call it beauty.

Monthly Favourites - January 2012

2012-02-01T08:30:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you, but 2012 has been pretty good to me so far. If the past month is an indication of what the rest of the year is going to be like, then I have to say I'm pretty excited about what's to come!

A bit of news before I get to my favourites. If you guys follow me on Twitter, then you'll probably already know this. But for those who don't, I am now a contributor for She Said Beauty's blog. Check out my first post here and my latest post here!

I also recently started school for Makeup Artistry and am currently taking the Makeup Artistry Fundamentals course. It's been going well so far and I'm really excited to get my hands dirty, so to speak, and finally do makeup on a face that's not mine :p. I'll be writing about my progress as I go along; check out my first post about MUA classes here.

With the out of the way, let's get to the favourites, shall we?

Bourjois Paris Healthy Mix Serum Foundation in 53 Beige Clair

I've been dying to try this foundation for some time now, but I couldn't justify buying another foundation... So I threw out my other ones :p. No, really, I did throw them out. But not because I wanted another foundation (well, I kind of did), but because I've had them for a more than a year already and I felt it was time to let them go.

This has been my go-to foundation ever since I purchased it and I've been loving it. It applies & blends onto the skin very well and is a great match for my skin tone/colour. I can't say it lasts for 16 hours, though. I find that I need some blotting and a bit of a touch up after around 5 hours of wear time. Still, it's fantastic for every day wear and I love how my skin looks whenever I use it.

To see this foundation in action, check out my Spring for Less look.

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Plus

I've been wearing this MSF Natural two ways: to top off or touch up my the Healthy Mix Serum foundation and all by its lonesome. I absolutely love how this foundation make my skin look. My skin does look semi-matte for a few hours, but my natural glow comes through after some time. It feels super light on the skin, but it offers enough coverage.

MAC Mineralize Blush in Subtle Breeze & MAC Blush Ombré in Azalea Blossom

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I think I'm turning into a blush fiend. These two blushes have been the only ones I used this past month. Subtle Breeze (left) is from the Naturally collection, while Azalea Blossom (right) was repromoted in the Daphne Guinness collection; both are utterly, utterly gorgeous!

Burberry Beauty Lip Mist in Camelia No. 7

I'm a big fan of Burberry, and when I found out they were branching into cosmetics, I got really excited. On boxing day last year, I finally was able to purchase my first Burberry Beauty product. Funnily enough, my dad and my brother picked this shade.

Lip Mist's are supposed to impart a "subtle hint of colour," but it's actually more pigmented than that. Or at least this particular shade is. It feels really comfortable on the lips, but I have to say that I don't enjoy the scent at all. I can't really describe the scent, but it's quite unpleasant. Fortunately, the smell dissipates after a few minutes. Also, it has an awful taste; which I don't think is the taste of the lipstick per sé... You know how you can taste a scent sometimes? I can't really explain it, all I know is that it's kind of gross. But obviously it hasn't stopped me from wearing this because I have been all month. The shade's too pretty and I can't help myself, yo!

The packaging is also très luxe and will you just look at that pattern! I love! <3

Maybelline Baby Lips Lip Moisturizing Balm in Cherry Me & Revlon Lip Butter in Berry Smoothie

I love how effortless these lip products are. Cherry Me is a lot thinner than Berry Smoothie, but it keeps my lips from from getting chapped and flaking up much better. Berry Smoothie definitely doesn't hydrate as well as the name Lip Butter would suggest, but this shade is just sooo pretty! I keep these two in my purse all the time and just alternated to my heart's desire.

C.O. Bigelow My Favorite Night Balm

I've been moaning about the dry skin around my lips enough that I don't think I need to talk about the situation again. I've taken to wearing this balm even during the day and it's done wonders. My lips haven't felt this good in months!

Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic & Skin Repair Moisturiser

I honestly don't understand what's going on with my skin these last few months. It's been pretty oily, so I purchased a lighter moisturizer, but it wasn't hydrating enough. Now my skin is dry again. Oh skin, please make up your mind!

I started using the Liz Earle toner and moisturizer again and it's been keeping my skin under control. My skin still gets oily after a few hours, but I'd rather have to blot than deal with dry patches. Also, the combination of these two products and the C.O. Bigelow nighttime balm has kept the skin around my lips free of dry patches. It's calmed my skin a lot and I wake up in the morning with soft, supple, and non-irritated skin.

Bumble & bumble Tonic Lotion & Kevin Murphy Sticky Business

When I had my hair cut by the amazing Katie-Rose, she used these two products to style my hair. The Bumble & bumble Hair Tonic is meant to be "prepare hair for styling" and I find that my hair looks much smoother when I use it prior to blow drying my hair. Also, if I don't plan on washing my hair, I use this to re-wet and smooth down the hair on the left side of my head, where the hair is much shorter. Because when I wake up in the morning, that side looks like this.

Meanwhile, Sticky Business is meant for a "deliberately disheveled look." I use it to smooth down my shortest hairs and I scrunch it into the longer hairs for more body and some wave. This stuff is amazing! All you need to do is zhuzh the paste into your hair and it creates an effortless style.

POLL TIME!

As I mentioned above, I am a contributor for She Said Beauty. I need some help or my next article and I would really appreciate it if you guys took the time to take this poll!

Do you prefer having lighter or darker skin?

Here's to a Fabulous February!

About Face - Spring For Less

2012-01-30T08:30:00.000-08:00

Greetings, lovelies!

I don't know about you, but I'm feeling very Spring-y as of late. My heart has been taken with purples (when is it not, though? <3) and pinks in the past few weeks, so I thought I'd do a looky-look since I haven't done one in a while.

I also wanted to do a look using all drugstore products, so I dug around my humble collection to see what I could use. It turned out to be a good thing, because I rediscovered some products that I haven't use in a while and remembered how much I love them!

Products Used:

Bourjois Paris Healthy Mix Serum Foundation - No 53 Beige Clair

Revlon PhotoReady Concealer - Light Medium 003

NYX Cream Rouge Blush - Natural (applied to the back of the cheek)

Joe Fresh Cosmetics Cream Blush - Bloom (applied to the apples of the cheeks)

NYX Cosmetics 10 Colour Eyeshadow Palette - Velvet Rope (purple)

Wet n Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Trio - I'm Getting Sunburned (dark brown)

NYX Cosmetics Retractable Eye Liner - Black

Bourjois Paris Volume Glamour Ultra Curl Mascara - Black Curl

Revlon Lip Butter - Berry Smoothie

Hope you all like this look!

Also, thanks so much for all the love on my first post about my makeup artistry classes. Keep checking in, I'll definitely be writing about my journey often!

What colours have you been reaching for most often?

Making Up Is Hard To Do: Intro's, Colour Theory & Makeup Kits

2012-01-27T08:00:00.000-08:00

I remember a few years ago, my brother and my mom both suggested I go to school for makeup artistry. I was a bit taken aback, to be honest; I really never thought that a) it was something I could do well and b) it would be a viable way to make a living...

But then, I started blogging and watching makeup artists on YouTube create and recreate different looks. I was inspired, to say the least. As I continued to blog and exercise my own creativity through the various looks I've done, I gradually fell in love with makeup artistry.

It took me a few years to finally take that step. I was really nervous about taking this road; in fact, I still am! It's always a bit daunting when you deviate from a current path, no? But last Summer, I decided that I was done putting off my future and I was finally going to enrol in some classes.

As I've become more familiar with the beauty industry, I realized that there are so many avenues one could pursue as a makeup artist. I think that's part of why I love it so much. Yes, you're basically painting skin, but there are so many different experiences that go along with it. Each job is different from the next and for an artist, that is priceless! Going into this class, I decided that I really wanted to do editorial (for the creativity) and freelance bridal (for the money), with a smattering of tv and film (for the ~~gorgeous actors~~ experience).

Hopefully, you'll join me on my journey to becoming a makeup artist! :)

Here's how my first two classes went...

Intro to Makeup Artistry Fundamentals

I thought it was really interesting how a lot of my classmates are in non-creative fields. A fair number of them aren't exactly sure what they would like to do with their knowledge of makeup artistry, but I think it's so cool that there's such a huge range of professions represented in the class. It also proves how important it is to have a creative outlet.

In this class, we talked about the different products and tools makeup artists use and the differences between them. Nothing completely new to most of us in the class, but it's always nice to hear what a professional makeup artist has to say about certain products. Also, I really love hearing our instructor's stories about his previous jobs. I think one of the most valuable things I'll take away from this class is the little tidbits that you don't find in a handout or curriculum. All the things my instructor has learned along the way have been filed in my brain and written down on a notebook so I can refer back to it later on. After this class, I became even more excited for the next 9 weeks. I can't wait to actually get started on the practical stuff!

Colour Theory

I knew from the get-go that this was going to be my toughest class. I understand the colour wheel, but there's this part of the lesson that involved seasons. Depending on somebody's hair, skin colour/undertone and basic overall colouring, one can either be a Winter, Spring, Summer or Autumn. The confusing part is that while I think of seasons according to makeup trends (Spring = cool, Summer = warm), it actually is contrary to what I would presume (Spring = warm, Summer = cool).

Apparently, changing one's hair colour or tanning oneself up can turn you from one season to another. For example, if you're a Summer and you dye your hair dark brown, you instantly become a Winter. But what if you also tan yourself up? Are you then a Winter or a Spring? What determines your season? BAH! /flails

Then, there's the fact that I apparently cannot tell if someone has olive undertones or not. I don't have that problem with light or dark skins, but skin with medium colouring? Forget it! There is an Asian girl in my class who is darker than me and she's considered a Winter (winter = cool), while I'm considered a Spring (warm). I just don't understand -_-'...

I just hope I don't completely flunk my Colour Theory test.

Now for what you really want to see...

Yes, you're reading that right. Our kits are from Make Up For Ever.

This bag is pretty awesome! Very professional looking.

I love that there's a lot of space for all your products and tools.

Ta-daaaaah! <3

There are two removable compartments that are velcro'd to the bag.

We received 9 brushes.

A waterproof black liner, 2 lip liners and a Glossy Full Lip Gloss were also part of the kit,

Aren't they glorious? Previous classes didn't get such a nice selection. We got some pretty vibrant colours, whereas past classes only got neutrals. I'm actually missing #75, which is a BRIGHT pink, though I should be getting it in the next class.

I'm really excited to get my hands at these foundations! The concealer palette is also quite fantabulous.

I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am to actually do makeup on people! I've only ever done makeup on people with similar colouring to me; but there's a wide range of skin shades and undertones in my class, so I'm quite eager to do makeup on them.

That said, what I'm really excited about is seeing where this path will lead me. Two years ago, I never would've thought that I would be going to school for makeup artistry, who knows where my life will be two years from now? Ahh, life!

Have a good weekend, lovelies!

New Blush Obsessions!

2012-01-25T08:30:00.000-08:00

You guys, I think I may turn into a blush fiend, this year...

I'm always looking for and at blushes nowadays. I'm trying desperately not to get sucked in, as I have plans in the next 11 months that cost money and so far, I've been successful. Just barely, though.

So I've acquired two new blushes since Christmas and in my defence:

It's only 2!
It was Christmas!
I haven't gotten any blushers since then!

Huzzah and all that jazz...

Oh and another thing, these were just too gorgeous to pass up!

MAC Blush Ombré in Azalea Blossom

I'm not a stranger to Blush Ombré's... I purchased Vintage Grape, which was repromoted in the Daphne Guinness collection, sometime last year. I've since forgotten which collection it was though; who can keep up, nowadays? :p

Anyhoo, when I saw Azalea Blossom, I knew I had to have it. I've been wanting a cool-toned pink blush for a while now and when I saw that this blush looks good on warm-toned skin, well... *grabby hands*

I love that you have 3 options with this blush. Also, don't let the swatch fool you! It totally wears differently and looks lovely on my skin (I have yellow undertones).

One thing I noticed though, is that there's a thin film that sits on top of the product that made it hard for me to pick up much colour from the pan. I thought that perhaps it was just my particular blush, but I went into 2 other MAC stores and their testers were the same. So I took the edge of the cardboard packaging and gently scraped the top off a bit and this helped a lot! You all know I'm not really a fan of sheer so scraping the top off allowed me to pick up more product with my brush.

MAC Mineralize Blush in Subtle Breeze

So, so pretty!

At first, I wasn't too keen on MAC's Naturally collection; I thought it was just going to be all nudes and browns and other boring colours. I was wrong, of course. Naturally had a lot of gorgeous shades, but Subtle Breeze is the one that really caught my eye.

It's such a wearable shade that I think could possible look good on just about anybody. The texture is so soft, applies smoothly and is super blendable. Subtle Breeze gives you such a natural flush (heh... Get it? Natural? K, stopping now...) and I love that I can wear a wider shade range of lip products with it.

The only thing I'm not so happy about is the wear time. I find that this blush (like the Warmth of Coral Mineralize Blush) doesn't really stick around for longer than 3-4 hours. Although I do find that if I apply Subtle Breeze pretty much right after I apply foundation, when it hasn't completely sunk into the skin yet, it lasts a little bit longer.

These two have been in rotation ever since I got them in December and I've been loving them! Now I'm looking into getting some NARS blushes, but I haven't decided yet which ones I want to get. See, I told you... Turning into a blush fiend.

What's your go-to blusher at the moment?

My Favorite Night Balm Indeed!

2012-01-23T08:30:00.000-08:00

I'm pretty sure I've been moaning about this on Twitter for some time now, but if you haven't heard, it goes like this: my lips, and the skin surrounding it (called the vermilion border) have been crazy dry lately. To the point where that area would constantly (but not always) feel tight and somewhat itchy. It would also sting quite often...

This meant that I couldn't wear lipstick or lipgloss, because it would exacerbate the dryness and would feel incredibly uncomfortable. I'm not exaggerating here, peeps. I had dry flakes all over my lips and the corners of my mouth would feel so tight, I actually couldn't open my mouth too wide.

All my other lip balms, that used to be perfect for my lips, were now useless. Oh, what's a girl to do? </firstworldproblems>

So yes, I was sceptical when I saw C.O. Bigelow's My Favourite Night Balm; but the words "8 hour overnight recovery" intrigued me enough, so I ended up getting it anyway... Turns out, that was the right thing to do, because my lips haven't been this "normal" in months! When I woke up the morning after I first applied it, I immediately noticed that the tight feeling around my lips had severely lessened. I still felt a bit of tightness on the corners of my mouth, but it wasn't nearly as uncomfortable as it was before. Also, no dry flakes or itchiness! Huzzah! *fist pump*

I love that it's thick, but doesn't feel uncomfortable on the lips. The scent is light, but pleasant; not overpowering in the least. But the best part is, of course, the condition I find my lips in when I wake up in the morning. Love, love, love this stuff!

In other news...

Meet Chancho 2.0!

Yes, I named my laptop after a character from Nacho Libre... Watchu gon do bout that? Use your hands to wipe your face? No? K...

Getting a protective case was important to me, because I'm a bit of a klutz and I need all the help I can get to keep Chancho scratch-free. My last laptop had the very same case, but in a lovely purple shade. I love it because of the satin finish. The Apple store I went to was out of the purple cases, but I immediately gravitated towards this particular shade, which has become my Spring colour obsession (last Summer was coral, Fall was mustard, Winter was red).

I also got this cute bag from Forever21. I love the weave pattern; my current favourite bag, a taupe Steve Madden purse, also has a woven pattern. It's perfect because it can fit my laptop and my binder for classes, so it's become my school/work bag. I'm still on the look out for more of these types of bags, though; I'd like to have the option of switching it up once in a while.

Anyway, many thanks to everyone who's been patient while I scrounged up enough money to get a new laptop! You can bet that I'll be blogging in full force once again!

Happy Monday, lovelies! :)

These NYX Retractable Eyeliners Rock My Socks!

2012-01-18T08:30:00.000-08:00

I'm going to be honest with you... I haven't had a great track record with pencil eyeliner.

Because my eyes are every-so-slightly hooded, they generally tend to migrate south. I did have the option of not applying the eyeliner right to the lashes; although that left a thin line of flesh showing, which only looks marginally better than the whole Raccoon Eyes look. Because of this, I like to stick to liquid or cream eyeliners. Even then, I still need to use a primer to help it stay put.

So imagine my complete and utter surprise when I discovered that the NYX Retractable Eye Liner's did just that, without the aid of primer!

Left to Right:

Golden Olive, Black, Gypsy Blue, Purple, Turquoise Blue & Bronze

I was originally drawn to these eyeliners because a) the shades were so lovely, b) they were quite pigmented, and c) they were cheap; each pencil retails for $6.99 CAD. But deep down inside, I wasn't really expecting much from them; I've been let down a lot before, you see...

But boy, was I ever wrong! These babies actually stick around for a full work day! Colour me surprised! That said, I find that I get a small bit of product under the eyes if I'm particularly active throughout the day, but it's not very noticeable. But overall, I'm so impressed with the staying power.

My favourite shades are definitely Golden Olive and Bronze. Both shades are so gorgeous and they look beautiful together! Lately, I've taken to wearing Bronze on the upper lash line (a softer alternative to the traditional black) and Golden Olive for a pop of colour on the lower lash line.

The blue's are just as lovely and are so vibrant! Purple doesn't apply quite as vibrantly as the rest, so I find that I have to layer it on more to get the desired look. Black is... Well, black. It's not as jet black as a liquid liner or my Urban Decay Glide-On Pencil in Zero, but it's definitely black enough for me.

But if I would have to make any recommendations, definitely pick up Golden Olive and Bronze. They are beyond lovely!

What's your favourite pencil liner?

Cheap & Easy: A DIY Earring Organizer

2012-01-16T08:30:00.000-08:00

There's something about having short hair that makes me more conscious about what I'm wearing... Now that my ears are on display, I find myself more concerned about finding pieces that will adorn them. The past few months has seen me wear and buy more earrings than I have in my entire life!

My earring collection has accumulated, but I didn't have any proper storage... They were all just dumped together in a small drawer (which made finding a lost piece a pain in the behind to find), which quickly became a nuisance. So I trolled the internet, as we all do, and found some pretty cute stands and racks... However, I wasn't really willing to shell out $30+ on them, plus shipping, so I decided to go the DIY route. I saw some really awesome earring organizer ideas online, but they wouldn't have worked for studs; so I went to a few stores on Saturday, hoping to be inspired, and came up with a super easy and very cheap solution from Michael's.

To make this earring organizer, you will need only two products:

Artist's Loft 2 Pack Value Canvas - $7.99 (from Michael's)

Celebrate It 360 Ribbon - $2.00 (also from Michael's)

I chose a canvas because the open back allowed for me to also put studs on it. I can't say I'm artistically inclined by the way of painting, so I decided I would decorate with ribbon instead; luckily, Michael's had some on sale. I chose a pattern and simply crazy glue-d them to the back. Et voila! It's really that simple!

I really love having my (non-fancy, inexpensive) earrings displayed like this because it reminds me what I have... I don't know about you, but when things are tucked away and hidden, I tend to forget about them. This way, I can make sure they are all well loved.

Hope you all liked my very first DIY! If you're looking for a cute way to display your earrings, why not try this "system" out? Again, it's ridiculously easy and only cost me around $10!

How do you display your jewelry?

Call It Beauty Goes Short!

2012-01-09T08:30:00.000-08:00

On December 17th last year, I decided I was going to say goodbye to the old and hello to the new...

I have been toying with the idea of going short for some time now, but I wasn't ready for it emotionally. Like some women, I have some sort of attachment to my hair. The problem was, I started to hide behind it. I didn't want to stand out, so I kept it the same for more than 3 years.

I've wanted to get this specific cut for probably a year now, but I kept making excuses for myself. "I'll lose weight first so I'll have a better jawline" was among them. But I didn't want to make excused for myself anymore. You see, going short wasn't just a hairstyle change for me; it also symbolizes a lifestyle change. As my very wise brother told me, "if you can't even take a risk with something as insignificant as your hair, then how do you expect to be able to take risks in your life?" He was right...

I decided that I wanted to make changes, mostly with my mindset and the way I approach life. The haircut was just a physical manifestation of the internal. So, here it is:

I honestly never thought I would say this, but I've been loving having short hair! Not only does it take much less time to style, but I also feel more like myself. My previous hair was just not complimenting my face or my body in any way (although people did love the fact that it was curly/wavy). My new style has more oomph and better conveys my personality.

My stylist, Katie-Rose owns a boutique salon called Lost and Found in the Mount Pleasant area in Vancouver and I absolutely loved the entire experience. Because she's the only stylist (it is currently a one-chair salon), it felt like a more personal experience. She's super fun to talk to, is one of the nicest people I've ever met and did such an amazing job on my hair. If you're looking for a great experience for a reasonable price (she charges $40/cut for women), then definitely go to her and tell her I sent you! :)

(My cut is actually much shorter on the left side, as you can see in this photo)

If you're thinking of going short, here's a few tips:

1. Don't Make This Decision While Emotional - Post breakup? I would say, wait til you're calmer before going short. This is a big decision and you want to feel better after your cut, not more emotional.

2. Commit To A Cut - It's not enough to just decide you want to go short. Google short hairstyles and pick your favourite. Then look at that same photo often for a few months. If you still love it after that time, then go for it!

3. Prepare To Style - Depending on the cut, you will most probably have to do some styling. My current style doesn't take that much, but it's definitely still a change. If you have wavy/curly hair like me and your cut looks better with straight hair, make sure to purchase a good straightening iron and the proper hairstyling products.

4. Be Ready For Constant Trims - I don't know what it is about hair, but it seems to grow faster the shorter it is. I had my haircut 3 weeks ago and I've already gone for a trim! Maintaining your short hair takes some work; if this doesn't sound feasible for you, then it might not be a good idea to go short.

5. Go To A Good Stylist - This is probably a bit redundant, but it's so important! One of the reasons I chose to go with Katie-Rose was because she has a pretty fierce haircut. I figured that she'd "get" what I'm trying to go for better than any other stylist because she's been there.

6. ROCK IT, GIRL! - Let's face it, shorter hairstyles are generally more showstopping than long hairstyles. Once you go short, you better werk that hair! Be bold!

Do any of you have short hair?

Skincare Blitz!

2012-01-04T08:30:00.000-08:00

You know how it is: sometimes you forget to review certain products, or they leave you underwhelmed and you're unsure as to whether or not you should even write a review. Then at times, the product is just so, unbelievably wrong for you that you find yourself never using it after a handful of tries.

Well, I have found myself at a point where I've amassed a small amount of skincare products that I have yet to write about and I thought, "why not do a short review of all of them in a single post?" And so, the Skincare Blitz was born.

1. Nude Skincare - Cleansing Facial Wash

At first, I found this cleanser to be a tad drying. But now, I find it to be perfect for my skin. It removes the last traces of makeup and leaves my skin feeling fresh after cleansing. That said, it costs £14 per 100mL bottle, plus shipping to Canada and I just don't think this product is good enough that I would repurchase it.

2. The Body Shop - Vitamin C Microdermabrasion

This stuff works well enough, but I find it to be much too abrasive for the more sensitive areas of my face (i.e. my cheeks and my forehead). But I quite like using it around my nose, around my mouth and on my chin - the areas I find require more frequent exfoliating.

3. The Face Shop - Brightening Rice Water Cleansing Foam

I actually quite like this cleanser but it's too much for my skin, which has decided it will be combination rather than dry at the moment. You only need a small, pea-sized amount and it's more than enough to give you enough lather for your entire face. It has a light but pleasant scent that won't irritate anybody's sensitive senses. If my skin were drier, I would definitely be using this every day. It's lovely!

4. Pure+simple - Cellular Renewal Face Cream

"On Paper," this product sounds absolutely amazing and, dare I say it, life-changing.

I love the idea of cellular renewal and although I'm not quite at the age where this is necessary, it's always good to get a head start on anti-aging, no?

That said, I can't, in good conscience, give this product a thorough review because I honestly only used it for a few days. Why? Because it smells absolutely awful! >.<

Granted, I do have a sensitive sense of smell, but this stuff is something else. I can't even bring myself to open the jar up and give it a sniff so I could describe how bad it smells.

5. Marcelle Essentials - Oil Free Eye Makeup Remover Lotion

Much like Marcelle's amazing Soothing Cleansing Water, The Eye Makeup Remover Lotion is also very effective. Unfortunately, it doesn't quite remove product all from my lower lash line well; But everything else, including mascara, is removed really well.

6. The Face Shop - Oil Specialist Enriched Cleansing Oil

Mother of pearl, this stuff is thiiiick! I kind of assumed that it would work like the Shu Uemura or MAC cleansing oils, but this product does not emulsify at all. So it's just, oil. Oil on your skin. Oil that doesn't really come off. >.<

I'm thinking of using this in my baths, actually...

What skincare products have you been loving lately?

Call It Beauty's Best Of 2011

2011-12-30T08:30:00.000-08:00

Another year gone by... It's amazing how quickly time actually passes by when you start thinking about what has happened throughout the year and how much you've done (or in some cases, how much you didn't do).

I always get a rush of emotions whenever the year ends... This year, what I feel the most is gratitude. I'm so thankful for all the friendships forged through blogging (Lipstick Bandits, I'm talking bout you :p), for general health/well-being, for a job that can sustain the blog :p... We have so much to be thankful for. Sometimes we forget when we are so caught up with the every day things. But we are all honest with ourselves, it's true. We have a lot to be grateful for.

Anyway, all of that aside, let's get to what I really came here to do, which is share with you my top picks for 2011. I feel like I probably picked too many things, but I can't help loving them all! The following products are the best that I've tried and my absolute favourite items to use in the year 2011.

Here we go...

FACE

The Face Shop Power Perfection BB Cream

Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Concealer
Revlon PhotoReady Concealer

Maybelline Dream Matte Powder

CHEEK

Cargo Cosmetics Blush in Mendocino
MAC Mineralize Blush in Feeling Flush

Lancôme Star Bronzer in Èclat Bronze

EYES

Urban Decay Naked Palette

Prestige Cosmetics Brow Perfection Revitalizing Clear Brow Gel

Clinique Brush-On Cream Liner

Eyeko Graffiti Eyeliner Pen

LIPS

Korres Lip Butter in Jasmine

MAC Sheen Supreme Lipstick in Bare Again

Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Plum Jewel

Maybelline Shine Sensational Pop Stick in Fruit Punch

SKINCARE

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser

L'oréal Skin Genesis Wet Cleansing Towelettes

Marcelle Essentials Soothing Cleansing Water *not pictured*
Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic *not pictured*

NAILS

Revlon - Plum Seduction

Sinful Colors - Cream Pink

Revlon - Facets of Fuchsia

OPI - Steady As She Rose

Revlon - Tangerine

BATH & BODY

Lush - The Olive Branch

Lush - It's Raining Men

The Body Shop - Mango Whip Body Lotion

HAIR

Lush R&B Hair Moisturizer

Macadamia Natural Oil Healing Oil Spray

TOOLS

Z Palettes

EcoTools Retractable Kabuki

And there you have it... My "best of the best" for 2011.

I do hope you all have a wonderful New Year's Eve! Have fun and stay safe! And I wish you all a fabulous 2012. I can't wait to see what 2012 has in store for me and I hope that the upcoming year has nothing but the best for all of you, because you all deserve it!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
from Call It Beauty

Checking In...

2011-12-28T08:30:00.000-08:00

Hello, lovelies! I hope everyone had an awesome Christmas.

Still laptop-less, but I've figured out a way to blog here and there until I am able to afford a new one. In the meantime, I thought I'd share my post-Christmas haul with you guys. All my photos were taken on my iPhone, so please bear with the quality :p.

Steve Madden Bandditt Boots

Steve Madden Dynemite Platforms

Bumble & Bumble Tonic Lotion

Caudalie Premières Vendanges Moisturizing Cream

MAC Blush in Subtle Breeze (from the Naturally Collection)
Funny tidbit: the SA at the MAC counter in Nordstrom pronounced it
SUB-TUHL. Forreal... I had to stop myself from giggling.

MAC Blush Ombré in Azalea Blossom (from the Daphne Guinness Collection)

Burberry Beauty Lip Mist Natural Sheer Lipstick in No. 07 Camelia Pink

bareMinerals READY Eyeshadow 2.0 in The Vision

Sultana of Soap, Lust Soap,Golden Wonder Bath Bomb, Cinders Bath Bomb, Abombinaball Bath Bomb, Lil Lush Pud Bath Bomb & Three Gold Rings Bubble Bar.

What does your Boxing Day damage look like?

A Forced Hiatus on Call It Beauty.

2011-12-17T08:30:00.000-08:00

If you follow me on Twitter, then you probably already know my sob story...

For those who aren't aware, my car was broken into this past Wednesday and my laptop was stolen.

I am certainly partly to blame, since I forgot to put my laptop in the trunk; but it's still pretty distressing, as I'm sure you can all imagine. >.<

Having my laptop stolen means I have lost all my personal and blog photos; which then means I have no pictures to use in subsequent blog posts.

At this moment, I have no posts scheduled on the blog and I probably won't be able to start blogging again until I have acquired a new laptop, which probably won't be until the new year. I hope you can all bear with me for the time being!

I'm not sure how well I'll be able to keep up with everyone else's blogs, but I will try my best. I will still be keeping up with everyone through Twitter, though. :)

Fellow Lipstick Bandits, I'm so sorry I am unable to join you on this latest venture. Please know that I will be there in spirit... I will sport ___, _____ lipstick with you on Monday in solidarity :p. I love you ladies! ^.^

Anyway, I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and a fantastic New Year! Fingers crossed I will be back to blogging then :). Until then!

<3, Dani

All About Eyes - I'm Getting Sunburned

2011-12-16T08:30:00.000-08:00

I was immediately drawn to this Wet n' Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Trio in I'm Getting Sunburned because of the colour combination. This is definitely not the kind of look I would've put together myself, which is why I really like the WNW palettes - it helps me "think outside the box" a little bit more.

To start off, I applied the Browbone shade on the lid (I'm a rebel! Rawr!), but not all the way up to the outer edge. I also applied this shade along the lower lash line. Then, I applied the Crease shade on the outer corner and a little but on the outer third of the lower lash line. Then I blended the Eyelid shade along the crease, placing more product on the outer corner and softening it as I blended it inwards. To finish off, I applied Clinique Brush-On Cream Liner on the upper lash line. This look would definitely look better with eyeliner on the lower water line and some mascara, but my eyes were a bit itchy that day and I didn't want to exacerbate whatever reaction it was any further. Or maybe I'm just turning into Larie :p.

Hope you all like this look!

The Joe Fresh Compact Makes For An Awesome Travel Buddy

2011-12-14T08:30:00.000-08:00

Joe Fresh has recently come out with a "mix and match" sort of palette compact that immediately made me think of Le Métier de Beauté's Kaleidoscope Kits. Except, you know... Much, much cheaper :p.

At the time, Superstore had a coupon deal where if you purchase 2 of any Face Duos, Eyeshadow Quads or Lip Duos, then you can get the starter compact for free. Each Quad/Duo retails for $12 CAD while the starter compact retails for $5 CAD.

The compact itself is made of white, sturdy, lightweight plastic. Each level snaps into place securely and the edges of each slab is magnetic so the compact stays closed. Although, it doesn't take much effort to slide out, so you might still find it open a bit when it's rattled around in your purse.

Coquette Face Duo

Both cheek products are pretty good quality. They blend well onto the skin and look quite natural. I particularly like the blush because most of my blushes are either pink or coral, so more natural looking blushes are always quite welcome. The highlighter is a lovely champagne shade that compliments the blush well.

Soft Smoke Eye Quad

I chose this eyeshadow quad because of the gorgeous shades - a deep forest green with some flecks of glitter shot through, a smoky green shade, a gorgeous taupe and a silvery grey shade. So pretty!

Unfortunately, the eyeshadow quad was a bit of a letdown. I absolutely adore the colours, but if you know me, you know that I'm not that into sheer eyeshadows. I understand that there is a time and a place for sheers, but I would've liked the option of a more pigmented look and it's much easier to sheer down a pigmented product than it is to do the reverse.

Also...

(Fallout galore! >.<)

That said, the eyeshadows are such lovely colours and they do look rather nice, as you can see from the FOTD below...

Ingénue Lip Duo

I'm a big fan of Joe Fresh lipsticks and this Lip Duo doesn't disappoint! Both shades are nicely pigmented and feel really nice on the lips. The only thing I don't like is the fact that the red shade really accentuates the dry areas on my lips by making them a tad darker. However, when my lips are in better shape, they apply evenly.

FOTD

*Please excuse my changing skintone :p. I haven't been able to figure out how to change the temperature/tint of my skin without changing the colour of the makeup. Apologies!

Are you a fan of the Joe Fresh cosmetic line?

Celebrate The Season of Giving With MAC Dazzlesphere Mini Gloss Kit In Coral

2011-12-12T08:30:00.000-08:00

I'm gonna be honest. I totally purchased this set for myself.

But that's not the point! The point is that this Mini Gloss Kit would make an amazing Christmas gift.

Even if you're just giving yourself a gift.

Anyway, the Dazzlesphere collection by MAC is a great way to try out multiple products for a more inexpensive price. I purchased this set of 4 mini lip glosses for $38.50 CAD and they don't cheat you with the amount of product either, because at 0.07 oz. for the Cremesheen's and 0.09 oz. for the Dazzleglasses, you're getting a good amount of gloss action. This is an awesome deal if, like me, you're not that into glosses in general and tend to never finish one up.

First of all, I love the packaging. The clear globe is adorable and looks just like an ornament, though you'd need some heavy duty fasteners to get this attached to a tree, it's pretty heavy! The individual glosses are also encased in plastic tubes that are thicker than your typical MAC Lipglass packaging.

What I definitely do not like is the Dazzleglass' applicators because it tends to do that up there ^^. I prefer doe foot applicators because not only do I feel like I have more control, but I can also cover more surface area with it. You guys have seen my lips, there's quite a bit of area to cover :p. Brushes just take too long.

Also, can we talk about how difficult it is to remove Dazzleglasses? Goodness, this stuff is thick! I definitely prefer how Cremesheen Glasses feel on the lips, but again, Dazzleglasses are amazing layered on top of other lip products.

This Coral set comes with 4 different shades: Phiff! ("sheer yellow peach), On the Scene ("light coral beige"), Eurobeat ("peach coral with gold pearl") and Richer, Lusher ("peach coral").

Phiff! is perfect for layering because it doesn't add any noticeable colour. On the Scene is a lovely nude shade that would be better used layered on top of lipstick because it settles into lines a lot. Eurobeat is absolutely gorgeous, this shade alone makes the whole set worth it. Richer, Lusher is very much an MLBB shade for me; lovely, natural and is a softer alternative to my usual MLBB lipsticks.

Phiff!

Phiff! - close up

On the Scene

Eurobeat

Eurobeat - close up

Richer, Lusher

Pretty, no?

My favourites are definitely Eurobeat and Richer, Lusher. In fact, despite not being much of a gloss lady, I intend to wear Richer, Lusher often. I think I shall reserve Dazzleglasses for special occasions and performances, though :p. It's just not as comfortable to wear as I would like.

What are you favourite lipglosses?

*If any of you have Bloglovin', I have just signed up! If you care to follow Call It Beauty through Bloglovin', then click on the widget on the left :).

Get Colour, Shine & Hydration With Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butters

2011-12-07T08:30:00.001-08:00

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I have a confession to make... I don't really keep up with new product launches.

*Shock Horror* Bad beauty blogger! Bad, BAD beauty blogger!

Honestly though, I'm not sure I would know about new products or collections were it not for other people's blogs and websites. Which could be considered as a way of "keeping up" with launches, so I may have just contradicted myself there...

Long story short, I didn't know these products were about to be released until I saw Tracy's post on Beauty Reflections. Cue instant lemmings!

Then one fateful day, I decided to go to London Drugs*. I saw a cart with 3 cardboard displays of products... Maybelline Color Tattoo Eyeshadows, interesting. L'oréal Color Infallible Eyeshadows, seen it before. Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butters -- OHMAHGAH!

So there I stood, in front of this cart that they had literally just put out on the floor, rifling through all the different shades. It was so new (to the store) the SA didn't even know how much it cost... There is a certain amount of pride I am feeling at this moment.

*I purchased each Lip Butter for $10.49 at London Drugs, though I've seen them being sold for a few dollars cheaper at Walmart and Superstore.

I had a bit of a tough time figuring out which shades I wanted to get. Mostly because out of the twenty (TWENTY! *o*) shades, only 4 of them had testers. Berry Smoothie was a shoe in because it's exactly the kind of shade I would wear every day. Peach Parfait was the next choice because Emma Stone looked absolutely lovely wearing that shade in the ads. Candy Apple rounded up the trio because... Well, it was pretty!

Here's some more background info, courtesy of Revlon's website:

Buttery balm with beautiful shiny color to give you baby soft, healthy, glowing lips.
94% of women felt lips were softer, smoother and instantly hydrated.
Hydrating mango, shea and coconut butter formula boosts lip moisture by 156% (That's a big number o.o)
Pampering gel formula provides super charged hydration and glides on lips buttery smooth
Sheer to medium color with buttery shine
Available in 20 luscious shades

First of all, oh my wow! This stuff is awesome! Tinted lip butters/conditioners/balms/what have you are my favourite lip products because they hydrate while keeping my lips looking pretty. That said, I wouldn't necessarily call these Lip Butters, I would consider them more like moisturizing lipsticks. When I read the words "Lip Butter", I think of Korres' products and those bad boys are thick.

If you have "normal lips", these should provide more than enough hydration for you. However, my lips are very dry at the moment and I find I need to reapply more than I normally would for other hydrating lip products. I still get a solid 2-3 hours of wear time before I start feeling dryness around the edges of my lips.

Even with my lips being rather dry lately, I still absolutely love these Lip Butters. It's not quite enough for the drier areas on the outer edges of my lips, but it's perfect for the rest.

L-R: Berry Smoothie, Candy Apple, Peach Parfait

Berry Smoothie

Candy Apple

Peach Parfait

The three shades I got are absolutely lovely. Like I mentioned earlier, Berry Smoothie is my typical go-to shade. Candy Apple is a gorgeous bright red shade and less is definitely more. I find that the other two shades are more forgiving when you apply multiple layers. With Candy Apple, you can only get away with a few swipes. Lastly, Peach Parfait is a lovely peachy-pink shade that has a subtle shimmer. It looks nothing like how it does on Emma Stone, but that probably has to do with the colour of my lips :p.

I've been alternating between these three shades since I got it sometime last week and they're my current go-to lip product. I get awesome colour while keeping my lips semi-hydrated, which is perfect for these cold winter months. I actually have my eye on two more shades: Strawberry Shortcake and Tutti Frutti.

Are you a fan of tinted lip butters/conditioners/balms?

All About Eyes - Blue Had Me At Hello

2011-12-05T08:30:00.000-08:00

We have a bit of a 2-for-1 deal here at Call It Beauty with Wet N Wild's Color Icon Eyeshadow Collection in Blue Had Me At Hello. I'm already a fan of WNW's eyeshadows for their amazing colour payoff and the cheap price tag doesn't hurt, either.

I haven't really had the chance to really play with these eyeshadows and explore different shade combinations. So for these two looks, I decided to keep it simple (and by simple, I mean not really simple :p) and stick to the shade combinations that the shadows are grouped with. Here's what I came up with...

Look 1

To start off, I applied the crease shadow along the area above my crease but below my brow bone. Then I lined 3/4 of my lower lash line with the definer shade and connected it to the outer edge of the line below the brow bone. I would alternate application and blending with a fluffy brush until I was happy with the depth of colour and the softened edges. Next, I applied the eyelid shade on the eyelid and the inner third of the lower lash line and then touched up the crease shade a bit, making sure that both shades blended together. To finish off, I lined the upper lash line thinly with the definer shade, applied the browbone shade to the browbone and applied 2 coats of Rimmel Volume Flash The Max Bold Curves mascara (say that 5 times fast!).

Look 2

I really love this one, if I do say so myself :).

I started off with the eyelid shade, which is a gooorgeous teal colour. I applied it on the lid, til then applied the crease shade on the outer 3rd area. I also used these same shades to line my lower lash line. Then I blended the browbone shade along the edge of the two shadows and lined my upper lash line and lower water line with the definer shade. To finish off, I applied a few coats of the same mascara I used for Look 1.

Hope you all like these looks! :)

Monthly Favourites - November 2011

2011-12-02T08:30:00.000-08:00

It's DECEMBER! Now I can go nuts about Christmas without people looking at me funny!

How's everyone's Christmas shopping going? I've actually finished mine; all I have to do now is bake cookies. Do any of you give treats on Christmas? If so, give me some of your recipes! I'd love to broaden my baking horizons :p.

Anyway, without further ado, here are my favourites from the wonderful month of November (and it's mostly wonderful because December comes after it):

1. Batiste Dry Shampoo - Blush

Before I had even heard of Batiste, I tried Tresemmé's dry shampoo. It was kind of useless.

So I tried Batiste out, subconsciously expecting for it to be ineffective, but boy was I ever wrong! It actually de-greases (that sounds gross) and volumizes my roots. It does leave your hair looking white, but it goes away completely after I brush my hair through with my fingers. If you don't want to go through that trouble, Batiste also make dry shampoo that comes with a "hint of colour" with shades that correspond to whatever colour your hair is. Unfortunately, Shoppers Drug Mart doesn't carry those.

It also has a lovely floral scent which I appreciate a lot because my hair tends to pick up scents really well and I don't fancy having my hair smell like "ulam" (if you're Filipino, you know what this means :p). I've been trying not to wash my hair every day, especially now that I use warm-hot water for my showers. Now that I have something to refresh my hair every other day, I can actually fulfill that goal.

2. The Body Shop Perfume Oil - Vanilla

This perfume has been a staple in my fragrance stash for many years now and I still absolutely love it. Vanilla is probably my favourite scent, so this perfume oil gets a lot of love from me.

First of all, you don't need a lot (I've had this one for a while now, it doesn't even come in a bottle like this anymore) so you'll be able to use it for a long time. Secondly, it's $16; enough said, I should think.

3. Maybelline Clear Smooth Blush - Fresh Berry

I was first drawn to this blush because of the super bright shade, but I've really grown to love it because it blends beautifully on the skin (applied with a light hand, of course :p) and sticks around for my entire work day.

It's such a lovely shade and I've been loving wearing it this month because it makes these dark and dreary days a little bit better :).

4. Spa Resource Brushes - Powder Brush & Stippling Brush

I spotted these babies at Walmart and truthfully, I wasn't intrigued... That is, until I felt the bristles. Softness galore! I'd say they are about on par with EcoTools in terms of softness and both retail for under $11 CAD. Not bad, no?

The only thing I don't like is the stippling brush's propensity to shed - I had a lot of bristles on my face! Although, the shedding did stop after a second wash. I definitely prefer this stippling brush to Sigma's; it feels much softer on the skin.

You can find these brushes in Walmart or purchase them online at Spa Resource.

5. Macadamia Natural Oil - Healing Oil Spray

My hairstylist would always spritz my hair with this after a cut & style and I remember thinking I absolutely had to have it because it smells divine!

This stuff is uh-may-zing! It makes my hair look shiny and hydrated, removes frizz, but doesn't weigh my hair down at all. And did I mention it smells divine? I did? Well, it smells diviiine!

I thought I would have to say goodbye to my little bottle, because the nozzle started spritzing in a straight line (instead of a mist) but a few minutes under HOT water did the trick. I can now use it again!

I'm not sure where you can purchase this product because they don't have an online store and not all salons carry them. But if you have wavy/curly hair, you should start looking for this baby because you need this in your life!

For those in the US, you can purchase Macadamia Natural Oil at Ulta.

6. Lush - Sympathy For The Skin

This lotion was one of my "Best in 2010" picks and it still delivers. The scent (vanilla, of course) is absolutely delicious and it keeps my skin so wonderfully moisturized, soft and smooooth (operatoooor, smooooth operatoooor).

It retails for $25.95, which does sound pretty steep; but it lasts for such a long time, I don't find myself needing to purchase it often. If you do try this lotion out, be sure to remember the expiry date. Because Lush uses a lot of fresh ingredients, their products do go bad. Conveniently, they have a sticker on the outside of their packaging with a best before date, as well as a lovely photo of whoever made that particular batch. How cool is that?

7. The Face Shop - Power Perfection BB Cream

A skincare product that has good coverage. No, it's not a Tinted Moisturizer, it's better than that: it's a BB Cream! I love this stuff because it gives me such natural coverage. I still need to do some concealing, but for the most part, it leaves my skin looking much better (My Skin But Better :p). It has a nice consistency, thicker than some Tinted Moisturizers I've tried and easily blends onto the skin.

It's not perfect - my face does get a bit oily at the end of the day, which I would rather it didn't, but it's nothing a quick blot couldn't fix. All in all, I am so pleased with this BB Cream; it's a pleasure to use and leaves my skin looking really healthy.

8. Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick - Plum Jewel

Such a pretty colour! I love the formula and how the product just grabs onto your lips and doesn't shift around. It's creamy and applies smoothly, albeit with a slight bit of tugging (due to the thickish texture?) on the lips and with an average wear time of about 4 hours.

9. Bite Beauty Luminous Crème Lipstick - Mulberry

My chosen Lipstick Bandit lippie for the Fall. It contains a "super antioxidant" called reservatrol and is formulated without synthetics, polybutenes and petroleum byproducts. This lipstick glides on easily, feels really nice on the lips and is also one drop-dead gorgeous shade; absolutely perfect for fall!

What are your favourites for November?

These Color Sensational Lipsticks From Maybelline Have Me Thoroughly Impressed

2011-11-30T08:30:00.000-08:00

I distinctly remember owning a tube of Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick before... I threw it away because it had an absolutely awful scent and I've been staying away from the line ever since. Of course, I couldn't avoid it for too long, could I? The shades are just too gorgeous!

Warm Me Up

Warm Me Up has been on my radar for a while now; I first swatched it a month ago and loved it. It's similar to MAC Jubilee in that it's a nude lipstick that leans towards pink, which is my perfect MLBB shade. I mentioned in a previous post about MAC's Bare Again lipstick that I've had a bit of an obsession with nude lipsticks this past pre-fall/fall... Now, because of my colouring and because my lips are pretty pigmented, I find this pinky-nude shade is the type of nude (or neutral, if you will) that suits me the best...

Plum Jewel

(Please excuse the grossness. I had to re-take the photo and by then, I had already used it)

Plum Jewel is a Limited Edition lipstick that kind of confuses me a bit. I think it's pretty safe to assume that a product named Plum Jewel would look plum, but it looks more pink on me. I like to call it, "fuchsia's older, more sophisticated sister." It's definitely a bright shade that translates really well into the Fall. That said, I find that when I apply enough, it does deepen into a plum shade and as it fades (mostly through eating or drinking), it turns into a lovely, berry-pink stain. It's so pretty!

Aaaand ---

BONUS POINTS FOR MATCHING MY GLASSES!

The first thing that I love about these lipsticks is the texture. It glides on so smoothly on the lips but doesn't slip around too much. I remember trying on a YSL lippie in Murale last week and the texture made me kind of anxious - it was so slippery! I was so paranoid it would somehow end up all over my face. With these Color Sensational lipsticks, I feel like the product really hugs my lips. The formula is thick enough that it doesn't move around your lips too much and yet, it's not at all sticky.

Going back to the scent, I'm pleased to say that these two don't smell awful (unlike my first tube... Perhaps I had purchased from a bad batch?). There's still that synthetic, sickly-sweet smell; but it's not that noticeable once you're wearing the lipstick and I have a pretty sensitive sense of smell.

I also like that it doesn't dry out my lips* and that I can wear it for a good 4 hours; more if I don't eat or drink... Which won't ever happen because I love food and I need to drink water in order to live, but that's beside the point.

* My lips themselves feel pretty moisturized when I wear these lipsticks. However, I have developed some sort of reaction to lip products this year. If I wear a lip product that is not a lip balm for an extended period of time, the skin directly beside what Wikipedia tells me is called the vermillion border becomes very dry, slightly inflamed, and at times, very itchy. I'm not sure what the cause of this is. It can't be the cold weather because it started even before the temperature started dropping. I'm not sure if it's an allergy either because this reaction has happened even when I used paraben-free lipsticks. Anyone have any idea what I'm suffering with?

Oh! And if these shades don't tickle your fancy, I'm sure Maybelline has something else for you because the shade range is fabulous! They have all their Color Sensational lipsticks arranged by shades - Neutral, Pinks, Reds, Plums, et cetera. Also, being a drugstore brand, they are fairly inexpensive. I purchased these in Superstore (our supermarket) for $6.99 a tube.

What are your favourite Color Sensational shades?

All About Eyes - Fall

2011-11-28T08:30:00.000-08:00

Products Used:

Urban Decay Naked Palette - Half Baked & Hustle

Sleek MakeUP i-Divine Palette - Sunset Palette (frosted red shade)

Clinique Brush-On Cream Liner - True Black

Rimmel Volume Flash The Max Bold Curves - Black

Prestige Cosmetics Brow Perfection Revitalizing Brow Gel - Clear

You know why I could never imagine myself living in a place with no seasons? Because seeing the leaves change colour is truly a sight to behold. That was what inspired me to use gold and red in this look. To start off, I applied Half Baked (so pretty!) on the lid and up to, but not above, the brow bone; I also applied a smidge of this to the inner, lower lash line. Then I used Hustle (one of my favourites in the Naked Palette) along the outer corner for a smokier effect and also to create some depth. I also used a little of this along the lower lash line for more definition. Then for some drama, I applied one of the red shades from Sleek's Sunet palette along the center of the lid and blending it towards the outer corner (a little "trick" I've seen a few YouTube makeup artists/guru's do in various videos). I have to say, I really like the effect it gives. Perhaps I shall use that trick more often.

Lastly, I applied gel liner along the top lid (flicking it gently otuwards) & along the lower water line; then I applied 2-3 coats of mascara to top lashes.

Hope you all like my Fall look =).

My Introduction To BB Creams - The Face Shop's Power Perfection Bb Cream

2011-11-23T08:30:00.000-08:00

While in the Philippines, I decided that I wasn't going to spend any money on beauty products. Don't ask me why, it doesn't even make any sense to me now :p. But, on the third week, I thought: "why not check out the beauty products they have here?" So I stepped into The Face Shop (a Korean skincare and cosmetics company) and it was decided that it was my new favourite store.

I've heard of BB Creams before, but until recently, there were no North American brands that offered them in their roster. So of course, I jumped at the chance to try these coveted products. To reduce this to its simplest definition, it is basically a hybrid of skincare and makeup. Think of a tinted moisturizer but with loads of extra skincare benefits.

Power Perfection is The Face Shop's "top of the line" BB Cream, the best they have to offer. So of course, I had to have it :p. Now, I think it's important to state that my skin doesn't suffer from too many problems. I get hormonal breakouts, I get some dry spots on occasion and my skin tone isn't even (darker pigmentation around the chin and around the jaw area). That said, I wouldn't be able to tell you if Power Perfection has any miraculous, anti-aging properties because my skin is simply not there yet...

However, I have to say that I absolutely love this product! It definitely takes the the concept of a tinted moisturizer even further. It certainly feels like a moisturizer, it glides onto the skin smoothly and effortlessly; but has better pigmentation and coverage than any other tinted moisturizer I've tried (which, admittedly, is not that much).

As you can see, I still need concealing (I definitely need it around the mouth/chin and under the eyes); but considering it's not a foundation, I'm still quite pleased with the coverage. I find that it certainly performs better than Laura Mercier's tinted moisturizer. Granted, I only tried it out once, but that's enough to figure out whether or not it's enough coverage for you, I think.

Unfortunately, this isn't exactly the right shade for my skin. BB Creams typically come in two shades and I chose the darker of the two, which is Natural Beige. However, the undertone is too pink for my warm/yellow toned skin (in the Philippines, it's all about having "pinkish-white skin"). Thankfully, because the coverage isn't too thick, I can still make it work for me; I just make sure to blend a bit of it on my neck.

I guess you can call this a "my skin, but better" type of product :p. No, it doesn't make my skin look flawless; I don't think that look is appropriate for every day, anyway. But it does make my skin look fresh, slightly dewy and healthier. I do notice some shine and oiliness on my face after a few hours, but honestly, now that we're heading into Winter, I'm more forgiving of some shine on my face. Especially since I find that whatever coverage it gives still sticks around until the end of my work day. That said, if you have oily skin, I don't think this product is for you.

...Assuming you would even be able to get it, coz um... It's not available in Canada. I'm sorry! >.<

But! They have stores in the US, Australia and various other countries in Asia so take a look at their Store Locator; you may be in luck and have a store near you. Check it out, yo! Coz this product is absolutely lurvely!

Have you tried a BB Cream before?

Meet The Most Vibrant Blush I've Ever Come Across...

2011-11-21T08:30:00.000-08:00

I was immediately drawn to this amazingly bright shade and who could blame me? It was practically begging me to pick it up! This baby is Maybelline's Clear Smooth Shine Free Blush in Fresh Berry. The Clear Smooth line is not available anywhere outside of Asia, unfortunately; and that's a shame, because this blush is gorgeous and fantastic quality!

Here's some info from Maybelline regarding their Clear Smooth Shine Free Blushes:

1. Velvety, matte colour:
Pure colour pigments blend into skin for a naturally shine-free flush.

2. Lasting oil control:
Micro-fine oil-absorbing powders remove shine for a clean, shine-free look that lasts for hours and hours.

3. Silky smooth texture:
Ultra-blendable powders glide like silk and melts smoothly only skin.

Shades specifically developed for Asian skintones
Dermatologist-tested, Non-comedogenic, Fragrance free & Oil-free

Because of the high temperatures and humidity, the majority of Asian beauty products cater to oily skin*. This oil-free blush is perfect for such weather and also for those with oily skin to begin with. The texture is amazingly smooth and feels really soft. It blends wonderfully as well; a plus, considering how crazy pigmented this blush is. For reals, I only tap my brush to the pan once and I still need to tap off the excess on the back of my hand, it's that bright!

*Asians are also obsessed with whitening products. Practically every skin care or makeup base product involves "whitening properties." I can't even count how many times an SA looked at me like I had two heads when I said I wasn't interested in anything that would whiten my skin (it was their number one selling point).

Holy Moly! :o

That said, there's absolutely no need to be frightened. Because when applied properly, it looks very, very pretty! Fresh Berry is a bright fuchsia shade with red undertones, definitely not something I have in my humble stash. Even if you are a bit heavy handed (as I ~~sometimes~~ most of the time am), it's also easy to blend with either your fingers or a brush, to make the colour less intense.

But the best part is that it's long wearing. Again, with products marketed for Asia, it's important to have matte finishes and also long wearability. Because, and I kid you not, once you step outside, it takes less than 5 minutes for your skin to get a bit oily due to the humidity. Now that I'm back in Canada and the weather's cold, that's not much of a problem for me. However, my skin still gets a bit oily near the end of my day. Still, I find that the Clear Smooth blush sticks around on even my longer days. The vibrancy diminishes a tiiiny bit, but I can still tell I'm wearing blush, which is the most important part. These chubby cheeks need some definition, yo!

I am so impressed with this product and it seriously needs to make an appearance on North American shores; I'm sure oily-skinned ladies would absolutely love it. And even if you have normal to dry skin (which I do), this would still be suitable for you, because it doesn't accentuate any dry areas at all...

...Now I wish I had gotten all the other shades!

Are you a fan of BRIGHT blushes?

Lipstick Bandit: My Favourite Fall Lipstick

2011-11-14T05:00:00.000-08:00

When I received an email from my fellow Lipstick Bandits, I was still in the Philippines and Fall was so far away from my thoughts that I thought I wouldn't be able to find a Fall lipstick in time. Well, looks like my worries were unnecessary as I was able to find my fall lipstick a few days after I arrived back home.

Except, adjusting back to work and having a delayed case of jet lag has made writing this post an ordeal and a half. And sure, I could've spent Sunday afternoon home writing it, but I couldn't pass up the chance to see Henry Cavill and Luke Evans throwing it down while shirtless :p. It's a totally good excuse, you guys...

...Aaaanyways...

Bite Luminous Crème Lipstick according to Sephora:

What it is:
A lush, long-lasting, moisture-rich lip color.

What it does:
This lip color delivers super antioxidant resveratrol, which fights free radicals with potent long term anti-aging benefits. Each lipstick contains the amount of resveratrol found in five glasses of red wine.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Parabens
- Sulfates
- Synthetic Fragrances
- Synthetic Dyes
- Petrochemicals
- Pthalates
- GMOs
- Triclosan

What else you need to know:
This products is free of synthetics, polybutenes, and petroleum byproducts and made exclusively with lip nurturing, food-grade ingredients that are healthy enough to eat.

When I first swatched this lippie, I actually gasped a little bit. Still, the $28 price tag was a bit of a kick to the gut, especially since I didn't earn any money in October. So I went in search for a cheaper alternative, but couldn't find anyway. So I ended up just buying the darn thing, since I was so in love with it already.

This lipstick, which Bite has dubbed "Mulberry," is very creamy; it glides on smoothly & effortlessly, with amazing colour payoff. Sadly, despite being a "moisture-rich" lipstick, it is still no match for my über dry lips and this lipstick is emphatically not something you should wear when your lips are dry. Thankfully, they're behaving at the moment, so I'm enjoying wearing it :). That said, I'm afraid I've developed some sort of reaction to lipsticks as of late. The skin along my top lip and the skin on the left side of my bottom lip get pretty dry and itchy when I wear lipsticks for a prolonged period of time. I experienced that the first time I tried this lipstick, though it hasn't happened since then.

(dotted on)

Mulberry is a gorgeous wine-red shade that actually looks a lot like MAC Media, albeit a less intense version. Unfortunately, my camera could not fully capture the shade in all its glory. It's more... Well, wine-y than my photos suggest.

It's such a lovely colour, that I've been semi-obsessed with similar shades ever since I purchased this lipstick. I know I said nude would be my go-to shade in the Fall, but ~~I lied~~ I just can't resist! One thing to keep in mind with this product is that it has a tendency to shift if, like me, you like to smush your lips together. So you'll definitely want to keep that to a minimum while wearing Bite's Luminous Crème Lipsticks.

My favourite way to wear Mulberry is by dotting it over or under lip balm. I tend to wear it with Korres' Lip Butter in Jasmine because it doesn't add any colour, though layering MAC Tinted Lip Conditioner in Fuchsia Fix over Mulberry is also a really gorgeous combo!

So there we go, my favourite Fall lipstick! Of course, as you all know, I'm not the only Lipstick Bandit around... Wondering what the other Lipstick Bandits are loving? Check out these posts for all our fall favourites:

What's your favourite Fall lipstick?

Get A Pretty Flush With NYX Cosmetics' Rouge Cream Blush In Natural

2011-11-09T08:30:00.000-08:00

I never used to like cream blushes, mostly because I could never apply it properly with my fingers. I still have trouble, if I'm honest; but I've recently added another cream blush to my burgeoning collection: NYX's Cream Blush in Natural. That brings my collection to a whopping 3! I'm out of control, guys...

So the first part of this post was written back in the Summer. I thought that in order to give it a more thorough review, I should also test it out in the Fall when the temperature drops; it might give you guys a better idea of how this product works in the heat and in the cold.

From NYX Cosmetics: More delicious than peaches and cream? We like to think so. Our velvety smooth mineral Rouge Cream Blush offers a sheer wash of radiant color. The glorious payoff is dewy, sultry and long-lasting. Available in 12 shades.

I really love the dewy finish it gives, it looks so pretty on the skin. Although, unlike the Joe Fresh cream blushes, these remain tacky. So while the weather is still quite warm and my skin somewhat oily, I make sure to only wear this blush when I don't have to be out for very long or on those odd Vancouver days when the temperature drops.

That said, I find that even though my face has gotten oily, the blush stays put. I'm wearing it as I'm writing these very words, 6 hours after I first applied it and it's still with me. Might I add that it was quite hot today with a high of about 25°C (yes, that's hot to me) and it somehow didn't melt right off my face?

After 6 hours, I blotted my face and it didn't come off. Two hours after blotting and the blush is definitely not as vibrant but it's still there; so I'm seriously quite impressed with the wear time. It's not super long lasting and I'll probably have to touch up if I happened to spend a lot of time running around from place to place, enduring the combination of heat/sweat/oiliness (how lovely)... But 8 hours is still pretty darn cool.

Fast forward to today, November 8th and I still love the product & love the shade. Now that the weather is much cooler, I find that the product settles onto the skin much better and has a drier finish. That said, it still gives a nice, dewy flush. Obviously, the wear time is a bit extended as well because there's no heat t melt it off my face :p.

I currently use Sigma's F15 brush, but I find that it's much too big and I don't enjoy how it feels on the skin when applying blush. If anybody has any recommendations for brushes that would apply cream blushes beautifully, please hit me up in the comments section!

NYX Cosmetics' Rouge Cream Blush retails for $9.99 CAD and are available at PriceSmart, Save-On Foods, and the freestanding NYX Cosmetics store in Surrey's Central City mall.

What are your favourite cream blushes?

Monthly Favourites - October 2011

2011-11-02T08:30:00.000-07:00

Mother of pearl, has the Philippines been HOT!

I say this like I'm surprised, but really... What does one expect from a country in Southeast Asia? Honestly though, I am so ready for cold weather. As I am writing this, I am a mere 4 days away from blissful coolness and as you are reading this, I am emphatically not enjoying the jetlag as I adjust back to Pacific time.

Anyhoo, these month's favourites are the ones that have really impressed me with how helpful they've been in this heat (it is 32º C this very moment).

1. Urban Decay Naked Palette

OH-EM-GEE, enough with the Naked Palette!

But seriously, one last thing I have to say before I quit it... If you ever go on vacation and want to keep the makeup to a minimum (good luck with that :p), bring the Naked Palette. I have used it every day and on every occasion; whether it's a casual day spent with family, dinner with friends, or a concert performance - this palette has seen me through all of them.

Although it was a shame that it didn't hold up to the heat (not even with UDPP).

2. Maybelline Dream Matte Powder

Of course, a mattifying powder is important with such high heat; but what I especially loved about this product during the month of October was how it served as a great foundation, too! On days when my skin was behaving, I could get away with wearing just this. It evened out my skin tone and kept my skin looking matte.

3. Rimmel Volume Flash The Max Bold Curves & Volume Accelerator Mascara

Both these mascaras make some very big claims... One promises extreme volume and lift, while the other promises thicker lashes after 30 days of use.

Can't say I agree with either, but you know what? Both stuck around for a full day out and in 30º heat! That alone is pretty damn impressive. I also love that it doesn't take too much effort to remove all traces of mascara. I normally have problems with L'oréal's waterproof version of the Voluminous mascara, but not so with these two!

The formula got too clumpy too soon, though. Not such a fan of that, considering I've only had both mascaras for less than a month... Still, I get good enough separation if I'm patient and like I said, both formulas stick around even in 30º/high humidity situations.

4. Prestige Cosmetics Brow Perfection Revitalizing Clear Brow Gel

I'm sure you've all seen some photos where I've somehow forgotten to groom my brows. I finally decided that this problem can no longer be ignored, so I went to London Drugs to find myself a clear brow gel. This baby is so easy to use and it definitely keeps my sometimes unruly brows in check all day. It doesn't make it my brows feel stiff at all, although it holds them in place really well. Bonus!

5. MAC Mineralize Blush in Feeling Flush

Another repeat performance by this product. Like the Naked Palette, I've blabbed about it enough. I just wanted to reiterate how amazing the staying power is. It stays put all day, although the heat does make it fade a bit at the end of the day. But if you're not dealing with high heat and humidity, this stuff will stay super vibrant all day.

6. Eyeko Graffiti Eyeliner Pen

Another repeat "offender" :p.

Long lasting products is this month's theme, since I've been in the Philippines. You don't need any primer for this stuff, it locks on and doesn't let go all freakin' day! It doesn't migrate anywhere!

7. EcoTools Retractable Kabuki Brush

Lightweight, portable; this brush is amazing to travel with! Makes touch-ups so much easier! It's eco-friendly, too.

8. Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Concealer

Love this stuff!

It kept my dark circles at bay and kept up with the weather and long days. It's pretty creamy, which I love because it doesn't look cakey or chalky at all.

9. Travalo Refillable Perfume Atomizer Bottle Spray

I randomly came across this at London Drugs and boy was it ever a life-saver during my trip! It's easy to use (simply remove the top of the spray of your perfume, place the bottom of the atomizer on top, and press down repeatedly until your atomizer is filled), super lightweight and small enough to fit in even small evening handbags.

When the weather is super hot, your perfume fades away quicker (you pretty much sweat if off after 10 minutes of being outdoors :p), so having this handy was a great way to freshen up!

What are your October faves?

My Skin Loves Pure+simple's Organic Rosehip Face Oil

2011-10-28T08:30:00.000-07:00

I first tried this face oil when Pure+simple included a sample with my package (I initially ordered their all natural sunscreen) and I loved it right away. I kept using it for a few weeks until I decided to purchase a full size bottle during their Midnight Madness sale. Here's what Pure+simple has to say about the product:

Rosehip oil contains 80% essential fatty acids (EFAs), predominantly linoleic (Omega 3) and linolenic (Omega 6) and is naturally enriched with antioxidants like beta-carotene and lycopene.

Naturally contains Trans-Retinoic Acids that helps regenerate damaged skin tissue
Helps to decrease and prevent hyperpigmentation, wrinkles and scars
A perfect skin rehydrator that restores moisture balance

Ideal for:

Preventative Anti Aging
Sensitive/dry skin
Mature skin
Sundamaged, hyperpigmented skin

Directions for uses:

Use as a hot oil treatment for brittle, damaged hair or as a scalp treatment
Use in place of a moisturizer day and/or night
Use under your moisturizer for ultra hydration and/or to prevent/correct fine lines and pigmentation

This Organic Rosehip Facial Oil is fairly lightweight (much more than Josie Maran Argan Oil, which I also love), so it's been perfect for this transitioning period. I used to have a Summer moisturizer and a Winter moisturizer and would just put up with using one or the other during the Fall or Spring. But now I no longer have to do that, thanks to this facial oil.

It has a slight fishy scent; very slight, mind. It definitely has a very natural scent (which makes sense, considering it's an all natural product), which might be a problem for some people. As for me, I find the scent to be pretty mild and non-offensive.

This face oil sinks into the skin wonderfully and doesn't leave any tacky residue on the skin, which is perfect for this transitioning period. It moisturizes my skin really well without making it oily, which is what most people assume when talking about face oils. But nope! This baby absorbs well and doesn't just sit on top of your skin.

After using it for a week or two, I definitely noticed that my skin looked more even. The pigmentation around my chin area (due to an uneven Summer tan) lessened somewhat (or at least it looked like it :p) and I would wake up with glowing, hydrated skin.

That's the best part, really: the feeling that my skin has what it needs, which is something that I've only experienced with a few other moisturizers. My skin feels like it should: healthy and hydrated. Plus, it's an all natural product, so I know that my skin is truly being nourished with products that won't harm me or the environment. Bonus points, yo!

Are you a fan of facial oils?

All About Eyes - A Shot of Peacock

2011-10-26T08:30:00.001-07:00

Products Used:

NYX Single Eyeshadow - Rootbeer

MAC Eyeshadow - Patina

The Body Shop Eye Colour - Peacock Green

Clinque Brush-On Cream Eyeliner - 02 True Black

Revlon Beyond Natural Mascara - Blackest Black

NYX AUTO Eyebrow Pencil - Black

Firstly, I applied Rootbeer eyeshadow all over the lid, then I blended it out with Patina eyeshadow. Next, I applied Peacock Green eyeshadow with a pencil brush on the lower lash line, all the way to the corner. I lined my eyes with a Clinique Cream Eyeliner and extended the line outwards; I also applied this liner on the lower water line. Now because the eye look itself is fairly simple, I wanted to make the eyebrows more a bit more intense. So I used an eyebrow pencil to not only fill in the gaps, but to make my eyebrows look thicker than they really are. I did this by focusing the colour more on the edges of my brows. To finish off, I applied a few coats of mascara to both top and bottom lashes.

Hope you guys like this look! :)

* This is a pre-written post queued up for today, as I am currently on a month-long trip. Please do still leave a comment, I will be checking in once in a while. :)

Fall Nail Colours!

2011-10-24T08:30:00.000-07:00

During the Summer, coral was my go-to shade. For the Fall, I'm taking a cue from Summer by sticking with the same shade family and using mustard and orange shades. Admittedly, I was a bit excited for Fall so I started wearing this at the end of August and early September.

Joe Fresh Style Nail Polish - Pineapple

Joe Fresh Style nail polishes are great quality, two coats is all you need. The only thing I don't like is the rather short and fat handle, which makes it difficult to use sometimes.

NYX Cosmetics Matte Nail Polish - Orange

I love this shade! The matte finish definitely makes it more interesting as well. Unfortunately, it doesn't take much to make this nail polish chip. Admittedly, I didn't use a top coat; but seeing as there are plenty of products out there that last even without it, this is going to be labelled a disappointment. Even still, I love wearing it, I just don't expect to be wearing it for very long :p.

What are your go-to shades for Fall?

Collection Spotlight: Elie Saab - Fall 2011

2011-10-21T08:30:00.000-07:00

(photos from style.com)

You guys... You guys, I can't.

I am head over heels in love with these Elie Saab dresses. I am legitimately at a loss for words right now because I feel like I just got slapped in the face with gorgeousness. I love how all the embellishments just pop out so much more against the sheer fabrics. The shades are all lovely, from ice blue to cream, from blush to taupe and finally, midnight blue.

Classy, elegant, and absolutely stunning. I can't even pick a favourite because then I'd end up writing about every single dress...

I can't even...

Happy weekend, lovelies!

About Face - Intense Eyeliner Look

2011-10-19T08:30:00.000-07:00

(someone forgot to comb their eyebrows >.<)

I was inspired to recreate this look after seeing Michelle Phan's "Fun Eyeliner Looks" video on YouTube. I loved the intensity, so I whipped out the eyeliners and got to it. If you'd like to know how to create this look, then go ahead and take a look at Michelle's video (this part starts at 2:05) because for some reason, I decided to do it the hard way (i.e. using liquid liner from the get go).

Of course, I gave it my own little twist by adding another dimension to the look (you'll see in the photos below), changing the shape up a little bit so it's not as round at the top, and extending the line in the corner a little bit longer.

Products Used:

Revlon PhotoReady Foundation - 005 Natural Beige

Revlon PhotoReady Concealer - 003 Light Medium

Lancôme Star Bronzer - Éclat Bronze

Clinique Brush-On Cream Liner - True Black

NYX Cosmetics Jumbo Eye Pencil - Black

Eyeko Graffiti Eye Pencil - Jet Black

NYX Cosmetics 10 Color Palette - Velvet Rope (black w/ red-violet glitter eyeshadow)

Joe Fresh Matte Lipstick - Poppy

The most complicated part about this look was definitely getting the shape down for the eyes. I used Clinique's cream liner to trace out the shape, NYX's Jumbo Eye Pencil to fill in all the gaps (including the upper and lower waterline), and Eyeko's Graffiti Eye Pencil to make the points as precise as I could. To top off the eye look, I patted a black eyeshadow with red-violet glitter shot through on the lids.

Hope you guys like this look!

* This is a pre-written post queued up for today, as I am currently on a month-long trip. Please do still leave a comment, I will be checking in once in a while. :)

I'm On The Fence About MAC Pro Longwear Foundation

2011-10-17T08:30:00.000-07:00

Here's the thing, I never really felt the need for long-wearing makeup before. But then I became vainer started working long hours and the weather got pretty hot, so I started seeing the need for long-wearing foundation. I used to have the time to remove all my makeup and start again, but now that my life is a little bit hectic, I don't even have the time to plant myself into a mirror, much less wash my face and re-do my makeup.

I tried samples of Esteé Lauder's Double Wear Foundation (changed my life, forreal), but I wanted to use that as my "special occasion" foundation. Double Wear made my skin look near perfect, and I didn't want my skin look flawless every day. Yes, you read that right. My reasoning? Well, I don't want my face to be an illusion. I'm not trying to get too deep here, but I don't want to wear a mask every day. So I started looking for a foundation that was long-wearing but didn't provide absolutely flawless coverage and MAC Pro Longwear seemed to fit the bill.

(blended slightly)

From MAC: A long-wear foundation that gives up to 15 hours of wear in any environmental condition. Lightweight and creamy, applies smoothly to provide sheer to medium coverage. Even in hot and humid conditions, controls oil to keep skin fresh, natural and flawless. Provides everyday SPF protection.

Firstly, I would say that this product provides medium coverage. It has a thicker consistency than Esteé Lauder Double Wear, it doesn't run down the back of my hand at all. I purchased the shade NC25, which is my normal shade; it's a tad too light for me at the moment because my skin is still holding on to the last vestiges of my summer tan. As you can see from the photo above, it's definitely too light for my hand. That's because I have the privilege of having my body be a completely different colour than my face. Ever since I was a child, my body has been darker than my face :p.

I love that this foundation comes with a pump. It locks in place (see above photo) and when you click it to the left, it unlocks. Perfect for traveling! The pump also dispenses the perfect amount of product, which was something I was worried about because I've heard the Pro Long Concealer dispenses a lot of product.

The texture of this foundation is quite nice. Despite its consistency (similar to Revlon Colorstay), it doesn't feel thick on the skin. It does dry fairly quickly though, so you need to work fast in order to blend it out. It has a bit of a powdery finish, which accentuates drier areas a bit.

(taken immediately after application)

As you can see, it doesn't really even out the skin enough, unlike Double Wear. My face didn't tan evenly during the Summer and I have darker areas around my chin, so I definitely have to wear concealer on those areas on top of the foundation. Also, because of the powdery finish, it tends to cling to the little dry patches I have.

So why did I bother with this foundation? Well, despite not evening out my skin the way I would like it to, it does make my skin look quite nice. After a few hours of wear, my skin takes on a more natural finish and that's when Pro Longwear really excels. There's a bit of dewy-ness that comes through, but I do find myself needing to blot after a few hours. I guess that's why I'm on the fence about it. I wish it provided a tad more coverage so that my skin looks more even, but on the other hand, it makes my skin look lovely after an hour of wear time. I do know that once my skin has evened itself out (i.e. once my tan disappears), this foundation would be perfect for me. Perhaps I'll revisit this review once that time has come...

Pro Longwear Foundation can be purchased at freestanding MAC stores or MAC counters in The Bay for $36.50 CAD.

Are you a fan of MAC's Pro Longwear Foundation?

Have any tips for me on how to make it perform better?

Collection Spotlight: Jason Wu - Fall 2011

2011-10-14T08:30:00.001-07:00

(photos from style.com)

There's something about the crispness of black and white that never gets old. Absolutely love the tuxedo look in set one and the lovely dress in set two - I can just imagine wearing that at a Christmas party with red, velvet pumps.

I also love the shots of colour, especially paired with lace or see through pieces. I especially love the blue blazer, the shade adds some oomph to a classic wardrobe piece.

Lastly, I love the see-through nude + black, high waisted skirt combo. And goodness, those slits insane! My favourite is gown in the middle of the last set. If it looks familiar, it's because the gorgeous Diane Kruger wore something very similar to the MET Ball earlier this year.

P.S.

I am now obsessed with polka dotted hosiery, it adds such a lovely touch. It's very subtle, but when you notice it, it really grabs your attention. I definitely need a pair for my wardrobe!

Happy weekend, lovelies!

About Face: Runway Edition - Jil Sander

2011-10-12T08:30:00.000-07:00

I love this Jil Sander look (from the Fall 2011 RTW show) because of its simplicity.

And yet, even in its simplicity, it's emphatically not boring. The jade eyeliner and the bright red lips make a subtle, but striking combination. Here's my take on this look created by makeup artist and global Creative Director for Chanel makeup, Peter Philips.

Products Used:

Revlon PhotoReady Foundation - 005 Natural Beige

Revlon PhotoReady Concealer - 003 Light Medium

NYX Cosmetics Rouge Cream Blush - Natural

Urban Decay Naked Palette - Buck

Cargo Cosmetics Swimmables Waterproof Eye Pencil - Teal

Wet N Wild Color Icon Palette - Pride (metallic green)

L'oréal Voluminous Mascara - Carbon Black

Revlon Super Lustrous Creme Lipstick - Fire & Ice

In order to get a shade as close to the original as possible, I simply layered a Wet N Wild eyeshadow from the Pride Color Icon Palette on top of a Cargo Cosmetics Swimmables Eye Pencil in Teal. I winged out the eyeliner as much as I could with the pencil and fixed it up so the tip was more pointed with an angled eyeliner brush. I then applied a few coats of L'oréal Voluminous mascara.

I wanted to try something a teeny bit different with my lips. Firstly, I outlined my lips with Revlon's Fire & Ice lipstick and a lip brush. I wanted to really exaggerate the bow of my lips so I dipped the center line down more than I normally would. I also wanted to make my lower lip look less full by outlining it before my natural lip line. Unfortunately, this didn't work out so well because my natural lip line is quite pigmented.

As I've mentioned before, I don't have the kind of face that can go without any cheek colour, so even though I didn't see any blush on the model's cheeks, I still added cream blush (NYX Rouge Cream Blush in Natural) to give my face a bit of shape.

Hope you like! :)

* This is a pre-written post queued up for today, as I am currently on a month-long trip. Please do still leave a comment, I will be checking in once in a while. :)

Tarte's Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Concealer Smoothes Away Dark Circles

2011-10-10T08:30:00.000-07:00

A lot of my base choices lately have been connected to my trip to the Philippines (where I am now as you are reading this), so I needed a concealer that was going to keep up with humidity, high heat, and long days. I've read good things about Tarte's Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Waterproof Concealer online so I decided to head to Sephora and pick one up for myself.

Here's what Tarte has to say about this product:

What it is:
A waterproof concealer powered by Amazonian clay, nature's most perfect ingredient, to balance and soothe skin.

What it does:
This waterproof, full-coverage concealer combines the calming properties of vitamins A and E and the soothing quality of Amazonian clay to nourish while completely masking discolorations and imperfections for better looking skin. Amazonian clay acts as a total skin balances by reducing dryness and flakiness while improving the appearance and texture of skin for longer, waterproof wear! The buildable, full-coverage formula is rich in pigments for truer colour without a heavy or tacky texture, making it ideal for hiding any and all imperfections from dark circles to blemishes to redness. Designed for brush-free application, blending this creamy concealer with your finger allows the formula to melt into the skin for an easy application and opaque airbrushed effect.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Parabens
- Synthetic Fragrances
- Synthetic Dyes
- Phtalates

What else you need to know:
Skinvigorating™ benefits come from: Amazonian clay a nutrient-rich, multitasking and total skin-balancing clay that reduces dryness and flakiness, improves skin clarity, elasticity, firmness and texture while removing oil from the skin's surface for smooth application and wear; Vitamin E, a natural preservative that also acts as an anti-inflammatory emollient and protects against free radical damage; and mineral pigments known to soothe and soften the skin.

Ok, so that's a lot of promises Tarte is making. It kind of makes me want to fly over to South America, head to the Amazon and proceed to slather Amazonian clay all over my skin... That sounds weird O_o.

I can't personally attest to all the "Skinbenefits™" Tarte claims but I do know one thing: Smooth Operator is a kickass concealer! The texture is uh-may-zing - it smoothes on so effortlessly and blends like a dream. It never looks cakey and never makes my dry under eyes look, well, dry (unlike MAC Studio Finish Concealer).

The packaging feels quite luxurious, with a cap that stays on very securely. It feels substantial on my hand - not flimsy, but not heavy either. The lovely packaging and the ingredients are probably the cause of its $22 USD / $27 CAD (that's totally an estimation) price tag; though I do wish you get more product. 0.07 oz is definitely not a lot of product and with its creamy nature, I'm finding that I'm going through one of these tubes quicker than I would like.

(The BEFORE photo doesn't do my dark circles justice - they are much worse than that!)

Nevertheless, Smooth Operator conceals my dark circles SO well. It's no miracle worker, by any means (at this point I think the only way to completely banish them is to get a skin transplant :p), but it works better than any concealer I've ever tried. Not only that, it also lasts long on the skin! Even when I find myself rubbing away any migrating product (usually mascara) from my under eye area, the concealer still stays put. Now, I can't say that absolutely no concealer gets removed, but it's definitely not noticeable.

I've been loving this concealer since I first started using it in August and I'm so glad I was finally able to find something that would do a great job concealing and still be long-wearing. I haven't tried and tested a massive amount of concealers, far from it. So it might be a bit of a premature statement to make, but I'll make it anyway: Tarte Smooth Operator Concealer is definitely my favourite concealer!

Any fancy tricks for concealing dark circles?

About Face: Runway Edition - Armani Privé

2011-10-05T08:30:00.000-07:00

(photo from style.com)

When I first saw this photo from Armani Privé's Fall 2011 Couture show, I instantly fell in love... I just knew I had to recreate it! So here's my little take on this gorgeous look created by makeup artist and Armani Cosmetics' creative director, Linda Cantello.

Products Used:

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil - Milk

Sleek MakeUP Palette - Circus (orange and red shades)

NYX Eyeshadow - Tropical

Urban Decay Naked Palette - Creep

L'oréal Voluminous Mascara - Carbon Black

To start off, I applied NYX's Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk all over the lid as a base. Then, I combined the matte orange and matte red shades from Sleek's Circus Palette and applied it all over the lid, just until the brow bone. Next up, I applied Creep from Urban Decay's Naked Palette along the upper lash line, winging it out quite a bit. About midway through the winged out portion, I started lining through the brow bone. I used a fluffy brush to blend away any harsh lines, then repeated the process, alternating between lining and blending until I was happy with the look. Then I applied Creep on the lower lash line as well, winging it upwards parallel with the upper line. I also made sure that I blended the eyeshadow downward so that the line isn't so severe. Next up, I used NYX eyeshadow in Tropical and lightly dusted that along the brow bone, over top of all existing eyeshadow. I used the Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk again to line the lower water line and also to fill in the space between the two lines of Creep eyeshadow. Lastly, I curled my lashes and applied 2 coats of mascara.

Products Used:

Revlon PhotoReady Foundation - 005 Natural Beige

Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Waterproof Concealer - Light

MAC Eyeshadow - Quarry

Korres Lip Butter - Jasmine

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish - Soft & Gentle

According to Linda Cantello, Armani didn't want any colour on the face. Unfortunately, I don't have the kind of face that can pull off no colour; it would look entirely shapeless! So I thought that a bit of contouring might be in order and applied Quarry onto the hollows of my cheeks and Soft & Gentle on the tops of my cheekbones.

The model's lips look quite natural; in fact, she looks like she's not wearing any product. So, I applied Korres Lip Butter in Jasmine on my lips for a little bit of sheen.

I have to say, I'm quite proud of this recreation. The look is so beautiful and just inspires me to be more creative. Not to mention, it allows for me to work on my application technique :).

Hope you all like this look!

* This is a pre-written post queued up for today, as I am currently on a month-long trip. Please do still leave a comment, I will be checking in once in a while. :)

I've Never Felt This Way About Nail Polish Before...

2011-10-03T08:30:00.000-07:00

I'm not really that into nail polish. My love for it goes in phases, you see. I'll want to paint my nails every week for months, then I'll see what horrid shape my nails are in and then I forgo nail polish for a few months to grow them out. I typically use nail polish a few times and promptly forget about it...

Not so with this one. For the first time ever, I found myself considering purchasing a backup. I mean, can you blame me? Just look at it!

First of all, I've been aching for Facets of Fuchsia ever since I saw it on Makeup Savvy. I may or may not have gone to drugstores nearly every day checking to see if it was in stock and I may or may not have gasped and walked at a brisk pace towards the display when it finally was. No confession here...

It takes a lot of coats to get opacity (I think I did 4 or 5), but do I care? Nope! Coz it's soooo gorgeous *insert-pitiful-sigh-here*. I have bought a black nail polish to layer under it, though (I got the idea from Larie); so that should help a lot. It has a bumpy texture due to the glitter so I applied a top coat to "seal it in" so to speak.

I'm not normally into glitter nail polishes but the mixture of the bigger chunks and the smaller pieces looks much more interesting than your normal glitter. Fuchsia on black is pretty sexy, too. I love!

What are your favourite glitter nail polishes?

Monthly Favourites - September 2011

2011-09-30T08:30:00.000-07:00

Goodbye, September! Hello, October!

As I'm writing this, I am trying not to think about the stresses of work and packing for a month long trip (what makeup will I bring?!); but as you're reading this, I am currently thousands of feet in the air, cramped in a flying tin machine, not enjoying the scent of stale air and coffee. Can you tell I'm not much into flying? I'm really not... I might change my mind about it if I get to experience First Class, though :p. But enough whining! And really, why should I? I get to go to the Philippines for a month! #Hurrah

*Yes, I just used a hashtag. Don't judge me.

Well, you know the drill; this is the part where I tell you my September Favourites. Here we go!

1. Urban Decay Naked Palette

I can't believe how often I am using this palette! Typically I become a bit gung-ho about palettes and then I get tired of it... Not so with this one (at least not yet :p). It just goes to show how absolutely wearable these shades are because I've been using it nearly every single day since I purchased it in July. My favourite combination is Sin all over the lid, Naked & Buck to contour the socket, and Virgin to highlight the inner corners and the brow bone (topped off with black eyeliner, of course). I've also taken to using Sidecar as opposed to Sin for more oomph. But my absolute favourite shade is probably Hustle, which is described by Urban Decay as a "mocha shimmer." It's such a gooorgeous shade!

2. Cargo Blush - Mendocino

This blush came with Cargo's Mediterranean Collection, which I purchased last month and it's my favourite piece in the collection. Cargo describes it as a "wildflower pink with a gold sheen" and it's absolutely lovely. It came out in the Summer, but it's totally wearable in the the Fall and Winter, as you can see from the swatch above. The texture is pretty soft and applies quite smoothly on the skin. The only thing is, I wish that it would last longer on the skin. I find that the shade is noticeably diminished after blotting. Although, the packaging is so lightweight, that it's no trouble bringing it with you in your handbag for quick touch ups.

3. MAC Blush - Feeling Flush

This has been my other blush of choice and has been featured in my Monthly Favourites list a before. It's a lovely blue-toned pink that I can actually pull off. The best thing about this blush is that it's pretty long wearing. I'll definitely be bringing this with me on vacation because I need something that's going to keep up with me.

4. eos Lip Balms - Honeysuckle Honeydew & Summer Fruit

I've been wanting to try these lip balms ever since I first saw them on a YouTube video. How cute are they? The formula isn't as thick as my favourite lip balm, Nivea Milk & Honey, but it still does a decent job of moisturizing my dry lips. It's not useful when my lips get really dry, but they're handy when my lips are behaving. The packaging is an adorable egg shape and clicks shut very securely. The flavours I got are Honeysuckle Honeydew and Summer Fruit; both smell lovely and both have a hint of a sweet taste. I love using this under lipstick, it keeps my lips from drying up throughout the day.

5. Eyeko Graffiti Eyeliner Pen - Jet Black

Jet black, applies easily and smoothly, and absolutely long-lasting... Seriously, this stuff doesn't budge, even in the heat and even without primer. I haven't yet used any liquid eyeliner this good. The felt tip makes it super easy to create a thin line at the edges, too; which is something that I definitely need help with :p.

6. MAC Blot Powder - Medium Dark

I love how this powder just blends into the skin so smoothly. I've been using this after a quick blot with blotting paper and it leaves me looking so much fresher and more put together. It doesn't add any coverage though, which is a shame because I could definitely use a bit after blotting. Still, it feels lovely on the skin and makes me look and feel so much better! Because as oilier skinned gals know, it does not feel good!

7. NYX Eyeshadow - Root Beer

I love this colour so much, I bought it 3 times.

"3 times?!" You ask?

Yeah... Turns out, I'm really bad at de-potting. I bought one at IMATS Vancouver, ruined it while de-potting, bought one online, ruined that de-potting and finally was able to buy it at NYX's store in Surrey. Needless to say, I didn't even attempt to de-pot this one. Root Beer is a lovely taupey-brown shade that was absolutely welcome in my "stash" because I've been indulging in way too many brights lately. The texture is very soft and very easy to blend. Because it's so soft, it creates a lot of excess powder; even so, there is very little fall out. I've been loving applying this along the lash line after my usual Naked Palette combo's for a softer look.

8. MAC Sheen Supreme Lipstick - Bare Again

This has been my go-to lipstick in September. Bare Again is a lovely pinky-nude, MLBB shade that is completely versatile. It's appropriate for work but you can still rock with a smoky eye. I love the creamy texture and the fact that it doesn't dry out my lips at all. Seriously, the texture is amazing; it's such a pleasure to wear.

9. The Body Shop Lotion - Mango Whip

UH-MAY-ZING scent! It sinks into the skin really nicely, leaving behind soft, amazing smelling skin. I've been using this lotion religiously since I first bought it because it's light and doesn't take forever to absorb into the skin. And have I mentioned the scent? I have? Ok, fine...

What are your favourite products of September?

Embracing Bright Colours In The Fall With MAC Fusion Pink Lipstick

2011-09-28T08:30:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, September 20th, I went to my first MAC party. I feel like a big girl now! :p

MAC was previewing their Fall 2011 Collections and so I brought along one of my best friends. Together, we swatched to our hearts delight, drank an alcoholic drink that was wayyy too strong (seriously, both of us could only handle one sip), and nibbled on tasty canapé's.

Since I am trying very hard to stick to my spending budget, I told myself I could only buy one product. It wasn't as hard as I imagined since a) I was pretty broke and b) it was hard to be enthusiastic when there was just too many collections and too many products in each collection. Seriously, MAC: if you're overwhelming even beauty bloggers, then I think it's time to take it easy with the collections.

Fusion Pink is an Amplified lipstick that is permanent at MAC Pro. It's a gorgeous coral/red shade with a fuchsia sheen. The texture is quite creamy and pigmentation is intense! This is emphatically not the lipstick to try if you're trying to ease into your brights :p.

I'd say its wearability is the same as my other MAC lipsticks - around 3 to 4 hours, provided I don't eat in that time frame. It glides on smoothly and because of the shade, doesn't accentuate any drier areas on my lips (bonus!). It wears quite comfortably on the lips; in fact, I'm almost able to forget I'm wearing it. I say "almost" because I'm paranoid that the colour's going to rub off and smear on my face. Definitely not a good look!

Dotted on.

Applied and blotted with tissue paper, then topped off with MAC Big Baby Plushglass.

Applied straight on.

This shade is just absolutely gorgeous. The moment the SA swatched it on my hand, I fell in love. It's definitely a good lippie to add to one's collection because it's uniqueness. I love that in some instances in looks like a fire engine red shade and in others, it could lean more towards coral and depending on the angle, you see the fuchsia sheen coming through. I love!

Do you wear bright colours in the Fall?

I Guess I Could Used Another Blot Powder...

2011-09-26T08:30:00.000-07:00

I don't know what it is about this product, but every time I stepped into MAC, I always gravitated to it. I didn't need another blot powder, as I already bought Maybelline's Dream Matte Powder, which was working well enough; so I can't really explain the urge to purchase this product. I guess I can kind of see why one would have use for 2 (or more :p). After all, we all have multiples of everything else, right? That was a weak justification, I know...

From MAC: A unique pressed powder designed primarily to provide shine control without adding any noticeable colour of texture. Sets foundation, finishes faces. For use in professional situations and for frequent touch-ups. Blot Powder contains Mico and Silica to absorb excess oils and reduce shine on the skin's surface. Can be applied with the puff that comes in the compact or with a powder brush.

The main thing I love about this product is how it just melts into the skin. Like the MAC blurb says, it doesn't add any colour or texture, it just leaves your skin looking matte. The powder is much more finely milled than Maybelline Dream Matte, so it blends in so much better.

I was shade-matched to Medium Dark; which, as you can see, is not even Medium, let alone Dark. Oh MAC, you're silly! I am definitely not as light as the swatch would suggest, but as I mentioned, It just blends in so wonderfully that it doesn't leave any sort of white cast. And even though the weather is slowly turning colder, I find myself still getting a bit oily as the day goes by. This product has been a life saver because, really, who wants to look oily? Not I!

I have to say though, I do wish this gives a bit of coverage; because I find that my foundation fades when I blot my face with blotting paper prior to applying powder. I think what would make this product absolute perfection is if added a small amount of coverage so that my skin tone continues to look even.

This product retails for $27.50 CAD, which is pretty steep for me. But considering it's not a product I use every day as I don't have oily skin, I don't think it's too much to ask. I definitely prefer this over Maybelline's Dream Matte Powder because of the texture and the packaging. MAC's packaging feels much more solid and I love that the mirror is attached to the inside of the lid. Maybelline's is under the powder and you have to slide it out in order to use it - too much work, if you ask me.

Yes. I am, in fact, that lazy.

Lovelies, what product do you use to freshen up?

Giving My Lips A Little TLC With Sleek MakeUP's Pout Polish

2011-09-23T08:30:00.000-07:00

It's no secret how much I adore MAC's Tinted Lip Conditioners, but I was keen on trying different brands. I've heard awesome things about Sleek MakeUP's Pout Polishes and so I decided to make a purchase.

Before I go any further, let me just get this out of the way: you can purchase Sleek MakeUP products online. They have a flat rate of $13.50 for shipping, so I would recommend purchasing a few products at a time. Try out their palettes, they are amazing quality! So for those of you who have been hoping to purchase some Sleek products; well, here's your chance!

From Sleek MakeUP: A tinted lip conditioning balm formulated with natural oils such as Almond Oil, Shea Butter, Avocado Extract and Vitamin A, C and E to help condition the lips and lock in moisture. It also includes SPF 15 to help protect the lips from sun exposure. Using a lip brush or fingers, apply a small amount to the upper and lower lips for a sheer wash of colour and gloss. 10g

The first thing I noticed about this Pout Polish is the scent. It's a lovely vanilla scent that's more vanilla bean than a synthetic vanilla scent. At least that's what my nostrils tell me. It also reminds me a bit of a Lush product, but I can't quite put my finger on which one it is. It definitely has a sweet, foody scent. I personally love it, because vanilla is my favourite scent; it's not that subtle, but it's not offensive either. It also doesn't disappear right away, so that's something to consider if you're scent-sensitive.

The shade I purchased is called Electro Peach. It's a pretty coral/peach shade that goes really well with all my coral-y cheek products. Sleek currently has 12 shades available, some of which are Limited Edition. It's quite impressive, really; considering MAC's Tinted Lip Conditioners only come in 4 shades. I personally have my eye on Raspberry Rhapsody and Pink Cadillac.

I can't speak for other shades, but this particular one is quite pigmented. Can't say I'm surprised because I know Sleek MakeUP to have amazingly pigmented products. I have yet to be disappointed with any of the purchases I have made so far. I honestly can't believe they're a drugstore/high street brand!

This product applies really smoothly onto the lips and compared to MAC's TLC's, I feel like they have a bit more slip. It's a non-sticky formula that is quite moisturizing and feels really comfortable on the lips; you forget you're wearing it, even while it keeps your lips feeling hydrated and looking polished (it has a lovely sheen). I also get regular wear time of 3-4 hours, provided I don't eat or drink in that time span.

I'm really quite pleased with this product - it's everything I like about lip products: hydrating and pigmented. It's also rather cheap at $6.50 USD... Granted, you have to pay $13.50 for shipping, but if you purchase a few more products, I think the shipping rate will be worth it.

As for me, I shall definitely be purchasing more of these babies. I love tinted lip conditioners/balms and these are just too good to pass up!

What's your favourite tinted lip balm product?

Want All Natural Sun Protection? Look No Further, Pure+simple Has You Covered

2011-09-21T08:30:00.000-07:00

*Get it? Covered? Coz, it's a sunscreen and... Never mind.

This summer, Vancouver got to experience some pretty hot, sunshiny days. All that heat was doing a number on my skin and it became oilier than it has been in a while. Neutrogena Water-Light was no longer cutting it for me, so I bought Clarins Sunscreen Control Cream and it did work for some time. But both were just no match for the heat and both also contained Oxybenzone which is apparently known to cause "an increased production of free radicals," which possibly makes it a "photocarcinogen". Now, I don't claim to be an expert on Oxybenzone, but I've read up on it a bit and I didn't like what I read, so I sought out a product that didn't contain any.

I came across Pure+simple thanks to Arianne of The Glitter Geek and Elaine of Toronto Beauty Reviews and the wonder that is Twitter (care to follow?). So I checked out the website and became intrigued by their all natural sunscreen.

From Pure+simple: Natural sun protection that purifies and balances the skin's natural oil production using sage.

Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A) Free
SPF 30
Purifies and balances the skin's natural oil production using sage
Non-greasy formula
Can be used with a moisturizer or alone
Great makeup base
Does not leave a white residue

Active Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide (6%), Zinc Oxide (6%)
Inactive Ingredients: Deionized Water (Eau), Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Lecithin, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Glycerin, Xantham Gum, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (Green Tea Extract), Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Fruit, Eucalyptus Leaf Oil, Leaf Oil, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Oil.

So far, I've been loving this product! It smells really fresh, which is always welcome in the morning when you're still a bit groggy. My sense of smell really gravitates to the coconut oil too, which I love because coconut is a scent I've come to appreciate. It's quite subtle though, which is pretty much the only way I can handle coconut scents :p.

It smoothes onto the skin nicely; it's watery at first, but as you apply it onto your skin, it starts to feel thicker. It dries within seconds and it feels like the product is "gripping" your skin, instead of melting into it; which kind of makes sense since it's a physical sunscreen (physical meaning it deflects UV rays, as opposed to absorbing it like a chemical sunscreen would).

It says that it doesn't leave a white residue, although I find that it makes my skin look a tad lighter. I also find that it makes my skin look smoother and more even. Not sure if it has anything to do with this product though, since my skin's been behaving pretty well :p.

The best part is, it does well to keep the oiliness under control. The other week, Vancouver experienced a bit of a heatwave, with temperatures going up to 27º Celsius and this sunscreen really impressed me! Granted, I still had to blot and powder (once), but not as often as I needed to when using other sunscreens.

I'm so glad I purchased this product. Seeing as I'll be experiencing an extra month of Summer in October (nearly 30º Celsius every day hurrah) as I head back to the motherland, this sunscreen will really come in handy!

Pure+simple products can be purchased online or in their spa locations within Toronto. This 50mL sunscreen cost $15.95 CAD and they have a 100mL bottle that retails for $25.95. They also have other sunscreens with formulas for anti-aging, face & body, and sensitive skin. Pure+simple stock other natural brands as well so have a look, if you're interested!

Do you prefer physical sunscreens? Which is your favourite?

Absolutely Loving The Body Shop's Mango Whip Body Lotion!

2011-09-19T08:30:00.000-07:00

When I stepped into The Body Shop around three weeks ago and saw that they had a sale going on, I knew it was the perfect time to try out some new products. Well, new to me anyway :p. I decided to avail of the "buy-two-get-one-free" promotion and one of the products I got was the Mango Whip Body Lotion. Here's what The Body Shop has to say about this product:

Best if you want to: Moisturize and soften your skin with a light-as-air, mango-scented lotion that absorbs easily, leaving it smooth and supple.

Best for: Very dry skin.

How it works:

Mango seed oil moisturizes and softens the skin without leaving it greasy and helps to protect skin from moisture loss.
Mango pulp is rich in Vitamin C, a natural antioxidant, to revitalize and tone skin.
Community Trade organic babassu oil from Brazil moisturizes skin and helps to restore its natural moisture barrier.

The first thing I have to talk about is, of course, the scent. I absolutely adore it! I remember thinking that I would love it if The Body Shop released a fragrance with this exact mango scent after I bought their Hand Cleanse Gels. Well, this is as close as I'm going to get I think, but I'm not complaining! I love that the scent lingers on your skin, giving you a whiff of it every now and then. So even though I don't have this in perfume form, it still acts like a perfume in a way.

It comes in a 250 mL bottle, complete with pump; I love that because I don't have to get the bottle messy, I can just use the back of my hand to pump the product out. Also, 250 mL's is a lot of product. And for $12? How could I resist? Although, being the cheapest of the 3 product I bought, I technically got it for free :p.

As the name Mango Whip would suggest, this lotion is quite light. It absorbs in a good amount of time into the skin, but keeps it completely hydrated. I was so surprised at how moisturizing this lotion is considering how light the texture was.

After application, my skin is left feeling really soft and again, the scent is just lovely. I can't tell yet if this will be enough for me during the cold, winter months. But as of right now, with the seasons transitioning from Summer to Fall, it's absolutely perfect.

I've been slathering this on morning and night ever since I purchased it and it's become a rather welcome addition to my routine. So if you're looking for a hydrating moisturizer that's not too heavy and all for an amazing price, look no further. If Mango isn't your thing, then you can also try Sweet Lemon Whip or Shea Butter Whip.

But as for me, Mango is The One <3.

Do you enjoy fruit-scented body products?

All About Eyes - 5 Looks From NYX Cosmetics 10 Color Palette In Velvet Rope

2011-09-16T08:30:00.001-07:00

The best thing about eyeshadow palettes is all the fun you get to have playing with the different shades. I decided to try 5 completely different looks using this one palette. For every look, I used NYX's Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk as a base and L'oréal Voluminous Mascara in Carbon Black (with the exception of the first look, in which I used Revlon Beyond Natural Eyelashes in 91155).

Now, in the interest of simplifying the write-up a little bit (and because I'm too lazy to describe each individual eyeshadow shade :p), I'll just label each shadow by their row and number them from left to right. So, T1-T5 and B1-B5, et cetera... T for top, B for bottom. Get it? So clever, I know.

On that note, here are the looks I created!

Un - Something Sultry

I applied B3 all over the lid and blended the edges out with B2. Then I highlighted the brow bone with shade B5 and lined all around the eyes with T5.

Deux - Something Soft

I used shade T3 from the inner corner to the middle of the eyelid and shade T4 from the middle to the outer corner. Then, I used shade B4 to to line the upper lash line, flicking it out in the corner.

Trois - Something Vibrant

Firstly, I applied shade T2 all over the lid, then applied shade B1 on the bottom lash line. Lastly, I applied shade B4 on the outer corners blending it outwards and making sure to blend it into the lower lash line as well.

Quatre - Something Linear

I applied shade T3 all over the lid with a fluffy brush for a softer look and also took it down to the lower lash line; I wanted it to look like a haze of lavender on the eye. Then I used shade T2 to line the eyes. I started with the top, using my usual technique for creating a flick. After that, I lined the lower lash line, making sure to keep both lines parallel. To finish off, I dusted some of shade B5 on the brow bone to highlight.

Cinq - Something Simple

I started off with the lightest shade (B5) all over the lid for a very light wash of colour. Then I used shade B3 to line all around the eyes, joining them together in the outer corner and flicking the shape up ever so slightly.

And there you have it! I had so much fun playing around with this palette and am so pleased with how the looks turned out.

Hope you guys like these looks! =)

NXY Cosmetics' 10-Color Eyeshadow Palette In Velvet Rope Makes My Purple Loving Heart Happy

2011-09-14T08:30:00.001-07:00

When I saw this palette at NYX's booth at IMATS, I immediately had to have it. After all, I'm a sucker for purples. I happen to also be a sucker for palettes (it's the Get-More-For-Your-Money girl in me) so this was pretty much a win-win purchase for me!

From NYX Cosmetics: Craving purple peepers? New takes on neutral? Or shades handpicked to flatter your eye colour? You asked - and we delivered. After so many NYX fans requested an eye palette containing 10 eye shadows, we designed this version. Look no further than these scintillating eye shadow inspired by runway trends and modern style. Available in 16 different color combinations and sleek enough to fit into a clutch, you'll likely want more than one. The shades are wearable, covetable and fashionable. Expect rich, lasting pigments and glamour.

So far, I've been really impressed with this palette. First of all, I really like NYX's eyeshadows - they're buttery soft, pigmented and apply smoothly; all pluses in my book. Be warned that you will get a bit of fall out; though it's nothing a quick sweep of a brush won't easily fix.

Also, the ten shades in Velvet Rope really compliment each other well. The lightest shade is a shimmery off-white/pink shade that's absolutely perfect for highlighting the brow bone and inner corner. The darkest shades are a black eyeshadow with a satin finish and a black eyeshadow with red-violet glitter shot through. There is also a stunning navy shade that I've surprisingly fallen in love with. Of course, let's not forget the various purples in this palette.

As you can see, the shades are vibrant. Even the lighter shadows! Usually, the lighter shades are the ones to let me down; they end up looking chalky and apply patchy. Not so with the shadows in this palette! And while these shadows are all quite lovely worn on their own, they positively pop when applied over a base. Don't get me wrong, you won't need it in order to get any vibrancy, but applying over a base (I particularly like the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk) just gives them that extra kick.

I'm so happy with this palette, so if you happen to see one at your local PriceSmart or Save-On Foods, I definitely recommend you pick up one. They cost $14.99 CAD, which works out to less than $2 per shadow. How amazing is that? Also, if you live in Surrey (or don't mind SkyTraining to Surrey), definitely head over to Central City mall where NYX Cosmetics has opened their own store. The product selection is absolutely divine, so you must check it out!

Also, check back here on Friday to see a few looks I came up with using the eyeshadows from this palette!

Are you a big fan of eyeshadow palettes, like I am?