Skincare Sunday

As much as I love getting glammed up, – especially on the makeup front – there is nothing that I love more than a low key, relaxing day, where nothing strenuous is done AND  there is no expectation of looking pulled together. For me, this day is typically reserved for Sundays. I’m also quite a fan of dedicating some extra time to the skincare routine or ritual, and doing that whole pampering thing. I’ve mentioned recently that with the cold weather coming – there is snow on the ground now, after all – I’ve been dedicated to sticking to a twice-daily routine for maintaining my stressed, sensitive and dehydrated skin. However, I do like spending the extra time and doing something extra once or twice a week. This often falls on the Sunday, partly because of habit and partly because of my decree that it’s a makeup-free day. Here’s a rundown of today’s routine:

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  1. Sunday Riley Blue Moon Tranquility Cleansing Balm ($60): When you’ve been fighting off a cold and the cold that I have been doing, a nourishing balm cleanser is an appealing place to start. I happily started the whole ritual with my smaller size of the essential oil laden balm – that I got in the Sephora Favourites Beauty Sleep Kit – despite my tumultuous relationship with essential oils. It feels nourishing and soothing on the skin, even with its slightly grittier texture.
  2. Andalou Naturals Pumpkin Honey Glycolic Mask ($20): After cleansing, I like to use some mask and the one I use will depend on my skin condition at the moment. I was feeling in need of some exfoliating and brightening action so I reached for this glycolic-acid, pumpkin and honey based option. I find it truly does provide some exfoliating action but I find that I can’t apply too much without finding it a bit irritating – with the cinnamon, pineapple juice and clove in the formula. The fact that its housed in jar packaging does irritate me to no end because it destabilizes all of the beneficial antioxidants and soothing extracts in the formula. I left it on for a half hour before removing with some water. This is a fun product to use but it by no means replaces a leave-on chemical exfoliant…
  3. Paula’s Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner ($21 US): This time of year, I can hardly wash my face without applying a soothing milky toner afterwords and this one is my absolute favourite. I’ve raved about the way in which it also acts as a serum  with its evening primrose oil, myriad of antioxidants and anti-irritants and weightless formula.
  4. Olay Eyes Ultimate Eye Cream ($40): This is the first dedicated eye cream that I’ve ever tried and, to be honest, I tend to just use my facial moisturizer around the eyes most of the time – there really should not be much of a difference between eye and face creams – but I do like patting this simple but impressive formula around the eye area when I want some extra oomph. It has the subtlest peachy tint that helps to brighten the under-eye region in an undetectable way but most of all, I love that it’s fragrance free and contains both a peptide and skin-repairing niacinamide higher up in the ingredient list. It’s in a jar but at least there are no antioxidants in the formula to begin with…
  5. Aura Cacia Rosehip Oil ($15): I’m afraid that I have no product to show for this one because I’m at the very end and have transferred the antioxidant-rich plant oil into another container to finish it. However, I did apply the amber-hued antioxidant rich oil that combines the vitamin c and a that naturally occurs in soothing rosehip will with vitamin e in pressing motions over the face along with on my sensitive neck and chest. It works and doesn’t break the bank.
  6. Paula’s Choice Radiance Renewal Mask ($36 US): While it certainly is not ultra-affordable, as Paula’s brand has notably increased their prices in the last year or two 0 – and even more so for Canadians, as the Canadian dollar is horrific at the moment  – her foray into the world of leave-on masks has impressed me. It has a nourishing-but-lightweight gel texture that I think would suit a myriad of skin types but the most impressive thing is that it doesn’t contain fragrance and instead, has niacinamide, arbutin, vitamin c and hyaluronic acid. When I want an extra boost of moisture, I use this kind of product underneath my sunscreen-containing moisturizer.
  7. Paula’s Choice Calm Redness Relief SPF 30 Mineral Moisturizer ($29 US): Rain or shine, you must use SPF to keep your skin looking, feeling and acting the most optimal way. I use this mineral formula because I find it actually hydrating and my skin can actually tolerate its actives without being irritated. Note: this is an identical formula to the company’s Skin Recovery offering.
  8. La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 ($16): When you have lips that are as sensitive and as naturally chapped as mine are, a lip balm that does more than temporarily seal in the moisture is a necessity. I quite like this multipurpose balm that soothes any sort of dry or chapped area with the humectant, panthenol, and shea butter.

I had intended this post to be much more of a quick overview of the products that I reach for for an indulgent weekly regime but I see that ship has sailed.

What products do you reach for when you are in need of some extra skin pampering?
Maggie, x.

The Review | Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation

Long time, no foundation review, eh? Rest assured, I have not become any less obsessed with foundations in my quest to find one to cover imperfections whilst imparting the perfect glow to the skin – although I must pat myself on the back for my restraint on the buying front as of late. I’m coming at you with a review of a foundation that (spoiler alert) might just be one of the very few that approach holy grail status and demand repurchase but here are the details. At the moment, I’m dealing with a cold and that hormonal time of the month, so my skin is not at its finest – a little angry and congested, and a lot dehydrated – and I figured it would be an excellent time to show you how it performs over less-than-smooth skin.

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The Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation ($68/ ounce) is a cult favourite of makeup artists and and I’d say that this is likely because it is a foundation that does what it says. The claims that the brand boasts of aren’t complex – they claim that it’s a lightweight foundation that achieves a seamless radiant finish that’s reminiscent of silk – but it’s a refreshing change to review a product that’s not marketed as a skin miracle in a bottle. I knew that I wanted to try the foundation as soon as Armani launched on Sephora last year and I don’t regret it in the slightest. It provides medium buildable coverage that feels lightweight, looks luminous but lasts. It is almost undetectable on the skin but it has a perfecting or airbrushed quality to it. The foundation does not have the dewiest finish ever, but instead sits somewhere in between a luminous and a satin finish – read: the luminosity of this foundation comes off as emanating from within the skin rather than from visible particles or shine.

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Ingredients: WATER, CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, GLYCERIN, ISODECANE, ALCOHOL DENAT, POLYGLYCERYL-40ISOSTERATE, CETYL PEG/PPG-10/1 DIMETHICONE, HEXYL LAUREATE, ALUMINUM STARCH OCTENYLSUCCINATE, DISTERDIMONIUM HECTORITE, PHENOXYETHANOL, ACETYLATED GLYCOL STERATE, MAGNESIUM SULFATE, PEG-10 DIMETHICONE, TRIHYDROXYSTEARIN, CELLULOSE GUM, NYLON-12, LIMONENE, BENZYL SALICYLATE, BENZYL ALCOHOL, LINALOOL, DIPHENYL DIMETHICONE, ACRYLATES COPOLYMER, PARFUM, DISODIUM STEAROYL GLUTAMATE, METHYLPARABEN, BUTYLPHENYL METHYLPROPINOL, ALUMINUM HYDROXIDE, HEXYL CINNAMAL.

Ingredient-wise, it’s not my ideal foundation because it does include drying alcohol – which is what gives it its weightless feel and texture – and irritating fragrance actives, but it performs so well, providing both lasting coverage and a luminous look to the skin that I’m not bothered by it. It does not contain SPF but that doesn’t bother me because my skin is so finicky to SPF actives that I like to choose a separate product and because it makes it a great flash photography foundation. Unlike some truly dewy foundations, Luminous Silk does set on the skin so it would not be ideal for severe dry patches and flaking, however, it is ideal for those who want some glow while giving their skin a blurring effect and coverage of imperfections. I don’t find that it clings to texture or small dry patches and I find that it wears beyond the 12 hour mark on me without issues.

I will mention that while the shade range is quite good, is confused the living hell out of me. I wear shade 2 – the lightest in the range I believe – which has a nice beige undertone but is a wee bit to pale for me. It matches my pale beyond belief neck that somehow is always 1-2 shades fairer than the rest of my body. It works well for me in the winter months, especially because I like contouring and adding some warmth on the daily but it could match someone about a shade fairer than me. As far as I understand, the range is numbered in terms of undertone – integers denoting neutral undertones, 0.25/0.75s denoting pink undertones and 0.5s indicating golden shades. Next time, I think I would try shade 4.

Because I had applied my skincare products hours before and my skin had drunk them up. I went in with the Make Up For Every Hydrating Primer to give the foundation a layer to stick to, although my moisturizer would have sufficed, if it hadn’t been applied so long ago. I applied one pump of the foundation with a buffing brush and did not set with powder, conceal my face or use any sort of setting spray.

Have you tried GA Luminous Silk?
Maggie, x

October 2016 Favourites

A monthly favourites post written by me and posted on time in 2016? Quelle horreur. Joking aside, I’ve been getting my beauty mojo back in the last month or so and I’m quite excited to share the standout products here. For the first time ever, the list isn’t even that long.

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OPI Nail Lacquer in Squeaker of the House: OPI’s fall collection, “Washington DC” has been one of the most exciting ones in years and I’ve ended up buying three of the shades and enjoying them all, however, this slightly warm medium taupe has made me fall in love. I love these taupe kind of shades but this one is unique because it has that touch of warm brown that most of these shades like, which can be much more flattering to a neutral or warm complexion. It’s so close to being opaque in a single coat but I suppose its more of an effortless two coater that almost applies itself, drying even and glossy on the nails.

KB Shimmer Don’t Play Koi: Back in September, I ordered my first indie nail polishes from Harlow & Co and while I’ve enjoyed them as a whole, this crelly and glitter mix has been my favourite and most worn. It has a sheerer white base that does not become even or opaque until two or three coats and is filled with matte grey and coral hex glitters and iridescent turquoise glitters of various sizes. On the nails, it has an interesting effect where the glitters peek through underneath the white base. Getting used to apply these formulas has been quite a learning curve – having to focus on evening out the base, while making sure to fish out the glitters and apply the across the nail.

Paula’s Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner: Ever since Fall has hit and the humidity has died off, the weather has gotten chilly and we’ve been cranking up the heat, I’ve been obsessively patting on this milky toner after cleansing. It’s been a saviour, adding back barrier repairing and hydrating ingredients after cleansing – including antioxidant rich plant oils, hyaluronic acid and vitamins A and C – that you typically would find in a serum product, in the toner stage. Layering this milky toner feels like a breath of fresh air to my finicky skin and it definitely helps with keeping my skin soothed and hydrated throughout the day.

Aveeno Ultra Calming Makeup Removing Wipes: While I’ve been into indulging in a full-on skincare routine throughout the month, I do admit that at other times I’ve been quite lazy, just wanting to remove my makeup without the effort of going to the sink. These wipes are my favourite for this because they do remove makeup effectively but they do so without drying out my skin or causing any sort of irritation. The cloths are saturated with a  liquid that not only is formulated without alcohol or detergents but also are slightly hydrating and milky on the skin. I’m really not a fan of fragrance in skincare, but I do enjoy the calming spa-like scent.

L’Oreal Infallible Pro-Glow Foundation: I easily (and happily) wore this more recently released drugstore face offering five out of every six times that I wore makeup throughout October. More than that, I think that I can happily now add this to my roster of favourite foundations. It has nice medium buildable coverage but what’s truly impressive about the formula is that it reads like naturally luminous skin and has that light and weightless texture typically reserved for higher end offerings. I don’t love that denatured alcohol is one of the first ingredients but I’m willing to accept it on account of how nicely the formula sits over dry patches and how it makes my skin look and feel. I’m shocked that more people don’t speak highly of this foundation.

Clinique Cheek Pop in Rosy Pop: Despite being a self-professed blush addict, I hadn’t really been reaching for blushes throughout the summer and, instead, I had been on a strict bronzer kick. However, I once I pulled out this slightly warm toned rosy shade, I was back into that whole blush thing. The shade is bright but I like how it can be easily sheered out for that flattering flush on the cheeks. I’m normally into ultra-glowy blushes but the satin finish on this one is flattering as well.

Have you tried any of these? Do you have any favourites to share?
Maggie, x.

 

 

 

A Weekend Wishlist

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  • The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% & Hyaluronic Acid 2% ($6.50): From the moment that I heard about the whole no bullshit and marketing hype mentality concept of The Ordinary brand and read into the effective ingredients they have and none of the irritants, I was intrigued by the brand. Now that I’ve discovered that Well.ca sells the brand, I want to try this hydrating and soothing acid exfoliant more than anything. It shouldn’t be a surprise given my love of well-formulated chemical exfoliants.
  • Paula’s Choice Radiance Renewal Mask ($36 US): Especially in the cooler months, I have a thing for slathering on these overnight masks before bed to add on the hydration and soothing factor. However, many of those on the market aren’t really loaded with beneficial ingredients – until this niacinamide-laden one launched. It also has soothing antioxidants, hyaluronic acid and a myriad of brightening ingredients. I couldn’t resist ordering when the company had a sale – so its currently on the way to me in the mail. I hope this helps in my endless battle against dehydrated and dull skin.
  • Sunday Riley Juno Hydroactive Cellular Facial Oil ($112): I know that this cold-pressed facial oil is completely overpriced but I cannot resist thinking about buying it, especially now that Sephora’s VIB sale is not altogether far away. It’s free of potentially irritating essential oils and is supposed to have the highest concentrations of the nutrients compared to conventional oils, and I desperately want to try it for myself. The soothing and radiance-boosting properties are something that intrigue me.
  • Marc Jacobs Beauty Under(Cover) Perfecting Coconut Face Primer ($55): Another item that I have my eye on for the Sephora VIB sale is this hydrating and makeup-extending primer. I’m interested because the ingredients seem beneficial, rather than gimmicky and just laden with silicone, and that it not only will aid in makeup wear but will also help up the hydration factor in my skin.
  • Nyx Lip Lingerie Liquid Lipstick in Ruffle Trim ($8.99): If you’ve been following my blog for a while – like, as in you’ve been reading since the time when I used to blog on a regular basis – you’d likely be aware that liquid lipsticks and drying matte formulas are not typically my thing. I have super-dry sensitive lips and these formulas are not low maintenance for me as a result. However, I’ve been enjoying them as of late and I’ve got my eye on this formula and one in this kind of neutral terracotta shade. I haven’t tried much NYX but now that it’s become available everywhere around me – in Canada – I’ve got my eye on this formula.
  • Indie Lee Rosehip Cleanser ($37.99): After hearing TophCam – who I adore watching on youtube for all things skincare – rave about Indie’s cleanser offerings, I find myself wanting to spend a little bit extra and go for this nourishing gel offering. I normally shy away from all things gel because I associate them with foaming and irritating and dehydrating the skin in the process. This one, however, boasts that its gentle and soothing, filled with antioxidants, rosehip oil and fatty acids.
What do you have your eye on?
Maggie, x.

 

 

A Note on Serums

With the change of the cooler weather, – well at least in the mornings and evenings anyway – I’ve suddenly been forced to get back into that whole skincare she-bang. Why? I was spoiled this summer, not having to put much effort into my skincare routine because my skin was much more hydrated and less irritated than the rest of the year without putting a single product. To be completely fair, the fact that I wasn’t trying new products might have been a contributor. Regardless, the moment that the weather started to cool down, I’ve gotten back into the swing of things. As soon as the weather changed, I’ve been reaching for these serum kinds of products to add beneficial ingredients and hydration to my dehydrated and irritated skin. As I’ve thought about them, I’ve realized how confusing they are to navigate as a skincare consumer and figured that I would write a chatty post about them.

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I would personally define a serum in a two-fold manner – first they are distinguished by their light fluid texture and second, they are designed to treat a specific skincare concern in a targeted way. While the basic products of your skincare routine are typically selected on the basis of your skin type, serums are a welcome addition to treat your specific concerns. It’s also said that serums are the products with the highest concentration of beneficial ingredients. I do agree to a certain extent that because they are leave on products formulated without thickeners and SPF that they can have higher concentrations of these ingredients – but this is definitely not always true. Thinking on my definition of serums, I’ve come to the conclusion that whether or not a product is sold as an exfoliant, serum, treatment or liquid is dependent on the marketing, not on the virtues of the product itself. Here’s a rundown of serum-like products that I like, beginning with those that are traditional serums:

Paula’s Choice CALM Redness Relief Repairing Serum ($34 US/ ounce) is a fabulously formulated basic serum that almost anyone would benefit from. It’s plumping, soothing and hydrating in a weightless manner, formulated in a lightweight gel base. It contains loads of hyaluronic acid – it’s the second ingredient – along with skin repairing ingredients like ceramides, beta-glucan and sea whip extracts. Also, it contains skin -repairing antioxidants.

Laneige Bright Renew Original Serum ($59/1.3 ounces) is a serum that specifically targets brightening of the skin and actually achieves the intended goal without irritating the skin with needless alcohol or breaking the bank. It contains a myriad of plant extracts with research showing to brighten skin tone and serve as anti-irritants but the real star of the show, is the high concentrations of squalene (an emollient ingredient with antioxidant qualities) and niacinamide (a proven cell-signalling, repairing and brightening ingredient) that it contains. This is a nice one if you’re concerned with an even complexion and hyper pigmentation. The only drawback is their inclusion of a hefty amount of fragrance in the formula.

While Paula’s Choice RESIST C15 Super Booster ($48 US/0.67 ounces) is not technically a serum but instead a concentrate that can be mixed with another serum or product to dilute it, or used on its own, I think it’s the kind of product that most of us are looking for in a serum. It treats even the first sign of aging – sun damage – along with dulness, uneven tone and irritation. I think this product is for almost anyone, especially because the 15% vitamin c product can be applied in the daytime to counteract free radical damage from the sun that causes irritation and signs of aging. The formula nicely contains a mix of antioxidants.

I wouldn’t necessarily call the Pixi by Petra Skintreats Overnight Glow Serum ($24 US/ounce) a serum, except for the marketing, serum-texture and inclusion of beneficial ingredients. With a nice dose of glycolic acid (its the third ingredient), this is a hydrating fluid textured chemical exfoliant. However, the inclusion of antioxidants like arginine and  skin soothers like cucumber extract and aloe, leaves this product as a winner of a multitasker. The Paula’s Choice RESIST Daily Smoothing Treatment ($33 US/ 1.7 ounces) is very much a product of the same vein, only differing in how its marketed – as a chemical exfoliant with treatment benefits. It’s a serum to the same degree as the aforementioned one. It’s a 5% glycolic acid and 0.5% salicylic acid product housed in a hydrating lotion base, enriched with ceramides, a myriad of antioxidants and skin calming ingredients. These are both nice options if you have your eye on a multittasker or do-it-all kind of product.

The Paula’s Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner ($21 US/6.4 ounces) is somewhat of a far stretch to classify as a toner, but it provides lots of the same benefits of a nice all-around serum. It treats dry and sensitive skin and has that liquid milky base that almost seems more liquid serum like than that of a toner, and it houses high concentrations of beneficial ingredients because they are not diluted by thickeners and emollients. It does not have the intensive treatment benefits of some serums, however, it serves the purpose of a nice all-around option. It has a nice dose of different antioxidant rich plant oils, hyaluronic acid and a myriad of other antioxidants and skin soothing ingredients. In my mind, this makes it serve the function of a soothing serum. Perhaps, though, it fits more into the hybrid category of essence…

Any serum thoughts or favourites to share?
Maggie, x.

 

The Summer Essentials

So this summer, I’ve been a mess. Aside from working, making plans with friends and taking copious naps, I haven’t managed to get anything done. For a while, I was dreading even having to wear makeup on account of the humidity and heat that we’re experiencing. However, I’m now back into it. I’m just hoping I can pull myself together enough to make posts happen again. I’m still going to pull together a favourites post at the end of the summer, summing up my favourite products for the months I’ve missed posting on, but I’m going to go through some seasonal essentials today:

(Can you tell I’ve had this post waiting in drafts for over a month? :))

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Essie Nail Lacquer in In The Cab-an: Particularly on my toes, I adore a bright blue polish in the summer and this one is perfect, leaning slightly more on the bluer side of turquoise with an easy cream formula. It’s opaque in two thin coats and is easy to work with, lasting a while – on my toes at least.

Skin79 Snail Nutrition SPF 50 BB Cream: In hot and humid weather, everyone – even those like myself who have skin that edges itself towards the truly dry and perpetually dehydrated end of the spectrum – dislikes the feeling of heavy product (or hardly any product at all) on the skin. We all can appreciate a multitasking product that does all three of its functions well – providing necessary sun protection, moisturizing and functioning as an everyday product – and this is it for me. Unless I’m being an idiot, I never burn when I’m wearing this. Impressively, it provides medium natural coverage that works whether or not I’ve gone for a full-face or not and stays put.

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation: In this truly humid weather of the summer that just passed, I was not in the mood for any sort of makeup experimentation. This left me looking for a foundation that looked like skin, had a bit of glow and left my skin looking far better than before on a fairly regular basis and this one was my pick. With its satin finish, medium-buildable coverage and longevity, it might just be worth its hefty cost.

Physician’s Formula Murumuru Butter Bronzer: Despite being a lover of applying a bunch of cheek products on the daily, my lack of enthusiasm for makeup application left me looking for a one and done cheek product on a regular basis – and that product in question was this effortless and slightly glowy golden-hued bronzer. It’s smooth formula gave that effortless glow with the swipe of the brush and it added much needed life to my face in an instant.

Physician’s Formula Eye Booster Eyeliner & Serum: I suppose this was the summer that I really fell for some Physician’s Formula products. In the very beginning of Summer – or perhaps the tail end of Spring – I broke down and bought the eyeliner that everyone raves about and fell in love. It’s fine tip creates the smoothest lines and makes creating a flick a breeze in seconds. I love that its rich colour and smooth application doesn’t fade after opening for a few months. In my whole not wanting to put a load of makeup on fairly regularly, I’ve been relying on this liner to give me that instantly polished look.

OPI Nail Lacquer in No Doubt About It ($10-12): My infrequent posts in the last six months or so, aside, I have mentioned that I’ve become way more polish obsessed as of late. This summer, I fell for a neon pink – despite not being the kind of girl who is into pink in any shape or form. In my defense, it is a pink-coral kind of hybrid and it’s flattering on my warm undertones. It dries matte so it dries unbelievably fast which is nice, but my only complaint is that it does not cover completely on its own and layered over white, the polish only applies evenly with a perfect coat of white underneath. However, in three coats alone, it does cover 90% of the nail line and looks even.

Zoya Pixie Dust in Vega ($12): This teal tinged pale blue textured polish might not have the same quintessential ‘summer’ quality to it but its ease of use and cool kind of feel left me reaching for it more often than not. The mixture of matte and holographic glitters leave a cool effect on the nail but truly, what I adored the most was that it dried quickly – only requiring two easy coats – and was chip-resistant even without any top coat.

What did you love this summer?
Maggie, x.

 

Fall Nail Polish Edit

I’ve already started to write a post where I gave some explanation for my absence over the last two months that will be up soon, so I won’t dwell on it here. In short, I just haven’t been able to organize myself enough to write and take pictures for a blog post. Ugh. Especially as of late, I’ve gotten into nail polish and now that fall is rapidly approaching, I thought I would share my picks for the upcoming season. I thought it would be especially interesting if I released it before I bought any fall shades, as it might encourage some of you to seek out shades that you already own before rushing into the latest collections. At least that’s my hope. This is a bit of a mix of traditional autumnal shades, what I see as trendy for the season and what I personally seem to enjoy wearing during the season.

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Ciate Brocade Parade ($18): I’m always a fan of manicures that feel a bit more edgy and less traditionally girlie and sparkly in that sense but I feel that starting with fall, we move away from the softer glitters and accents and closer towards the tougher side. This is an expensive polish but it is a stunning glitter topper that is almost opaque in three coats. It’s an interesting tiny black circle glitter, larger hexagonal white glitter chunks and medium-sized asymmetrical silver glitter pieces. Because it dries textured, it is a fast drying shade but it’s easy to use and is not sparse. I applied three coats on its own on the nail wheel.

OPI Cajun Shrimp ($10-12): A bright red – especially one with orange-y coral undertones like this one – might not seem like a shade that screams fall, but I love the look of a bright red when the weather starts to get cooler and I’m all about comfy sweaters and scarves. It’s a nice transitional summer to fall shade in particular, sitting kind of in between a neon and a deep red or berry. I chose this one because the warm undertones are more flattering for me. There are two thin coats on the nail wheel and the application is effortless. Interestingly, Orly’s Fall collection has a similar shade.

Nails Inc Baker Street ($16): Although I have this polish in the traditional formula and not in the newer gel one, I had to include it nevertheless. It’s another less traditional shade for the fall. I would describe it as a slightly muted cobalt cream that instantly makes me feel more bold and stylish. The formula is a dream to work with, opaque in one to two coats and dries in a few minutes. There are two coats on the nail wheel. My only complaint is that it’s not super long wearing.

OPI Malaga Wine ($10-12): I’ll start this off by mentioning that this is a sort of placeholder shade, standing in for a chic oxblood or berry shade. I do really enjoy the easy 1-2 coat formula and self-leveling quality of this deeper berry hue but I don’t love it enough to wholeheartedly include it. I will be hunting down my essential colour in this category soon.

Zoya Arianna Pixie Dust ($12): This polish is a reddened berry textured take on the berry hue, with an interesting finish, a crelly base and a mixture of matte and holographic glitter. I love how fast it is as a manicure, how long it wears and how it’s a little bit different. There are two coats on the nail wheel.

OPI Lincoln Park After Dark ($10-12): This blackened plum cream polish is easily my most worn nail polish and favourite nail polish of all time. I’ve gone through countless minis and now have a large bottle that I adore. It has an easy self-leveling formula that is opaque in two thin coats and dries glossy. This kind of polished deep blackened hue was seen all over the runways for the season, too. Cream polishes in general are having a real moment trendwise – they are exclusively featured in OPI’s Washington along with a myriad of other collections. There are two thin coats on the nail wheel.

Zoya Payton ($11-12): Not only is the glass-fleck shimmer in this polish unique, the darkish plum colour feels appropriately autumnal with its vampy feel. It’s a holographic polish that will appeal to anyone but the best thing of all is its easy two thin-coat formula and that it removes as smoothly as a cream. It fits more into more of a traditional colour category but it’s trendy enough that Zoya released an entire six piece collection of jewel toned polishes in this finish.

Essie Chinchilly ($10-12): I’m going to warn you, I’m about to go a bit insane over these greige kind of shades for this shade and three that remain. I wear these greige kind of shades year round but in the autumn, there is something about them that feels strangely appropriate as we get into scarves, boots and sweaters and sophisticated. This cream polish is a medium taupe with slight purple undertones and has an amazing formula that is so close to being opaque in one coat – it needs two thin ones – and applies like a dream.

Essie Take It Outside ($10-12): This shade might not be as easily accessible as some of the other shades, as it came out in their Fall 2014 collection, but I assure you, it’s available online at a variety of places. The formula might be even better than Chinchilly somehow, being even closer to a one coat polish, despite being a lighter cement greige shade. I have two thin coats on the nail wheel but I know I could do one thick one. There are similar shades in both Essie and Orly’s fall collections but I doubt the formulas match this one.

Zoya Naturel Satin in Rowan ($12): I’m a big fan of textured polishes but I think I get the most into them in the fall because they feel just a little bit edgier, which is how I tend to like to feel in the fall. This one has a satin finish that leans in the middle of a matte and cream formula and dries very quickly. It’s a medium greige shade that is opaque in two thin coats and is fairly easy to work with. I love that it’s such a quick manicure as well.

Essie Cashmere Matte in Comfy in Cashmere ($10-12): This medium taupe shade hails from last years Cashmere Matte collection but seems to be still available and despite the formula not being the greatest – but it is workable, particularly in this shade – I adore this shade for its cool matte textured finish, with a blue iridescent lean that does not show up on camera. It chips quickly but I forgive it on account of its matte texture and unique shift. The shimmer comes out even more with top coat and it has better longevity that way, too. There are two coats on the nail wheel but I might have gotten by with one; the second was to even out my application. The polish is unique.

OPI I Cannoli Wear OPI ($10-12): This greyed-out pale neutral polish hails from last fall’s Venice collection but remains part of OPI’s permanent line. Despite being an off-white that leans half-way blue and half-way grey, it’s opaque with two medium thickness coats – although if you overwork it or do thinner coats, you’ll need three. It’s easy to work with and feels understated and autumnal with its muted out quality. These greyed out neutrals had a real moment last year but remain on trend, being featured heavily in Essie’s fall collection.

Have any favourite autumnal polishes to share?
Maggie, x.

 

 

May 2016 Favourites

Yet again, this month – I don’t actually know which month I’m referring to by the way – has been a complete failure for posts. I just haven’t been able to get myself around to posting. I’m not exactly sure why. Regardless, I’ve got some products that I loved throughout May to share:

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I couldn’t write a favourites post without including a product from last month’s post, to be completely honest. I’m still in this state  of obsession with the Shea Moisture Mongogo & Hempseed Oils High Porosity Moisture Seal Masque ($17.15) that I was in throughout April. I’m still very impressed because of how nourishing yet lightweight the masque is, especially without being exorbitantly expensive. I’m pleased to report that I have gotten used to the very fragrant floral scent. After using the accompanying Shea Moisture Mongogo & Hempseed Oils High Porosity Moisture Seal Shampoo ($15) for another month, I’m confident enough to say that it is deserving of almost the same praise. Without being formulated without any silicones (or harsh cleansers for that matter) it imparts impressive moisture and slip whilst removing residue and the like. I’m yet another one to join the Shea Moisture shampoo loving bandwagon. It hydrates and is impossibly gentle, which I love, all whilst not weighing down my finer strands in the slightest.

Being incredibly lazy in terms of removing my makeup and washing my face at night, I gravitated towards using makeup wipes in May. I tried out the Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleansing Cloths ($11-12) and used them on a frequent basis, enjoying how gentle and soothing they were whilst removing makeup well. They are among the gentlest wipes that I’ve tried and impressed me, even with my beyond sensitive skin.

Fairly late in May, I had quite the drugstore beauty spree with one of my closest friends, and one of the results was the much-anticipated Nuxe Reve de Miel Lip Balm ($17). It was a rather late acquisition to be included in a favourites post to be honest but the thick balmy potted balm was good enough to make the cut regardless. It’s soothing and nourishing, remaining on the lips all night and providing nourishment to the lips that lasts after it wears off. I’m partial to the matte finish that it leaves for under lipsticks.

When I got into the routine of wearing more face products on a daily basis,  I became committed to using  MAC Fix Plus ($26) to get rid of that makeup-y appearance and give my skin a luminous glow. It’s not exactly a novel product, but I will admit that the glycerin-based spray does what it intends to do and is hydrating – especially in comparison to the alcohol-based offerings.

Always eager to find the latest and greatest product to camouflage and brighten my dark undereyes, I’ve been trialling the Becca Backlight Targeted Colour Corrector in Peach ($34) – with success. It’s not a daily product for me, I’m afraid, but it’s a great additional product underneath concealer to counteract the natural darkness that I have. The issue that I have with the corrector is that it is so pigmented that it requires a product applied over the top to hide the orange cast. However, it blends like a dream and supports the seamless application of a product on top.

My greatest two discoveries of May were colour products. The first of which was the fairly recently released Physician’s Formula Murumuru Butter Bronzer in Bronzer ($19.99) that I reviewed last month here. I’ll keep my ravings to a minimum as I did enough of that in the review but I must say that I have adored the neutral brown bronzer tone and the easily blended texture of the bronzer to add some shape and a golden glow to my skin. One of the product’s assets is that it requires almost no work to look nice. My other love that I have yet to mention is the MAC Versicolour Stain in Can’t Stop Won’t Stop ($28), an expensive but lovely balmy and glossy new-generation stain. It does not have the high colour intensity of a matte liquid lipstick or anything but the formula remains balmy and comfortable, whilst providing a lasting even stain on the lips hours after the product has faded. The medium peach (with a tinge of coral shade) is a great everyday one for me, adding some brightness without much effort or upkeep.

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The makeup in action

 

Any favourites to share?
Maggie, x.

 

 

 

The Review| Physician’s Formula Butter Bronzer

Not only is the Physician’s Formula Murumuru Butter Bronzer ($19.99/11g) mighty expensive for a product from a drugstore brand,  its marketing is so gimmicky that any skeptic would pass by this product, deeming it all unfounded claims and minimal results. With these marks against it, the bronzer somehow managed to majorly impress me. And not just in that it’s-sort-of-kind-of-nice sort of way; I must say that it competes with my favourite bronzers.

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Ingredients: Talc, Synthetic Sapphire, Mica, Dimethiconol Stearate, Isostearyl Neopentanoate, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Fragrance/Parfum, Astrocaryum Tucuma Seed Butter, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Citric Acid, Glyceryl Oleate, Glyceryl Stearate, Lauroyl Lysine, Lecithin, Polybutene, Tin Oxide, Tocopherol, Aluminum Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol

Before I get into the part where I gush about my love for the bronzer, let’s get to the drawbacks that it has. There are only two shades that it comes in and I grabbed Bronzer, the darker of the two because it wasn’t all that much darker than the lighter offering and had those golden brown undertones that I tend to prefer. If you have medium to dark skin, I would say that you are likely out of luck with the range, as this one is maybe on the lighter side of medium. Physician’s Formula makes a big deal about their ingredients but I do note that the first couple of ingredients include talc and mica which are two minerals that people tend to have sensitivities to. Also they market the bronzer as being oil free on a technicality, instead they contain the butters which are essentially solidified versions of the oils themselves. The butters themselves do appear impressively high on the ingredient list, however, I must note that they will not improve the quality of the skin in the way that skincare products do – and Physician’s Formula argues that they do. My one last complaint is that fragrance appears so high on the ingredients list, especially of a product that boasts being superbly gentle on the skin. Note: The fragrance complaint is there but some will find the coconut scent incredibly pleasant and summery, especially in combination with the colourful packaging.

Just as Physicians Formula markets the bronzer to do, it applies with this creamy bendable texture that feels like a cream-powder hybrid – with the ease and practicality of a powder and the seamless finish and glow of a cream. Somehow it does manage to give that “lit from within tropical glow”, as cliched as it sounds. Because of the butters I assume, the formula is creamy and radiant but it reads as skin-like because the finish is satin-y without any noticeable shimmer. The pigmentation is medium but build able which makes it effortless to use even on my winter-pale complexion. I love its versatility for adding some warmth to the face in general and sculpting in smaller, more specific areas. On fairer skin, I think this bronzer will pleasantly surprise with its ability to add that sun kissed element without reading as orange-y in the slightest. For me, it’s highlight is that it lasts and lasts on the skin while adding that seamless glow to the skin. It doesn’t cling to dry patches or uneven texture in the slightest.

In terms of colour-comparison, I would be tempted to compare it to NARS Laguna because of its depth and golden brown undertones – but I haven’t examined them closely or anything.

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Have you tried the Physician’s Formula Bronzers?
Maggie, x.

The Review | DevaCurl Set It Free

The number of hair products that I’ve bought in the last two or three months is terrifying, even to my product hoarding desensitized self. My posts might have died off in the last few weeks as I have not been feeling the greatest, but I’ve been experimenting with anything and everything to make my waves/curls look their best – without the aid of heat. Generally-speaking I’ve been following the curly girl method – well, technically in a modified way because I feel the need to use a few products with silicones – and I’ve been trying every single product combination that I can think of, both new and old. With this experimentation, I’m thinking about doing a series of curly hair product reviews. And obviously a product from the brand that started it all, Deva Curl seems to be the way to go.

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I’m not sure that I’ve ever spoken about the DevaCurl Set It Free Moisture Lock ($25) but there’s a reason for it. I’ve had this staple DevaCurl product for well over a year, yet I’ve struggled to come to a definite conclusion with how I feel about it. It falls onto that love-hate spectrum for me and from the reviews that I’ve read my experience is fairly usual – you either love it or you hate it. I simply can’t decide where exactly on the spectrum I fall. It’s a confusing product in the first place because of its versatility but I would have to describe it as a leave-in or moisturizing refreshing spray with some curl enhancing ability and hold.

If you’ve tried DevaCurl products or have had your hair styled by a Deva-certified stylist, I’m sure that you have had experience with this product – it’s part of the four step core Deva routine that they seem to use on just about everyone. I have two main issues with this product that stop me from really enjoying it and reaching for it on a regular basis – t’s scent and the feel in my hair. It smells like sour skittles in a way that cannot be described as anything resembling subtlety and does not dissipate and it feels sticky. Also, it feels product-y in the hair like you would not believe – regardless of how you use it. It does have its benefits, defining the curl, particularly at stubbornly flat roots, providing hold and reducing frizz, but the feel that it leaves in my hair – regardless of the amount used – leaves much to be desired. I’m not a fan of using it in freshly washed hair because of how unbelievably sticky it is and how it can separate my curls in an unflattering way. I don’t find it particularly moisturizing either and as someone who has unbelievably tangly hair, I hate how it has the tendency to tangle up my locks.

The one way that I do somewhat enjoy the product is as a curl refresher. It still can be a bit sticky and feels product-y, but it’s to a lesser extent and I don’t mind it because of the way it boosts my limp and flattened curls, refreshing the old product and adding a bit of bounce – all while depositing some hold that reduces frizz and ensures that the curls don’t fall afterwards.

Ingredients: Water (Aqua, Eau), Glycerin, Isopropyl Myristate, Acrylates/C12-22 Alkyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Lipids, Beeswax (Cera Alba, Cire d’abeille), Melissa Officinalis Extract, Humulus Lupulus (Hops) Extract, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Extract, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Ceteareth-20, PVP, Aminomethyl Propanol, DMDM Hydantoin, Fragrance (Parfum)

Have you tried anything by DevaCurl?
Maggie, x.