This has been one of those weeks that requires limited elaboration so I’ll try to spare you my usual meaningless lengthy blabber. I’m pretty much in the same kind of zone as any other University student, stressed to the maximum with more work to do than she can handle. On top of this, I haven’t really been sleeping (at all) due to the stress of this and to be honest, I haven’t really been going for anything elaborate beauty-wise, as you can probably imagine. To be honest this has been one of those weeks when it’s a struggle to pull myself out of bed in the mornings.
After trying the much talked about Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation ($11-12 CDN) last week and using it on the daily since, I’m pleased to report that’s a foolproof slap er on kind of foundation that successfully masks the dreaded sleep-deprived and stressed face with minimal effort – and when you have about three minutes before running out the door, it can be applied with the fingers somewhat attractively in maybe thirty seconds. Score.
Generally speaking, I am a magazine fanatic and there’s always one that I’m subscribed to at any given time and at the moment it’s Elle Canada, which I subscribed to on a whim and I’ve been particularly impressed with the newly released March 2014 issue. While remaining on the affordable end of style/beauty magazines, it has interesting style and beauty content while still containing interesting and relevant nicely written articles as well. It can be difficult. It’s one of those rare magazines that seems to be written for those who have graduated from high school but do not quite have their lives sorted out yet for the next twenty-or-so years. This month featured a pull-out Spring/Summer 2014 Beauty Trend Report and as one would expect, I was all over it – I’m not a person who necessarily chooses makeup and other beauty products based on trends but I do like to see some inspiration, especially on dreary days like these. I particularly enjoyed the article titled “The Hits” that detailed ten spring fashion essentials.
Over the last few weeks, I’ve noted that I have been running dangerously low on mascara – not a hyperbole – and after dropping into Walmart last week and seeing this on for eight or so dollars I picked up the L’Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes Excess Mascara ($9-10 CDN) and I’m really loving it (even though it is not dried out yet!) thus far. I tried the original Voluminous Million Lashes years ago which I liked for big lashes but found rather difficult to remove. I like that it’s not a particularly wet formula so with the synthetic brush you can achieve perfect separation with buildable volume and length without the potential of clumping. This one is also foolproof on the lower lashes, even without taking some of the excess off of the wand. However, it’s not difficult like waterproof mascara to remove but it is more difficult than most mascaras (such as my long-love The Falsies). But I note I naturally have long curled lashes that are much too wimpy for my taste so I don’t need a mascara to perform miracles per se….
THE MASCARA WITH MINIMAL EFFORT
A few weeks back I was enticed into picking up some products at The Body Shop and along with the body milk I picked up the Aloe Protective Restoring Masque ($22 CDN) – however it’s on sale on the site at the moment for $13.20 if you’re interested – in all honesty because I was feeling nostalgic wanting to try a product back from the line I used back in the day and for ages I’ve been wanting to venture into the overnight moisturizing masques but I’ve been non-committal. I’ve been using this a few times a week for the past few weeks and let me tell you, I could tell the difference right away – and that is not something I can say about a lot of skincare products. The tub is completely unhygienic and would be completely inefficient if it contained high concentrations of active ingredients but it is extremely economical, containing 100 mLs of the goo-like substance. It smells unenticing but I could not be more thrilled as it has not been fragranced-to-the-nth-degree as per usual at these natural sorts of stores (I might possibly be making reference to Lush here) but it’s not awful, but rather smells slightly medicinal like the gentlest unfragranced products. It has the texture of goo and is ultra-concentrated with moisture that stays in the skin after it has drunk it up. For the first half hour or so, the mask feels kind of tacky and gooey on the skin (due to its first ingredient aloe vera, I would hypothesize) but then the skin ‘drinks it up’. In the morning, I consecutively woke up dewy-looking and luminous skin that was quite soothed. It really helps to take down redness and irritation (particularly from breakouts I’ve noticed) and keeps the skin plump and hydrated even after it is washed off. And makeup sits so much nicer on the skin the next day, I’ve found.
Ummm, in termsof post and video obsessions there’s one clear standout in my book: The Drugstore Beauty Chat with Lilly Pebbles on Anna’s channel (Vivianna Does Makeup). I always love their “beauty chat” videos as they are entertaining to watch, amusing yet helpful at the same time. I love the laid-back style of them and I’m constantly cracking up while watching one and this one was no different. There were some great additions to my wishlist as a result of watching but I couldn’t be happier. I just loooooove when these two get together and make these.
There are no words.
How was your week and what have you been loving?
Maggie, x.
holed up in the library again and indeed, I do wear glasses and warning I’m not actually wearing foundation here
This week was when I admitted to myself (finally) that it was imperative that I get the ball rolling with schoolwork and the like. This was not particularly fun. Everything has been adding up and has transformed into some sort of psychological claustrophobia inducing mass. Unlike my school experience last semester (and the year before), it’s not a week or two of debilitating chaos that is messing with my mind but it’s constant long-term work that requires dedication, focus, attention and organization. Note: I would not say that I possess said skills in quantifiable amounts. Alas, – I’ve always wanted to say that in a post – I’m aware enough to be doubtful that I will survive the crunch if some sort of sorcery doesn’t occur now. Main point of this ramble: This week has been pretty focused on products etc. of the grab and go variety and quick destressing fixes.
During weeks such as these, I come to really appreciate my enjoyment derived from reading posts and watching videos (of the beauty variety of course) – this becomes quite apparent. Being as scatterbrained and unfocused as I am, I’ve taken to listen to videos while putt-ing (horrible golf reference) through my required readings (or at least most of them) and writing my papers holed up in the library and this has been rather productive method for me, oddly enough. I always adore Lisa Eldrige’s (otherwise known as the makeup goddess) videos – she’s an amazing makeup artist who has a great minimalistic aesthetic, is incredibly informative and has the most soothing voice – buuuuut I had a marathon watching her videos sneakily in the unpopulated corner. It’s a few years old but Lisa’s Minimal Makeup Tutorial – Rosy Flushhas to be one of my all-time favourites that I rewatched. She epitomizes gorgeous yet effortless makeup, need I say more?
Everyone reading this knows her blog, I’m sure, so this likely won’t be majorly interesting but Anna’s “My Edinburgh Edit”was an especially interesting post this week. She looked effortless and gorgeous in the post (anyone else noticing a theme here?), the post was impeccably laid-out as always and who doesn’t enjoy a daily face post, especially one written by the trustworthy and amusing Anna?
Early this week, my skin did this thing where it breaks out in more than a few irritated and inflamed bumps and this is hardly surprising considering how stressed I am at the moment. I have the misfortune of my skin depicting my inner state. Thankfully I knew better than to overdo the spot treatments and irritate things further (I can’t even quantify the number of times I’ve made this mistake in the past…) and instead I pulled out the trustworthy Clinique Acne Solutions Oil-Control Cleansing Mask ($26 CDN) and it worked better than expected when I slapped it on before bed. My skin was not irritated afterwards and the morning after there was a remarkable decrease in inflammation and the underneath the skin pesky bumps. I’m not usually one to rave about masks but this one earned its mention here.
I cringe at the very thought of including this but even though I’ve rambled about it all week, The Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette ($62 CDN) deserves its mention as I’ve worn it every single day this week and more than that, I have been pleased with it each and every time. It’s one of those practical-yet-elusive all-inclusive palettes that create really nice eye makeup with minimal effort. It provides the warmth that prevents me from looking like a zombie (the brain hasn’t felt like shutting off enough to let me sleep for six hours as of late). The shades are cohesive and really suit my warm-toned skin and blue eyes.
a satisfying eye combination featuring the palette in question
I don’t give the MAC Powder Blush in Tenderling ($21/25 CDN)enough credit as it has been a godsend for me lately. It’s that neutral blush that looks like nothing to write home about in the pan that adds both shape and warmth to the face at once with its light rosy brown matte hue with you guessed it warm undertones. It’s a blessing to have as it’s a shade you can ‘pop’ on without even having to think about it – yes I’m aware that I spend entirely too much time watching British beauty videos.
the beauteous blush in question
On a more random note, I’ve been adoring my Lululemon Wonder Under Leggings($82/92 CDN) this week – not that I don’t constantly adore them; I do wear them most likely more often than socially acceptable… Before you write me off as delusional listen to this: they are as gloriously comfortable while still remaining socially-acceptable and are a less depressing alternative to rocking the sweatpants. You throw them on with some nice tall boots, a long cardigan and top with a scarf haphazardly brought to the mix and bam you look pulled together while in the optimal frame of mind to be productive. Wearing these while working in the library legitimately made a significant difference in terms of my ability to function this week. Sometimes the effort of wearing pants is beyond you and at such times these leggings are a lifesaver.
What have you been loving this week? I’m always open to new products to justify purchasing!
Not all that much has changed in my life in the last week so there’s nothing groundbreaking to add on that front … other than perhaps one of those lovely impromptu trips to Sephora with the girls, where you show them the copious amounts of products that they need and you allow them to help you justify purchasing your latest beauty lust(s). The impromptu trip to Sephora is a sacred institution in my world, allowing me to cling on the proper side of insanity in this blur of sleep-deprivation and stress.
The Products
I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned it before and I hardly need to because I’ve mentioned anxiety before, but I do struggle with my sleep and there are too-frequent nights of exhaustion when I lay in my bed in hopes of sleeping four hours or so such sleep occurs. Keeping my computer on into the wee hours of the morning is a habit that I engage in all too often and it does not help the sleep situation and makes the quality of my sleep rather poor so I’ve been really loving my “notebook of blogging”. I’ve kept one for months but recently I’ve gotten really into using it and keeping it on me at all times. Taking notes for blogposts is productive in itself when my mind won’t shut off but also seems to help me get to sleep in these circumstances and a few of my recent posts were typed in here straight from the notebook pages. I’m someone who is struck by inspiration when trying to sleep in the wee hours in the early morning and it’s really helpful to write the ideas down.
I’ve been meaning to talk about Ren Hydracalm Global Protection Day Creamlast month but I’ve never quite gotten around to it despite the fact that I really like it – however despite the heftier price tag I would rank it on par with my other favourites, the Caudalie Sorbet-Creme and Kiehl’s Stress Rescuer. It’s an effective, rich and nourishing but lightweight moisturizer that comes in hygienic pump packaging and does soothe the skin effectively as promised but it isn’t quite as gentle on my skin when it’s sore, flaking and irritated. Although it’s boasted as natural, there is fragrance in this one and potentially irritating plant extracts along with the beneficial ingredients. It leaves a wonderful energized luminosity to the skin and it helps for makeup to apply seamlessly to the skin. I’ve been using this constantly over the last little while. And if you were curious, it hasn’t been discontinued but rather repackaged with the Evercalm label – the formulation has not changed.
I’ve dug out my NARS Kalahari Eyeshadow Duoagain and I’ve been reaching for the darker, mauve-y plum tinged taupe shade as my crease shade on a daily basis. It’s the perfect slightly-darker-than-medium toned shade to add subtle definition and smokiness to the crease along with the lower lashline. It’s not matte but it’s shine factor only verges into the satin-finish territory with the subtlest of sheens. It’s like MAC Satin Taupe with warmer undertones, less shimmer and with more of a mauve lean to it, if that makes any sense – and I do prefer it to the cult-classic MAC shadow.
the taupe in action in the crease
Recommendations
If you didn’t figure this out before now, it shouldn’t be a shock that I am one of those sad sad people who look forward to the end of the month slash beginning of the next because of the influx of favourites posts and videos which I adore – I do suspect some of this is due to my inherent nosy nature but I’m always curious to see what others are wearing consistently throughout the month and this influences my makeup buying … for the better I hope and here are an edited selection of the ones I enjoyed the most. In terms of videos, I’d have to say that my top pick would beJaclyn Hill‘s as she’s so informative but hilarious at the same time and it doesn’t hurt that shes gorgeous. And postwise, I’d recommend checking out Girl With Makeup‘s offering.
So, I lied. I’ve also fallen in love with a new blog independently of my obsession with monthly favourites post and it’s called raspberphobia and is written by the British Annie living in America, an informative but concise and nicely designed beauty blog that deserves way more followers. This blog has quickly become a favourite of mine and if you like laid back posts with a beautiful layout, you’ll fall in love. I must acknowledge that it’s thanks to The Beauty Milk that I discovered her.
General Life Update
I’m aware that it is no longer January, but I’m still going through that kind of January blues of perpetual exhaustion, stress and a sense of blah-ness. It’s now getting to that time when it’s stress inducing merely thinking about what all I have to get done and it’s not short-term work per se but everything seems to be creeping up on me at once, leaving me little time to breathe let alone sleep.
Blogging-wise I’m pleased to say that I’m rather happy with myself this month. I managed to have twenty entries this month and although that’s not daily or anything, it’s pretty damn good in my book. I aim to keep it up. And I’ve been pretty happy with my content this month so here it goes.
I’ve talked about this product (and the post itself) on a variety of occasions this month so this shouldn’t be much of a surprise but I fell in love with the product this month and somehow managed to put up a detailed review fairly soon after its release. I’ll shut up now.
This was one of those posts that I had been meaning to do for ages but never quite got around to until recently and I was pleased with the result. It’s a hero skincare product of mine in short and it’s bloody fantastic and the review is much more detailed obviously…
After going through one of those blah phases when I wasn’t happy with my makeup for about a week straight, this is what pulled me out. It’s one of those makeup “looks” – I’m beyond hesitant to call it that — that was flattering and warm using the beloved Naked Palette, looking smoky but not over the top. Easily my favourite daily makeup of my month, hands down.
This post served as another piece of evidence of my mission to post actual product reviews frequently here and the product itself is divine and the shade does not get the recognition it deserves, if you ask me. It’s a gorgeous warm-toned wearable deep berry lip that does not dry out the lips or wear off weirdly.
This is a recent post and the first in a new series of mine that I have committed myself to and I was pleased how the chatty post turned out. You’ll have to let me know your thoughts. I rather enjoyed the mixture of lifestyle and casual beauty check-in post and I’m determined to continue with the series.
beautylit& ramblings 