Category: Makeup Most Wanted


Dec
2017

Makeup Most Wanted Beauty Advent Calendars 2017

categories: Gifts, Holiday, Makeup Most Wanted, PR Sample

I didn’t grow up with advent calendars but beauty advent calendars have become some of my favourite things about the holiday season. Not only can you try a bunch of products at once but you’re also more likely to try things you wouldn’t normally buy and end up with new favourites. These are my favourite options this year.

NYX Lippie Countdown

If you love lipstick as much as I do, or know someone who does, this is the advent calendar of your dreams. With 24 different lip shades and finishes, there’s literally something for every look. From their iconic Soft Matte Lip Cream to Butter Gloss and nudes to reds to grey, it’s a fantastic way to find new lip shades and maybe find something you would never think of trying. That is, if you can still find one of these.

Biotherm Advent Calendar Christmas Set

This set has something for everyone. From moisturizer and lip balm to body care and men’s products, this is the gift that the whole family can share. But you’re probably going to want to keep it for yourself.

Charlotte Tilbury Naughty & Nice Magic Box

If anyone wants to pick one of these up for me, I won’t say now. It’s the perfect Charlotte Tilbury starter kit, or the perfect travel kit for things you already own. There’s makeup (eyeshadow, lipstick, mascara) as well as skin care (moisturizer, mask, makeup remover). This 12 piece box is the ultimate luxury gift and I’m still trying to talk myself out of buying one.

The Body Shop Countdown To New Year’s 

The Body Shop has a number of calendars this year but I love this take on the traditional ‘end on Christmas’ calendar. Instead this one goes to New Years. It has night cream, body cream, lipstick, glitter and a bunny headband, plus a couple other things that are necessary for all the parties between Christmas and New Years.


Dec
2017

Makeup Most Wanted November 2017

categories: Hair Reviews, Makeup Most Wanted, Makeup Reviews, Palettes, PR Sample, Reviews, Skin Care, Skin Care Reviews

It literally feels like it was just yesterday that I was writing my Most Wanted of October and now I’m onto the November list. We have a ton of posts coming up this month with all things holiday, so it was fairly hard to narrow down the list of what I used in November, but it turns out these have been taking up space next to sink for quite a while and that means I’ve been using them a lot.

Matrix Biolage R.A.W. Frizz Control Styling Spray with Lavender

I’m constantly looking for anything that’ll take away my frizz and this lightweight spray does a good job of minimizing it without making my hair crunchy or sticky. I find I need to use this one with another product for various styling issues but I can use it to touch up dry hair and it smells really really good. That said, if you’re not a fan of lavender, I’d stay away.

nia Sunday Detox Whipped Clay Peel-Off Mask

nia is StriVectin’s millenial friendly skin care line that’s available at Ulta in the U.S. or Shoppers Drug Mart/Murale in Canada. All the products have really cute names and better yet, they work. This mask has a definitely learning curve. It starts off as a foam and dries down so that you can peel it off. You need enough product that you’re able to peel it off but the foam makes that tricky. The best way I’ve found to do it is layers. I do about three thin layers of foam (you’ll have to wash your hands between each one) and let them dry for about 30 seconds before adding more. Once it’s dry though, it’s the gentlest peel-off mask I’ve ever used. I can get the whole thing off in one piece and even if I get a bit in my hair line, I don’t feel it tugging off. If your skin is on the drier side, you might need a richer moisturizer after.

Glossier Cloud Paint in Dusk

As someone who generally prefers a powder blush I was really surprised at how much I love this cream one. I shouldn’t really be too surprised though, I haven’t tried anything I haven’t loved from Glossier. I prefer the Dusk shade, it’s a peachy shade that’s really neutral, even on my super fair skin. You really only need a tiny bit of Cloud Paint. Squeezing the tube is going to get you way too much, so I just gently shake it over my finger. Layering is super easy and it’s extremely blendable.

Too Faced Just Peachy Mattes Palette

I am really not a fan of this red/pink eyeshadow trend, so I wasn’t sure if I would love this palette as much in person as I did online. But I really do. Peach Butter makes the perfect base shade, while Fresh-Picked and Peach Cobbler are great crease shades for me. I still haven’t really gotten into the darker shades yet but I’ve been using this delicious peach-smelling palette exclusively for daytime. As usual with Too Faced, the shadows are really creamy, blendable and have zero fallout that I’ve seen.


Nov
2017

Makeup Most Wanted – October 2017

categories: Makeup Most Wanted, PR Sample

I really don’t know where October went. For one of the longer months of the year, it really flew by. But I did manage to use a couple products and this is what I loved the most.

Marvis Wonders Of The World

I really hate mint toothpaste and it’s becoming harder and harder to find non-minty ones. Luckily Marvis has released a gift set with three flavoured toothpastes that don’t have mint as the first ingredient. Royal is a lemon-rose flavour that has a hint of mint but not enough to bother me. Karakum is orange, peppermint and cardamom and Rambas is a combination of peach, pineapple, mango and mint. I really love Royal the best but they’re all fantastic alternatives to a regular mint toothpaste. My dentist cousin is a little concerned about the lack of fluoride in the formula but I have to say, I’m enjoying brushing my teeth a lot more with these toothpastes.

Veil Cosmetics Sunset Skin Foundation in 1P

I’m pretty sure my skin knows when October hits, because it automatically gets much drier and I can’t use the same makeup that I was in October. Sunset Skin is a foundation that literally feels like you’re not wearing makeup. It’s a super light, whipped texture that melts into your skin immediately. It’s oil and paraben free and keeps my skin moisturized while leaving sheer to medium coverage. I’m using shade 1P, which is the absolute lightest and it’s the perfect winter shade for me. I really love using this foundation and I generally hate foundation.

Herbal Essences Bio:Renew Argan Oil of Morocco Shampoo and Conditioner

Drugstore hair brands are really stepping up their games recently and now that Herbal Essences have introduced bio:renew (essential antioxidants, aloe and sea kelp), the bar is raised even further. The argan oil line falls under repair and while my hair doesn’t really have much damage, the shampoo and conditioner do a great job keeping it healthy. The conditioner isn’t too heavy and both have a slightly spicy scent that I love. There’s a matching oil infused styling creme that I think is too heavy on my fine hair but the shampoo and conditioner are enough to keep me happy.

La Roche-Posay Respectissime Volume Mascara

I’ve used a few La Roche-Posay products in the past but I have no idea they had any kind of cosmetics. I’m always on the hunt for a great mascara, so when this one showed up, I was more than happy to try it and I’m so happy I did. Considering this mascara comes from a mostly skin care company it far exceeded any expectations I had. I get major volume, a good amount of length and a little curl. The black shade is dark enough for me and I like my lashes as black as I can get them. It even smells good. The skin care company comes through in the gentle, fluffy brush and the ceramides in the formula. It’s also designed for sensitive eyes. At $20 CDN, I’ll definitely be buying another one when I run out.


Sep
2017

Fall Skincare Most Wanted

categories: Makeup Most Wanted, Skin Care, Skin Care Reviews

Fall is my favourite time of year but it’s also the trickiest time for my crazy combination skin. I get greasy and dry patches all at the same time. It’s also not really time for a heavy duty moisturizer but my lightweight one just doesn’t feel like enough. Here’s how I’m changing up my skin care for fall this year.

Nivea Creme Care Facial Cleansing Wipes

There’s nothing I like more than a facial wipe but I’ve noticed some of them are drying out my skin a little more, now that it’s slightly less oily. Enter Nivea’s Creme Care wipes. These are super soft, get every bit of my makeup off and yet don’t leave my skin dried out. I would even go so far as to say they’re comforting. I’m going to be using these all winter.

m-61 PowerGlow Peel

The word peel has always terrified me in terms of exfoliation. My skin is so sensitive that burning is always a fear in the back of my mind but at the same time, I love trying new things and I figured if I had a bad experience with these, I could always hand them off to Steph. To my absolute shock, not only did these exfoliating wipes, not burn, they barely even tingled. The glycolic and salicylic acid wipes also have vitamin K, bilberry and chamomile and are meant to help reduce pore size, reduce the appearance of fine lines, help dry patches and basically just even out your skin tone. Boy, do I love when things work as promised. My dry patches are way smaller, my skin is more even and my pores, well, they’re never going to look great, but they look a little better.

L’Occitane Pivoine Sublime Overnight Perfecting Mask

On nights that my skin needs a little more, something, I use this overnight mask from L’Occitane and wake up with brighter, smoother skin. To say this mask is perfecting is kind of a perfect description. I’ve even used it mid-afternoon to get nicer looking skin for a night out. You can buy these individually or in a six pack but you really don’t need a lot. I can get three or four uses out of a pod and just tape it shut until I’m ready to use it again.

Tarte Pout Prep Lip Exfoliant

With fall comes more liquid lipsticks and my lips are pretty much a mess, thanks to certain ones I’ve been testing out. Eventually I’ll do a lip scrub post but lately the only one working for me has been Tarte’s Pout Prep. It gives me a really good sugar scrub while the maracuja and shea butter moisturize. I’m pretty sure I’m going to need to stock up on these for winter.

Olay Age Defying Hydrating Gel Moisturizer

Finding a good moisturizer for fall always seems to be an issue for me. Either they’re too moisturizing in spots or not enough in others. So far, Olay’s gel moisturizer is doing the job really well. It’s lightweight and oil-free, which is great for the oily parts of my skin and the hyaluronic acid is good for the drier parts. Will I be able to use it into winter? I’m not sure yet. But considering September in Toronto still feels like summer, this refreshing gel-cream will last me a while.


Sep
2017

Makeup Most Wanted August 2017 – Alyssa’s Picks

categories: Makeup Most Wanted

I was basically housebound for most of August, so my favourite things for August are pretty much my necessities. I’m so happy September is here.

Le Petit Marseillais White Peach & Nectarine Shower Gel

La Petit Marseillais has been around in France for years and now we get a tiny taste of their product line in Canada. I had a chance to try all of the shower gels available in Canada right now (hopefully we get more products soon!) and the White Peach & Nectarine just blew me away. It’s so juicy and fruity smelling but it really mellows out in the shower. It’s also a lot more moisturizing than I expect from a shower gel. I’m actually able to get away with not applying body lotion without getting dried out and itchy and that’s never happened before.

Avène Couvrance High Tolerance Mascara

I love bold mascara but since I wasn’t going out much, I was really looking for something a little simpler but that would make my almost white lashes a little darker. From the first time I used this mascara, I was completely sold. I was already a fan of Avène’s thermal water and suncare products but this mascara really surprised me. It’s made for people with extremely sensitive eyes and I can understand why it works. For a hard plastic brush, it’s actually really gentle. The formula is really pigmented and black and you can get away with one coat. It also gives me a ton of length. Not a lot of volume, but it really separated and curled my lashes. This is my new go-to mascara for daytime.

Joico Blonde Life Collection

A lot of us go blonder in the summer, so it makes sense that Joico would release a collection for blondes just in time. I have some bleach left in my hair from the last balayage highlights I got and I was really skeptical that this collection could make them brighter but it absolutely did. The shampoo on it’s own isn’t moisturizing enough for me (I heard squeaking) but the conditioner makes up for it. It’s a fairly light conditioner, that smells incredible, and it really moisturizes your hair and gives it a nice texture. I haven’t been blow drying my hair, which is what the Brightening Veil is intended for, but I’ve been using it as a leave in styling treatment and it does a pretty good job of eliminating my frizz. I’ll also randomly respray my hair with it because I love the scent so much.

La Roche Posay Anthelios XL Melt-In Cream SPF 60

We’ve received tons of sunscreens to review this year and unfortunately for the first half of the summer, Toronto was a rainy mess and I was stuck inside for most of the other half. When I did venture out, I found myself always reaching for this sun cream over all the others. I’d heard a ton of good things about La Roche Posay’s suncare over the years but this was the first time I got to try it and to be honest, not much lives up to it for me. It’s a traditional cream texture with very little scent but it absorbs instantly and doesn’t leave any kind of greasy feel. For a mainly physical sunscreen base, it also doesn’t leave white streaks everywhere. But the biggest part is how well it works. I’m almost paler now than I am in January and this is the first summer ever where I haven’t even gotten a hint of a sunburn. For someone as fair as me, that’s a major win.


Aug
2017

Camping Beauty Most Wanted

categories: Makeup Most Wanted

I know it sounds crazy to think of beauty products when you are camping, but brands definitely make products that you are going to covet when you are miles away from civilization. So make sure that you pack these products in your duffel bag:

KMS Hair Play Makeover Spray – You probably won’t be spending a ton of time in the shower, so your hair might need a refresh while you are away. Dry shampoo is essential for feeling fresh, especially if you are heading in to town for the day. This little spray is perfect for feeling refreshed even in the deepest woods. Bonus is that it smells great, so you will smell refreshed too.

Alba Botanica Spray Sunscreen – This spray sunscreen has been a staple in my summer beauty bag for the past two years. The light spray of the SPF 50 doesn’t feel like much, but it gives surprisingly reliable coverage. I’ve wore it to the beach all day long without any burn. Just remember to reapply, the same way you would with any sunscreen. It’s vegetarian and doesn’t use animal testing, so you can be proud to use it on your family too.

Avon Skin-So-Soft Bug Guard Plus Insect Repellent Towelettes – It might seem weird to have bug spray on a beauty blog, but this is an essential purchase when you’re getting your next Avon order. This isn’t bug spray, these are towelettes with bug repellent. One bag has 8 individually wrapped towels. One towel goes quiet a long way and can work on numerous people. I took these with me while I was camping and I can saw that they saved me from many bug bites.

Gold Bond Anti-Itch Lotion – It may not be new, but I just rediscovered the power of Gold Bond this summer. It’s great for a whole bunch of summer skin issues. First of all, it’s great for bug bites and the itchiness that come along with it. It’s also perfect for sunburns because it is full of aloe vera. It’s great on super dry or chapped skin and rashes, it’s good for all of those wear heat rashes, skin rubbing or other awkward and uncomfortable skin issues that you don’t want to talk about. If you have it nearby, you don’t need to worry about it or talk about it.


Jul
2017

June Makeup Most Wanted

categories: Makeup Most Wanted

Summer is in full swing and with it comes some fun new products that I have been enjoying. Check them out:

Tarte Glow With The Faux – I already love Tarte makeup, so it didn’t surprise me when I fell in love with their tanner as well. I have been trying to be really smart and good with my sunscreen this year, but I miss my tan. Just carefully apply this foam with the glove and you will have a beautiful dark tan. While it promises streak free colour, that doesn’t mean you can be too relaxed about applying. I almost ended up with streaks because I was being careless. So apply it as if you are very concerned.  My only issue with this tarte tanner is that my skin smelled like fake tanner for longer than usual. Most of the time the smell fades after you wash it off, but this lingered for a while. So stock up on body lotion that smells great and tan away!

Nuxe Nuxellence Eye Contour – Don’t judge a product by its size. This slim little eye cream is one of the best that I’ve ever used. This cream helps you get instant results for tired looking eyes. My under eyes instantly felt softer and more moisturized. The dark circles look less prominent and blend into my skin more. My eyes really seem to pop more in all the right ways.

Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Pillow Plump XXL Lip Plumping Gloss – Soap & Glory makeup is not common in Canada, but if you can get your hands on it, jump at the chance. This Pillow Plump lip gloss is one of my new faves that goes with me everywhere. It leaves a glossy clear (maybe slightly pink) finish on the outside, but what everyone can’t see is what’s happening on the inside. It has a “3XL Peptide Plump” ingredient that gives your lips a serious tingle. With that comes lips that look fuller than ever. It’s a look, and a feeling, that you are going to want to try for yourself!

Covergirl Vitalist Elixir Foundation – Sometimes you just need a good, trustworthy foundation without all of the tricks. This new Covergirl foundation is exactly that. It just gives you a great finish on your skin that looks natural. It’s nice to know that sometimes there are brands that you can just trust to make reliable products.


Jul
2017

Most Wanted Summer Mascara

categories: Makeup Most Wanted, Makeup Reviews

If I could wear one makeup product for the rest of my life, it would be mascara. A bunch of new ones for summer? Yes please! I constantly change my mascara based on my mood or look I want to go for. These four have been in a pretty heavy rotation lately.

Cover Girl Total Tease Mascara

I’m personally not a fan of Cover Girl mascara in general. I like a big fibre brush and theirs are usually hard plastic which hurts my eyes. Total Tease does have a hard, plastic brush but it doesn’t bother me as much. That said, there’s a serious learning curve to using this interesting wand. Once I got the hang of it, I was rewarded with a ton of length and nicely separated lashes. The little comb helped me get every tiny lash. I found Total Tease way a lot easier to remove than other Cover Girl mascaras.

Revlon Mega Multiplier Mascara

Again, my issue with Revlon mascaras was similar to my Cover Girl problem. But Mega Multiplier completely blew me away. Mega is actually a good word for the results I got. The brush gave me massive volume and length and the formula forms little tubes around each lash so there’s no flaking to worry about. Seriously, I feel asleep with this one and woke up to perfect mascara. I have a feeling I’ll be replacing this one when I run out.

MAC Bold & Bad Lash Mascara

If you’ve used MAC’s Haute & Naughty mascara in the past, you know they love to shove brushes in other brushes and give you a ton of lash options. Bad & Bold is a little different in that there’s not only two brushes but also two formulas. The big brush gives you major volume (no clumps!) and the smaller brush is supposed to give you smudge-proof definition to your bottom lashes. I don’t put mascara on my bottom lashes so I use the smaller brush to get all the little lashes on top and to comb through. The results I get are pretty close to fake lashes.

L’Oreal Lash Paradise Mascara

Of all the mascaras I’ve tried recently, Lash Paradise is hands down my ideal brush. It’s big, it’s fluffy and it gets my lashes huge. It also fills in the little eyelash gaps on my left eye without looking like I have an eyeliner smudge. I don’t have a ton of experience with L’Oreal mascaras but if Lash Paradise is any indication, I can see why they’re so popular.


Jul
2017

Makeup Most Wanted June 2017 – Alyssa’s Picks

categories: Bath And Body, Makeup Most Wanted, Palettes, Skin Care, Skin Care Reviews

I’ve used so many new products in the past month that this list could be massive. Which makes these five pretty great considering how much they stood out to me. June is always a weird month for my skin and considering how humid Toronto has been, it’s needed all the help it could get.

Olay Ultra Moisture Body Wash with Shea Butter

I’ve been using this body wash since winter, sometimes in other scents but mostly this one. The super creamy formula works for both winter AND summer. It’s really hydrating, doesn’t leave me sticky and just makes my skin feel really smooth. We have a couple body washes to test out but this is probably always going to be the one I buy when I run out. I particularly love the Shea Butter scent but there are really so many options.

Yes To Cotton Comforting Facial Wipes

I haven’t used a ton of Yes To products before, but I’m completely obsessed with these facial wipes. They might actually be the softest wipes I’ve ever used, but I guess that’s where the cotton comes in. Made with recycled cotton and cottonseed oil, these wipes are great for sensitive skin and for people who have a ton of allergies. There is a scent but it’s pretty faint and these get all my makeup and grime off. I definitely need to try more of this line.

Too Faced Sweet Peach Glow Peach-Infused Highlighting Palette

I don’t do contouring or highlighting as a general rule. I’m so fair that all bronzers look muddy or dirty and most highlighters just make me shinier or disappear into the redness of my cheeks. So I was mainly using this palette for the peachy blush in the middle (my favourite blush shade right now). Until I decided to try contouring with it just to see. It worked! Sweet Peach Glow is officially the only palette that I can use for contouring. Both the highlighter and bronzer are subtle enough for my fair skin but are also buildable. Everything just looks natural. And it smells like peaches!

Vichy Mineral 89

If you’re like me and you live off of Vichy’s Thermal Water all summer, you definitely need to try this gel version. Vichy calls it a skin booster, I call it a refreshing gel version of the water. It’s basically just Vichy’s Thermal Water with some hyaluronic acid. A skin brightening, hydrating gel if you will. You can use it on literally any part of your face including the eye contour and lips. I tend to use it right after I wash my face, before I use anything else. You can use it with a cotton pad, but I use my fingers. I still use the spray throughout the day but I find this much more effective as part of a skin care routine.

Garnier SkinActive Moisture Rescue Actively Hydrating Daily Lotion

Since my skin is a bi-polar version of combination, the moisturizer I use for my super dry skin in winter, does not work for my mostly oily skin in summer. This moisturizer is light enough to help my oily skin, while still balancing out my dry spots. It absorbs really quickly and is great for sensitive skin. It’s also fragrance-free for those of you who need it. This is a seriously great summer moisturizer for me.


Jun
2017

Spring Face Makeup

categories: Makeup Most Wanted, Makeup Reviews

Spring is coming to an end, and it’s time to get a few last makeup products before you are in full summer mode. Try one of these new products before the heat gets turned up!

Gosh Brow Sculpting Fibre Gel

Unlike a lot of girls I know, I just can’t get excited about my brows. I’ve tried. I was blessed with brows that don’t need to be filled in and also don’t need to be trimmed, other than the occasional stray. The Gosh Brow Sculpting Gel helped me turn my lucky natural brows into a face defining feature. It held those strays in place while making my brows look more defined and put the focus there. It does it’s just well, I’m just not sure this is the look that I personally want. We will put this in the maybe pile.

Quo Cushion Concealer

What more can be said about the Quo Cushion Concealer that hasn’t been said about any other concealer.  This isn’t a bad product, but it does it’s job without making much of a scene or really being exceptional. I like the twist up cushion applicator, even though sometimes I find these types of applicators a bit gross. They tend to get dirty fast from touching your face every day. The makeup is tricky. It has a bit of a light reflecting shine, so I found it was most effective under the eyes. When I applied it on other blemishes, it covered up the colour, but made the spot more noticeable. It was obvious that I was trying to conceal something. It I applied it under foundation it was great, but then I didn’t really need it, did I?

Lise Watier CC Crème

It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a new CC crème to the market. Lise Watier released this one to the market recently to do double duty as a colour correcting cream and moisturizer. It definitely does both. It’s like your most trusted moisturizer turned into a foundation. It has some of the best properties of both. People who are loyal to heavy coloured foundations won’t be able to stick with just this, but I like it as a happy medium that allows me to apply just one layer or product to my face. Otherwise it’s pretty no fuss.

Wander Beauty Carryon Lip and Cheek Gel

If you haven’t discovered Wander Beauty yet, it’s a really interested brand that makes travel makeup. The lip and cheek gel is the perfect refresher to give you colour without taking up any space in your bag. The crayon is a shimmery pink that is perfect to highlight your lips and cheeks after a day in the sun. It gave me just the right hue that matched bronzed colour.