Weekly Medley #8

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Oh, sweet baby jesus, the weather here has been temperamental. It went in between hovering around freezing, taunting us with the knowledge that there is something coming that we call spring that does not  require the warmest coats possible, and then gong back to blowing snow in all directions and staying at -10 plus whatever windchill going on. So the weather has been sort of unpredictable – understatement – and while I’m thankful that my skin hasn’t gone nuclear as a result (it has before) of all this cold-weather craziness, my skin has been a bit more dehydrated and irritated than usual, my eczema all broken out and my lips, once again in that wretched state.

In terms of the face, I turned to my rosehip oil from the brand, By Nature, and it sorted the irritation out, soothing the skin and providing intense nourishment. Note: I really need to stop being so lazy and remember to use this oil more as it’s a godsend.

Midway through the week, I finally succumbed and purchased the La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume, willingly shelling out the sixteen bucks for the healing balm  that I knew was missing from my life. True to its claims, it’s a multipurpose balm that has been a dream for soothing my lips and eczema patches. Because it’s not specifically designed to only be used on the lips, it does not have that typical lip balm texture, instead being a thick cream that can leave the lips looking ashy, but nevertheless it outperforms all other balms I’ve tried. It’s more of a nighttime treatment for sore chapped lips, if you ask me, than one to slap on pre-makeup. And it helps with eczema and all of its itchy glory without burning on contact. Can you tell it has this girl’s skin singing its praises?

Although you can probably gather that things are not exactly springy in my world, I found myself reading and rereading Lisa Eldridge’s “Lighten Up! It’s time for a foundation refresh”. From listening to the awe-inspiring makeup artist, I’ve learned the most on the makeup front, so her post debunking the mystery of the truth behind BB/CC creams slash revealing her lighter foundation picks was a breath of fresh air.

Continuing with that whole ‘spring is coming’ thing, Joanna’s “Spring Makeup Bag Contents” caught my attention. For one, I forever love reading these posts because I’m impaired at the whole putting together a small makeup bag thing but am interested in the endeavour nevertheless and secondly, the lovely and gorgeous, Joanna, has one of those blogs that you find yourself accidentally scouring through the archives of for hours.

Is it spring for all of you yet?

Maggie, x.

NARS Kalahari Eyeshadow Duo

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The NARS Kalahari Duo is one of those tiny palettes that seem to get neglected in my makeup stash for the larger palettes with more variety in terms of shade options but it’s one that I always adore when I pull it out and just slap it on. I’ve rambled on time and time again that I’m someone who goes for the full on eyeshadow shebang when I wear makeup but these two colours add effortless definition to the eye with the lighter shade on the lid and the darker in the crease. I might have mentioned the duo once or twice in the days of the blog but they have been robbed of the recognition that they deserve.

A month or two before beginning my blog, I picked this beauty up at Sephora during the event they had in April that granted VIBs a good percentage off (I believe it was called ‘Chic Week’) as a treat from finishing my exams. I paid $39 CDN for the gorgeous neutral duo and thankfully the price hasn’t gone up since for the 0.14 ounces of product. Being a MAC Eyeshadow girl, I had always gazed longingly at the NARS shadows but could not justify spending so much more for shadows but I decided I would treat myself and I am glad that I did. NARS duos contain a great deal more eyeshadow than the typically MAC and Urban Decay pots do, containing 0.07 ounces of each shade compared to the traditional 0.05 – because of this, if the shades you select will get lots of use, they are surprisingly economical so I wouldn’t necessarily be put off by the price.

Although I’ve heard fantastic things about the rest of NARS’ shadows, I cannot comment as I have only tried this one but this one is fantastic quality. I would rank these shades as among the best that I’ve ever tried with very little fallout, fantastic pigmentation and longevity along with the most blendable textures to work with. I really like the lighter gold shade in the palette but it’s the taupe that is the standout in the duo. Speaking of the gold shade, it’s a subdued gold-beige shade that reminds me of MAC Patina with better payoff and a sheeny finish and microshimmer throughout. The more spectacular shade in the duo is a slightly warm-toned plummy taupe shade that looks deceptively light and shimmery in the pan and transfers on the eyes as a medium-dark shade with a satin finish. While the taupe has that sheen to it in the pan, it transfers to the crease and outer corner as adding depth to the eyes without any sort of shimmer.

I really appreciate the almost neutral-undertones of these shades because so often these golden shades are extremely warm, which I do like, but these had more of that unique quality, having both pretty neutral undertones without beginning to make the eyes look tired as some cool-toned shades can do.

Below, I’m merely wearing these two shades over a cream-coloured base (and some less than stellar eyeliner) but they do also pair nicely with additional shades – MAC Sketch is a favourite of mine to pair with the two but the duo doesn’t require it.

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If you can’t tell I absolutely adore this duo and have my eyes open for another duo to try in the near future!

Maggie, x.

Another Three Things

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1. Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in Mischievous
2. Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Shadow in Nude Eyes
3. L’Oreal True Match Mineral Powder

It sounds completely reasonable that when I woke up this Friday morning that I would be in a good mood, ready to face the day for once and this was true when I woke up this morning but there is also the fact to consider that my weekend will be spent confined to my bedroom, staring at my laptop, doing that essay-writing thing that happens rather frequently in my world . On the positive side, I’m not nauseous from stress or sleep-deprived in the slightest. Is it sad that this is a source of comfort to me?

I must admit that it felt borderline ridiculous wearing my recently acquired Revlon Matte Balm in Mischievous, as it’s a bright (but not quite neon) tangerine shade and it was just above -10 today. There’s something about freezing outside in a winter coat while wearing an orange-hued lip that reads a bit strange but I liked it nevertheless. There’s something instantly brightening about the shade that I’ll admit I appreciate and it’s fun and a little bit more cheerful than the usual suspects. I love the minty smell myself, but I can tell that that menthol-tingle feeling on the lips is not a good sign for my still sore lips. 

Somehow I had forgotten about the Physician Formula Nude Eyes Eyeshadow after discovering the gem this summer and when I dug it out again I remembered why I had loved it in the first place. This is my favourite drugstore eyeshadow palette, I can safely say with it’s shimmery taupe tones that might be slightly sheerer than Urban Decay’s but they have great pigmentation and blendability and they last on the lids. I don’t own the Naked 2, but this has a similar theme at a fraction of the price. I must try another from this line in the immediate future…

After hitting pan on my beloved MAC Studio Careblend, I was in need of picking up a new powder and this registered in my mind and while cruising the aisles of the drugstore, stress-shopping with friends, this made its way home with me – this being the L’Oreal True Match Mineral Powder. I’m pleased to report that this is one of the most pleasing of my stress-induced recent purchases. While offering absolutely no coverage whatsoever (much less than the MAC), the powder smoothly sets the skin almost imperceptibly and leaves a natural finish that does not read flat in the slightest. This powder is a great one, if like me, you’re a girl who typically does not like powder.

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Well, happy Friday! These were my daily beauty musings. What were some of yours?

Maggie, x.

 

 

The Daily Face #10: A Little Less Typical But Really More Of The Same

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I apologize for the interruption in my regular posting schedule (erm that my posts have been lacking in frequency) but things have been crazy in the last few days and I’ve hardly mustered the energy to remove my makeup and wash my face when I’ve gotten home so posts weren’t really a possibility. I haven’t done one of these posts in a while so I thought I would share what I’m wearing, not that it’s groundbreakingly different or anything – but I did incorporate some cooler tones and I went for a darker shade on the lid that I’m used to.

FACE: Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet + in 40, Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer in 125 Very Fair, Sonia Kashuk Undetectable Creme Bronzer in Warm Tan, Revlon Photoready Skin Lights in Pink Light, Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Natural Beauty,  MAC Coquette eyeshadow (brows) EYES: MAC Prolongwear Paint Pot in Layin’ Low, Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette (Strange, Nooner, Mugshot and Darkside), Annabelle Smoothliner in Brownie, L’Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes Excess Mascara in Black LIPS: Maybelline ‘The Buffs’ Lipstick in Nude Lust

Lately I’ve tended to do my eye makeup before my face makeup because as much as I like the oh-so-popular palette in question, fallout seems to be inevitable. I’m loving my recently-acquired MAC Layin’ Low Paintpot because it primes in an instant and leaves a flattering warm brown tinge to the lids that can help to make other shades look a little more wearable – not that today’s shades need it though. The look is a little smokier on the lid than I typically go for but it was nice to break the habit – I put the silvery-taupe Mugshot over the lid. The much-loved pigmented Nooner was blended through the crease, the bizarrely ordinary Strange (misnomer) to highlight and brighten the inner corner and the unique grey Darkside to do what I always do, add definition in the outer corner of my large round eyes. I thought the whole smoky thing called for some smudgy liner so I went for Annabelle Brownie which is a fantastic deep chocolate liner that’s a steal and did the usual swipe or two and I shoved some of the impressive L’Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes Excess on both sets of my lashes. I was too lazy to grab the palette it was in to photograph it, but obviously I filled in the brows with an angle brush and the magical (not exactly kidding) MAC Coquette. 

On the face, I’ve been feeling a more matte and fuller coverage theme, not because my skin is not acting its best (because it actually is behaving), but I’ve been feeling the more done-up (but not heavy-looking) skin. I grabbed my Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet + which I have almost used up and if you’re curious this was my first Sephora purchase ever and this was my absolute favourite when I had more combination skin a few years back. I bought the shade in the summer when I have more colour and for some odd reason when I get darker, my yellow undertones become more apparent so I have to be quite careful with blending in this one not because it’s a bit dark, but rather it can look weirdly yellow in patches unless I blend it. Because I started off on this tangent, I figure I might as well continue with my thoughts on the foundation. It’s a velvety semi-matte finish that hardly highlights dry patches at all (impressive) and provides medium-buildable coverage that I have in fact been out in the rain for an hour in with my foundation still intact. I shouldn’t know this but this foundation lasts for about twenty hours without powder on me even when my skins a little on the oilier side (normal skin for you) and if applied in small amounts with some effort, it can look skinlike rather than mask-like. I felt like going for some cream bronzer to add some shape and added some glow back into my skin with the luminous Revlon Pink Light liquid highlighter on my cheekbones. Although the formula isn’t my favourite (but I will admit that its longevity is legendary), I’ve been loving the matte watermelon-pink Tarte Natural Beauty on my cheeks for that flushed look. For how scary it looks in the pan, it looks surprisingly natural on the cheeks…

Out of the Maybelline The Buffs collection, I had first had indifferent feelings towards Nude Lust, favouring the peachier-undertone of the paler nude but lately I’ve been enjoying this darker nude with beigier undertones. However, note that if you have ghastly looking lips like mine, applying too much can make you look dead and as much as I love the formula, they do highlight dry patches (I have them aplenty – questionable grammatical usage there for an english student…….) in case you were wondering. So before I write myself in to a coma and cause anyone reading this to die of boredom, I’ll stop going on and on. I’ve been enjoying this slightly smoky look lately with a nude lip – it seems appropriate for the weird season right now where it’s most definitely not spring but sometimes it actually can reach zero degrees on a good day.

What have you been wearing lately? Am I the only person it’s by no means spring for yet?

Maggie, x.

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Unheard & Underappreciated #3: The Body Shop Aloe Protective Restoring Mask

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It’s been an awful and crazy last few days, I’ll leave it at that. On a more positive note, there’s always miscellaneous beauty products (thankfully) to make these times a little more bearable. This is one of those products and for the life of me I cannot figure out why this isn’t raved about more – I know it’s the first moisture mask that I’ve tried but it’s become an integral part of my nighttime skincare routine.
Aloe Barbadensis Gel, Octyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Isononyl Isononanoate, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil, Stearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Lanolin, Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Levulinic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, p-Anisic Acid, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Flour, Water

As for basic details, The Body Shop Aloe Protective Restoring Mask retails for $22 CDN (and it seems like promotions are always available as well) for a generous 3.4 ounce/ 100 mL container and in a nutshell, I adore it for its ability to sort out dehydration issues and soothe irritated skin. The formulation is quite simple yet effective so not much is lost with the jar packaging and for those of you with as sensitive skin as I do, the formulation is a safe one, completely without any sort of fragrance or drying alcohols, etc. Although the texture of the product feels quite goopy (because of the aloe) and thick on the skin, it absorbs into the skin quite quickly and by morning it will be completely absorbed and thankfully it doesn’t feel uncomfortable on the skin.

After using this for over a month with great results about three times a week, I’m pleased to report that it made a significant difference in sorting out my dull and dehydrated skin. Immediately after applying the mask, the skin looks more radiant and bright but after prolonged use I found my skin to be much more supple and notably less dull. Also, this is a godsend on my easily irritated skin and I’ve found it to be great on inflamed breakouts after they’ve reached that painful and irritated stage.

While it may not be a groundbreaking product by any means, this has become an essential to my skincare routine, soothing the skin and adding that extra bit of moisture to combat my perpetual dehydration. It helps my skin to avoid that state where my face is red, itchy and flaky, so I suppose the claim that it helps to repair the skin’s natural barrier is true.  I can also tell you that it’s a good night of sleep in a jar — when I wear this it’s impossible to tell that I’ve hardly slept the night before. Now this has got me curious about the whole world of these overnight moisture masks……….

Have you tried this mask or another moisture mask? What were your thoughts?

Maggie, x.

Weekly Medley #7

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Since beginning this series close to the beginning of the year, I feel like (and I’m fairly certain of this intuition) I’ve been consistently rambling on about the woes of being a stressed university student suffering from nothing other than sleep-deprivation but judging from the response here, you’re enjoying these more random life-centric posts and I’m glad. This week was a bit of a breather in a sense for me, although I still had to do the usual bump and grind but I managed to sleep in a way that resembles a functional human being. Interestingly enough, with getting a bit more sleep it’s been even more difficult to get up in the mornings and the routine could only be described as rushed. Hey, I’m not complaining – but unfortunately my productivity will need to greatly increase next week.

I had a few hours to kill in town and after I studied in the library until I wanted to scream and then hit the mall and did something shocking – bought things that were not entirely beauty related. Without making a conscious decision to do so, I had realized that it had been ages and ages since I did any sort of clothes shopping and it might be because of guilt from spending too much money on beauty-related products again but I also haven’t been in the mood. As I’ve said before (99.9% sure), I am someone with an interest in fashion and the desire to look polished (in an effortless manner) but I’m someone who picks comfort over all and tends to throw clothes on in the morning without any sort of thought and I’ve realized that the pieces I love and should invest in are those that satisfy these two different philosophies. So, I’ll attempt to get to the point now: after popping into Dynamite, a Canadian-based store (that ships to the US and also has stores there as well, I believe) that I don’t own a tremendous amount of clothing from, I spotted this breezy bohemian blouse in the floral-but-not-girlie print. I’m someone who really loves the look of blouses but can sometimes find the material rather uncomfortable but this one felt really soft. Also, I was pleased that I could size up in this for less of a slim-fit without the rest of the dimensions swallowing my small-boned frame. If anyone is interested for comparisons sake, mine is a size medium and it comes in a few other colours as well and some of the other colours appear to be on sale as we speak. This is a typical clothing-love of mine, comfortable, slouchy and effortlessly pairing with slim-fitting bottoms. Oh and I think this is a blouse you can actually wear if you have boobs, if you catch my drift. And it’s actually called the button-down blouse and retails for $32.90 CDN.

Keeping with the non-beauty theme, I finished a book this week; if you’ve been following me for a while or know me in real life, you could probably gather that in itself this is not entirely shocking but as I’m studying English in school, reading another book amongst all my readings is a feat in itself. Although The Lost Prince, written by Selden Edwards is not a novel that you instantly can’t put down. I had been reading it a month ago and was a few hundred pages in and put it down because I wasn’t compelled to finish it. The thing about this novel is that the backstory is mysterious and complex and until you near uncovering it, you can’t quite figure it out but that is the point, I think. I ended up picking the novel back up a few nights ago and finishing the entire thing in mere hours and being as critical as I am, I really ended up enjoying it. It was one of those books that was the perfect mixture of interesting to read and compelling while still having some sort of meaning to it. The main character has premonitions of when events will happen in her lifetime but the author deals with it in a very realistic way and sets it in a historical timeframe with individuals such as Carl Jung without sacrificing it as a whole. The ending was satisfying and tied all the ends together that were puzzling throughout. If this sounds like your cup of tea, I would highly recommend giving it a read.

As someone who never accomplishes a significant portion of what I set out to do, I was actually somewhat satisfied with writing five posts over the last week or so and despite the haul-esque posts being out of my comfort zone, I was pleased with how they turned out and I’m not one to  be easily pleased with myself. Shameless self-promotion aside, I really enjoyed Elle Fowler’s “February Favourites” video at the beginning of the week. She was the first beauty you tuber who I began to follow and to this day I do enjoy her videos – she has dry skin like I do, is a reading fanatic and talks about her sleep issues so I pretty much had to enjoy watching her. She might not post tons but I do really enjoy her recommendations, although my wallet might not necessarily. And on the post front, Amelia Liana’s “Anti-Fatigue Makeup” was an enjoyable one.

Er, now I suppose I should be getting to the beauty product loves of the week and thankfully I kept it quite edited so this post will not end up with the word record for being the wordiest blogpost in history. I’ve been wearing the bright watermelon pink Tarte Natural Beauty Amazonian Clay Blush ($31) and with less time to get ready in the mornings, this has been a quick way to add some vitality back into the face. It’s not my favourite formula ever but it does last for ages and will not emphasize texture or anything so I suppose I can’t complain.

After showing it in a post earlier this week, I haven’t put the MAC Layin’ Low Paintpot($24) down. The matte medium warm-toned brown shade has been really versatile and although it’s not infallible as a primer, it performs slightly better than the popular Maybelline shadows and has some more versatile shade options but still keeps makeup crease-free for much much longer – my eyes are naturally really crease-y and creasing is an issue for me regardless. The shade is nice on its own and I also love putting shimmery shades on top because then the look isn’t overkill. It’s safe to say that I kind of have a cream eyeshadow obsession at the moment…

Last night’s time change is killing me but nevertheless happy Sunday (if there is such a thing)!

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What were your standouts from the week?

Maggie, x.

Haircare Additions #1

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Lately I’ve been in a bit of a hair mood; although adding Pureology’s Precious Oil Masque has made a world of difference, I’m still working on the routine (my hair is rather problematic), after our exam I celebrated with a few friends, going out to lunch and we decided to hit up the drugstore (Shopper’s Drugmart if you’re curious) as well and this happened. I have hair that resides in the space between wavy and curly and is perhaps the tangliest thing in existence (I get those horrid clumps) and it’s dry but can get kind of dead-looking so I’m someone who really can benefit from some product cocktailing and TLC…

L’Oreal Oleo-Therapy Oil Infused Conditioner ($10.50 CDN)

As life-changing as the aforementioned Pureology masque is, it costs $50 for a container and I have the kind of hair that just drinks up conditioner regardless of how concentrated it is and therefore I’ve been on the lookout for a lower-priced product to alternate with without sacrificing the nourishment. As I’m a fan of the whole sulfate-free range from L’Oreal and being someone whose hair loves oils, I snapped up this product as soon as I spotted it on the packed shelf. It smells divine and I’m feeling optimistic about the high concentration of oils in the ingredients.

Organix Kukui Oil Frizz-Defying Curl Cream ($8 CDN)

I believe this curl cream is also a new product, as I haven’t seen it before and I was pleasantly surprised to find it for a few dollars off. I’ve always been a fan of curl creams (generally used along with a holding product) as they tend to nourish the hair while defining it and preventing it from going as crazy as my hair usually does but after being completely disappointed with the Garnier offering, I haven’t been tempted to pick up another one but my dry tangly hair needs all the help it can get right now.

John Freida Frizz-Ease Dream Curls Daily Styling Spray ($11 CDN)

I’m someone whose hair becomes flat and undefined after being slept on but my hair is much happier when it’s washed quite minimally (twice a week on average) so I struggle with my hair in the morning. I always thought that these refreshing sprays weren’t worth their price tag and then I almost convinced myself to pick up the much pricier Bumble and Bumble alternative but then I saw this – the magnesium sulfate should help define curls, the glycerin and olive oil should help condition the hair and the use of amodimethicone should prevent it from weighing my hair down.

It feels weird doing another ‘products I bought’ type post so soon but I was excited for these three things and I’ll definitely keep you all posted. Have you tried any of these? Hair recommendations for me?

Maggie, x.

 

Drugstore Disappointments

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I’m someone who finds it rather difficult to give a scathing and negative review of a product as we experience products differently and I’m always skeptical of whether a product is really as bad as I’m making it out to be and we have different praises, but there are some products that despite my best attempts and prior research, do not work for me. As in the last four months or so I’ve tried a great deal of drugstore products (in the name of research of course…), I have some to share.
Garnier Fructis Style Curl Calm Down Anti-Frizz Cream

I had heard from people I know in real life that this was a nice product and I tried it, excited by the prospect that it contained a silicone that did not weigh down the hair and promised to provide moisture while defining my curls. I do have fine loose curls and this product weighed them down (which is rather hard to do to this degree) and left a heavy film on my hair rather than moisturizing. And it’s definitely not strong hold…

Tresemme Fresh Start Volumizing Dry Shampoo

Prior to picking this one up early in the fall, I had never tried a dry shampoo but I wanted to know what they were all about because I suffer from limp or flat hair and need some instant texture. I’m not someone whose hair gets dirty easily whatsoever so I was not necessarily looking for a product to cleanse my hair but I was surprised to not find it refreshing in the slightest. I can’t see this working at all on the fine/oily hair that its intended to and above that, despite being advertised as a volumizing product, it doesn’t seem to add any volume to the hair. I’ve since moved on to better things in this department, I’ll have you know.

Rimmel Exaggerate Undercover Shadow Primer

After spotting this one at Walmart when I was going through my eyeshadow creasing crisis, I had to pick it up. I had heard some good things about this so I gave it a go, thinking that there was nothing to lose. I was wrong, let me tell you. This is the only primer that I’ve ever tried that leads my eyeshadow to crease more severely more quickly than if I were not wearing any primer. After maybe four hours, my eyeshadow was a creasy mess on both occasions when I wore this. The Maybelline Colour Tattoos knock this one out of the water in terms of helping shadow to stay.

Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal in 003 Brown

I’ve mentioned my disappointment in this product before but I had to include it here especially considering that everyone raves about these. I don’t find it super longwearing but more than that it’s a waxy consistency that doesn’t transfer well onto the lids or the waterlines. For me this is one of those pencils that despite how often I sharpen it, I can never achieve the desired amount of colour without pressing hard enough that it hurts. I do not understand the cult-favourite status of this product at all.

Have you tried any of these products? Were your experiences with them positive or negative?

Maggie, x.

So MAC Happened…

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I was lucky enough to receive a MAC Lipstick from my mom for Valentines Day. Well kind of; knowing me so well, she got me a gift card because I am insanely picking as she knew not to deprive me from the whole picking experience and when I went in to pick it out, I ended up with an eye product as well. You should know by now that this tends to be a reoccurring pattern for me.
MAC Dreaming Dahlia Lipstick ($19 CDN) 

I’m quite a fan of MAC Lipsticks but don’t own a ton and the shades I have tend to either be bold statement shades or nudes and I’ve been craving one sort of in between that can be worn on the daily but also has some instantly-brightening colour to it and this limited-edition offering from the Fantasy of Flowers collection caught my eye and fit the bill. It’s a warm-toned true coral shade with a lustre finish and I’d say that it’s rather pigmented for a luster (medium-buildable opacity) and while remaining comfortable and hydrating on the lips, wears for about four hours without requiring maintenance. These shades tend to be flattering on my skin but I’m hesitant buying these shades but I know I shouldn’t be. To me, this lipstick screams spring to me and if I were to make a prediction it’s going to get loads of wear this season.

MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Layin’ Low ($24 CDN)

I hadn’t expected to pick this sleek little pot up but I have to say that I’m not disappointed in the least. I’ve had an obsession with cream eyeshadows lately especially as bases in light of my primer crisis but I was looking for a matte one and I remembered using one of these a few years back and I found it to be a shadow-primer hybrid with better primer capabilities than the ever-popular Maybelline Colour Tattoos – these do crease on me a bit but it’s after hours and hours of wear and that happens to me regardless of what primer I use. Obviously these are longlasting as shadows in themselves and have the easiest texture to use, while setting for maximum longevity. MAC describes this shade as a “creamy beige”, but I think it’s warmer and darker than that; I would describe the matte shade as a very warm beige-brown shade that is notably more orange-toned and darker than the famous Painterly. I’ll try to keep you updated on this but so far so good!

The I’m trying to do these sorts of post detailing the products I’ve picked up but I’m still getting the hang of things and I’d welcome some advice. Thoughts on the products? Tell me what you’ve been loving lately …. please?

Maggie, x.

P.S. I’m wearing Layin’ Low on my lids by itself and Dreaming Dahlia on my lips!

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Weekly Medley #6

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Roughly, I spent the first half of my week in autopilot-mode, somehow completing assignment after assignment to keep up with the tight deadlines but as not much sleep had been happening prior to that, the second half of the week was spent catching up on sleep for once. However, it wasn’t an entirely drab week. Well, the weekend wasn’t at least. Saturday night was spent with some of my favourite females in the world, watching The Vampire Diaries, laughing hysterically and having a few drinks in there too and on Sunday, rather than studying alone, I made it a wee bit more entertaining with my longtime confidante, Laura. It’s safe to say that tonight will be a low-key early one by the look of things and I’m sure you can relate…

With February ending this week and March beginning, there were obviously a wealth of entertaining favourites posts and videos but this month, the results were even better than usual. Towards the end of the week when I caught up on some much-needed rest, I spent a good amount of time lounging in my bed listening to videos and reading posts and I have to say I really enjoyed the whole experience. I’ve kind of been stalking her videos and her blog itself but Suzy from Hello October’s “February Favourites” was a particularly good video of hers;entertaining to watch, relatable and informative.

Towards the end of the week, I discovered the blog, The Private Life Of A Girl, written by the lovely Sophie and I’m glad I clicked on it by chance. The layout of the blog paired with the phenomenal photography makes it a real treat to look at but it’s a fantastic read as well – don’t be fooled. When I discovered it, I kind of did that thing when I spent a good hour reading her posts and although it’s almost a month old, “Keep it Simple” was a fantastic read. I kind of am having a moment with minimalistic-makeup-centric posts, if you were wondering.

After, putting it onto the sideburner for its faff due to sheer laziness, I’ve recommitted myself to my By Nature Organic Rosehip Oil ($13/26 CDN). After reintroducing it into the routine, my skin seems notably more soothed and much less dehydrated and it has to be worth the effort. However, its amber-hue is disconcerting nevertheless. This oil also is a lifesaver on breakouts for healing them and soothing the irritation rather than irritating it further with the necessary harsh ingredients – and no, I do not mean chemicals; everything is a chemical when you think about it. This oil seems to be able to create the illusion of being well-rested when I’m so sleep-deprived that I can barely think.

Although my angst does definitely manifest to many areas of my life, my concealer angst that I’ve been facing in the last while has been notable – nothing was quite feeling right- and as a result this purchase happened a few weeks ago. Although I might not have chosen the most ideal shade for underneath my eyes, which is where I consistently need a well-performing concealer for, I’ve pleasantly surprised by the Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer in 125 Very Fair ($7-8 CDN) as it provides coverage without looking obvious underneath the eyes and on the drier red patches on my face. I can’t see any shimmer particles in the product but it is somewhat illuminating and this seems to suit areas of redness that I have after the breakouts are gone, matching my skin with its fair shade with a yellow tinge. If you’re buying a concealer to go underneath the eyes, don’t do what I did – actually go for a pink-toned shade but this can go on other areas of the face assuming that you’re not using it to cover spots with inflammation or notable texture.

Unfortunately in my exhausted and stressed haze, I’ve neglected to document a photo of me wearing the Bourjois Cream Blush in 04 Sweet Cherry ($20 CDN) but it has been a standout product this week nevertheless. Without lacking longevity, I’ve found that the warm rose shade shade in the cream-to-powder-but-not-chalky formula glides seamlessly onto the skin, providing that easy fresh bloom to the cheeks. I’ve had this since January but it hadn’t been receiving much attention from me and this week, this changed. Although the photo below is most definitely not from this week, I thought I would include it as it accurately shows the shade.

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What products have you been reaching for this week?

Maggie, x.