Winter Staples - MAC Tinted Lip Conditioner

The MAC Tinted Lip Conditioner is probably my HG lip product. In my quest to find a more affordable dupe (or something to use just for bumming around the house), I have only found one that works in the same way. It keeps my lips feeling moist longer than 99% of other lip balms/conditioners I've tried and because of that, I feel I don't need to reapply as often. I've had my fair share of products that disappear so quickly, this is definitely not one of them.

MAC makes colourless lip conditioners in tube and pot form, too; but i especially love the tinted ones because they add just enough colour to make your lips look polished but still natural. They also come in 4 other colours:

Left to right: Petting Pink, Plum Perfect, Gentle Coral & Soothing Beige

I've already tried Petting Pink & Gentle Coral and have loved them both. It sounds like Plum Perfect would be lovely for a more intense look and Soothing Beige would be great for a nuder lip; either way, I'm excited to try these other two shades!

READ MORE - Winter Staples - MAC Tinted Lip Conditioner

All About Eyes - Peach & Purple For The Holidays

Products Used:

Sleek MakeUP i-Divine Palette - Circus (metallic purple) & Storm (metallic grey) 

MAC Eyeshadow - Paradisco

Annabelle Cosmetics Hype Liquid Liner - Mystic Black

MAC Fluidline - Blacktrack

Tarte Lights, Camera, Splashes! Mascara - Black

This is probably one of my favourite looks I've created so far, I absolutely love how it turned out! To start off, I applied the metallic purple eyeshadow all over the lid up to the brow bone, but leaving the inner third free of product. Then I applied the metallic grey colour in the inner corner and blended it into the purple shade. Next, I used a blending brush to apply Paradisco along the brow bone from the inner corner all the way to the outer edge, then applied the purple eyeshadow on the lower lash line. Lastly, I lined my upper lash line with Mystic Black liquid liner, lined the lower lash line with Blacktrack, filled in my brows with matte black eyeshadow and applied a few coats of mascara to both upper and lower lashes.

I think this is a great look for the holidays because it's fun and colourful, but still quite wearable and appropriate for most functions. 

Hope you guys like this look!

READ MORE - All About Eyes - Peach & Purple For The Holidays

All About Eyes - Evening Neutral

Products Used:

Sleek MakeUP i-Divine Palettes - Storm (champagne, brown & maroon) 

and Sunset (burnt orange & pinky gold)

MAC Eye Pencil - Coffee

Clinique High Impact Mascara - Black

This entire look came about simply because I wanted to use the gorgeous, metallic brown shade from Sleek's Storm palette. I was taking a look through all my palettes for inspiration and realized I've never used it before! Strange, I thought. 

Anyway, I started off by applying said eyeshadow on my eyelid, from lash line to just above the crease, making sure to leave the inner third of my eye free of product. Then I applied a pinky gold colour on the inner corner, blending it nicely with the metallic brown. This shade (very right on the swatch photo) is kind of interesting: it looks pink in the pan and when placed on the skin, but it has some gold shimmer running through and the gold becomes more pronounced as you blend away. It's quite pretty, actually! Next up, I used a burnt orange shade and used it to blend the upper edge of the eyeshadow to create a smokier effect. The maroon shade was then applied to the outer corner of the eyelid to create a bit more depth; this shadow was also used to line the lower lash line. 

Last were the finishing touches: a lovely, shimmery champagne colour to highlight the brow bone, a matte black eyeshadow to define the brows a bit more, MAC's coffee eye pencil to line both upper and lower water lines, and a few coats of High Impact Mascara on both the top and bottom lashes.

Hope you like this look :)

READ MORE - All About Eyes - Evening Neutral

Recent Purchases: Drugstore Buys, My Perfect Contouring Shade & A Fierce Pair Of Shoes

I have a performance coming up this Friday and I needed to stock up on some essentials; three of which, I've never tried before. There's always something exciting about testing a product for the first time, no? Which is why I found myself testing away at 10:30 PM a few nights ago.

Drugstore Buys

I've tried Quo lashes before, just not this particular style. I quite liked the ones I used prior; they were easy to work with and were very dramatic. The style didn't quite suit my eye shape though, so I was looking for a particular one to purchase instead: a dupe of MAC #21's (i.e.  shorter at the ends, longer in the middle). Let me tell you, I'm so glad I found these. They were half the price and while they may not be the same quality as MAC lashes, it's still an excellent product.

My (current) favourite eyeliner. It applies evenly & smoothly and doesn't give me a nasty rash like the Maybelline Waterproof eyeliner. That said, this product is definitely not perfect. The wand, for one thing; it's perfect after a few uses, but the first few times I use it to apply the liner are quite... Unpleasant. It's hard and feels abrasive on my eyelids; not good! Especially on an area with such delicate skin. Also, there is some slight migration going on after a few hours. It's easy enough to swipe a finger underneath the eye to clean up, but I wish I didn't have to. Other than that, I do like it.

I first heard about clear lip liner when I spotted one by Maybelline in the Drugstore. To say I was intrigued is an understatement. I mean, I have many different shades of lipstick and the thought of having to buy multiples just to match the shade was giving me a headache. I've done a short test on this and found that my lipstick definitely applied much smoother with this on. I'll make sure to review this again after I've tested it more thoroughly.

I've heard many people rave about Revlon ColorStay and now I know why. It's a really good product! Shopping for Drugstore foundation can be quite daunting but I was able to find my shade (without swatching, mind) thanks to Temptalia's Foundation Matrix. First of all, it blends so nicely (especially when applied with a duo fibre brush) and has great coverage (slightly more than Chanel Vitalumiere). 

It also has a nice, natural finish. There is a slight dewiness, but it doesn't make you look oily at all. It lasts quite a while, too; I wore it on Sunday for nearly 10 hours. Of course, I was wearing a primer and I did a very small touch up with bareMinerals foundation at the 8 hour mark (and I didn't even need it, I just did anyway :p), but still... 10 hours is impressive for any foundation, Drugstore or not. 

Did I mention after 5 hours of rehearsal in which I was perspiring, it was still intact? Well, it was. Brilliant!

My Perfect Contouring Shade

Contouring was new to me this year and all the products I use are matte bronzers. Which is fine if you want to look a bit tanner. Except I don't. Yes, my skin is quite light and I do like to keep it that way. Matching my blushes to my contouring powder was becoming a pain because the orangey tones would just clash too much (I was using Harmony by MAC and Physician's Formula Bamboo Silk Bronzer). 

So, I went on the lookout for a cooler shade. I initially wanted Taupe blush by NYX but none of my local retailers sell their blushes. I finally gave up on an inexpensive product and went to MAC. The lovely sales associate tried a number of blushes on me, none of which were promising. Too orange, too subtle, etc, etc. Then she decided on using an eyeshadow on my cheek, something I knew was perfectly fine to do, but never did. She picked Quarry and I fell in love.

It's the perfect cool taupe-y colour (MAC describes it as a "soft, muted plum-brown") and blends quite nicely (I use Sigma's F40 brush). All in all, it's a joy to use and is exactly what I was looking for. I love it so much already, I can only imagine how much more I'll love it as I continue to use it.

A Fierce Pair Of Shoes

I only own 1 pair of black high heels because I prefer to wear clothing that is more subdued in colour and really bring out the flash with accessories; specifically shoes. Well, the time came when I needed a pair of close-toed black high heels and I'm so glad I was able to find this pair by Chinese Laundry at my local Winners (basically it's Ross/T.J.Maxx but in Canada :p).

They're cute, no? A nice pair of black, platform pumps should be a staple in every woman's closet, I think. 

What are your recent purchases?

READ MORE - Recent Purchases: Drugstore Buys, My Perfect Contouring Shade & A Fierce Pair Of Shoes

All About Eyes - Winter Ice

Products Used:

Annabelle Cosmetics Smudgeliner - Foxy Grey

Sephora Collection Eyeshadow - Aspen Summit 23

Sleek MakeUP i-Divine Palette - Circus (pale, sky blue)

Annabelle Cosmetics Liquid Liner - Mystic Black

CoverGirl VolumeExact Mascara - Very Black

Something a bit less wearable for you lovelies today... There was a week in November where we experienced below 0 temperature. there was snow, ice everywhere; it was freezing. It kind of inspired me to create an icey look.

I started off by applying Foxy Grey Smudgeliner (which is actually silver) on the eyelid, ending just above the crease. Then I used Aspen Summit, a shimmery white eyeshadow and applied it all over the lid and up to the brow bone. Because I had a silver base, there will be a difference in shade, despite using the same eyeshadow. Next, I applied a sky blue eyeshadow just on the outer corner of the eye. Then with Annabelle's Mystic Black eyeliner, I applied a thin line on my upper lash line. Lastly, I applied Foxy Grey on the lower lash line, applied a few coats of mascara (I really don't recommend VolumeExact, I'm just trying to use it up :p), and filled in any gaps in my eyebrows with a matte black eyeshadow.

Hope you like this look!

Happy Monday :)

READ MORE - All About Eyes - Winter Ice

All About Eyes - Black & Gold (Inspired by Natasha Bedingfield)

When I first saw Natasha Bedingfield's video for her new single, Strip Me, I was blown away by all the makeup looks (there are around 8 or 9) and how beautiful they all were. There was one look in particular that this was inspired by: a black and gold smoky eye. So I decided to do my own take on the look.

Products Used:

Annabelle Cosmetics Smudgeliner - Honey

Sleek Makeup i-Divine Palette - Storm

MAC Fluidline - Blacktrack

L'oréal Voluminous Mascara - Black

Firstly, I applied Annabelle's Honey Smudgeliner all over the lid, from the lash line to the brow bone and then I layered the gold eyeshadow on top. Next, I applied the matte black eyeshadow to the outer half of the eyelid, making sure to taper the outer edge off. I also applied this to the lower lash line (keeping the inner corner free of black eyeshadow) and used it to fill in the gaps in my eyebrows. Then I lined the upper lash line & my lower water line with Blacktrack and applied two coats of mascara to both top & bottom lashes. Simple, right?

Hope you like this look :).

Happy Monday!

READ MORE - All About Eyes - Black & Gold (Inspired by Natasha Bedingfield)

Monthly Favourites - November 2010

In every Monthly Favourites post, I always say something along the lines of, "I can't believe it's ___ already!" or "Time is going by so fast!" Seeing as I would hate to break tradition, I have to say: November really really flew by for me. But I'm so happy it's December, because it means Christmas is right around the corner! But enough blabbering from me, here's my November Faves:

1. Revlon - Beyond Natural Skin Matching Makeup

I wasn't too jazzed about this foundation at first. I didn't feel there was enough coverage and I didn't really like the finish. But once I found the perfect way to apply it, I've been obsessed! I'd say it's around light to medium coverage and is absolutely buildable. It looks natural on the skin and really matches my skin better now that I use a brush instead of my fingers. I'll do a more in-depth review soon, but this has definitely been the base product I've reached for the most this month.

2. Sigma - F50 (Formerly SS 187) Duo Fibre Brush

It is thanks to this baby that I've fallen in love with the Revlon Beyond Natural foundation. But it works beautifully for other liquid face products as well. By stippling the product onto the skin and then blending it out, you achieve a gorgeous finish. Some say "airbrushed," but I've never used any airbrushing equipment on my face so I can't say for certain if that's the finish it achieves. But gorgeous is definitely a good word to describe the finish I achieve for myself.

3. Sleek MakeUP i-Divine Sunset Palette - Cranberry Shade

This entire palette is gorgeous; in fact, Sunset and Storm are probably 2 of Sleek's best palettes. But I've come to really enjoy this one shade in particular. I'm pretty sure it doesn't have a name, but it's a gorgeous red with a satiny finish. I've used it in two looks recently, one of which I posted yesterday. It's amazingly pigmented and the velvety texture allows it to blend quite easily. I never though I'd love a red eyeshadow, but there you go :p.

4. Lush - The Olive Branch Shower Gel

I've had this shower gel since the summer but I never used it until fall/winter rolled around. It just smells so amazingly warm that it feels more appropriate to use it when the weather's a bit chilly. No, it's not the most moisturizing of shower gels, nor is it a brilliant exfoliator; but it there's something so welcoming about it, especially when you shower with really warm water... That's why I love it so much!

5. Lush - Sympathy For The Skin Body Lotion

This lotion is definitely a staple for me in any season, but I've come to really  appreciate it this winter. Although it isn't technically winter yet, we experienced a period of below freezing weather and my skin has suffered for it. Sympathy for the Skin has kept my skin wonderfully moisturized; it retains moisture better and smells absolutely delicious. The combination of The Olive Branch and this lotion is especially glorious!

6. Lush - Angels On Bare Skin Cleanser

Angels on Bare Skin is really such a wonderful cleanser. It leaves my skin looking and feeling smoother and doesn't strip any moisture at all from my skin. Actually, I would feel comfortable saying it's moisturizing as well because I can get away with not applying moisturizer on my skin after using this product. Not only is it simple yet effective, it's also one of Lush's vegan products. It has natural ingredients and no parabens, sulfates, or any preservatives.

7. Nivea - Milk & Honey Lip Balm

Smells lovely (milk and honey? Come on!) and moisturizes just as well as my well-loved tinted lip conditioner from MAC. Also, it was less than $3. There is no losing with this lip balm! No fancy tricks here, but it's a very effective product. An more in-depth review is coming soon.

8. Revlon - Sugar Plum Nail Polish

Applies smoothly and effortlessly, plus it dries so incredibly quick! The shade is gorgeous, too. Perfect for the Holidays! 

Happy December, lovelies!

What were your favourites form last month?

READ MORE - Monthly Favourites - November 2010

All About Eyes - Red, Gold & Black

So this look was inspired by the theme of our Christmas tree this year: red, gold and black. The eyeshadow shades aren't an exact match for the ornaments, of course, I just made do with what I had.

Products Used:

Sleek Makeup i-Divine Palette - Storm (gold) & Sunset (yellow-gold, shimmery red, & matte black)

MAC Fluidline - Blacktrack

CoverGirl VolumeExact Mascara - Very Black

To start off, I applied the yellow-gold eyeshadow all over the lid and up to the brow bone; then I layered the gold eyeshadow on top to create the exact shade I wanted. Next, I applied the shimmery red eyeshadow to the outer corner of the eye, tapering it off at the end. This eyeshadow was also applied to the outer half of the lower lash line. Then I applied the gold combination on the lower lash line as well, making sure to blend it with the red seamlessly. Next, I took a fluffy eyeshadow brush to blend the upper edge out and soften any harsh edges. With Blacktrack Fluidline, I lined the upper lash line and lower water line. Lastly, I filled in any gaps in my brows with a matte black eyeshadow and applied a few coats of mascara to both the top and bottom lashes.

Hope you like this look :)

READ MORE - All About Eyes - Red, Gold & Black