guerlain terracotta joli teint

June 2015 Favourites

My apologies for the most belated favourites post that I’ve ever done but I’ve been busy and exhausted with a new job, so this later date is going to have to do. I’m pleased to report that while this is a smaller edit of product favourites (and hopefully a less lengthy post), I’ve been loving these beauty products dearly and borderline obsessively throughout June. Aaaand I will have another post up in the next few days detailing my more random favourites because they did really add up this time around…

DSC_0701

DSC_0702

Clinique Deep Comfort Body Butter ($35)

Throughout June, my dry and irritated skin was loving this gentle and indulgence fragrance-free treat. Although there is nothing miraculous in the formula, – not that it would have an impact if there was considering the jar packaging – I have been enjoying this slightly pricier rich cream because a little goes a long way and it instantly soothes even more severe dry eczema patches without any sort of burning or stinging sensation.

L’Oreal Magic Lumi Highlighter in 860 Fair/Clair ($15)

I’ve been reaching for this light-coverage concealer-highlighter-hybrid on a daily basis, either over the top of a more intensive correcting concealer (when my dark circles were severe enough that I knew that this pale pink formula was not going to provide enough help) or on its own when I was just looking for some brightness. I adore how light and weightless the formula is and how undetectable it is on the skin but I don’t love how alcohol-laden the formula is – and I’m not sure how I feel about the colour match, as it seems a bit too pale for any sort of coverage at the moment. However, it was a nice one for adding instant brightness in a few seconds.

Guerlain Terracotta Joli Teint Powder Duo in 01-Clair Brunettes ($60)

Throughout June, my obsessive love for this limited edition bronzer did not wane in the slightest. Unless I was reaching the next product for a more contoured look – rather than a healthy glow – I’ve happily been swirling this gorgeous bronzing powder on my cheeks, forehead and jawline. With a kabuki brush, I find that it adds the perfect amount of warmth and a non-shimmery healthy glow to the skin with minimal effort and time involved – and I love that you can use the sliver of peach as a blush. It’s just so smooth and finely milled. I promise I will actually get onto doing a full-fledged review of this – honestly.

MAC Matte Powder Blush in Blunt ($21/$26)

On days that I’ve wanted a sculpted look rather than a bronzed glow, I’ve been reaching for my newly acquired neutral brown contouring powder. It’s not actually cool toned but it isn’t warm either so it can help to sculpt but it does not leave any sort of grey cast – and it’s so pigmented that I have to be careful but because of this, it would suit a wide variety of skin tones. I like to concentrate it in the hollows of my cheeks with the Real Techniques Contour Brush before dusting the excess along my temples to achieve a subtle sculpted effect that doesn’t read too over the top in everyday life.

Revlon Colorstay Moisture Stain in Milan Moment ($15)

I wasn’t gravitating towards or particularly enjoying any sort of high maintenance lip product throughout June, but I did adore this staining but nourishing non-sticky balmy product. I love the semi-sheer tangerine tint that it leaves on my lips even after I’ve drank coffee and the like – and more than that, I love how it stains effectively but still leaves that balmy hydrating texture. There’s something so indulgent about this hydrating and lightweight formula that actually fades in a gradual subtle way that does not require any maintenance or thought.

What were you loving in June?
Maggie, x.

 

May Favourites

Having my twenty first birthday and two year blogging anniversary pass in the last few days, I was anticipating on writing a far more monumental and less mundane post but alas, I’m just sticking to my guns and keeping on schedule with sharing my favourites. There’s not much of a theme unless you count the emergence of summery weather influencing these choices…

DSC_0641

DSC_0640

Guerlain Terracotta Joli Teint Natural Healthy Glow Powder Duo in 01 Clair – Brunettes ($60)

I’ve fallen in love with the subtle glow and warmth enhancing bronzer for it’s effortless and seamless skin-like perfecting finish. This limited edition product is quite light for a bronzer but has loads of warmth that reads natural on the skin and adds glow without having an ounce of sheen or shimmer. I also love the pop of peach to be used as a blush without reaching for an additional product.

L’Oreal La Palette Nude 2 ($29.99)

At the beginning of the month I bit the bullet and paid the rather hefty (for the drugstore) price for this rosy-plum hued neutral palette and lucky for me, the investment has been worthwhile – and I’ve been rather pleased with the quality of the shadows. Over half of the palette is matte and surprisingly that is where the shadows shine the most – they are blendable, pigmented and smooth in ways that more affordable shadows rarely are. I’ve particularly loved the dusty lilac matte shade, the rosy bronze deep shimmery shade, the pinky champagne shimmer shade and the warm chocolate matte shade.

DSC_0637

Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade in Medium Brown ($23)

After finally taking the plunge and actually purchasing the hyped gel-textured product back in April, I’ve discovered the trick to using this uber-pigmented brow product and I’ve been loving the effect since discovering said secret. I find that even though it can be more time consuming, using the tiniest amount of product and pressure and gradually building up the colour delivers a natural-looking brow that is filled in and stays in place.

Lush Ultrabland Cleanser ($16.95 – $29.95)

Early in May, I unfortunately found myself in the LUSH checkout with the smaller size of this beauty, the first authentic cleansing balm that I’ve ever tried. This thick balm emulsifies slightly but feels heavy so its not for everyone, or really anyone that is concerned with products feeling greasy – but I love how it removes makeup whilst leaving the skin soothed and hydrated and does not irritate my beyond sensitive eyes.

Paula’s Choice RESIST Daily Smoothing Treatment ($30) | review

This hydrating lotion based chemical exfoliant has been an enjoyable step in my daily skincare routine since March and I’ve loved it for months so I’ve included it in favourites posts before but now I’ve fallen in love with it so much that I have to include it again. My sensitive skin doesn’t even feel a tingle from the 8 percent of glycolic acid or the 0.5 salicylic acid and instead feels soothed after being applied. I adore this lightweight product because its multitasking, providing that gentle chemical exfoliation along with nourishing soothing action with its antioxidants and other beneficial ingredients.

Soap & Glory Flake Away Body Polish ($18) | review

With the warmer weather that came in May, the need to actually shave my legs on a semi frequent basis followed and I reached for this soothing and hydrating scrub to smooth out the skin on my legs that are always suffering from some sort of eczema breakout, reduce the flaky appearance and prime my legs for the most comfortable shave. The warm scent and residue are absolutely delightful as is the fact that it actually seems to agree with my skin.

Calvin Klein One Summer Eau de Toilette ($65)

I’ve been happily spritzing on my new perfume daily since gifting it to myself for completing yet another exam period. This scent is marketed as unisex and I definitely agree with that, as it does not read as overly masculine but it doesn’t have any overly perfume-y or sweet feminine notes either. Being someone who shies away from overly girlie scents, I adore this gin and tonic based scent. This year’s variation smells like the beverage in a fresh and not reeking-of-booze kind of way and has a nice citrus hint to it along with a bit of muskiness. I love how fresh it smells, along with its hint of zestiness.

What were your May favourites?
Maggie, x.

My Sephora VIB Sale Purchases

After last November’s Sephora VIB Sale disaster where numerous accounts were disabled, any orders reaching places other than the US were disabled – the second of which I suffered from but it ended up fine in the end – for some days and orders took forever to ship, I was shocked to find that my order went from being placed to arriving in my mailbox in two business days this time – and I’m in Canada and nothing is all that fast shipping-wise. There wasn’t even a delay and this kind of shocked me to no end. Alas, I did not order a ton of things – and I’m only going to show you half because the other half are to be stowed away until my Birthday in a months time – but I think I’m beyond pleased with the four items that I have to share. And because the order shipped so fast, I actually have had time to try out the goodies numerous times so I will be able to share more thoughts.

DSC_0531DSC_0532DSC_0535

  1. Guerlain Terracotta Joli Teint Natural Healthy Glow Powder Duo in 01 Clair – Brunettes ($60): Given that I’m a fair girl who loves bronzers but doesn’t own that many, -especially on the higher end side of the spectrum – the sale seemed like a good opportunity to go for a more extravagant one and this was the one I went for. I did my research beforehand and was intrigued by the limited edition product’s ability to both add that perfected radiance (a la Ambient Lighting Powders or Chanel’s Les Beiges) while adding a subdued buildable bronze hint to the face and I would have to agree with my findings. It’s a bronzer that suits me at my palest but has that lovely texture that adds warmth and general glow with its smooth semi-matte texture. It’s gloriously buildable, too and I really enjoy how the compact includes both the bronzer shade along with a pop of colour on the side. I chose the lighter of the Brunette offerings because I knew it would have more warmth than the blonde one but wouldn’t be dark in the slightest and because I’m partial to the more orange-hued blushes. I do enjoy the musky scent but I would assume that it is definitely not for everyone. P.S. The swatches do not do the product justice – they appear more sheer and light than it applies.

    the bronzer portion | the two portions blended | the blush crescent
    the blush crescent | the two portions blended | the bronzer portion
  2. Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade in Medium Brown ($23): After mentioning wanting to make my first foray into the world of the famous brow-centric brand 3747 times and including this product in a good number of wishes, I bit the bullet. I really like the product and I think I’m glad that I went with the darker ashier shade but I do have to be really careful that I do not put too much product on the brush. However, I do love the effects when I don’t get to product-happy.
  3. DevaCurl Deva Clips ($18.95): Being someone with naturally curly (wavy-curly to be exact) hair that I wear that way most of the time, it makes life easier for me to embrace my curls and go for products that actually help them look to my liking on a daily basis. Given that my hair is so heavy and I have limp flat issues towards the front, hair clipping at the roots is something that I’ve tried to master on countless occasions in order to get some volume and more root curl – and I’ve had limited successes. Even though it seems ridiculous to spend close to twenty dollars on clips, I actually bit the bullet and went for the pricy DevaCurl brand version. While I’m still figuring things out with the clips, I have had much better successes with these than any others that I have tried.
  4. Calvin Klein One Summer Eau de Toilette Summer 2015 ($65): I’m fairly certain that this is the second full-sized non-rollerball perfume that I’ve acquired ever and it’s been about six years since my last one but I had a hankering to buy a perfume during the sale. I ordered this year’s version of the scent without smelling it because I liked the sound of the notes an awful lot and it wasn’t too expensive to get a large 3.4 ounce container. I liked that it was unisex because I tend to prefer fragrances that straddle the edge of being somewhat masculine-inspired rather than the typical sweet fruity offerings and I was pleased because it actually did smell of a gin and tonic – in a way that does not read borderline alcoholic – and smells of a relaxed summer moment by the water without any hint of dreadful coconut, instead with a hint of citrus in the freshest way possible. I’m not always a packaging girl but I do love the ombre blue packaging.
Did you pick anything up at the Sephora sale?
Maggie, x.

 

The April Wishlist

So I’m free from my most stressful and generally possible exam season yet and I kind of cannot believe that I’m actually done (for now). I’m kind of going through that phase where I feel numb and as if there’s some gargantuan paper to write or exam to study for that does not exist so I thought I would get back into the swing of things with blog posts – which I’m very excited for by the way – with a wishlist post. However, this is yet another wishlist post that breaks the rules because I’ve made it just a few days after receiving my Sephora order that included an item that I had been lusting after for ages that I couldn’t resist including despite the fact that they are now in my possession…

Recently Updated72

1.   Guerlain Terracotta Joli Teint Natural Healthy Glow Powder Duo in 01 Clair – Brunettes ($60): Despite being a pale girl, I’m majorly devoted to bronzer so upon realizing that I don’t actually own a million and I didn’t really have any higher end ones, I decided to treat myself to a luxurious one during the Sephora VIB sale – and this one was my pick. Although some might not be impressed because it’s not wholly matte and not the most pigmented thing in the world, I love the skin-glowing and brightening properties that the powder has and how buildable but sheer the colour is. The pop of peach-coral is a nice touch and I would have to say that its a product that has that almost undetectable effect that makes your skin simply look better a la an Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder.

2. L’Oreal La Palette Nude in Rose ($30?): I drooled over L’Oreal’s larger palette offering as soon as I spotted it featuring on British beauty blogs last year so as soon as I heard that it was coming to Canada, I’ve had my eye out for it. I’ve heard great things about the quality, the colour palette is a little bit more interesting than one might expect and I’m intrigued about the mattes, so much so that I’m not deterred by the hiiiiiigh price tag… I couldn’t find any usable stock images, so I borrowed this one from creepersandcupcakes.blogspot.com.

3. Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Poured in Moonstone ($46): I’ve had my eye on one of Becca’s expensive but ever-hyped-about highlighting products, in the lighter gold based hue and this cream formula seems right up my street, with its extra glow and general ease of use. It actually came very close to making its way to me with my Sephora order but I resisted at the last minute. I’ve still got my eyes ready and waiting.

4. Soap & Glory The Daily Smooth Body Butter ($18): There’s something about the formula of Soap & Glory’s moisturizer that suits my irritated and dry skin, soothing it and almost leaving a greasy residue that ensures that it actually lasts on my skin – and they do get their scents right – so obviously I need to try the formula for even drier skin. Riiiight?

5. Paula’s Choice Resist Hyaluronic Acid Booster ($46 US): Since slowly edging my way into the Paula’s Choice product line, it’s safe to say that I’ve fallen in love and their newest product has really caught my eye. It’s a soothing, plumping (I don’t care about this considering that I’m still 20) and hydrating gel product to use in the treatment or serum stage, either on its own or mixed into a moisturizer, serum, etc. It really appeals to me because I struggle consistently with a little bit of irritation, dehydration and textural issues and it actually looks promising as a soothing product to add into the mix. They do have a $16 dollar smaller sized offering which seems a bit easier to stomach in terms of price.

6. Paula’s Choice Skin Recovery Daily Moisturizing Lotion ($26 US): I have definitely included this mineral-sunscreen-based moisturizer in a good few wishlist posts before but now that I’ve used up both of my sample packs and have come to the realization that this is the best sunscreen product that I’ve ever tried, I’ve decided that I must have it and must share my thoughts. The white cast lasts for maybe two seconds, it has a nice lightweight soothing texture but most of all, it doesn’t leave my skin looking or feeling dry throughout the day – and leave makeup sitting in an unflattering way – as most mineral sunscreens do, or irritate my skin to the nth degree as chemical sunscreens do. I do tend to apply  light oil or moisturizer underneath, concentrating on my dry cheeks as the changing weather is giving me whiplash.

What’s on your wishlist?
Maggie, x.