I recently decided that it is time I explore Canadian makeup brands. While I am not going to completely ignore the usual brands such as Maybelline, Revlon, Rimmel and the likes, I thought it would be a great idea to discover local brands. As I am fairly new to Canada, this would also be a great way to educate myself about the local beauty market.
So you can imagine my excitement when Stephanie from SST Cosmetics reached out to me asking if I was interested in trying some of their products.
SST Cosmetics is a mineral based brand from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and their products are all made without parabens. Their products are divided into two ranges; Signature Series and Black Label.
Let's talk about the base products. I received these samples for testing however, due to the size of the samples, I only managed two applications for both the tinted primer* and CC Cream* so it's really hard for me to give my opinions without proper testing.
The tinted primer* was okay but it didn't do anything for my skin. It didn't prolong my makeup and using another foundation on top of this was a nightmare as my face looked oily after 3 hours. I am also not a fan of the CC cream* as I find it almost impossible to blend in. The product sat on top of my skin and made my face looked powdery and cakey. And unfortunately for me, the foundation* has separated so there was no way for me to test it at all.
Judging by the condition of the foundation, it led me to believe that there are some problems with the samples and it's not a true testament towards the real product quality.
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| Foundation from sachet |
Next up is the Skin Perfecting Balm with Tea Tree (C$47.94)* from the Black Label range. This product had me confused on how to use it but Stephanie was more than happy to inform me that it can be use to hydrate the skin, as a primer to prep the skin before makeup and as a lip balm. This is a brilliant multi purpose product!
Using this as a primer made my foundation application a breeze. It smooths out my dry spots and my base looks absolutely flawless. I noticed my makeup looks almost as fresh at the end of the day with very minimal fading.
But the real star quality of this balm was when I used it as a lip primer. It neutralized my natural lip colour, kept my lips hydrated and Mac Ruby Woo glided smoothly over it, no more tugging. I barely felt the dryness that usually happens when I use Ruby Woo, love the lipstick but gosh, is it ever drying on the lips?!
This balm has definitely changed my matte lipstick application. Major love!
Lastly, is my favourite product that I received from the Signature Series, Hydrating Lipstick in Shade Drama Queen (C$23.94)*.
This lipstick is creamy, applies very smoothly over the lips and all I needed was one swipe to achieve the right colour intensity. It lasted well over 6 hours on my lips with eating and drinking! And my lips felt hydrated throughout wear time. There is not one thing that I can complain about this gorgeous lipstick and I already have my eyes on Red Alert and #XOXO.
Overall, SST Cosmetics has definitely impressed me with the balm and lipstick but I do wish I had the opportunity to do a proper review on the base products.
Have you heard of SST Cosmetics before?
SST Cosmetics are available to purchase in salons all over Canada (check here) or through online (check here).
*I received this product for free but my thoughts and opinions are 100% unbiased, honest and my own. There is no place for any sort of BS here.
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