Category: Makeup Reviews


Jul
2016

Charlotte Tilbury Luxury Palette in The Golden Goddess

categories: Makeup Reviews

Charlotte Tilbury Luxury Palette Box
A lot of us gravitate towards a beachy bronze eye during the summer. It’s lighter than a dark smoky look and it really just screams summer. Charlotte Tilbury’s The Golden Goddess Luxury Palette is probably the best quad I’ve ever used for this kind of look. I’d already tried the Luxury Palette in The Vintage Vamp and it’s quickly become one of my favourite palettes. The Golden Goddess is set up exactly the same way.
Charlotte Tilbury The Golden Goddess Luxury Palette
None of the shadows have names, instead you’re told how to use them. The top left is called Prime and it’s the base shade. The top left is Enhance and if you’re going for a simple daytime look, you can basically stop there. But to me, the bottom shades are the stars. The bottom left is Pop and bottom right is Smoke. Both of these are a creamier formula, while the top are more of a typical powder shadow.
Charlotte Tilbury The Golden Goddess Luxury Palette Swatches
I love that with just four shadows, you can come up with a bunch of different looks and this palette will definitely transition well into fall. I’ve only tried Charlotte Tilbury’s Luxury Palettes and there are still six more I want to try, let alone the rest of the line. I’ve been so impressed with these palettes that I have a feeling I’m going to end up with a collection.


Jul
2016

Tarte Tarteist Matte Lip Paint

categories: Makeup Reviews

Tarte Tarteist Matte Lip Paint Box
I’m cheating a little with the next installment of our matte liquid lipstick series. Tarte’s Lip Paint comes in two versions, matte (black cap) and glossy (gold cap) but for this series we’re just using the matte.
Tarte Tarteist Matte Lip Paint
I tried four shades, L-R: So Fetch (pink-coral), Selfish (bright pink), Fomo (mauve) and Frenemy (burgundy). I’ve been alternating So Fetch and Selfish all summer. While So Fetch is a coral-pink, it tends to lean red on me and Selfish is a really nice bright, dark pink. I bought Fomo when it was a Sephora VIB Rouge exclusive (the other three are press samples) and I find it more of a fall/winter shade but I really love it. Frenemy is a little too dark for me and I found it a little patchy but I might be able to pull it off in the winter.

Tarte Tarteist Matte Lip Paint Swatches
So Fetch, Selfish, Fomo, Frenemy

The brush is pretty typical looking for a matte liquid lipstick but I actually found it more flexible and easier to maneuver. The formula itself it a lot more mousse like than all the others and that creaminess means it doesn’t dry down that quickly. Or ever really. An hour after I apply it, I still find it the same texture as when I applied it. That also means that there’s no way it’s transfer-proof. It gets on everything.

You’ll notice that every time you have a drink or eat something, it looks like a ton of lipstick is coming off. And it does for a while but eventually all the excess is gone and you’re left with a comfortable matte lip that suddenly stops coming off. Once the lipstick stops, well, shedding, the staying power is pretty great. After a few hours I start to notice a little flaking on the inside of my lips and just touch up that part. This might not be the best if you’re looking for kiss-proof lipstick but the Tarteist Lip Paints are the best at not drying your lips out. And you can always add a gloss over top since they have those as well.


Jul
2016

Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick

categories: Makeup Reviews

Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick Box
Kat Von D’s Everlasting Liquid Lipstick is really the product that got me hooked on matte liquid lipstick and inspired this series. The Holiday Lolita Lip Duo was the first time I tried an Everlasting Liquid Lipstick and to say I was obsessed with them might be an understatement. I’ve tried more shades since then and I haven’t been disappointed yet.
Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick
For this post we tried four shades, L-R: Lovesick (mauve nude), Lolita (chestnut rose), Double Dare (cocoa blush) and Nosferatu (blood crimson). Lolita is the cult fave shade that everyone seems to love, Lovesick has been my go to summer shade and I’ve been loving Double Dare a lot. I have a feeling Nosferatu will be a big fall/winter shade for me. The formula is basically exactly what you’d expect; a thin, liquid that dries down extremely fast (go quick if you need to fix anything). There is a slightly sticky feel for a minute but once it’s completely dried, it goes away.

Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick Swatches
Lovesick, Lolita, Double Dare, Nosferatu

The brush is fairly typical but the bottle is long and slim and so far the easiest for me to lose in my purse. As far as wear time, I can go hours without a touch up but if I’m eating or drinking I notice that the inside part of my lips wear off first. Everlasting Liquid Lipstick can be a little drying and you definitely want to exfoliate your lips first because it’ll show everything. With 28 shades available, you definitely won’t have any trouble picking one (or five) that you’ll love.


Jul
2016

Too Faced Melted Matte Liquified Matte Long Wear Lipstick

categories: Makeup Reviews

Too Faced Melted Matte Boxes
I’m not a huge fan of lipstick, or I wasn’t until matte liquid lipstick became a thing and now I wear a lot more than I ever have before. Since I’m loving the formula, I decided to do a series on the matte liquid lipstick world and see which ones worked the best for me. We’re kicking it off with Too Faced’s Melted Matte.
Too Faced Melted Matte
We tried six shades L-R: Miso Pretty (soft pink), Child Star (soft nude), Sell Out (pinky-brown), Feelin’ Myself (peachy-pink), Lady Balls (true red) and Evil Twin (deep black cherry), The lipsticks are a pretty substantial size with a pretty typical doe foot wand that makes it easy to apply. The formula though is a little different. It’s extremely creamy and is infused with avocado oil and vitamin E to keep your lips comfortable. It also has Volulip in it to give your lips a little non-tingly plump.

Too Faced Melted Matte Swatches
Miso Pretty, Child Star, Sell Out, Feelin’ Myself, Lady Balls, Evil Twin

Melted Matte really doesn’t take long to dry and once it does, it feels like your not wearing anything. I’ve gone a good six hours without even checking if I had to reapply and unless I was doing a ton of eating, I barely noticed a difference. Once these dry down there’s very little transfer as well. My biggest issue is that I wish there were some brighter, summery shades, but I’ve been wearing Feelin’ Myself pretty much non-stop and I’ve gotten a ton of compliments on it.

I started off with Melted Matte because it’s by far my favourite of the matte liquid lipsticks that we’ll be featuring. I’m just hoping they introduce more shades.


Jul
2016

Clinique Super City Block BB Cushion Broad Spectrum SPF 50 in Fair

categories: Makeup Reviews

Clinique Super City Block BB Cushion Compact
I’ve been a huge Clinique fan since high school and while I love some of their products an insane amount, they haven’t released a ton of things that have completely changed the way I wear makeup. Until now. I haven’t used many of the new foundation cushions because the one’s we get are always too dark for me. Luckily, Clinique sent over the fair shade of their new Super City Block BB Cushion and at first glance, I was convinced that it was too dark for me as well.
Clinique Super City Block BB Cushion Compact - Fair
It’s actually the perfect shade for my face! Using it is a dream. You tap the puff on the product and you can build up to whatever coverage you want. The SPF 50 in it is a physical sunscreen, so it actually works (I still use another one under it). The finish is dewy and healthy.

I don’t usually wear foundation on a daily or even weekly basis and when I do wear it in the summer, it’s usually a tinted moisturizer. This Super City Block Cushion though lasts so long in the heat and is so easy to apply that I’ve been using it extremely regularly. I don’t normally love face makeup but this is going to be something I use for years to come. I love that fact that it’s refillable as well.

Right now these are only available online and will be hitting stores soon. But you can’t wait that long, trust me.


Jul
2016

Hourglass Travel Essentials

categories: Makeup Reviews, Travel

If you’re the kind of person that does full out makeup even on vacation then chances are you’re looking for some easy to use, on-the-go products that’ll give you results without adding bulk to your suitcase. Enter the Hourglass Travel Essentials. We have five Hourglass products that will help you look amazing wherever you go.
Ambient Light Correcting Primer in Mood Light
Hourglass Ambient Light Correcting Primer_Mood Light
If you want a great primer with a slight tint that makes you glow, this is the one you need to try. You can wear it on it’s own or under foundation and get that lit from within effect that you might not get if you’re going out all night and not getting a whole lot of sleep.
Veil Mineral Primer
Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer_travel size
I can’t express how much I love this primer. You only need a tiny bit of this satiny primer to hide all your little imperfections and make your skin luminous without being greasy. The travel size is perfect to throw in any bag.
Ambient Lighting Palette
thumbnail_Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette
A palette of three finishing powders (Incandescent Light, Dim Light and Radiant Light), you’ll be able to get the effect you want really easily. If you have fair skin like I do, consider trying this for contouring, it’s not too dark for me.
Illume Sheer Color Trio
thumbnail_Hourglass Illume Sheer Color Trio
The newest of the bunch, this cream bronzer, blush and highlighter let’s you use your fingers to get the look you want without using a million different products. Since they’re cream to satin, they also won’t go chalky or dry on you.
Double-Ended Complexion Brush
thumbnail_Hourglass Double-Ended Complexion Brush
Everyone needs a good brush when they’re travelling and this dual-ended retractable brush is great for all the products above or any face product really. Plus, they’re PETA friendly.


Jun
2016

Make Up For Ever Aqua XL Eye Pencil Waterproof Eyeliner

categories: Makeup Reviews

Make Up For Ever Charli XCX Aqua Pencil Contents
I’ve been using Make Up For Ever’s Aqua Eyes eyeliners for years and I love them. But the new version; Aqua XL Waterproof Eyeliner is even better. MUFE teamed up with Charli XCX for this collection and there are a ton of gorgeous shades (and some classic) to choose from.
Make Up For Ever Aqua XL Eye Pencils
These pencils are creamy, easy to use and last forever. Even on waterlines. The pencils are so pigmented that you really only need one swipe of a pencil to get amazing colour. We tried out five shades: M-10 (matte black), D-62 (diamond brown), I-90 (iridescent pop purple), M-16 (matte white) and I-32 (iridescent lagoon green). There isn’t a nude shade available for waterlines or the inside corners of your eyes but the white works great if you blend it in.

Make Up For Ever Aqua XL Eye Pencil Swatches
M-10, D-62, I-90, M-16, I-32

All of the swatches are one swipe of the pencil. I didn’t go over them at all, that’s how creamy and pigmented they are and they go on just as easily on your eyes. Make Up For Ever also sent me a small bottle of the Sens’Eyes Waterproof Sensitive Eye Cleanser to take these pencils off and man does it do a great job. You just need a tiny bit to get off all your eye makeup and it doesn’t sting at all. I also found it didn’t leave my skin dry or greasy, just clean. If you’re having trouble with eyeliner melting off your face this summer, consider this your solution.


Jun
2016

Too Faced Lip Insurance Glossy Quickie Review

categories: Makeup Collection, Makeup Reviews

Too Faced Lip Insurance Glossy

Nothing is more frustrated than losing your lip colour minutes after leaving the house. Glossy lip colours seem to be more of a culprit of this than matte products. Enter Too Faced, who clearly feel my pain. For some reason, I’ve had many lipsticks lately that just won’t last. When I start with the Lip Insurance though, they double their wear time. I’m not saying it they last all day, but it gives them a serious boost. I can just imagine what will happen when I pair it with an already amazing lipstick. For now, this is my lipstick saver.


May
2016

Spring Face Makeup Most Wanted

categories: Makeup Most Wanted, Makeup Reviews

My face has had a rough spring. It was dry, had break-outs, was irritated and generally just out of control. Luckily no one else could tell because I have been using these secret weapons.

Nanoblur Instant Skin Finisher
Nanoblur
Sometimes you just find a product that works so well, you don’t have much to say about it. This is one of those products. I love it, because I forget I’m wearing it. I have said goodbye to shiny skin, fine lines, wrinkles, pores and all of those other imperfections on my face. It’s just nanoblur from here on. When I wear it under one of my new favourite primers, I almost believe that I have perfect skin. I will keep this secret to myself though.

Shiseido Synchro Skin Foundation
Shiseido Synchro Skin Foundation
Life doesn’t get more luxurious than when you are wearing Shiseido Foundation. It melts into your skin like butter. You don’t even remember that you are wearing makeup. Get colour matched if you can, because if you find the right shade, it completely disappears leaving only perfect skin behind. What more can I say? You have to see it to believe it.

Flower Erase Everything Foundation
flower erase everything foundation
I’ve been on the hunt for a lighter foundation this season and I think that I might have found it. Flower has created a foundation that is really soft and light, while also being matte. I like that it’s silky without making my skin shiny. If you are looking for something heavy duty, look elsewhere. This foundation still covers blemishes and imperfections, but not in a way that you can feel on your skin. It leaves my skin feeling even better than natural.

Maybelline Master Contour Face Contouring Kit
maybelline master face contour
Take the guesswork out of contouring with this easy to use palette. This handy little kit includes three labeled powders showing which powder is used for contouring, blush, and highlighting. Check out the back for an easy to follow guide that show how to use the powders. My favourite part about this set is how subtle the powders are. There is no need to worry about getting streaks of colour. Everything is subtle enough for even a contouring novice!

NYC Get It All Foundation
nyc get it all foundation
Until this week, I would never had replaced my liquid foundation for a stick, but NYC may have made me a convert. This stick gives a nice matte finish that I can use wherever I want. I like that flexibility. This foundation makes me feel like I have a little more freedom. I don’t have to cover my face with makeup. It blends really nicely too, so I’m never stuck with weird lines. I also love how convenient it is! I can throw it in my purse or even my carry on.


May
2016

Travel Sets Most Wanted

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

Hitting the road this summer? Heading off for a European vacation? No matter where you are going, try one of these convenient little sets that have everything you need!

Clean Rollerball Layering Collection

Clean Rollerball Layering Collection – It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of the Clean scents. When I found out this little set existed, I was thrilled. These scents are perfect for travelling, because they are so… well, clean. You can mix and match the little rollerballs for a different scent every day. After keeping your clothes in a stuffy suitcase, the fresh scents are just what you need. They barely take up any space for endless possibilities. Added bonus, the White Woods scent is unisex and perfect for guys too!

Vita Liberata Tanning Travel Essentials

Vita Liberata Tanning Travel Essentials – Make the most of this set before your vacation. Get beach ready with this tanning set that includes a 2-3 week tan lotion, 4-7 day tan mousse and super fine skin polish. I love that there are two different length options, so that you can get a tan that will last for your entire vacation, no matter how long it is. I know these are travel sizes, but personally I don’t want to have to worry about tanning while I’m away. I will be perfecting that tan a few days before I go though, so that I am golden in all of my pictures.

Phyto Paris Deep-Down Repair Travel Set

Phyto Paris Deep-Down Repair Travel Set – Being on vacation doesn’t mean forgetting to care for your hair. This three product travel size set allows you to care for your locks on-the-go without feeling like you are bringing tons of products. There’s a shampoo, mask and leave-in thermal spray that repair and strengthen hair. It’s not going to take you a lot of extra time to use this set, which is great because I have places to be. My favourite thing is that the bottles are solid and strong. Unlike squeeze bottles, I don’t have to worry about these exploding with cream in my suitcase.

Quo Brow Kit – This little kit is great to pack in your suitcase to ensure that you have beautiful brows without a lot of stress. There are two brow powders in different shades of brown (so everyone can use this kit without the hassle of worrying about the right shade), a brow gel and a brush. It’s simple, foolproof and one less thing you don’t have to worry about.

Jack Black Jet Set Traveler

Jack Black Jet Set Traveler – Of course, I can’t forget about the guys too. If your house is anything like mine, I have to make sure that my husband has everything he needs to travel as well as managing my own toiletries. That’s why I like this set. It has a Daily Cleanser, Moisturizer and Shave Lather from a brand that I trust and he likes. Shaving cream is one of those things that is easy to forget, but important for him to stay vacation photo ready. Now I can check three things off of my list in one shot.