Sheer Makeup Favorites

I do love a good full face of makeup, don't get me wrong - it's always nice to go all out and have your makeup looking flawless, but more often than not I like to go for the quick, sheer makeup look that's fresh, fast and easy. With Spring right around the corner, a sheer and fresh face is right up my alley, so today I'm sharing some of my favorite products to achieve the look.

The Body Shop All in One BB Cream - This gives me the perfect amount of coverage, goes on smoothly, gives great hydration to the skin and lasts all day - perfect for those light-medium coverage lovers.

Maybelline Dream Lumi Concealer - Not only is this my new favorite under eye concealer for covering my dark circles, but I've found it also works great for a light touch of coverage on any blemish you may have. It doesn't crease and blends seamlessly with any foundation I choose to use it with. 

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder - This light weight powder is excellent for adding a touch of coverage and keep skin matte all day. I love it for both setting my foundation and concealer - the perfect all in one! 

MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural - This powder is just dark enough that it adds a nice bit of warmth to my face without being too heavy on the skin. During the Summer months this is the perfect all over face powder, but for this time of year it makes for a lovely light bronzed glow.

Elf Blush (Peachy Keen) - This blush adds a nice soft wash of color that perks up my complexion and also adds a nice glow with the golden subtle shimmer it has. 

MAC Paintpot (Bare Study ) - This cream product has been a long time favorite for its stay all day capabilities, and the lovely wash of color it adds to my eyes. It can be easily paired with a little winged liner and some mascara for a simple eye look. 

Revlon Lip Butter (Pink Lemonade) - The formula of these is perfect for when you want just a subtle sheer wash of color and moisture to your lips, this one in particular adds a hint of pink which gives your lips a little extra something. This makes it easy to apply on the go and keeps your lips feeling hydrated. 

What are some of your sheer makeup favorites?

Review | Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation

In the past I've mentioned many times how I enjoyed the Maybelline Fit Me range - foundation, concealer (most of all), and powder were all great on my skin and I always enjoyed using them. Now they have launched a new range of Fit Me products which were focused specifically on creating a matte and pore diminished finish to the skin - hello right up my alley!

I went for the shade 115 Ivory which is the absolute best match for my current skin tone out of any foundation I am currently using. In my initial application I found it to be very similar in consistency to the original Fit Me - a little more on the fluid side of things, but I don't mind this as it makes blending easy as pie and in some strange way it feels like you're not using as much product.

The difference came when it was applied and began to set - instant mattification! - but not in the way that makes you look flat or unnatural. I also must admit I was quite surprised when I took a closer look and did see a difference in the way my pores around my nose and on my cheeks looked. Nothing can make your pores actually disappear, but they can be concealed, and I think this stuff does a pretty darn good job of it!

I wore this for a full day and found it stayed in place really well and did not feel heavy or mask-like, even by the end of the day prior to washing my face. Overall I think this foundation is worth a try, especially for anyone looking for a good matte but natural looking foundation, medium coverage, and all for a great drugstore price!


Have you tried this foundation out yet? What did you think?

Review | NuMe 25mm Curling Wand

I'm starting this post off a little differently than normal by beginning with a thanks. A thank you to Style Haul for hosting a little Snapchat/Twitter giveaway, and to NuMe Products for providing the prize - a 25mm Curling Wand. I feel I'm like everyone else in that I love giving contests a shot, although I'm rarely (extremely rarely) lucky enough to win a free coffee, let alone an amazing hot tool, so you can imagine how over the moon I was when I found out I had actually won. So, with all that being said, if it wasn't for these two awesome companies and a little bit of luck on my behalf, I would not be able to do this review at all. 

Now let me say, I've never been one of those gals who yearns for pricey hot tools, I've always just made due with whatever I could find at my local Walmart etc. Don't get me wrong, you can find lots of great tools at places like that, and they'll get the job done, sure! But this, this beautiful piece of curling magic has finally shown me the light - how could I have not known THIS is what I was missing out on?

I've been using my normal curling iron as a wand for quite a while now (ignoring the clamp all together and just wrapping my hair around the barrel), so this is absolutely perfect for my wants/needs. The wand is so light and easy to handle, and the ability of the cord attachment to the handle to swivel makes it even more of a breeze to work with. The tool also heats up in no time flat - nothing worse than deciding to curl your hair and then having to wait a solid five minutes just for the styling tool to heat up. It also curls my hair incredibly quickly - these two things combined made me fall in love, because I can be seriously lazy when it comes to spending time styling my hair. It's an added bonus that a heat-resistant glove is also included.

My biggest surprise with this wand came when I used it for the first time and saw how amazingly smooth and soft my curls were. They also hold all day, even without hair spray, which is excellent for anyone who has hard to curl hair like me - I've always had problems with my curls falling within a few hours, but not with this. I would also say this size of barrel is versatile for all lengths and thicknesses of hair - my long thick hair and long layers can be turned into tons of curls or thick waves. Depending on the style I'm going for it can take me 5-15 minutes to do my hair, as opposed to a more typical 30 minutes plus it takes me with other hot tools I've used.

The only small complaint I do have with this product is the fact that you need to be careful about where you set it while it's on - with no stand unlike a typical curling iron you must ensure you set it on a heat resistant surface - in the grand scheme of things this is only a minor problem when the end result of using it is so amazing. 

I am so incredibly impressed with this little beauty I am certain I will want to acquire more sizes/styles they have to offer eventually. 

Naked2 Basics Review & Swatches

They got me again - Urban Decay and their Naked line always has a way of creeping into my Sephora shopping cart. Here it is, the sequel to the Naked Basics, a palette I've pretty well permanently kept in my everyday makeup bag for a year and a half now. I think it's a combination of the size (so lovely and compact), the all matte colors (which I've been completely obsessed with lately), and the whole taupe/brown shade family housed in this lovely little palette that made me fall for it just as hard as I fell for the first. 

Although the shades are from different families - the original being on the warmer end of things, and the second being cooler - the palette in general is set up in the same way. You get five matte shades, and one demi-matte shade (Skimp) which is perfect for highlighting - similar to the original which includes Venus as a highlighting shade. 

I really enjoy how they both include a deeper, darker matte shade as well - perfect for using as a liner, or for deepening up the outer corner of the eye when doing your smokey eye of choice. 

Top - Naked Basics

Bottom - Naked2 Basics 

I think the main reason I love these palettes both so much is the versatility you are able to have with them - using them solo you can get some lovely matte looks, or you can utilize the matte shades along with shimmers from another palette you love to create a really amazing combination. It's certainly no secret that none of the Naked Palettes have all that many matte shades, which are always super useful for blending and adding extra definition to any eye look. With these in combination with any or all of the Naked Palettes 1-3 you have no end to the amount of looks and shimmer/matte combinations. 

A Little Sephora Haul | March 2015

It had been so long since I grabbed anything from Sephora - quite proud of myself for actually showing restraint and giving my pocket book a break - but when I noticed my St. Tropez tanner was running low I knew it was time to place an order.

I ended up keeping it straight forward and only made two major purchases - I got a replacement St. Tropez Self Tanning Mouse, this time I went for the dark, I've been interested in trying it out and seeing how it compares to the original (post will be coming soon on that!).

I also ended up caving and picking up the Naked2 Basics. I've had the original for quite some time now and I use it pretty well every day so I thought I would add this one to my collection as well since matte shadows have been my jam lately - of course going to do a review/comparison post on this as well!

I typically like to save my points for a big point perk, but I had 400 just sitting there calling my name so I went ahead and used them since I was interested in trying out some skin care samples. I ended up choosing the Philosophy Renewed Hope in a Jar, Clinique Repairwear Sculpting Night Cream, Ole Henriksen Truth Serum and a Kat Von D Immortal Lash mascara. I also used a code at check out and got the Ole Henriksen Ultimate Lift Eye Gel. I've been pretty basic with my skin routine lately and haven't tried anything new in quite a while so hopefully I'll enjoy some of these samples enough to buy the full size. 

Review | The Body Shop Silky Cleansing Oil

It seems that every brand has been putting out their own version of a cleansing oil lately - the whole thing has really taken off and has become a staple in many a persons makeup removing routine. Today I'm going to tell you about the one I've been loving lately, The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil. 

I originally wanted to try this specific version out because of the numerous Youtube beauty gurus raving about it and even rating it above much more expensive options - you can pick this up for 16$ Canadian. Its purpose is to remove your face makeup (even waterproof) easily, and leave your skin fresh and clear from impurities.

I have been using this for about two months now and I can honestly say it has become a major staple in my skin care routine - I have said goodbye to my Neutrogena eye makeup remover for good! This stuff truly does make removing your makeup a cinch - not just that pesky waterproof mascara, but your foundation, concealer, brow makeup and everything else in between! I begin with a full face of makeup and put about two pumps of the product in my hand, I then rub it all over, starting with my face makeup and then onto my eye makeup. Once I feel I've done a sufficient job I take a tiny bit of warm water in my hands and work it on to my face - the water emulsifies the oil turning it more of a creamy white color - I continue to work it all in for a few more seconds before I go in and completely wash the mess from my face.

One thing I must say is that this is not (for me) a one stop shop in the cleansing department. Although other cleansing oils can be used on their own without a follow up cleanser, this, I feel, is not one of those ones. It leaves a slight residue on the skin - nothing pore clogging or overly annoying, but it's enough for me to still want to follow up with my Aveeno Foaming Cleanser as a second step, just so I know my skin is completely cleansed.

The only other comment I can think to add is the scent - as with all products, scent is a very individualized opinion - to me, the floral/fresh scent of this is in no way bothersome or overwhelming, to be honest I quite enjoy it! I have however seen other bloggers saying the opposite, so my suggestion would certainly be to give it a good sniff test before purchasing if you at all particular about scented products on your face.


Let me know what you think of this cleansing oil take over. Have you tried this specific one? Would you like to?

Best Drugstore Lip Liner

I've not always been a big lip liner gal, but over the last year and a half I have grown to appreciate the importance of this little step in your makeup routine, and the difference it can make to you lip look. Today I'm talking specifically about one brand that has stood out from all the rest as far as a good drugstore lip liner goes. I've tried out pretty well every standard drugstore brand that makes a lip liner, but nothing I've found holds a candle to Rimmel. Both the Exaggerate and Lasting Finish versions of their lip pencils are AH-mazing!

I'll start off with how amazing the price is - between 4-6$ CAD depending on where you shop - such a great price point for a great quality product that can easily be on par with many high end versions.

Top to Bottom - Wine, Enchantment, Natural, Pure


Their pigmentation is excellent, and they apply easily and with no issues of feathering. They have a great creamy consistency when being applied as well which helps the color glide on, without pulling along the outer edge of your lip. I wear these both paired with lipsticks, or on their own for a lovely matte lip look. The shade 'pure' is one of my favorite Spring/Summer simple matte lips - so easy to throw on, and it doesn't get any easier or space efficient than a slender lip pencil.



Do you have a favorite drugstore brand lip liner? 

February Beauty Favorites 2015

I'm back again with another monthly favorites round up, so here is all my absolute favorite beauty products from the past month! Can we also talk about how it is now March - FINALLY! - which means Spring, and all good things that come with it are right around the corner! 

I've been keeping my face makeup pretty simple this past month - it has pretty well just consisted of my Loreal Magic Skin Beautifier BB, which is my favorite drugstore BB cream by far. Prior to applying the BB cream I've gotten back into the habit of applying Maybelline Baby Skin as my pores have been extra noticeable the past while. My go to concealer has been the Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch which I've been especially focusing on the inner corner of my eyes, and along my cheek bones for a nice highlight/brightening effect.

I've been really slacking on my self tanning the last while, so to give my face a little bit of color and glow I've been loving the combo of Rimmel Natural Bronzer to warm up and contour slightly, and this Mac blush in Fleet Fast. This blush has a satin finish which gives a lighter wash of color, perfect for my pale skin at the moment.

As for my eye makeup I've been keeping it pretty standard with my UD Naked Basics - I've been putting Naked2 all over the lid, Foxy on my brow bone and inner corner, and finally blending a bit of Faint into the crease. I've been using my Maybelline Gel Liner in Blackest Black for my tight line - so super black and lasts all day long! Lastly I've been re-loving my Maybelline Illegal Length mascara - it gives such a nice length and lift to my lashes without clumping, and creates a nice soft look that is perfect for everyday. 

Super Soft Smokey Eye Using Naked 2

Hey guys! So this is just a super quick post to give you a run down of one of my favorite eye looks I've been doing lately. It's super quick and simple and I've been loving how these colors make my eyes seem to pop. 

I've been using my Mac paint pot in Painterly as a base. I then take my Naked 2 palette and apply Foxy on my brow bone and inner third of my eyelid as well. Next I take Tease (my favorite shade from this palette), and apply it all over the lid and just to the crease. I take a fluffy blending brush with more Foxy on it and blend it into the crease so both colors transition nicely into one another. To deepen up the outer portion of the lid and into the crease I apply Busted.

To finish off the look I apply a mixture of Busted and Tease to the bottom lash line. I then apply my favorite liquid liner - Loreal Carbon Black Lineur Intense, and Loreal Miss Manga mascara - full review of this mascara here. I always highlight my inner corner very last, and for that I take Bootycall on a small precision brush and apply it to my inner corner as well as a very light touch under the brow.

Impromptu Heart to Heart Via My Youtube Channel

It has literally been two years (more than that) since I've made a video and published it to Youtube. I stopped for a variety of reasons, which I explain in the video. Today I just had a real urge to post something on a different forum than just on my blog, and so this was the result..

I'm not sure if I'm going to make this a thing - making videos of any sort again - but I just felt like doing this spur of the moment hello and update for the few people who always showed me their love and support via my tiny little Youtube channel. 

Life has thrown some pretty crazy stuff at me in the past three years, and although its been hard to push through some of it, I've done so with (I feel) great success. One thing I always have had an urge to continue doing though, is blogging/vlogging. They have been two outlets for me to express myself through the years and for that I am grateful! 

Valentines Lips | Three Ways

Whether you're going on a date with that special someone, choosing to stay and have a good pamper session, or doing a night out with friends, Valentines is a day for love. It's always nice to look nice, regardless of what you're doing on the 14th, so I've rounded up three combos - lip-spiration as it were -  that work perfectly with a variety of different makeup looks for whatever kind of V-day you're choosing to have.

Nude

For the nude lip I chose my favorite lip liner in Natural by Rimmel, and filled in my entire lips. Then I applied Revlon Soft Nude and topped it off with the Maybelline Color Elixir gloss in Nude Illusion.

Pink

I had a bit of a harder time deciding on a pink lip, but narrowed it down the Elf lip liner in ... , which I lined and filled in my lips with. Next I took one of my all time favorite pink lipsticks - Mac Creme Cup. I chose not to go with a gloss and keep it more on the creamy/natural looking end of things and I'm happy with the decision.

Red

Finally, and most boldly of all - I had to do a red of course (Valentines and red go hand in hand) - so I grabbed my only go to red of the past couple months. The NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Monte Carlo is simply stunning.



I hope this little post gave you some inspiration! Let me know what your plans for Valentines are in the comments! 

My Go-To Triple Threat Concealer

Concealer is something that seems to be a staple for me - even on non foundation days when I'm hanging around the house I tend to at least dot a little under my eyes to cover all signs of my night owl ways. It's also one of those products that I am constantly looking for "the next best thing" in. I feel that I may have finally found one of my holy grails though with Benefit Erase Paste - I was mainly alerted to this because over the past six months or so I've been continually reaching for this one, and I can't seem to replace it in my every day makeup bag. 

I have mine in the lightest of the three shades offered (truly the only negative aspect to this product is the lack of shade selection). Other than that somewhat sad detail, I consider this concealer my ultimate triple threat. What are the requirements for this you may ask? 

1. Covers dark circles - The tone of this is absolutely perfect for disguising my dark circles. I apply it in thin even layers using my Real Techniques pointed foundation brush as well as my ring finger to blend. It doesn't crease and lasts all day.

2. Covers blemishes - I'm human, I get blemishes, and I also like to conceal them if I'm feeling a little worse for wear because of them. This stuff does an amazing job of doing the hiding without looking cakey, and without drying out the area. 

3. Covers redness - I have always had a problem with redness on certain areas of my face - chin, around my nose and slightly on to my cheeks as well. This concealer does a wonderful job disguising the redness with only the slightest bit of product - again, amazing for days when you don't want to wear a full coverage foundation. 

How To | Wear Pink Makeup the Non-Girly Way

I am certainly not the type of person that would consider herself to be a 'girly girl'. I know that logic seems a bit off considering I write a beauty blog about makeup and fashion, but really in terms of my life as a whole I cannot define myself as such. Although you would have an extremely hard time finding anything pink throughout my wardrobe aside from small details on an item I am not in the least opposed to wearing pink hues in my makeup looks. Pink is an especially lovely shade for this time of year because it can bring life and brightness to an otherwise dull complexion. I find wearing pink, wether it be on my lips, cheeks or eyes, can really make me look and feel much more fresh, and give my spirits a little boost as well.

Starting off with lips, probably the easiest way to pull off pink because of the wide variety of textures and intensities available. If you want to start at the more sheer end of things I really love the Rimmel Vinyl gloss in Keep a Secret, a light pink with shimmer. My choice pink lipstick is Mac Creme cup, which is excellent if you're looking for something pigmented, but by no means bright pink. If you've fallen for the balm/stain kind of products than something like the Revlon Balm Stain in Sweetheart Valentine, or the Rimmel Color Rush in Give Me a Cuddle would be excellent options - they are easy to apply and once the initial color has worn off, your lips are left with a lovely stained effect.

creme cup, give me a cuddle, sweetheart valentine, keep a secret

Cheeks are another way to add pink into your daily makeup routine, and there is a pink out there for everyone! Three of my favorites are all sporting the same 'rosey' type of undertone, which in my opinion is the easiest form of pink to wear for pretty well any skin tone out there - rose undertones in pinks make your cheeks look most natural, while still adding a glow. A new addition to my collection is Rimmels powder blush in Pink Rose which has a very slight shimmer to it. Mac mineralize blushes have always been a long time lover of mine because they are so easy to work with, and this one in Subtle Breeze is no exception. My favorite cream form product goes out to the Maybelline bouncy blush in Pink Plum, which is so soft, blendable and buildable.

pink rose, subtle breeze, pink plum

Last, and probably the most difficult to pull off is eyes. I find with shades in the pink-red family it always works out best when you pair these shades with a good liner and lots of mascara. The easiest 'pink' shade in my collection to wear is certainly Mac All that Glitters, although it is much more on the champagne end of the spectrum. Two of my other favorites I wear in a very similar way - Elf mineral eyeshadow in Sweet and Urban Decay Grifter are both ones I love to rock on the bottom lash line with various looks on the lid. They're both lighter and add a beautiful glow to the eye. The most 'stop you in your tracks' of my picks has got to be Urban Decay Last Call - it's like the bolder sister to Mac Cranberry. I wear this best when it involves being smoked out with a matte black shadow, lots of eyeliner and mascara.

all that glitters, sweet, last call, grifter

Brand Boast | Maybelline New York

Hey guys! So I'm back with a second installment of my series called 'Brand Boast', and this one is going to be focusing on Maybelline New York. 

Maybelline began with a Chicago chemist named Thomas Williams who was trying to help his sister Maybel enhance her beauty in an attempt to win over the man she was in love with. She would use petroleum jelly to enhance her brows and lashes, but Thomas took it one step further by adding carbon dust into the petroleum jelly to further enhance her features. The creation was a success, and in 1915 Thomas Williams founded the company that is now a global giant.

Now that I've given you a run down of what the brand is about, let me break down why I absolutely love this company and its products so much!

Eyes
I'm starting off with eye makeup because well.. that's apparently where this company started, and that's where they are still rocking it 100 years later. Maybelline totally knows how to do eyeshadows well, and I feel like they just keep getting better and better. I think their best launch in recent years has to be the color tattoo cream eyeshadows however, they are amazing!
They also really know how to make a mascara - really - I can't even tell you how many I've bought since my mom first allowed me to buy makeup, but  I do know my first kind was the 'Great Lash' mascara, which I still buy to this day. Maybelline is the one brand that sends me into excitement mode with each and every new mascara - new formula, gotta try it!

Lips
I find I never used to gravitate towards Maybelline lip products, but in the past couple years I feel like I've been seeing more and more amazing things come from them. They've always have good lipsticks, but I feel like they took it to the next level with their releases of the vivid line, nude line and now they have a matte line. All amazing quality lipsticks for the price of about 6-8$ CAD. As far as lip gloss goes I was never completely over the moon about anything until the Color Elixir glosses were released, now they are my absolute favorite drugstore lip gloss - they seriously rock!

Face
With a wide range of products that do everything from prime, to cover lightly using a BBcream, to a full coverage foundation I feel like they offer something for everyone. Their powders are also some of my favorites from the drugstore - so finely milled and provide the perfect finish without looking over done. They also offer a variety of cream and powder blushes and bronzers to complete your look. The bouncy blushes have long been one of my favorite cream blushes from the drugstore, and who doesn't love a good cream blush product!



I hope you enjoyed this run down of Maybelline New York and my thoughts on some of my favorites from the brand. If you would like to see more of these 'brand boast' posts comment below and request my next brand to feature! 

Beauty Tip Thursday | Current Favorite Beauty Hacks

The beauty world can be an amazing place, but it can also be time consuming and confusing and (of course) expensive! I formed this list of 5 of my favorite beauty hacks that I use on a regular basis to save myself some time and effort during my beauty routine. I rounded up these 5 because they are literally my most used, but I have many more little tips and tricks that I could share, just let me know in the comments if you would like to see more of these beauty hack posts for Beauty Tip Thursday!

1. Voluminous Ponytail - If you have problems with your ponytail maintaining volume throughout the day just use this trick. Tease and pull the top section of your hair into a half up style and secure with an elastic. Gather the remaining hair and incorporate it into the ponytail with a second elastic. BOOM! All day volume! 

2. Lipstick - Make lipstick last longer by dabbing lips with a tissue after applying your lip color, then dust a translucent powder over your lips. This trick will help your lip color last longer and can easily make any lip color matte. 

3. Dull/Dry Hair - Make your own leave in conditioner by simply mixing a touch of your regular conditioner with water in a spray bottle.

4. Clumpy Mascara - Add a touch of saline contact solution to your dry or clumpy mascara to revive it. *Note : mascara should be discarded every 3 months so this trick should only be applied to mascaras less than 3 months old. 

5. Perfume - If you find your favorite scent doesn't last as long as you would like, apply vaseline to your pulse points prior to your perfume. This makes the scent last longer by preventing the perfume from being absorbed as quickly as it normally would. 

There you have it! Five of my favorite beauty hacks that I use regularly! Let me know if you would like to see more posts like this. Also let me know if you have any cool beauty hacks in the comments! 

Beauty Favorites | January 2015

I don't know what it is about January but I always seem to be caught off guard at the end of it thinking - where did the month even go? All of a sudden its January 27th and I'm finding myself rushing to gather my monthly favorites together so I can finally get one of these posts up at the end of the actual month I'm talking about (lets cross our fingers I make it happen more than once!). Without further delay, lets get into these favorites, and start also making our way through the shortest (and most gloomy in my opinion) month of the year. 

First off, I found myself reaching for these couple face makeup items pretty much every single day this month except for the days I wore no makeup at all. Loreal True Match foundation was always a favorite of mine, and after repurchasing it a couple months back I've found it back in my everyday makeup bag from the depths of my makeup drawers. Perfectly paired with the foundation was my Benefit Erase Paste which does a double duty of blemish and under eye concealing. I've been pretty constant on my bronzer and concealer this month as well - Nars Laguna Bronzer paired with the Rimmel blush in Pink Rose have been my dream combo. 

As for the rest of my makeup I've been keeping it pretty simple as well. I've really been enjoying a more simple eye look with lots of mascara - the one I haven't been able to keep my hands off of is Loreal Miss Manga which I did a full review of this month as well. As for lips I have to say a shout out to one of my favorite bloggers and fellow Canadians Estee (Essie Button), as I saw in her Best Beauty Products of 2014 video that she mentioned the Revlon Balm Stain in Honey was a favorite of hers. Lets just say any lip product specifically that Estee calls her favorite of the entire year has got to be purchased, like.. yesterday.

(Top to bottom) Nars Laguna, Rimmel Pink Rose, Revlon Honey 

There you have it guys! A very small but to the point January Beauty Favorites! Comment down below with some of the products you've enjoyed this month! 

Five Things | Go To Drugstore Foundations

Foundation is one of those very individual things, and I know everyone has a different preference - dewy, natural, matte, light/full coverage etc - and everyone also has different skin types, which makes it difficult to wear certain types of foundation. I tried to choose a variety for this post so that there is something for pretty well everyone. As I've said in many a post before, my skin is combination. All these foundations work well for me, it just depends on what finish or coverage level I'm looking for on any given day. 

The first two I grabbed are both similar in that they leave a more dewy finish to the skin - not in the 'I just left the gym' kind of way though. Maybelline Fit Me is a wonderful one for a nice medium coverage, and leaves the skin looking dewy, but not oily. It does have an spf built in which is great for protection your skin, but should be avoided if you're planning on getting your picture taken - white cast is bad news! Rimmel Wake Me Up is my other favorite drugstore foundation in the glowy catagory. This has a very, very fine shimmer to it which reflects the light giving you a lovely 'lit from within' look. It's medium coverage, and I especially love this foundation for this time of year because of the glow, and the fact that it gives any dry areas on my face a little extra moisture. 

If you're not so much into the dewy look, these next three will be more your style. If you're after the most matte face possible, Rimmel Stay Matte is right up your alley. This is probably the most mattifying foundation I've ever tried - if your curious about the finer details, you can read my full review of it here. Loreal True Match foundation is much more a middle of the road type of foundation. I would call it medium to full coverage, and because it is oil free I feel it does a good job of keeping oily areas at bay, but does not have the extreme matte effect of the Rimmel Stay Matte.

My last pick, and my most favorite as of lately goes out to Covergirl Ready Set Gorgeous. I've raved about this for about two straight months now - I've done a full review that you can read here - but to sum it up, it's a long wearing foundation with medium to full coverage that keeps your skin looking matte and flawless all day. The price point of this (about 6-8$CAD) for the quality is simply astounding. I think it's safe to say I'll continue to be raving about this for many months to come.

Throw a comment below on some of your favorite drugstore foundations! 

Beating Winter Blues With Champagne Shades

I love a good glow in my makeup all year round, but I seem to be craving that lit from within look even more during this gloomy time of year. We're right into the thick of the winter right now, and it's not our skins best friend. The dry weather and short days tend to make skin dull and lack luster - my solution is to pull out the champagne tones. 

(Top to bottom) CG Champagne, MAC Naked Lunch, Hard Candy Tiki Bronzer

(Top to bottom) Benefit Watts Up, Smashbox light luminizer, NYX cottage cheese, 

Rimmel bullet proof beige 

My first and most obvious choice - note the name - is the Covergirl Eye Enhancers eyeshadow in Champagne. So soft and buttery, it makes for the most amazing inner corner highlight that will truly make your eyes pop. Naked Lunch from MAC is also one of my favorite powder eyeshadows for bringing extra brightness to my eyes - the bonus is it isn't a heavy glitter shade so it never looks over the top. As for cheeks my go to powder product is the Hard Candy So Baked Bronzer in Tiki. It's labeled as a bronzer but for that purpose I think it would be impossible to pull off. It is however one of the best drugstore highlighting products I've ever found. 

If you're more of a cream product type of person, especially in terms of face highlighters, then Benefit Watts Up is the perfect product. In a stick form it makes for super easy application and adds the most wonderfully natural glow to the skin without looking like you actually applied a highlighting product. Smashbox Artificial Light Luminizing Powder - what a mouth full - is yes, technically, a "powder", however I kind of find it to be an in between kind of product. The applicator dispenses small amounts of this creamy powder that adds such a beautiful glow to the cheeks or eyes. Just a tip, I dispense it onto the back of my hand and then use a brush to apply it to where I want it - applying it straight from the container can get a little tedious. 

My final two picks are both eyeshadow sticks, and seriously, who doesn't love a good eyeshadow stick - so easy to use and convenient. The NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in cottage cheese - the name leaves little to be desired - is a stunner. It's shimmery white with undertones of gold. Finally the Rimmel Scandaleyes eyeshadow stick in bulletproof beige, which I must add is waterproof, adds a gorgeous light golden glow to the lids. I love wearing this both alone and as a base to make other shadows really pop. 

Five Things | Perfect Mac Starter Eyeshadows

In terms of eyeshadows you've really got to love some MAC, am I right? The thing with this is that their large selection - the large range of colors and finishes, can be amazing for a seasoned MUA, but for a beginner approaching a counter can be more than a little intimidating. Hopefully some of the apprehension can be taken care of with this run down of my five favorites which are perfect for beginners. The only requirement is that you have to love neutrals - neutrals are my jam if you didn't already realize - and have a decent makeup brush for eyeshadow application. 

My first and probably most well known of the bunch is Naked Lunch. This beauty is probably one of my first true loves from MAC - I've hit pan! It's just so easy to wear. It can be a light wash of color, or it can be the beginning of a more glamorous and dramatic eye. If I'm not just wearing this on its own (which I do quite a lot), I love pairing it with Espresso. This is a warm, matte cocoa shade that makes for the perfect crease color - it's soft enough to not look over the top. It also makes for a great brow shade depending on your natural tones. It blends like a dream which is why I find myself reaching for it with many of my brown smokey looks - you wont get any chalkiness here!

The next two shades I picked also have a lovely relationship with Naked Lunch - they both look amazing when used as a crease color. Cork is a matte golden brown shade, and much like Espresso, one of my go to crease shades for any type of neutral smokey eye. Also like Espresso, it is so smooth, blendable and not chalky or powdery at all. If you want something that is still neutral but more on the taupe end of things then Quarry is an amazing option. Out of my selection of five this is the third and final matte I chose. This is a soft plum brown that I enjoy wearing both in the crease with something like NL, or on its own swept over the lid as a nice simple wash of color - trust me it's a stunner!

Finally, where on earth would a neutral lover be without a good bronze option? Mulch is a brown with undertones of red and bronze pearl. It has a velvet finish which basically just means all the shine glamour without the risk of glitter fallout. This is another shade that can easily be thrown all over the lid and blended out into the crease - it looks like you did way more work than you actually did. It also looks stunning when built up with other colors to create a great smokey eye look. Any way you want to rock this is the right way in my opinion. 

So there you have it, five shadows that can easily be mixed and matched to create everything from an everyday wash of color to a dramatic evening smokey eye. What would your go to favorite five from MAC be? Let me know below! 

Current Non - Beauty Favorites | January 2015

I love my beauty products (surprise, surprise!), but there is always other favorites I have that I rarely (if ever) share with you all. I grabbed six of my favorite things of the moment to show you. I think I'll try to make this a more regular thing so you can all see what types of drinks, fashion, and even music or books I'm enjoying at the moment. 

First is this tank from Aerie that says "Running every morning (for coffee)" - like seriously, I don't think I could ever find a tank that suits me more. I love Aerie tanks a whole ton, perfect for working out or just for a casual outfit. My second favorite is also from Aerie and it's one of their blanket scarves. I had been eyeing these for such a long time, and finally grabbed this one which is navy with hints of white and pink in it. I'm so obsessed with it and all the different ways you can wear it. I'm going to need a couple more of these! 

My next two non beauty favorites actually go perfectly together - Tim Hortons Blueberry white tea and this Bath and Body Works candle in Lavender Vanilla. This tea is seriously addictive, I can't get enough of it or the amazing smell of this stuff. Much like the tea, I am completely obsessed with the smell of this candle, so soft and relaxing. It has become my go to candle to burn while I have a bath. 

My final two favorites are jewelry favorites, and although I'm not big on wearing jewelry on an everyday basis aside from a watch and maybe some stud earrings, I've been wearing these two pieces non stop. This small cuff bracelet from Swarovski is an amazing pairing to my favorite watch, and I find it can be dressed up or down - it's great at adding some sparkle and shine to an otherwise plain outfit. I've also been lusting over this feather ring from Pandora  which I received from my wonderful man this past Christmas. It is all types of stunning and I can't get enough of it! 

These are my current non-beauty favorites - let me know some of yours at the moment! 

My Jewelry Storage | January 2015

Hey guys! So I decided to do this little post as I thought it may be of interest to some people on what I use to store my jewelry in. My set up is pretty straight forward and I really don't own that much jewelry  but I thought it would be helpful for some to see my organization. 

I will start off by saying that I received this jewelry box 2 Christmas' ago from my mother in law (I believe she got it from Costco, but I could be wrong). I never really thought I would use something like this as I don't own a huge amount of jewelry, and own even less good quality jewelry, but ever since I got it I've used it, and I've ended up really loving it.

My favorite part of this box is how the lid can be left open or closed. When open it has a rather large mirror and you're able to see the items that are being stored on the top storage area of the box. 

There is two smaller drawers which have been sectioned into 6 smaller areas (perfect for earring organization). Then there are two large drawers, which I use for my larger necklaces, cuff bracelets and other larger or more awkward to store items. 

Each side also swings outward to reveal hooks that are perfect for smaller/more dainty necklaces that can easily become tangled if they were to by laid in a drawer. 

There you have it, my jewelry storage! If you guys enjoy these types of organizational posts please feel free to request anything else along these lines that you would like to see!

Wet n Wild Comfort Zone Palette | Review and Swatches

Over the years I'd heard so many different people talk about this little palette, and for the most part it was all positive reviews - good quality eyeshadows for an amazing price. I finally decided it was my turn to test it out, and for five dollars who can say no?

I'm just going to start this off by saying, if you don't already have this you need to get your hands on it. For about 63 cents per shadow (and good sized ones at that), you can seriously not go wrong. I was of course drawn to this one specifically because of the neutral lover in me, but they also have a palette with blue tones, purples and one with a brighter mixture of shades as well.

These shadows are seriously buttery and so easy to blend - probably one of the better formulas of eyeshadows you can find at the drugstore.

The palette is laid out perfect for beginners as well - each shadow is pressed with a suggestion on where to use each specific shade to create either a simple or dramatic look. I prefer the shades on the left side, but the brow bone shade on right is seriously gorgeous, and the definer color on the right is the most amazing duo chrome finish (the swatches do not do it justice) - in some lights its a dark brown, in others it's blue.

Let me know if you've tried this palette before, or if you are interested in it!