wishlist

Another Weekday Wishlist

Wishlist posts aren’t the most informative but sometimes materialism is exciting. Joking aside, sometimes there’s nothing like the euphoria of buying a new beauty product and have it work out for the better. Here are a few of the products on my radar:

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  1. L’Oreal Infallible 24H Fresh Wear Foundation ($20 CDN | drugstores): When I started to think about writing this blog post, this foundation that everyone seems to be raving about was a true wishlist item. However, after hearing that people with dry skin were loving this heavier coverage foundation, I had to give it a try and it’s good. Spoiler alert: I bought it. It has a satin finish, offers medium-high coverage and has a fantastic shade selection, with different undertone offerings, particularly for shades on the fairer spectrum.
  2. Dior Forever Skin Glow 24H Radiant Perfecting Skin-Caring Foundation ($64 CDN | Sephora): I really need another foundation like I need another hole in my head because it really looks like this foundation will be similar to the discontinued Diorskin Star foundation, which I loved and am hoarding what remains of my bottle of it. I’m excited that there is a much better shade selection on this one and I love a good Dior base, especially one that promises glow and medium-buildable coverage.
  3. Paula’s Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturizer ($35 US | paulaschoice.com ): I have a few moisturizers on the go at the moment but after a friend of mine described this moisturizer as a fluffy cloud on your face and rather soothing, I’m very intrigued. This moisturizer has an interesting formula, containing antioxidant-rich plant oils, shea butter and a myriad of barrier restoring ingredients. I’m interested.
  4. DevaCurl Devafuser ($68 CDN | Sephora): I’m a big fan of diffusing my hair because my waves and curls take forever to air dry and because it adds some bounce and volume to my long fine hair. However, my diffuser that I have is old and falling apart. I’m really interested in this one because it the hand shape allows you to easily dry the roots with lift. It is ridiculously expensive for a dryer attachment though…
  5. Shea Moisture Manuka Honey & Yogurt Hydrate + Repair Protein Power Treatment ($13.96 CDN | Walmart): Despite the fact that I thoroughly disagree with this product being sold as a protein treatment, I really enjoyed my packet of this thick masque. It’s not heavy in the slightest and adds nourishment to the hair. I’ll pick up a jar the next time I’m somewhat near to a Walmart, which doesn’t seem to be overly often.
Any thoughts?
Maggie, x.

The April Wishlist

So I did that thing again when I start writing one of these wishlist posts but succumb and buy one (or more) of the products before finishing writing it out of the sheer lack of willpower. And I have no explanation for the lack of posts in the last week – I wasn’t super busy and I was inspired but it somehow did not happen. Alas, let’s get into my ramblings:

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Giorgio Armani Maestro Glow Foundation ($68): The depth of the love and devotion that I’ve developed for-slash-towards the brand’s staple Luminous Silk Foundation has made me convinced that I need to try their latest glow-boosting offering. Luminous Silk is glowy for a foundation that’s medium build able coverage but this serum foundation has me seriously excited. Also, I’ve gotten slightly too dark for the Luminous Silk and figured it justified purchasing another foundation in a slightly darker shade.

Camille Rose Naturals Curlmaker ($30): I’ve been really making efforts on styling my wavy-curly hair in the last while and I’ve had fairly good results but I have deduced that I may be in need of one of these light curl-boosting stylers to help my lamer sections curl up and blend with the remainder of my hair. Now that I’ve discovered that Target carries the brand and will ship it to Canada, I’ve got my eyes glued.

Becca Backlight Targeted Colour Corrector in Peach ($34): These crazy coloured correctors had piqued my interest. Even though in the back of my mind I was skeptical of anything related to the current colour correcting hype, I was interested after hearing how blendable they were. Yesterday during an excursion to Sephora, I discovered that my local store now stocks Becca and I couldn’t resist coming home without it an immediately applying it. I have to say that I think I’ve found a winner. The orange cast is intense and needs to be covered but the formula is so hydrating and creamy that it does not cake up, while still removing the dark cast underneath the eyes completely.

The Estee Edit by Estee Lauder Skin Glowing Balm Makeup ($42): Without realizing that I was doing so in the slightest, I dismissed the entire The Estee Edit line out of the hype and kind of gimmicks of their product and association with the Kardashian family. However, upon testing out the glorious tinted moisturizer and reading the impressive ingredients at Sephora yesterday – and trying my sample this morning – I have to say that it’s impressed me with its serious glow, added hydration and performance in both the skincare realm and as a lightweight base. I’m seriously considering this one. The fact that it’s not that expensive either is adding to the allure.

Caudalie Vinosource Intense Moisture Recovery Cream ($40): Although I do still have my two Paula’s Choice moisturizers on the go, I really miss the lightweight but rich Caudalie offering. Sometimes I find I need something extra to apply in the morning underneath my SPF moisturizer and I reckon that this love of mine would be perfect.

Physician’s Formula Butter Bronzer ($20): After not having much success with my first Physician’s Formula purchase, I guess I had written off the brand entirely. I’m definitely a bronzer lover and I have always heard fabulous things about theirs. I figure, why not start with their newest offering?

Any thoughts?
Maggie, x.

 

 

 

(Late) February Wishlist

 

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  1. L’Oreal Infallible Pro Contour Powder in Light ($16-18): L’Oreal is definitely my favourite drugstore brand and I have definitely been a fan of the texture of their powder complexion products. I can’t resist picking up this grey-toned contour and yellow-hued highlighting duo.
  2. NARSissist L’Amour Toujours L’Amour Eyeshadow Palette ($76): On a decidedly more high end note, I’m a NARS eyeshadow fan, have always wanted to try them in palettes and am definitely considering this offering – despite the investment. I’ve swatched the shades and they are definitely smooth and while they aren’t the most unique offerings, I’m seriously into the combination of matte and shimmery shades.
  3. L’Oreal Colour Riche Mono in Pain au Chocolat ($8): Moving back to my fave drugstore brand, I’ve seriously got my eye on these pressed eyeshadow contacts now that they have reached Canadian shores. I’m trying to start slow with them and I force myself going for this warm shimmery light golden brown hue.
  4. Essie Pinking of You Nail Lacquer ($8.25/ Nail Polish Canada): Despite generally not being a glitter kind of girl, I’ve been obsessing over a lot of these more unique glitters. From the 2014 Breast Cancer Awareness collection – but still available from Nail Polish Canada – this is a matte glitter topper with hexes along with larger irregularly shaped pieces that are a mixture of white and pale pink.
  5. CND Vinylux Weekly Top Coat ($11.95): While I have been pleased to extend the life of my current (and quite old) bottle of this top coat with quite a few drops of OPI Nail Polish Thinner, it has become clear that my bottle of top coat is coming to the very end. I want a fresh bottle of this thick gel-like top coat in my life again and maybe even to try it with a bottle of the intended nail polish.
  6. KB Shimmer Let’s Get Star-ted Nail Polish ($9/ Harlow & Co): Speaking of my glitter fixation that I’m going through with my nail polish obsessions of the moment, I must have one or two of those indy crelly glitter mixes. I love the look of the sheerer cream-jelly base of this white based polish and the combination of matte larger stars and blue/purple pieces.
  7. American Eagle Outfitters Canyon Boyfriend Flannel ($62): For what seems to be the umpteenth time I’m attempting that capsule wardrobe thing and I’ve determined that a flannel shirt like this one would be a welcome addition. I’m determined that when there’s a good sale going on, I’m going to think about picking up the white and black plaid.
  8. H&M Knitted Jumper in White ($19.99): In the same vein, I’m looking for a nice slouchy lightweight sweater that as the weather continues to warm up will continue to remain useful and not overly warm. The shape and lightweight material of this one seems like it would be a nice basic and it’s not breaking the bank by any means.
Thoughts?
Maggie, x.

The September Wishlist

 

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Makeup & Skincare

Unfortunately, I asked for the wrong shade of the Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer ($58) back in June. In my defence, my moderately fair skin seemed to suit the description for SX04, “fair with golden undertones” to a T but when it arrived, it seemed a bit too deep and orange-leaning – and I know I should have exchanged it then but I could not be bothered to send it back. Now that I love the creamy uber-pigmented formula, I’m wanting to go for SX03, after seeing its fairer swatches.

On the decidedly more budget-friendly side of the spectrum, I’ve got my eye on the L’Oreal Colour Riche La Lacque Lip Pen in 201 Lacque-y Charm ($11-12). I’ve only spotted them once with completely depleted stock once in Walmart, so I’m waiting to spot them in greater supply. Being a lover of crayon-style lip products and these glossy balmy formulas, I’m all over this neutral warm rosy hue.

Luckily I’ve had the opportunity to learn about and sample a few products from Di Morelli, including their simply named but fantastic Di Morelli Moisturizer ($58) that actually might come close to my Caudalie and might be more economical, coming with 100 mLs. I’ve been using this for a month and have found myself loving the lightweight soothing formula that has loads of the soothing and repairing vitamin, panthenol along with the usual emollients.

Nails

After taking a break from painting my nails for the good majority of the summer, my interest in nail polish has definitely been rekindled and these two Essie pale blues have caught my eyes. First off, I was convinced that I needed the Essie Nail Lacquer in Salt Water Happy ($8-9) because it supposedly had an opaque formula that was distinctly different than some of their more streaky pastel formulas and had that icy hue. However, even though I’m not nearly as sure about the formula, I’ve got my eye on the slightly more lilac-hued Essie Nail Lacquer in Virgin Snow ($8-9) from their Winter collection…

Clothes etc.

Although I actually have picked up two new pairs of jeans that I adore already, I still am in need of some pieces to refresh my fall wardrobe and these two items have sparked my interest… The first is the American Eagle Strappy Babydoll Cami ($36.75) and is a kind of different version of the less basic flowy tank that I rely on. I’m also in need of a new sweater or two with a more lightweight texture and I love the slouchy effect that the American Eagle Feather Light Blanket Cardigan ($73.56) offers.

And last but not least, I’ve got my eyes on Phillipa Gregory’s new book, The Taming of the Queen ($32) which as you might know, is yet another novel in the historian’s Plantagenet series that I’m all kinds of obsessed with.

Any wishlisty thoughts?
Maggie, x.

The July Wishlist

Seeing as I don’t feel exhausted or anything of that sort today, I have the day to relax and that I’ve missed my regular blogging schedule as of late, I knew as soon as I woke up this morning that I wanted to write a blog post. However, I have so many different ideas for blog posts that choosing the first one on the list proved difficult but I did eventually figure that a wishlist would be most appropriate – it is a new month after all and after starting a new job and working a good amount, I actually might have some business buying at the very least some of these things…

Desktop2Wilfred Minou Printed Silk Camisole ($50 | Aritzia)

I’m still fixated on simplifying and generally sorting out my wardrobe and a nice semi snazzy camisole like this one that can be dressed up or down and does not show a ridiculous amount of boob has caught my eye and made it to the to-buy list. I saw this one in the store and it’s gorgeous and not ridiculously overpriced and I’ve got my eye on it now.

Ruth Crilly Colab Sheer Invisible Dry Shampoo in Monaco ($?)

I’ve always really wanted to get into the whole dry-shampoo shebang, but I’ve found that  they either don’t seem to do anything at all – least of all, add some texture and lift to my often drab roots – or that they leave this ridiculous white residue. I’ve been a long time follower of Ruth Crilly and I’m tempted to believe that her line does what it says so now that it has landed in Canada at an affordable price, I’m ready to try it out. I’m the most tempted to try out this unisex-leaning aquatic scent offering.

PF Candle Co. no 4 Teakwood & Tobacco Soy Candle ($24)

I might have managed to go a month without including a Bath & Body Works scented candle in my wishlist post but don’t think that I’m doing one without discussing a scented candle that I’ve got my sights set on. I’ve always wanted to try the kind of expensive more sophisticated masculine-leaning candle scent but I only knew that it was available online and I didn’t exactly want to pay shipping and all that but now that Urban Outfitters has opened and is stocking the gorgeous scent I’m not going to be able to resist for much longer.

Urban Decay Naked Smoky Palette ($64)

I don’t necessarily think that the shades in the new Urban Decay Naked Palette are so unique that they warrant a purchase if you have one or two other rendition of the neutral palette series – especially if you own the UD Smoked Palette as I do. However, there is something about the collection of a dozen shadows featuring smokier tones, nice matte colours for the crease and practicality along with shimmery everyday paler lid colours for the less daring of us that makes me lust after it.

Paula’s Choice Resist C15 Super Booster ($48 US)

Both this concentrated antioxidant treatment and the next Paula’s Choice product has been featured a good number of times on my wishlist posts without actually being purchased but now that I’ve finished my sample of this product and am running low on all my products in the next product’s category, I’m ready to bite the bullet and make the purchase. I definitely saw a difference in the brightness and overall texture of my skin from adding a few drops of this pungent liquid to my everyday routine and I’m missing it in my life.

Paula’s Choice Skin Recovery Lotion SPF 30 ($26 US)

When I tried Paula’s Choice’s impressively hydrating and soothing mineral sunscreen, I was blown away because it managed to succeed in texture and formula as a moisturizer for my demanding skin while protecting it from the sun without irritation. Now that I’m almost out of every moisturizer in my possession, I’m ready to go all out for this relatively affordable one.

L’Oreal True Match Lumi Powder Glow Illuminator in N202 ($20)

I do completely acknowledge that twenty dollars is an awful lot for a drugstore highlighter that can’t be returned if it doesn’t fit my liking, but there’s something so appealing about this newly released mosaic one. I’m a fan of all things illuminating and more than that, I’ve been impressed with L’Oreal’s smooth non-powdery powder formulas in the last year that I have an inkling that this one will be right up my alley.

What’s on your current wishlist?
Maggie, x.

The June Midweek Wishlist

Another month, another wishlist post? Sounds about right… Plus, there’s always something oddly therapeutic about recording my thoughts on various items catching my eye.

Recently Updated78Bath & Body Works Nantucket Sail 3-Wick Candle ($11): I’ve been a good girl, actually burning through my candles rather than hoarding them and it is the Semi-Annual Sale at the moment so it’s only fitting that I might consider purchasing a candle or two. I’ve got my sights on this one, after hearing that it’s a subtly masculine-leaning aquatic scent, similar to the no-longer-available Beach Day candle from last year.

American Eagle Crochet Front Romper in Cream ($73.77): I adore the cream hue and the whole romper concept, and in my recently renewed interest in clothing shopping, I’ve been fixated on this flowy number. I’m definitely going to snap this one up once its inevitably put on sale. I find these cream hues flattering, especially once I’ve gotten any semblance of colour, along with the relaxed cut.

Paula’s Choice Resist C15 Super Booster ($48): After using this potent vitamin C product for a couple of months and noting that I’m at the very end of it with genuine anxiety and sadness, I’ve come to realize that I’ve come to love this product, hot dog smell and all. It feels soothing and hydrating on my skin and definitely helps with texture and overall brightness of my skin without being bothersome even when my skin is at its most sensitive.

Bourjois Rouge Edition Aqua Lacque in Appechissant ($24): I’m a major fan of the popular Velvet formulation but tend to prefer more moisturizing and balmy formulas so it was a no-brainer that I really wanted to try one as soon as they launched in Canada. I’ve got to say that that I don’t think the shade range is as fabulous as its sister product but this medium-toned corally shade is right up my alley.

Revlon Colorstay Moisture Stain in Cannes Crush ($14.99): Speaking of comfortable balmy lip products, I rediscovered my love for tangerine Milan Moment and have consequently decided that I must get another less outwardly orange shade – and this pinky coral seems ideal. These are expensive for the drugstore (as are Bourjois), but the balmy, comfortable and staining formula is worth it.

Annabelle Stay Sharp Waterproof Lipliner in Nude ($9.95): Despite having doubts about mechanical liners, I absolutely adore the formula of these creamy pencils and as much as I love the brown-hued rosy shade, sometimes I find it a bit too brown with nude and peachy lip offerings. The Nude shade looks like it might be ideal.

Sephora Collection Pro Precision Smudge Brush #29 ($23): While brushes are not the most glamorous and exiting of beauty purchases, I do find that they can make such a difference and I’ve decided that this pencil brush is the next on the list. I’ve wanted a pencil-slash-smudge brush for well over five years and it shall be worth the investment for applying shadow as liner and creating a smudgy outer corner and lashline. I’ve have been curious to try Sephora’s brushes in general so it would be like hitting two birds with one stone.

Have your eye on anything or general thoughts?
Maggie, x.

 

 

The Wishlist-come-Birthday-Gift-Guide

I would normally say that more than one monthly wishlist post would be excessive on my blog but this May there’s going to sort of be two. My birthday is coming in a little bit over a week – I’m not saying this for attention, in fact I’m not a fan of this kind of attention – and after frequently being asked what I would like, I thought it would be interesting and different to put together a Wishlisty gift guide post, highlighting products that I think would be nice to receive as a gift along with a few that I’m lusting after myself:

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• Kevyn Aucoin The Sensual Skin Enhancer ($58): I might have prophetic insight that I will receive a pot of this multitasking concealer and foundation in SX04 for my birthday or I might have ordered it during the VIB Sale and sold it to my parents to gift it to me for my birthday. Regardless, a nice idea for beauty gift are the more expensive cult favourite products like this one that we might find it difficult to invest in for ourselves. This product has only recently become accessible to me in Canada and thanks to
Sephora’s recent acquisition of a few new hard-to-access brands, we now have access to some of these luxurious brands. It also helps that it should actually conceal without problems on my dry patches

•Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Incandescent Electra ($41): I’ve raved endless times about my love for these expensive but gorgeous marbled blushes, and I’ve got my eye on the newly released shade – even though I already own far too many corally glowy blushes. This is another one of those indulgent products that are lovely to receive as a gift, especially because they are difficult to buy for ourselves.

•Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in 04 Peach Club ($24): When you’re not 100 percent sure of the recipients make up preferences and what to go for, but you want to give a beauty gift, a nice bright lipstick is the way to go – this moderately priced one is my pick. I adore the comfortable formula of this liquid stain and I think orangey peach shade is a nice brightening one that would suit many

•Caudalie Glycolic Peel ($39): I’m partial to receiving beauty related gifts but I think many females would be thrilled to receive one of these extra pampering products that add a nice ritual to the whole skincare routine once or twice a week, and this gentle peel is particularly attractive to me for this purpose. I’m passionate about gentle acidic products and Caudalie as a brand so this brightening and radiance boosting mask-peel so it was kind of an easy choice. I seriously want to try this product.

•Bath & Body Works Medium Candle in Black Teakwood ($12.50): I think that candles are a great gift but depending on how well you know their scent preferences and their level of obsession with candles, it can be better to go with one of the smaller single wick candles because the scent won’t reach as far, won’t be as potentially as offensive and is not the same level of investment. A safe choice is this repackage of the popular refined and relaxing but cologne-y Mahogany Teakwood.

•Bath & Body Works 3-Wick Candle in Black Sands ($22.50): If you’re confident with your choice in candle scents and that your recipient enjoys candles with some strength, I would say to go for one of the classic three wick candles – this ombred-glass number is my current top pick. The packaging is absolutely stunning and the scent is supposedly a mix of aquatic and cologne-y, reminding one of the beach without any of that dreadful coconut. From my own experience, though, I would also recommend Sparking Limeade, Brazilian Blue Waters, Renew & Refresh and Bow Ties & Bourbon.

•’The King’s Curse’ by Phillipa Gregory ($20): I’m a huge lover of books but I think even the less enthusiastic would love to receive a copy of a book such as this one for a present. I would highly recommend any book of Gregory’s Plantagenet series if one has any interest in historical fiction at all – they are relaxing, informative reads that are also highly engaging. I’m eager to read this one, the newest release. Books do make the greatest gifts though, regardless of genre…

 Thoughts?
Maggie, x.

The May Weekend Wishlist

While I’ve definitely been enjoying the fact that I’m free to now have days with honestly no productivity, it feels good to be back into the every-other-day-ish blogging schedule – this kind of productivity that I will make an exception for. Regardless, I’m excited to bring forward an edited selection of the products that I’ve currently got my sights on. Now, last month’s post was so late so the lack of time between these two posts and the fact that I have not been shopping ensures that last month’s choices still apply but I didn’t want to bore any of us to tears if I could help it.

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  • Bioderma Sensibio Tolerance Plus Moisturizer ($26.95): I’m kind of reaching the very near end of both of the standard moisturizers in my rotation and obviously I’ve got my eye out for a new one; my love for the Sensibio range and the reasonable price of Bioderma’s latest release has made it a strong contender. It has a no-frills but soothing formulation that’s free of a variety of irritants (including fragrance) and contains high concentrations of ingredients that I trust to nourish and soothe my easily-upset skin (glycerin, cocoglycerides and sodium PCA). It’s intriguing that the product is marketed towards my ‘intolerant’ skin that experiences redness and irritation as a result.
  • Bath & Body Works Bow Ties & Bourbon 3-Wick Candle ($22.50): I’ve been on  roll with burning my candles completely as of late, so obviously I’m thinking of buying more to reward myself and this supposedly cologney scent has caught my eye. Described as “an elegant and stylish blend of polished dark oat, fresh bergamot and a hint of bourbon spirits” and housed in gorgeous but not overly girly or over-embellished blue packaging, this candle appeals to my androgynous-leaning scent preferences and love for a bit of depth, woodiness and spice even in the warmer months. I’ve heard that it reads a little fresher and even has a hint of vanilla warmth – yum.
  • MAC Pro Longwear Nourishing Waterproof Foundation in NW20 ($38.50): I’ve been using my generous sample of MAC’s latest foundation and have been loving it after being surprised to learn that my local store got it early – I had been waiting on news of MAC’s latest dry-skin friendly foundation but hadn’t been expecting on hearing of anything until after its official release – and that its shade range does not run ridiculously orange, yellow, or weirdly dark. I’ve been enjoying using this as a fuller-coverage foundation that doubles as a concealer – even underneath my dry eyes. This natural finish foundation will be my next foundation purchase after my Rimmel Wake Me Up finally hits the dust.
  • MAC Huggable Lip Colour in Soft Talkin’ ($24): I both adore MAC Lipsticks and all of these sheerer balmy formulas so its completely reasonable that I want to try MAC’s formulation. The Huggable Lip Colours have been made available as a limited edition product yet again and I’ve got my eye on one, particularly this one described as “warm peachy nude”.
  • L’Oreal Voluminous Butterfly Intenza Mascara ($10-12): I’m a massive fan of L’Oreal mascaras in general and I’m always looking for an intense volumizing formula, so this more recently released formula has caught my eye. I’m sure the brush is gimmicky but I’m not overly fussed about brushes, having fairly large eyes and long lashes and I’m actually running low on mascara now after the mascara buying binge six or so months ago. I forsee this one making its way into my cart…
  • ColourPop Highlighter in Wisp ($8 US): I was all ready to chalk the emerging brand’s success and growing reputation down to marketing and general hype, until I saw the highlighters featured in videos and blog posts and was immediately intrigued by the cream-souffle texture and sheeny reflective finish. Although it might appear as a bit too dark to be ideal for my fair skin, I’ve got my eye on the beigey golden-champagne ‘Wisp’ – it looks like it would read as neutral and add glow to my cheeks and general warm skintone. It should also be noted that the brand new bronzers are also tempting me beyond belief, even though I just bought my Guerlain loveliness.
What do you have your eye on at the moment? Have you tried any of these?
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…

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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.

April Sephora Sale Recommendations

With Sephora’s sale going on (for just VIB Rouge’s thus far), I find myself rather regretful that I didn’t just make one more measly purchase at Sephora in December and own up to the fact that I have a serious beauty product buying problem and become a Rouge member. Instead, I’m here waiting for the later sale that I’ve heard Sephora is going to offer to both VIBs like myself and Beauty Insiders. Last November I wrote a post detailing some of my product recommendations so I thought I would do the same this time but I’ll focus on different items – keep in mind that everything from this post remains standing.

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  1. NARS Audacious Lipsticks ($37): There are some products that are borderline atrociously expensive but do perform excellently and these are one of them. I absolutely adore both the colour (I have the rosy shade, Brigitte) and the hydrating and no-fuss semi-matte lipstick formula. Even though these lipsticks do all of these things and coincidentally stain your lips in the nicest way to boot, it can be difficult to justify the cost so I would recommend going for it carefully when you have the option for a discount.
  2. Becca Beach Tint Shimmer Souffle ($33): Going off of the Raspberry/Opal offering that I own and adore, these souffle-cream blush hybrids are the easiest, glowiest and no-fuss option that I believe that I’ve ever tried. They blend seamlessly into the skin with the fingers and leave their buildable tint along with the gorgeous sheen that is marbled throughout. These aren’t exactly a cream blush but they are an excellent one if you want to get out of your powder comfort zone.
  3. Dior 5-Colour Eyeshadow in Cuir Cannage ($63): Countless times, I’ve named these Dior quints as my favourite eyeshadows of all time and while I was disappointed that they discontinued their entire range in favour of new shades, I’ve fallen in love with this slightly smokey neutral offering. The creamy shadows have a nice variety of finishes, blend with ease, last ages and don’t fall down on your face. I also adore the shade composition: a matte caramel colour, a deep plum-toned black colour with an almost matte finish, a shimmery plum, a sheeny taupe and a nice shimmery champagne highlight colour. The formula is just as impressive, let me tell you!
  4. Clinique Mild Clarifying Lotion ($16): In terms of skincare, I had to mention the product that turned me onto my love of chemical exfoliants and still it remains an excellent one – it’s effective with 0.5% BHA but is the gentlest and is impressively cost-effective. This one is definitely an unsung hero, especially considering that it’s hydrating, soothing and alcohol-free unlike their infamous paint-stripping offerings.
  5. Caudalie Vinosource Intense Moisture Rescue Cream ($40): I know that I said that I wasn’t going to do repeats in this post from last time but this lightweight and soothing moisturizer was too wonderful to resist including it twice. Although it has a light texture, it’s impressively hydrating and if you’re on more of the combination side of things I would go for the Sorbet variation.
  6. Bumble & Bumble Repair Blow Dry ($17/$37): First things first, there is absolutely no haircare product that can repair hair that is already damaged but it does work well to minimize the look and reduce damage over time by functioning as a heat protection. It does what it says, operating as a cream-serum used during the blow drying stage and more than that it leaves my wavy-curly hair so soft when used to blow dry it, offers control that allowed my hair to straighten nicely and stay that way and it was lightweight enough that I was able to get nice movement and life at the crown. I’ve only used this a few times, however, but it’s just that good.
  7. DevaCurl Ultra Defining Gel ($26): There’s nothing that defines curls, controls frizz and makes textured hair look nearly as amazing as a good gel does – I would say that this one is among the very best and it’s not the priciest in the world. It has a nice amount of hold and provides great control to the hair whilst being lightweight and it never leaves the hair feeling sticky, heavy or weird.
Any recommendations to share?
P.S. I’m still alive – just struggling through the exam period.
Maggie, x.