December 2014 Favourites

Hello Beauties! 

I know it's been forever since I've posted last; I got so caught up in school and work that my blog unfortunately got pushed aside over the semester... BUT, I'm not going to let that happen this year.  I truly love creating posts on here and interacting with other bloggers, so I definitely don't want to let it slip away again.  I'm currently working on re-vamping my blog, and I have a ton of ideas for upcoming posts that I'm really excited about.

Anyways, onto today's post!

 In December, I tried quite a few new products and ended up finding some gems that have quickly become must-haves in my daily makeup routine.

 My first two favourites of last month are without a doubt my Makeup Forever HD Foundation in the shade 115 and my Beautyblender for flawless application.  The lady at Sephora recommended this foundation to me after matching it with my skin tone through their new "Color IQ" technology system - which sounded pretty gimmicky to me at first, but this shade actually blends perfectly with my natural skin tone so I guess there must be some sort of science to it! This is a medium-coverage foundation, but it's easily buildable to full-coverage if needed.  I love how smoothly the formulation blends into my skin, so that it still looks really natural while evening out any redness in my face.  I've also found that it's really long-lasting, and I mean really long-lasting because even after a 12-hour day of work I find it looks almost as if I had just applied it - a definite must for a splurge-worthy foundation in my books!

I've been lusting after the Beautyblender pretty much throughout the entire year after hearing every beauty blogger and YouTuber rave about it. And ladies, let me tell you, if you were to buy only 1 beauty tool make sure this is it because it makes applying your foundation a DREAM!  I'm honestly kicking myself for having only just bought one this month - it just saves so much time and effort and I love the natural look it gives my makeup. 

 Another face fave in December was the Makeup Forever HD Pressed Powder I picked up from Sephora at the beginning of the month.  This is a very lightweight and translucent powder that's perfect for setting your foundation for the day without looking cake-y.  In the winter, I tend to have an issue with dry, flakey skin that makes most setting powders tend to cling onto the dry patches (trust me, not a cute look) - but this pressed powder is so fine and lightweight that it covers any shine without accentuating my dry skin.  I don't find that it's as long-lasting as the Makeup Forever HD Foundation, as I usually have to re-apply to mask a bit of shine after a long day, but I honestly have yet to find a powder that I don't feel the need to re-apply at least once before going out at night so this isn't a problem for me.

 My next beauty favourite of the month was the L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Miss Manga Mascara.  I love how long, full and defined this mascara makes my lashes look.  It doesn't clump at all and the large, tapered wand really makes my lashes pop.  This is an amazing mascara for only having paid around 7 dollars, so I definitely recommend that you give this one a try!

My lip fave of the month was definitely this Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Red Revolution (#630).  I bought this for my birthday dinner back in October, but found myself wearing it quite often over the month of December since it's the perfect colour to compliment any holiday party outfit! I absolutely love the deep cherry hue of this lipstick, and the pigmentation is amazing - it seriously stays perfect all night long, even without a lipliner.  I wore this baby to a party on New Years Eve and failed to take my makeup off before bed (so bad, i know) and while my eyeliner was an absolute disaster the next morning, my lipstick hadn't budged! I can't wait to try out some of the other beautiful shades in this line.

I really got into doing my brows in December, so I quickly fell in love with the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz Pencil in Taupe.  This baby makes filling in my brows an absolute breeze! I love how fine the pencil-tip is, it makes it so easy to create a defined, but natural-looking fuller brow with small strokes. The dual-ended wand with the attached spooky brush is perfect for softening any harsh lines to finish off the look.

And lastly, I really loved the "Sugar Plum Dream" products from Bath & Body Works winter collection.  These smell like absolutely heavenly mix of vanilla, berries, and sugar cookies - and obviously, the packaging is gorgeous. I really loved using the Triple Moisture Ultra Shea Body Cream to sooth my dry skin in the cold December weather  - it's really thick and hydrating but not at all greasy!

Let me know what your favourites were last month!

Beauty Lust List #1

Hello lovelies, hope you all are well and enjoying your week so far!  Sorry about my almost 2 week-long hiatus from the blog, I've been working like crazy and just all around busy.  But I'm back and I have a ton of posts in mind for the next few weeks! 
I haven't really splurged on any beauty products lately, so I've definitely accumulated quite a large list of products that I've been dying to try out after hearing so much hype about them all over the internet in the last couple of months.  I also have a trip to Syracuse planned at the end of August, where I'm planning on picking up a few of the more high-end items on my list since they tend to be insanely cheaper in the States.  
So, here's what's currently on my beauty wish-list:

1. Benefit Cosmetics They're Real! Push-Up Liner - This has definitely been on of the most talked about product amongst all the Beauty Gurus of YouTube lately.  I've seen a ton of mixed reviews, but most people have been raving about the formulation and the unique applicator of this liner that's supposed to make it a breeze for creating the perfect cat eye!
2. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush - Blush is my kryptonite; it's without a doubt my favourite type of makeup product to buy.  This one is a hybrid blush and highlighter in one that gives a pretty glow and dimension to your cheeks.  With the gorgeous gold packaging and the fact that each blush is hand-mixed, I would most likely not be too heart-broken to cough up the $41 CAD for this luxury blush.  I'm loving the shades Radiant Magenta (fuchsia with a golden highlight) and Luminous Flush (champagne rose). 
3. Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow - It seems like everyone and their mother have been swearing by this brow-volumizing fiber gel! I like the look of filled-in brows, but I have yet to find a way to do this to myself without looking like I literally drew on my eyebrows with a sharpie.  I've heard such amazing things about this product and how natural it looks, so I'm eager to try it out for myself!
4. Revlon Colorstay Moisture Stain - I love the formulation of Revlon's Colorburst Matte Balm lip stains, so I was really excited when I saw they came out with this line of glossy stains! I've heard that they're super pigmented and pretty long-lasting as well.  I'm for sure going to pick this up in the shades Barcelona Nights and Rio Rush!
5. Tarte Rainforest After Dark Colored Clay Eye & Cheek Palette - This limited edition palette has a blush, bronzer, highlighter, and 6 neutral and plum-toned eyeshadows so it's literally perfect for traveling! I have several of Tarte's clay shadows and blushes and I always love their pigmentation and long-lasting wear, so I know that I'll love adding this palette in my collection.
6. Bobbi Brown Surf & Sand Eye Palette - How gorgeous is this palette?! It has 8 shadows with a good mix of shimmery and matte finishes that's perfect for creating a warm, beachy eye-look for summer! I especially love the 4 champagne-coloured shadows; they'd be perfect for creating a subtle everyday eye-look that would make blue eyes (or any colour for that matter) pop!
7. Glamglow Youthmud Tinglexfoliate Treatment -  I've heard nothing but amazing things about this product, as well as with the rest of the Glamglow line.  It's a tingling mask that is supposed to tighten pores and absorb any impurities without stripping your skin of its natural oils, leaving you a with brighter and smoother complexion (um, yes please!).  This magic-in-a-jar unfortunately comes with a heavy price tag, but Sephora actually sells it in a travel-size for only $21 - ideal for those with sensitive skin like myself who want to try it out without worrying about wasting a ton of money on a product that may or may not irritate their skin!
8. Marc Jacobs Fragrance Daisy Dream - I have yet to go to the store and smell this for myself, but after reading countless beauty bloggers' reviews of this new scent, I just know I'll love it. Plus how adorable is the bottle?!

What products having you been lusting after? Let me know in the comments! 

L'Oreal Magic Nude Liquid Powder Foundation Review

After several failed attempts, I think I have finally found the perfect summer foundation.  I picked this little beauty up out on a whim a couple of weeks ago when I took a trip to my local drugstore in need of foundation, but they were all out of my shade in my go-to Covergirl Outlast foundation.  I've been meaning to try this product out since hearing mostly positive reviews when it first came out sometime last year, so I decided that this was the perfect time to switch things up a bit and finally try it out for myself.  I went with the shade 310 in 'Light Ivory'.

The formulation is very thin and must be shaken well before applied to incorporate all the ingredients, or else you'll be left with a watery mess all over your hands (I may or may have not skipped reading the instructions on the back of the bottle before applying...).  Because of the water-like consistency of this foundation, it works best when applied with your fingers and actually tends to look streaky and messy when applied with a brush or sponge.  I prefer to blend in my foundation with my fingers anyway, because I find that's how I can achieve the most natural-looking finish.  The blendability of this foundation is truly amazing; it effortlessly smoothes into my skin without looking cakey or settling into any fine lines or pores.  I can see how they went with the name "Magic Nude", because it truly doesn't look or feel like I'm wearing much makeup at all when I use this foundation, yet it somehow stills manages to conceal any redness in my complexion.  I actually found that I'm not needing as much concealer on any problem areas after applying this foundation because it does that great of a job concealing them.  It's definitely a lightweight coverage,  but I like that I can easily build it up to a medium-coverage foundation if I apply a thin second layer.  

The finish is a beautiful matte, almost velvet-like texture that looks really natural on the skin.  Since it's not at all greasy or dewy, you could probably skip applying a powder overtop, but I do anyways just to ensure that I stay shine-free all day.  I've worn this foundation almost everyday since purchasing it, and I've found that it wears really nicely throughout the day.  It doesn't oxidize or settle, and I hardly find that I need much touch-up besides a bit of powder after a full day of wear.

The only negative thing I have to say about this product is that application can get a little bit messy sometimes since it tends to pour out quite fast out of the large opening in the bottle.  A pump applicator would probably work much better to minimize any potential mess.  The price is also quite high for a drugstore foundation, at almost $18CAD.  However, I think it's a fair price for such a high-quality foundation. 

Pros:

• Super blendable
• Buildable coverage
• Natural, matte finish
• Long lasting
• Doesn't oxidize or settle into the skin

Cons:

• Poor packaging design
• Pricey for a drugstore foundation ($18 CAD)

For those of you wondering if this foundation will work well with your skin type, I have a normal-to-dry complexion.  And while I don't suffer from anything more than the occasional zit, I do tend to have quite a bit of redness along my t-zone, and I found that the formulation of the L'Oreal Magic Nude worked really well with my skin type.

Overall, I'd say that I'm really pleased with this product and I'll definitely be re-purchasing once I'm out.  It's the ideal summer face product for me because it provides great coverage in a super light-weight formula, while also being able to withstand hours in the heat and humidity. 

Have you tried the L'Oreal Magic Nude Liquid Powder Foundation?  I'd love to hear your thoughts!

June Favourites

I can't believe it's already July.  I know every beauty blogger on the planet says that when it comes time for their monthly favourites, but June seriously just flew by for me!  I feel like summer just started but it's already almost half over; and while I do love the fall, I'd really like for summer to drag on as long as possible.  Keep the late nights and lazy afternoons filled with sunshine and sangria coming please!

Anywho, I'm super excited to be doing my first monthly favourites post.  I didn't try out too many new products this month but I did find a couple that I love, along with a few oldies that I found myself reaching for often throughout June.

My first favourite beauty product would be my Naked 3 palette.  I got this baby back in December, but didn't find myself reaching for it much until the past month or so. The shades are all golden and rose-hued so I find they perfectly compliment a summery-bronzed makeup look! And like all the Urban Decay eye shadows, they are super pigmented and long-wearing, which is perfect to last through those hot summer nights!

I have been using The Body Shop's Strawberry Body Butter to death this month.  I like to use it on my legs after shaving right after I get out of the shower to keep them super smooth and hydrated.  My skin tends to be super dry all year long so I prefer using body butters as oppose to regular lotion.  Plus this scent is so sweet and fruity, it's perfect for summer! 

I recently fell back in love with Maybelline The Falsies waterproof mascara.  This was my go-to mascara when it first came out, and I have no idea why I ever stopped using it because I LOVE IT!  I often have trouble with the curl of my lashes falling throughout the day, but this one keeps them looking perfect into the night! It gives my eyes a look of full, defined lashes that aren't clumped together so it's definitely once again become my holy grail mascara. 

 Another favourite eye product of mine this month has been the Revlon Colorstay Liquid Liner.  I typically just stick to mascara during the day, but if I'm going out to dinner or downtown with friends at night then I love to rock a subtle winged eye-look.  This liner has been my favourite lately because its almost marker-like applicator makes it super easy to create a variety of different looks.  The formula is really long-lasting too, it hasn't smudged or faded on me even after a night out.

 My nail polish pick of the month is hands down Essie's 'Bikini So Teeny'. I've honestly just been reapplying this all month because I don't want to take it off! The bright purple-blue colour of this polish makes the perfect summer nail in my opinion.

 Because it's hot and I'm too lazy to spend the time to blow-dry and curl my hair everyday, I've been sticking to a more natural, wavy look in June.  After washing my hair in the morning, I let it air dry about 50%, apply a texturizing product, and sweep it to the side in a loose braid.  I've been loving my Marc Anthony Dream Waves Amplifying Lotion to help define the natural wave in my hair, and give it more of a beachy look.  I love this because it doesn't make my hair crunchy like a mouse would, plus it smells like coconuts.  Once my hair is dry after a couple of hours, I shake out the braid and I'm left with pretty beachy hair that's super simple and effortless!

The Revlon Photoready Concealer was a new favourite product of mine in June.  It covers redness perfectly and stays put throughout the day.  I find that it's a perfect dupe for my usual Benefit 'Boing' concealer, but at less than half the price!

One of my favourite accessories of the month has been my rose-gold wristlet from Michael Kors.  It's essentially a wallet but also has a slot for my phone and enough space for my keys, so I've been using this on the daily as oppose to carrying around a big purse.  The rose-gold matches beautifully with almost everything as well!

 Finally, I've been absolutely loving my Mossimo Avery sandals from Target.  I first bought these in white and I just loved them so much I went back recently to buy a second pair in black!  They're so comfortable, and I find that the gold detailing is so pretty and makes them look much more expensive than $19.99!

Let me know in the comments what you've been loving this past month.  I always love trying new products!

Summer Drugstore Beauty Essentials

I'm the type of girl who could spend a full hour putting on her makeup in the morning if I had the time.  Obviously I don't because I typically have other things I need to accomplish in the day, but I just find that there is nothing more relaxing and enjoyable than experimenting with different looks and products.  But when summer rolls around and brings with it days of extreme humidity and scorching heat, I tend to ditch the fancy eye looks and stick to the basics.  Because let's face it, nobody looks cute with raccoon eyes and foundation sliding down their face in the summer heat.  I like to go for a more natural face with a simple, bright eye-look and a pop of colour on the lips for those hot summer days.  So here's a list of my favourite drugstore products for an everyday summer look that's sure to keep you looking fresh and polished for hours in the summer heat!

I like to start with a clean, dry face and then apply a moisturizer with SPF for an added boost of sun protection.  This one by Neutrogena is an all-time favourite that I've used every summer for the past few years.  It's oil-free and super light-weight so it doesn't clog your pores or leave your skin feeling greasy - a definite must for summer face products!

Instead of a heavy foundation, I like to stick with a tinted moisturizer or BB cream for some coverage without weighing down my skin with tons of product.  I recently picked up this Covergirl CG Smoothers BB Cream, and I'm really liking it so far.  The coverage is definitely sheer, so it's ideal for days when I don't need a ton of coverage. I also love how smooth it leaves my skin feeling without any greasy residue like I've experienced with some other BB creams.

 

The Covergirl Clean Sensitive Skin Pressed Powder is another of my favourite tried-and-true drugstore products.  It's perfect for setting the BB cream and keeping my makeup look shine-free all day.  It gives my skin a clean, matte finish with a little extra coverage to balance out the fact that I'm skipping my typical foundation routine.

To give my complexion a sun-kissed look, I like to use this Rimmel Natural Bronzer in the shade 021 Sunlight.  This is a matte powder, which I love because it looks so natural as opposed to the more shimmery bronzers available.  Bonus - it's waterproof and wears up to 10 hours! Yesterday, I put this on in the morning and it lasted all day even after working up a sweat at the driving range and sunbathing out in my backyard all afternoon!

For a super simple, bright-eyed look I start by removing any dark circles under my eyes using the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser.  It seriously makes SUCH a difference and just brightens up my entire face to make me look much more awake.  Instead of a heavy eyeshadow look that will most likely just wear off throughout the day, I like to use a long-wearing cream shadow.  The Maybelline Colour Tattoo Metal Shadows are a holy grail product in my collection; they don't crease on me and they truly last all day and night.  For a simple daytime look, I just sweep this on in the shade "Barely Branded", which is a pretty champagne colour that adds a nice highlight to my eyelids.

To complete the bright eye-look, I apply two coats of a super lengthening mascara to really open my eyes and make them appear larger and more awake.  My current favourite is the L'Oreal Paris Telescopic Mascara; it doesn't clump or smudge and holds a nice curl in my lashes all day.

I finish off this simple look with a bright lip using my last two summer essentials: EOS lip balm in Sweet Mint to soften sunburnt lips, and the Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in Unapologetic for a fun pop of colour.  I am absolutely in love with the Revlon Matte Balm; it wears more like a lip stain that lasts for hours before having to reapply! The bright pinky-coral shade is the perfect lip colour to finish off a simple sun-kissed makeup look!

Let me know what your summer beauty essentials are!