Reviews & Swatches

Pinterest Test #1: Date Night Eyeshadow Tutorial

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I have been pinning eye makeup looks and tutorials on Pinterest for YEARS but I realized that I haven’t actually tried any of the looks out on myself yet…they are just sitting in my “Beauty Board” collecting dust (or whatever is equivalent online…).  That’s no good!

So, I’ve decided to challenge myself, over the next couple months, by selecting my favourite pins and trying them out to discover:

  1. If I can create this look with my existing affordable eye makeup?
  2. If this look works well on my/a different eye shape and/or colour?
  3. How helpful are the step by step images (if any)?
  4. What tips can I provide my readers to help you achieve this look?

On to today’s challenge…

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Photo from fashionsy.com.

Today’s challenge is the look to the left entitled “Date Night Eye Shadow” (although, for me, it’s a spring/summer look that you could wear day and night).

I thought it was the perfect challenge to start with – a quick and easy look with a pop of colour using only 4 shadows + liner + mascara.  There are clear step by step images displaying both brush type and shadow colour.

I was optimistic that this would look lovely with my eye shape and colour as the model has brown eyes like me (plus, purple looks beautiful on all eye colours)!

 

 

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Tried & True: My Concealer Journey

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Dark circles, acne scars, or discolouration?  Foundation helps but sometimes you need a little extra coverage to feel your best.

Over the past 22 years, I’ve tried a variety of concealers depending on my needs at different stages of my life – liquids, creams and powders, medicated and cosmetic.  I’m definitely not a concealer expert, but I wanted to share my product journey with you in hopes that you can learn a little, laugh a little, and reflect on your makeup journey.

Before I start, I should mention that this blog is focused on products (vs. application).  I normally select concealers that are one or two shades lighter then my foundation.  If a product doesn’t come with a spongy tip, I dab it onto my skin with my middle or ring finger and then blend it in with a Beauty Blender.  For dark circles, I apply it in a half moon or triangular shape under my eyes and then blend it out. (Not mind blowing info…but more of an fyi).

In the beginning

acnomelAlthough it’s an acne medication cream, I have always considered Acnomel my very first concealer. When I was 11, I had a little acne so my mom bought it for me to help clear it up.   The product was tinted beige/tan, and I discovered that if I dabbed a super thin layer on my problem areas, it would cover them up.  So, although it wasn’t meant or marketed as a concealer, I used it daily to help treat and hide my acne (I went through MANY tubes …probably helped keep the company in business).

Does this make me look…orange?

When I began high school and started wearing makeup, I realized why Acnomel was not marketed as a concealer – once dry, it cracked, was cakey and sometimes had a slightly orange tint if I applied too much.  No one could see my zits, but they could see the dry, cakey, orange splotches all over my face.  Oy!

So, I went on a hunt to find a  new acne fighting concealer.  I wanted something that was easy to apply and blend, matched my olive skin tone, and helped clear my face.

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Review: Colourpop Lippie Stix (with swatches)

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As I mentioned in a recent previous blog, one of my new favorite brands is Colourpop (and not just because they spell “colour” like us Canadians)!  I have purchased their eye shadows, Ultra Matte liquid lipsticks, Ultra Satin liquid lipsticks, Creme Gel eye liners and Lippie Stix (…that is not a typo, they are indeed called “Lippie Stix”).

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The Lippie Stix are Colourpop’s modern take on a traditional lipstick, but instead of being short and stubby (like a classic lipstick), they are long and thin.  They are packaged in a white plastic twisty tube, with a lipstick colour matching tip, (and a white cap which is not shown in my photo).

The Lippie Stix come in 8 different finishes: Crème, Matte X, Satin Luxe, Sheer, Satin, Glossy, Matte, and Pearlized.  There is a HUGE selection and I have 11 swatched for you below.

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Review: Maybelline Master Contour Contouring Kit

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“Master face contouring on the go with this all-in-one palette – contouring brush included.” (maybelline.ca)

While visiting my local Shoppers Drug Mart, I saw the new-ish Facestudio® Master Contour Contouring Kit (in the Maybelline New York section).  There were two palettes (1) Light to Medium (2) Medium to Deep.  Both included a contour/bronzer shade, blush, highlight, and small fluffy angled brush.

Needing a bronzer for contouring, I figured that for $12, “why not buy the palette?”.   I could have picked either of the two palettes, with my skin tone, but the warm peachy toned colours in the Medium to Deep one called my name, so that’s what I went for.

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Review: L’Oréal Paris Hair Expertise Nutrigloss Luminizer

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A couple months ago, I signed up for Influenster, a site where “social savvy shoppers” can stay on top of the latest product news, review products, and receive free products (“VoxBox”) based on their social media presence.

IMG_8387Last week, I was so excited to receive my first complimentary VoxBox – the L’Oréal Paris Hair Expertise VoxBox containing L’Oréal Paris Hair Expertise Nutrigloss Luminizer Shampoo, Conditioner, and High Shine Glossing Mist. This was one of the five sets of products that bloggers received, each focusing on a different need – strength, gloss, nourish, repair, thickness, and colour.

Having long wavy hair, I look for products that make my hair strong, silky, shiny, and define my curls…that also work well with heated styling tools.  I always wash my hair with separate shampoo and conditioner, and often complete it with a hair cream or treatment oil. I’m not 100% loyal to any one brand, but more recently, I have been using Pantene, LUSH, Redkin, and anything I get in my Ipsy subscription box.

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Review & Swatches: ColourPop Ultra Matte Lips

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I’m back!!!  I haven’t forgotten about all you fabulous ladies, I promise.  Unfortunately, I let life (or should I said “busyness”) get in the way of doing something that I love…but not any longer!

Now on to the review and swatches….

Although I haven’t been blogging, over the past year, I have started following many beauty bloggers/vloggers and have discovered several new brands, products, and applications that I’m excited to share with you.  One of my new favorite brands is Colourpop, so I decided to write my first blog in 2016 about their Ultra Matte liquid lipsticks.IMG_7471

I’ll admit it, I am not a lip product expert.  In fact, for years I never wore lipstick at all.  After going through many hideous lip trends as a teenager and in my early 20’s (frosted lips, dark brown lips, glitter gloss…), I decided to stop wearing lipstick…excluding special occasions, of course.  Forgetting to reapply after every hour or two meant that I spent more time with an awkward lipstick outline then with perfectly coloured lips (not to mention the annoyance of inner lip guck buildup – ick!).  So, decided it wasn’t worth the fuss and became the girl with the meticulous eye makeup but naked lips (ie. an incomplete look but it seemed to work for me).

Then, last year, I started noticing many youtube videos pop up (pun intended!) about ColourPop’s new Ultra Matte liquid lipsticks.  The website and reviews all stated that the products were easy to apply, non-transferable (ie. kiss proof), and lasted all day – so, I had to try it out!

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Lush’s Jumping Juniper Shampoo Bar – A Hair Revelation.

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