss product that didn’t need much prep work. The moment I swatched the Jumbo Lip Pencil ($6 cdn) I knew I had to take it home with me. It glided on like a dream and has an incredible lasting time. At this price point, I will definitely be back for more. Another lip product I picked up and have been using all month is the Tarte Rainforestof the Sea Quench Lip Rescue ($23 cdn) (review here). I absolutely love how hydrating this product is and the packaging is so freaking cute!


The Real Techniques BlushBrush ($12.99 cdn) has been something I’ve wanted to try but I haven’t had the opportunity to pick up. I finally bought this a few days ago so I haven’t had much time to play with this brush. I’ll be sure to post a review as soon as I have had enough time to test it. Physically, the brush is solidly built and the hair on this brush is extremely full and soft. I’m hoping I have found a replacement for my sigma blush brush!

Tony Moly Egg Pore ($23 cdn) is a product that has been out of stock on the Sephora site for months now. I lucked out and found this at a local Asian beauty store and have been using it two to three times a week since opening it. This scrub helps smoothen and hydrate my pore problem areas, like my nose (in depth review here).

I know there are quite a few people that don’t use face mists, but this is a refreshing step that I love to do – especially during the winter months. This Shiseido Ibuki QuickFix Mist ($32 cdn) is a unique mist that hydrates well and smells divine. Find out why this mist differs from others in my review here.

The Boscia Sake Balm ($58 cdn) is the first botanically-based skincare product that doesn’t break me out. This product has an odd consistency (similar to Jello) that aims to brighten and hydrate the skin. I have been using this every morning as part of my skincare routine since purchasing this at Sephora. Read about this quick absorbing moisturizer here.

What new products have you picked up this month? Let me know down below!