The Weekend Post | The Current Loves

DSC_0945It might seem like all I do around these parts is rave about my favourite products but I’m not going to let my fear of repition get in the way of shring some of my favourite products of the moment with you. Don’t click off just yet; I promise that I’m going to speak of some new loves along with a usual suspect or two.

L’Oreal Total Repair 5 Repairing Mask

Despite being a girl who places high demands on her haircare, having such dry and tangly wavy-curly hair and consequently ending to go for higher end options, I’ve always held high regard for the L’Oreal line. With this said, I’ve been less than impressed by the other offerings that I’ve tried from this particular line and I’m pleased to report that this one has compared to the highest end counterparts. It’s not too heavy but extremely nourishing for my long hair and has nice detangling power to boot.

Garnier Deconstructed Texture Tease

I will admit that despite really enjoying this in the last week or so, I included it in the photo without thinking about how it would be the topic of discussion in my next post. Oops. Case in point — I’ll try to keep this brief. This is a colourless spray that instant texture and volume to the hair (roots in particular), adding grit to the hair with a dose of hold at the same time.

Dior Star Fluid Foundation

While this isn’t a foundation that instantly applies and looks like skin with the most glowing finish, I have grown to love this foundation and it is one that I love as it sets into the skin and wear it throughout the day, even after say the 10 hour mark. It sinks nicely into the skin and really blends nicely without being obvious on the skin despite being medium-buildable coverage with a nice satin finish that turns glowier throughout the day. I wish that the fragrance and/or chemical sunscreen didn’t make my skin tingle upon first use but I do love that the formula is nice and hydrating throughout the day and has that nice lightweight texture without involving irritating alcohol. It’s not an uber-dewy foundation but I love how it leaves the skin looking revitalized while feeling comfortable on my sensitive skin.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette

This is definitely the item that has been previously talked about the most of the bunch but it deserved mention because I’ve grabbed for it daily, primarily for the middle limited edition shade, Incandescent Light as a nice highlighter with refined sheen that’s actually light enough to brighten the area head-on and to highlight the inner corner of the eyelid in a pinch. Also when I haven’t been feeling much on the checks, I’ll reach for the bronzier Radiant Light for that subtle glow.

L’Oreal Infallible Super Slim

After retiring my beloved Lineur Intense a few weeks back, I decided to pick this one up a a replacement and I must say that I’m at least as impressed with it, for slightly different reasons. Although it’s not as easy to create a smooth wing with this formula because of its firm controlled top that requires sufficient pressure to deposit product, I’ve been enjoying just how easy it is to control and create a precise line with it.

Make Up For Ever Smoky Extravagant Mascara

Now, I’ve had this mascara since I picked it up (in sample size) as part of my Sephora birthday gift back in June but I threw the small box into the back of my drawer, only o be recently duck back out and actually applied to my lashes. Although I’ve been enjoying the dramatic volume and impact that this gives to my lashes, I’m sure that I’ll fall in love more when the formula is less wet and I don’t have to be quite so careful with the wand. I haven’t been using higher end mascaras in ages but this might just have brought me back into the game because of the drama it gave to my lashes without clumping or heaviness involved. It might just be worth the splurge.

Rimmel Kate Moss Lasting Finish Matte Lipstick in 110 Kiss of Life

I’ve been really into the bold lip as of late and this fairly neutral red that leans slightly-orangey in tone has been my pick not only because of how much I love the shade but also because of how fabulous the formulation is. I wouldn’t describe the finish of these comfortable lipsticks as completely matte but they are semi-matte and don’t dry out your lips in the slightest, gliding on with full pigmentation and staying in place for 5-6 hours with some eating and drinking involved. Not only is this scarlet hue a flattering option with my dark hair and fair skin, but it’s also a low fuss shade to wear, being bold without requiring a whole lot of maintenance.

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The Review: Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet Smooth-Effect Makeup

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I was always planning on writing a full-on review for the Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet Smooth-Effect Makeup ($48), even before I fell head over heels for it this summer but I’ve been hesitant since I wrote such a detailed post detailing my early thoughts on the product that haven’t completely been strung upside down. However, I’m still enjoying this foundation after all of the raving I’ve done about it and wanted to give it a hopefully more comprehensive review where I can add detail that I was not able to before.

First off, this is not one of those miraculously flattering foundations when my skin is misbehaving and going through one of those phases that include flaky and/or Sahara dry patches but the rest of the time it seems to be an ideal everyday sort of foundation that feels like nothing on the skin and looks like your skin (but better) while providing some impressive medium coverage. I wasn’t feeling this as soon as it was starting to get cold when Fall was beginning to hit when my skin went a little crazy as it tends to when the seasons change but as soon as a few weeks have passed and I’ve upped the hydration, I’m back to enjoying this one. In my experience is nowhere near as ‘matte’ in that drying and flat sense; it has more of that velvety finish that doesn’t feel particularly drying on the skin (although it does have some drying alcohol in it) and leaves a kind of luminosity to the skin that it might not have even had beforehand, setting into the skin without any sort of separation. The finish on the foundation in a satiny velvety one but as I tend to pair it with a glow-boosting primer so that it’s even more flattering on my perpetually dull and dehydrated skin so it can lean more towards the satin side of things.

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The coverage is also surprising, medium-buildable while not looking heavy in the slightest unless you’re caking and caking it on and it’s one of those foundation that smooths over texture fantastically and doesn’t make dehydrated skin look dead. It also applies the nicest with fingers which is definitely practical and I don’t particularly like it applied via any other method. This is a foundation that lasts impressively well on my skin that I would quantify as not fading until the 10-11 hour mark unless I have some sort of textured spot going on that can kind of pull foundation of it more quickly and it has great oil control for the first three or four hours but afterwards a little can break through (but not much). I should mention that I do have a normal t-zone with dry skin on the rest of my face for reference, and I don’t always powder this so with a little powder, I think this would be an excellent bet for those desiring more oil control. However, I think it’s ideal for all ranging from oily to those with normal to drier skins, unless they are verging on the super-dry. Based on other reviews, I would have believed this not to be compatible with the dehydration issues that I experience but I was pleased to have a different experience, so I don’t think that drier skins need to be all that wary. On another note, this was the perfect base for use during the hottest days of the summer (when I still wore makeup) as it didn’t feel heavy or melt off.

I promise that things are coming to a close; all I have left to discuss is ingredients and like details worthy of discussion. The shade range is not particularly impressive and I wear shade 10, which is the lightest neutral shade but is not all that fair – I would describe it as moderately fair with slight yellow-undertones that works for me throughout the year. Ingredient-wise, I don’t love all of the fragrance that it contains or the irritating alcohol – although I note that I haven’t found it problematic and it contains notably less than the Vitalumiere Aqua. It also contains SPF 15 and I’m pleased to report that it does not irritate my SPF-sensitive skin and doesn’t cause problems with flash photography either, if you’re curious.

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In short, I really enjoy this foundation unless I’m at my driest and would recommend it for oily to slightly drier skins as it can cling to notable dry patches a bit.

Active Ingredients: Octinoxate 5%, Titanium Dioxide 3.1% Inactive Ingredients: Water, Isododecane, Hydrogenated, Polyisobutene, Dimethicone, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Alcohol, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Celluslose, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Propanediol Dicaprylate, Stearakonium Hectorite, Aluminum Hydroxide, Sodium Chloride, Dimethicone/Bis-Isobutyl PPG-20 Crosspolymer, Stearic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Propylene Carbonate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Fragrance, Talc, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Lysine, Timethylsiloxysilicate/Dimethiconol Crosspolymer, Magnesium Chloride, BHT, Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hydrated Silica (may contain) Ultramarines, Iron Oxides, Titanium Dioxide, Mica
Have you tried Chanel PLV?
Maggie, x.

A Weekday Wishlist

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This post is going to begin with a bit of a (very) tangential ramble; I know you’re all absolutely shocked by this. Believe it or not, I’ve been really enjoying blogging lately but I’ve had difficulty getting a good number of posts up because life has kind of sped up crazily as of late but not so much that I’ve gone to finding time and inspiration to write blog posts as a means of procrastination from all the other stuff that I have going on. Case in point? I’ve been meaning to get another wishlist post up over the last little bit but I haven’t managed to get anything done and I apologize for the lack of happenings around here. Before I get into things, I’ll offer the disclaimer that the round-up is rather high end because I’ve been trying to hold of on purchasing until the promising Sephora VIB Sale and I’ve had my eye on these things and writing this list may or may not be what is preventing me from running to the mall and picking some of these up.

InterDesign 3-Drawer Multipurpose Storage Container with Knobs ($19.99)

Considering how disorganized I am, it’s a given that I am in need of some practical way to store my everyday makeup and although I’ve lusted after the options of MUJI I’ve held off because of their frankly ridiculous shipping prices to Canada, so obviously when I spotted this one on Amazon, I’m convinced that it’s the one for me. I suspect this purchase will happen in the not-too-distant future.

Forever 21 Wool-Blend Boucle Cardigan ($33.80)

At the moment I’m really into that whole cozy sweater situation and this fits the bill and I have been longing after one of these tweedy boucle knits for years and years, actually. It seems obvious that this would be something that I’ve got my eye on then but it does also have a nice slouchy silhouette too. Obviously it shall be mine.

Caudalie Vinosource Overnight Recovery Oil ($55)

I’ve been a huge fan of what Caudalie products that I have tried so it only seems fitting that when I spotted this oil promising to soothe and restore dry and sensitive skin overnight, my interest was peaked. However, I held off because it wasn’t exactly cheap and I still had a good portion of my rosehip oil left but after running through most of that container and hearing Amelia Liana rave about this stuff in her recent skincare video, I’ve got my eye on this one.

NARS ‘Audacious’ Lipstick in Brigitte ($37)

There is no doubt that this recently-released lipstick formulation has luxurious packaging and a gorgeous formulation but I was prepared to pass on it because as nice as it was, it seemed to be nicely packaged marketing hype. My opinion changed when I tried these out on my hand at Sephora a little while back and exercised impressive restraint by not picking up a shade or two of the formula after feeling how creamy and comfortable they were. Within the huge collection there were numerous shades that caught my fancy but this one was easily at the top of the list and seemed to be a little more unique than the rest, a peach-hued neutral hue that would suit all seasons. They had a texture that seemed to be ideal for my sensitive lips and they are supposed to release moisture throughout the day and I rather enjoyed their opacity and lack of a scent.

Marc Jacobs Beauty The Skyliner Seven Piece Petite Highliner Collection ($56)

Recently I did wax poetically about my love of this creamy eyeliner formula in the shade Brown(Out) and my love for the formula might have even grown since so it shouldn’t be a shocker that I have my eye on this set of the pencils in miniature form to try out different shades. This satisfies the eyeliner addict in me by merely looking at it…

Kerastase Creme d’Huile Oleo Curl ($42)

Although I acknowledge that my mane is in desperate need of a good hair cut, — I’ve just been far too lazy to actually book an appointment, oops — I have been actually enjoying that whole hair thing recently rather than groaning whenever I have to thing about washing or detangling my hair and I’ve been getting into curl creams again. I don’t have any that I’m in love with at the moment but I’ve been enjoying the texture so when I figured out that Kerastate actually shipped affordably to Canada, I became convinced that I wanted to splurge on their offering because of the great things I have heard about the product itself as well as the luxury brand as a whole. Have you tried anything from their line?

Marc Jacobs Beauty Style Eye-Con No. 7-Plush in 212 The Dreamer ($71)

I most certainly do not need another eyeshadow palette, especially when you consider that it wasn’t too long ago that I picked up the Smashbox Cherry Smokes Photo-Op Eyeshadow Palette, and I didn’t need one then, but I’ve been lusting after a new one. Given that I’ve already fallen in love with the Marc Jacobs eyeshadow formula from their The Starlet palette, this palette seemed to be ideal because it has some interesting warm tone neutral shades in my usual palette with some mattes thrown in, including that essential warm-toned blending shade as well as a darker one. Love.

REN Flash-Rinse 1 Minute Facial ($58)

I’ve been intrigued by this radiance-boosting product ever since it entered the blogosphere and was raved about by a few of my most trusted but I expected that it would merely be filled with a good amount of natural fragrance and some irritating alcohol but I was pleased to hear that it doesn’t contain alcohol and instead has a good dose of Vitamin C, which is an antioxidant I’ve been wanting to add into my routine because of its brightening effects. It promises that instant radiance after being applied to the skin and I’m always for some radiance and glow.

 Hourglass Ambient Blush Palette ($67)

So I’ve mentioned countless times how much I love my Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Ethereal Glow and that I’ve been eager to try another shade in almost every wishlist post that I’ve done this year but I seem to be unable to take the plunge despite really wanting to try another shade. For this reason, the palette seems ideal and would allow me from refraining from making the difficult choice. It has Luminous Flush which is a rosy shade that I’ve had my eye on in particular, I would be interested to try the more mauve-toned Mood Exposure and I’m sure I’ll enjoy the exclusive peachy shade Incandescent Electra.

What have you been eyeing up lately?

Maggie, x.

*affiliate links used

Weekly Medley #37

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  1. I stopped into the drugstore and this happened… I was kind of in need of another bottle of the La Roche-Posay Lipikar Baume AP, as I had finished my previous smaller bottle and I spotted the larger one on sale so I grabbed it along with the Garnier Fructis Deconstructed Texture Tease that I’ve been oh-so-eager to try.
  2. My favourite video of the week … Although I thought at first I might be biased as it was watched on campus as a nice break to the stress of things at the moment but now that I’ve thought about it and rewatched it, I say for certain that Amelia’s “Autumnal Skincare Overhaul & Favourites” video was my favourite one of the week and I’m pleased to have added a product or three to my wishlist as I have similar sensitive skin concerns to her and she gives good advice in my experience. Caudalie Vinosource Overnight Recovery Oil, I’ve got my eye on you!
  3. Lattelattelatte… I’m passionate about caffeine of the general variety but these lattes are my favourite and this one was from last Monday when we went out to a local coffee shop to celebrate my good pal Lauren’s birthday. T’was a good time and the caffeine was much appreciated especially considering how drab and overwhelmed I was feeling.
  4. A favourite of my favourites posts … In terms of posts from the last week, I was particularly pleased with my September Favourites.  I liked how it turned out and not just because I have this intense love for favourites posts in general.
  5. The Monday Morning Edit… This was another post that I was pleased with within the last week and considering how many likes I got on this post, I’d assume that as a whole you enjoyed my ‘The Monday Morning Edit’ too.
  6. The weekly picture of my face… This makeup that I wore on Friday might just have been my favourite ‘look’ that I wore all week and it certainly photographed the best. I’m loving the slightly orangey red, the Rimmel Kate Moss Lasting Finish Lipstick in 110 Kiss of Life and plan on wearing it again soon.

I might very well have mentioned how overwhelmed and stressed that I’ve been feeling lately on account of that typical schoolwork thing that tends to happen to us all but regardless, it is the reason why this post is coming at you a wee bit late and why I haven’t been able to post as regularly as I’ve liked. Despite my lack of evidence in photos, I have been drowning with tasks to get done and perhaps have spent far too much time actively thinking about everything that I’ve had to get done and procrastinating from thinking about it all. It’s been one of those weeks but it hasn’t been too horrible, I suppose.

How was your week?
Maggie, x.

The Other Favourites

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I’ve really been enjoying sharing a few of my miscellaneous favourite things in posts as of late but at the same time, I feel that including them in my usual already beyond lengthy post can seem a little excessive; therefore, I felt that a post of this nature was in order, for detailing a few of the other things that I’ve been all about lately.

Celestial Seasonings Cinnamon Apple Spice Herbal Tea

I’ve mentioned a good few times lately that despite being the kind of girl who prefers coffee over tea, I’ve been really getting into the routine of drinking tea lately and loving the whole cozy autumnal atmosphere and mellow state of mind that it puts me in; this is the tea that I have been going for. It has that definite autumnal feel and doesn’t have an overly herbaly taste to it, instead being kind of a hybrid between apple cider and tea without all of the sugar in juice. It also just smells amazing and can be sniffed for enjoyment.

Indigo 2014-2015 Academic Planner

I’m not exactly the most naturally organized individual but I do actually take measures to change this aspect of my nature and using this agenda for the last month in particular has been massively helpful. I quite like how this agenda is laid out daily for the week but also has a week overview with a to-do list section, don’t forget list etc. and I’ve been able to keep track of the crucial more general things. I’ve been keeping track of what I want to get done each day and what I actually need to get done in terms of university work requirements and readings along with the blogging details and it has been helping massively with my productivity. This would only be perfect if there was also a monthly planning page…

Elle Canada Magazine (October 2014 issue)

I’m a massive fashion/beauty magazine junkie and this Canadian one has ticked all of the boxes this month while being extremely affordable to subscribe to. Generally speaking, it has the perfect balance of articles that are actually informative and relevant with all the fashion and beauty stuff that we live for. This month was particularly good and autumnal-themed but magazines this time of the year tend to be particularly good. Regardless, I poured over this issue and enjoyed it tremendously. It really helped me get into the whole cozy autumnal spirit that I adore.I’m sure whatever your country’s issue was equally as good – I am aware that many of you do not in fact live in the cold abyss that is Canada.

Fever Aesthetica, Jane’s youtube channel

This month, I’m pleased to note that I made a fantastic new youtube channel discovery and I’m kind of addicted. I actually did discover Jane’s channel while wasting my time watching an endless supply of beauty videos and clicked on an empties video of hers after running my subscription feed dry and seeing hers as a suggested video. Man, am I glad that I did. For how amazing her videos are, she sure doesn’t have a lot of subscribers and that did kind of draw me in. She’s absolutely gorgeous, informative and articulate while being an absolute treat to watch, entertainment-wise and I may or may not have binged watched every single video on her channel. With sensitive skin herself, I find her helpful on the skincare note with her knowledge and there is the simple fact that her hair is amazing.

Hello October, Suzie’s blog

So I may have declared my love for Suzie’s blog (as well as her youtube channel) a time or twenty but I’ve been obsessed with her content within the last month. I love that she’s amusing and relateable while still being so helpful to watch. I’m not going to lie, I adore reading her posts because we share similar easily-irritated skin concerns but she also puts out a whole bunch of more lifestyle related content that I’ve been enjoying. She’s also an absolute inspiration because she somehow manages to work full time and run the whole blogging shindig and despite not being much of a vlog-watcher myself, I rather enjoy hers. I may have been stalking her blog in an obsessive way this last month…

What have been your ‘other’ favourites lately?
Maggie, x.

The Monthly Roundup #10: September 2014

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Last month was definitely one of those fast-paced months of adjustment, as September tends to be in my world. I’m sure I’ve said this in loads of posts of this kind before but the following statement was especially true over the last month; While I might not have been able to get up as many blog posts as I would have liked, I’ve been particularly satisfied with my quality of content in September. Now, this seems awfully self-indulgent to talk about in a sense but so much of blogging for me comes down to how I feel about the content that I’m producing so it’s crucial to me in a non-narcissistic sense — first and foremost I’m doing this for me and what’s the point if I’m not enjoying what I’m producing. Can anyone relate? — I’m not positive this is coming out adequately. Regardless, I’ll be pleased if things continue down this path through this month and and even more pleased if I add a few more posts into the schedule of things.

1. The Weekend Post | Project 10 Pan –

Believe it or not, I’m actually making even more progress towards the commitment I made in the beginning of the month to finish up 10 products before purchasing other products of the kind despite that small little failure that didn’t even register as such, known as that time when I found myself at the register with the Dior Star Foundation prior to finishing up my beloved Rimmel Wake Me Up. This was definitely a post that I enjoyed writing and it’s the kind of post that I love reading for others fittingly. Plus I think there’s something so satisfying about trying to limit your endless product purchasing and accumulation by trying to finish up products before they go bad. The de-cluttering is also rather life affirming.

2. The Daily Face #22 –

I promise that I didn’t merely include this post because it was the only ‘The Daily Face’ post that I put up this month; I was actually rather pleased with the autumnal-themed makeup variation and it’s definitely been one that I’ve been sporting regularly. It features the lovely Smashbox Cherry Smokes Photo-Op Eyeshadow Palette and uses it in a way that I think is rather flattering and easy to achieve with half-assed effort. I liked it.

3. Weekly Medley #33 –

Now, I’m not saying that this post was preferred over any of the other weekly editions of the post but I’m rather enjoying refreshing these with the change of format where I was inspired by Laura a wee bit and decided to annotate the pictures included in the collage and provide a much shorter little ramble at the end that detailed my week. I’ve found that I have enjoyed writing these since the switch-up and I think they might be slightly less daunting to read with the more casual structure. I also rather enjoy being able to share my thoughts without going into formal paragraph structure on them all if that makes any sense…

4. The Monday Morning Edit –

I had to include my final post of the month; there was no doubt or deliberation concerning the matter. It was one of those posts that was written on the stir of the moment and almost seemed to write itself, surprising me with how quickly the end result came and how nice and authentically-me it was and it was easily my most liked post in months, so I’m assuming it went over well with you guys too. If you missed it and are curious about the products I reach for when I can hardly muster the effort to get out of bed in order to look presentable, I would love it if you gave it a little read.

5. A Standard Autumnal Shopping Trip –

I’ve shared the complexities of my feelings toward putting up haul posts on numerous occasions, so I’ll spare you another ramble here but keeping that anxiety in mind, I was particularly pleased with how this post detailing the small assortment of products I picked up recently turned out. I’m also enjoying the products, so this is a double source of pride for me. Lame?

6. The Weekend Post | The Productive Pamper –

Last-but-not-least is yet another one belonging to my the  ‘The Weekend Post’ variety and it’s one that I’m rather pleased with because I don’t find it painfully cliched, I think the material is a little bit different and it’s something that’s very true to me — I employ the whole technique often and love doing so. I also liked the pictures and this may have played more than a little bit into the consideration of including it here.
 
I promise I’m not as self-absorbed as the following question makes me sound but I would still like to know the answer: What kinds of posts are your favourite to see around these parts? I would love to hear some feedback to take into consideration!
Maggie, x.

September Favourites

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Not to give into the whole cliché in totality or anything, but this was definitely one of those frantic and busy months because it was getting back into the whole university swing of things while being bogged down with that cold that won’t quit and the like. There may have also been a wee bit of stress going on – perhaps. Although this was definitely not a month with the most interesting beauty-related experimentation going on due to lack of time and desire to get out of bed, I’m quite pleased with the group of products that I’ve gathered here.

NARS ‘Pro Prime’ Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base ($29)

I’ve had this raved-about primer in my possession since mid-August and have been using it consistently since then but this month it has solidly found its home as my favourite eye primer to date. Now, I have not particularly oily but deep-set creasing-prone lids and this one has come the closest to preventing that whole creasing situation in general and definitely reduces the effects drastically. I find that it works best when applied in the thinnest layer to the lids before any sort of makeup is applied to the face because giving it time to set definitely makes it work for the better – and too much product can give it the opposite effect. Although, it’s marketed for oily lids I don’t find any sort of crepey lid situation happening which is rather pleasant and now that I’ve gotten a hang of the learning curve, I’m definitely impressed.

NARS Contour Blush in Paloma ($46)

So apparently I’m feeling NARS this month and I’m aware that I should apologize for including this contouring duo in two of these posts back to back but honestly, I couldn’t leave this one out as I’ve been using (and loving it) on a daily basis and I’m pleased to report that I didn’t merely include it prematurely last month on a buyer’s high. The rosy tan and ivory soft-matte duo is simply that good. As I mentioned last month (and a myriad of other times), this powder contains an easy-to-use neutral-toned contour powder to sculpt the face and an ivory matte highlighting powder that I have found useful for quickly brightening the undereye area, while preventing any sort of creasing.

Marc Jacobs Beauty Highliner in Brown(Out) ($30)

I’ve mentioned my love for this seriously budge-proof and uber-creamy liner numerous times since snagging it as a point perk from Sephora in August and I’ve been reaching for the deeper bronzy shade loads as of late. I quite enjoy the shade of brown, particularly that it’s deep enough to provide enough definition for me – as I’m typically a black liner kind of girl – and that it’s the perfect thing to run along your upper and lower lashline when you’re running short on time and/or are lazy but want something on the eyes.

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L’Oreal Glossy Balm in Ginger Candy ($9-11)

I appear to have fallen in love with yet another one of those lip pencils with you guessed it, a nice and balmy formula but this one might just be my favourite in terms of comfort and everyday wear. I’ve worn this neutral warm-pink toned nude that reminds me of a slightly more pink version of my favourite MAC Lipstick in Patisserie more than half of the month and it lived in my bag. It’s not particularly long lasting but it’s such an easy moisturizing formula that I didn’t mind in the slightest.

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Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in Nude-Ist ($23)

As soon as I heard that these had launched in Canada, I was desperate to try one after hearing my favourite British babes rave about them earlier but I deliberated once I saw that their price tag was actually higher than MAC around these parts. I’m glad I went for this true rosy shade when I spotted these at Shopper’s with a bonus points promotion, as it has the most comfortable and lightweight but long-wearing formulation and has the most unique hue that sits between a neutral hue and a bolder shade. I might not have worn it quite as much as the glossy balm, but whenever I’ve been tempted to go for more colour, this one has found its way into the mix. There will be a post on this soon, I reckon, and I’m wearing it on my lips here.

Caudalie Vinosource Riche Intense Moisture Rescue Cream ($40)

I know that six weeks of consistent use isn’t quite enough to give the true verdict on a moisturizer but I’m fairly certain that this lightweight but rich moisturizer has nabbed the spot of my favourite moisturizer that I’ve ever tried. It is supremely hydrating while offering a good dose of soothing action with some potent antioxidants in the formula and I can’t fault this one in any shape or form. It also glides over the skin without any sort of tingling on the most irritated and dehydration of skin. I wasn’t sure that the Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet could be topped but I’m glad to have been wrong.

La Roche-Posay Lipikar Baume AP Anti-Irritant Anti-Scratching Lipid-Replenishing Body Balm ($29.95)

I’m deeply saddened that I’ve actually used up my first bottle of this gentle niacinimide-rich body cream in the last few days and that sure is a testament to how much I love this non-irritating body cream. It doesn’t have any sort of irritating fragrance or alcohol but like anything else, it will sting on opened or irritated patches of skin slightly but unlike other creams that I’ve tried this has helped to reduce the itchiness of my eczema as well as heal the damage. It also absorbs strangely fast and I’m not one to complain about that.

What were your top products this month?
Maggie, x.
note: some affiliate links used above

 

The Monday Morning Edit

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Sometimes I think that it’s these posts that detail the products that you reach for consistently through your rushed and exhausted times can be the most telling, so inspired by Suzie’s post from ages ago, I thought I would show you a few of the products that I find myself reaching for on a rushed Monday morning, even when it hurts open my eyes in order to find them in the piled assortment that is my makeup.

MAC Pro Longwear Waterproof Brow Set in Quiet Brunette ($21)

When I’m in that zombie-esque state and can barely make it out of bed and change into real clothes, the last thing I want to do is mess around with my brows but still, I do feel that filling them in in some shape or form can make a huge difference. Enter this budgeproof tinted brow gel. Within moments, I can have my brows tamed and looking decent and the colour actually is appropriately cool-toned.

L’Oreal Miss Manga Mascara ($9)

While admittedly this mascara has improved in my books drastically since drying out a bit and being exposed to air, it still is not one of my favourites overall but it has its charms when you’re pressed for time and want as much lash drama going on with the most minimal time and effort involved this one really has ticked all of the boxes. It can bee a wee bit clumpier than I would like but it looks great when you just shove a little on prior to heading out the door – it’s not one that works when you attempt to spend time building it.

MAC Kohl Power Pencil in Feline ($19)

I know I’m in the minority when I honestly say that eyeliner is something that I have to reach for even when my abilities to hold my hand steady to draw a smooth line might be compromised and this one is a good option in this case because it applies nice and creamily smooth with impressive pigment and smudges out nicely, quickly masking any imperfections in the application. This liner gives instant impact but isn’t too crazy but it might not be ideal for anyone with smudging issues.

NARS Contour Blush in Paloma ($46)

I’m a girl who likes cheekbone definition whenever there’s any sort of makeup application involved so a contouring powder or a bronzer is a given, but this duo of shades is the most practical and nears the realm of being fool-proof. The rosy tan is a gorgeous contour shade that easily builds up to the desired (but subtle) intensity and the creamy shade serves another purpose, helping to brighten up the dark circle situation while ensuring that the concealer won’t suddenly be all over the face.

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in Nude-Ist ($23)

I’ll spare you from the usual yammering on about the power of a bold lip to instantly brighten the complexion and all that jazz but the principle applies, however, on days when you wake as exhausted as I do, you don’t want to have to think about what to wear and have to worry about the maintenance and this liquid lipstick ticks all of the boxes. It’s a somewhat bold rosy shade that isn’t quite so much of a statement as a red that also wears like a champ and doesn’t transfer after it sets and lasts like a champ throughout the day. Obviously, it’s not disgusting on chapped lips either. You know how it is for me…

Annabelle Colour Control Instant Perfecting Luminous Finish Base ($17)

There’s something about those trance-like Monday mornings that seem to be associated with dull lackluster skin that you don’t exactly have time to dominate in the traditional way, so enter a radiance-boosting primer that both adds the glow factor and helps keep things a little bit smoother on the face.

What are your Monday essentials?
Maggie, x.

Weekly Medley #36

Recently Updated351. The new foundation that I’ve worn consistently since spotting it on Monday… I’m aware that I kind of sort of made a promise not to go out and buy a new foundation until I finished my Rimmel Wake Me Up but upon seeing the Diorskin Star Fluid in 20 for a good eight dollars less than expected, I couldn’t resist picking this one up and then wear it every single day that followed. It’s a good one…

2. A review here … I’ve been making an active effort to get into the habit of writing more individual product reviews and this one on the Marc Jacobs Brown(Out) Highliner was the weekly effort.

3. Quite possibly the standout post I read this week… I’m a big fan of reading blogs and do so on a frequent basis so it means something when I give one a shout out around here and I loved Tamira’s ‘Reflecting’ post. Obviously, she had her aesthetically-pleasing minimalist style going on in the background but she also wrote a really honest account on why she blogs in particular and I found it really relateable, agreeing with lots of what she said.

4. A Saturday Haul Post… I’ve mentioned before that I’m not entirely comfortable with the whole hauling post situation, but nevertheless, I posted one yesterday and I was rather pleased with it. Check out the edited list of purchases here, if you’re interested.

5. A notable meal at Pavia… I tend to hit up our favourite cafe with the mother fairly often and I always enjoy it immensely so I thought I would quit with the laziness and actually document it slightly. I looooove this toasted sandwich loaded with olives, proscuitto, cheese and olive oil and rather enjoyed my iced mint dragon green tea, as well, despite it not being a beverage of the espresso variety. If you’re ever in Nova Scotia (Halifax in particular), I recommend hitting up Pavia Espresso Bar & Cafe. Drool.

6. Just casually reading Dickens in the mall … So on Friday’s shopping trip I might have had time to kill but no effort to move from any sedentary position on account of the shopping bag situation so it would only make sense to get some reading done while I was at it. Right? I still felt rather odd.

7. A Daily Face Post… Monday’s post was a return to my ‘Daily Face’ series and this return was long overdue if you ask me. It actually followed an autumnal theme, as you can see here.

 

I will warn you that I’m feeling rather chatty/wordy today — I can’t decide which word is more appropriate because I know I’m writing but what I’m writing could easily be read aloud as its in that format, but I’ll stop now before this post gets overly critical-theory-y and just plain weirdly theoretical. On an oddly related note, I would separate my week into two thematic categories — perhaps this is a consequence of reading books thematically far too often — the fatigue and stress of coming up to my presentation on Wednesday and the sudden re-emergence of my cold that hit me harder than ever before. So, it wasn’t necessarily the most relaxing week but I didn’t mind too much.

You might also notice that I’m coming at you with this post on a Sunday after switching posts of this variety to a Monday a while back but this doesn’t necessarily mean that they are consistently going to go up on Sundays; I’m still undecided whether or not I want to assign them a day or go with the flow. Any thoughts?

I really did intend to get five posts out during the week (instead of the four), but I’m afraid that life got in the way. I was so ill on a few occasions that all I could do was close my eyes and hope that I would succumb to sleep so post writing and organization was not exactly in the cards. However, I’m feeling better but not amazing with my cough and irritating congestion so this week looks more promising.

How was your week?
Maggie, x.

A Standard Autumnal Shopping Trip

 

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I’m sure you know how the story goes already; girl feels stressed and overwhelmed about University life and makes plans with close confidante to have a look at the mall as a reward and you somehow end up with a variety of items that you didn’t have in mind but adore and less money to your name than you can easily stomach. Luckily this time, I didn’t go too crazy and end up in that awful state where you come to feel nauseous after you realize all of the purchases made and I can also say that I bought things that were actually rather utilitarian and I managed to resist any purchases at Sephora and the drugstore. I’m rather proud of myself.

Aldo Lazares Satchel ($60)

First up is a bag, and this is completely justified (actually) because all of my school bags seem to be falling apart in some way and this one caught my eye and ticked all of the boxes. I think I’m in love. It’s a roomy satchel that has a rather muted colourblocked effect with the cobalt, midnight navy and tan detailing and has that slouchiness I adore, coming with a lovely crossbody strap too. It will fit the computer and a few books (I’ve checked) and I think it’s the perfect size for touting around all day and looking decent while out and about too.

 Bath & Body Works Mini Candles ($3/12)

After going through the heartbreak of watching the glass of my Spiced Pumpkin Cider 3-Wick Candle shatter and take the wicks with it before I could even light the candle, I couldn’t resist heading into the store with their sale on and I’m pretty proud that I didn’t succumb to the rather expensive 2/35 offer on the larger candles and instead went for these small ones, but I was disappointed that they were all out of my lost scent. However, I came out with three small candles to try and I’m fairly excited to try them; my favourite has to be Flannel, one of those warm and spicy scents that screams attractive male but also looking forward to burning the weirdly nice-smelling Wasabi Apple Mini Candle and the nicely subdued Pumpkin Caramel Latte Mini Candle that surprised me by not making me feel mildly nauseous on account of the sweet scent.

 Gap Drop-Shoulder Sweater in Mushroom ($38.46)

Before heading home, I was wandering around Gap with the mother, as one does and this one caught my eye and from the moment I felt it, I knew the muted taupe-y slouchy sweater had to be mine. It has a flattering slouchy fit, as one would expect but the material is the best part – it’s nice and lightweight and soft without being heavy or scratchy and I would attribute it to the nylon and wool blend. Love.

 MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Cheeky Bronze ($37)

I was strolling around MAC picking up a makeup gift for someone else and somehow I couldn’t leave MAC too empty handed (for myself) and this shade of the gorgeous luminous Mineralize Skinfinish caught my eye. I’m sure regular readers have heard me rave about limited edition shades loads of times and I couldn’t resist picking this permanent shade up that I could potentially fall in love with and others could actually get it. Whoa. It has the formula that I love and it’s definitely one of the more pigmented and smooth shades and it’s a golden hue with a hint of coral thrown through it. This is definitely not a highlighter on me but I’ve been loving it as a glowy blush – at least in the one time that I’ve worn it. I’m excited. Ever so slightly.

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What have you picked up lately?
Maggie, x.