Pick-Ups & Deliveries: April 2015 — Sephora VIB Sale

As you may already know, Sephora had their VIB sale last month (I think they called it their "Love Note" sale or something like that), which entitled their VIB and VIB Rouge members 15% off all purchases. And I am nothing if not predictable when it comes to cosmetics sales. That is, I went a little overboard. Realistically, a 15% discount is really not a big deal when it comes down to it; I mean, in Ontario, it's a little over the amount of tax we have to pay, anyway. But I always use it as an excuse to grab all the things I've been eyeing since the November VIB sale. People do Spring cleaning, I do Spring hoarding.

NARS Dual-Intensity Blush in Jubilation, Frenzy, and Adoration
NARS Audacious Lipstick in Fanny, Angela, Michiyo, Natalie, Catherine, and Brigitte
When I first saw that NARS was coming out with their Dual-Intensity Blushes, I knew I was going to want all of them (as Liz would say, my inner blush fiend roared to life!). I already love their Dual-Intensity Eyeshadows, so I knew there was going to be a really slim chance that I wouldn't be completely obsessed with these. And I was right. I couldn't get my hands on any of the Surratt blushes (they will be mine!) because they sold out online in approximately 2.8 seconds and they never came back in stock during the sale (or at least, not when I checked), so I decided three shades of the NARS Dual-Intensity Blushes were in order to make up for it. (Review and swatches to come, of course.) And since I was looking at NARS already, I (predictably) got more Audacious Lipsticks. I picked up five in brighter Spring and Summer shades, plus Fanny, which I categorize as just goddamn pretty all year round, season be damned. 
Clinique Cheek Pop Blushes (clockwise from left): Melon Pop, Nude Pop, Fig Pop, Rosy Pop, Heather Pop, and Pansy Pop
Clinique Pop Lip Colour + Primer in Nude Pop, Beige Pop, Melon Pop, Wow Pop, and Grape Pop
I usually don't pay any attention to Clinique's make-up, but when they rolled out eight new shades of their Cheek Pops (by far my favourite Clinique product, and one of my favourite blush formulas of all time), I knew I had to check them out. Before this launch, they only had four shades in their Cheek Pop range, which are all beautiful but very limited (seriously, they had two warm peaches and two cooler pink shades), and they were in desperate need of variety. There were three of the new shades that I knew I was going to get for sure (Melon Pop, Fig Pop, and Pansy Pop), and then upon swatching, I chose another three shades that I would probably not have chosen just by looking at in the pan (Nude Pop, Rosy Pop, and Heather Pop) but look so, so pretty on the skin. To coincide with the launch of their new blushes, they also released a new lipstick range called Pop Lip Colour + Primer, which is meant to be a "rich, weightless formula that fuses bold, saturated colour with a smoothing primer." I had my doubts, and then decided to try on a shade and see how it would wear. And I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked it: it's ultra-smooth, creamy, super pigmented, comfortable to wear, and never drying despite it's satin finish. So I bought five shades. You know, to start off with.
Too Faced La Crème Lip Cream in Honey Bear, Razzle Dazzle Rose, and Juicy Melons
Ardency Inn Modster Manuka Honey Enriched Pigments in Heaven, Vintage Gold, Peacock, and Hell
Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Blushed Copper
As you know, I have become quite addicted to Too Faced's La Crème lipsticks and wanted to pick up some new shades (I had written in my review that I'd be "hoarding many, many more"). I got all nudes last time, so I picked three decidedly different colours this time around that is also appropriate for this time of year. (Also, Sephora is all up on Too Faced's Melted Metals right now, and even though I'm all for '90s beauty trends making a comeback, metallic lips is just one that needs to be kept in the '90s. I will never, ever get into this look, so when the Sephora BA showed them to me as I was looking at the La Crèmes, I couldn't censor myself and just blurted out, "Ew, god, no!") I also got four more of Ardency Inn's Modster Manuka Honey Enriched Pigments (though still no luck getting my hands on Royal, which I have been trying to get for the last six months), and Becca's latest (and limited edition) Blushed Copper because you know I cannot resist a new Shimmering Skin Perfector (and also, I will be a glowing bronze goddess this summer).

Urban Decay De-Slick Mattifying Powder, Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer in Medium Light Neutral, Laura Mercier Foundation Primer Oil-Free, NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base, and Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara
Fresh Sugar Lychee Eau de Parfum
Marc Jacobs Beauty Le Marc Lip Crème in So Rouge
I've been wanting to try another oil-absorbing powder just to see if anything can compare to my MAC Blot, so the guy at Sephora recommended Urban Decay's De-Slick Mattifying Powder (I didn't even know they made this product; I thought they only had their De-Slick Setting Spray). Likewise, I got Urban Decay's new Naked Skin Concealer to see if I'd like it more than the NARS' Radiant Creamy Concealer (which I quite like, actually... I just wanted to try something new); the Laura Mercier Foundation Primer Oil-Free because MAC has changed the formulation on my beloved Prep + Prime Face Protect SPF 50 and I have to go on the hunt for a new primer that'll keep me matte; a new tube of my favourite NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base (I know some people have found it to be less effective the longer you use it, but it still works like a charm for me and is still my ride-or-die eye primer); a tube of Too Faced's Better Than Sex Mascara which I will see if I like more than Urban Decay's Perversion (my current holy grail); and a new travel-size bottle of my favourite perfume to keep in my purse. I spent so much at Sephora that I managed to renew my VIB Rouge status for another year (as in, to the end of 2016, which means I'm out of fucking control). And they gave me a mini Marc Jacobs lipstick as a gift. Well, I mean, it's the least they could do for spending thousands of dollars there every year, right?