Hudson’s Bay Beauty: Becca, Burberry & Vincent Longo

~ stashy

I don’t even need to explain myself. I bought makeup.  Lots of it.  Hudson’s Bay is Canada’s main department store – we often just call it “The Bay”.  Its American equivalent would be Macy’s.  It carries all the core cosmetics brands typically found in department stores: Clinique, Clarins, Shiseido, Lancome, Estee Lauder… but, their flagship location in downtown Toronto also carries some brands that I’ve been wanting to try more of, including Becca, Burberry and Vincent Longo:
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These were purchased over 3 separate visits; first I visited the Becca counter, which is located in a newer section of the store, called Beauty Underground which is located on the lower level, the same level as the subway.  Within this department, they carry more of their “fringe” brands like Becca, Vincent Longo, and Anna Sui – there’s even a special display with TonyMoly products!  This post will be more about my experiences at the beauty counters rather than about the products – I promise I’ll do more detailed reviews about the products in the future.

From Becca, I bought:
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• Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Opal
• Under Eye Brightening Corrector
• Ombre Rouge Eye Palette
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The makeup artist (MUA) was fantastic at Becca – she really knew her stuff!  She wasn’t pushy and simply demonstrated a few products on my skin – she used their contour powder on me but I knew that I wouldn’t use it to justify a purchase. When she applied the Shimmering Skin Perfector on my skin – I understood the hype!  It’s incredibly smooth and beautiful on the skin. I’ve also been very curious about the Becca under eye corrector – it’s been well rated and reviewed online so I had to give it a go. And the eye palette – I didn’t really NEED it but it felt so buttery and how can I refuse a collection of neutral matte eye shadows? (And thanks to Ingrid, who whispers to me about this palette day and night!)
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The MUA was so generous with me, she gave me samples of their Beach Tint (Watermelon and Fig), Ever-Matte Poreless Priming Perfector, and Bronzing Skin Perfector. I would never get this kind of treatment at the Becca counter in Sephora!

At Burberry I went a little nuts, I got:
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• Nail Polish in 200 Steel Grey
• Eye Colour Wet and Dry Glow Shadow in 002 Nude
• Quattuor Complete Eye Palette in 07 Pink Taupe
• Light Glow Natural Blush in 07 Earthy
• My Burberry Scented Illuminating Face Powder in Gold Glow No. 01
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I had not meant to buy so much at the Burberry counter but all the pretty packaging just drew me in! I was thrilled that I was finally getting the Nude eye shadow and the Earthy blush (I nabbed the last ones – the MUA said they were constantly out of stock on these shades).
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Out of the 3 counters I visited, I was the most happy with the makeup look this MUA did on me – her blending skills were excellent! She incorporated some shades from the Pink Taupe palette to do a complete eye look so I felt compelled to get the palette too – the khaki-tinged taupe (2nd shade down) is to die for!  The Steel Grey polish is the prettiest greige with golden micro-shimmer… ahhh, *bites knuckles*
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They still had the holiday collection and I was drawn to the powder highlight… and then of course the MUA had to apply it on my skin and it was love at first swipe. Compared to the Becca, this one has a softer sheen and more beige toned.
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The MUA gave me a gwp even though it wasn’t advertised – I think they had these left over from the holiday collection – so I received: a cosmetic pouch, mini Kisses Lipstick in Military Red (how cute is this thing?), Fresh Glow Fluid Foundation sample, and a My Burberry perfume sample.

Vincent Longo:
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• Water Canvas Foundation in #4 Soft Amber
• Water Canvas Travel Compact
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I knew I wanted to get only the Water Canvas Foundation at the Vincent Longo counter.  The MUA at Vincent Longo was well-meaning but she lacked finesse at her job – she was trying to up-sell me with the travel compact but she couldn’t even demonstrate how to put the refill into the compact, I finally had to show her!  She also didn’t prep my skin properly before applying the foundation onto my skin – it was really dehydrated after having to remove my existing base makeup with a makeup wipe she provided me.  So the Water Canvas Foundation applied quite splotchy on my skin. If I hadn’t researched and read up on the product beforehand, it would have really turned me off from buying it. But I knew that with proper prepping of the skin, the foundation should look smooth and flawless.
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I also received an unadvertised gwp at the Vincent Longo counter (I don’t know why they don’t promote their gwp? People would be enticed by them and be more tempted to shop!) which consisted of a full size Dew Radiant blush in Temple Peach, and a travel size of Velour Pressed Powder.  The MUA also created a sample of their face primer for me to try.

I’m SO excited to try all of these! 😀 I will do product reviews once I’ve had a proper use of all of the items.  All 3 brands mentioned are also available online at The Bay’s site (all links in this post directs to their site).  It’s been a while since I’ve visited makeup counters – it was quite fun! 🙂  Have you been to a beauty counter lately? What has been your experience (best / worst) with MUA doing your makeup?

61 thoughts on “Hudson’s Bay Beauty: Becca, Burberry & Vincent Longo”

  1. If you would see my face right now !!! 😳🙊😂 Thank god, I won’t have to make another “subliminal” post about the Ombre Rouge Palette LOL:P What about all the extra goodies you got (FAR from what Sephora gives) !!! The Becca under eye corrector you will either love it or hate it … I LOVE it !!!! We really have similar taste. Crazy beautiful HAUL !

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    1. You’re such an enabler!!! But I’m very pleased with my purchases! 😀 I haven’t used the Ombre Rouge palette yet but I plan to maybe this weekend. The MUA used it on me and the colours DID show up on me just fine, that’s why I decided to get it rather than the Nudes palette (which is lovely in its own right but very monotonous). Spoiler alert, I just started using the Becca under eye corrector on Monday and OMG I LOVE it too!!!! I’m shocked that it works. I’ve tried countless correctors and they’re all too creamy and creases on me. I’ll be doing a full review of it and the other items I got! 😀

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    1. Well it won’t be like this forever! It’s just January that I’m allowing myself to spend. I’m glad you’re enjoying though! I plan to do reviews and swatches of everything coming up. 🙂

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  3. Ahhhhhh whatta haul! 😀 You totally deserve this much m/u fun after last year! Yay, you got the same Burberry palette I did (I still haven’t tried it…what a surprise). I’m curious to see how you like their nail polish, the brush in particular.

    All the GWPs are awesome! It is so weird that they don’t advertise – I guess they give it out when you buy enough stuff. I rarely haul this much at the counters so I occasionally just get a sample or two. The Burberry counter sounded like the best and the most fun!

    I’m also seeing Korean makeup in all kinds of places. I saw Tonymoly masks at Aerie the other day.

    Enjoy all your GOODIES!!!

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    1. Yes I remember you saying that the polish brush was very square. I shall report back on my findings. And I didn’t know you got the same palette – twinsies! 😀 I have so many new items to try but I’m determined not to wait months like I normally do! 😛
      I am thinking these counters are too classy to advertise gwp? 😆
      So weird Korean cosmetics are so commonplace now – perhaps it’s a fad until the next thing comes along.

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  6. Glad to see you invested in some of the best brands and I’m well known about the fact that they are luxury, high end products and it is totally worth to splurge into deluxe brands then and there and throughout the whole post, you’ve been chatting about your personal experience on the time spent along with makeup artist and to be honest, it is Definetely worth to try and consult before heading onto the bill counter as it makes way to buy a perfect product that you would like to use it on a long run. Well, exactly same thing happened when I headed onto Dior Counter recently to pick up one of their latest Dior addict collection and I’m literally loving every bit of it and the makeup artist over there was so helpful in selecting the right product.

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    1. I agree – the experience with the makeup artist is almost as important as the products themselves! If the artist is good, they will show you products you didn’t even know you needed (wanted!) and I walk away being a happier customer! I own some Burberry products before and they were purchased elsewhere but without the assistance of a helpful makeup artist. This experience has made me more loyal to these counters now! 🙂

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  7. I am SWOONING over this haul!! You lucked out with all of those gwp’s too! I just want to get my fingers into all of those pretty Burberry products and swatch all of them…haha. The Steel Grey polish is so beautiful!

    Can’t believe all those Becca samples are “samples”, they’re huge! Guess where I’m headed to next time I buy Becca products…not Sephora! 😛

    Funny that you had to teach the MUA at Vincent Longo how to use the product she was selling you. I had never heard of the brand until I walked through The Bay a couple of months ago and saw their new counter. Haven’t had a chance to research their products yet!

    I definitely find that most times I’m unsatisfied when someone else does my makeup…I don’t even know if it’s because they didn’t have the best skills, or just because I’m used to my face looking a certain way when I have makeup on, and it looks different when someone else does it.:/ Probably the latter!

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    1. I was so pleased with the gwps! Yes, go to the Bay, I’m less drawn to Sephora (although never say never). I have an HBC card so I rack up points there too. In fact, I redeemed about $30 at Burberry so it wasn’t TOO painful!
      I mostly heard about VL from YouTube and was really curious about the Water Canvas foundation. I’m going to test it out next week (I have an event this weekend so I don’t want to test new face products right now just in case!) I will definitely report back.
      I so hear you about how you’re used to your own way of doing your makeup. Usually MUA blend the eye shadows SO high on my eye lid. I feel like it closes my eyes more. Or sometimes they will create an exaggerated crease. There have been many times I walk away from a counter looking like a hooker… and hoping I don’t see anyone I know. 😛

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      1. Good point! I always forget about the HBC Rewards, probably because I just got a card recently. $30 off towards a Burberry purchase is awesome!
        Hahaha, what you described about getting your makeup done are my exact thoughts! There have been a couple of times where I get my makeup done and then I try to wipe off some of the eye makeup so it doesn’t look as…crazy. Glad it’s not just me! Maybe it’s because they’re used to doing makeup on certain eye shapes?

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        1. I think they do find the Asian eye shape more challenging. I’ve only really had a handful of makeup artists who have done makeup looks that I didn’t want to wipe off asap. The girl at the Burberry counter did such a nice look on me, and she wasn’t even Asian. She was also using these beautiful Burberry brushes and I asked her if I could buy them and she said they’re not for sale! I wanted to swipe them off her tool belt lol! Maybe one day Burberry will launch brushes…

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  8. OMG!! That’s so exciting!!! Love getting new products! I’m getting a bunch from Sephora in tomorrow! I’ve been really wanting to try out the Becca Under Eye Brightening Corrector and the Ombre Rouge pallet too… and Opal if I’m honest. I only have Champagne Pop, which I absolutely love! Awesome haul!

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    1. I’ve been using the Becca Under Eye Brightening Corrector for 3 days (testing out various concealers on top) and I have to say, just based on the 3 days so far – I LOVE it! Most other correctors are too creamy and causes creasing but this one has a thinner consistency yet manages to colour correct. Have fun at Sephora tomorrow! 🙂

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  9. Whoa! I want all of the Becca things that you bought!
    Ah Vincent Longo. Years ago, a friend and I had makeovers booked at a fancy pants boutique that sold Vincent Longo. And I requested a simple “day” look. 500 products later, I looked like a clown! My friend looked about the same as well. So yeah, bad MUA.

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    1. Aww haha so sorry / funny about that Vincent Longo makeover! I was glad to not have that makeup artist apply any other products onto my face except the foundation.
      I’m excited to try out the Becca stuff especially the gwp Beach Tints! 😀

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  13. Wow! I’ve never been to a makeup counter except for Sephora but I’m really missing out by not visiting department stores!!! Awesome haul! I’m quite jealous, especially of everything you got from Becca!

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    1. Yes, I think people have forgotten how nice department stores can be. I find Sephora so chaotic and the makeup artists are so overwhelmed with helping so many people. I was so happy to find Becca elsewhere besides Sephora!

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      1. Truly I forget there is even makeup in department stores. I can count on one hand how many times I’ve actually been inside one other than to walk through the store I parked at to get to the mall.

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    1. Yes, I understand that they have a job to do – to sell products – but the if they show me stuff that would really work for me instead of just throwing everything at me, then I’m more likely to buy! It’s really so simple.

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    1. The Bay is great! I am still miffed that Illamasqua left North America! Their counter at The Bay was one of my favourites ever. I think Shoppers is also stepping up their game, I can’t wait til Nordstrom is opened here. 🙂

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      1. We have one Nordstrom store here and I’ve been there a few times but it definitely doesn’t compare to those in the States. But they never do and at least they were smart about their expansion plans, unlike others (ahem, Target).

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  20. Ohmyyyy!😍 I just can’t get enough of your hauls!!!!!! LOL! they are just too amazing! Well deserved though!😊👍👏 all those Becca products! I have been wanting those exact same items lol. When I was at the free standing sephora I saw that palette and I have been wanting it for ever! But I didn’t swatch it because I knew I was going to fall in love and purchase it. 😦 lol. Also that highlight !!! I neededddd. This I did swatch and they are super buttery soft aren’t then!😍 can we talk about the Burberry makeup! It’s super duper luxurious looking! Cant wait to hear your thoughts on them especially the nail polish since I’ve been wanting to try them 😛 giving it’s the only affordable thing from their products LOL! 😄😅

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    1. I will do reviews of everything! I’m so drawn into Burberry due to their packaging! I do also think the colours and formula are really nice too, not just because of the brand. And in fact, I usually shy away from makeup brands are are extensions of fashion designers because I think they’re often not worth the crazy money ie. Chanel, Dior, YSL.. I’ve been impressed by Burberry so far!

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  23. Lovely haul. I love the look of those pretty Becca products. And burberry is always great, that highlighter! A little weird they wouldn’t advertise their GWP’s. That’s the type of thing that gets customers to splash their cash (I can never resist a good GWP).
    xo Anne

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