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Summer Edit

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I’m not sure if I’m in the small minority of those who notice this or what, but since devoting more than a little bit of my portion of free time to this whole beauty blogging thing, I’ve become a walking contradiction, promising one thing one minute and then something contradictory the next. The significance of this seemingly abstract musing? A bit inspired by Anna’s “Summer Edit”, here I am bringing you the standard summer edition post despite declaring these standard posts overrated and going for slightly different ones in the past and I’m excited.

I’m sure I included this in my ‘Spring Edit’ post, but to be honest, the non-irritating mineral sunscreen only did make an appearance on my face on the sunny days so the Avene High Protection SPF 50 Mineral Cream ($30 CDN)is a much more accurate pick for Summer. The sunscreen performs like nothing else with its hydrating texture that isn’t greasy (but doesn’t exactly help to control oil) and has a tint to mask the dreaded white-cast, adding a bit of coverage with it’s slightly pink leaning beige cast. Although I’ve gotten a wee bit naughty on the whole getting sun front, the Jergen’s Natural Glow Firming Daily Moisturizer ($9 CDN)has remained a staple for actually hydrating and soothing the skin my skin whilst adding some gradual colour that looks natural. In my opinion, this takes the edge off of the pressure to escape pastiness.

On the polish front, Essie’s Van D’Go ($9 CDN) has been brought into the rotation, especially on the feet. It was a gift that I received for my birthday from family friends and it was a much-appreciated one, considering that the pink hue isn’t usually something that I’d usually try. The lighter pink has a coral tinge to it and leaves a flattering salmon pink hue to the nails that compliments a bit of colour. It doesn’t hurt that the formula is a standard great Essie one that’s fully opaque in two coats and is relatively goof proof. Because I haven’t been completely converted to the pink side, I’m sure that I’m also going to be rocking the muted cornflower blue, Essie Bikini So Teeny Nail Lacquer ($9 CDN)that has the same great formula but might be slightly sheerer.

Moving onto the makeup, not only has the Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet Smooth-Effect Makeup ($48 CDN)found a place in my heart as this foundation-obsessed girl’s latest obsession but I’m convinced that for my dehydrated skin (and for loads of different skin condition’s) it’s the Summer foundation that gets as close as possible to perfection. I’m the lightest shade (10) so it’s definitely not one that caters to the fairest of skins and it does contain a good amount of fragrance with some alcohol thrown in (less than Chanel VA, though) but it feels like absolutely nothing on the skin (even in the hottest of weather) and looks like perfected bare skin. More than this, it offers surprisingly good coverage (medium that’s buildable) and controls oil with its velvety but luminous finish that somehow doesn’t cling to dry patches. Hallelujah. Even though I’m a drier and dehydrated gal through and through, one of those non-powdery powders is a godsend in the summer with the increased heat and my normal t-zone. I might not need one to set the foundation but if I’m wearing the Avene underneath, it’s nice to have one to freshen things up with and for this I like the L’Oreal True Match Mineral ($14-16 CDN).

I’m not strictly a warm-weather bronzer girl by any means, so they’re a constant in my daily makeup rotation but as soon as the warm weather comes around, the uber-affordable NYC Sunny Smooth Skin Bronzer ($3 CDN)never leaves my sight. Whilst the bronzer isn’t exactly orange-y, it does have stronger warm undertones to it that make it much more flattering on skin with a bit of colour to it and despite it’s price, the matte bronzer lasts and applies like a champ with its pigmented and creamy texture. The Maybelline Master Hi-Light Hi-Lighting Bronzer in Deep Bronze ($12-16 CDN)might be sold as a bronzer but as I said in my initial review during the Winter, it’s a bronzier blush in my opinion and is an amazing offering for the summer as it provides that bronzy glow like nothing else. The rosy copper hued formula offers on the longevity, texture and glow front and no doubt will be found on my face constantly in the warmer weather as it’s one of my favourites regardless of the weather and this is the season for it. Being the blush-addict that I am, I couldn’t confine myself to one (or even two). The second blush worthy of mention is my favourite, the unfortunately limited -edition MAC Stereo Rose Mineralize Skinfinish ($38), the lovely sheeny rosy coral pot of magic that instantly brightens up warm skin and adds a glow like nothing else. And of course I couldn’t resist mentioning a third one that to-be-honest is not miles different from the former, the cult-favourite NARS Orgasm Blush ($33 CDN)that I talked about my love for yesterday in great depth here. And although liquid illuminators such as Revlon Photoready Skinlights Face Illuminator in are typically more of a Spring (or even winter) product with the subtle dewy luminosity that they provide because things can much to easily enter into sweaty territory but I’ve been going for less overtly glowy foundations as of late and enjoying more of a highlighted look. And look I did more swatches here:

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                                                                    Left to Right: NYC Sunny, Maybelline Deep Bronze, MAC Stereo Rose, NARS Orgasm

Moving onto the eyes, I’ll be bringing the expectedly coppery, MAC Coppering Eyeshadow ($12/18 CDN) into the rotation, both as something a little bit different on the lid on an everyday basis and perhaps as the base colour for a more interesting smoky eye. I’m aware that I’m not really a minimal eye makeup kind of girl but as Summer rolls around, I definitely tend to go for less fuss (and less in general) in this region and my-go to product for this is the ever-hyped Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad To The Bronze ($9 CDN),  for it provides that gorgeous bronzed-taupe hue to the lids that is flattering without looking like you’re trying or putting in loads of effort. Another fantastic shadow that I always go for in these warmer months constantly is that golden bronze sheeny shade named MAC Woodwinked Eyeshadow ($12/18 CDN) and I’m sure many of you have this laying around. In terms of summer shadows, I definitely go for these warm and bronzy hues and if I’m not reaching for these three shades, I assure you, I’m sporting the good ol’ Urban Decay Naked Palette ($64 CDN).

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Left to Right: Maybelline Bad To The Bronze, MAC Coppering, MAC Woodwinked

I assure you this lengthy post is nearing its close now, as I come to you with my narrowed-down lip options. I talked about my love for the muted tangerine MAC Sweet & Sour Lipstick ($19 CDN) during the spring season but I think this shade is equally on point for the summer as it has that oranginess to it but is more than a little bit more wearable. In terms of a sheerer balm-colour hybrid offering, I’m sure the medium-toned pinky coral L’Oreal Sunset Angora Colour Caresse ($12 CDN) is the surefire winner, not only because the formula is spectacular on chapped lips like mine but that it offers on the pigmentation front as well. It might not seem like it but it did actually require some deliberation to narrow down my picks for lips down to these four and on some level I knew that choosing the Revlon Colorstay Moisture Stain in Milan Moment ($15 CDN) was more of a questionable one given that I haven’t had it for a week yet but the colour and formula screamed summer perfection and I couldn’t resist; the balmy liquid-lipstick that impressively doesn’t seem to have a scent both felt weightless on my lips and offers on the longevity front with its muted papaya hue so I suspect that it won’t be leaving my sight for long. Going along with the more minimal eye makeup theme, a nice bold lip is essential and my pick has to be the vibrant warm pink hue from my favourite balmy-crayon line — the Revlon Lacquer Balm in Vivacious ($9 CDN).

DSC_0619Left to Right: Revlon Vivacious Lacquer Balm, Revlon Milan Moment Moisture Stain, L’Oreal Sunset Angora Colour Caresse, MAC Sweet & Sour
For those of you who have stuck around to the end of this post, you’re kind of sort of amazing and I’m sure you know the drill already – I’m curious and want to know a few of your Summer picks below in the comments!
Maggie, x.

 

 

 

 

 

The Fuss-Free & Wearable Smoky Eye

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Unfortunately I didn’t take a good look in the mirror with some good lighting so I suppose you’ll have to live with the patchy lip product application in these photos, as they are besides the point of this post. And it’s nowhere near as bad in real life, I tell you. I’m by no means calling myself someone with particular expertise with the whole smoky eye thing but I do rock one fairly often – it was the first makeup look that I fell in love with, after all – and considering that it’s something that my real life friends tell me they find that it’s difficult, I figured I would give a more intensive post a go. This might be quite intense for some but legitimately I wear it to school and such and it doesn’t look too heavy, but I’ve been told that with my rather large deep-set eyes I can pull of a lot of eye makeup without looking overly done up.

As per usual, I began with a base and this time I went for the unfortunately limited edition Maybelline Color Tattoo in Nude Compliment to add a hint of taupe with the added longevity and such. I just used my fingers here as I honestly can’t be bothered to use any more brushes than I have to.

The main brush used was my ancient MAC 217, and it was first used to apply the caramel hue from the Dior Greige Quint as a transition colour and base crease colour but I also applied it to the outer corner. The main palette in use here was the metallic Marc Jacobs Beauty The Starlet but it is unfortunately lacking in matte basic sort of shades. With the same brush, I packed the champagne with a mauve lean all over the lids and into the inner corner, which keeps the look
from being too dark. Concentrating on the outer third of the lid and crease, using the same brush again, I went for the dark bronze brown and slowly built up the colour. Then I switched to a generic shading brush with the same shade, concentrating on the outer v and lower lashline. Before dealing with the blending, I went straight onto liner, using my creamy Annabelle Smoothliner in Black to tightline and to smudge into the upper and lower lashes with the same shading brush. And before going in with a good couple of coats with a mascara that does amazing things for my lashes, I blended out the harsh corners and diffused the colour with my Real Techniques Domed Shadow Brush , going for a blown-out rounded shape rather than having to clean up the outer corners. Then concealer is a must… either for toning down messiness from the blending or eliminating darkness.

So here is my take on a subtler smoky eye. I have to say that I haven’t mastered this yet but if you’re looking for someone who has, check Amelia Liana out (she blogs and does videos) – she’s the smoky eye queen! What are your go-to’s for a smoky eye?

Maggie, x.

 

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Everyday Essentials #2

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This is certainly not the most unique sort of post by any means — understatement of the year — but when I spot posts of this variety in my daily Bloglovin feed, I tend to salivate over them, hanging onto every word so it seemed prudent to give another one a go; if all goes well this may turn into one of those regular things. Thoughts?

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John Freida Frizz-Ease Dream Curls Daily Styling Spray ($11 CDN):This is more of a recent addition to the daily routine as far as these things go but since giving this another go (a few weeks back) to refresh my curls after being slept on, this has become a daily product staple. At first it seemed to be a pear-scented spray that did nothing but wet the hair but since I’ve discovered that the wet sensation dissipates after a few minutes and without drying out my hair, it adds a good deal of life and definition back to my second third and fourth day curls.

Bobbi Brown Corrector in Light to Medium Bisque ($30 CDN):Although this hasn’t received many raves from me since I discovered it in April, the pinky-toned creamy concealer has remained a firm love of mine. Without needing to be topped up with a more neutral concealer, the creamy-textured corrector neutralizes my dark circles like a champ, all without looking or feeling heavy on the skin.

Dior 5 Coleur Eyeshadow in Grege ($62 CDN):Although in the last month or so, this palette has proven itself as a daily compact palette that houses the shades for several versatile looks, it also lends itself extremely well to be used with other eyeshadows to provide high-quality basic shades. The caramel shade is one that I find myself constantly reaching for as a transition shade, the highlighting shade is a nice staples as is the rich matte chocolate brown. I really ought to dedicate a post to this quint soon as it’s so long overdue….

Avene High Protection Mineral Cream SPF 50 ($30 CDN): With the rapid emergence of the hot sunny days of summer in the past few weeks, sunscreen has become a must on a daily basis and considering that I’m allergic to most chemical sunscreens, I reach for this one. The cream is tinted to minimize the impact of the white-cast and hydrates my hypersensitive skin without causing any sort of reaction in the realm of irritation. By no stretch of the imagination is this greasy but I will admit that my face develops a bit more dewiness in my t-zone while wearing this but I’m satisfied with paying this price for a sunscreen that doesn’t irritate the skin with its alcohol content whilst never making the skin burn with its protection and never running into the eyes either.

MAC Eyeshadow Quad ($10 CDN) with All That Glitters, Coppering, Coquette and Sketch ($12 CDN):This self-created quad of shades houses my essentials, especially for this time of year and as usual, the quality of these shadows are fantastic and you can’t beat the versatility of creating your own palette. All That Glitters is that gorgeous peachy golden shade that has to be my favourite lid colour of all time (and most repurchased) so I can’t be without it obviously, the grey-brown Coquette remains my favourite shade for filling in my brows and it doubles as a great crease shade given its pigmentation and the workable texture, the deep plum Sketch serves its place as that almost-matte shade that adds definition to the outer corner of the eye while still being a little bit interesting and flattering and Coppering (obviously) has been a staple as of late for when I want to go for something a little more intense and warm than ATG either mixed or on its own.

L’Oreal Lineur Intense in Carbon Black ($9-10 CDN):I’m aware that I’ve raved about this affordable felt-tip liner more times than I can most likely count but its just the easiest effortless liner to use on a daily basis to create the subtle winged eyeliner in well under a minute. On top of this, the liner remains wet and pigmented for months and the felt tip remains precise. It lasts like a dream until you remove it but isn’t a hassle to remove either.

No 7 Beautiful Skin Hot Cloth Cleanser ($12 CDN):This affordable offering ticks all of the boxes as the ideal cream cleanser for me. Although it does have some fragrance, (pleasant and luxurious-smelling, if you’re curious) the cleanser not only doesn’t irritate even the sorest skin in the slightest, it removes face makeup like a dream while leaving the skin soothed and nourished. I’m not sure if I like this more than the Cleansing Balm from the same line, but at the very least it is equally as good and the pump dispenser is increasingly practical for daily use. I’m not a fan of the included muslin cloth so I don’t use it exactly as advertised.

Sonia Kashuk Undetectable Creme Bronzer in Rich Bronze ($10-11 CDN): I mentioned picking up this shade of the affordable creamy bronzer recently in my last post and ever since doing so, I haven’t been able to resist putting this one down. It has the same blendable skin-like texture and longevity as the other shade in the formula does but the darker shade has much less obviously warm (orange-y) undertones and instead lends itself well to sculpting the cheekbones along with adding a bit of bronziness; it’s a dream to contour with because you can just swipe a stripe above the hollows of your cheek and blend it out with ease.

What are some of your daily staples?

Maggie, x.

 

 

 

 

 

The Acquisition: MAC Sweet & Sour Lipstick

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

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

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

Maggie, x.

March Favourites

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I know that since the beginning of the new year, I’ve been constantly rambling on and on about my workload and stress but this has just been quite a semester for me schoolwise but as we head into exams, this month has been the busiest and most stressful yet and it wont stop for another three weeks or so. Because there’s been so much on my plate, I haven’t really had time to put any thought into the beauty routine or put all that much time into it and oddly enough I discovered a fairly large mix of products that we’re essential this month – I think because of the lack of time to experiment or really think about it all.

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Dove Refresh + Care Invigorating Dry Shampoo ($6-8 CDN)

I’m kind of new to the whole dry shampoo thing, having hair that can go for ages without needing to be washed, but I found that this one brought some much-needed texture and volume to my loose curls.

Organix Kukui Oil Frizz-Defying Curl Cream ($9-12 CDN)

I have the kind of hair that (a) refuses to conform to any style other than my natural wavy-curls (b) is dry and the tangliest hair that I’ve ever heard of despite not being damaged on account of not being dyed and not using heat on it on the regular and despite my past experience with curl creams being reduced to weighing down the hair rather than defining the curls (with a few exceptions) and providing no sort of hold, I was tempted to pick this one up to try out. Yes it is silicone-based but I think the cream redeems itself with its high concentration of nourishing oils that does not feel heavy in the hair. This is much appreciated in the moisturization and tangliness department for me and the cream also helps to define the tighter curls I have towards the end of my hair into more of a spiral-y pattern.

La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume ($16 CDN)

I actually only picked this up a bit before the middle of this month but it was an instant love, providing results in the nick of time and generally just being a lifesaver. Towards the end of the month, the weather got really chilly (-20 C) and then we had a blizzard and this balm with vitamin b was sort of an absolute lifesaver. It really soothes and repairs the skin when it gets in that irritated fragile state – presumably because of its anti-bacterial and protective properties – and while being affordable is a savior for healing the lips, sorting out eczema while reducing the itching factor and sorting out dry patches on the face like a champ despite being that thick balmy texture. I don’t know why I put off picking up the versatile balm for so long, unless I go to that place where I recognize my lack of rationality…

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OPI Nail Envy ($18 CDN)

I’ve had this “nail strengthener” for a good year now and while I’ve liked it, I haven’t been compelled to rave about it until now. In my stressed-out state, I had taken to peeling and picking my nail polish off and this left my normally strong nails quite weak and flaky and this sorted it out rather quickly while also performing well as a top coat and base coat. Although I haven’t tried Seche Vite (but want to), I’ve tried a good number of topcoats and this one while nourishing the nails helps to keep polish on my chipping-prone nails for the longest out of the bunch. I wouldn’t normally be tempted to spend this kind of money on a topcoat but after receiving this one as I gift, I plan on forking out the eighteen bucks again.

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Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer ($7-8 CDN)

After loving the foundation from the same line and hearing great things about the medium-buildable coverage liquid concealer that blends seamlessly into the skin, I picked the bright tube up. I reckon that it’s similar to the Maybelline Fit Me concealer (albeit more illuminating) but the Very Fair shade in this concealer is a much better colour match for my fair skin with yellow undertones than any of the shades that the other concealer offers. Something more pink-toned would be ideal for underneath the eyes but this shade is a good match for the actual skin on my face and covers up discolourations effectively without highlighting dry patches.

Soap & Glory Scrub Your Nose In It ($22 CDN)

This was one of my riskier purchases, as it not only provides manual exfoliation with its grainy texture and it promises to control the oil and unclog pores — products that have these claims tend to irritate and dehydrate my dry sensitive skin — but after going without a manual exfoliant for ages and wanting to go for something very gentle, being interested in trying the UK-based brand and seeing that it contained AHA’s (chemical exfoliant) in high quantities without irritating alcohol or drying detergent agents, I gave in. The risk paid off, let me tell you. It comes in a hygienic tube and comes out as a green clay-based textured scrub that promises to do double duty as a mask if left on for a few minutes. It smells lovely and minty due to the menthol and while it doesn’t irritate my skin per se, I know it’s not one of the ingredients I approve of in my skincare. It decongests the skin when left on for a few minutes while also buffing off dead skin cells and I find my skin afterwards is brightened and smoothed, with improved texture. Although it feels quite clean afterwards, it was not the kind of clean that results in patches of irritation and dehydrated skin – it was merely the clay. I quite enjoy how this performs double duty, especially when I’m both a little congested and dull as it remedies both issues at once with good results. I like to leave it on for the 4-5 minutes most of the time because it allows the AHA’s to stay on the skin longer and remain more effective. It is one of the gentlest of scrubs, just slightly grainy in texture rather than having microbeads, and it doesn’t make my skin react and become red as it tends to. I suppose I couldn’t talk about this without giving a mini-review, whoops…..

Victoria’s Secret PINK Warm & Cozy Body Spray ($8/ travel size)

As odd as it is, this is the first body spray that I’ve ever bought. They’ve never really appealed to me in the slightest and I tend to associate them with those sweet fruity smells of that I’m not a fan of but this one was different — while being sweeter than what I usually go for on account of the vanilla, the warmth and slight floral kick to it keeps it from going to far in that direction. Being a body spray, it doesn’t last for ages but lasts for a good few hours and is non-offensive. Overpowering scents aren’t my cup of tea and this is far from overpowering.

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 MAC Tenderling Powder Blush ($21/25 CDN)

After having this for a couple of months with a decent amount of use, I think I fell into love with this one this month. When you’re short on time but are a blush-bronzer-and-maybe-highlight-too kind of girl, these multitasking products are essential. The sheer tone finish is matte but the powder is a nice and soft one bringing that warm rosy-tan shade to both add definition and a little bit of colour to the face. It doesn’t look like anything on the cheeks, which I have been really appreciating as it both adds life to the face while pairing with any different sort of lip option. This is my first neutral blush love and it stood out for me when I wanted to wear a bolder lip while still looking relaxed.

MAC Dreaming Dahlia Lipstick ($19 CDN)

This has received a fair amount of mention from me in the last month, but I couldn’t go without mentioning it here. While still being actually hydrating and low-maintenance on the lips, the lustre formula provides a nice pop of coral on the lips. I’m someone who loves coral blushes and lipsticks as they seem to bring my fair skin to life and I expected to like this lipstick but I didn’t expect it to be as versatile as it proved itself to be. The forgiving formula lasts for around four hours without minimal eating and a bit of drinking and not only looks nice with minimal makeup but adds some colour without clashing with brighter cheek and eye products. It’s nice to have a slightly brighter but still easy-to-wear shade that suits minimal makeup to add some instant impact while still being wearable with any sort of makeup look. When you’re in a rush like I’ve been this month, it’s nice not to have to think about what I’m grabbing. Oh and it’s limited edition, sorry….

a moderate swatch

 

MAC Coquette Eyeshadow ($12/18 CDN)

This trio of MAC makeup was not intentional and to be honest I didn’t notice the high volume of MAC products in this post until I began to write it. I know that as of late, many in the blogging/vlogging world of beauty seem to be set against MAC, and while I can see why in some instances, the brand remains one of my greatest loves. At the end of last month, I finally plucked my eyebrows again and in doing so, I somehow gave my unruly-yet-sparse brows some shape and my love of the ashy-taupe MAC Coquettesolidified further. The shade dubbed a member of the “satin” family (but matte in my view), delivers a punch of pigmentation with impressive texture, adding natural definition to my brows without delivering any sort of reddish tinge. The shade is a workhorse in my routine and I’ve been wearing it in the crease and outer corner of the eye and enjoying the quick resulting definition. I talked about this in January’s post but believe me when I say that it deserved another mention.

If you made it through my long-winded essay of a post, then well done. I’ve been strangely decent on the buying front lately and would perhaps enjoy hearing your favourite product(s) of the month in the name of research…

Maggie, x.

 

 

An Ode to the Neutral Blush: MAC Tenderling

perhaps not my most flattering shot but its accurate at least
perhaps not my most flattering shot but its accurate at least
Funnily enough, even as someone with let’s say a natural rosy complexion (and it was worse before I discovered what skincare products to search out and avoid), I’ve never been blush-shy. But keeping this in mind, this dark time was when I was addicted to full-on coverage – MAC SFF, anyone? – so the redness was previously covered-up before blush action happened. The case in point here is that I’ve never been someone to go for those subtle neutral blushes as they’ve looked so boring and I’ve found success with my corals but I was tempted to go for this one when I want a quick one product cheek that won’t overpower the rest of the face. 

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MAC Tenderlingimpressed me, being one of the very few cheek products that I like the look of alone. If you’ve been a follower of mine for a while, you’re probably aware that I go for a bronzer of sorts to add some shape to my face as well as a blush and highlighter too if I can muster the effort but sometimes I’m running short on time and this blush actually runs double-duty, adding some definition to the cheekbones while adding the most neutral rosiness to the cheeks. The blush also is a winner when you’re going for a bold lip and want to keep the face looking effortless but not drained of life. I would describe the blush as warm-toned, half-way between a tan shade and a neutral pink shade but it veers on peach, if that makes any sense. Out of the neutral blushes I’ve seen, this definitely has more warmth without losing its neutral status and I think it will flatter warmer skintones the best.

The formula of this blush, “a sheertone” — not particularly sheer IMO — is among the best of the best for me. It is a softer powder, so it can get all over the place if you’re not careful but its texture glides wonderfully onto the skin. It has medium-buildable pigmentation and has good longevity. It’s ability to contour slightly is due to its matte but not flat finish, if you were wondering. I would describe Tenderling as the middle ground between a shade like MAC’s Harmony for contouring and a pink blush with some extra warmth added to it which makes it ideal for a face (like mine) that can look rather ghastly post-foundation. And it lasts for ages and ages.

shown with the much-darker MAC Harmony for comparison
shown with the much-darker MAC Harmony for comparison

As you can probably gather from the photos, I purchased this one in pan form to go in my duo palette for $21 CDN but they can also be purchased in their standard pots for $25 CDN and they come with 0.21 ounces of product so considering the quality, they are very economical. Tenderlingis a shade that looks rather dull and boring in the store and even swatched but really comes to life on the cheeks and it’s my first neutral blush love. Now I’m tempted to try more of these neutral blushes… uh oh.

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before… after….

Have you tried any MAC blushes? Aaaand, what are your favourite neutral blushes?

Maggie, x.

Weekly Medley #7

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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What were your standouts from the week?

Maggie, x.

Products I’d Be Incomplete Without

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I apologize about the lack of posts lately but it’s been a crazy week and one that I’m glad to be finished at that – Happy Friday to you all! Although I cringe about using the word “Holy Grail” let alone use the abbreviation that reminds me of nails on the chalkboard, I wanted to share a few of the products that I can’t see myself as being content with functioning without and therefore I felt obligated to use the wretched term. As always, I’m sorry if this post is a little repetitive — if you’ve been a regular reader for more than a few months, you’ll have heard me ramble on a good amount about these — but I find these posts incredibly interesting and helpful. As I enjoy reading them so much, I’ve decided to write more of these long-time favourites that remain my go-to’s for months on end.

Bioderma Sensibio H2O ($22 CDN)
I know I know I know I know, I’m fulfilling the stereotype of the blogger obsessed with Bioderma’s famous micellar water but my love of it is genuine and not moved by the tremendous amount of hype that the product has. I have dry and extremely sensitive eyes and this is the only makeup remover that I’ve tried that both removes makeup effectively and does not irritate, sting or burn my eyes. I’ve been using this almost for a year and my only complaint is that I go through a bottle every three or so months. I haven’t tried any of the new micellar water alternatives that tend to be cheaper that have popped up in stores recently because I have a few backups left…

Indeed Laboratories Pepta-Bright Serum ($40 CDN)

Although I don’t mention this product nearly as much as I mention the above product, I don’t love it any less. This serum is moisturizing with its creamy consistency but contains a high concentration of exfoliating AHA’s and over time, it’s radically improved the texture of my skin, has helped to even out my skintone and has really brightened my complexion. This is one of those no-fuss products that work in the way that they’re intended but with none of those extra frills that can sometimes irritate the skin despite their luxuriousness. It’s gentle yet concentrated yet effective; what more could you want?

MAC Coquette Eyeshadow (12/18 CDN)

Although this eyeshadow has only been in my life since the beginning of this year but I’ve absolutely fallen in love with it; It is “the product” for my cool-toned brows. Most shades go rather red on me unless they are not dark enough but this shade is perfect for filling in my brows with – the medium-dark khaki taupe shade may look somewhat gross in the pan but it works both in the brows and as a fantastic shade to add definition to the crease.

MAC All That Glitters Eyeshadow ($12/18 CDN)

After repurchasing the golden-peachy shade at the beginning of the year, I’ve remembered why I adored it in the first place and it has to be my favourite no-fuss lid colour that doesn’t look super noticeable on the lids but adds that flattering brightness to my blue eyes. It’s my perfect lid colour and plays well with other shadows. What more can I say?

L’Oreal Lineur Intense in Carbon Black ($8-10 CDN)

I’ve mentioned this in loads of favourites videos and I’ve mentioned it for good reason. It’s the only liner that I’ve ever tried that creates the precisely-lined kitten flick without the effort of gel-liner. I’ve mastered the jet-black liner so that even with my shaky hands, I can pull of winged eyeliner in notably less than a minute.

MAC Patisserie Lipstick ($18 CDN)

This oft-mentioned shade might just be my favourite lipstick of all time and easily is my most-worn shade. It’s a flattering everyday no-fuss kind of shade with a comfortable and glossy formula. It’s a darker nude with warm pink undertones that adds some brightness to the face. It’s almost a my-lips-but-better on my ghastly pale lips. It’s a lustre formula and it’s extraordinary.

the lipstick in action!
the lipstick in action!

Maybelline The Falsies Mascara ($8-10 CDN)

I know I know I know that it’s no secret that this is my favourite mascara but it is a fantastic everyday one for me. Without being difficult to remove, the easy-to-apply buildable thickening formula applies like a dream in seconds. It’s not a particularly wet formula and this might be why it works so well for my long and curled wimpy lashes.

Maybelline Master Hi-Light Hi-Lighting Bronzer in Deep Bronze ($12-16 CDN)

I didn’t intend for this to happen but I couldn’t narrow down any more from these three blushes but to be honest I’m not surprised being a blush fanatic. Last month I was rambling on and on about this blush and my love for it has not wavered – it’s a smooth textured blush that blends seamlessly into the skin and gives it a glow and it’s at a drugstore price. The warm coppery rose shade is to die for and I highly recommend it if coral shades suit you.

Benefit Boxed Powder in Rockateur ($36 CDN)

Ever since picking this up in early fall last year, I haven’t been able to remove it from my most loved makeup stash piled on my desk. It gives the skin that gorgeous glow that I love and sits seamlessly on it. The glowy rusty pink shade with warm undertones has never steered me wrong and with its versatility, it just works.

MAC Stereo Rose Mineralize Skinfinish ($35 CDN)

I’ve been going on and on about this lately and even though it’s available right now, I understand that it’s limited edition but I couldn’t be happy with this post without it. It has a similar formula to the two above – finely-milled and smooth as anything as well as pigmented on the skin and leaves the skin with the luminosity that I’m looking for – and it’s that rosy coral with a copper lean to it that instantly brightens my face. If I’m looking zombie-like and only have a few minutes to get ready, I always apply this and it solves it all.

What products couldn’t you live without? Have you tried any of these?

Maggie, x

Maybelline ‘The Buffs’ Lipsticks in Blushing Beige & Nude Lust

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top: Blushing Beige bottom: Nude Lust
top: Blushing Beige
bottom: Nude Lust

“Spring Break” can be somewhat of a funny thing; when you think of said break, you most likely are thinking about partying down south and relaxing but in my reality, it’s going to be spent sleeping and trying to get some much-needed work out of the way. So this break (beginning today err yesterday now) does not actually feel like your average break (I’ve such a thing does exist) as it will involve a good quantity of labour but let me say that I’m delighted to have some time to breathe and laze around home in pyjamas with my hair in a messy bun, plopped unattractively on the top of my head. Step one is getting out some of these posts that I’ve been meaning to write for ages.

As always, it took ages for the Maybelline The Buffs Lipsticks Lipsticks to enter to the Canadian waters but when they did and went on sale while doing it, I was all over that display. The collection features numerous ‘nude’ lipsticks that would suit a variety of skin-tones ranging from the pale beiges to darker browns and I picked up two shades on the lighter end (but not the lightest) of the spectrum, 915 Blushing Beige and 920 Nude Lust. These are a part of the large colorsensational line and retail for $9-10 CDN and certainly less in the US. Blushing Beige applies (and swatches) paler than it appears in the tube so although the shades look similar in the tube, they are remarkably different on the lips. This shade is a warm-toned peachy nude that is on the lighter end of the spectrum but does not appear ghastly in the least. Nude Lust has a more neutral base and comes off as a medium-toned beigey nude with a wee bit of brown in it and none of that peachiness.

Both of the shades have that typical Maybelline play-doh smell that I may not particularly like but am not altogether bothered by. The entire Buffs collection comes in the unexpected packaging except the bullets are covered with a more opaque beige-brown lid that looks a great deal less cheap than the packaging of the much-loved Vivids line, if you ask me.

While the formula is not infallible, I was quite impressed with it overall. I’ve only tried these shades which are obviously both on the lighter end of the spectrum but I do find these shades highlight the dry patches in my lips ever-so-slightly – but I do have very dry lips which I do not actually in fact exfoliate… Both of these have a nice cream finish that last on the lips for 3-4 hours with slight eating and drinking which is impressive for how comfortable and lightweight they are to wear. I do not necessarily find them hydrating but I’m certain that they are not drying in the slightest and they are lightweight on the lips. The formula reminds me of MAC Cremesheen finish but to be honest I like these better (read: I don’t adore the cremesheen formula). They are fairly opaque but can be sheered out slightly.

These two shades have found a home in my purchase along with my stash of lip products that seem to accumulate and I’ve been enjoying wearing these loads. I love both of the shades for different reasons and the only thing that would make it better is if they kind of had a shade that mixed the qualities of the two, being slightly darker like Nude Lust whilst still having the flattering pink-undertone of Blushing Beige. Blushing Beige, on me at least, seems to be shade that I reach for when I’m wearing heavier eye makeup as it is a bit too light to be worn with more minimal makeup on the eyes, whereas Nude Lust can be worn wearing lighter eye makeup as it isn’t so pale – I’m aware that I’m stating the obvious here but it had to be done.

915 Blushing Beige
915 Blushing Beige
920 Nude Lust
920 Nude Lust

Barely Blushing is similar to MAC Creme d’Nude in both finish and colour, however it is slightly darker and has stronger peachy undertones. Nude Lust reminded me of MAC Patisserie but the Maybelline offering has much stronger beige undertones and the formula is much more opaque and less shimmery and glossy. Patisserie is very pink in comparison.

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Top-Bottom: Maybelline Barely Blushing, MAC Creme d’Nude, Maybelline Nude Lust, MAC Patisserie

Have you tried any of these? What are your thoughts?

Maggie, x.

Luminous Skin Lineup

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It’s not a rare occasion when I ramble on and on about luminous skin, as my skin is rather dry and dull and I’m constantly looking to remedy that but I know not everyone is looking for that all-out dewiness, however, from talking to my friends in real life I know that everyone wants a little bit of luminosity in their life regardless of their skin condition and I thought I’d share an edited selection of my favourites for different concerns. Annnnnnnd, it appears to be completely on trend for this spring.
Benefit Girl Meets Pearl ($36 CDN)

If you, like many, suffer from an oily t-zone, the idea of radiance in any capacity probably makes you want to vomit because you know that it will only make your skin concerns worse. Regardless of the condition of our skin, we all seem to suffer from some winter dullness this time of year and this is a good option for hesitant gals who live in constant fear of any sort of shine on the face in any capacity that want to ease into the slightly glowier territory. Because the subtle golden-pink liquid highlighter can be strategically placed on top of makeup, you don’t have to worry about the luminosity highlighting areas that you don’t want to be highlighted and to control what areas have that luminosity. This is a nice natural-looking highlighter for all though. I love it and if you can stomach the price tag you will too. Also it can be mixed with a heavier-coverage foundation for a little bit of added luminosity without sacrificing on the longevity front.

Diorskin Nude Skin-Glowing Makeup ($48 CDN)

Radiant foundations have seemed to be having their moment as of late but some of them are intimidatingly glowy and sheer and can contain shimmer but this is my foundation of choice with a radiant but not overtly dewy foundation with a weightless consistency offering medium coverage that is just a touch glowier than a natural finish. Although this hasn’t made its way into a favourites post, I have been really enjoying this lately and I think it would be especially great for someone with combination skin who is looking to add life to their face without sacrificing longevity and getting the dreaded oily t-zone quickly. If only it didn’t have such high alcohol content. For reference, I wear the shade 11 Cream which matches my winter fair-but-not-overly-so skin with somewhat yellow undertones. And this is like the only foundation with sunscreen that does not irritate my skin (I tend to be sensitive to chemical sunscreens) while still not flashing-back.

Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation ($11-12 CDN)

I know I’m late on the bandwagon with this one but I hadn’t picked it up in the past because I thought it was a sheerer foundation that offered a demi-matte or natural finish and I tend to prefer dewier foundations of that variety but after I had my Lilly Pebbles watching marathon and saw that she found it to be moisturizing and illuminating and then I saw it on sale – I was sold. It goes on quite sheer with a small amount but with a moderate amount and a buffing brush, it offers medium coverage that glides over the usual dry patches and looks invisible on the skin even close up. It’s a really new addition for me but I’ve been obsessed lately. This offers slightly less coverage than the Dior and is more luminous but it does not have any sheen or reflective particles like say Rimmel Wake Me Up but rather looks like hydrated skin. For reference, I wear 130 Shell which is an impressive match for my skin but it is not quite as fair as the Dior. It seems to have great shade offerings for fair skin which I can definitely appreciate – and it caters to both warm and cool undertones. And it neither contains fragrance or alcohol…

MAC Studio Careblend Pressed Powder ($30 CDN)

I used to think that powders were the equivalent of the devil’s reincarnate, making the skin look dry and dull, powdery and making their makeup look obvious and clinging to any hint of dryness on the skin but this powder has changed my mind on that. It’s a sheerer powder that does all that powders should do – taking down excess shine, smoothing out texture and reducing the appearance of pores – without removing luminosity from the skin. This powder has more of a natural finish rather than a matte one which is impressive. It’s dare I say invisible on the skin.

Laura Mercier Radiance Primer ($24/40 CDN)

I will admit that I picked this up as a Sephora 100 Point Perk as it contained an impressive amount of product (0.5 oz) but I’m contemplating purchasing it when I run out. Although I wouldn’t say it actually helps with the longevity of makeup or pores or anything, it’s a really gentle formula that weightlessly hydrates the skin while bringing a refined glow to the skin and helping foundation to glide on more smoothly.

Benefit Rockateur Boxed Powder ($36 CDN)

For some reason when thinking about glow-inducing products, I tend to forget about blushes but blushes like these sometimes are the easiest  way to get that luminosity. Although it’s not cheap, this finely-milled warm rusty rose blush reads as glowy skin as it’s not overtly shimmery. I swear this brings instant life to the face without reading as makeup.

Maybelline Master Highlight in Deep Bronze ($12-16 CDN)

A few weeks back, I was going on and on about my newfound love for this and this has not changed. At a more affordable cost, this “bronzer” – I use it as a blush – has that smooth and subtly luminous texture, imparting a warm-toned rosy copper glow to the cheeks.

Going for the believable glow: wearing the Laura Mercier Primer, Dior Foundation, Benefit highlighter and a light dusting of the powder in the t-zone
Going for the believable glow: wearing the Laura Mercier Primer, Dior Foundation, Benefit highlighter and a light dusting of the powder in the t-zone

Do you love the luminous look? What products do you go for when you want to look glowy?

Maggie, x.