Stylish&Literate - A Beauty and Personal Style Blog

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Looking for a new matte liquid lipstick? Then you might fancy the new Lancôme Matte Shaker.

The Matte Shakers are in almost the exact same packaging as their counterpart, the Juicy Shakers, but that's really where most of the similarities end.

Unlike the uber sheer and glossy Juicy Shaker (see review here), the Matte Shakers are a highly pigmented liquid lipstick that dry matte and are (surprisingly) comfortable on the lips.

There are seven different shades (although five of them are variations of red and pink, the other two include a peachy nude and a beige-y nude). Naturally, I gravitated to the rosy nude, #270 Beige Vintage because it was, well, the most natural, but the other colours were gorgeous (this is based on some messy swatches I did on the back of my hand at the Lancôme counter).

Wear time for me is pretty solid at around 5-6 hours (again, this is solely based on my experience with the shade, Beige Vintage). Although this Matte Shaker was not lunch or dinner proof, it wore pretty evenly on my lips. Also, in every instance that I reapplied, it went on evenly and did not feel drying. In a 12 hour day, I reapplied four times without any issues. Any other liquid lipstick, especially a matte one, would typically turn my lips into raisins at that point. So, win-win.

Also, you'd think that the applicator, a spongey-cushion nub, would be a disaster for applying such an opaque colour, but I didn't have any issues. Perhaps with the more vibrant shades? Nonetheless, the ultra-lightweight formulation is actually really easy to smooth onto the lips with hardly any effort. Since it does have a very fluid consistency, it's recommended that after applying, you wait a little bit for it to dry down (it takes less than a minute) before puckering your lips together. It hasn't happened to me, but you might get some weird patchiness otherwise.

Like I said, I'm happy with the wear time. Even though this isn't completely life-proof—there was still a little bit of transfer on coffee cups even after allowing the product to dry—the fact that it is so comfortable to wear is a plus for me.

If you've already tried the Juicy Shaker but wished they were slightly more opaque, then give these a swatch!

The new Lancôme Matte Shakers will set you back $29 CAD and are readily available at Sephora and Lancôme counters. You'll have to let me know if you've picked one up already & also in what shade. I'm contemplating getting another...

With a cult favourite cleansing brush under their belt, of course Clarisonic would try to tap the makeup brush market with the release of their new Sonic Foundation Brush.

The Sonic Foundation Brush is made with synthetic bristles for blending out liquid and cream makeup. It uses the patented oscillation that Clarisonic is known for to give your makeup a smooth and flawless finish.

I've tried this a few times (you can watch one of those times in the video below) and I have some thoughts.

Here's what I like about it:

it's easy to use — you just pop it onto your Clarisonic device and off you blend.
it works in cream products beautifully — it's perfect for all your stick foundations and cream contours / highlights / blushes because it blends those products beautifully and effortlessly.
it gives your makeup a flawless finish — it blends everything together seamlessly.

Here's what I don't like:

it blends a little too much — I find that it's not great for layering products because everything kind of meshes together at times and I can't tell my base from my contour or my blush. This is really a pro and con, because on one hand, you get totally flawless makeup but on another, your makeup may look a little flat.
not my favourite for liquid products — I find that blending out liquid products tend to leave streaks.
it's not that much quicker than a brush / makeup sponge because you have to go over your face twice (i.e., two 60 second sessions) with this brush in order to blend everything out.
it's not great for small amounts of product because it tends to tug on the skin (of course, the likelihood you'll bust this out for a spot of concealer is slim, but still...).
the brush takes forever to dry and if you plan on using this every day then you might have to pick up a back-up.

Now, don't get me wrong, this is still a nice makeup brush. If you have the patience or if you want a brush specifically for blending out cream products, then this is for you! If you've been neglecting your Clarisonic and are looking for a new use, give this a try!

The brush will work on any Clarisonic cleansing device (i.e., Mia 1, Mia 2, Fit, Smart Profile... even the discontinued Mia 3 / Aria) and it will set you back $39 CAD at Sephora. However, if you don't already own a Clarisonic device, then it's going to be extra costly.

Have you tried the Sonic Foundation Brush? I will likely end up returning mine, but I wouldn't say no to picking it up during a Sephora sale.

Bangs... what a high maintenance hairstyle. Despite this, every once in a while I flip through a magazine (or old photos of myself) and the call of the straight fringe beckons me.

Dry shampoo, a miracle worker and timesaver on a normal day, is especially integral in maintaining bangs (especially for me and my oily forehead).

So, I thought I'd share four dry shampoos currently in my rotation that will give your bangs (or your whole head) a refresh, no water required:

Batiste Dry Shampoo ($8.99 CAD, Well.ca): if you want an affordable drugstore option to sop up all the oils in your hair, then this is your best bet. Not only does it work, but it comes in so many scents that there's bound to be one that you like. And if you have darker hair, like me, no problem because they have a dry shampoo specifically for dark/deep brown hair (also for brunettes and blondes). Especially for a product that you're spraying up front & center, the coloured tone definitely helps mask the product. I also quite like the spray on this, the spritz is strong and the application is even.
Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo ($29 CAD, Sephora): this is a great oil absorber and works just like you would expect a dry shampoo to work. What's fancy about the PHD dry shampoo? Well, it apparently has a time-release fragrance so that your hair will smell good all day long. Not sure if this is a gimmick, but since my hair doesn't smell funky at the end of the day, I'm inclined to say that it probably does work. Cons? There is a noticeable white case with this one, so you have to be extra diligent in brushing your hair out.
Drybar Detox Dry Shampoo ($29 CAD, Sephora): this was my go-to dry shampoo for a while. It smells great (of course, if you don't like fragrances, that's a con) and it absorbs all the second, third and sometimes fourth day hair oils without a sweat (pun intended). Cons? I found that I used up this product so quickly. It actually has the least amount of product out of the four I'm mentioning. So, for the price, that's extremely disappointing.
Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo ($29 CAD, Sephora): this is another great tinted dry shampoo that won't leave a chalky residue in your hair. If you love the scent of Moroccanoil products, you won't be disappointed with this one. This is the only one of the bunch that is infused with argan oil, which, fun fact, will not only give your hair a soft sheen but can also help protect your hair from UV rays.

It's hard to choose one favourite, but if I did have to pick one... I'd say that it's a tie between Batiste (it's only $9) and Moroccanoil (it smells so good).

So tell me, do you have a favourite dry shampoo? From my experience, it's hard to love just one.

I think we've already established that I am a sucker for cute packaging and hype, so of course I had to pick up a couple of the Lancome Juicy Shakers.

These came out around this time last year and I stalked my local Shoppers Drugmart for them to come in stock. I've had them for over a year now and (spoiler alert) I really like them. I like them enough to bore you with a belated post about how much I like them.

The concept is simple: it is a bi-phase product with one part rich, hydrating oil and one part saturated pigment. The results? A wonderfully soft and moisturizing lip product that offers a sheer wash of colour.

In general they are not uber pigmented but some of the brighter shades are more vibrant on the lips. The main appeal for me is that it is easy to apply and great for everyday wear because it is so darn comfortable on the lips.

Lasting power? I hope it doesn't surprise anyone that this product requires reapplication every couple of hours. Not because in that time your lips will begin to feel parched or dry, but because the colour will likely have worn off despite how often you've been sipping on coffee or munching on snacks. Sorry but this does not have the last power of a liquid matte lipstick (or even a satin cream lipstick).

I suppose that is the only downside. Some of the shades do leave a bit of a tint on your lips, but if you want an all day lustre to your lips, you'll have to reapply every few hours.

At $28 a pop, they're not the most inexpensive lip product out there, but if you're looking for a lip product that offers a deep conditioning and a splash of colour, then check them out! They come in a slew of shades. I picked up Mangoes Wild, a and Piece of Cake, a neutral mauve. The latter is my favourite of the bunch. Did I mention that these have the most scrumptious scents? It depends on the shade you choose but some smell like fruity cocktails, while others smells like vanilla cupcakes.

Have you tried a Juicy Shaker yet? What did you think? Stay tuned for my thoughts on the new Matte Shakers (another spoiler... I like them, too.)

P.S. you can check out this video review for more info on how it wears throughout the day:

I am starting 2017 with a look back at my favourite beauty products, tech gadgets and life moments in the past year. It’s always fun to itemize and catalogue the highs and lows and resolve for bigger and better things for the upcoming year. So let’s start with the beauty…

BEAUTY

When I looked back at my beauty discoveries last year, I was having a bit of a difficult time. I have been loving the same old things (Hourglass Femme Rouge lipstick in Fresco, Hourglass Ambient anything, Chantecaille Just Skin, etc.), but 2016 was actually a great year for discovering beauty.

Charlotte Tilbury Instant Look in a Palette | Natural Beauty

I picked up a few palettes this past year, but the standout for me was the Charlotte Tilbury Instant Look in a Palette. It has everything that I love about makeup. Three neutral-toned eyeshadows, a warm bronzer, a champagne highlight, and two soft pink-hued blushes. The best part is that they blend beautifully and the compact size is perfect for travelling. Side note: Charlotte Tilbury, the brand, is definitely one of my favourite things about 2016.

Chantecaille Future Skin

For a base, my most used (and also 2016 discovery) was a jar of Chantecaille Future Skin. Future Skin remains number two to my ultimate favourite base, Just Skin, but it's still top shelf material. Future Skin is an oil-free gel foundation. It's lightweight with a somewhat sheer (yet buildable) finish. I love the naturally flawless finish this gives, it almost feels like skincare instead of a foundation.

Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer

I'm always on the hunt for a great concealer. This past year I discovered some really great ones, but in 2016, my top concealer would have to be from Urban Decay. The Naked Skin concealer is easy to blend, easy to build up and gives a soft luminous, demi-matte finish. On top of that, this concealer covers up the dark circle, feels somewhat moisturizing under the eyes and doesn't settle in the fine lines.

Charlotte Tilbury Air Brush Flawless Finish Powder

My go-to powder has been the Air Brush Flawless Finish compact from Charlotte Tilbury. It's a micro-fine powder that applies seamlessly and gives the skin a beautiful soft-focus finish. It's not the best oil controlling powder, but it doesn't cake or sit in any fine lines, so it's great in my books.

Wayne Goss Air Brush

My best (and softest) brush purchased in 2016 was this limited edition Air Brush from Wayne Goss. It is a flat paddle shaped brush with a slightly tapered tip (and did I mention über soft?). It is the perfect brush for setting powders, bronzers, blushes and highlighters. It's a small-to-medium sized brush and incredibly versatile. I would pick up another one in a heartbeat if it becomes available again.

Lancôme Juicy Shaker | Piece of Cake

The Juicy Shaker is an incredibly addicting bi-phase lip oil that is comfortable on the lips and offers a sheer wash of colour. I love the hydrating, non-sticky formulation. Piece of Cake, a rose mauve, is my favourite shade of the bunch because it's a great everyday colour. The super-soft cushion is the perfect applicator—just shake the bottle like a cocktail shaker and apply liberally to the lips.

Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick | Bond Girl

Believe the hype, Bond Girl is a great lipstick. It's a gorgeous colour and the formulation is nice. Bond Girl is a beautiful berry plum lipstick with a not-quite-matte but satin finish. I have a couple matte revolution lipsticks and they feel a bit hydrating on the lips and are (surprisingly) comfortable to wear. I actually wore this lipstick on my wedding day in combination with another Charlotte Tilbury lipstick, Walk of Shame.

Bite Beauty Multistick | Mascarpone

The Bite Beauty Multistick is a cream stick that wears like a powder and gives a beautiful wash of colour on the skin. I like the idea of a multistick, a single product that I can use on my lips, cheeks and eyes—but I've only used this on my cheeks.

Mascarpone is a rosy plum shade and gives a gorgeous flush to the cheeks. The cream has a weightless feel and it doesn't tug on the skin when applying. I usually apply it with a synthetic brush, but fingers work, too. It's pigmented yet buildable and incredibly easy to blend. It lasts all day on my cheeks and even longer if I top it with a powder blush.

Becca Luminous Blush | Camelia

Becca Camelia is a warm pink blush with a hint of shimmer. The formulation is soft and buttery (perhaps a little powdery) and is best applied with sheer layers. It gives the cheeks a gorgeous wash of colour. Plus the subtle shimmer gives you that "lit from within glow" and isn't that what we're all after?

Estée Lauder x Victoria Beckham | Modern Mercury

The highlighter that got away. That's what Modern Mercury was to me. When Estée Lauder originally released Modern Mercury in their Illuminating Powder Gelée formulation, I was mildly devastated that I didn't pick one up. So, needless to say, when I found out they were re-releasing it in a Victoria Beckham collab, I knew I had to have it.

Modern Mercury is a warm rosy gold highlighter and it is everything I dreamed it would be. The formulation is smooth and buttery, it looks great on the skin and it is so easy to blend / apply.

Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder | 01 Highlight

If you're looking for a more natural, ultra-smooth highlighter then you have to check out the Laura Mercier Matte radiance Baked Powder. 01 Highlight is a gorgeous beige champagne highlighter. It gives your skin a gorgeous radiant glow and it has a sheer / buildable application. I'm so glad I picked this up.

Burberry Eye Colour | Almond

My favourite eyeshadow this past year was from Burberry. The texture of these shadows are smooth, silky and buttery. Almond is a simple medium brown eye colour that looks great on the eyes. It's kind of a boring shade in the pan, but it looks beautiful alone or layered for a more intricate look.

Essence Make Me Brow

Forget about the fact that this brow gel is only $4, but it is a great tinted brow gel that helps keep my brows from going haywire. It also has tiny fibers that help create fuller looking brow.

L'Oreal Brow Stylist | Dark Brunette

After finding this brow pencil at the drugstore, I haven't once ached for the Anastasia Brow Wiz. L'Oreal really hit it out of the park with this ultra fine eyebrow pencil. The precise tip creates a soft natural brow that lasts all day long (not to mention it is super affordable!).

TECH

I'm kind of a techie at heart, so I thought I would include some of my favourite tech gadgets in 2016. It feels a bit soon to be mentioning it since I just picked it up in December, but I have been loving my new MacBook Pro. Compared to my old MacBook Pro, the new one is lighter, faster, has a better screen, louder speakers, longer battery life and a touch bar.

The Jet Black iPhone 7 also made the cut because I've been loving the better camera, the force touch and the smaller form factor compared to my previous plus model.

A surprising favourite is the Apple Watch. I really didn't think that I would use it as much as I have, but I wear it pretty regularly. I like the notifications, being able to send quick messages from my wrist, the ability to stop alarms and get instant reminders, and it also tells time.

The Samsung T3 Portable SSD is a blazing fast external SSD and is so portable. It also uses USB C, which makes it the perfect companion to my MacBook Pro.

Canon G7X (the original model—they have now come out with a Mark II) has been my favourite point and shoot camera.

LIFE

Of course, a recap of 2016 wouldn't be complete without mentioning some life moments. Getting married would definitely be a top highlight. Our trip to Santorini, Greece was also an incredible memory.

What were some of your favourite things (or moments) of 2016?

P.S. you can also check out my favourites in this video:

Once in a while, I actually use up products from my hoard. It always feels like a bit of an achievement so I wanted to share it with you.

Sephora Eye Masks - These are a nice little treat for the under eyes. They don't do anything remarkable, but they do feel refreshing on the skin. They're a nice little travel companion. If I had to choose a favourite between the ones I've tried (Green Tea, Lotus and Rose), I would have to say Rose. No particular reason, really. They all felt the same. I do want to try the Avocado eye mask next though.

Phyto - I have finally gone through the last of the Phyto products I own. I went on a bit of a Phyto bender a couple years ago and bought 3-4 different products from the brand. The Phyrodefrisant is an anti-frizz serum that does help prevent my hair from frizzing out; however, I would not repurchase this again because the packaging was awful. The aluminium tube isn't really conducive to hold such a liquid-y product, so it was quite messy to apply. Phyto 9 is a great cream for dry hair! I'd definitely pick this one up again (just wish they would change the packaging).

Living Proof - The Perfect Hair Day collection is one of my favourite hair care lines. They smell great and they perform well. I really like using the styling treatment after washing my hair. It helps give me a great blow-out that lasts all day long.

DHC - I wish I picked up more products from DHC while I was in Japan because if their cleansing oil is an indicator of how great their product line is, I am missing out! The Deep Cleansing Oil removed all traces of makeup on my skin & left my skin feeling smoothed and hydrated. I still have one more bottle left and I would repurchase it in a heart beat.

Hourglass - I wouldn't say that I'm picky with my brow products, but I do want something that is easy to apply & that will last all day long. The Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil (in the shade Dark Brunette) is one of my favourite brow products because it fits the bill. It's a wedge shaped pencil that fills the brows in quickly and it stays put all day long. It's a bit pricey ($37), but it does last quite a few months with everyday use.

Benefit - If I don't use a brow pencil, I will usually always use a brow gel. I have such unruly brow hairs that if I don't tame them, they will run wild & free. I like the Gimme Brow because it has a small brush for precise application and it has fibers to aid in subtly filling in brows. Plus, no crunchiness!

NARS - One of my favourite concealers is the Creamy Radiant Concealer (in the shade Ginger) from NARS. It's great for under the eyes and also over blemishes. It's a drier formulation but it still blends beautifully to conceal / brighten problem areas.

Lancome - Some of my favourite mascaras come from Lancome. My ultimate favourite is Hypnose Doll Lashes. Not only is the cone-shaped wand a breeze to use, but the formulation separates, lengthens and fans out my short stubby lashes.

Essie - Set in Stones is a beautiful silver glitter polish. The downside is that it dries up so easily (at least for me). This is the second bottle that has shrivelled up before I could use it up.

Laneige - This was not my favourite moisturizer. In fact, it broke me out severely. I'm not entirely sure why because I've used Amore Pacific (Laneige's parent company) many times before & never had this problem. The Bright Renew Emulsion moisturizer gave me terrible breakouts on the forehead after two uses. That experience has turned me off all of the Laneige products, which is unfortunate because they look that they have a nice line-up.

Beauty Blender - I love my beauty blender, but I did not love this cleanser. I wasn't a fan of the scent and also I found that it took forever for the suds/soap to rinse away (even with the tiniest amount used).

Pond's - This Acne Clear White cleanser that I picked up in the Philippines turned out quite well. Even though it has micro-exfoliating beads in the cream, it doesn't feel abrasive on the skin. It also didn't leave my skin feeling dry after a cleanse.

Elizabeth & James - My obsession with this fragrance is real! I just love the soft and sophisticated scent of Nirvana White—I'm horrible at describing scents, but the mix of musk and floral is divine. I wish it lasted a bit longer on, though... Once it dries down, it only lingers for a couple hours.

The Body Shop - I can't get enough of masks. Peel-off masks, rinse-off masks, sheet masks and now sleeping masks. The Bouncy Sleeping Mask from the Body Shop is a lovely addition to your night-time routine for beautifully moisturized skin in the morning.

Only two fails this round, I think that's a success! x

Did you know that VIB Rouge members can go for unlimited makeovers at Sephora?! I actually did know that, but I had never utilized the perk until recently.

A few weeks ago I went to Sephora & got a free makeover (well, actually it wasn't free free because I ended up buying a bunch of products that were used). Nonetheless, I had a great time and the makeup artist, Aya, was so nice (check out her instagram here). I wanted to test out a potential wedding look. Something natural and simple, but photographed well.

I love the look she created. It was exactly what I wanted, so I thought I would share the products she used. I will denote products that I bought after this trial with some asterisks (**), otherwise all the other products I already had in my collection.

When I went for the trial, I went in with a clean slate. I had nothing on my face except for some moisturizer and some lip balm.

The Base

I'm wearing the Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer** to help my makeup stay put, along with the Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Foundation** in Y375. To concealer the dark circles, I'm wearing the Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Complete Coverage Concealer** in Medium-Dark Warm.

The Cheeks

It started with some contour using the Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder and then some bronzing using the Hourglass Ambient Bronzer in Luminous Bronze (I own Radiant Bronze, though). The blush was NARS Orgasm. This blush is the only one I ever had to repurchase because I used it up—funny enough, I don't own a full-size anymore... the only one I have resides in my Danmari Palette. The highlighter was the Hourglass Ambient Strobing Powder in Euphoric**, although, I picked up the Laura Mercier Radiance Baked Powder in 01 Highlight** and I love it more!

The Eyes

The simple eye look was created using the Make Up For Ever Artist Palette Volume 1 – Nudes. It's a great neutral palette. I meant to pick it up during the Sephora sale, but I didn't get around to it. The original Urban Decay Naked Palette has similar shadows to recreate the look. Of course, to hold the eye shadow in place, I have on some Urban Decay Primer Potion**. I don't remember what was used to tightline, but it was a black eye pencil (shown is my favourite liner from Annabelle).

I have a bit of mascara on, too, but imagine this look with fuller/longer lashes because I plan to get some lash extensions for the big day.

The Lips

For a soft peachy pout, I'm wearing the Marc Jacobs New Nudes Sheer Gel lipstick in Eat Cake with a dab of YSL Gloss Voluptè in #203 on the centre of the lips.

That's the look, let me know what you think! :)

On a day where you're going to be spending a lot of money on photography, you obviously want to make sure your makeup will last all night long. I, unfortunately, did not win the skin type lottery because if I want my makeup to last through my first cup of coffee, I need to wear a primer & set my base with a powder.

Fortunately, there are some great products out there to help your makeup stay put.

Primers

There are a lot of primers on the market right now and if you're not using one, you're missing out! I have zeroed in on more mattifying primers, but there are primers out there to even out your skin tone or to hydrate drier skin. It just takes a little bit of research and a trip your beauty counter of choice to find the perfect one.

Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer (from $21 CAD)

This touts to be a water-resistent primer that is fragrance/oil/gluten free. It does work well to keep makeup looking fresh and in place, and it also does a fairly good job with oil-control. It has a smooth texture that when applied helps even out the skin tone. Over all, it's a great primer!

Becca Ever-Matte Poreless Priming Perfector (from $18 CAD)

This is my favourite primer for my t-zone. It works so well at preventing shine and giving a smooth finish. This is a tricky primer to apply, though. It's not a product you can slap haphazardly all over the face, it requires a little more effort. First of all, make sure you warm up the product between your fingers before you apply it. It comes off as a very thick cream, but it softens with a little heat. When it comes to applying it, do not rub it in! That's key. For whatever reason, it has a high tendency to ball up when you try to rub it in, so instead, pat it on where you need it! Applied correctly, it effectively keeps the shine away.

Too Faced Hangover Rx Primer ($40 CAD)

Although this primer is not the best product for mattifying my t-zone, I thought I'd mention it because if you have drier skin, you should get a sample of this to try! It's lightweight, hydrating on the skin and it helps your base look smoother.The mild coconut scent is quite refreshing, too. For me, it doesn't help the longevity of makeup as well as mattifying primers do, but I love the fresh and glowy look it gives.

Powders

Not everyone will need to use a setting powder, but if you have combination or oily skin, it's something to consider. Setting powders are great to not only set makeup, but they can also soften the look of any base.

Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder ($47 CAD)

A soft, translucent powder that gives the skin a beautiful and smooth finish. It's great for controlling oiliness and leaves a matte (but not dry looking) finish. I wouldn't recommend this for those with dry skin because this talc-free powder can be a bit drying.

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder in No. 2 ($58 CAD)

This is my favourite pressed powder of the moment. The powder is superfine and it offers a sheer (yet buildable) coverage. It's wonderful for all skin types, even combination/oily. It applies flawlessly over any base (I've tried with bare skin, just concealer, tinted moisturizer and foundation) and it gives a gorgeous soft-focus look. It's also one of the few products I've tried that can be reapplied without complication (i.e. adding layers won't look cakey). The only downside is the fact that it comes in only three shades, but since they're sheer, the shades available will work with a wide range of different skin colours.

Hourglass Ambient Powder in Dim Light ($52 CAD)

The Ambient Powders are not recommended for oil-control, but they do make wonderful finishing powders. Diffused Light is a great powder to set under-eye concealer. It's ultra-fine pale yellow powder reflects light beautifully to brighten dark circles. It's a great way to soften the look of any foundation without adding too much weight.

What are your favourite products for controlling shine? x

Since I have been rediscovering eye shadows, I've also been rediscovering MAC.

It has been a long time since I've had a significant swatch-fest at a MAC counter, but a recent visit reminded me that there's more to the brand than lipsticks and Fix+.

Don't get me wrong, their constant release of new and limited edition collections has grown tiresome for me, but they do have some great permanent products.

While I was at the MAC Pro store, I decided to make myself a little quad. I wish I had known they were planning to release six and nine pan pro palettes because I definitely would've picked one of those up instead. At the time, only two, four and fifteen pan palettes were available. Two was definitely not enough and fifteen was too big and I hate seeing a half empty palette... so I settled for a quad.

Nonetheless, I'm very happy with the custom palette I created with these shadows:

All that Glitters — a pinky beige with gold pearl (very pretty alone or layered)
Wedge — a matte beige taupe (makes a good transition colour)
Woodwinked — a warm brown with gold pearl (all over shadow or layered)
Espresso — a deeper matte warm brown (for blending or for the crease)

As you can see, I gravitate towards warmer shades. I forgot how beautiful MAC eye shadows were. They blend nicely, they are long-wearing (especially with a primer) and there is a nice range of colours to choose from. There are a few more on my list to get, but I'm happy with the looks I can create with these.

Some exciting news: MAC Pro Palette Refill Pans have decreased in price! I didn't know until I popped into the store. They used to be $12 CAD, but now they're $8 CAD. Also, if you're interested in the making your own palette, here are the prices:

$10 CAD for the 4 pan palette (what I picked up) / insert comes with it
$10 CAD for the small palette (holds 6 eye shadows or two blushes) / inserts go for $1 CAD
$10 CAD for the medium palette (holds 9 eye shadows) / insert goes for $2 CAD

I also picked up some eye brushes because my collection of eye brushes is quite sad. I picked up the quintessential MAC 217 ($30 CAD), it's great for blending or for placing colour. MAC 239 ($30 CAD) for placing colour on the lid. Lastly, the Sephora Collection Pro Airbrush #31 ($27 CAD) for blending in the crease—it also makes a great eraser for little mistakes.

Let me know what your favourite MAC eye shadows are! x

Who doesn’t want glowing skin for their wedding? I certainly do! If you don’t have perfect skin, that’s where makeup comes in, but of course you want your skin to be the best it can be.

Aside from staying hydrated, eating well, getting regular facials and a special treatment or two, here are a few products I’ve been using on my skin in preparation for the big day:

Cleanse:

I typically do a double cleanse every night, whether or not I wore makeup that day. I always start with cleansing oil. Right now I am using the Deep Cleansing Oil that I picked up in Japan from the brand DHC. It is gentle to use and removes all the makeup & dirt from the skin. I usually use a separate eye makeup remover to get off leftover mascara and shadow.

Phase two of my cleanse involves the Clarisonic. I have fallen back in love with this device since I discovered the dual brush head packs last fall. Essentially, it’s a brush head twin pack but instead of having two of the same brushes, you get two different ones. I am loving the Hydrate & Glow combo. It is a Radiance Brush Head to slough off the dead skin cells and the Cashmere Brush Head for a gentle massage.

Exfoliate:

Exfoliators are a great way to instantly smooth the skin, plus it really helps your skincare out. I tend to alternate between a physical and a chemical exfoliant. I will always love the Clinque 7 Day Scrub Cream—it is fairly gentle for a scrub and it works well. Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel is my favourite quick & easy chemical exfoliant. I don’t like how much alcohol they include in the product because it adds quite a strong scent, but the mix of AHA and BHA can improve uneven skin tone.

Toner:

I love a good spray on, alcohol-free toner. Lately, I’ve been using the Fresh Rose Water Toner. While I don’t find it extraordinary, it does give my skin a slight boost and I do enjoy the refreshing rose scent. I also really like the Clinique Moisture Surge Face Spray, it is half the price & it feels wonderful and hydrating on the skin.

Treatments:

I have a tendency to get dark spots from blemishes, so I've been using Retin-A regularly. Retin-A is heavy duty stuff, it's great for dark spots, blemish-prone skin, and evening out your skin tone. It's also a great anti-aging product, it helps plump up the skin. Of course, SPF is a must with this product, just be sure to skip the sunscreen-based products on the big day.

Masks are a great, too. I've been using the Chantecaille Jasmine & Lily Healing Mask and it's really hydrating on the skin. It does not have any anti-aging properties, but it keeps my skin hydrated overnight and supple in the morning. If hydration isn't what you're looking for, there are tons of other ones out there to target a specific concern.

I've been using tried and true loves... It's never really a good time to experiment with new skincare products before a special occasion.

What are your favourite skincare things? x

Hello, my name is Aleeza and I am a lush for blush.

It was the very first makeup product I ever tried and I've loved it ever since. My favourite thing about blush is how it can transform your look. By simply adding a bit of colour to the cheeks, you can go from looking "lit from within", contoured or flushed. It really just depends on the shade of your blush.

With that said, how awesome are cheek palettes? Especially the ones that have everything you need in one palette, i.e. highlight, contour, bronzer and blush. They are perfect for travelling or if you're just in a rush.

Over the years, NARS has released some great cheek palettes. I still have/use/love the very first one they released back in 2011-ish, the NARS Danmari All About Cheeks. So, I was pretty excited when I saw the NARS x Steven Klein One Shocking Moment ($92 CAD) palette. It is a limited edition palette, but as I'm writing this, it is still available online at Sephora.

I gotta say, I love the upgraded packaging on the new palettes. The hard plastic is much more durable.

So, what's different about this palette to the one I already own? Well, on top of having your pick of blushes to play with, it also has a bronzer and a contour duo.

The matte highlight and contour (in Paloma), which both blend beautifully. The shades work pretty well with my skin tone, but I don’t know how it would fair with very fair or very deep tones. I am pleasantly surprised at how much I like the matte highlight, though. I usually gravitate towards more shimmery highlighters, but the subtle matte glow is beautiful on the skin. The contour, which is slightly warmer than my go-to, Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder, works well to give the cheekbones a subtle chisel. The colour creates a natural shadow under the cheeks.

NARS Laguna is still one of my favourite bronzers. It’s a medium brown shade with hints of gold shimmer. It really does give your complexion a sunkissed sheen.

There are four blush shades in this palette: Robotic, Blasphemy, Luster, and Dolce Vita. Two of them are part of NARS’ permanent line-up while the other two are exclusive to this palette. I've always loved NARS blushes, they're silky/smooth to apply and long-wearing. Fun fact: NARS Orgasm was the first (and only) blush I ever finished up in its entirety.

Robotic and Blasphemy are exclusive to this palette. They are both on the pink side of the spectrum. Although they look different in the pan—Robotic is a cool-toned pink and Blasphemy is a medium rosy pink, they look very similar when applied to the cheeks (at least on me).

I already own Luster and Dolce Vita, but I don't mind having duplicates. They're both gorgeous blushes. Luster is a shimmery apricot—it's my go-to for a summer glow. Dolce Vita is a a gorgeous dusty rose shade—I love that it's matte because it gives your cheeks a natural looking flush.

Swatches (applied sheerly):
1. Paloma Highlight | 2. Paloma Contour | 3. Laguna | 4. Robotic | 5. Blashphemy | 6. Luster | 7. Dolce Vita

I always say that palettes are a great way to try a brand for the first time & a great way to instantly expand your makeup options. I don't think you would be disappointed with this palette because the quality is great and the shades are wearable.

However, if you like the style of this palette but aren't feeling the blush options, check out the NARSissist Cheek Studio Palette instead. The blushes are all new and exclusive to the palette!

Are you a NARS lover? What's your favourite product from the brand? x

Foundation is an important element to any makeup look, especially for your wedding day. So, choosing the right base is king.

I’ve never been much of a foundation person, which is why I started my research months ago. What I’ve learned is that there are a lot of foundations out there and they all claim to do the same thing.

The first step for me was deciding what I wanted out to get out of the foundation. Do I want my skin to look matte or luminous? How much coverage do I want and/or need? Do I go for a liquid, compact or stick foundation?

Seriously, the options are endless.

Ultimately, this is the checklist I had in my head when shopping for a wedding day foundation:

Light to medium coverage — for the most part, I have decent skin... I could always pinpoint conceal any blemishes
Skin-like appearance (natural and luminous), nothing too heavy
Little (less than 10) to zero SPF
Long-wearing — I have combination skin (oily t-zone & nose, normal/dry everywhere else)

With those criteria in mind, I found three great bases that I really liked.

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk - $68 CAD

This is probably the most popular wedding day foundation. Every blog I read, every magazine I flip through raves about Luminous Silk. I can see why because it is a beautiful foundation. It's a liquid foundation that has an ultra-smooth texture. It offers a light-to-medium coverage. It glides beautifully on the skin and dries to a natural finish. It does leave your skin with a slightly luminous finish, but don’t confuse that to mean shiny. It also wears well throughout the day. It does contain some fragrance, although I've never been sensitive to that.

This foundation comes in 12 shades, but it took a while for me to figure out their numbering system. I ended up getting three different shades (5.75, 6 and 6.5) to try because I couldn't quite tell where I fell.

No. 5.75 looked beautiful on, just the right amount of yellow undertone, but it looked grey under a flash. No. 6 had a tinge of an olive green undertone that clashed with my skin. No. 6.5 ended up being the perfect match because it looked great under all lights and in flash photography.

Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover - $54 CAD

I really liked the original MUFE HD foundation, so I was interested to see how they improved on an already awesome product. No surprise, Ultra HD is still an awesome formula. It has light-to-medium (yet buildable) coverage and it still looks natural on the skin. It feels lighter on the skin than the original formula, but it offers the same amount of coverage. It dries to a wearable satin finish and just like Luminous Silk, it photographs beautifully.

I am in the shade Y375. In the original MUFE HD foundation, I was in the shade 123 (now equivalent to Y365) and I could still get away with that shade, but I find Y375 to be a slightly better match. For your reference, I am an NC35 in MAC’s Studio Fix Fluid.

Chantecaille Future Skin - $98 CAD

Chantecaille Just Skin (a sheer, lightweight tinted moisturizer with a glowy finish) is my all-time favourite base, but for the big day, I wanted something with a bit more coverage.

That's where Future Skin comes in. Future Skin is an oil-free gel foundation that has light to buildable coverage. This feels like a creamy moisturizer and it is so easy to apply. It probably offers the least amount of coverage between the three, but it glides over the skin flawlessly for a natural finish.

It wears well throughout the day, but it definitely needs to be set with a powder to hold its place on my t-zone. I have to wear a primer with any base I use if I want to keep it intact until the end of the night.

In terms of shade range, there is a good selection in Future Skin, but keep in mind that the shade range for Future Skin and Just Skin are not the same. I'm in the shade Shea in Future Skin and Wheat in Just Skin.

The only con I have about this product (aside from the price) is the packaging. I'm just not a fan of any product that comes in a jar.

What's your go-to foundation for special occasions? Or for regular everyday occasions? Let me know :)

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