Everyday Makeup Tutorial

Audio Review: Carmex Lipbalms

Tag: Products I Regret Buying

I sometimes find it more helpful to know what products other people dislike rather than like. These are some products that just did not work out for me. Hopefully this will save you some money!


• Loreal HIP duo in "Reckless"- I had heard so many great things about these eyeshadows and I was enticed by the unusual colours offered in this range. At the time I was going through a purple kick and I picked up the shade Reckless. I was very excited to try these out but I was very disappointed with the poor quality of the shadows. The lighter colour has very little colour pay off and you need to pack it on heavily over a very dark base if you want it to show up at all. I should mention that the colour itself has a pretty duochrome but when applied to the eye it has reddish undertones that come out and make me look bruised and tired. The darker colour is a matte shadow and because of its powdery texture it is very hard to work with. Overall this product is horrible.



looks promising...



... but when swatched the pigmentation is dissapointing

• MAC Painterley paintpot- Every guru has raved about this product and I have one major problem with it. It creases on me! No matter how thin of a layer I put on, my shadows always end up creasing by the time I get home. It is great for neutralizing any discoloration on your eyelids however the creasing is intolerable. This product may not crease on everyone and it depends on how oily your eyelids are so I would suggest asking for a sample so that you can try it out before making the investment. 

• Nicole by OPI nailpolish in "In Your Hands"- The formula of this polish is very thin which makes the application streaky and sheer. It loses its shine and chips in one day which is unacceptable for the price you pay.

2 coats and you are no where near the colour in the bottle!

• Annabelle Kohl Eyeliner in "Black"- This kohl pencil drags on my eyelids like no other! Not only is it super dry and irritating to apply but it also has very little staying power and smudges within 3 hours. 
• Got 2b Guardian Angel- Heat Protect and Blow Dry Spray- I had seen many raves on this product but I did not enjoy using it at all! It made my hair sticky and it has a very strong perfume smell. I prefer the Tresemme heat tamer spray.

MOTD (Makeup of the Day) - Green Queen

Everyday neutral eyes can get drab and boring after a while but an easy way to mix things up is to add a pop of colour on the lower lashline! This look would work with virtually any colour but I would recommend choosing one that really brings out your eye colour. Greens and Purples are great for bringing out brown eyes, any metallic shade will make blue eyes pop and blues and purples will make green eyes really stand out!

This look features:
MAC Nylon -as an inner corner highlight
MAC Mylar -as a brow highlight
MAC All that glitters -washed all over the lid
MAC Embark -through the crease
Maybelline Night Sky -in the outer V
Rimmel Soft Kohl Kajal Eye Liner Pencil in Jungle Green -along the lower lashline
The Darker Colour of Annabelle's Eyeshadow Duo in Tropical
-Placed over the green liner to set it and make the colour more vibrant.
Covergirl Lashblast Mascara -2 coats
MAC Blacktrack Fluidline -winged out on the upper lash line/on the water line

As always, click images to view larger!

Review: MAC Prep+Prime Skin Refined Zone Treatment

I was super excited when this product was released with the Prep+Prime collection back in February and judging by the description online I just had to get it!

The site described it as:
"A light, oil-free emulsion that helps cloak visible pores while controlling oil and shine. Applies "wet" for a gentle micro-exfoliation: dries instantly to create an invisible, long-lasting natural matte finish. Ideal for the T-zone."

I was definitely a bit skeptical but knowing that MAC is a quality brand, I decided to take the plunge and I am so happy that I did! This product does everything that it promises to. It tightens and reduces the size of my pores and best of all it controls my oily skin. Now that the skin refined zone is available in MAC's permanent line I have gone through two tubes and will surely go through more in the future.

When you first apply it to your skin it feels wet but it dries quickly and you can feel your skin getting tighter. I will say that it has a bit of a silicone feel so those who do not like that will not enjoy this product.
A little bit goes a long way and each tube has lasted me around 6 months.

This product will run you $23.50 (Canadian) for 15 mL but it is definitely worth it!

Click images to view larger!



Skin Refined Zone with special edition sleeve





"Clinical tests show an immediate reduction in the look of visible pores by 37% and overtime, this product reduces clogged pores by over 25%. The appearance of pore size shrinks to almost 2/3's their size."





Thin consistency, milky colour that is completely colourless when applied to skin.



Top 10 Drugstore Favourites

1- Covergirl Lashblast Mascara (Great for length and volume)
2- Loreal Voluminous Mascara
(Amazing for volume, thicker consistency than the lashblast)
3- Great Lash Mascara
(The only mascara that doesn't smudge on my lower lashline)
4-Maybelline Colour Sensational Lipstick in Born With It 
(Amazing colour pay off and smells great)
5- GOSH blushes (Very pigmented, silky consistency, not chalky at all)
6-Maybelline Stylish Smokes Eyeshadow Quad
(Buttery texture with matte and glittery shades.)
7-Rimmel Bronzer in Sunlight (great colour pay off, doesn't turn me orange)
8- Maybelline Eyeliner (lasts on my waterline all day long)
9- QUO brushes
(Shoppers has these brushes on 40% off every other weekend!!!)
10- Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in Airy Fairy
(Slightly drying but the colour selection and variety of finishes makes up for it)

Click images to view larger!

Left to right, Maybelline Born With It, Rimmel Airy Fairy

Left to right, Maybelline Stylish Smokes Quad, Maybelline Born With It, Rimmel Airy Fairy

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Top 5 Winter Nailpolish Picks

Ladies put away your fluorescent pinks and pastel peaches, winter is upon us!
As the weather gets colder I often find myself gravitating towards deeper colours that reflect the new season. Muddy browns and cool greys are great transitioning into signature dark burgundies, icy blues and forest greens.The only down side to all of this is that dark nail varnishes are way harder to get off and tend to stain.

Top 5 Picks:

1.) Metro Chic- Sephora by OPI

2.) Midnight Cami- Essie

3.) Metallic Blue- GOSH

4.) Deliciously Dark- Rimmel London

5.) Valentine - Revlon