Go-To Dark Lip of December

It has been a busy month with the holidays coming up and everyone having tons on their plates, but regardless of how crazy its been for me I've still been making time to wear makeup (obviously!), and my number one simple look I've been loving is a speedy concealer and powder routine followed by a little liner and mascara. To top it all off and make it not so boring I've been adding a darker lip. I find I look so much more pulled together and like I had way more time to get ready than I really did. 

I find having a darker lip also distracts from the fact that I'm typically rocking a messy bun (from the pervious night maybe) and what ever baggy sweater I threw on that morning. 

My favorite liner and lipstick combo lately has come down two these two beauties. I've always been a major fan of Rimmel lip liners and this one in 'Wine' is no exception. I fill in my entire lip using Wine, and then dab this NYX butter lipstick in 'Licorice' over top to deepen it a touch more. 

Let me know some of your favorite dark lip options to check out in the comments!

See you in my next post! 

Covergirl Ready Set Gorgeous Foundation | Review

Hello all! I know it's been quite a long while since I've done any sort of foundation review/demo on the blog and since I mentioned this foundation was a November favorite of mine I decided a full review was in order. 

I bought this after seeing Makeup by TiffanyD talk about it in this video and rave about how much she was enjoying it. Lets be serious, if it's good enough for Tiffany, I'm certain it's good enough for me! 

The Claim

The product is described as a 'fresh complexion oil free foundation'. 

"One simple step for a flawless, natural look that lasts all day. The formula blends easily to even skin tone and reduces shine all day."

Bare face 

I actually decided doing this post now would be beneficial as well as I've been experiencing a lot more redness than normal around my nose and cheeks, and I've also been quite sleep deprived lately, so my dark circles are quite pronounced. I thought this would be the perfect way to display how well the foundation covers on its own.

After foundation

It does an amazing job of covering up imperfections, reducing redness, and disguising discoloration. I only used about a pea size amount, maybe a touch more to cover my entire face. To blend this product out I've tried several different foundation brushes as well as my finger tips. I've found there is really no wrong way to apply this, no matter what way I choose to go about it, it always ends up looking amazing. Today I just used my Real Techniques buffing brush. 

The product is super easy to blend out and almost melts into the skin for a super natural true skin looking finish. It is extremely light weight, but at the same time provides a good medium coverage. 

Full makeup

I find this product has extremely amazing lasting power (for my skin I would say between 8-10 hours), and I find this is the only foundation I own that I don't need to set with a powder for the long wearing result if I so choose.

What else I wore on my face

All in all I give this product two really big thumbs up! If you've yet to try it I highly recommend running out and picking one up. They have a great shade range, and the price point of 6-8$CAD is just one more reason you need to give this a shot.


Tried this for yourself yet? Let me know what you think of it, I love hearing other peoples opinions on products! 

November Favorites 2014

As another month comes to and end it's that time where I round up some of the things I've used and enjoyed the most this month... here's what I came up with! 

NYX Matte Lip Cream in Monte Carlo

Guys, seriously, I've been obsessed with this little beauty this month. It is so soft and creamy (as the name would suggest) and I don't find it drying like other matte lip products I've tried. It's long wearing and smells amazing too! Going to be getting more shades in the very near future because I think I'm in love.

Covergirl Ready Set Gorgeous Foundation

I plan on doing a full review/how I apply this product really soon but just know it is seriously awesome stuff. I may actually have to dub this my favorite drugstore foundation of all time (wow! now that says something!). 

Rimmel Exaggerate Full Colour Lip Liner Definer in Natural 

This is an old favorite that really never isn't in my makeup bag, I've gone through at least 4 of these guys in my time and I don't see myself stopping anytime soon. It's the 'my lips but better' lip liner shade, and I adore it so much I wear it on its own a lot of the time as well. This month I've been really loving it combined with the next product I'm going to mention. 

Maybelline Color Elixir in Nude Illusion 

This stunner has been going over top of the Rimmel liner and making for my perfect everyday lip combo. These glosses are also an addiction of mine - my goal is to get every single color... seriously. They feel amazing and smell even better! 

Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze

Another oldie but goodie. It's such an effortless product and I think that's why I always end up throwing it back into my makeup bag time and time again.

EVAmour Perfume by Eva Longoria 

I must say I did not buy this for myself, my mother in law picked it up on a whim while in duty free while on a trip to North Carolina. I'm usually slightly nervous to receive fragrances as a gift because I'm so particular about what I truly like to wear. She really did amazing picking this up though, it is just me plus fall - I am terrible at describing scents but I highly recommend giving this a sniff next time you're able to because it's simply lovely.

Maybelline Pumped Up Mascara

As you can probably tell, if Maybelline comes out with a new mascara Hannah buys it, and fast. This has been in my makeup bag all month long and I've really been enjoying how plump and full and, of course, 'pumped up' it makes my lashes look. 

Maybelline Gel Liner in Brown

I've been loving this for both lining my eyes and for my water line and tight line. It lasts all day, the formula is smooth and creamy and I've been really digging brown liner because it's not as harsh looking as black can be, which is great for every day wear. 

Sally Hansen Polish in Ruby Do

Really no explanation needed for this aside from that its a lovely creamy burgundy wine color, and is the exact shade that I'm obsessed with at this time of year. I really love the formula of this polish, it's super creamy and opaque in one coat. I also enjoy the brush as it's bigger than ones like Essie/OPI. 

Notebooks

Finally, in the picture above you see I added in a notebook. This has just been the one I've been using over the past few weeks, but in general any form of notebook is always a favorite of mine. I use them for my daily life to keep track of jobs around the house, for my blog, for work, and to keep track of my kids and where they need to be - I would be totally lost without a notebook on the go at all times. 

Five Things | Drugstore Mascara

It probably comes as no surprise that I love mascara. If you look back at my monthly favorites you're more than likely going to see many different mascara favorites. I love a great high end buy just as much as the next gal, but I truly do love drugstore mascaras best of all. I've always had amazing luck with them, and who doesn't love a bargain? I can really argue that drugstore mascaras (especially specific ones) can be even better than a high end one. 

Here are just five I've pulled from my collection that I've been really loving lately, and several have been repurchased at least once as well.

Maybelline Illegal Length

If you're looking for straight up length in a drugstore mascara, this is your best bet. The formula is amazing and truly does length and separate your lashes for a lovely natural but lengthened look. I love combining this with every other mascara here to create extra length before adding volume. 

Covergirl Lashblast Volume

This mascara is and always will be my number one favorite that I will time and time again repurchase and go back to. It adds amazing volume, the formula holds a curl and the brush is just one of a kind when combined with the formula. In short.. LOVE!

Maybelline Falsies Volume Express

This mascara creates such plump thick lashes - certainly much more on the voluminous side of mascaras as it doesn't add much length. This mascara also creates a much more bold volume than the others shown here, which makes it perfect for pairing with a more dramatic eye to complete a more smokey look. 

Maybelline The Rocket

This is my third tube of this stuff and I can honestly say I don't think I can go without it anymore. It has become one of my favorite layering mascaras - although it does look amazing on its own as well. 

Maybelline Pumped Up!

Newest in my collection but becoming a fast favorite, it is by far the most wet formula out of the bunch, which I typically don't enjoy, but there is something about the brush that makes me continue to reach for it. The brush is so big, and adds both length and tons of volume - it's not too big, however, to where it makes it too difficult to get the outer and inner lashes.

Fall to Winter Transition - My Beauty Essentials for Colder/Dryer Weather

Try as I might to deny the inevitable, I have to force myself into realizing that it truly is that dreaded time of year again where the temperatures drop, the days get shorter and, yes, even that four letter "S" word begins to appear. 

I've mentioned before that I live in Canada - no its not winter all year round and no I do not live in an igloo but it does indeed get cold here, and snow. With all of these seasonal changes comes several undesirable side effects. I get extremely dry skin starting around this time of year until pretty well April and it includes everything from my face, hands and even my scalp. 

I compiled a few things that I've been turning to lately to aid in the transition into these dryer and cooler temperatures, and hopefully will keep me feeling much more hydrated all winter long. 

Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisturizer 

This has been my daily face lotion for years now, and I use it all year round. It's great for the cooler weather because it really moisturizes the dry areas on my face without making areas that are more oily like my nose and forehead become shiny and overly oily throughout the day. I also love this because it wears great on its own or under makeup. 

Vaseline 

This is a life saver for me all winter long. I use it for a variety of purposes - on my lips, hands and even my feet (put some on your feet and then put on a pair of fuzzy socks and go to bed and you wake up with super soft feet). 

Cuticle Massage Cream

This is a little one I got from a nail set that I just happen to be using up right now but any cuticle cream/oil is essential for me as soon as the air becomes more dry.

Lush Wiccy Magic Muscles Massage Bar

This little beauty is an absolute favorite of mine for this time of year. It is advertised as a massage bar for sore muscles (and it truly does bring relief - my back muscles love this) but it is also super duper moisturizing. It's great on elbows and knees where you tend to get dry skin. The added bonus is the amazing spicy scent that has hints of cinnamon and cloves, which makes it a heavenly winter pamper item.

C.O. Bigelow Rose Salve

I've probably mentioned this a number of times on my blog, but here it is again in all its rose glory. It is my favorite daily lip balm but it can also be used on your face, hands, elbows, cuticles and pretty much anywhere else you have extra dry skin. The smell of this stuff alone is worth trying it out if you're a rose lover. 

EOS Hand Lotion

I seem to always have one of these on the go at all times, if not more. I always have one in my purse and you'll more than likely find one in with my manicure supplies as well. Right now I have the cucumber melon scent on the go but I truly can't think of a scent I don't like from this range. It's a great boost of moisture and the key for me is that it absorbs quickly and is none greasy. 

Simple Holiday DIY - Transform Jars Into Home Decor

Today I have this little tutorial for you all that combines my loves for crafting, christmas and recycling materials to make cool new items. I had seen a lot of these types of DIYs on Pinterest many times and finally I decided that it was too cheap and easy not to give it a whirl. 

What you need:

Empty glass jars/containers of any kind (use your imagination!)

Acrylic paint in the color of your choice

Nail polish remover

Scrap paper to cove your work surface

The first step is to take your container and clean it - I'm using an old pasta sauce jar which I already peeled the label off of and rinsed out. You can see there is residue from the label glue still on the glass, so that's where the nail polish remover comes into play. Put some nail polish remover on a cotton pad and rub over the glue areas, it may take a little effort but it looks lovely once you're done. Then follow up by giving it a really good final washing with warm water and soap. 

Next, lay out your scrap paper/newspaper where you're going to be doing the painting. Then it is literally as easy as squirting the paint directly into the jar/container. I recommend doing a little bit at a time, and then waiting for it to drip/run down the sides before adding much more. Allow the paint to cover all the sides by setting it on its side as well and allowing the paint to run. Slowly but surely your entire container will be covered.

Finally tip your container upside down and allow all excess paint to drip out (about 10 minutes), then flip back right way up so it can dry fully and there you have it! 

Keep in mind the version I've done uses only acrylic paint, there for you can't use these for any purpose that may end up in them getting wet (vase for flowers, tooth brush holder etc.). I love them just set out on shelves and mixed in with my other decor, but you can use them in almost any way you wish, your imagination is the only barrier! These could be done in so many different colors and would look amazing for other party decor for any occasion!

Let me know if you enjoyed this little DIY and if you try it out! 

Also leave requests in the comments if there is something you would like me to DIY.

See you in my next post!  

Naked 2 Palette Review and Swatches

Its been about a year and a half since I bit the bullet and got even more Naked in my life (Urban Decay Naked that is), and somehow I've yet to do my own personal post on my thoughts and swatches of the palette. I really have no clue how its taken me this long, but finally I am here with a post which I hope you will enjoy!

Compared to the Naked 1 there are many differences between the two, first and foremost being the exterior of the palette. The first Naked palette was velvety in texture with printed lettering on the front (as you can see in the picture below mine is extremely dirty and the letters have faded a ton since I bought it). Naked 2 has a hard exterior and snaps shut vs the N1 which had a magnetic closure.

If you would like to see a broader look into my thoughts of the N1, you can check out the post I did on it here. 

Just like with the first, there are 12 eyeshadows, but unlike the first they are much more taupe themed and on the cooler end of the spectrum. 

Foxy, Half Baked, Bootycall, Chopper

Chopper is probably my least favorite shade out of the entire palette as it has a lot of chunky glitter and I tend to always have a problem with fallout when I wear this shade.

Tease, Snakebite, Suspect, Pistol

Tease and Suspect are absolutely my top two favorites from the entire palette. Tease reminds me a lot of one of my favorite Mac shades 'Quarry' which I love. Suspect is just the perfect shimmery taupe beige and I adore wearing it all over the lid and on the lower lash line for a quick and simple eye look.

Verve, YDK, Busted, Blackout

Two of my other absolute favorites from the palette are YDK and Busted - combined together for an eye look you are totally ready for a night out. Also Verve is probably one of the best silver shades I've ever come across - it can be used subtly or built up for a huge impact. Blackout is also one of the best matte blacks I've ever had, and of course you can never have too many good blacks in your collection because they are just so versatile. 

Now if you were to ask which of the two comes out on top for me.. well the answer is still going to be the original Naked, but this is a really close second, especially for the fall and winter months.

Hope you enjoyed this review/overview and I'll see you in my next post!

Five Things - Fall Polish

Now that Fall is quickly transitioning into Winter (at least where I live) I wanted to do a 'top five' post involving the polishes I've been wearing non stop since pretty well September 1st. 

Jade is the new black, I saw..u saw..we saw..warsaw, Bahama mama, Smokin hot, Public relations

All five of these polishes are also my favorites because of the formulas - smooth, creamy, and pretty much opaque in only one coat (great for if you're in a rush). 

Also a little disclaimer, the grey metallic China Glaze polish 'Public Relations' was from an autumn collection last year so it may not always be readily available depending on where you purchase your polishes (I get mine from Sally's Beauty Supply).


Let me know some of your favorite fall polishes have been in the comments!

See you in my next post! 

Maybelline 'The Nudes' Palette - Review & Swatches

As promised in my October favorites post, here is my thoughts and opinions on The Nudes palette from Maybelline, and swatches of the shadows. 

As I mentioned previously in my favorites, I had been unsure whether or not there was a point in getting this palette. Yes its nudes, yes I love nudes, but I thought it may just be another mediocre quality nude themed palette taking up space in my collection, and I could just put the money towards something a little more expensive that is certain to be good quality. My mind was swayed after seeing several positive reviews from some of my favorite Youtubers and beauty bloggers alike however. 

Since picking this up around the end of September I've been using it almost daily and have been more than happy with my decision. It varies in price depending on where you go, but its between $10.99 - $14.99 CAD. You get 12 shadows - 5 matte, 7 shimmery/frosted. The palette also comes with a double ended applicator and several small charts on the back with suggestions on how to combine the shadows to achieve different eye looks. 

I find this palette to be quite versatile, with many different options and ways to wear it, from subtle to deep smokey eyes. Although a couple of the shades weren't quite as pigmented as I had hoped (specifically the black shade) I really can't say any major criticisms about the product as a whole - you're certainly getting your moneys worth!

I hope you found this little post helpful!
Post any requests in the comments, and also let me know if you have tried/are thinking of trying this palette out!

October Favorites 2014

Finally, after months of not posting a monthly favorites round up I am back in action with my October Favorites!

First, and probably most obvious to all, since it was October I was most certainly burning through a (couple) Leaves candles from good old Bath and Body Works. As you can see I'm coming to the end of my final one, but I'm feeling okay about it because we all know Christmas candles are next! 

This month I found myself grabbing three old favorites that I had drifted apart from for quite a while and I'm not sure why. I repurchased my Maybelline Instant Age Rewind (light), and the original CG Lash Blast - both AH-mazing and I'm so happy to have them back in my makeup bag. I also brought out an old fave from my stash, the Wet n Wild blush in mellow wine. I tend to forget about this guy until the fall rolls around when I find it the perfect boost to my cheeks. 

Through the entire month of October I really didn't have much motivation to do my nails, but when I did I kept it pretty straight forward and kept reaching for the same two polishes - Maybelline 'mauve in manhattan' and OPI 'I saw..u saw.. we saw... warsaw', and to spice things up I sometimes threw on a little of the Formula X effects top coat in Turbulent over the OPI polish. 

For lips this month I've been back and forth between my usual rosy nude fall lips, and darker reds and plums depending on my mood and what I'm doing that day. My stand out lipstick for the month though, hands down, goes to my NYX Butter Lipstick in 'licorice'. I intend to do a full post on how I wear this lip look, but let me just say now, if you like the vampy look and moisturized lips you need to run and get this! 

(mellow wine,  licorice)

Last, and certainly not least, the item I was searching for nearly a month for, the Maybelline The Nudes palette. This has been out for a while now, but I never really gave it much thought until I saw it featured in a couple of my favorite YouTube beauty gurus videos. By that time I was apparently too little too late and every store near me was sold out. I finally did of course get my hands on the elusive little guy and I could not be happier. I'm going to be doing a complete review post on this palette ASAP.

So there are my October favorites! Let me know some of your favorites of the month! 

Any requests please post them in the comments! 

Talk to you all soon! 

Brand Boast: Rimmel London

Todays new post is something slightly different from anything I've ever done before. After becoming inspired by Essie Button,who has featured a number of specific blog posts and videos devoted to her love for one specific brand, I decided to draw from her inspiration and do a similar post. I'm going to attempt at making this a series of sorts entitled "Brand Boast". My first brand, as the title suggests, is Rimmel London.

Rimmel is a British cosmetics brand which was founded by Eugene Rimmel in 1834, originally as a perfumery and personal hygiene focused business. I have done much research into the brand since deciding to write this post, and since doing so the most interesting and amazing thing I have discovered is how industrious and business savvy Eugene Rimmel was. It is truly amazing that he started apprenticing at the age of 14, and by 24 was an expert perfumer and a visionary for his brand and the cosmetic industry as a whole. 

Now that I've quickly brushed you up on the history of the brand, I'm going to get down to why I love it so much, and have for easily ten years now. 

Face Products:

Im pretty sure one of my first ever foundations/powders was Rimmel brand, and ever since my grade school days I've continued to go back for more. It's not just the price point that is so appeal, but the fact that everything is such a great quality for that amazing price. There is nothing better than being able to rave about a product that is also widely attainable and affordable for all. 

My personal favorite as of late has been the Stay Matte foundation (I have a complete review on it here), and of course I cannot speak of Rimmel face products without pointing out that the Stay Matte pressed powder is probably one of the most universally loved drugstore powders of all time!


Lips:

The other top reason you will always find me going back for more Rimmel products - lippies! I swear they hit the nail on the head every single time, but my top favorite (and I'm sure many can agree) is the Rimmel Kate Moss lipstick lines. For about 6$CAD you can get a lipstick that is pigmented, long wearing, easy to apply and comes in enough colors to keep every lipstick lover satisfied. I have also done a review of the Kate Moss lipsticks in past, you can find that full review here.


I hope you all enjoyed this post as I certainly enjoyed writing it and doing the research into one of my favorite brands! 

Beauty Tip Thursday - How I Wash My Makeup Brushes!

While looking back at my many posts I came to the realization I have somehow never blogged about how I go about washing my makeup brushes. This is a pretty important chore any makeup lover should have in their weekly regime so today is the day I tell you all how I get my brushes fresh and clean!

I try to do this process about once a week/week and a half (depending on how much I used my brushes), usually on the weekend I find the time to do this. 

Here you have the dreaded before shot, pretty gross. These are the brushes I use all the time which I keep in my bathroom where I do my makeup. They're a mix of Real Techniques, Urban Decay, Elf, Ecotools, Coastal Scents and Quo. 

I use olive oil and baby shampoo for my two step cleaning process. The only other thing you need is a small bowl to put the oil in and some luke warm water from your tap! 

I begin by dipping my brushes lightly into the oil and swishing them around slightly - you'll instantly see the color beginning to come out of the dirty brush. I then give it a light rinse under some running water, and gently squeeze the bristles to get the majority of the oil out. The oil is amazing in particular for brushes with white tips, and eyeliner brushes, especially those you use with a gel liner. 

Next, I take the baby shampoo (you can use any brand you like, this is just what I use on my daughters), place some in the palm of my hand and swish the brush around to remove any oil residue and left over makeup. If it's an especially dirt brush or I feel it still has oil remaining in it I will do a second round of shampoo before squeezing out the excess water. 

Finally I take the freshly washed brushes and place them on a folded hand towel, allowing the bristles to hang off the end so they can properly air dry. 

And there you have it, fresh and clean makeup brushes!

I hope this post was helpful to some of you!

15 Questions TAG!

So today I decided to switch gears and do a tag post that will give you guys a little more insight into who I am and what I am about! 

Ready, Set.... GO!

1. What do you think you can do but can't?

Sing! I always wish and hope and dream that I can sing, and then I get it in my head I'm not that bad, until the dreaded moment I actually listen to a recording of myself... It ain't pretty folks! 

2. What is a difficult word for you to pronounce? 

Kind of odd, but my whole life I've always said orange juice funny. It comes out all blended together every time I say it - 'ornjuice' anyone?

3. What is your favorite tv show from your childhood?

Easy, Magic School Bus - I've kind of always been a science nerd at heart

4. What are your virtues and vices? 

Virtue - I'd have to say I'm pretty good at thinking of how others feel/putting myself in someone else's shoes

Vice - Sour candy of any kind, especially sour patch kids (SO GOOD!)

5. What's more important: love, fame, power or money?

Of course I'm going to choose love. 

6. If you could live in any time period/era what would it be and why?

I always thought I would love to live in the 50's or 60's. So much of it appeals to me - the fashion, the mentality, the music.

7. If you had to redo you're entire wardrobe with two stores, what would they be and why?

American Eagle and H&M - I think between the variety both these stores offer I could keep myself pretty satisfied.

8. Can you recall what you were doing a year ago on this day?

More than likely on pins and needles, being one big ball of stress as I would have been going into my final semester nursing exams at this time last year. 

9. Do you have reoccurring dreams? If so explain.

Yes, only one, which I've had since I was young - in it I'm being chased by someone who pretty much resembles one of the guys from the 'Men in Black' movie

10. What's your horoscope?

My birthday is May 16th so that makes me a Taurus

11. What does your dream bedroom look like?

In a perfect world I would love an on suite (preferably with a nice big tub), a walk in closet, and for some reason I've always thought the idea of a balcony would be just dreamy!

12. What position do you sleep in?

Typically on my side (I prefer my right) slightly curled up 

13. Who is your favorite vampire of all time?

I've never been big into the whole vampire movie/book trend but The Count from Sesame Street was a fave of mine as a child

14. What are you currently wearing on your feet?

I'm currently bare foot right now as I wait for my little pedicure to dry (rocking Essie Mod Square)

15. Do you have neat handwriting?

I am actually incapable of nice handwriting - I strictly print all things and for some reason it always comes out like I'm writing in all capitals.

Lippies I'm Loving Lately

Lately I've been finding myself reaching for a bigger variety of lip products on a more regular basis - this is kind of odd for me because although I love to shop for lipsticks/glosses and all other things lip related I rarely change my look during the week. I find myself picking out one product to stick in my every day makeup bag which I store in my bathroom, and then that's pretty well what I rock the entire week, unless I'm feeling daring or there's a date night out involved.

You can see pretty clearly I've been loving my various shades of pink for the most part. As usual many of my favorites of the moment are also Revlon - I have a huge soft spot for all Revlon products, but they just really know what they're doing when it comes to lip products specifically.

Rimmel Vinyl Gloss - Keep a Secret

Revlon Laquer Balm - Demure Reservee 

Revlon Balm Stain - Sweetheart Valentine 

Mac l/s - Cream cup

Revlon Matte l/s - Pink Pout

Revlon Lip Butter - Sweet Tart

Maybelline l/s - Very Cherry

What have been some of your favorite lip products lately? 

A Little Haul

So, because today is Friday I figured it would be nice to start the weekend off by showing you a few purchases I made yesterday. I hit up my local Sally's Beauty Supply, it had been about a month since I had been in there, which is completely unlike me, so obviously I needed to try out a couple new things. I also stopped in to Bath and Body Works, which I was in desperate need to do as we ran out of our beloved foaming hand soap, but obviously they had some spring/summer scents out and I figured it was time to switch out my more winter-like scents for some fresher ones.

From Sally's I grabbed the Orly rubberized base coat, which I've been hearing amazing things about and been wanting to try for a while. I also grabbed a Seche Vite top coat, they were on sale and I haven't had a bottle of this in forever (I don't know why I haven't, its the best top coat in history!). I also grabbed two new polishes, China Glaze 'refresh mint' and OPI 'you're such a budapest'. Obviously the numerous other mint and lavender polishes I already own aren't enough!

(pink passion fruit, sweet tangerines, market peach, meyer lemon, tuscan melon)

I picked up 7 soaps as they had one of their great deals on, and obviously when I saw all the 'Fresh Picked' ones I couldn't hold back, this is probably my favorite line of stuff they come out with on a yearly basis, even more so than their fall stuff (and that says something). 

The scents I got are listed above, I got doubles of sweet tangerines and market peach because they're my absolute favorites. Oh, and yes I know there is only 6 soaps in the picture, one of the sweet tangerine made it into my bathroom in no time flat once I got home. 

Finally I grabbed a couple new body products - 'Hawaii passionfruit kiss' triple body cream, a 'Beautiful Day' shower gel and body lotion, and a 'Carried away' shower gel. The other two scents are new to me, but carried away has pretty much become my signature scent for spring/summer, I honestly think this is probably my tenth bottle of the shower gel.

Revlon Lip Butter Love

Revlon has always been one of my top drugstore brands, especially when it comes to anything lip product related. One of the best things they've ever done is created their line of 'Lip Butters', which come in a large variety of shades and have a beautiful creamy consistency. These have been out for quite some time now, however I've never given them any attention on here, or shown them the love and praise they truly deserve.

(Creme brule, pink lemonade, cotton candy, sweet tart, juicy papaya)

I have five shades in my collection currently, all of which are all on the somewhat more natural, easy to wear end of the spectrum. 

(creme brule, pink lemonade, cotton candy, sweet tart, juicy papaya)

They are not as pigmented as a lipstick, but are buildable and slightly more long wearing than a lipgloss. That being said, they aren't a stain, so once you eat or drink you will have to do a touch up. Out of the five I have, sweet tart has the best lasting power, and does very slightly stain the lips as well. They're especially great for those who fear bold lipsticks, but want to give more vivid shades a try.

I would highly recommend these to people who have dryer lips, and find lipsticks do too much damage. They're not super moisturizing like a lip balm, but they do a pretty good job of keeping your lips hydrated while giving a lovely pop of color.

This line is amazing, and it has so many shades I think everyone could find at least one that suits their fancy. They have such an amazing variety of shades that would also compliment any and every skin tone. 

UD Naked Basics Palette Review & Swatches

If you're new to my blog, or just somehow missed this fact about me, there is nothing I like (love) more than a good neutral palette. Maybe the only thing better than a neutral palette is a neutral palette that is also compact and easy to travel with.

I purchased the UD Naked Basics finally after many months of wondering the all mighty MUA question, 'do I really need more neutral shadows?'. After becoming the owner of both Naked 1 and 2 palettes I finally decided to cave one day while browsing around Sephora as we all love to do. Fast forward six months later I am so satisfied with the decision. I can honestly say I have used this in some way shape or form at least five days a week since purchasing it.

The palette is extremely compact and convenient - as you can see it's slightly smaller than my iPhone 4s, which makes it very easy to pop in any bag or makeup pouch. 

(venus, foxy, w.o.s, naked 2, faint, crave)

The palette is composed of six shades, five are matte and one is shimmery (venus). There is only one color that doubles up with either Naked 1 or 2, and that is foxy which is in the Naked 2. I really love that they came out with a "naked 2" shade for this palette, as I thought that would be something they would include in the actual N2 palette. 

(venus, foxy, w.o.s, naked 2, faint, crave)

As with any Urban Decay palette, the shadows are so soft and buttery. They're also so highly pigmented and blend like a dream. The shades are great for mixing with colors from other palettes, or to use alone for a lovely matte eye look that can be softer, or easily deepened up with the darker shades for more depth. 

Let me know if you've tried/want to try this palette, and your thoughts on it!

Five Things - Drugstore Face Powders

Today I decided to write about something I use pretty well everyday, sometimes multiple times a day, both with and without foundation, and all year round - powders!

They're essential for many reasons - setting your foundation, brightening up your complexion, stopping those pesky oils from appearing, and giving you a quick and simple way to get a little touch of coverage on days when your not looking to use anything too heavy. 

I've gathered up my five drugstore (low end) favorites to show you all. They're great if you don't have a big budget, or you just want something cheap to throw in your travel makeup bag so you don't have to worry about your $50 powder shattering while you're on the go. 

1. Maybelline Dream Matte Powder - I have actually heard through the grape vine they are discontinuing this (say it ain't so!), but if you can still find it try to get your hands on it. Its finely milled and provides a great matte finish without looking chalky. This one specifically I love using on its own with a little concealer for a light makeup day. 

2. Covergirl Clean Pressed Powder - This powder range comes in several different varieties, based on your skin type, I have the 'normal skin' variety even though I'm much more on the combo/oily side. I love this because it feels light and breathable, while still doing what it's supposed to be doing. The only complaint I have about this is the scent, which reminds me somewhat of a face wash I once used in my younger days (oxy clean maybe?). It's not enough to really bother me all that much, and doesn't last long once applied, but I could see how this could possibly bother others who are more sensitive to scented products, especially ones that are going directly on your face. 

3. Rimmel Stay Matte - This is, like for many out there, a holy grail product that I must always have a back up of. It is cheap (about $5 CAD), but does what most high end powders only wish they could do. It claims up to 5 hours natural shine control, and in my experience it does the job! I can't say enough good things about this product. If you haven't tried it, do it! You wont regret it, especially if you have combo/oily skin like me. 

4. Maybelline Fit Me - Yes, two Maybelline powders in the same post! But let me say, they know how to make good products, and this powder is certainly up there with their dream matte as well. It doesn't have as much of a mattefying result as the dream matte, but it provides a lovely, soft, barely there look to your skin once applied both alone or over foundation. 

5. Elf Studio Pressed Powder - This is most affordable of the 5 powders I'm mentioning ($3 CAD) so it can be expected that it is a little more loosely packed, which only means you just need to use a little more caution not to over do it so that you don't look chalky or caky. It maintains a matte finish for several hours before touch up is required, so for being so affordable it is well worth the purchase to have on hand in your beach bag or where ever else your nice products don't really belong. 

Spring Nail Polish Favorites!

I am here with amazing news for you all....

Mother nature is actually cooperating, and we've finally received consecutive days of sunshine and temperatures above 5 degrees!! It finally feels like Spring is making a true appearance and has actually come to stay this time (thank goodness because cabin fever has been at an all time high lately). 

In honor of the weather we've been having I decided to compile a little post of my top nail polish picks for this Spring. These colors are ones I have been/and plan to be wearing a lot over these next few months, and I hope seeing these colors will give you a little inspiration.

(beginning with the lightest shade, and working counter clockwise)

Revlon 'pale cashmere'

very light pale pinky nude

Revlon 'peach petal'

peachy toned pink

Essie 'fiji'

creamy soft pink

Essie 'lilacism' 

cool, blue toned lilac 

Sally Hansen 'lacey lilac'

warmer/brighter toned lilac purple

Essie 'play date'

the perfect 'radiant orchid' inspo mani shade

Essie 'bikini so teeny' 

cornflower blue, very slight shimmer

Essie 'mint candy apple'

creamy blue toned mint

Essie 'turquoise & caicos' 

tropical aqua blue green

Essie 'jazzy jubilant'

confetti glitter with hints of blue, green, purple, pink, silver

Let me know some of your favorite nail shades for spring! I hope you enjoyed this glimpse at my top choices for this season!

March Favorites

Hello and Happy April!

Throughout the month of March I surprisingly didn't do that much shopping at all, it was more a month of shopping my stash of makeup and using old favorites or things I just hadn't given much of a chance in the past. 

First off, and probably least exciting, lip balm. This is actually one of my few small purchases of the month - EOS lip balm in summer fruit. Hello delish smell/taste! It mainly smells like peach to me so that is right up my ally, I'm obsessed! 

Next off, concealer, and as you can see this is going to be an April (re)purchase - MAC Pro Long Wear Concealer in NW20. I think I may have a couple more makeup days in this before it completely refuses to produce product but holy moly I've been so glad I pulled this out of my drawers after many months of it being pushed aside. I now remember why I loved it so much!

This past month I gravitated toward much more pastel shades on my nails as spring (not so willingly) begins to appear here in my area of Canada. The two I used most through March were Mint Candy Apple and Spaghetti Strap. MCA is still currently on my toes and looks so fresh and lovely. Spaghetti Strap has been my go to "nude" nail lately as its sheer and natural looking but with a little more pink in it.

I feel I hardly have to mention this as its always a resounding favorite, but my MAC Melba blush rarely steers me wrong - pink, matte, effortless, and works with all eye looks.

Josie Maran Argan Oil has quickly become a staple in the face moisturizing routine. I got this sample size forever ago and finally decided it was time I tried it out after hearing so many good things about it. I have officially been converted! I never thought oil of any kind on my combo/oily skin would ever work well but it has transformed my skin! I combine a few drops of it with my usual Neutrogena moisturizer and apply morning and night. I will certainly be buying the full size once this runs out!

My favorite way to apply/buff my foundation this month has been with my Real Techniques buffing brush, it gives an amazing and flawless finish, and I love my foundation so much more when I use it. I plan to do a full review post very soon on RT brushes as they have become my new favorite brushes.

Last, but certainly not least, my Maybelline Illegal Length mascara. I have rarely used this on its own as it gives a little too much of a natural/minimal look, which is not what I typically strive for when doing my lashes. My love for this comes from layering it with other mascaras that are more voluminous so you achieve the best of both worlds - length AND volume! 

Let me know if you would like a more in depth review on any of the products mentioned! 

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My MAC Palette Tour

I've long been a lover and collector of all things Mac, so when I started up my eyeshadow palette I felt so pleased to begin building it into something purely my own. Three years later I've come and gone from adding to it, but it now has 14/15 positions filled and I think it looks absolutely glorious and perfectly my style. 

So without further delay...

(in order from left to right, top to bottom row)

Mylar - A satin finished creamy white with the slightest shimmer. I 

Grain - Another satin finish, this is a lovely golden beige with a slight shimmer, and again does not look like much when swatched but it adds a lovely something special when used all over the lid on a lazy makeup day, and is also extremely useful when bringing down color from the brow/crease if you got too carried away with your blending. 

Naked Lunch - Light pink champagne staple of eyeshadow bliss! I don't think I would be complete without this (as you can see I've hit pan). It is a frost finish, and you need this in your world no matter what your skin tone!

All That Glitters - Pinky beige with gold pearl and is a veluxe pearl finish. Again, another staple shadow that I time and time again come back to, and if this shade and a sun tan in the summer months is wrong... I don't want to be right! 

Honey Lust - A bronzy peach with a lustre finish for a serious pop of bronzed goddess. This hasn't been in my collection long but I think I'll be doing amazing things with this once the weather gets warmer. 

(mylar, grain, naked lunch, all that glitters, honey lust)

Soft Brown - A golden peachy brown with a matte finish that is one of my absolute favorite transition colors for my crease.

Cork - This is a little cooler and more muted of a golden brown when compared to Soft Brown, but also an amazing crease color. I also love applying this over the lid and smudging it under my lower lash line for a simple and quick soft smokey eye effect.

Espresso - A matte chocolate brown, which actually looks darker in the pan than it does once its applied to the skin. I love this for blending out deeper brown eye looks. 

Mulch - A brown bronze with slight red undertones. It has a velvet finish which makes it a dream to apply and blend, and is one of my personal favorites when combined with All That Glitters. 

(soft brown, cork, espresso, mulch)

Quarry - This is a matte, soft taupe/plum shade. I've had this one for quite a while but I seem to only be drawn to it during the fall months - big love for the sultry eye look this can create!

Copperplate - Before I say anything, just LOOK at that grey! This is a matte mid-tone grey, and unlike any grey I've ever owned before, it's just sooo lovely. It also has the best texture of any of my shadows in the palette, so velvety and silky. 

Sketch - A burgundy/plum with slight hints of red shimmer. It has a velvet finish and is a must have for fall and winter for me. Using Fix+ and a liner brush I line my upper lash line for a different look, a great alternative to black or brown.

Beauty Marked - Velvet finished black/purple with sparkle. This is probably my least favorite of all my shadows as it does not come off half as impressive on the skin as it looks in the pan. Using a wet brush helps, but it just isn't quite as you'd expect. 

Black Tied - A black with silver sparkle throughout and has a velvet finish. I enjoy this as its not quite as black as something like Carbon, and when used correctly you can achieve a lovely sparkle while deepening up any look, or using it as a liner. 

(quarry, copperplate, sketch, beauty marked, black tied) 

I hope you all enjoyed my little run down of my Mac palette, and I'm sure you will be the first to know when I fill my final spot! If you have a favorite that I should maybe consider for the position let me know!