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July Favourites

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This July was one of the worst months I’ve had in a while, to be honest, but I’ll spare you from too many of the details. I’m really not looking for sympathy either — in fact, I abhor the whole institution of writing things just to look for sympathy (genuine or otherwise) from others, so don’t mistake this. However, I have been loving beauty products and I must say that it’s been a particularly good month for product loving — and this month I haven’t had loads of time or energy for makeup and beauty experimentation so there’s a low-fuss theme going on.

Origin’s Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask ($28)

This was one of those products I had always wanted to try as many who I read with similar dehydration concerns to me seem to rave about this but it’s not stocked on the Sephora website and it’s not easily available anywhere close to me so I didn’t fully add it to the shopping list but when I went in to pick up the Hourglass Ambient Palette, I spotted this on the shelves and I couldn’t resist. It was amazing from first use, feeling lightweight and ultra-soothing on the skin, providing intense hydration with that slightly belly oil-rich feeling. I think this one might just beat out my The Body Shop one but I can’t be too sure. It does smell heavenly but I’m not a fan of scented skincare and could easily do without the peach fragrance. It’s truly intensively hydrating and not particularly thick feeling and actually can vastly improve dry flaky skin overnight.

L’Oreal Sublime Sun Alcohol-Free Quick Dry SPF 50 Sheer Finish Spray ($18)

I really never expected to include a body sunscreen in one of these favourites posts but here I am, once again surprising myself. I love the ease of spray sunscreens (as many others do) but I have easily irritated skin and suffer from eczema and some body acne (fun stuff) and this neither irritates with alcohol content, feels greasy or causes breakouts while providing solid sun protection. It does need a little bit of rubbing in in my experience but it’s so much easier and fuss-free than a lotion formula.

 Skin79 Snail Nutrition BB Cream ($20/39)

After my lovely cousin picked this authentic Korean BB Cream up for me at Sasa in Hong Kong last summer, I became really obsessed with the stuff until Summer ended and forgot about its loveliness, especially as an all-in-one skincare-makeup hybrid product but I’ve been gradually adding it back into the routine and this month it’s been an essential. I don’t love it as a foundation as much as Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet etc. but the medium-coverage base provides fabulous sun protection and moisture while still looking fairly natural and glowy on the skin. I’m not someone who usually experiences oxidation but this one actually does and when it changes tone it looks phenomenal (not when you just put it on and this is why I’ve probably been neglecting this one). Another word of advice is that these sunscreen-heavy bases need to be worked into the skin well in order to have the desired effect in my experience. However, when I went to a music festival last summer this was a lifesaver – and a timesaver. You can order from the brand’s American site if you’re interested, by the way.

Nivea Vanilla & Macadamia Lip Butter ($4)

With such sensitive and perpetually-chapped lips, lip treatments are essential for me and as a result, you’ll hear about them loads on the pages here. It’s not a miracle treatment but this affordable balm has been a savior for hydrating my lips without ever causing them to become irritated. It can give a milky cast to the lips but the balmy formula instantly soothes and brings moisture to the lips without any weird smell, taste or anything.

Now Solutions 100% Natural Shea Butter ($20)

Somewhere in the early phase of the month, I did something (presumably) that caused quite the painful and unsightly eczema flare-up on my legs and unfortuantely there doesn’t seem to be a miracle cure or fix for the whole itchy situation, applying this basic cream twice daily has helped to soothe the area, prevent itching and help to calm the situation more quickly. As of now, I’m pleased to report that the basic formula has helped my legs to recover tremendously.

L’Oreal Glam Bronze Mono in Universal Sun ($15-16)

I will admit that I’ve raved about this pigmented red-toned matte bronzer numerous times in the last month but in truth I have only done so because the formula and the colour are both so phenomenal. The smooth powder offers impressive buildable pigmentation that remains effortless to blend into the skin. It’s also nice that it wears like a champ. It’s not the most cool-toned or non-orangey of bronzers, with quite a strong red undertone and warmth to it but it is the perfect hue to add that natural-looking sun-kissed hue to the skin.

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

This is yet another rather pricy (for a product of the drugstore variety) product that I’ve mentioned my love for more than once or twice and have been wearing most of the time. Despite being a stain, the formula does not dry out lips, even after the flattering balmy ‘gloss’ has worn off completely. The lightweight stains also don’t highlight dry patches or textural problems on the lips like thicker formulas can and I’ve been addicted to the summery sheer-but-buildable muted tangerine hue.

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

In the last year or so, I’ve become addicted to the results of filling in at least the sparse areas of my brows on a daily basis but in all honesty, I don’t love the effort it can take, especially lately as I haven’t been going all out on my makeup and this tinted brow gel seems to be the perfect solution. The cool-toned light brown hue matches my hair to a t, adding invisible looking definition to the brows that tend to look hairlike. True to its name, it stays in place on the brows until you remove it and can be worn alone for subtler brows or worn alongside some powder or pencil for more of a full-on look – but I’ve been just reaching for this one and it’s suited my laziness nicely.

MAC Eyeshadow in Woodwinked, Soft Brown & Smut ($12/18)

This month I’ve been using my MAC palette consistently and have fallen back in love with new colours to the palette and an old-standby — they are easy shadows to work with and consistently fabulous quality so they have suited my minimalistic mood nicely. The ever-popular antiqued-gold Woodwinked was rediscovered early in the month and I’ve become addicted to applying it all over the lid and blending it well to achieve that coppery hue, generally paired with some lazy-girl liner of some kind. The warm-tan matte Soft Brown and the dirty brown-taupe Smut were additions made throughout the month that I’ve been relying on equally as much. Smut is the perfect shade for smoking out the lashline and adding definition to the crease as it’s an interesting hue and doesn’t have much fallout while still delivering on the pigmentation front and Soft Brown has proven itself as worth the hype, being thrown through the crease for some depth as well as some transitioning-colour goodness. Oh MAC Eyeshadows, how I love thee…

What was your staple product from June?
Maggie, x.

The Monthly Roundup #8: July 2014

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I might moan and groan about those superficial daily life struggles more often than not but it’s not expected for those to be taken 100% seriously to account for my life, however, there is no exaggerating when I say that July was not a good month; it didn’t start off on a positive note and it ended on a wholeheartedly negative one. But, I’m moving on. Wait, I lied because I have to address the sad truth that it’s not particularly upsetting that school will be starting up again in a little over a month – there’s something comforting in the monotony of that routine. Is anybody with me on that one?

1. The Beauty Bargain #4: L’Oreal Glam Bronze Mono in 04 Universal Sun –
In short, where I managed to articulate my love for this red-toned bronzer in a somewhat satisfactory fashion, covering all the bases. I was also rather pleased with the photo shown above, considering my truly amateur skillset.
 
2. My Go-To Spring/Summer Lipsticks –
Again, where I was actually pleasantly surprised at the quality of the pictures in said post but also made the effort to narrow down my favourite lip products and showcase them on my lips – without going overboard.
 
3. Beauty Thoughts: The Verdict –
Where I tried a new post format that involved simply giving my thoughts on a handful of products and was pleased with the result and varying lot. I might expect more of these to come – thoughts?
 
4. The Essentials with Laura –
Surprisingly where I brought another face and perspective to my little corner of the internet and was able to share her favourite products with you. I hope it felt refreshing.
 
5. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette –
As one might expect, where I gathered my honest thoughts and provided a detailed account of them on this hyped luxury buy. When I say detailed, I’m not exaggerating…
 
What were your highlights?
Maggie, x.
 
 

 

 

My Go-To Spring/Summer “Lipsticks”

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

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

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

MAC Kinda Sexy Lipstick ($19 CDN)

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

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

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

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

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

MAC Sweet & Sour Lipstick ($19 CDN)

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

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

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

Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquer in Stellar ($8 CDN)

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

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

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

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

 

Beauty Blogger of the Month Award

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

(1) Where does your makeup inspiration come from?

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

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

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

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

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

(4) Let us know your favourite makeup brands!

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

(5) Your ultimate makeup pet-peeve?

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

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

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

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

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

My Nominees…

1. Sarah Loves Makeup

2. MakeupIntrovert

3. WhatSheDoesNow

4. Isobel Rose

5. SoftlySometimes

6. Allanarama

7. LittleBitSoph

Happy Sunday!
Maggie, x.

 

 

 

Products Heavily-in-Rotation: July

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

Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet Smooth-Effect Makeup:

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

Skin79 Snail Nutrition BB Cream SPF 45++:

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

L’Oreal Glam Bronze Mono in Universal Sun:

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

MAC Pro Longwear Waterproof Brow Set in Quiet Brunette:

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

L’Oreal Lineur Intense in Carbon Black:

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

Benefit Rockateur Boxed Powder:

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

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Ethereal Glow:

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

Revlon Colorstay Moisture Stain in Milan Moment:

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

MAC Lipstick in Kinda Sexy:

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

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

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

Nivea Vanilla and Macadamia Lip Butter:

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

Elizabeth & James Nirvana Black Rollerball:

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

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

 

 

 

Weekly Medley #26

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

5 Current Lusts #3: July

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

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

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

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

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

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Diffused Heat ($41)

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

 MAC Eyeshadow in Smut ($12/18)

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

Aldo ‘Cagno’ Bag ($60)

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

What items are on your wishlist?
Maggie, x.

Weekly Medley #25

Recently Updated19(1) A skincare review (here) (2) Another review – the Hourglass Ambient Palette (3) A daily face/selfie (4) Reading (5) Monday’s Daily Face (6) Blogging in the garden

 I can easily say that I’ve been doing these posts for a while now — note the edition number — and I have made a few changes already but here I am making another small change yet again. Often I’ve found myself wanting to write different posts while in that laid back and relaxed Sunday frame of mind and because of this I’m trying this out on a Monday. It’s been really hot again this week, remaining humid with consistent 30 degree weather and sunshine and as nice as this weather has been to enjoy outdoors, it really hinders my productivity as all I seem to be able to do is complain, sit in front of my fan and eventually escape to the outdoors. Speaking of the outside, I began working on my laptop in the shade by my garden and it was divine. On an equally as positive note, the power outages and heavy lifting seems to have subsided, only to be replaced with more low-key activities.

This week I couldn’t get enough of my Garnier Clean + Nourishing Cleansing Oil –I mean that I often make use of this cleansing oil but I’ve been loving this one all week and has actually got me out of my slight skincare lazy streak that I’ve been in as of late (relying far too much on Bioderma) and only has one fault – the packaging. Because of the leaking issue that the cleansing oil has, I could not muster the effort to photograph it because every time that I’ve tried this before there has been a bit of a leaking disaster involved. Without realizing it, I ran out of cotton pads (which I use to remove my eye makeup) and I decided to take a risk and actually use this cleansing oil on the eyes also and it paid off as it removes eye makeup very well without irritating my sensitive eyes in any shape or form. Being able to use this as a cleanser on my face and eyes to remove all my makeup has been enjoyably practical and fuss-free. It removes longwearing eyeliner fantastically without any blurring, stinging or inside-eye oiliness involved. It’s affordable, effective, agreeable to my sensitive skin and feels luxurious so it does tick all of the boxes.

It actually looks like this is going to be a brief one. As usual, I’m interested to know how your week as gone but today I hope you’re feeling a little better than I am — I’m feeling quite gross. Happy Monday … if that’s possible!
Maggie, x.

 

Rediscovered Loves

DSC_1002 I would say that I’ve put myself on a no-buy but I’m self-aware enough to know that the moment I would make such a statement, the commitment would be destined to become broken as I’m sure I will find something that I can’t endure being without, so instead I’m committing to a low-buy instead. In thinking and doing this wholeheartedly I’ve also pulled some products out that I already own and have loved in the past to stop myself from yearning after the next shiny object and here’s the lowdown…

Rimmel London Wake Me Up Foundation (Ivory): This had to be the standout product find of 2013 and I don’t take such declarations lightly but during the spring I fell out of love with it as I found that it was not the most flattering foundation on my inflamed raised blemishes (on account of the subtle shimmer in the formula). However, unless things are looking particularly catastrophic in that department, this one has proven itself to me again as ideal. My skin agrees with the formulation itself and it’s one that consistently looks good without requiring loads of work, being flattering over dry matches and even more-so on over areas of dehydration while looking like skin and leaving a finish that sits somewhere in between satiny and truly glowy.

Benefit Boxed Powder in Rockateur: Being as much of a blush hoarder as I am, the fact that I had been neglecting this one isn’t entirely shocking in itself, considering that the sheeny rusty-rosy shade tends to be categorized as a typical fall/winter shade. However considering that I detest complete adherence to those sort of rules and that I consider this shade to be in my top three of all time, I should have known better than to neglect it. As I’ve dug it out again, I can barely put it down as it adds that subtle but brightening flush to the cheeks that differs from the usual summery corals without going into that wintry berry territory; it’s seasonless and absolutely stunning.

Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Liner (Blackest Black): I’ve liked this gel liner for ages but have always gone for the fuss-free L’Oreal Lineur Intense over this one when I’m looking for something inky and precise for its ease and time-efficiency but now that I made the effort to actually clean the brush I use with this one and have dug it out again, I’ve been loving the precision and versatility that it offers. My only issue is that it’s difficult to form precise wings with the brush in comparison to felt-tip liners and that it requires a few more minutes as opposed to the 30 seconds each eye requires when I go for the liquid option.

Neutrogena Extra Gentle Cleanser: I raved about this one loads last year but after I finished it up, I decided to try their newer similar Ultra Gentle offering and I’m still not through that one; however, there was a sale on so I couldn’t resist picking this one up at an affordable price and I’ve been naughty and have begun to use it without finishing up the other one first. It’s an absolute failure in terms of removing makeup but the nourishing creamy cleanser is the gentlest thing on the skin and actually somehow leaves it more hydrated than before without the addition of any harsh ingredients (i.e. fragrance). Plus, it leaves the skin soothed afterwards but doesn’t require a cloth or any sort of process of removal. This is my perfect morning cleanser, I must say!

Have you made any recent beauty rediscoveries? Happy Sunday — the apocalypse has not come upon us, I’m trying out my Weekly Medley post on Monday for an experiment.
Maggie, x.

 

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette

DSC_0972

DSC_0956Dim as a finishing powder and Incandescent to highlight

After falling in love with the extravagantly-priced Hourglass Ethereal Glow Ambient Lighting Blush, I had made up my mind that I was actually going to do that insane thing and invest in one of the hyped $52 dollar powders that people claim perform miracles – recreating flattering lighting situations even in broad daylight. However, it was not so easy to go out and actually buy one; I hum-ed and haw-ed at the shades in the range in deliberation for months but at the end of June when I realized that I hadn’t done much high-end beauty shopping, I finally took the plunge and picked up the re-released palette.

The palette is sleek and relatively compact, containing 0.116 ounces of each of the three shades, Dim Light, Incandescent Light (exclusive to the palette) and Radiant Light, priced at  $67. I was most interested in trying out the powder as a finishing powder as I had heard from a variety of trusted sources that they blurred imperfections while adding luminosity to the skin and when I had a look in Sephora and discussed them with the salesgirl, Dim Light seemed like the ideal shade for this purpose and it has continued to be the standout shade in the palette in my opinion. Like the other two shades in this palette, there is no visible shimmer or glitter particles in this one and when applied lightly all-over the face, you’re left with this satin-y glow that instantly brightens the complexion, smoothing over imperfections in the process. The powder is particularly helpful into blurring the look of textural imperfections (i.e. hyperpigmentation). Unfortunately the effect of the powders seem to be undetectable in photography as shown below but you’ll have to take my word for it on this one.

Recently Updated18before the powders to all three being used on the face

While these powders do achieve what they claim and have the most luxurious formula, the promised soft-focused and airbrushed effect isn’t overly dramatic or miraculous and because of this, I was not awe-struck upon initial application of the powders and instead grew to really appreciate the products over time. Their ability to reduce shine is minimal so if you’re looking for oil control, other powders would likely have to be in the mix but if the oiliest you lean towards is a normal t-zone like me, these should be adequate. I’m sure this is true across the shades but I find that  Dim Light in particular is the perfect product to perk up my face after five or so hours of wear when makeup is still on the face but things aren’t looking so fresh. Oh, and according to Hourglass, it’s “a neutral beige powder that blurs imperfections and highlights the complexion” and that describes the shade adequately.

DSC_0975From the top: Dim Light, Incandescent Light, Radiant Light

Although I haven’t fallen for the other two shades in the same regard, the other two shades are just as lovely. Incandescent Light, “a opalescent pearl powder that brightens the complexion with a celestial glow”, does just that, working on my skin as a lovely subtle (but flattering) highlighter that’s low shimmer content allows for it to be applied to a wider area to add brightness and Radiant Light, “a sun-kissed golden beige powder that enhances the complexion with believable subtle warmth” functions as a nice and glowy warm bronzer that doesn’t lean red or orange in the slightest.

As mentioned above, the formula is impeccable. They feel somewhat powdery and product is kicked up when the brush makes contact but they are powdery in the most luxurious way – finely-milled, blendable, extremely pigmented and long-wearing to boot! I’m internally cringing as I’m writing this but I think they’re worth the money and will pick up at least another shade in the future.

Have you tried the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders?
Maggie, x.