fun size beauty

I've been studying 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. So a full face of makeup isn't feasible for me. What is, is wearing as much as possible and making it look like as little as possible. In essence, the "I WOKE UP LIKE THIS" kind of deal that I can pull off in 10 minutes or less.

Full brows, dewy skin, a ton of highlight on the cheeks and the inner corners of the eye, a my lips but better gloss crayon and touch of blush and mascara. That's how I roll.

FACE

Benefit Porefessional Primer

Sephora Wonderful Cushion Foundation in T3*

Too Faced Born This Way Concealer in Light Medium*

theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer Highlight*

Rimmel London Sculpting Palette (Blush) in Coral Glow*

Rimmel London Clear Complexion Clarifying Powder*

Essence Keep It Perfect Make-Up Setting Spray*

EYES

YSL Brow Pencil

Essence Make Me Brow in 02 Browny Brows

Blinc Mascara Amplified*
Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Eyeshadow Palette (mermaid)*

LIPS

Nudestix Gel Color Lip + Cheek Balm in Pulse*

What's on your face?

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Top coats, base coats and treatments are boring but necessary essentials in any nail addict's collection. In July, Revlon released a revamped Nail Care Collection featuring 6 products - the Revlon Essential Cuticle Oil, Quick Dry Base Coat, Quick Dry Top Coat, Ultimate Shine Top Coat, Multi-Care Base + Top Coat, and Extra Life No Chip Top Coat ($7.49 CAD each). Two are new and 4 are just newly repackaged.

Revlon Essential Cuticle Oil (NEW)

This oil is meant to help nourish and hydrate the skin around the nails. It has EXACTLY the same ingredients as the CND Solar Oil (sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, and rice bran oil) but they smell a bit different, so I suspect the proportions of the ingredients vary. However, if you're looking for an affordable alternative to the CND Solar Oil than the Revlon Essential Cuticle Oil will do the trick.

Revlon Ultimate Shine Top Coat (NEW)

This particular top coat is formulated to give a gel-like shine and mirrored finish to any polish, though I didn't find this one any more shiny than the other Revlon top coats mentioned here!

Revlon Extra-Life No Chip Top Coat

A few years ago, I went through an entire bottle of the Revlon Extra-Life No Chip Top Coat. Compared to other Revlon Top Coats, it doesn't make my manicure any more long-wearing than 4-5 days.

Revlon Multi-Care Base + Top Coat

The Revlon Multi-Care Base + Top Coat is new to me. As the name suggests, it can be used as both base coat and top coat. I find the concept absurd, as I've used a top coat as a base coat by accident in the past and my manicure lasted less than a day. The Multi-Care Base + Top Coat is not my favourite. It takes longer to dry than any of the others mentioned here. It makes nails look shiny but like the Extra-Life No Chip Top Coat, it doesn't make my manicure last any longer than usual.

Revlon Quick Dry Base Coat

As with most base coats, this one anchors colour and provides a smooth, even canvas for colour application. It's not any faster to dry than other base coats (I find all base coats are generally very quick drying). The Revlon Quick Dry Base Coat does make for even colour application and I haven't noticed any staining when I use it.

Revlon Quick Dry Top Coat

The Revlon Quick Dry Top Coat is one of my favourites. At 30 seconds setting time, it rivals the speed of the Seche Vite Top Coat without smelling like paint thinner. I don't find it to make my manicures last any longer than 3-4 days but it's perfect for layered striping and stamping.

Which Revlon Base/Top Coats have you tried?

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Marc Jacobs Air Blush Soft Glow Duos ($57 CAD each at Sephora) are the new blush palettes from Marc Jacobs Beauty. Each features two carefully selected shades of blush that can be worn separately or mixed together for a natural glow.

The packaging is inspired by a vintage cigarette case. Simple, sleek and very Marc Jacobs. Each blush duo has a large mirror to go with it. I really like the layout of the product in the pan, large pieces of each shade on both sides and smaller stripes in the middle. Supposedly, it's inspired by a Marc Jacobs dress but it's also quite practical as you can pick up individual shades with ease or mix it up to customize the shade through the middle of the pan.

The Marc Jacobs Air Blush Soft Glow Duos are available in 5 colour combos:

500 Lush & Libido - satin petal pink/ matte orchid pink
502 Lines & Last Night - satin creemsicle/matte deep tangerine
504 Kink & Kisses - satin pale petal/matte peachy rose
506 Flesh & Fantasy - shimmering ivory/matte goddess bronze
508 Night Fever & Hot Stuff - satin cherry/deep plum

Is it me or are the shade names outright sexual/playful? Kind of digging it. I just watched the artsy psycho-slasher movie Neon Demon that suggests that women are more likely to buy a lipstick if it's named after food or sex. If that's a fact, Marc Jacobs is doing something right and has a solid product to back up the name.

I found 500 Lush & Libido too cool and 508 Night Fever & Hot Stuff too bold for my personal preferences. The other three hit the spot for me. I'm particularly fond of 506 Flesh & Fantasy, which is more of a pink-bronze than I expected and a Tarte Exposed kind of deal that goes with any and every makeup look you could think of.

Left to Right (indirect sunlight) Swatches: Marc Jacobs Air Blush Soft Glow Duos in 500 Lush & Libido, 502 Lines & Last Night, 504 Kink & Kisses, 506 Flesh & Fantasy, 508 Night Fever & Hot Stuff

Left to Right (direct sunlight) Swatches: Marc Jacobs Air Blush Soft Glow Duos in 500 Lush & Libido, 502 Lines & Last Night, 504 Kink & Kisses, 506 Flesh & Fantasy, 508 Night Fever & Hot Stuff

I've attempted to swatch all 5 of the Marc Jacobs Air Brush Soft Glow Duos on my face. But forgive me, even though I packed on the colour, my camera had difficulty picking it up. Hopefully they don't all look the same because in person, they definitely aren't!

Marc Jacobs Air Blush Soft Glow Duo in 500 Lush & Libido // petal pink + orchid pink

Marc Jacobs Air Blush Soft Glow Duo in 502 Lines & Last Night // creamsicle + deep tangerine

Marc Jacobs Air Blush Soft Glow Duo in 504 Kink & Kisses // pale petal + peachy rose

Marc Jacobs Air Blush Soft Glow Duo in 506 Flesh & Fantasy // ivory shimmer + goddess bronze

Marc Jacobs Air Blush Soft Glow Duo in 508 Night Fever & Hot Stuff // cherry + deep plum

The Air Blush formulation is created using Soufflage (air-whipped in French) for a soft, silky, blendable and cream-like texture. My experience with the blushes is generally very positive.

They're indeed soft and smooth but I didn't find them to be particularly creamy. I actually found them to have quite a bit of powder kick-up even though they're marketed as "cream-like". With the exception of 504 Kink & Kisses, the duos were appropriately pigmented for naturally flushed cheeks, requiring a light sweep of the brush for the product to show up on the face. 504 Kink & Kisses required a few more swipes of my brush into the pan because for some reason the texture was a bit harder than the others.

Each shade blends with ease and appears seamless on the face (air brushed you might say).

What's crazy impressive its the wear time. Marc Jacobs Beauty says that the product is dance-proof and lasts 24 hours. While I don't usually stay up for 24 hours, the blush lasts until I want to take it off.

That's it for my very wordy rundown of the Marc Jacobs Air Blush Soft Glow Duos. They're stellar blushes that are in my opinion, totally worth it.

Have you tried the Marc Jacobs Air Blush Soft Glow Duos? Which shade is calling your name?

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Kat Von D just released her latest shade of the cult favourite Everlasting Liquid Lipstick. The Kat Von D Project Chimps Everlasting Liquid Lipstick ($24 CAD) is limited edition and vegan, with collectible packaging. For every lipstick sold, 20% of the retail price will be donated to Project Chimps, a not-for-profit organization that works to stop the use of chimps in biomedical research to help them retire to a life of freedom.

The product itself is contained in a unique red box decorated with little chimp silhouettes. Project Chimps is a deep, warm brick red - a perfectly appropriate fall shade that will suit most skin tones. It's not too bright or too vampy, so I was surprised to find the colour relatively wearable. The product requires just one layer for full-on opaque colour.

In terms of comfort and longevity, it's different from the only other shade of the Kat Von D Beauty Everlasting Lipstick that I've tried, which is Mother (a neutral pink). Project Chimps is more comfortable than Mother but also not as long-wearing. I didn't find Project Chimps to dry out my lips but it does cling onto dry patches if you haven't exfoliated beforehand.

Staying power is good, if you're not doing any eating or drinking - 5 hours maybe more. There's a bit of transfer. If you're eating (anything, not just oily food), expect the product to move beyond your lip lines and maybe even on your chin. Reapplication is a necessary evil.

Kat Von D Project Chimps Everlasting Liquid Lipstick Swatch

Okay, so the Kat Von D Project Chimps Everlasting Liquid Lipstick is not the perfect liquid lipstick formulation but it's a beautiful colour and raises funds for a great cause. I truly appreciate the fact that Kat Von D is an animal advocate and that she's using her brand to support a cause she feels passionately about and hope to see other brands follow suit!

Will you be picking up the Kat Von D Project Chimps Everlasting Liquid Lipstick?

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It might be back to school already but for me summer is still in full swing and the sun's out to play, so I've got a couple of suncare products from Avene to share with you today. If you're not already familiar with the brand, Avene is a French skincare range that specializes in products for sensitive skin and features thermal water, the star ingredient!

Sunscreen is pretty boring on its own but there are a couple things that I look for in a good one. First and foremost, sun protection. Then there's other things are really important like waterproof, lightweight and comfortable under makeup. The Avene High Protection Emulsion SPF 50+ ($25 CAD) is just that. A good sunscreen. It's SPF 50+, paraben-free and water-resistant. It feels fitting that one of the main ingredients is thermal water because the emulsion is a watery consistency that absorbs into the skin very quickly. There's no white cast and it wears comfortably under makeup. Two thumbs up.

What's a bit more exciting is the Avene High Protection Tinted Compact SPF 50+ ($34.50 CAD). Suncare and makeup in one? My lazy yet makeup/skincare-obsessed self is ecstatic. It's available in 2 shades - Honey and Beige. Honey is approximately a light, while beige is light/medium.

For those of you that are more ivory, there likely won't be a match for you. Same goes for those that are even the slightest bit darker than me. Luckily, Beige is a tad light for my skin in the summer but nothing that a little bronzer couldn't fix and will be a perfect match in the fall/spring/winter.

I'm not typically a fan of cream foundations, however the Avene High Protection Tinted Compact is a lot more weightless-feeling on the skin than I had expected. I find that it applies best with a sponge, a beauty blender or the one that's included. A brush seems to make the stuff look streaky.

Coverage is medium, buildable to high. I find it appropriate for days in the sun or even sporting activities that you want a lot of sun protection and a little bit of makeup (but not a cakeface). The finish is a natural satin that absorbs some of my shine.

What's amazing is that the stuff is WATERPROOF. I wore it to a pool party and was told that the water was beading off of my face with my full face of the Avene High Protection Tinted Compact still intact. Staying power is decent at 6 hours (no powdering!) before the makeup starts to break up on my oily t-zone.

All in all, I'm amazed by the Avene High Protection Tinted Compact and it gives me confidence to go out and frolick in the sun without worrying about sunburn or melting foundation. Then there's the Avene High Protection Emulsion, which is a great option too if you've got sensitive skin.

What kind suncare/makeup do you wear in the summer months?

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Launching this month is the Quo Fall Collection for 2016. It features 2 face palettes, 3 eye palettes, a brush set, a brow palette and 3 matte lipsticks. And yes indeed, I have a few bits from the collection to share with you!

As per usual, the Quo does their packaging right. I'm in love with the vampy, glamorous purble and black casing! And yes, I did break that bronzer. It didn't pass the "drop" test (the test where I [typically accidentally] drop my makeup to see if it survives).

The Quo Brow Palette Raise Your Brows ($12 CAD) is very similar to other brow palettes that Quo has released in the past (Spring 2015, Fall 2014). The deeper shade is a decent match for my black hair and the powders and wax look super natural when applied.

The Quo Eyeshadow Palette ($18 CAD) comes in 3 variations for Fall - Perfect Plum, Clean Sweep and Neutral Ground. Above is Clean Sweep. The colours are an interesting take on neutrals with a few grey and blue tones. The quality isn't here, exemplified with the navy (last shade on the right) which is patchy. Some of the shades are pretty good (grey, 5th shade from the left) but most are chalky, patchy and difficult to build in opacity as I've previously expected with other limited edition Quo Collections.

The Quo Face Palette ($20 CAD) is available in 2 shades - Sweet Illusion and Perfectly Ordinary. Swatched above is perfectly ordinary, The blush is a matte dusty rose brown (similar to Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed but slightly more pink), the highlight is a shimmering white gold and the bronzer is a warm brown with golden shimmer. The powders in the Quo Face Palette are wonderful to work with - smooth, blendable, soft and everything that I wish the eyeshadows were.

The Quo Matte Lipsticks ($14 CAD) in Red Alert is a bold, slightly orangey red. The lipstick drags slightly on the lips but the colour is definitely a wow. The finish is pretty matte and dries down quickly with minimal transfer afterwards. As someone with perpetually dry lips, this is not a lipstick formulation that I would reach for often, though it is fairly long lasting. The matte lipsticks come in three shades - Red Alert, Brandy and Mysterious.

Lastly, we have the Quo Brush Set Brush Up! ($50 CAD), which includes 6 brushes and a matching purple bag. From left to right there's the powder brush, blush brush, foundation brush, eyeshadow brush, liner brow brush and lip brush. The brushes are of decent quality (good, but not quite up to par with something like Real Techniques which is slightly more expensive) and I had no issues with shedding after washing them.

What do you think of Quo's Fall 2016 Collection?

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eos, a brand known for their Easter egg-shaped lip balms just launched something new! It's not a new flavour (my favourites are coconut milk and blueberry acai). It's a touch of shimmer. The eos Shimmer Lip Balms ($7.99 CAD) look quite similar to the typical eos lip balm but have got a sparkly surprise inside.

The packaging is what I would describe as young and fun. While the swirl design is unique and differentiates the product from the other balms, I think I would have preferred plain all-black casing. At least its still soft to the touch and recyclable.

The product inside is everything that you would expect from a typical eos balm - the eos Shimmer Lip Balms contain shea butter, jojoba oil and vitamin E for softening, nourishing, soothing and moisturizing of the lips. They perform in the same manner as other eos Smooth Sphere Lip Balms.

What's different? The shimmer. Despite what you might think about shimmer particles in lip balms, they're quite smooth and comfortable. It's microglitter, as opposed to something more chunky and uncomfortable. The eos Shimmer Lip Balms in Sheer Pink and Pearl appear quite similar on the lips - a hint of gloss and a subtle shimmer. I wish the pink had a bit more pigment to it.

eos Shimmer Lip Balm Swatches in Sheer Pink and Pearl

Personally, these aren't my cup of tea. I like the plain old non-shimmery eos Smooth Sphere Lip Balms and will be sticking with those. On another note - $7.99 is expensive for a lip balm unless you're an eos collector or a bit of shimmer is exactly what you're looking for.

What do you think of the eos Shimmer Lip Balms?

Press samples featured. The eos Shimmer Lip Balms are available now nationwide at mass retailers and drugstores, as well as evolutionofsmooth.ca

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New season, new scent. During the months of August and September, I've been testing out three new-to-me Demeter fragrances and had quite the time mixing and matching them.

In case you missed my previous Demeter posts, Demeter is a fragrance line that captures singular fragrances - think Tomato, Waffles, Orange Soda, Sunshine, Pizza...you name it, they've probably got it. And what's super cool is that you can mix and match. Sunshine Pizza anyone?

Full size 1 oz. fragrances retail for $20 and the Foolproof Blending Kit that comes with a funnel, six droppers, a refillable bottle, a customizable label and blending strips is $6. I tested out three scents and played perfumer for a day.

Demeter Salt Air - I can't put my finger on this one. It's a very clean scent. Also very subtle. It has a similar fresh feel to Clean Skin and Sunshine... but saltier perhaps grittier and less floral. I'm into it.

Demeter Gin & Tonic - I don't get gin or tonic from this fragrance. To me, it smells like straight up rubbing alcohol. So unfortunate, since several of the Demeter scents that I've tried in the past were spot on.

Demeter Wet Garden - If you've ever tried a Harry Potter/Bertie Botts Beans Grass flavour, that scent is what this fragrance reminds me of. I'm actually quite fond of the grass scent. It's very reminiscent of childhood weekends spent reading on the porch, while my Dad mowed the lawn. I'm not sure if I'd want to wear it daily but it's nice to spritz every now and again for a fresh, outdoorsy smell.

Putting it all together - I had this strange notion that it would be cool to have a fragrance that smelled like "drinking a gin and tonic on a yacht"... Honestly, it smells mostly like Salt Air and not very much like Gin & Tonic but I'm okay with that. Generally, I think I prefer both scents alone.

How would you describe the scent of Gin & Tonic, Wet Garden, and Salt Air?

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Sunscreen is a boring yet necessary daily ritual; but mix it with a little bit of setting spray and a cooling mist, and it's a whole new product. That new, fantastic product is the RE:CIPE Crystal Sun Spray SPF 50+ PA+++($26.99 CAD). Getting it all done in the spritz of a can.

But oh how I wish it were that easy.

The Good.

The mist is ultra fine and unlike any other mister that I've experienced.
There's no white cast, despite having SPF 50 PA+++.
It keeps my makeup together all day long.
It's got a high SPF and I haven't experienced any sunburn while using it.
The can is light and the product is easy to reapply.
The RE:CIPE Crystal Sun Spray can be applied to wet or dry skin.
The mist feels refreshing and cooling on application, much like a mineral water or Caudalie Beauty Elixir.

The Bad.

The scent smells like some sort of toxic gas. Definitely a product you need to hold your breath before spritzing on the face. Also not ideal for those that are sensitive to scents.
It keeps makeup in check, but it's not a matte or oil controlling setting spray so I feel like it gives quite the dewy glow that's makes my oily skin look oilier.
It never really dries down. Hence why I mention the dewy/oily glow.

On balance, the RE:CIPE Crystal Sun Spray SPF 50 PA+++ is an effective misting sunscreen. It's not for me, but it might be for you. I would recommend this product if (1) you have normal or dry skin and like the very Korean dewy/wet skin look and (2) are not sensitive to strong scents.

Do have any you spray-on sunscreen recommendations?

Press samples featured. The RE:CIPE Crystal Sun Spray SPF 50 PA+++ is available at Echoo.ca.

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Classic shades, new and improved formula. OPI lovers will know that there are staple, must-have OPI polishes. This month OPI re-released 30 of its most coveted and iconic shades in the long-wearing, ultra glossy Infinite Shine formulation.

I'm happy to see that some of my favourite shades made the cut - Big Apple Red, You Don't Know Jacques, Tickle My France-y, Samoan Sand, and Dulce De Leche. I received 10 of the 30 shades to play with. Here's a listing of all 30 re-released shades:

Alpine Snow
An Affair in Red Square
Big Apple Red
Black Onyx
Bubble Bath
Cajun Shrimp
Cha-Ching Cherry
CIA=Color is Awesome
Dulce de Leche
Dutch Tulips
Funny Bunny
I’m Not Really a Waitress
It’s a Girl!
Lincoln Park After Dark
Malaga Wine
Miami Beet
My Address is “Hollywood”
My Private Jet
Passion
Pompeii Purple
Princesses Rule!
Russian Navy
Samoan Sand
She’s a Bad Muffuletta!
Strawberry Margarita
Taupe-less Beach
Tickle My France-y
Vampsterdam
We the Female
You Don’t Know Jacques!

If you're not familiar with the Infinite Shine formulation, it's a 3-step no-cure gel system that provides lasting shine and chip free polish for up to 10 days. My initial thoughts on the OPI Infinite Shine collection were not positive. I must have been doing something wrong the first time I used it because it only lasted 2 days on my fingertips. Weeks later and every time after that, I tried Infinite Shine again and it lasted over a week.

OPI Infinite Shine Bubble Bath Swatch || A sheer nude pink. It's not too streaky after a couple coats. I don't understand the purpose of putting sheer polish on your nails, so it's not for me.

OPI Infinite Shine Dulce de Leche Swatch || A creamy pink-taupe nude. Quite possibly my favourite nude polish on my colouring. Ever.

OPI Infinite Shine You Don't Know Jacques Swatch || A deep taupe. A staple in my collection and another one of my all time favourite polishes.

OPI Infinite Shine Funny Bunny Swatch || A sheer white. Again, sheer polishes are not for me. This one needs 3 coats even out any patchiness.

OPI Infinite Shine Strawberry Margherita Swatch || A bright blue-toned pink. It's fun, it's colourful and it looks like a girly cocktail.

OPI Infinite Shine Cajun Shrimp Swatch || A hot orangey red. I remember lusting over this after Ingrid (formerly Miss Glamorazzi) talked about it in a video years and years ago.

OPI Infinite Shine Big Apple Red Swatch || A classic red. Not much to say about this one but if you don't have a red polish similar to this... what are you even doing with your life? (I kid..)

OPI Infinite Shine Malaga Wine Swatch || A deep red wine. Again, another classic staple. Some wine tones have a bit of a purple or brown to them. This one's a straight up deep red.

OPI Infinite Shine I'm Not Really A Waitress Swatch || A deep shimmering red. Like a deep red wine but more interesting. I don't usually love shimmery polishes but this one's quite glamorous shade.

OPI Infinite Shine Linkin Park After Dark Swatch || An almost black purple. This one's a throwback to my high school days when I wore a lot of eyeliner and was obsessed with Linkin Park. Why the band ever collaborated with OPI? I'm not too sure but a great polish came out of it.

OPI is smart. They've taken some of their most popular shades and re-released them into a new and improved gel-like formulation. There's not much to complain about here because there's a reason why these colours are OPI's most beloved. Don't see your favourite OPI nail polish colour here? Not to worry. OPI will be releasing 30 more shades to the Iconic Collection this December.

Have you tried the Infinite Shine Polishes by OPI? What's your favourite OPI polish?

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The MAKE UP FOR EVER Water Blend Face & Body Foundation ($54 CAD) is the newest foundation release in MUFE's face product line up. I believe it's meant to replace the now discontinued Face and Body Foundation.

For starters, it's a sheer, dewy finish foundation. Not everyone's personal preferences but it is mine for everyday use.

The MAKE UP FOR EVER Water Blend foundation comes in 20 shades, which is pretty great for any range of foundations but it's only half of the 40 shades of the MAKE UP FOR EVER Ultra HD Foundations. The names for the Water Blend Foundation appear to correspond with the Ultra HD, so that could help with colour selection if you've previously been matched to an Ultra HD shade.

Make Up For Ever Water Blend Face & Body Foundation in Y245 and Y305

The Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Foundation in Y245 is my winter shade, while Y305 is my summer shade. I received the same shades for the Make Up For Ever Water Blend Foundation. Below, I'm wearing Y305 and it's a perfect match!

The texture of the Water Blend Foundation is light and, as the name suggests, waterlike - not slightly tacky like the MAC Face & Body Foundation. It requires a good shake to mix up the pigment before application. A sponge eats the product up, so my preferred tool of application is a kind of dense (but not too dense) brush.

As you can see, it's light coverage with 2 even coats (3-4 pumps). My dark circles, redness from my nose and the zit beside my nose are slightly evened out but still visible. It's not really buildable to more than a light/medium coverage.

The finish though - it's gorgeous and adds a touch of natural dewiness to my cheeks. Powder on my T-zone is a must with this foundation but otherwise it wears beautifully throughout the day. I can say this with confidence that the stuff is transfer-proof as this is one of the only foundations that don't move around under the nose pads of my glasses - even after 8 hours of wear in the summer.

A quick comparsion of the MAC Face and Body vs. the MUFE Water Blend Foundation - the MUFE Water Blend is less coverage and less tacky/dewy, more natural looking and longer-wearing.

Overall, it's a wonderful sheer, natural foundation. On a daily basis, I pair it with a lightweight concealer (right now, it's the Sephora Bright Future Gel Serum Concealer) and a solid oil-controlling powder (the RMS Tinted Un-Powder).

Have you tried the Make Up For Ever Water Blend Foundation yet?

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Stila launches its Fall 2016 Glam Rock Collection mid-September in Shoppers, Sephora, Murale and at beautyBOUTIQUE.ca and Sephora.ca. The Glam Rock Collection is inspired by 70s music, fashion and attitude - a retro colour palette with a femme fab vibe.

The collection features 12 Stila Stay All Day Matte'ificent Lipsticks ($29 CAD), 8 Stila Stay All Day Lip Liners ($26 CAD) and 3 new shades of the Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Brow Color ($27 CAD).

I have two pieces from the collection to share - the Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Brow Color in Medium Warm and the Stila Stay All Day Matte'ificent Lipstick in Bordeaux.

Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Brow Color in Medium Warm - I immediately tossed the Brow Colour into my "to give away to a friend" pile because without a doubt Medium Warm is not my shade. However, I have reviewed the shade Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Brow Color in Medium in the past (see here), which is a nice match for my black hair. I presume dark would also work well for those who prefer a more intense look. The pen has an extremely fine tip, which makes creating fine, hair-like strokes a breeze.

Stila Stay All Day Matte'ificent Lipstick in Bordeaux - This is the colour I would use to describe Glam Rock. It's vampy and intense, dark and mysterious. Sometimes I look in the mirror while wearing this shade and mistake it for a black. Perhaps the deep wine shade with warm brown tones is as close as I can get to a black without looking like I've drawn on my lips with eyeliner.

This is the kind of lip colour you'll want to exfoliate for, as the pigment catches on to dry patches quite easily. That being said, the colour is instantly opaque - one swipe, more or less for full-on colour. Personally, the finish of the Matte'ificent Lipstick isn't matte enough for me. It has quite a bit of sheen...which is likely due to the infused Argan Oil and Castor Oil that make for a smooth feeling bullet and comfortable wear.

The tradeoff? It's not transfer resistant. So don't go eating a burger or tacos or stuff your face with french fries because you'll end up with lipstick all over your face. Granted, if you're taking precautions to protect your lipstick (like eating salad and drinking out of a straw), the colour won't move around too much and could last up to 5 hours.

What's your deepest, darkest lip colour? Thoughts on Stila's Glam Rock Collection?

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Because I'm an idiot and sat on my last pair of glasses from Firmoo, they were kind enough to send me a new pair in the style #S6252.

I've had Firmoo glasses for the past 4 years. Here's 5 reasons you should give Firmoo a shot:

They're inexpensive. $20 to $30 for a pair of prescription eyewear? YES. It's particularly nice if you like to switch up your style every now and again.

There's a boatload of variety. I've gone from round, tortoise shell glasses to thinner frames. They've got 123901340293482934 different styles to choose from in tons of colours. Right now I'm eyeing the clear frames.

The quality is decent. You get what you pay for here. They don't feel expensive per se but if the prescription is right and they last longer than a year, I'm happy.

Shipping is fast. When I broke my last pair of glasses, I was in a bit of a rush to get a new pair. My Firmoo order took a little less than two weeks coming from China.

The site has a "try-on" function where you upload a photo of yourself and can see what you might look like with a particular pair of glasses. It's not 100% accurate but its nice to have an idea whether or not a certain style I've been interested in suits me.

A quick review of my new glasses. They're the style #S6252. The arms are every so slightly too small for my face, which means that they become uncomfortable to wear after 5ish hours. I really like the style, as they're similar to my previous pair of round glasses.

Where do you buy your glasses online?

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Contrary to popular belief, IDC doesn't stand for I DON'T CARE, it stands for Integral Dermo Correction, the first ever skincare line to deliver 16 anti-aging functions at once.

Their patented Regen 16 technology stimulates hydration, barrier function, cell anchorage, energy, oxygenation, ECM synthesis, immunity, and skin cohesion and exchanges while moderating oxidization, pigmentation, keratinization, protein modifications, DNA damage, ECM proteolysis, inflammation and microcapillary permeability. I don't know what half of that stuff means but it's all in the name of science and anti-aging!

IDC SPF 50 Facial Sunscreen, IDC Regen Express Perfection and IDC Hydra-Seal healthy Glow

IDC has a number of products targeted for 4 distinct groups (all ages, 35 and over, all ages, 50 and over and men) and 3 different steps (prepare, correct, and seal). I received 3 products to share with you!

The IDC Hydra-Seal Healthy Glow Serum ($49.95 CAD) is a moisturizer AND gradual self-tanner, meant to be a streak-free comfortable texture for all skin types. To be honest, I'm quite tanned already and I have no intention of gradually getting darker so I haven't tried this one yet! Check out Miranda's thoughts for more on the IDC Hydra-Seal Healthy Glow Serum.

IDC SPF 50 Facial Sunscreen, IDC Hydra Seal Healthy Glow, IDC Regen Expres Perfection

The IDC SPF 50 Facial Sunscreen ($29.50 CAD) is exactly what you'd expect. It reminds me quite a bit of the Bioderma Photoderm Creme SPF 50+ in texture, with the wear of the IDC being significantly less heavy. In essence, it feels like a nice moisturizer, rather than a sunscreen. I haven't had any issues with burning or oiliness or white casts while wearing it. The sunscreen has protection against UVA and UVB and is water and sweat resistant for 6 hours. I don't believe this contains the proprietary Regen 16 technology but it works well as an everyday sunscreen.

Last but not least is the Regen Express Perfection ($59.95 CAD), the most makeup-like product of the bunch. It's a tinted multi-benefit skincare product with SPF 15 that can be used on the face, eyes and neck. It's an all in one, containing the Regen 16 patented technology to correct, moisturize, protect and conceal. There is only one colour available, which IDC says works for fair to medium skintones. Right now, in the heat of summer, I think I'm a solid medium and the Regen Express Perfection is a tad too pink and too light for me. Otherwise, I'd wear it all the time because the coverage is light and covers up redness nicely. It has a strong scent on application and starts to disintegrate on my nose around the 7th hour but other than that it's a nice "going to the grocery store" quick and easy base.

Yes, I realize that I'm only 22 and anti-aging should be the least of my worries, but there's no better time than the present time to start preventing wrinkles and fine lines. The sunscreen is pretty normal but I think that the Regen Express perfection is really something that's worth looking into if you want skincare + suncare + makeup all in one!

Have you tried IDC?

Press samples featured. IDC is available at beautyboutique.ca and theshoppingchannel.com. The brand does not test on animals and is tested under the control of a dermatologist and paraben free.

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As a petite human being, I like jewellery that's as minimal as possible (for fear of being eaten up and taken over by a big necklace). Small jewellery, despite being very easy to lose, are by far my favourite things to wear on my fingers and ear lobes. The Happiness Boutique sent me a couple jewellery pieces to try and they've become two items that I couldn't be happier to have in my collection.

I've been wearing the Modern Lines Earrings in Rose Gold ($24.88 CAD) non-stop. They're rose-gold plated titanium. The tone of the rose gold hits the spot for me - not too rosy or too yellowy gold. They're easy, simple, chic, straightforward and go with every outfit I've ever worn. There's not much more I can say.

The Minimalist Style Wrap Ring in Rose Gold ($26.35 CAD) pairs perfectly with the earrings. Unfortunately, it's too big for all of my fingers with the exception of my thumb (and it's not like I have baby hands/fingers). Luckily, I've found another use for the ring. I'm sad that I can't wear such a pretty piece without it falling of my finger but it makes a stellar photo prop.

What's your favourite jewellery piece?

Press samples featured.

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Warner Brothers Cartoons meets French/Japanese beauty brand Paul & Joe Beauté. The result? Looney Tunes X Tom & Jerry X Paul & Joe Beauté. The collection features three Lipstick Cases ($7 CAD), three Compacts ($8 CAD) and two Pressed Face Powder Cases ($10 CAD).

Oddly enough, the collection doesn't contain any actual makeup. Just packaging. What's nice about the Paul & Joe Beauté range is that the casing for powder blushers, cream blushes, eyeshadow trios, lipsticks, and pressed face powders are re-useable and the product inside is sold separately.

I have two pieces from the collection to share. Note that Tom & Jerry has one each of the lipstick case, compact and pressed face powder case, while Looney Tunes has two of each.

Paul & Joe Lipstick Case WB in 002 Looney Tunes - Believe it or not, Paris-born designer and Paul & Joe Fashion founder Sophie Mechaly is a huge fan of Tweety Bird. Thus, this cardboard lipstick case is dedicated to the little guy with a very Paul & Joe type chrysanthemum motif in the background.

Paul & Joe Compact WB in 002 Looney Tunes - This cardboard compact pairs perfectly with the Paul & Joe Lipstick Case WB in 002 Looney Tunes. Tweety's on the front. Open the compact up and you'll find Sylvester chasing Tweety.

If anything, this collection is nostalgic. In an era before Netflix, long, long ago in a galaxy far, far away, I remember watching Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Tweety Bird, Sylvester the Cat and all their other pals and their shenanigans every Saturday and Sunday morning. The child in me is jumping for joy.

As of August, the Limited Edition Paul & Joe Beauté Warner Bros. collection will be available at beautyBOUTIQUE.ca and the following Shoppers Drug Mart locations:

Toronto/GTA, ON - 2223 Bloor Street West, 5576 Yonge Street, 2345 Yonge Street, 9350 Yonge Street (Hillcrest Mall), 220 Yonge Street (Toronto Eaton Centre), Marie Labatte Rd (Shops at Don Mills Murale)
Ottawa, ON - 50 Rideau Street (Rideau Centre)
Montreal, QC - 1122 Rue Sainte Catherine Ouest, 1 Place Ville Marie (Murale)
Vancouver, BC - 784 Burrad Street, 3020 West Broadway, 6060 Minoru Boulevard (Richmond Centre), west 41st Avenue (Oakridge Mall Murale)
Calgary, AB - 6455 Macleod Trails South Unit 24 (Chinook Mall)
Rocky View, AB - Crossiron Blvd. (Crossiron Mills Outlet Mall)
St. John's, NL - 390 Topsail Rd.

Did you watch Looney Tunes as a kid?

Press samples featured

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Have you ever looked at elegant nail designs and wondered..."Did they free-hand that nail art or... are they a magician?"And the answer is neither. They probably used a nail art stamping set like the ones from MoYou London. Think Kindergarten potato stamp but all grown up - more elegant, more intricate and a lot less messy.

I'm not new to nail art stamping but MoYou London is new to me. As the name suggests, they're a brand out of London and in Canada, they're sold at Trade Secrets. I did a little googling, and their website says that they are "the world's leading innovator in stamping, nail art plates, designs and polishes". While those are some big claims to make, MoYou does have about 12098123091823123 different designs to choose from.

The MoYou London Nora The Explorer Starter Kit ($29.95 CAD) comes with a stamping plate featuring 12 intricate floral-ish designs, a scraper, a rectangular stamper, a polish in Smokey Sage and a handy dandy instruction booklet to put it all together.

It's really quite simple. All you've got to do is (1) paint the polish on the stamping plate (2) scrape off the excess with the scraper (3) pick up the "stamp" with the stamper (4) stamp it on to your nail (5) seal in the deal with a fast drying top coat and (6) repeat!

While I do have a scraper and a stamper already (from Born Pretty for less than $5), I think the MoYou ones are much better quality. The MoYou stamper is significantly more squishy than the other ones I've tried, which makes it a million times easier to pick up all of the polish off of the plate. It's also very fun to play and squish around if you're bored. The scraper is basically an acetone-resistant piece of plastic and much easier to clean than the metal ones.

All in all, I'm obsessed. The MoYou London Starter Kit is a quick and easy way to get fleeky nails. I did a little exploring of my own and took photos in the wild (aka my backyard).

Have you ever tried MoYou or nail art stamping?

Press samples featured

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In search of the perfect my lips but better liquid lipstick, I made my first ever ColourPop purchase - the Ultra Satin Lip in Echo Park ($6 USD).

The Ultra Satin Lip is the "comfortable" rendition of the Ultra Matte Lips. The finish of the Ultra Satin Lip is actually quite matte ... with the tiniest bit of sheen. The formulation is super pigmented - I only need 1 swipe for opaque coverage. And like ColourPop promises, it's long-wearing (6-7 hours) but not transfer-proof, especially when eating Costco french fries (among other oily foods). I found the Ultra Satin Lip to be slightly drying - but about as drying as a regular lipstick might be for someone who has very sensitive lips. I need to exfoliate thoroughly before applying or else I get weird, patchy areas.

One note on the packaging - it's actually poop. The tube is ok but it looks strange because all of the writing has already rubbed off. At the $6 price point it's no big deal.

The shade Echo Park is described as a "warm peachy nude". A spot on description. When I swatched it on my arm, I thought it would be the perfect colour. Unfortunately, it's not. It leans more peach/pink and less brown on me, compared to online swatches. Despite getting compliments from a few friends, I don't think it suits my colouring 100%. I still have some emotional attachment to it because it's my first ColourPop product. Perhaps Dopey or Magic Wand would have been the shades for me.

Sadly, I don't love the ColourPop Ultra Satin Lip in Echo Park. The colour just wasn't right. I haven't yet fallen in love with ColourPop as much as everyone else has, so I think the next reasonable step is to spend a fair amount of money on a few other formulations and colours to help me change my mind.

What do you recommend from ColourPop?

Purchased by me.

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The Kat Von D Hello Canada! Set ($45 CAD) is a limited edition, exclusive to Sephora sample set that features a trio of Kat Von D's all time favourite and bestselling products - the Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Double Dare, the Studded Kiss Lipstick in Lolita and the Tattoo Liner in Trooper - all encased in a vegan leather bag.

The 7.25" x 10.5" vegan leather bag is a take or leave it kind of thing. I don't ever go to Sephora to purchase a bag. It's a little flat for a makeup bag and doesn't look so hot when it's stuffed to the brim. But it actually makes quite a nice clutch because (1) it's all black and super sleek and (2) the Kat Von D logo is on the bag but subtly embossed.

Swatches - Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lipstick in Lolita; Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Double Date; Tattoo Liner in Trooper

The Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper ($25 CAD for full size) is one of two of my favourite, holy grail liquid liners alongside the Stila Stay All Day Liquid Eyeliner. The Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper isn't the blackest nor is it matte, however the itty bitty brush applicator makes liquid eyeliner easy and the formulation stays put on my very oily lids all day.

The Mini Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lipstick in Lolita ($26 CAD for full size) is described as a dusty rose. Now I see why Lolita (in the Everlasting Liquid Lipstick Formulation) is sold out every time I'm on Sephora online or at an in-store location. It's wearable for everyday (aka work) and flattering on my skintone. The Studded Kiss Lipstick formulation varies, depending on the shade. I've tried Tijuana (a Spanish red) and Underage (a fire engine red), neither of which applied as smooth or felt as comfortable as Lolita. It's not the most creamy lipstick but it's great for a matte. The product lasts 5 hours on my lips, after which I need a touch up.

Mini Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Double Dare ($24 CAD for full size) is described as a cocoa blush. I'm not getting cocoa anywhere in the shade, so I'd describe it myself as a bright rose. It's similar to Lolita minus brown plus pink and a bit brighter. The Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Double Dare is transfer-proof and doesn't come off after 6-7 hours unless I eat a lot of french fries. The comfort is traded off for longevity here, as the product sucks the moisture out of my lips. But it's worth it for a pretty shade, right?

Is it worth it? Maybe. Based on the full size prices and weights and the sample sized, weights the mini studded kiss lipstick is $10.40 (0.04 oz, 40% full size), the mini everlasting liquid lipstick (0.10 oz, 45.5% full size) is $10.91 and the mini tattoo liner (0.1oz, 45.5% full size) is $11.36. In total, that's a $32.67 CAD value for the makeup pieces and I'm assuming that the vegan leather bag would be at least $15, so then we're at $47.67 CAD.

You're not getting a discount, but the set is a great way to try out a few of some cult Kat Von D products. That being said, if you can do without the vegan leather bag, you're better off purchasing 2 of the full-sized products for about $50.

Have you tried Lolita, Double Dare or Trooper? Will you be picking up a Kat Von D Hello Canada! Set?

Press samples featured. All products included in the set are vegan and cruetly free.

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The colder the weather, the bushier the brows. As the weather begins to simmer down, it seems appropriate that everyones brows get a little thicker (to keep your face warm, ya know?). In my case, my two brows are already quite thick and just need a quick comb and a little filling in.

Caryl Baker Brow Blitz Collection Brow Ink and Brow Balm Swatches

This fall, Caryl Baker has released a few new brow products as part of her Brow Blitz Collection. I tried the Brow Ink ($23 CAD) and Brow Balm ($24 CAD). In addition, the collection includes a precision brow pencil ($27 CAD), a brow gel ($21 CAD) and a brow highlighter ($23 CAD).

Caryl Baker Brow Ink in Brunette

Bare Brows

Caryl Baker Brow Ink in Brunette ($23 CAD)

The Caryl Baker Brow Ink features a precise wand, perfect for grabbing and combing stray hairs. The formulation is like a drier, waxier, more pigmented version of the Benefit Gimmie Brow or the Essence Make Me Brow. The product clings onto the brow hairs, sticking them into place while imparting colour onto the skin underneath. It wears well but makes the brow hairs stick together if you apply too much. The result is a naturally shaped, full, thick brow.

The Caryl Baker Brow Ink in Brunette is not my shade. It's only available in Blonde and Brunette, which might be limiting if neither of those two match your hair colour.

Caryl Baker Brow Balm in Deep Brunette ($24 CAD)

The Caryl Baker Brow Balm in Deep Brunette is your classic dip-the-brush-into-the-pot brow product. It's a balm-like texture that is soft the touch and provides soft definition to the brows. Despite being a creamier balm formulation the stuff lasts all day long on my skin/brow hairs and the product lives up to its smudge-proof claims. It's also totally waterproof (I wore it to the pool). It's buildable but it takes a while, as the formulation isn't full on pigment. I prefer the look of the Brow Balm over the Caryl Baker Brow Ink, as it is not as finicky to work with.

Do you go for a bolder brow in the fall/winter?

Press samples featured. Both products are paraben-free, gluten-free, kosher, and cruelty-free.

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What's On My Face #8 - FRESH FACED

Revlon Nail Care Collection - top coats, base coats and cuticle care

Marc Jacobs Air Blush Soft Glow Duos in Lush & Libido, Lines & Last Night, Kink & Kisses, Flesh & Fantasy, Night Fever & Hot Stuff

Kat Von D Project Chimps Everlasting Liquid Lipstick

Avene High Protection Tinted Compact in Beige and Emulsion SPF 50+

Quo Fall Collection 2016

eos Shimmer Lip Balms in Pearl and Sheer Pink

Demeter Fragrances in Salt Air, Gin & Tonic and Wet Garden #CBBCustomBlend

RE:CIPE Crystal Sun Spray SPF 50 PA+++

OPI Infinite Shine Iconic Collection

MAKE UP FOR EVER Water Blend Foundation in Y305 and Y245

Stila Stay All Day Matte'ificent Lipstick in Bordeaux

5 Reasons to Try Firmoo Glasses

Integral Dermo Correction (IDC) Express Perfection and SPF 50 Sun Protection

STYLE: Rose Gold & Minimalism with Happiness Boutique

Looney Tunes X Paul & Joe Beauté for Fall 2016

Nora the Explorer - MoYou London Nail Art Stamping Starter Kit

ColourPop Ultra Satin Lip in Echo Park

Kat Von D Hello Canada! Set - Lolita, Double Dare, Trooper

Caryl Baker Brow Blitz Collection Brow Ink and Brow Balm