My Go-To Spring/Summer “Lipsticks”

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I really should know myself well enough by now that expecting to easily be able to narrow down my favourite lip products to five would be a arduous and somewhat impossible task but I led myself into the misguided belief that it would be easy. Five or six lists later, I’ve narrowed myself down to eight staple summer lip products and believe it or not, this required a good amount of contemplation and deliberation; at first I had ten bold shades as well as ten everyday shades so this is a pared-down list in my mind, regardless of how it may appear to others.

Revlon Colorburst Lacquer Balm in Demure ($9-10 CDN)

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I figured I would start from the most muted and sheer of shades and work myself up in intensity and brightness and this one is the most muted and close to my natural lip colour. The forgiving hydrating balm crayon is almost a dead-ringer for my go-to sheer my-lips-but-better hue MAC Patisserie and I’ve been going for the more affordable option in its place. It may lean slightly more pink but it remains a sheer warm-pink glossy hue with some subtle brown undertones that keep it wearable. For me, this is that shade that I can slap on without a mirror and not have to worry about the state of my lips when I’m applying it — if you’re a sufferer of chapped lips, this formula is excellent. It’s balmy formula isn’t particularly long wearing, lasting on the lips for three hours or so but it’s low-fuss so I don’t tend to mind.

MAC Kinda Sexy Lipstick ($19 CDN)

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I’ve you’ve read any of my posts in the last couple of days, I’m sure you are aware of the instant love that I felt for this flattering matte lipstick. Although I do tend to find the expression moderately off-putting, this is another my-lips-but-better shade on my pale lips but in comparison to the former the formula is much more opaque and leans much peachier and a little bit darker. The shade remains in the nude family but adds some colour to my lips and is just dark enough to stain my lips for hours on end without leaving any problems traditionally associated with matte lipsticks. This one has impressive longevity for such a muted shade and can withstand mild to moderate eating and drinking. This shade might be new to me but my love for it is so strong that I couldn’t leave it out.

Revlon Colorstay Moisture Stain in Milan Moment ($14-16 CDN)

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When you’re someone who frequently suffers with irritated chapped lips, the word “stain” in the name of a lip product can easily leave you running for the hills but I’m pleased to report that this isn’t one to run from with it’s balmy formula. The neutral muted-tangerine hue first comes out sheer but is easily buildable, gliding over dry patches with a moisturizing feel but then after the non-sticky glossy sensation wears off, a subtle stain remains. Not only do I love the easy formula (and lovely applicator) of this one, the shade straddles the line of neutral and bright, adding some colour to the face without being overwhelming or dramatic in the slightest.

L’Oreal Colour Caresse in Sunset Angora ($11-12 CDN)

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I’ve said it before and I’m sure countless others have done so before me but nevertheless, the formula of this one is an improved more-balmy-less-waxy version of the ever-popular Revlon Lip Butters. The shade is a flattering sheer-but-buildable pink-tinged coral that I find instantly brightens the complexion. The hydrating balmy formula is effortless but can still pack a punch of colour. The only thing that would improve this balm-lipstick hybrid product would be the elimination of that floral scent – and perhaps a slightly lower pricetag. I apologize for the state of the tube of this one, by the way.

MAC Sweet & Sour Lipstick ($19 CDN)

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I might not love the cremesheen formula of this one – but I don’t detest it either — but I adore this almost pastel-toned corally salmon pink hue. It’s not the most flattering colour if you’re trying to make your teeth look whiter and its not the most forgiving but this is one of those fun and exciting shades that are appropriate for everyday and it does last for a good amount of time without drying out the lips.

Fresh Sugar Tinted Lip Treatment in Cherry ($26 CDN)

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There aren’t many “tinted balms” that actually serve to hydrate and nourish the lips whilst providing colour but this one does all that and a bag of chips. The true Cherry hue is flattering, starting out sheer but easily building in opacity and can work even on the driest of lips. This shade  is a perfect one for when you’re not wearing loads of makeup as it instantly makes it look like you tried- and doesn’t sweat off, either.

Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquer in Stellar ($8 CDN)

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For such an easy comfortable formula that applies easily with the wand and lasts for ages on the lips — six hours! — whilst providing impressively opaque payoff, the colour range is rather disappointing in these, however my favourite bold non-red lip has to be this punchy pink-coral. It may not be a shade that I reach for the most frequently but Stellar is my favourite bold but flattering fun shade. This is one of those dramatic shades that instantly perks up my face, flattering my warm undertones and doesn’t require much effort – plus it’s flattering enough that I don’t feel that I have to work up the courage to wear it with any sort of confidence. I have been known to wear this one in the dead of winter as well and that shows some adoration on my part; punchy corals don’t exactly scream winter, if you catch my drift…

Rimmel Kate Moss Lasting Finish Matte Lipstick in 110 Kiss of Life ($7-8 CDN)

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I’m a red lipstick girl, through and through, so I couldn’t resist putting in a true vibrant one and this one has to be my favourite. It’s almost a neutral red, bright in the same way as the lovely-but-uber-drying MAC Ruby Woo, but with a slight hint of orange to it. It lasts a good five or six hours through moderate eating and drinking, ranking along with the best of the best but the formula is easier to apply and it neither highlights dry patches or wreaks any sort of havoc on my generally roughed-up lips. Speaking of Ruby Woo, it’s quite similar at a fraction of the price, if you’re asking me. This isn’t a strictly summer shade and eight staple products may seem a bit excessive but I couldn’t write this post without the inclusion of this one.

I’d love to know your favourite warm-weather lip products, so oblige me – PLEASE!
Maggie, x.

 

Beauty Blogger of the Month Award

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I’ve had this post in my to-write list for what feels like ages and I apologize for slacking on that front but regardless, I was honoured to hear that I was nominated by chaibiskoots for ‘The Beauty Blogger of The Month Award’ that’s hosted by Cecilia (of Cecilia’s Corner). I’m beyond thankful for the opportunity that this has brought me, so thanks to Cecilia! If you’re interested in more details I’m linking Cecilia’s post here! Each month, Cecilia is giving away a small prize to one of the nominees — what a generous girl — and this month that prize is the hyped Benefit They’re Real Push Up Eyeliner! Now, I suppose I should move onto the questions…

(1) Where does your makeup inspiration come from?

Well, I first started makeup because I definitely didn’t feel attractive when I entered my teen years, with a body that really resembled a pre-pubescent  boy and features that made me look much younger than I was and while I didn’t wear makeup on a regular basis until ninth grade, I went for it to feel more confident about myself and look less immature. I might not have been able to change my body or my physical features but one thing I could alter through makeup was my looks. To this day, my inspiration, first and foremost is to detract from the parts of my face that I’m less thrilled with to look a little bit more pulled together, a way to feel a little bit more confident. I draw inspiration from magazines, people on the street, etc. etc but the underlying reason for my draw to makeup is the way that it can make me feel a bit more confident.

(2) What are three of your ‘Holy Grail Products’ that you cannot live without?

One thing I really struggle with is indecision and as a result I’m very hesitant of using the expression because I could easily find the next best thing in a day, however these three I have passionate feelings towards. The ashy-grey toned MAC Coquette Eyeshadow is the ideal shade to add definition to my brows without being overly obvious or having the tendency to look red, for one. Another product has to be good ol’ Bioderma Sensibio H20 (or perhaps its L’Oreal equivalent) because it removes makeup with absolute ease, doesn’t irritate my beyond sensitive eyes and is the closest thing that my skin can handle to makeup wipes. Last but not least, I have to include the Bobbi Brown Corrector — I wear Light to Medium Bisque — because it’s the only thing that can actually camouflage my hereditary under-eye darkness without being obvious.

(3) What is your makeup signature look that you have on most of the time?

While my makeup does vary some naturally, you’re likely to find me sporting some subtle winged liner, a muted smokey eye, some glow to my cheeks and a luminous base. And more often that not, I go fairly nude on the lips.

(4) Let us know your favourite makeup brands!

Umm, I’m quite the MAC girl at heart but I also adore Dior for luxury purchases and L’Oreal and Rimmel never disappoint in terms of less expensive brands.

(5) Your ultimate makeup pet-peeve?

The cake face — enough said. It drives me bonkers when someone has just covered the entire surface of their skin in layers of makeup in an obvious way.

(6) You’ve heard about all of the hype on this makeup item, bought it, tried it and don’t understand what all the fuss is about … name that product!

MAC Shy Girl Lipstick; the peachy-toned nude lipstick is completely unflattering on my lips, going a weird pale but peach colour that is not flattering in the slightest. I’ve back-to-MAC-ed that one…

(7) Concealer or foundation only for the rest of your life? Choose one and tell us the reason!

As surprising as this may be for both me and those who know me best, I would have to choose concealer as my dark circles are horrendous and my skin doesn’t do particularly well with lots of product applied all over the face — I have a good three or four blemishes at any given time but the rest of my skin tends to be fairly decent — and in light of this, concealer would be the solution.

My Nominees…

1. Sarah Loves Makeup

2. MakeupIntrovert

3. WhatSheDoesNow

4. Isobel Rose

5. SoftlySometimes

6. Allanarama

7. LittleBitSoph

Happy Sunday!
Maggie, x.

 

 

 

The Daily Face #20

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It has been a good couple of weeks since my last ‘Daily Face’ post, strangely enough, so it goes without saying that it was time for another one. On another note, don’t get used to this whole two posts in one day kind of deal — it’s only happening because life has gotten in the way lately and this morning’s post was really meant to go up yesterday, so it truly is the post I wanted to put up today and I had the time, inspiration and focus to do so. With it being all Summery and whatnot paired with general life busy-ness, I haven’t been feeling like playing and faffing around as much with makeup so it’s on the more basic end of the spectrum for me and easily takes less than 10 minutes.

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DSC_1153First things first, I promise that the above shot is not doing my eyeliner justice — it’s the angle that makes the line look uneven, seriously. End Ramble. Seeing as I’ve accidentally gotten a bit of colour from the sun (whilst using good spf of course), I’ve been able to wear the lovely dewy Bourjois 10 Hour Sleep Effect Foundation in 73 without having to work at blending the rather dark shade into my pale neck and therefore I did so. I was much too lazy to do that whole pinpoint concealing regime, but I had quite a red blemish on my right cheek so I covered it up (somewhat) with the Revlon Colorstay Concealer in Light and my finger. As per usual, I relied on the tiniest amount of the Bobbi Brown Corrector in Light to Medium Bisque to cancel out some undereye darkness. At this point I decided to run some of the MAC Pro Longwear Waterproof Brow Set in Quiet Brunette through the brows for some heavy-duty taming and some natural-looking effortless definition — before I went on and continued with the face.

I decided to use my loved MAC Harmony Powder Blush that I recently depotted to contour the face a bit and then of course, I decided to use a whole load of MAC products — apparently I’m having a bit of a MAC moment. For blush, I used another shade in my palette, MAC Tenderling Powder Blush, a rosy tan hue to add some warmth and colour to my cheeks with little to no effort. Then I went and grabbed the lovely Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette , running Dim Light throughout the t-zone for some finishing and blurring action and finishing with a dose of Incandescent Light to highlight the cheekbones.

As I have been for the last week or so, I went for the Maybelline Color Tattoo in Barely Branded as my base to add some much-needed longevity. Then on the eyeshadow front, I stuck to three colours from my MAC palette that I’m currently obsessed with; Soft Brown was blended through the crease, the antiqued-gold Woodwinked went all over the lid and my recently acquired shade, Smut was placed in the outer corner and used to line the lower lashes. I’m having a bit of a love affair with all of these shades but Woodwinked might be the most noteworthy as I’ve had it for ages and have just recently rekindled my obsession with it. In the last week or so, I’ve also become reacquainted with my liner love, the effortless L’Oreal Lineur Intense and I obviously went for a subtle flick — that I repeat is much more on point in real life. Because we all know that mascara is a necessity, I’m sure you’re unsurprised to hear that I went for the Revlon Bold Lacquer Mascara.

On the lips — you guessed it — I went for another MAC shade that I’m currently obsessed with and that shade is the MAC Lipstick in Kinda Sexy. While it’s a matte lipstick it’s not overly drying or unflattering on the lips but most importantly it’s the most flattering my-lips-but-better rosy peach shade with the subtlest brown-tinge to it. Neither words or swatches do this one justice, I’ll tell you…

Thoughts on this makeup?
Maggie, x.

 

Products Heavily-in-Rotation: July

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While I haven’t technically done one of these posts before, it’s not miles different from the ‘Daily Essentials’ posts that I have done in the past. I can’t promise that these products will be anything that you haven’t heard me ramble on about before but sometimes I believe that it’s nice to share the products that you constantly grab for even when you don’t have time to faff around with a million products and brushes, taking loads of face photos to end up with a decent one. Here are some of those products.

Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet Smooth-Effect Makeup:

So, by no means have I neglected mentioning this lightweight foundation; in fact, if you’ve been keeping up with things around here at all, I’m sure you’ve heard me declare my love for it countless times. My love for it doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon. It’s easy to apply with my fingers and offers impressive weightless coverage that doesn’t look heavy or dull in the slightest with its luminous yet velvety finish. And it doesn’t highlight dry patches or any less than perfect texture.

Skin79 Snail Nutrition BB Cream SPF 45++:

I wouldn’t describe this one on even ground to the Chanel PLV by any means but it has been convenient to reach for this one to get some coverage, hydrate the skin and provide non-irritating strong sunscreen protection at once. Although the one shade offered has beige undertones, the hefty-SPF included kind of ensures that there’s a white-cast involved so it requires some attention to application and blending but it lasts well, can look seamless on the skin and provides medium coverage with a finish that sits halfway in between satin and truly luminous. If I’m not feeling up to a full face of makeup or I’m too lazy to put on a separate SPF product, I go for this one. There really should be a review up on this one soon, I’ve had one done in rough for long enough…

L’Oreal Glam Bronze Mono in Universal Sun:

For being someone who sits on the paler end of the spectrum, I have a strong love for bronzer and this is only magnified in the summer-time; this bronzer has been the object of my love. It’s definitely a warmer-toned bronzer, sitting a bit more on the red side to imitate the look of the sun and has the smoothest shimmer-free texture. It’s pigmented as anything, also. I tend to use it both in a precise way to add shape to the face and as a general bronzer and it’s amazing.

MAC Pro Longwear Waterproof Brow Set in Quiet Brunette:

This is my first foray into the tinted brow-gel territory so I don’t have loads of experience in this department but this one is smudge-free and true to its name, adding natural-looking definition to my brows in mere seconds. This shade is a nice one for medium brunettes with cooler eyebrows, if you ask me. I especially love this product when I can’t be bothered to do the whole brow-pencil or eyeshadow filling in routine.

L’Oreal Lineur Intense in Carbon Black:

For a month or so, I hadn’t been feeling my favourite felt-tip liner but as the weather has gotten much much hotter and other eye makeup has the tendency to slide right off and I have been favouring a more minimal look, I’ve been reaching for this constantly to do that quick little kitten flick that lasts until you take it off! If I’m not going to wear a load of makeup, this eyeliner is a necessity.

Benefit Rockateur Boxed Powder:

I’ve already mentioned falling back in love with this warm rusty rose shade despite its usual status as a colder-weather shade here, so it should serve as affirmation that I have hardly been able to put down the gorgeous sheeny shade. It’s not too overwhelming on the cheeks and has that warmth while still differing from my usual corals and just instantly adds life to my tired face with minimal effort involved.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Ethereal Glow:

I may have stopped rambling on about my love for this rather expensive cool-toned pink blush in at least every other post but I have not been neglecting this one despite its lack of mention. With a little colour to my skin I do need to build up the flattering cooler-pink shade more than when I’m at my fairest but it still works at providing that lovely subtle rosiness that adds instant life to the face without any sort of perceptible sheen. I will say that this is one for fairer skin tones but I’m sure the other shades will suit your fancy if you have more colour to your skin. I know I have my eye on a good few of them, the corally Diffused Heat in particular. Oh, and I have been using the powders from the same line but I forgot to photograph them and lack anything particularly interesting to say about them.

Revlon Colorstay Moisture Stain in Milan Moment:

The neutral sheer-tangerine hue of the liquid “lip stain” has proven itself as the perfect everyday hue, with minimal makeup or even more of a heavy kind of deal going on around the eyes. The fact that the formula is flattering on irritated lips and that the gloss-type applicator ensures easy application is ideal especially when paired with its no-fuss wear and long-lasting stained effect.

MAC Lipstick in Kinda Sexy:

I’m certain that I’m cheating here with including this one because I haven’t even had this for a week yet but ever since picking it up, I’ve been constantly reaching for this one. The matte formulation somehow manages not to highlight dry patches or overly dry the lips out, lasting ages on the lips and the peachy-nude hue with a hint of brown to it is one of those really flattering everyday lipstick shades on me.

L’Oreal Sublime Sun Alcohol Free Quick Dry SPF 50 Sheer Finish Spray:

Thankfully it’s mostly under control at the moment, but I do suffer from body acne on my back that tends to be irritated by sunscreens and also tend to break out from sunscreens as well, in both cases — this however, neither irritates my skin with alcohol-content nor breaks me out. Spray SPFs might be a little less economical but they are ever-so-practical and this one stands out to me with it’s non-irritating properties. It does require a little bit of rubbing in but it’s an effortless one that provides solid protection without having to endure that sunscreen sensation on the body.

Nivea Vanilla and Macadamia Lip Butter:

I’ve been rather late on the bandwagon with these basic but emollient and effective lip balms but I love them just the same. This balm doesn’t have a weird fruity scent and actively nourishes and soothes my dry lips and doesn’t risk irritating them over time or stop working. It can leave somewhat of a white cast but I don’t mind considering that its actually hydrating. Plus it’s like three-something tops…

Elizabeth & James Nirvana Black Rollerball:

I’ve been weirdly getting into fragrance lately and I’ve been reaching for this one that I got as a deluxe sample at Sephora. Without being too overwhelming, the vanilla base has some muskiness and spiciness with a hint of floral underneath and doesn’t smell overpowering but doesn’t smell sweet and girlie in the slightest. This is a rather strong scent for Summer but I’ve been loving it anyway. Don’t quote me on my scent description in any shape or form.

 I apologize for my less frequent posts but things have been busy around here. What have been your go-to products?
Maggie, x.

 

 

 

Two MAC Acquisitions

 

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DSC_1124There are three things (remotely beauty-related things) that moved Monday into great day territory. First, I actually got up off my ass and successfully de-potted some MAC eyeshadows and blushes and I didn’t burn my house down or anything along those lines. The next thing was that I was able to Back-2-Mac with the now-empty casings, looking around with a few of my favourite people alive – who enjoy MAC and don’t judge to boot – for a lipstick free of charge. Last but not least, I experienced the satisfaction of completing my first fifteen-pan MAC palette (or at least the shadow side of my duo palette); I am aware of how pathetic my life sounds, if you were pondering the subject. The point of this ramble? I’m rather pleased with the eyeshadow and lipstick that I picked up, even aside from the fact that I was only set back $13.80 — with tax included.

I had gone into MAC with the idea that I was going to pick up the wearable but deep Brick-o-la shade but it was actually sold out and I quickly got over it, picking up the MAC Kinda Sexy Matte Lipstick ($19) and instantly falling in love with the “neutral pinky-rose” hue when I swiped it onto my sore lips. I would describe it as one of those neutral flattering shades — on me it’s a my-lips-but-better shade that is quite opaque and peachy – that adds a little bit of colour to the lips without looking like ‘lipstick’. The matte formula isn’t particularly drying or unflattering on sore lips and actually seems to stain my lips somewhat and the shade seems to have the perfect mix of peach and brown – not muting my lips out but not having that unflattering ‘brown’ look either on my pale lips. I’m in love. 

In my recent wishlist post, I had mentioned my desire to complete my palette with MAC Smut Eyeshadow ($12/18) and that’s exactly what I did. Exactly as I thought, the “muted black with red shimmer” is a nicely textured shade with a satin finish (I don’t know what they’re talking about on the shimmer front) that serves the same purpose as black but is more interesting and easy to work with. It might not seem like the creamiest shadow in history but it’s blendable and has almost no fallout despite its dark shade. I’m loving this shade just as much to add depth and definition to the outer corner or general smokiness and I’m wearing this one in the outer-corner below, with All That Glitters on the lid, Soft Brown as a transition colour and Swiss Chocolate in the crease. The dark charcoal burgundy plum shade is a nice option for darkening things up, if you ask me.

 

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What are your favourite MAC products?
Maggie, x.

Weekly Medley #26

Recently Updated20(1) Soaking up the sun as it reemerged (2) Continuing with the ‘Daily Highlights’ posts (3) Good thing I didn’t say I was on a ‘No Buy’? (4) I kind of Netflix binge-watched both seasons of this – (no regrets)  (5) A somewhat adequate picture of the day above (6) A daily face featuring my MAC Palette (7) An amazing and hilarious video, of course courtesy of ChelseaWears (8) Yesterday’s therapeutic wishlist post (9) My most liked post of the week and quite possibly my favourite post too – linked here

Another week has passed and therefore I’m coming at you with a Weekly Medley post – to state the obvious. It was really not the greatest of weeks but it was not the worst of weeks as it wasn’t physically debilitating like that hellish week during exams for me; it’s been a serious family one, my grandfather whom I’m rather close to, has been sick for a while but things have escalated for the worse rather quickly, requiring lots of care, and it’s difficult to stomach the whole situation. Being someone who struggles with anxiety (putting it mildly), it’s no surprise that I’ve been affected in an unusual way — I’m constantly on edge and unable to focus on any sort of task at hand and be productive. I’m not someone who cries easily over these things and exhibits typical emotional displays but I’m supposing that I’m experiencing it in a different way. The funny thing is that I never intended for this blog to become so personal but writing this down was so therapeutic that I’m letting it slide. I’m not usually one to go on and on about weather actually, but until yesterday, the weather was warm and muggy but constantly overcast and raining on and off so it wasn’t a great one on that front either, until now. Spoiler alert: the last couple of days have been gorgeous sunny ones of 30 degrees that have been spent down at the dock, swimming in the 25 degree water — woo! I’m sure there will be a bit more on this next week and scrambled through upcoming posts.

On a much more superficial note, this week lost points because my basement started to accumulate heat and lose it’s status as the most delightfully cool room to escape to – but I’m working on not leaving every single electronic device on to help matters so it might be more along the lines of a fault of mine. This wasn’t my most exciting makeup week or one where I was particularly into wearing makeup; I did wear makeup most days but on a few occasions I ended up wiping it off a few hours later because I was feeling rather ‘meh’ and on others I found myself merely wearing wearing some BB cream, brows and maybe mascara. However, when I was feeling makeup, I was consistently reaching for my (ALMOST FULL – :))) MAC Palette and loving it. I know I look either extremely sleep-deprived in the picture above or drugged-up but I promise that it was just my general non-photogenic nature coming through. I didn’t wear this combination again on the eyes but I did rather like it and it was somewhat different than what I’ve been reaching for on other days in a nice way. As I have been doing daily, I began with running Soft Brown loosely through the crease – blah blah blah, I’m sure you get it. All over the lid I went for the pale pearly unique Vexshade that I’ve hit pan on but have been neglecting for ages and then deepened up the crease, as per usual (as of late) with Swiss Chocolate. The star of the show might have been Sketch, as it was used to add the plummy smokiness, packed onto the outer corner of the lid and blended out with actual effort (and placed underneath the lower lashes), but I liked the overall look. The shades minus Vex, have been my staples this week along with the other 10 shades in my palette – with a few exceptions.

Two of my lovely confidants from High School (that I happily still am close to and see frequently) decided that they wanted to go beauty product shopping and obviously told me to come along and I agreed, faintly aware of the purchases that would occur as a result, despite being somewhat committed to my ‘Low Buy’. In my defense, I held onto my pennies (joking, we can no longer use pennies here) and watched them go somewhat to town at Sephora and MAC (*pats self on back*) but gave in at the drugstore for a few practical purchases that I was rational about and then we went into Lush and weirdly out of character, I couldn’t resist a purchase or two. On more occasions than I would like to admit, I can be found grumbling on about how ridiculously expensive drugstore makeup in Canada is in comparison to the US and how tragically unfair it is that we cannot return drugstore makeup but I felt both sentiments rather strongly (particularly the second) as I tried and tried the L’Oreal Voluminous Miss Manga Mascaraand wish I had never allowed myself to look inside the drugstore with my friends (kind of) – or at least, wished I had the willpower to say that I would just wait it out for another mascara as I do have enough at the moment. In my defense, it was on sale and I had been hoping that it would be a really easy throw-it-on mascara that removed with minimal effort – a la Maybelline The Falsies, that has recently dried out completely on me. In the last post linked above, I ramble on about this product and four others in more detail that doesn’t reach the realm of excess tangential descriptions, IMO. Sweet success.

Funnily enough, I’m not actually a huge TV person, despite the shows that I’ve included in these posts as of late as I tend to watch them whilst doing other things but while doing so, I’ve found some really interesting ones that capture my attention by their own merits and complicated intricacies and the top spot in recent months might just go to Hannibal,which is a NBC horror show that can also be found on Netflix. It’s placed in the horror genre but it has that thriller-esque complexity that grabs my attention but at the same time, you need somewhat of a strong stomach in order to watch it. It’s psychologically intense (my cup of tea) but it’s best feature is the acting; Hugh Dancy is fantastic at playing the psychologically-troubled Will Graham, who has been pulled out of the classroom to help solve these complex murders and Mads Mikkelsen is just about as believable as the psychiatrist, Dr. Lecter, who has been brought in to theoretically ensure Will’s safety. It keeps you on your toes, that’s for sure. On the beauty-related front, I absolutely loved Chelsea’s latest video, “NEW IN: Skincare + Beauty Part Two”; with actual life busy-ness getting in the way, the hilarious but helpful Chelsea had taken a break from making videos and this has been among the first few videos of her return and I suddenly remembered why I missed them so much. Plus she’s such a genuine human being and her shop ships to Canada so I might actually have to order online.

How was your week? This sounds rather bullshitty (if that’s a word?) but despite lacking general functional human emotional stability, I hope yours was at least a little bit better than mine. Aaaaand I think I love you if you actually got through this little novella of mine!
Maggie, x.

P.S. I’m the last person to get Twitter and I most likely will be the most boring person to follow but if you’re interested in the occasional update, you can follow me @beautyandlit – because beautylit etc. etc. was already taken not because I absolutely loved the name…

 

5 Current Lusts #3: July

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Considering that it’s only my second week of switching my posts up on Sundays but nevertheless, I have to say that I’m enjoying it thus far. I could easily call this a Weekend Wishlist kind of post as it follows that sort of lazy and relaxed mindset but I’ve restrained myself. And weirdly enough, wish lists keep my spending closer to in line and I imagine it will help more than hurt the no-buy situation at present.

Bourjois Healthy Mix Gel Serum Foundation in 52 ($27)

As if by any stretch of the imagination I have any reason to pick up yet another foundation… alas, I have to include this one as it’s next on the seemingly never-ending list. Note: I fully acknowledge that I have a foundation-hoarding problem. Now that I’ve tried (and consequently have fallen in love with) a Chanel foundation, I can say that the Bourjois foundations remind me of the much more expensive brand, remaining thin and lightweight on the skin while giving the illusion of naked but more luminous skin — so obviously I need to try another one of their foundations, particularly one in a shade that will actually match me throughout my paler months. There is also the fact that my most trusted sources unanimously praise this one for its ability to glide over dry patches and give a glow to the skin.

Bath and Body Works Espresso Bar Small Candle ($10 – on for $5)

I’m not someone who is usually sensitive to scents but I can’t seem to go into Bath & Body Works for any length of time without acquiring a headache so I haven’t ever tried any of their products and even more, I haven’t burned a scented candle once in my life but I’ve decided that I wanted to try one as the idea of the whole soothing experience appeals to me. While it might not be the most seasonally-appropriate, there’s not much I love as much as the smell of coffee and if this delivers and I manage to safely deal with matches and/or a lighter, thinks look promising.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Diffused Heat ($41)

Unless you’ve only stumbled upon this post by chance, it’s a given that you’ve read at least one post where I wax poetically on about the cooler pink Ethereal Glow that I splurged on in the April Sephora sale and I’ve made a dent in that one — don’t know how I feel about that — so I obviously *need* (jokes) another; the one I’m lusting after is the true warm-toned coral, Diffused Heat. I’m a coral blush addict but this one seems to be a fairly true coral which is definitely a little different than my typical pink-tinged ones and if it performs anything like Ethereal Glow, it will be life changing with it’s soft-focus glowy-but-not-shimmery effect.

 MAC Eyeshadow in Smut ($12/18)

I’ve been massively into the shades in my almost-full (eek!) MAC palette as of late but as I love a good smoky eye, it’s becoming particularly noticeable to me that I’m lacking that ultra-dark/black shade for the outer corner and lash line — Smut strikes me as the ideal shade. This shade is so dark that it’s almost black, the deepest of browns with some plum and grey thrown into the mix and is supposedly much nicer in texture to work with than many of MAC’s other deep shades are to boot! Plus, the slight dirty tone to the shade deeply appeals to me.

Aldo ‘Cagno’ Bag ($60)

I could definitely use a new everyday bag right now but I’m persevering despite having a bag or two wearing out on me and Aldo makes nice ones at a decent price. I’m still absolutely obsessed with anything grey and I love the different coloured sides and it appears rather roomy with a cross-body option so it should also work throughout the year when I’m in classes. It looks like it will easily fit my laptop and general obsessive tendencies when packing my bag.

What items are on your wishlist?
Maggie, x.

The Beauty Bargain: The Revlon Colorburst Lacquer Balms

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This might be surprising but as far as I’m aware, I haven’t given the Revlon Colorburst Lacquer Balms ($9-10) the credit (through rambling form, of course) that they deserve; I mean I’ve mentioned before that I love them but they really are among the best of the best formulas in my opinion and I wear them constantly. Of all three of the Revlon lip pencils, they are easily the most moisturizing and forgiving on the lips along with having the most subtle mint-induced tingly sensation on the lips that can irritate some. The formula of these strikes me as a slightly amped-up version of the MAC Lustre’s in pigment with the same general characteristics — buildable pigmentation, actual hydrating quality on the lips and forgiving texture. The darker shades of the Revlon offering might have more longevity than the MAC options as well and they tend to be much more pigmented to boot! The brighter/deeper shades that I have do tend to stain the lips slightly and wear for a good 4-5 hours through some light drinking but nothing too strenuous the lighter shade that I have wears more at the 3-4 hour range but this doesn’t bother me as these lip products are so low-maintenance and fuss-free.

Others seem to complain about the visible shimmer/glitter found in these shades, especially as the colour of the product wears off, but I only notice the flecks in my lightest shade, 105 Demure, and even then I don’t find the flecks to be overly noticeable or problematic. Being one of the paler shades in the lineup, this one has the least pigmentation — beginning with sheer payoff but buildable to medium opacity — but at the same time it’s one of those foolproof natural-looking hues. It reminds me a great deal of my lipstick love, MAC Patisserie, but it has slightly more pink in it and a bit less brown but it doesn’t lean pink in the slightest, allowing those like me who cannot pull of pink usually to wear it in a flattering way.

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120 Vivacious is a stunning punchy fuschia shade with some corally undertones to it but in all honesty I wear it the least because it’s such a statement lip on me – It pulls bolder than Ruby Woo on me! — but it is a stunning one and doesn’t resemble a cool-toned pink in the slightest. Along with the next shade, there is no sheerness to the opacity in this one by any means – without compromising its balmy texture, the lip crayon gives off vibrant payoff.

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150 Enticing is easily the shade I’ve talked the most about as it was the one that was my gateway into the formula and I’ve had it since last year and this isn’t just by chance; it’s a neutral-toned deep red that seems to suit my colouring to a t. Because it’s a deeper hue, it doesn’t have the same dramatic punch that brighter shades do without stepping into vampy kind of territory and it seems to be that effortless dark lip. It’s certainly more of a Fall/Winter kind of shade but I’m known to wear it throughout other seasons…

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Have you tried any of these – what were your thoughts?
Maggie, x.

 

Beauty Thoughts: The Verdict

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Even for those of us in the blogging world that are neither sent the newest releases constantly nor are able to shell out recklessly for them, there are many beauty products that fall through the cracks after they are initially purchased — some will be granted reviews, some will be mentioned in passing but there are so many products left untalked about. I’m hoping to talk about some of the untalked about here without being incessantly wordy and detailed – hope being the key word here. By the way, these are exclusively products of the drugstore variety.

L’Oreal Miss Manga Mascara ($9-11 CDN)

I’m usually such a L’Oreal mascara fan and I’ve heard such great things about their latest mascara offering from my most trusted of sources, but for me this mascara is far too wet and much too clumpy for my liking. Although I have only had this for a short amount of time, I can safely say that I dislike it; however, I fully expect that I will dislike it less as it dries out but I’m not expecting miracles. Also, in typical L’Oreal fashion, it is difficult to remove despite not being a waterproof formulation.

Revlon Age Defying Firming + Lifting Makeup ($18 CDN)

Now I certainly did not go for this foundation offering to combat wrinkles (I’m merely 20) but as a foundation, I’m not wholeheartedly impressed with this one and I wouldn’t expect anything miraculous if wrinkles are your concern here. The funny thing is that I can’t say anything particularly bad about this longwearing medium-buildable coverage foundation but it lacked the quality of blending seamlessly into the skin and making the skin look smoother, radiant and improved rather than merely covering the skin itself. It has a satin finish, as well, and it doesn’t cling to dry patches particularly but it doesn’t leave the skin looking radiant or brightened. The shame is that my colour match was pretty good — Bare Buff, the second lightest shade in the range suited my moderately fair skin with warm beige-yellow undertones nicely. Plus, it’s not the cheapest thing out there.

Revlon Matte Balm in 230 Complex ($9-10 CDN)

I’ve said before that I was actually rather disappointed in Revlon’s matte balm offering, finding it slightly drying on the lips with the potent mint sensation and less than flattering over dry patches, but after everyone has raved about them and I’ve seen the gorgeous colour selection, I had to pick up another shade … for testing purposes, obviously. Unfortunately, I wasn’t any more impressed with the formula when I picked up this lovely peachy nude shade which was rather disappointing as I love the warm-toned flattering darker nude hue. They do wear on the lips for a long time, though. I’m still curious if the darker shades are more flattering on the lips as both of the shades I’ve tried are on the lighter side of things and their bold range is amazing – any thoughts?

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Revlon Colorstay Concealer ($10-12 CDN)

Believe it or not, I am actually moving into the territory of products that I actually wholeheartedly like. Despite not being among the fairest of the fair, I have great difficulty finding concealers of the drugstore variety that are neither too pink, too orange, too yellow while not being too dark but the beige undertones of 02 Light suit my skin like a champ for concealing blemishes and redness on my face. I find the liquid concealer too dry for use underneath my eyes but it’s ideal to quickly cover blemishes and redness as it doesn’t budge or show/highlight dry patches.

Rimmel Lasting Finish By Kate Matte Lipstick in 111 Kiss of Life ($7-8 CDN)

From owning the bold berry-hued 107 that unfortunately doesn’t suit me, pulling rather fuchsia on me in an unflattering manner, I already knew that I loved the formula of this pigmented, semi-matte lipstick;it  manages to both last on my lips for about six hours and neither dry my lips out or cling to my dry lips unattractively. This shade is a bold scarlet hue with subtlest of an orange lean to its otherwise neutral base and has to be among my favourite bold lip shades ever — its formula merely boosts the appeal.

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Have you tried any of these products? What are your thoughts on them?
Maggie, x.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Daily Highlights 07.16.2014

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Before I really get into things here, there are two things that I want to say and if we’re lucky, these two things won’t turn into a novella… First, I’m in this weird blogging funk where I have so many blog post ideas but as a result am unable to commit to one of them and therefore unable to bring anything into fruition and secondly, for some reason that I appear to be unable to articulate or even think about with any sort of coherence, I am even less competent at taking decent selfies with my new and improved camera than on the good ol’ iPhone. The point of the second thought? A picture or two of lesser quality might appear in this post seeing as I was unable to capture an aspect or two of the daily face otherwise. And I have the need to ramble, even if it is through typing.

L’Oreal Glam Bronze Mono in Universal Sun: Given the number of times I’ve made declarations of my love for this bronzer, it shouldn’t be surprising that I can’t put it down and that I don’t want to. With it’s pigmented and creamy soft-matte texture, it’s the most forgiving true warm red-toned bronzer; it works to add authentic-looking colour to the skin but also seems to be able to help with a bit of cheekbone sculpting as well. Love.

Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation:It seems like many absolutely adore this foundation and place it as superior to all others but I don’t exactly fit into that camp — I go through phases of liking it but find myself resenting it and putting it away for months at a time. If you ask me, it’s one of those products that only works well when applied in the most precise of ways and with it’s tendency to highlight dry patches on the face, it can easily look very obvious on the skin and isn’t the easiest to sheer out either. However, I applied it optimally today when I decided to pull it out and I instantly remembered why it was worth putting the effort to prime the skin for it and spend ages massaging it into the skin. This is one that I like to be very well moisturizer for and applying a primer on top doesn’t hurt either.

MAC Creme d’Nude Lipstick:I know I’ve gone on before about how this shade was my first lipstick love but now I tend to find it difficult to wear unless I’m sporting a serious smokey eye as it washes me out but when I paired it with a neutral lipliner today, it was perfection. The creamy formula does show the most severe of all dry patches but other than that, it can’t be faulted when applied in this way. When the concealer lip effect is eliminated, this warm peachy nude shade is gorgeous. Note to self: apply in this manner more often.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Ethereal Glow:I may have stopped constantly declaring my love for this cool-toned pink blush, shot through with marbelized pale opal veining, however, I still love this blush to pieces for giving that gorgeous pink rosy glow to the cheeks. It actually helps with diffusing imperfections which is nice and I can’t exactly explain why I love this one so much – I just do. With a little more colour to my skin this one does require a little more building up though, but that’s to be expected with such a muted colour. I’m in need of at least one more shade of these. Ahh — run, wallet, run!

Have you tried any of these? What products have caught your attention today?
Maggie, x.