Beauty Additions #3: The Scattered Edition

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Over the last month or so, in the midst of all that exam stress and craziness, and in celebration of its ending later, I seem to have acquired a fair number of new items of the beauty variety that are deserving of mention here. Keep in mind that these are a collective collection of buys over the last month; there was no exciting splurge or haul or anything of that sort, although that would be infinitely more exciting and fulfilling. Oh, and more than a few of these were practical buys, motivated by sales and the like.

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Boots No7 Beautiful Skin Hot Cloth Cleanser (on sale for $9 from $12 CDN – Shopper’s Drugmart): Spoiler alert for empties coming up here, not that I’ll be revealing anything of excitement here but I feel the need to heed warning: I ran out of my beloved Boots Beautiful Skin “Cleansing Balm” and after reading the ingredients list to discover that this formulation was similar, I decided to try this one because I liked the other so much. As far as I can tell in the handful of times that I’ve used this cleanser, the formulation is just about the same but there is more product, a nicer pump dispenser and it comes with a muslin cloth. It has that rich creamy consistency that soothes and hydrates the skin while removing makeup like a dream without any sort of irritation. I’m a big fan of the affordable cleansers in this line that I have tried so far.

L’Oreal Sublime Soft Micellar Solution ($11-13 CDN):I think I might have mentioned my dependency on Bioderma perhaps a time or two here so it’s hardly shocking that I picked up L’Oreal’s more affordable alternative when I spotted it in stores with one of those illusive manufacturer’s coupons attached to the display for a few dollars off. I haven’t actually tried this one out yet but I plan too soon but my sources tell me that it’s slightly less concentrated than the original, while leaving a bit of residue. But I’ll report back, whether the cheaper alternative is worthwhile or not.

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Jergen’s Natural Glow Firming Daily Moisturizer in Medium to Tan ($9 CDN): I’m not someone who is hugely into the fake-tanning thing or the real-tanning-with-no-sunscreen-on kind of thing and generally do prefer to embrace my fairness but sometimes I get frustrated by my paleness in comparison to all the tanaholics and dislike the uneven tone that my body takes in the sun with sunscreen on and the hyperpigmentation that ensues. So I gave the gradual self-tanner a try after remembering using it back in junior high with moderate success despite my ignorance and mistakenly picked up the darker shade — however, the darker shade has impressed me as it delivers slightly less subtle colour that matches the warm yellow undertones that my skin naturally tans into but I really do need to be slightly careful of the hands on this one. All in all, I’ve been enjoying this as a moisturizer that adds colour without wreaking havoc on my eczema patches. But it’s not foolproof. Note: I have limited skills in this department.

Dove Style + Care Nourishing Curls Mousse ($6-8 CDN): This is actually a repurchase from me but it’s not a product I would classify as ‘amazing’ but rather it works well for adding nourishment while adding texture, body and hold to my loose curls, often spotted around for sale. I’ve been enjoying this thus far and it does what it says, providing some hold without being drying in the slightest.

Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation (on sale for $6 from $9 CDN- Shopper’s Drugmart):I may have a slight foundation hoarding problem but I never expected to pick this one up as it’s marketed as a matte finish and I have dry skin and a preference for foundations of the more luminous variety but after I got a sample of this in Elle Canada in a somewhat passable but not perfect shade (Ivory), I might add, I found myself enjoying the product. In the past little while, I’ve been eying up a fuller-coverage foundation on the more matte end of the spectrum and this fit the bill so it was purchased particularly at its great price. I found the shades ran quite pink and actually catered to fairer skin tones — I’m the fourth shade out of the six I spotted and it matches my paleness — so I went for the more beige-undertoned 103 True Ivory and I’ve been enjoying it. It reminds me of Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation in texture and coverage but it is much more lightweight and has more of a velvet-y finish than satin. It has full coverage and isn’t altogether horrendous on dry patches – but it’s not all that matte.

L’Oreal True Match Blush in N3-4 Innocent Flush ($13-16 CDN): So, these more expensive blushes from L’Oreal were on sale about three weeks ago and knowing my blush-hoarding tendencies, it shouldn’t be shocking that I picked up this peachy-coral shade. Like far too many of the blushes that I own, it has a golden shimmer running through it but it isn’t chunky in the least and has a smooth texture. My only complaint is that the longevity isn’t as fantastic as my favourites and I’m not accustomed to topping up my blush — and I do not wish to be accustomed to doing so either.

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Coralberry ($9 CDN):I’m beginning to notice a theme here as this was yet another product that I was tempted to pick up as a result of a small sale and my growing coral lip-product obsession. I wasn’t disappointed with this creme formula lipstick in the slightest; I’ve tried the shade Black Cherry from the line before and I’m pleased to report that this shade has been far superior, offering the same longevity and pigmentation while not highlighting dry patches or uneven texture on the lips in the slightest. As the name would suggest, it’s a standard pinky coral shade and these shockingly last for five hours.

Dior 5-Colour Eyeshadow in 734 Grege ($61 CDN):After submitting my last essay and therefore surviving the exam period, I had to treat myself and I was determined to pick something luxurious but practical at the same time, so obviously I went for another quint of my favourite eyeshadow formula in existence. I’ve declared my love for Earth Reflection before that I purchased after being recommended this specific palette for the umpteenth time and I decided to go for this versatile neutrals palette with a variety of finishes — aka practical matte shades–, no fallout whatsoever and to-die-for pigmentation. I’m sure you’ll hear more on this soon as I’m loving it and don’t expect that love to instantly vanish.

I intended on getting this post up ages and ages ago but somehow I’ve been struggling to write it. I’ll assure you there are lots of posts coming your way soon, though. Have you tried any of these products? What have you picked up in the last month?

Maggie, x.

 

 

 

 

 

 

April 2014 Favourites

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April has been a unique months on two accounts, I’d have to say, and these two accounts are that whole University situation and the weather situation. Until the last week of the month, I’ve been overwhelmed by the mountain of work that I’ve had to achieve during the time and somehow ended up surviving the stress and sleep-deprivation of it all. Somewhere along the way, the weather here switch from April snow to a good number of gorgeous sunny days that actually make getting a burn possible in between bouts of spring rain. So this month has not been one of great experimentation or any sort of great dedication to a lengthy routine of sorts but I’m pleased with the staples that I’ve discovered. And below is a picture of most of the products in use i.e. the cream shadow applied heavily, the blush, mascara etc.

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 Diorskin Nude Skin-Glowing Makeup in 11 Creme ($48 CDN): If you take a look at my posts in the last month, it should be no surprise that this was deserving of mention — I did mention my love for it a few times. I’ve reviewed it months ago and wrote that I like it but I have to say over the past few months it’s gone from a nice foundation in my books for that flattering everyday foundation that looks good without putting a lot of effort in. The finish is satiny with a side of luminosity but at the same time it doesn’t highlight imperfections and pores and it provides medium-coverage but cannot be built up past that without losing its ability to look and feel like your skin but perfected. It lasts for ages and ages; I may or may not have woken up with it still intact after New Years this year… And although it has alcohol, it doesn’t irritate my skin and it contains chemical SPF that doesn’t actually irritate my skin so I’m kind of convinced it’s sorcery. I’ve reviewed this before here but my thoughts have definitely improved!

Garnier Nourishing Cleansing Oil ($10-12 CDN): After picking this up at the beginning of the month as the beginning of my foray into cleansing oils, it’s safe to say that my verdict on this affordable offering is favourable. Whilst the packaging seems to claim that the cleansing and nourishing action comes from the high-quality nut oils, when in reality the concentrated ingredient is mineral oil. However, despite the bad rap that mineral oil tends to get, it’s one of those really gentle but effective moisturizing and makeup-removing ingredients and does not universally clog pores. It’s a super-effective and nourishing makeup remover that I apply onto my dry skin with dry hands and then wet to rinse off with the aid of a washcloth. It takes a wee bit more effort than the good ol’ Bioderma or regular cleanser but it’s removal powers are outstanding. And I’m not one to complain about the skin-soothing sensation that it leaves behind. P.S. this product leaks like nothing else…

Bobbi Brown Corrector in Light-Medium Bisque ($30 CDN): I’ve always kind of held onto the promise that I would never be one of those bloggers who raves about a product being their absolute favourite find of a month when they only had it for a few weeks but here I am doing so and I don’t regret it. This is because I might have only tried this under eye corrector on Easter after receiving it as a gift but I’ve noticed the tremendous difference every other time I’ve put on makeup since — it’s pink undertone actually covers my hereditary dark circles without leaving that peachy-orange cast even without a concealer on top despite my fairness. And the texture is a really nice one, I must admit – creamy and flattering underneath my under eyes that can look cake-y with concealer and this does not happen with the corrector and despite its creamy texture, it does not crease on me but then again, I do not have a tendency to experiencing concealer creasing.

Make Up For Ever 5 Camouflage Cream Palette in 1 ($45 CDN): This has been mentioned the odd time by me here and I seem to recall including it in a favourites post before but now that I have discovered that whole pinpoint-concealing thing with the aid of the Real Techniques Detailer Brush, the palette has hugely impressed me. The cream concealers have a high-coverage but creamy texture that doesn’t highlight dry patches unless they’re to that severe place when any type of cosmetic product will highlight them. Anddd, the colour selection is nice and versatile for my skin at least, although the peach-orange is not the right tone for correcting under eye circles in the slightest on me – but I have the corrector for that.

L’Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes Excess Mascara ($9-11 CDN): Let me put it this way, if the non-waterproof version of this wasn’t such a bitch to remove, it would have long ago beat out Maybelline The Falsies as my all-time favourite. But it is a pain in the ass to remove but it is worthwhile for such big and defined lashes that aren’t clumpy, even when applied haphazardly to the bottom lashes. Despite being a glasses wearer, I’ve been given quite a few compliments on my lashes since using this one which is impressive. But do keep in mind that I have naturally long and curled but wimpy eyelashes. I went back to the Falsies to compare and I have to say that I actually prefer this one now that it’s had more air in it, if the removing issue was not a problem. It looks like I’ve actually succeeded in putting the intended posts up this month as I have my full-review here.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Ethereal Glow ($41 CDN): Now, I’m not saying that these shall-we-say-luxurious blushes are an absolute necessity but the texture, blend ability, longevity and overall quality here. Despite my lack of success with cool-toned pinks, this one remains on the skin in a flattering way — it appears on my skin like a natural rosy hue, not particularly cool-toned when it comes in contact with the skin but not warm-toned either. And the finish is a satin without any sort of shimmer but it weirdly leaves the skin with some luminosity as promised. I’ve been wearing his all month long with pleasure, as shocking as it might be, and I’m not growing tired of it; in fact, it seems to becoming that everyday blush for me as I had surmised in my review here.

Maybelline Color Tattoo in Nude Compliment ($9 CDN): After giving my early thoughts on the limited edition shade of the famous cream shadows here, my love for the taupe-y shade did not falter in the slightest as I kept on wearing and wearing this cream shadow either on lid on its own or as a base. It’s quite versatile with how it can be built up and it has to have the best longevity in terms of any of these cream shadows in the range. The satin-finish gives that flattering gleam to the eyes but keeps shimmer overkill from happening when shades are worn over the top. Also, despite the grey-tones in the shadow, it doesn’t go overly cool-toned and draining on my warmer undertones. If you have a little opportunity to creep around your local drugstore for one of these beauties, I would definitely go for it. There’s more details on the product here!

L’Oreal True Match Mineral Gentle Mineral Powder in W1-2 Light Ivory ($14-16 CDN): With the weather getting warmer and the general exam-induced stress going on, my skin felt in need of a powder and despite not being a powder kind of girl, this one has impressed me big time. It leaves a velvety finish to the skin instead of totally mattifying it, is almost devoid of coverage and used in moderation, the powdery finely-milled texture allows for it to look undetectable on the skin.

The New and Improved Book of Blogging: I should begin by stating how cheap I am in matters excluding the purchasing of beauty products, lattes and the occasional indulgent meal; agendas or notebooks that cost more than a few dollars are not something I allow myself to go for. But I splurged (for me at least) on a trusty Moleskine at the beginning of the month and it’s impressed me with its durable hard cover and its handy elastic bookmark and for once I’ve stuck to my promise of keeping organized in the little book without constantly scribbling up pages and making new lists. If you’re someone like me who tends to take your little book everywhere with you, a more durable one like this is amazing in ways you cannot imagine. It may be nothing fancy but I’m happy to have it.

Hello October: Suzie’s blog has the perfect mixture of beauty-centric posts and lifestyle with some style thrown in and writes in a nice casual low-key story-telling kind of way. She’s one of my favourite bloggers all the time but I’ve been particularly obsessed this month, scouring through her posts as soon as they hit my Bloglovin feed. It’s one of those blogs that you read and look at the pictures of and have that whole relaxing unwinding experience and it’s completely genuine. It also may or may not be of significance that I relate to her eczema-induced angst. And she’s adorable.

So here it is, another unsurprisingly lengthy favourites post but it wouldn’t be one of these posts from me if it were any other way? What are a couple of things you’ve been loving this month?

Maggie, x.

 

The Daily Face #13: The No-Fuss Sheer-but-Bold Lip

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I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised that today is one of those muggy and gross standard Spring days considering the gorgeously warm days that we have had as of late but I wasn’t put off by the weather and went for this kind of spring-summer/warm-weather transitional makeup look with not much colour and intensity going on the face or eyes and a kind of but not really sheer healthy pop of colour on the lips. When I set out to put my makeup on early this morning, I was determined not to write this post but rather put up a round-up of some recent acquisitions of mine but after using them in combination with some older standard loves, I couldn’t resist putting up a daily face post first. So, I’m warning you that there will be a lengthier post on a number of the products used here in the next little while. In other words, many of these products will be elaborated on in upcoming posts this week, if you’re curious about them.

FACE: Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation in 103 True Ivory ($7-9 CDN), MUFE 5 Camoflage Cream Palette in 1 ($45  CDN), Bobbi Brown Corrector in Light to Medium Bisque ($30 CDN), MAC Harmony Powder Blush ($25 CDN), Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Ethereal Glow ($41 CDN)
EYES: Maybelline Color Tattoo in Barely Branded ($9 CDN), Dior 5 Coleurs Quint in Grege ($61 CDN), L’Oreal Lineur Intense in Carbon Black ($9-10 CDN), L’Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes Excess Mascara ($10-11 CDN), MAC Coquette eyeshadow ($12/18 CDN)
LIPS: Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Cherry ($26 CDN)

There are two products used – not including brushes because I’m lazy – that I do not appear to have photographed but only one I did so purposefully. Because I keep my daily brow shade of choice, MAC Coquette out of the photograph and I completely forgot to photograph my eyeshadow base, the Maybelline Color Tattoo in Barely Branded but I assure you it was used, nevertheless.

The foundation is definitely a new one for me and not one that I expected picking up but after receiving a sample of the Rimmel foundation in a close-enough shade, I found that I quite liked the formula despite it’s mattifying claims and fulfilled the desire I had in the last little while to try a heavier-coverage foundation that’s not quite so glowy. All I can say is that the shade range sucks for darker skins and it runs differently than the Wake Me Up in terms of undertones; I’m wearing shade 4/6 despite my paleness if that’s an indicator… And it’s not that matte and drying as I expected but for me that’s a good thing, however I was tempted to go for a spray of the oft-neglected Nyx Dewy Finish Makeup Setting Spray. But it has impressed me considerably. I whipped out the concealer palette for just one last reminder of last week’s chin-jawline breakout situation and went for the hyped but rightfully-so Bobbi Brown Corrector underneath my eyes. For adding shape and colour, I went with a new stand-by and an older one — the new Hourglass Ethereal Glow and good ol’ MAC Harmony to add some subtle-but-effective shape and rosy glow to the face in the most undetectable way.

The eyes were first primed as they always are but then I filled in my brows standardly – I’m not sure why I do my brows before the rest of my makeup but somehow it’s become part of the routine as such. Other than the base, I made use of all of the shades of my recently-acquired and fabulous Dior Grege Quint on the eyes: the pigmented ivory shimmery shade went on the inner corners to brighten, the lighter taupe sheeny shade went on the lids, the warm brown satin-matte shade went into the crease as the perfect transition colour, the sheeny grey was buffed out into the crease from the outer corners and the deep chocolate brown satin shade was applied into the outer corners and lightly underneath the lashline. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the versatility of these shadows and you know by their amazing formula that never causes fallout and lasts for ages; Grege might look boring – and I may have previously passed it as such – but it’s one of those high-quality staples, I reckon, that contains both matte/satin and shimmery shades that fit into the neutral family. The mascara and liquid liner were both from L’Oreal, an old favourite and a new favourite, and I’m sure many of you can guess which is which. P.S. If you haven’t been successful, it will be clearer when my monthly favourites post comes up in the near future. Obviously there was a subtle kitten flick involved but it works for me and I’ve learned how to do it with minimal effort so it’s a win-win situation.

Although it’s almost a toss up between the lip and the gorgeous shadows, I have to say that the lip was the main part of this otherwise subdued neutral makeup look. I went for the hardly-sheer Fresh Cherry Lip Treatment to add that hint of colour to the lips that doesn’t look overdone in the least.

What are your thoughts on this “daily face”? What have you been reaching for as of late?

Maggie, x.

 

P.S. The blotchiness on my neck/chest in parts may or may not be due to the unfortunate interplay between eczema patches and a self-tanner attempt – there will be more on this pronto. And the title is sort of an oxymoron but I hope you’ll know what I mean…

Weekly Medley #14

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(1) the book o’ blogging and my knee out in the sun on Saturday (2) me out in the sun on Saturday (3) photo evidence of my Spring Makeup Update post (4) the MAC lipstick in action (5) the obligatory pre-leaving selfie (6) MAC Sweet & Sour, the lipstick love (7) the skincare and book loves

This week wasn’t so fun until Thursday, I’ll assure you, but that’s to be expected with the whole exam situation from hell. Since finishing I’ve felt so odd — like there must be another essay to write and exam to torture myself over — but not so odd in the sense that would lead one to become an actual responsible human being and get right into that cleaning and organizing thing that goes along with that whole notion of normalcy where you earn money by acquiring an actual job. I was not that desperate to lose the strangeness of it all.

The weather has been nice, sunny and in the temperate twenties this week with a few cool and muggy days in between, however that’s to be expected when you live on the east coast. Yesterday, I casually wore short shorts if that is any indication. And I’ve spent hours lounging outdoors, relaxing and writing in the book o’ blogging and this has to be among the best things ever — up there with delicious lattes when you’re dead on your feet and stressed out of your mind.

Because my family is not big on the sweets and we all have a tendency towards abundant food sensitivities, we tend to both give and receive more substantial gifts for Easter and one of the substantial gifts this year was the book written by Helen Oyeyemi titled, Boy, Snow, Bird and let me assure you that it was fantastic. And I’m very picky about granting praise to reading materials. I know this should have technically fallen under the umbrella of last week’s post but I didn’t actually finish this until the beginning of this week and it was all kinds of crazy, so forgive me. I’m sure my mother’s intention in giving me this present was to enjoy reading a book for actual fun after my exams were finished but somehow in my groggy zombie-like state, I decided to finish it all on Monday night when I should have been writing the essay from hell. But the book was fantastic in itself, not just as procrastination material, I might add. It’s one of those rare five-star books and its written from three interwoven perspectives, intensely psychological and thrilling while also dealing with important issues (race, appearance, etc.) in an interesting and non-cliched manner.

Beauty-wise, my fixation was directed towards the skincare front. This is probably related to the horrendous stress-induced breakout along my chin and jaw that appeared in all of its painful-underneath-the-skin blemish glory. Thankfully, I had the sense to not try to murder it, drying it out and all that jazz, but rather took the more effective soothing route of going heavy on the BHA exfoliants of the Neutrogena and Clinique gentle variety and adding in more healing rosehip oil than usual. I’m pleased to say that there’s but one active blemish left on my face as of now and my severely easily irritated skin has not exhibited any signs of seeking vengeance yet.

On Wednesday as a treat upon finishing exams and all, I picked up a few things of the beauty variety and fell in love with one or two of them and one of which was the MAC Sweet & Sour Lipstick that was recently made permanent. I’ve been wearing the muted corally-orange shade nonstop. It’s a cremesheen so it doesn’t do my dry lips any favours but the shade makes it worthwhile so I can’t really bring myself to care.

Finally to sit down and breathe, I was able to do that thing where you go out and celebrate –the reason for celebration was my long-time friends birthday and it was nice to go out for a change. It was also surprisingly pleasant to write up a few posts that I’ve been wanting to put up for ages, such as the Spring Makeup Update post…

How was your week?

Maggie, x.

The Daily Face Routine

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In the last month or so, I’ve surprised myself by not only sticking to an unchanging face-routine of sorts but also being consistently pleased with the results. Considering my lack of commitment to foundations and the like, I thought I would share the routine that has been gracing my face daily with pleasure. As usual, I haven’t been using a primer daily but if I use one, I go for the generous sample-sized Laura Mercier Radiance Primer that has never steered my skin wrong in terms of irritation and the like and doesn’t help with pores, longevity and the like but helps the foundation to sit more nicely on the skin. I’m wearing it today, if you’re curious.

The foundation in question is the Diorskin Nude Skin-Glowing Makeup ($48 CDN) and despite my lukewarm initial feelings about the foundation, I can say that I’ve fallen into love with it and this love is of the deep-commitment kind. The only thing I can complain about is the quantity of alcohol in the formulation but it doesn’t seem to outwardly irritate my skin so I’m thankful. The foundation is a satin-finish with a nice dose of luminosity but it doesn’t emphasize pores or imperfections in the slightest so its obviously a life-saver. It provides medium-coverage and can look like glowy skin as long as the skincare routine is in order – and your face isn’t flake city – and I’ve been liking the way it looks day after day. I’ve given the loved Real Techniques Buffing Brush a rest and have returned to the Quo sponge that I picked up at Shoppers ages ago that seems to actually function well, gliding over dry patches without soaking up the excess product that others do. And it doesn’t cost a fortune. My shade is 11 Creme, if anyone is interested.

Thanks to my discovery that using the Real Techniques Detailer Brush in combination with my Make Up For Ever 5 Concealer Cream Palette in 1 ($45 CDN) actually can achieve the magic that is ‘pinpoint concealing’, I’ve been employing the technique on blemishes and scars almost daily. It doesn’t make sense completely to me but by placing it just on the smallest areas, the skin can be concealed without looking artificial and this has been especially helpful in the last ten days when I got the yearly slightly-horrific exam-period breakout covering my cheeks and chin. It still isn’t gone yet but it’s beginning to go down into the scarring phase so at least it’s not painful anymore.

So, I have hereditary dark circles that cannot be eliminated despite my best efforts and I’ve tried a bunch of concealers with meh-like success, including the corrector in the above palette and for the first time I’ve found something that truly works beyond merely brightening the area. And it’s the hyped Bobbi Brown Corrector ($30 CDN)that I admittedly have not been using as long as the other products as I received it as a gift from my mother for Easter after contemplating getting it for ages and ages. Despite my initial skepticism, it actually works to cancel out the darkness underneath my eyes without leaving that unattractive orange cast even with concealer on top and it doesn’t make the under-eyes look dry or anything. I use the shade Light-Medium Bisque and the pink hue actually cancels out the darkness without requiring a concealer on top to get rid of the pink cast. I’m sort of kind of in love with this magical pot of corrector.

I’ve also been going for powder on the regular, as I’ve been able to apply the L’Oreal True Match Mineral Powder ($15-17 CDN) without having it look artificial, obvious or dull on the skin. I have the lightest shade of the warm-family in this finely-milled powder but I don’t think colour is especially important with this formula as the coverage is so sheer. Funnily enough, I’m not wearing any powder today after going out last night with some friends for drinks to celebrate a birthday and the end of the school year — my skin gets into this dehydrated state whenever alcohol seems to be involved and powder is rarely used in such a state attractively. I’m sure some of you know how it is. I’ve been using the Real Techniques Duofibre Brush to powder, if you’re interested.

Have you tried any of these products?

Maggie, x.

 

 

The Acquisition: MAC Sweet & Sour Lipstick

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I’m actually free from all that exam-period loveliness and it feels strange indeed but I’m thrilled about it. In celebration, a beauty product or two was obviously in order and I went by the mall to pick up MAC Sweet & Sourand I couldn’t be more thrilled about it. Sweet and Sour came out with the “All About Orange” collection last summer that I regrettably skipped on afterwards so I couldn’t have been more thrilled when MAC recently made it permanent with a good number of previously limited-edition lipsticks and glosses. And I picked it up when I spotted it. It retails for the standard MAC lipstick price — $19 CDN — and the muted orange-leaning coral lipstick has the ever-popular Cremesheen finish and while this finish as a whole isn’t my favourite as its not forgiving on the lips and can feel kind of grainy at times, this has to be one of the best Cremesheens I’ve ever tried. This lipstick lasts three to four hours on the lips, is not drying — but it can accentuate dry patches slightly — and feels light and creamy on the lips so it has my vote.

I seem to compare any peachy-toned lipstick in the light colour family to the popular MAC Shy Girl which I cannot wear much to my dissatisfaction but this one is honestly an amped-up version of the popular shade that sits much nicer on my warm-toned fair skin. This shade is a perfect spring-summer everyday one for me as it isn’t full out orange or anything but has that hint of summeriness to it. I would have to describe it as being halfway between a warm-toned nude and a true tangerine kind of shade and because of this its surprisingly wearable on an everyday basis. I love this and I’m actually happy that MAC has surprised me by making some glorious shades permanent – woo. I doubt I’ll even need to make an effort to keep you updated on my thoughts on this shade; I suspect it will turn into one of my instant obsessions. MAC Sweet & Sour Lipstick is glorious. That just about sums it up. Oh, and I’m slightly in love if I haven’t mentioned it before. And I don’t know what to do with myself.

Will you be picking up any of the now-permanent shades?

Maggie, x.

The Spring Makeup Update

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We don’t really get that graduated transmogrification from the earliest signs of springtime to full-blown spring here, but rather it was snowing until a few weeks back and now it’s about 20 degrees and being an individual who typically feels generally warm, I’ve been wearing shorts so some of my recomendations here might be on the summer-esque end of the spectrum, so be warned. You know the drill; I’m not someone who believes that the seasons completely bind what makeup shades can be worn at a specific time but I do admit, I do enjoy these little changes in the daily routine to go along with the weather conditions. So here are my thoughts about these little changes:

The Transitional Bronzer: Throughout the winter, I tended to go for much cooler-toned products to shape my face such as my loved MAC Harmony, but as we come into warmer weather and are left looking a bit drained and dull from the winter – and pale in my case – we want to go for that golden glow, but it’s easy to go too far to the orange artificial-looking side of things. Simply put, you want a shade that will add warmth without having too artificial of an undertone or being too dark in contrast to your skin and for me this is the Sonia Kashuk Undetectable Creme Bronzer in Warm Tan($10). However, the shade is quite a warm-toned one that can lean on the orange side of things but is not particularly dark and the cream texture blends like a dream but I have fair skin that’s on the warmer side of things so I can suit warmer shades without going overboard, I think. I tend to apply it like a contour on my cheekbones and then blend it out towards my temples with the leftover product on the brush because I like the added definition on the cheekbones.

The Weightless Heat-Resistant Base: I know that we don’t typically use the world ‘base’ here in Canada to describe products that are applied all over the face but it was the only term that seemed to encompass foundations, tinted moisturizers and all the BB/CC creams in existence. Even though it may mean extra effort as far as concealer is concerned, there is something refreshing and appropriate with going for a somewhat sheerer, skin-like option on the face. However, this does not necessarily mean going for the dewiest thing in the world regardless of skin-type as I think it is important to make sure that it’s a low-maintenance option for all day wear despite the warming weather and the impending doom of oil-production. I’m definitely on the drier end of the spectrum but I think that my current love the Diorskin Nude Skin Glowing Makeup ($48) would also suit those with an oilier t-zone with its medium-coverage satin finish with a glow that appears skin-like. Weirdly enough, I’m almost always sensitive to chemical sunscreen but not the chemical sunscreen in this one but I’m not one to complain about this all-in-one everyday kind of foundation.

The Coral Lipstick: I’m sure some of you are not surprised about this one as I take any reason I can to go for anything of the coral variety but in this case I think it’s generally appropriate. Despite the fact that I find the formula unflattering on any sort of dry patches on my lips, I’ve been going for the softer tangerine-coloured Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in Mischievous ($9) that lies on the more orange-end of the spectrum – but hey, orange is supposed to be particularly trendy this summer and it tends to suit me so I’m not going to complain.

The Subtle Gold Shadow: While I veer towards warmer shadows throughout the year given my colouring, I’m particularly drawn to them in the warmer seasons and MAC Woodwinked ($12/18) — second from left in the bottom row in the picture — has that golden tone to it but has that muted quality that makes it more Spring-appropriate and soft. The shadow is a cult-favourite for a reason, applying like a dream and staying put with ease.

The Expected Pink-y Blush: There’s nothing that screams Spring like that true pink flush of colour on the cheeks. Although I’m not wearing it in the above photo, I have been in love with the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Ethereal Glow ($41) and wearing the satiny pale-pink that leans on the cooler side of things but is actually flattering and noticeable on my warm-leaning skin. The finish and texture of the blush seems to make it worthwhile the hefty price tag and it’s one of those easy blushes that gives you that flush to the cheeks that works with any sort of eye makeup or lip makeup craziness.

How have you updated your daily makeup for Spring?

Maggie, x.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weekly Medley #13

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(1) makes more sense with second image – pleased with overall skin despite the hidden few cystic bumps that just emerged as a result of exams… (2) I’ve been really into skincare lately so naturally I was obsessed with the ‘Top 10 Skincare’ video that my favourites, Amelia Liana and Hello October’s Suzie did together (3) the Easter face (4) the corresponding product picture (5) it was warm enough to wear a sundress – erase the boob situation complications pleasee (6) the product discovery (7) the evidence of the greatness of this month’s Elle Canada (8) that drugstore essentials post that somehow happened

So this week went as expected. Monday was just as insane as I had expected, filled with the chaos of having two term papers due and delivering them online and in person, rushing around to the library to return and take out the mandatory books, hurrying to attend the study session for Psychology, cramming for the nights exam without success and writing my first exam. Much of the week was the same but slightly slowed down perhaps; with something major almost every day with no sort of real break in between. The exception was Thursday, a day of studying that should have left me confident for the night’s exam but the whole knowing that I had to write essays with actual evidence and the like, left me a nauseous nervous wreck — I even went in to the exam with my sweater on inside out but I couldn’t find it in my to care about it. Well, I’m pleased to report that now on Monday I’m nearing the ends of thing — things being this exam period from hell –, with four exams down and two final papers submitted, only today’s essay exam (yikes) and Wednesday’s paper left to go. I think I’ll survive today but the whole paper situation is questionable. I’m sure I’ll keep you updated on the essay front, explicitly or implicitly here.

Reading blog posts and watching videos of the same nature serve as that much-needed enticing escape from the whole endless stress shebang and one that stood out for me was Suzie from Hello October’s collaboration video with Amelia Liana of Liana-Beauty titled “Top Ten Skincare Favourites“. The two are among my absolute favourites to read and watch, entertaining while bringing helpful information and recommendation and genuine. And I’ve been especially into skincare lately and these two tend to be helpful for advice in the skincare realm because of our shared sensitivity traits. I’ve added their picks to the blogging notebook archives… And the selfie above is deceptive as you can’t see the two or three cystic spots on my cheeks that I only ever get during exam week (thankfully) that look quite angry, but otherwise the overall skin quality on the face has been rather good for me so I included the bare-face picture. I can’t really say more than that.

Now it’s time for me to shamelessly self-promote one of my blog posts of the week – and the blogpost in question is my “Drugstore (Makeup) Essentials #2“, which I must admit is rather lengthy but it’s actually quite concise, packed with information about some of my favourite makeup selection on a budget into one small relatively non-rambly post.

Although I’ve had this since I spotted it for a few dollars off on promotion at Shoppers Drugmart in the beginning portion of last month, I haven’t been able to be certain of my love for my newfound conditioner-mask-thing that costs well under $30 until recently. Said love is directed towards the OGX Sea Mineral Moisture Moisture Surge Deep Treatment. While being priced around the affordable ten dollars, the “deep treatment” – I would be more tempted to describe it as a rich regular conditioner but I do tend to go for deep treatments in the place of conditioners of the regular variety – actually nourishes the hair without requiring a ton of product and therefore giving hair this slippery feel and leaves it with nice texture and body with none of that tangly grittiness that tends to be associated with texture-boosting shampoos. And it smells absolutely delicious, suspiciously like Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray and nothing like that coconut-y beach smell that just doesn’t measure up. I feel compelled to state that it includes dimethicone high in the ingredients list, but isn’t all that silicone-y and despite the name it isn’t completely organic by any means but regardless, it’s my weekly product highlight.

I’m afraid that I must return to the books, despite the allure of trying to delude myself into thinking otherwise.

How was your week last week?

Maggie, x.

 

 

 

 

 

I Used Up Products #2

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Considering that I’m actually someone who enjoys these posts and their counterparts in video form, it might seem odd that I rarely put these kinds of posts up but in all honesty, I take forever to use up actual makeup despite frequent use – with the exception of mascara – and generally tend to run out of the same things quickly: conditioner, hair product, Bioderma and mascara, so I don’t always feel that these are the most interesting things to discuss. Nevertheless, I figure that I would give these a fair (hopefully concise) review.

Bioderma Sensibio H20 Micellar Water ($22 CDN):

I’ve mentioned before the severity of my eye sensitivity and dryness but I have to mention it again in light of why I absolutely adore this product. Despite being the only product that has never burned or stung my eyes in the makeup removal process, it actually does remove makeup effectively and is the lazy girl’s dream with the ease that it removes makeup. It’s pretty much like makeup wipes in a bottle for those who like me have skin that is very reactive to makeup wipes and cannot use them. Bioderma is a simple product but a great one at that, being able to remove makeup effectively without any irritation involved. However, I’ve found cleansers that remove makeup as well on the face that I prefer, so unless I’m being lazy I only use the water to remove eye makeup.

Maybelline One By One Volum’ Express Mascara ($9-10):

I’m not typically one to exhibit diverse reactions to mascaras here but I promise that I’m not that indifferent to each mascara that I try and that the fact that I like this one (but don’t absolutely adore it) speaks to its merit. I’m quite a fan of the synthetic brush that is shaped somewhat like a football as it provides loads of definition and separation with its volume and the mascara in general, I suppose. However, it’s one of those mascaras that do enhance the lashes in an impressive way but manage to look relatively natural even on the bottom lashes. This mascara is a nice option for lighter days that removes easily and doesn’t look too full on.

L’Oreal Power Moisture Moisture Infusion Mask ($5-7 CDN):

Considering that I included this hair product in one of my first monthly favourites in the summer of 2013, it is sort of shocking that it’s a product that I feel rather indifferent towards but I think that when I enjoyed it my hair was in a good state and benefited from this basic conditioner parading as a mask that doesn’t do anything negative for your hair but doesn’t really do anything either. I think I liked it at first because of its light texture and that it did not weigh down the hair and while that is still true, it didn’t provide any sort of true nourishment and was not concentrated in the least. The quest for an affordable conditioner that I like continues…

DevaCurl One Condition ($26 CDN):

While I would rank this conditioner more highly than the former, it was not right for my fine-textured tangly wavy-curly hair as it did not provide that rich nourishment and detangling power. It has a really nice herbal-y scent and doesn’t weigh down hair in the slightest while moisturizing but it’s not enough for me. Ingredient-wise, it’s particularly great on the no-silicone front and I can see those requiring less hydration and whatnot loving this. However, I have gotten good results with this as a product for conditioner-washing but this is a rather pricy option for something with that purpose…

DevaCurl B’Leave-In ($26 CDN):

If you are too a member of the curlier-hair camp, you surely have firsthand experience of the whole my-hair-has-a-mind-of-its-own phenomenon and unless everything in your hair routine is in order, the worst hair day might still just happen. I loved this protein-based curl-enhancer and volumizer when my routine was all sorted last summer and I was consistently pretty pleased with the whole haircare routine, finding it to add that life towards the roots and in the less-curly sections of my head in a way that nothing else could but when things started to spiral out of control hair-wise, I cast this aside, believing it not to do anything and slowly used it up. However, I’m convinced that this is one of those products that can really boost your hair but only can provide results if the rest of your routine is in order as it doesn’t provide hold. I used this up a few months back but now I’m really considering repurchasing it and giving it another go…

Have you tried any of these?

Maggie, x.

 

Drugstore (Makeup) Essentials #2

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So I was feeling a wee bit nostalgic and strangely sentimental – sue me. An all around beauty product drugstore staples post was my first post ever, right after I discovered these fantastic beauty products that didn’t break the bank and since then I’ve tried um lots more, shall we say and I always like reading these posts so I thought a post with my budget-friendly staple products was in order as I haven’t been giving some of these workhorses as much credit as they deserve. As I’ve said many times before, in Canada drugstore makeup doesn’t tend to be nearly as affordable as it is in the states so I’m sure for many of you these hero products will be even more affordable, but price aside these are all fantastic products I always come back to. And I easily could have included 72835 products more…

Real Techniques Core Collection ($19-22 CDN):

I’m actually aware that everybody and their pet iguana declares their loved for this affordable hyped-up brush set but after spotting the set for the first time this summer, these four brushes have made their way into my daily makeup routine, so they are kind of a ridiculous bargain considering their quality. Everyone’s favourite, the buffing brush, was my first love from the set, initially seducing me with its ability to buff foundation into the skin to help it blend seamlessly, but I’m tempted to say that I now love the three other includes brushes as much; the contour brush is amazing for its intended use, namely sculpting the face efficiently, the pointed foundation brush blends concealer underneath the eyes like a dream and the detailer brush is responsible for my newfound ability to do Lisa-Eldridge-Induced pinpoint concealing.

Annabelle Smoothliner in Brownie ($7 CDN):

I’m pretty sure this is one of the few beauty bits that ever existed that are easier to get ahold of in Canada and that is rather pleasing, I must say — but I know that Americans at least can order from the website for reasonable shipping rates on the already reasonably-priced brand. This is easily the best affordable liner that I’ve ever tried but it’s up there among the best liners I’ve ever tried regardless of price as well and it’s the first non-black liner that I’ve found worked. It has that kind of creamy, long-wearing and pigmented formula that I had hoped the cult-favourite Rimmel Scandaleyes had but most certainly did not. The shade is also spectacular as it’s a rich deep brown that adds adequate definition unlike the other brown liners that I’ve tried in the past.

L’Oreal True Match Mineral Pressed Powder ($14-16 CDN):

While I wouldn’t say that it’s an exact dupe – oh how I hate that word – for the MAC Studio Careblend, it’s very similar – the only difference is the more minimal coverage and decreased longevity – and I’ve been hugely impressed with this as a girl who doesn’t really like powderiness and is looking for a non-powdery powder. It is one of those soft powders that I adore unlike the typically powder-y powders that cling to my dry patches and take away all life from the face. Although it blurs imperfections in the way that powders do, it has more of a natural velvet kind of finish and doesn’t take all luminosity out of the skin. But like many L’Oreal products, it’s not actually all that affordable…

Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation ($11-12 CDN):

So a review of this luminous foundation is long overdue and I do plan on getting one done in the general near future but in short, I’m still loving this one. This is one of those foundation  that under ideal skin conditions – ahem, by skin isn’t in one of its tantrum phases – is undetectable on the skin while offering light coverage that is easily built up to medium with the help of the buffing brush. I believe I wear the third lightest shade, Shell, that is a really good match, particularly undertone-wise as it leans on the warmer side of things without being so yellow and in my humble opinion the shade range does cater to us fairer-skinned ladies. It’s luminosity is nowhere on the questionable greasy side of things but in my opinion, unless you have skin that’s as dry as the desert, some powdering – of the t-zone at least – is optimal. I’ve read from others that the finish on this beaut is a natural satin one but in my opinion its glowier than that and not in a bad way.

NYC Smooth Skin Bronzer in Sunny ($3 CDN):

What would a drugstore post of mine be if I didn’t throw in another reference to how much more ridiculously expensive drugstore makeup is here compared to the US? There are very few beauty products that are as inexpensive as this that you can buy in Walmart, Target and the traditional drugstores so it’s particularly impressive that for a toonie and a loonie or less, you can pick up this bronzer. Regardless of price, it’s one of my favourites, that is, it’s better than high-end that I’ve tried and it’s matte while having a smooth blendable texture. I know I’m in the minority of fair-skinned girls on this one as it is so warm and can verge on the orangey spectrum of things but on my neutral-to-warm skin, it isn’t problematic in the slightest and unless you’re extremely cool-toned and fair, I would be tempted to give it a go.

Maybelline Colorsensational ‘The Buffs’ Lipstick in Nude Lust ($9-10 CDN):

When I mentioned this before it my review of the two lipsticks from the new line of nudes, the lighter but much-peachier in undertone Blushing Beige received more appreciation from me but as time has gone on Nude Lust, with its slightly more flattering formula and slightly deeper tone with more of a beige-y hue to it has become a favourite of mine. The lipstick formula reminds me of an improved-upon MAC Cremesheen, as it has the same creaminess with good longevity but is a smoother texture that’s more hydrating and much more comfortable on the lips. I would have to posit this lipstick as halfway in between the true typical nude offering, MAC Creme d’Nude and the somewhat-nudey-my-lips-but-better offering, Patisserie; it has true nude undertones and isn’t so pale that it needs to be worn with a full-on smoky eye to be flattering without looking brown on my pale lips. It has a play-doh scent but I don’t mind it so much as it’s not overpowering.

L’Oreal Lineur Intense in Carbon Black ($9-11 CDN):

So this product pick probably has your eyes rolling if you’ve been following me for a while, but I had to mention it considering it didn’t make its way into my first post of its kind and it is the epitome of what this kind of post is about. In the last six months since I’ve picked the felt-tip inky liner, I don’t think I’ve ever used it less than 4 times a week. It still remains nice and wet despite its frequent use, I’m pleased to report, but it isn’t so wet that it ever smudges and makes a mess. It’s pretty much a precise and easy to use brush that quickly can produce those thin everyday kitten flicks for those with less dextrous hands like mine.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Romantic ($8.50 – 10 CDN):

In an ideal world where I did not seem to misplace lip crayons at the most inopportune moments, the product mentioned here would be the Revlon Lacquer Balm in Enticing but in that place called the real world, I appear to have lost said lip product and so I’m going with the similar but slightly lighter-rustier red Revlon Kissable Balm Stain in Romantic which I like only the tiniest bit of an imperceptible smidgen less because it’s not quite as hydrating with the more obvious cooling-mint sensation that can irritate the sensitive lips (boo) but at the same time has ridiculous good wearing power and is comfortable to wear and doesn’t show hideously chapped patches on your lips.

Bourjois Cream Blush in 04 Sweet Cherry ($20 CDN):

I know, I know, this isn’t actually exactly budget-friendly in Canada but it is in the UK for certain – I’m jealous of all of you who live there, by the way – but it is still more affordable than anything resembling higher end and is generally fantastic so I’m counting it here. For a true cream blush, this creamy-but-not-wet-feeling texture is much easier to work with than say the very creamy and emollient Bobbi Brown Pot Rouges without setting to that cream-powder finish that kind of negates the point of cream blush for me. I should mention two slight downsides to the product, however; not a ton of product comes in the compact product and it has that typical heavy and perfume-y scent. I have the deepest shade in the range because in the lighting I was working with the others looked deceptively sheer and light and I’m a fan of it nevertheless, despite its less exciting neutral rosy deep pink shade.

Sooo this turned into one of my marathon posts but I’m telling myself — and I mostly believe it — that it is completely acceptable and concise because it’s not an abstract tangent on a single product but instead one of my essential picks posts. What are some of your drugstore essential products?

Maggie, x.