S U N D A Y

The calm before the storm, a weekend to relax before the hectic uni days take over. I can already imagine the large amounts of homework and the withering of my social life. I took it easy today, did all the little bits that will hopefully make my week go smoother.
After such a hectic summer, I spent my last Sunday washing the makeup from the several wedding events off my brushes. I painted my acrylic nails with the color "First Date" by L'Oreal, fixed up my vanity, sharpened my nude lip liners by Annabelle that I'm addicted too. I assembled my outfits for this week to save me the hassle that would happen in the A.M., thew on a Rose sleeping mask from Sephora to somewhat replenish my skin and unwound by reading a few pages of #GIRLBOSS.


This is also a good jam you should listen too

Trio of staples

These three new items have graciously made their way into my life and surprised me.

After having a mini sample of the Kat Von D Tattoo eyeliner I was sold! The mini that I had previously owned (and used the heck out of) didn't last for a very ling time and I feel like after a couple week of using the full size version its dong the same. The product still comes out and glides on perfectly but I feel like the tip of it needs to be tested a couple times (on my hand) before I attempt the flick. I don't know if that's just how this product runs out or if I need to shake it more before I use it. Still, overall this product is a keeper!

I have never been a big fan of the Maybelline mascaras because they don't cost a lot and I think most of them have plastic wands. I bought the Rocket Volum' on a whim just to see how it would work out. Aside from the fact that there is like 20 different mascaras they have on the shelf this one works pretty well. It could be a potential re purchase. It holds a curl pretty nicely & it make my lashes thicker for sure. It's definitely not a disappointment like I thought it was going to be.

I was gifted this NARS mini matte lip crayon (not sure of what the color is) but it applies so nicely and thought its a matte finish it doesn't dry like a stain.It's easy to use and is going to come in handy for Spring!

The bags under my eyes aren't Prada no more.

Lets be honest, we've all probably had that moment when we realize that our drugstore favorites just don't work like the real deal stuff does. I have officially retired my Hard Candy concealers for this shiny new glory.

I love NARS, I think I can say it's my favorite makeup brand & I held off buying this even though all the blogger & vlogger reviews were great because I just couldn't justify the price. Which kinda doesn't make sense because I have no problem buying a NARS blush...The point is, I finally gave in and purchased the Creamy Radiant Concealer in the color Ginger/Medium 2.

I've only used this a couple time but I can already tell you that I love it. It doesn't crease and it doesn't look heavy on the skin. I think the translucent powder from NARS would pair nicely with this. Maybe that will be my next splurge after I finish my Bare Minerals translucent powder.

Virtual Domination, seriously

Since the holidays have rolled around I took it upon myself to grab a treat before it was too late.

I'm obsessed with Nars blushes, I own 3 already and I just finished my Laguna bronzer. The reason I invested in this palette was because not only does it come with Laguna, but the other four blush shades (3 blush, 1 highlight) I don't own! Most of the palettes Nars has come out with I feel like I already own a shade so there isn't any use in buying it in another palette (like Desire I feel is always in a blush palette but I own the individual version) or it comes with Orgasm. I don't like the color of Orgasm or Super orgasm, I think its way WAY too shimmery, but maybe I just feel like that because I’m a matte finish type of gal.

This palette is amazing, you're getting your complete money's worth because all the pans are basically the same size if they would be sold separately. Because I enjoy a matte finish I don't use Miss Liberty to highlight, I use it as an eye-shadow. It works amazing, there is no fall-out and it just looks great on the eyelids. I've even gotten a few compliments on it.

So happy I got my hands on this, such a great investment!

Have you looked at this palette or tried any Nars cheek products lately?

Skin

A long long time ago I wrote a post about my best concealer ever which was the Glamoflauge by Hard Candy. I haven't bought any other cover up because this one was so amazing. After realizing that I have had this one make up item for almost 2 years I thought it was about time to toss it.

Casually strolling through Walmart I see a new concealer product, one end corrector and the other concealer. I bought it and I love it even more then the Glamoflauge. The Glamoflauge Lite is lighter in weight, more blendable and much easier to work with. It's completely replaced my old concealer. 

Some days, if I’m feeling like not wearing cover up I’ll use a little bit of Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous under my eyes. It’s almost like a tinted moisturizer so it’s super minimal and great for lazy days.

A little bit of GLAM Lite, Verve by MAC on my lips, and Telescopic mascara 

Eye like to line #punny

Left to right
Urban Decay 24/7 Liquid Eye Liner, Eyeko skinny Liquid Eyeliner, Kat Von D Tattoo Liner

Three new liners to add to my collection. I normally use the Annabelle Liquid Felt Tip liner but it just hasn't been fulfilling my needs recently. All three of these liners work differently but equally as good, following?

The Urban Decay one is a liquid liner with a brush tip 

The Eyeko Skinny is a felt tip liner, almost like a sharpie

and the Kat Von D is a brush tip liner, that works like a felt tip

All three of these liners are great, and they all - in my opinion work the same

They all have a deep, true black color, they can apply precise thick or thin lines and they all come in great packaging. The removal of all the liners are quite nice with any facial cleanser or makeup remover.

What do you think about these? What are you currently using and how do you think they compare?

Eyebrow Game #strong

Urban Decay Naked Basics : Faint
Urban Decay Naked : Buck
Watts up by Benefit
Angled Brush by elf
Lip brush & eyebrow comb (walmart?)

I usually begin with taking a wet brush (the "lipliner" one with the orange tip) and take the color Faint from the UD Basics to draw an outline of my brow where its needed. Usually this is just the arch. Then I use the elf small angled brush with a mixture of Faint and Buck from the UD Naked 1 and fill in my brows. I comb it all through and Voilà!

I used to use a Maybelline eyebrow pencil to do my brows but for the past 2 or so years I've been using shadows because it looks more soft and natural. I do however want to try the Hourglass waxy/pencil thing. It looks incredible. 

How do you like to do your brows?

Blot Away

While seeing my friend on Canada Day, we also have another tradition that I failed to mention. 

She is a HUGE beauty lover and she usually gets samples but she doesn't necessarily like them all so she collects them and gifts them to me. Like a mid year present, I am truly excited about the most minuscule things in life, seriously.

In the little goodie package that she gave to me she included these blotting sheets. I never get oily enough to use these but it is summer, and sometimes you get a little sweaty Betty. Never thought I would be a blotter but these are actually really cool! They are "Japanese Blotting Papers" and they are infused with Gold Flex

That's right people. Your face is making contact with little pieces of gold. It's quite lux if I do say so myself.

Brushes Galore

These are my everyday makeup brushes. Looking at it now, it seams like a lot of brushes to use but if I decided not to do an eye look I usually just sweep my blush brush across my lids. It took me a long time to discover and narrow which brush size worked for my face and the products I was using. I think that's a mistake a lot of people can make when starting or developing an interest in makeup. I don't use a blush brush for blush all the time, and I don't like flat foundation brushes for my face. You are allowed to break the rules and not only experiment with types of makeup, but brushes too. 


Here are the brushes I use with the products that I would normally use with them listed bellow.

      

• Real Techniques Multi-Task Brush
  Bare Minerals Mineral Veil in Original
  
  
• Real Techniques Essential Foundation Brush
  Tarte Smooth Oporater Powder (to set my under eye area)
  
  
• Real Techniques Domed Shadow Brush
  Any crease color
  
  
• elf Power Brush
  Hard Candy Glamoflouge Concealer
  
   
• elf Completion Brush
  MAC Sheertone blush in Gingerly
  
  
• elf Blush Brush
  NARS Laguna Bronzer
  
   
• Bare Minerals Full Tapered Blush & Eye Brush
  
  
•  NARS Dolce Vita & any lid shadow color
  
  
• hana K Blending Brush
  To blend any eye colors 

The Magic Trio

Left to Right
Benefit - the POREfessional
Hard Candy - Glamoflauge
Benefit - High Beam

I have never been into primers. I think their mostly of use to people with oily skin and I don't really have that. Yet, I am now in-love with one. I had a sample of the POREfessional by Benefit and to use it up I kept applying it to my T-zone. One day I mistakenly too a bit too much so I used the excess under my eyes and HOLY. My concealer has never gone onto my skin that perfectly ever, up until now

And just last week it was hot. It was really hot out and I didn't want to wear makeup but I was bored so I was trying to amplify my under eye area and I took a bit of High Beam with my Hard Candy concealer and again HOLY. It completely diminished my circles and make me look more awake. 

Trust me on this one, try it out! 

Do you use any illuminating makeup products in your routine?

How vampy is too vampy..

This is the Sephora brand Lip Cream Stain in 07. I really wish I knew the name of it. It probably says somewhere on the website but anyhow, it's pretty amazing!

I've been looking at buying a really dark purple lipstick for a very long time and after running out of luck drugstore after drugstore, I decided to go to Sephora.... I guess it's a very weird thing to be looking for a dark purple lipstick in the Summer, because there was nothing but this one cream stain that came close to what I was looking for. 

So what I was looking for was just a dark purple matte lipstick, and what I bought was a dark purple-reddish-bronze slightly metallic semi-cream lip stain.

It works alright, I HATE that it comes with a doe foot applicator. How am I or anyone supposed to make a precise outline for my lips with a fuzzy little applicator- So I line my lips with a lip liner for a guide. This product also doesn't stain my lips. It's more of a really stay put cream because it will come off on a glass or wipe off on skin or clothes- So I blot it like I would if it were a lipstick

Overall, I like it, maybe like a 7/10. The color is growing on me. It kind of changes color in different lights, I guess that's the metallic being put into action.

What's your favorite stain lip brand & color? 

Fresh Faced n' Fancy

I'm always interested in how other peoples chill time makeup and skin care look like. My skin has always been good (knock on wood) so I don't have to use much on my skin. A little dryness here a little oiliness there, but all in all my normal skin does not need much. 

I thought I would share the products that I use skin & makeup to achieve my chill time, fresh and fancy look.

1. La Rouche-Posay ISO-UREA Fluide

This stuff rocks. I love gel based moisturizers and this is amazing, it is so hydrating and it makes my skin feel quenched and firm. Love it, though I own several of these mini samples (courtesy of my sister's friend who sometimes hooks us up) I don't actually know what they're supposed to do because there is so description on the back...But it works like a dream!

2. Arbonne RE9 Advanced Corrective Eye Cream

I don't use eye creams on a regular basis, but when I do I prefer the ones that start off thick then go on almost a watery constancy. I feel like my skin really drinks up the product...am I making any sense here? 

3. Blistex Lip Balm 

I usually lean towards using this balm when I'm sick because I feel like the strong mint-esque smell will heal my dry cracked lips. And I do believe it works, I barely use much of it at a time because it is a very thick and heavy balm, bees-wax like (looks like it too) but it really does help my lips to make them look and feel new again.

4. True Blue Mini Super Softening Hand Lotion

This little guy has a lot to say for itself. It smells like a tropical paradise and reminds me of that good ol' Bath & Body Works smell. Since it's mini it fits perfectly in my makeup bag and its super easy to find when I carry it in my purse. The only downfall to this lotion is that if you take a little too much it can be a tad greasy, but I usually just rub the excess off on my arms.

1. L'Oreal Telescopic Mascara

Favorite drugstore Mascara hands down! 1st coat gives length, 2nd coat adds volume and even more length and a 3rd coat would add even more volume. It says telescopic but it really is the real deal guys. I buy the Carbon Black version, not sure what the difference is between this and the original, and the Shocking version isn't that shocking to me. So buy this mascara, it might change your life by making your eyes look more awake.

2. Laguna Bronzer by NARS

Bronzers are a funny thing for me. I feel like my skin tone is difficult to find a good bronzer for. They are either too dark or too light. Laguna for example is a shade too light for my skin (in my opinion) but I do think that it does give my face more dimension and makes me look more youthful.

3. Gingerly Blush by MAC

This Sheer-tone Blush color is a apricot-y/red-ish-orange blush that looks similar to a bronzer color but is just orange enough to be a blush. I usually apply this to the apples of my cheek's and then take the remaining powder on my brush and sweep it onto my eyelids when I'm not in the mood to wear eye shadow.

4. Verve Lipstick by MAC

My newest edition to my lipstick collection and it does not disappoint one bit! It's difficult for me to fall in love with nude lipsticks because I truly feel like I can't find one that looks nice on me. So I opted for a brown. Verve is a matte finish (my favorite kind) and is just a shade or so deeper then my natural lip color. It just kinda smooths things over in the lip department making my fresh face look complete.

Are there any products you use to feel fresh faced?

Red Love

My absolute favorite red lipstick that I will buy forever and ever until the end of time is Ruby Woo (matte finish) from MAC. 

It was the first red lipstick I owned and since the purchase (in 2012?!), I've probably converted 4 or 5 of my friends to buy it. The formula is drying, probably the most drying out of all the matte ones I own or that I've tried, which can be a set off for some people but, personally I love a really matte formula that's not going to move on my lips and that I barley need to touch up.

Something interesting that I found with this lipstick is that, against my skin tone it looks like a true red, like Snow White's apple red, but against some of my friends with a more fair skin tone the color looks more pinky. And to be honest, I think it's something in the formula that's making it look that way! (Well, I would very much like to think that this lipstick has special powers.) 

Anyhow, it's a gorgeous shade and I think everyone should own it :) 

This is a fabulous little zip pouch I bought in New York at a little market in Chelsea. The Designer is Pamela Barsky. You can purchase her adorable and sassy pouches on Etsy. CLICK ME! I have another pouch too, and I love them both. Check her out!

What's your all time favorite, no fail red lip color?

OJ!

I've seriously had some mad love for my Nars eyeshadow duo in Mediterranean. I have been obsessed with orange juice ever since Spring started, and I obviously had to incorporate the color into my makeup. I placed the orange color on my lid then took a medium warm brown and blended that in the crease. Added a little brown liner and smudged that out and topped off the look by taking the So Chaud by MAC lipstick and dabbed that on  my lips for just a Hint of Orange.

I don't think I've every really liked the color orange but its seriously flattering for a summer time look. Let me know what you think!

What colors are you gravitating towards in your Summer time makeup?

Frootloops

Last weekend was an interesting one, but any excuse I get to dress fancy I'll take!

My family visited my Aunt and the view where she lives is amazing. Though the town is tiny and I much rather prefer the city life, is was a calming(ish) trip. I loved my outfit, I seriously felt like a princess, it's probably one of the funnest parts about having a diverse culture, playing dress up.

The mountains looked beautiful & I attempted to take a picture of my fabulous nails but it turned out slightly too dark

High-Low dress, Forever 21; Bomber Crepe Jacket, Macys (bar III); Shoes, H&M;
Bag, Coach

Ellie, darling

Last month I went to the Ellie Goulding concert and she was incredible. I sung my heart out to Figure 8 and reminisced when she sang Guns & Horses. She just looked amazing, and though the gross couple in front of me kept kissing I just looked past that and kept dancing. Watching back on all the videos I took anyone can distinctly hear someone with an off-pitched voice singing...that person is me. Oh how those videos will never see the light of day..or the brightness of technology?... Anyhow you can just imagine her beating her drum and head banging to any song. It was fantastic and she was sweet.

My outfit was pretty basic, pleather jacket, black jeans and a nice-casual-comfy top

And my makeup looked something like this...

I didn't know if it was going to get super muggy and hot in the venue so I did, what is to me, a very natural makeup look, it was going to be dark anyways, and just kept it really simple. 

A simple flick of liner, matte neutral eye shadow and a bright lip which was Candy Yum Yum by MAC. I kept the checks looking pinched-ish and just did my brows like how I always do. Oh, and loads of Telescopic mascara ;) 

I've also been loving my hoop nose ring, makes me feel edgy.

Matte MAC Lipsticks

There are many loves of my life. Matte MAC lipsticks happen to be one of them. I am seriously gaga over this formula by MAC and I can guarantee you that my matte lipstick collection will be forever growing

The three that I own are Ruby Woo, a blue toned bright red, So Chaud, a medium colored orange- it's not too neon and it’s not too dark either, and Chilli, a brick brown-red which is my daily lipstick that I’ll wear to uni or work. All three of these lipsticks are insanely pigmented and the staying power on them is remarkable. I would say that last 5 hours without having to reapply. And with a lip liner the lasting power would only increase.

The next matte lipstick I want to purchase is Candy Yum Yum, it’s a hot pink and I think it would be amazing for the summer time!

( Left to Right; Ruby Woo - So Chaud - Chilli )

What is your favorite finish of lipstick? Do you have any matte colors for me to try?