"Thanks, Mr. Taxman" Haul :)

Hi, everyone! It's time for (surprise, surprise) another haul! The Tax Man was extra generous to me this year (yay for tax return season!), so I treated myself with a trip up to Yorkdale Mall last week. Yorkdale is a bit of an extra trek for me, but I always enjoy an occasional visit due to the amazing variety of stores (everything from Old Navy to Holt Renfrew!). It's a bit difficult to maneuver and I always get lost in there, but that's besides the point. Onto the haul!

I snagged a variety of skincare and makeup items, all of which have me totally excited! I've put all of them to good use already, so I feel like I went home with some instant staples and favourites. Here's a few words about each!

REN Clear Calm 3 Clarifying Clay Cleanser
As my Elemental Herbology cleanser is running quite low, I was on the look-out for a new morning-time cleanser suitable for tackling the summer weather and my temperamental oily, acne-prone, sensitive skin. I'd heard nothing but good things about this REN Clear Calm Clay Cleanser and further inspection convinced me that it was destined to be mine. This creamy face washed is designed to be deep cleansing (thanks to French clay), antibacterial, gently exfoliating (with salicilin and lactic acid), and soothing (thanks to chamomile and other gentle botanicals). All things that I look for! It's also free of parabens, sulfates, or phthalates, which is a huge plus. 

Aesop Chamomile Concentrate Anti-Blemish Mask
I had sampled this mask some months back and was totally impressed. This clay-based, deep cleansing mask is another product that aims to purify the skin while soothing it and keeping it calm. So what my complexion needs! This creamy, cooling treatment includes Chamomile, Tea Tree, and Evening Primrose to leave the skin "calmed, softened, and pacified" (from aesop.com). It can be used as an all-over face mask or as an overnight spot treatment, so also quite versatile!

Aesop Parsley Seed Antioxidant Eye Serum and Antioxidant Eye Cream (samples)
The sweet and helpful sales associate at the Aesop counter convinced me that the Parsley Seed eye products were the bees knees. The textures felt quite lovely on the skin, but since these are quite pricey, I thought I'd go for samples first. She provided me with two sachets each so that I could give them a proper go! The Eye Serum is designed to offer light-weight hydration (thanks to an aloe base) and protect with vitamins, antioxidants, and fatty acids. She mentioned that you can store it in the fridge for an extra cooling treat! The Eye Cream is richer, containing a shea-butter base and Vitamins C and E for antioxidant protection. She said that this one makes a perfect nighttime eye treat!

Aesop Purifying Facial Exfoliant Paste
This was another Aesop goody that I sampled awhile ago that totally blew me away! I typically don't like manual exfoliants, as they tend to irritate my sensitive skin, but this gem of a scrub seems to be incredibly effective without causing any redness or soreness. It's actually a combination of manual and chemical exfoliation, with scrubby bits of quartz (fancy) and lactic acid (my favourite acid. Yes, I have a favourite!). It's all set in a creamy base, which makes it a pleasure to use!

Clarins UV Plus HP Day Screen High Protection Tint SPF40 in Light
Since I use both retinol and chemical exfoliant-based products on a pretty regular basis, I'd been on the market recently for a new lightweight daily sunscreen to wear underneath foundation. Let me tell you, it's not an easy task to find a high SPF that doesn't leave my skin a greasy, spotty mess! I spotted this option from Clarins while in Sephora and was drawn to its promises of a matte finish, 100% mineral sunscreen, and potent anti-oxidant and antipollution protection. It has a sheer tint of colour, which is something that my blotchy skin can always use, plus it's free of synthetic dyes, petrochemicals, GMOs, and phthalates. Score!

MAC Powder Blush in Modern Mandarin
This blush was single-handedly thrust onto my radar by Coco at The Beauty Milk. It looked so lovely on her and the shade seemed right up my alley. I knew I had to check it out! MAC describes the shade as a "red-orange", but I would say that it's more of a yellowed golden orange with slight pinky-coral undertones. It gives a stunning satiny sheen to the cheeks without any hint of frost or noticeable glitter. It reminds me slightly of NARS Taj Mahal, but with a much more wearable level of sheen and saturation. It's a beaut!

MAC Maleficent Eye Shadow x4
I am so excited for the new Maleficent movie, as she has always been my favourite and most feared (yikes!) Disney villain. For whatever reason, I wasn't particularly excited about MAC's new Maleficent collection. Until I saw it in person, that is. I opted for the Maleficent eye shadow quad, as it contains two lovely matte browns (Ground Brown and Concrete; much lacking in my stash), a stunning shimmery yellow gold (Goldmine), and a true matte black (Carbon). I could see these tones working perfectly together for both a natural, neutral look or something a bit more... evil ;)

So there you have it! I was (am still am) super jazzed about all of the goodies I picked up last week. The shades, textures, and formulas of all of these products are such a pleasure to use and will undoubtedly be staples in my summer routine.

Have I tempted you with anything here? What have you hauled lately?

Thanks for reading! xo