fun size beauty

Another neutrals palette? Yes. The Cargo Eye Contour Eye Shadow Palette in Shade 01 ($39 CAD) is, in fact, another neutrals palette.

The name of the palette makes it sound comparable to something like the Kat Von D Shade and Light Palette. The purpose is similar - to lift, define and highlight eyes like a pro through the art of contouring. But the shades are a little more interesting. Three cool matte neutrals (featuring two purples) and three warm matte neutrals (including an orange!) plus a matte base and a shimmer base. The matte base and shimmer base are pretty similar, though the shimmer base is at touch more yellowy but the shimmer is unnoticeable worn on the lid.

The Cargo Eye Contour Eye Shadow Palette is also available in Shade 02 which seems to feature blue tones and pink-ier bases.

If you're not sure how to go about contouring your eyes, the back of the palette has specific instructions on both a classic and smokey look. But if you're feeling fancy you can mix and match.

Cargo Eye Contour Eye Shadow Palette Swatches - Cool Light, Cool Medium, Cool Dark, Warm Light, Warm Medium, Warm Dark Matte Base, Shimmer Base

In terms of performance, the shadows are smooth and soft but look a little underwhelming swatched on the arm. They're quite sheer on the lids as well and if you want them to even show up, you'll need some sort of primer or concealer on the eyelid first. I'd say pigmentation is meh so if you're looking for bold shadows this is not your palette. Blending-wise they're great and staying power is also excellent.

Below, I'm wearing the Warm Light shade (orange) on the lid and the Warm Medium shade in the crease (brown) on top of a concealer, along with the Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper and the Clinique Flutter to Full Mascara.

All in all, I think the colours are more interesting than more matte palettes and it also includes a couple basics (matte base, warm brown, transition shade). The formulation and combination of colours is not in line with my personal preferences, but if you're into interesting yet natural matte shades perhaps this is more your style.

What's your favourite matte palette?

Press samples featured. Cargo Cosmetics is available at London Drugs, Rexall and Lawtons across Canada.

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For the past 8 months, I've been rotating through 9 different eye creams. Nine is the teensiest bit excessive but I've been testing them all out to see which ones I like best. I'm in my 20s so my focus is wrinkle prevention and a little hydration along with keeping my undereyes looking fresh underneath makeup. So here it is. All the eye creams I've been trying. Different ones for different reasons.

ON-THE GO EYE CREAMS

Kate Somerville Goat Milk De-Puffing Eye Balm* ($48 CAD)

I put this on before a 10 hour flight. When I got to my destination, I could still feel the moisture underneath my eyes. It's supposed to be good for crows feet, fine lines, wrinkles and dryness, as it contains goats milk and Manuka honey and can even be used over makeup.

Life Brand Eye Roller* ($17 CAD)
I love the cooling feeling of a metal ball underneath my eyes. It contains caffeine and pro vitamin B5 which is meant to decrease puffiness and darkness. While I don't notice any differences in puffiness and darkness, it sure perks me up. The liquid texture sinks into the skin immediately, making it ideal for wearing underneath makeup.

GEL EYE CREAMS

Vichy Aqualia Thermal Awakening Eye Balm ($36 CAD)
The Vichy Aqualia Thermal Awakening Eye Balm was my very first eye cream purchase. It's now empty as I saved the very last half pump for this blog post. Claims include depuffing and rehydration of tired eyes with key ingredients being hyaluronic acid and caffeine. Sinks in fast and leaves undereyes feeling refreshed. I found this one great for the morning.

Mary Kay Indulge Soothing Eye Gel* ($22 CAD)
Like the Vichy Aqualia Thermal Awakening Eye Balm but thicker. It feels the same but takes a bit longer to sink in. I find this Mary Kay Eye Gel works best as a leave-on eye mask for the nighttime.

Philosophy Take a Deep Breath Oxygenating Eye Gel Cream (sample - $40 USD for full size)

This oil-free formulation is a gel-cream hybrid. It has the texture of a traditional cream but has the cooling feel of a gel. This one takes a while to sink in and feels the most moisturizing of the 3 gels in this post!

TRADITIONAL EYE CREAMS

NSPA Youthful Eye Cream* ($15.97 CAD)
The least expensive eye cream of the bunch, this guy feels the most like a lotion. If you don't like thick creams, this one is definitely for you. It's moisturizing but certainly not the most, especially compared to some of the others mentioned below.

Life Brand Eye Lifting Serum* ($26 CAD)
This one has a soft golden shimmery sheen to it, which offers a subtle hint of cosmetic brightening effect. It's meant to be hydrating and firming and I find that it's pretty solid on both counts.

Skinceuticals Eye Balm (sample - $82 USD for full size)
The priciest eye cream of the bunch, the Skinceuticals Eye Balm contains phytochemicals to target the three signs of aging - moisture loss, laxity and free radical damage. It's quite light considering it's for "mature skin". As such, I think it's the worst suited towards my needs. That being said, it sinks into the skin quickly and has impressive hydrating properties.

Schaf Nutritive Daily Eye Cream* ($40 CAD)

This is the thickest cream of the bunch and takes the longest to sink into the skin. It contains lots of great ingredients including hyaluronic acid, peptides and Coenzyme Q10. I find the Schaf Nutritive Daily Eye Cream particularly good for applying in the night and then waking up with almost plump-feeling undereyes.

Given the 9 eye creams I've tried over the past little while, here's a summary of my favourites:
ON THE GO - Kate Somerville Goat Milk De-Puffing Eye Balm
GEL - Vichy Aqualia Thermal Awakening Eye Balm
TRADITIONAL - Life Brand Eye Lifting Serum

Do you use eye cream? If so, which one(s)? :)

Press samples and purchased items featured. Press samples are denoted with an asterisk (*).

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This time every year, Make Up For Ever releases 6 easy Halloween looks - three GLAM and three GHOUL. No costume required, just your face and a few makeup bits.

Make Up For Ever has partnered with Sephora to bring you video tutorials and product recommendations (including Pro SFX) - all of which can be found here. The GLAM looks are the Eternal Goddess, Darling Deer and Creature of the Night. The GHOUL looks are a Sugar Skull, Glampire and the Walking Undead.

This year, I re-created the GLAMPIRE look. It's on the GHOUL side of things but I think the dark lip makes it appear quite GLAM.

I started with a too-pale base. Optionally, you could mix in a white lipstick or the NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencils or use white face paint instead of foundation.

For the eyes, I did a more colourful eye than I'm used to - a metallic brick red on the lid blended with a purple and dark brown in the crease. I lined the eyes with Make Up For Ever's Aqua Black and we need to take a moment to talk about how amazing it is. Aqua Black is a matte cream shadow and I could honestly use it for every Halloween look EVER. In addition, it doubles as a stellar long-lasting, waterproof eyeliner.

On the lips, I used OCC's Ready to Wear Lip Tar in Black Dahlia. I really dislike the (ironically) difficult to wear formulation that is forever bleeding outside my lip lines. In this case the bleeding was quite fitting. I lined my lips with Aqua Black, applied Black Dahlia to the centre of the lips and then used an eyeliner brush to drag the product into two fang-like shapes on my chin.

Later on, I added some false lashes and pop art details - contours of the face, a nice big ol' mole, a few extra bottom lashes. AND VOILA!

Products Used

Make Up For Ever Waterblend Foundation in Y245
Kat Von D Lock It Concealer Cream in L15
Mary Kay Loose Setting Powder
Make Up For Ever Aqua Black
Stila Eyes Are the Window Eyeshadow Palette in Mind
Kat Von D Mi Vida Loca Eyeshadow Palette in Anthem
Kat Von D Metal Crush Eyeshadow in Raw Power
NYX Wicked Lashes in Overrated
OCC Lip Tar in Black Dahlia

A couple weeks ago I also attended a Make Up For Ever Glam to Ghoul Workshop at the Pro Loft in Toronto to create the Darling Deer Look. Thanks Make Up For Ever for all the amazing Halloween ideas!

Started from the bottom... Now we DEER. #glamtoghoul Puns aside, thanks @makeupforeverca for the fawn-tastic Halloween backstage workshop 😂
A photo posted by stephanie lau (@stephh_lau) on Oct 12, 2016 at 3:04am PDT

Halloween is coming up fast! Will you be trying one of Make Up For Ever's Glam to Ghoul looks?

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Another Halloween nail art look! Again, it's a CutePolish-inspired look because I'm all about the easy nail art. Cats are cute but something about a bunch of black cats with little green eyes is a little bit creepy!

Products Used: Formula X Peach Tea, Ceramic Glaze Little Black Dress, Essence Don't Be Shy!

You can achieve the look in 5 simple steps:

Paint your nails with a base colour - any colour works but the lighter the better so that it contrasts with the black.
Draw black semi-circles on the tips of the nails.
Add triangle ears with a small detailer brush
Use a dotting tool to create the iris (coloured portion) for the eye.
Use a stripping tool or toothpick to extend a black line through the centre of the green dot for the pupils.

And voila! Cats everywhere!

What do you think of this cat nail art design? Isn't it puuuuurrrrfect?

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It's not a foundation. It's not a tinted moisturizer. It's a tinted primer. As a complexion/foundation junkie, I was stoked to try the NYX Soft Focus Tinted Primer, a primer that's said to add a sheer hint of colour while creating a smooth base for makeup application.

The NYX Soft Focus Tinted Primer (~$14 CAD) is available in 3 shades - light (light with yellow undertones), medium beige (medium with yellow undertones) and warm (deep with red undertones). I see a trend here. If you're warm, you could get lucky with it and have a match.

I just so happened to be one of those lucky people. Medium Beige is a stellar match for my post-Summer complexion - golden and warm and yellow in all the right proportions.

The texture is soft, light-weight and silicone-feeling like the Benefit POREfessional primer or the Too Faced Shadow Insurance.

Before and After the NYX Soft Focus Tinted Primer in Medium Beige

The NYX Soft Focus Tinted Primer does wonders for the appearance of my skin, both in person and on camera. It evens out the complexion, absorbs oil, and even blurs out pores. Indeed, it makes my foundation apply and appear more smoothly than on its own but I think that where the Soft Focus Tinted Primer shines is when its worn on its own. I'm so pleased with how natural yet perfected my skin looks when I'm wearing the NYX Soft Focus Tinted Primer.

It's a light coverage but more than most tinted moisturizers and BB creams. Staying power is okay at 6 hours but oil-control is minimal. I find that my nose gets ultra greasy after around 3-4 hours of wear.

All in all, it's not a long-wearing product but it does make my skin look flawless. As such, it's not perfect for long days but it is ideal for blog photos/videos and running errands.

What do you think of the NYX Soft Focus Tinted Primer?

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Since starting full time work this month, I've had to dial down my makeup routine quite a bit. I'm in a professional business environment, so I feel the most comfortable at work with a "barely there" kind of look. To help me achieve it, I've been getting a little help from a few products from CoverGirl.

CoverGirl Oh Sugar! Lip Balms in Candy, Cupcake, Soda, Jelly, Gumdrop Swatches

The CoverGirl Oh Sugar! Lip Balms are some of my favourite affordable tinted lip products. They check all the boxes - comfort, hydration and just the right amount of colour. I've reviewed Gumdrop and Soda previously (here). For frame of reference, the CoverGirl Oh Sugar! Lip Balms are slightly harder, less moisturizing, more pigmented and more affordable than the Fresh Sugar Lip Treatments.

The CoverGirl TruBlend Blush in 200 Medium Rose and CoverGirl TruBlend Bronzer in 200 Bronze are very similar in texture and appearance. They've both got the very pretty baked/marbled look and feel soft and finely milled to the touch. These TruBlend powders are probably the softest I've ever felt at a drugstore price point and very comparable to something much higher end like the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders (though CoverGirl takes a no-frills, simple approach to the packaging). The texture of the CoverGirl TruBlend powders makes for a very seamless look on the skin. Medium Rose is a soft pink with a slight sheet, while Bronze is a warm brown with a soft shimmer (not noticeable on the skin). Staying power is good but not amazing at 4 hours. The TruBlend Blush is available in 3 shades while the TruBlend Bronzer is only available in 1 shade.

What kind of makeup do you wear to work? Have you tried any of these products from CoverGirl?

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There's a new eyeliner in town. It's the Clinique High Impact Custom Black Kajal ($21 CAD).

The brand claims rich, dark, skip-proof colour with 12 hours of staying power. The Clinique High Impact Custom Black Kajal has a deceiving name. Not only available in black, rather there's 3 additional shades - Blackened Brown, Blackened Blue and Blackened Green. It's not the most extensive shade range, but it's great for those who like to keep it simple or switch up their black liner for something a tad different.

The colours are fairly intense, however they're not what I'd call the most intense. The black is, indeed, a true black and the brown is a dark brown, while I find the blue leans slightly grey and the green is very olive.

The texture is not too soft and not too stiff - softer than the Shu Uemura Gel Pencil Liners and harder than the Make Up For Ever Aqua XL Liners and Shu Uemura Drawing Pencils. The product glides over the lids with ease. There's about 30 seconds to smudge the liner out before it fully sets.

In terms of staying power, the Clinique High Impact Custom Black Kajals are magical. And by magical, I mean smudge-proof and budge-proof for a full 12 hour day. The caveat? They're a little stubborn to remove.

Dark coloured eyeliners aren't the most exciting thing in the world, but they're an essential in my everyday makeup. As someone with oily eyelids, there are only a handful of eyeliners that work for me. The Clinique High Impact Custom Black Kajal is one of them.

What's your favourite pencil liner?

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R.A.W. - Real. Authentic. Wholesome - an all new product line from Matrix Biolage that is 99% biodegradable and 70% to 100% natural-origin with no sulfates, silicones, parabens or artificial colorants. Sounds good to me!

Is it weird that I find the packaging really funny? The bottles look exactly like those overpriced $10 cold pressed juices. But don't be fooled by the fruity scents. This is shampoo and conditioner (for external use only). In all seriousness, the packaging is rad. Every bottle is made of 100% post-consumer recycled plastic.

The Matrix Biolage R.A.W. line includes three sets of shampoo/conditioner/hair mask, as well as a Replenish hair oil:

Nourish - Transforms dull hair into healthy-looking, soft locks
Recover - Restores shine to stressed, sensitzed hair
Uplift - Purifies fine, flat hair without harsh striping

The Matrix Biolage R.A.W. Recover Shampoo ($25 CAD) features yucca and goji berry. The shampoo restores shine to stressed, sensitized hair. The R.A.W. Recover Conditioner is a fairly lightweight shampoo. Despite not having any silicones, the shampoo still lathers quite nicely, leaving my hair feeling fresh and clean. Also - the smell is fruity and sweet!

The Matrix Biolage R.A.W. Recover Conditioner ($25 CAD) features coriander oil and kaolin clay to improve strength, shine and bounce. This one smells lightly of the kaolin clay (similar to the aroma of a LUSH face mask). It's not the most pleasant but it's totally bearable. The Recover Conditioner has a deeply nourishing mask-like effect on my hair. I leave the conditioner in for a couple minutes in the shower and after rinsing it out my hair feels replenished and ultra soft. The caveat is that if I use the littlest bit too much, my hair gets greasy because the conditioner is so nourishing. So, I'm careful to use the R.A.W. Recover Conditioner only on the ends of my hair where I need it most.

Overall, I found the R.A.W. Recover line to improve the softness and managability of my hair compared to the previous shampoo I was using (Garnier Whole Blends). In general, I'm loving the concept of the R.A.W. line. It's fresh, approachable, and thus far very effective.

What do you think of the R.A.W. haircare line?

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HAPPY HALLOWEEN! CSI and Criminal Minds were always one of my favourite TV shows as a teenager (and still as an "addult"). So, there's a little nail art ode to the slightly graphic and gory shows. It's another one inspired by my favourite Youtuber (cutepolish).

How to achieve this look: Think adult fingerpainting with nail polish. I painted my nails with white polish and let it dry completely. Then I poured a teensy bit of red polish, then dipped my pointer finger in it. I dabbed my finger onto a piece of paper to remove the access, then I pressed my fingertip onto the nail. Even a toddler could do it.

The trick here is to choose a red with a neutral or brown undertone, rather than a pink/orange undertone so that the fingerprints look more like blood and less like raspberry stains. The red that I used was slightly more orange because (shocker!) I couldn't find the perfect shade of red in my 1239182o31239123 bottles of polish.

Products Used: Ceramic Glaze Pure, OPI Big Apple Red

What are you wearing on your nails this Halloween?

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The highlighters from the MAKE UP FOR EVER Pro Sculpting Duos are now available in standalone compacts as the MAKE UP FOR EVER Pro Light Fusion ($43 CAD).

The new MAKE UP FOR EVER Pro Light Fusions make me beyond happy because I looooved the highlight but found that the bronzer in the Pro Sculpting Duo (released Spring 2015) was way too warm for my colouring.

Make Up For Ever Pro Light Fusion in Rose Gold

Make Up For Ever Pro Light Fusion in Gold

The MAKE UP FOR EVER Pro Light Fusion is available in 2 shades - Rose Gold (for light to medium skintones) and Gold (for tan to dark skintones). At the moment, I'm dipping into Rose Gold for a soft pink/white gold highlight but Gold will be the perfect shade when I'm at the peak of my tan in the summer.

The Pro Light Fusion features a gel-cream powder (similar to that of the MAKE UP FOR EVER Pro Bronze Fusion and the Artist Shadows). I'm a big fan of the Make Up For Ever powder products because there's a whole lotta pigment with little to no fallout, the powders blend seamlessly onto the skin and they last all day long. I found the textures of the Pro Light Fusion to be ever so slightly grittier than the Pro Bronze Fusion/Pro Sculpting Duo powders but other than that they perform perfectly well on the skin.

MAKE UP FOR EVER Pro Light Fusion in Rose Gold and Gold Swatches

For a soft, undetectable highlight, apply with a fluffy brush like the MUFE Artisan Brush #144. For a more Instagram-type metallic look, a denser brush (or even fingertips) works well. My preference is the former for everyday because I like to look glow-y (as opposed to disco) at work.

Wearing MUFE Pro Light Fusion in Rose Gold

All in all, obsessed. And heading into the holiday season, it's a tad more appropriate to douse my face in highlighter for special occasions.

Have you tried the MAKE UP FOR EVER Pro Light Fusion yet?

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Not that my lips need extra plumping but its always cool to try something new. SkinXL landed at my doorstep a while ago and I've been testing out their Lip Plumper ever since.

Key ingredients include:

Hyaluronic acid - a humectant (preservesretains water), common in skincare products for dry skin and known to hold 1000x its weight in water
Palmitoyl Oligopeptide - a synthetic amino acid/peptide that
Vitamin E - another common skincare ingredient.

The product claims are as follows:

On application - smooth, soft, immediately luscious lips
In the long term - application 3x per day for a month to result in a 40% increase in lip volume, 29% reduction in surface folds and 60% improved hydration.

It's not that they're totally unreasonable but the claims immediately after application are vague, while the long term effects require consistent application of the product over a fairly long period of time (which is difficult for a lazy person such as myself). I used the Skin XL 2x a day, maybe 2-3 times a week for over a month.

No immediate differences. There's no tingling either. The Skin XL Lip Plumper doesn't feel like a lip plumper at all. It simply looks and feels like a hydrating, non-sticky lip gloss. At best, I can say it's a beautifully hydrating balm.

Do you have a favourite lip plumper?

Press sample featured. Skin XL is a cruelty-free product.

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Toronto-born edible lipstick brand BITE BEAUTY now has its own storefront. The Bite Beauty Lip Lab opened its doors this year this year and Zubie and I headed there to make our own custom lipsticks this past weekend. The space itself is stunning – lab-like but still welcoming – with exposed brick walls and displays of ALL THE LIPSTICKS. Dreamy.

When we arrived at the Bite Beauty Lip Lab, a Lip Lab Artist seated us at a bar-like table and we were served some cookies while we waited for her to set up. The process was informative and straight forward. We started by applying the Bite Beauty Whipped Cherry Lip Scrub (which smells incredible btw) to exfoliate our lips, then went in with the Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask (which made my lips feel smoother than a baby’s bottom) and the Bite Beauty Line & Define to prime the lips. I appreciated the prep steps, as it was a great opportunity to test out some of Bite Beauty’s products that I hadn’t tried yet.

Next up was deciding on finishes and colours. I knew that I wanted a satin finish, so I chose the Amuse Bouche lipstick. Our “Lip Lab Artist” Erica was helpful and patient, putting up with my extreme indecisiveness with colour selection. I must have tried over 10 different shades of lipstick. It was so difficult to choose that I resorted to comparing pigments on separate halves of my lips. In my mind, I thought I had wanted a contemporary brown nude but walked out with a deeper, pink mauve-ish/berry tone. Pro tip for trying on 293129318 shades – make sure you go outside and check out how the shade looks in natural light. Indoor and outdoor lighting change everything.

My Bite Beauty Creation vs. GOSH Matt Lipstick in Cranberry

The final step before the actual lipstick making was selecting a scent. I went with ablend of citrus mango and lime. It wasn’t a difficult choice because fruity is my go-to.

The Erica (Lip Lab Artist) took it away from there – formulating the lipstick itself. This was the most captivating part of the process for me. I put together a little 1 minute video to capture the science-y stuff that goes into making a lipstick.

	A La Carte	Custom
Price and Product	$55 for 1 lipstick $80 for 2 lipsticks	$150 for 2 lipsticks and the Lip Lab Lip Kit (Cherry Scrub, Lip Primer, Agave Lip Mask)
Colour	Select 1 of 200 Bite Beauty pigments	Create a lipstick shade to your exact specifications
Finishes	Glossy Sheer, Matte Crème, Amuse Bouche (Satin)	Luminous, Matte, Sheer Cuvee
Scents	Pick one or mix two: Cherry, Mint, Vanilla, Citrus, Mango, Violet, Coconut, Wild Berry, Fresh Citrus	Same as A La Carte

(We went for the A La Carte option and each chose a lipstick shade)

Is it worth it? Yes, yes, yes again. Bite Beauty Lipsticks are my absolute favourite - amazing colour selection and formulation. Sure, you can purchase your own Bite Beauty Lipstick for ~$30 (or less if you’re buying a mini) at Sephora but the customization service that the Lip Lab provides is a unique experience in itself. For those that want something special (a gift for a friend or a treat-yo-self), the Bite Beauty Lipstick is the place to go. I’m 100% happy with my experience and I would gladly do it again.

What lip colour would you make?

Purchased by me

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Go from flirty to full-on with the twist of a dial. The Clinique Lash Power Flutter to Full Mascara ($28 CAD) is Clinique's latest mascara featuring customizable volume.

The Clinique Lash Power Flutter to Full Mascara features a dial with three options. We'll call them low, medium and high. When I twist the dial, the brush doesn't change. What does change is the amount of product that's on the brush. More for the high option and less for the low.

No mascara, LOW volume and HIGH volume

I really like the look of the mascara. Regardless of what option I choose, my lashes look full without becoming clumpy. Going from low to high there's not a ton of difference, perhaps a tad more volume - like if you applied 3 layers of mascara but in 1 go. I prefer the low volume option, as it keeps the thickness of my lashes looking more natural, rather than spiky.

The mascara is ophthalmologist and allergy tested and free of fragrance, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, toluene, DBP and camphor. Further, it's appropriate for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers. Thus far, I've had no issues with sensitivity or itchiness.

It's ultra-waterproof and smudge proof at the cost of being difficult to remove (without following the instructions). Clinique says the stuff stays on for 24 hours and there's no doubt in my mind that the claim is true. I find that the best way to remove the Flutter to Full Mascara is to splash fairly warm (almost hot) water onto your face and eyes to loosen up the product, then go in with a cotton pad loaded up with your favourite waterproof eye makeup remover.

Does it lengthen? YES. Does it volumize? YES. Does it clump? YES. Does it smudge? NOT AT ALL. Does it droop? SLIGHTLY. Is it easy to remove? NO.

Overall, I find the twisting dial to be gimmicky. That aside, the mascara's top notch.

Have you ever tried a mascara with customizable volume?

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Despite having oily skin, the change in weather definitely takes its toll on my face. My skin looks drier and less radiant in the winter. So, lately I've been toying with these three brightening boosters in my skincare routine - the ACURE the Magical Wonderfluff, the Paula's Choice Radiance Renewal Mask and the Paula's Choice RESIST Brightening Essence.

The ACURE The Magical Wonderfluff ($19.99 USD) is described as an overnight hydrating booster mask. Hydrated skin = bright skin. ACURE is a family owned and operated wellness company that produces high quality and certified organic products. The Magical Wonderfluff is my first experience with an ACURE product and I'm very impressed. I had been experiencing some dryness and textural issues with my skin no thanks to an anti-acne product that I was testing out. I put the ACURE The Magical Wonderfluff on my face every night before bed for 5 days straight and before I knew it my skin was as good as new.

The Magical Wonderfluff smells of lavender (which is so ideal for some pre-bedtime relaxation) and features argan stem cells, gardenia stem cells, chlorella and argan oil. The mask itself is a surprisingly thin, lotion-like consistency and dries down to a slightly visible layer of product over the face. However, when I wake up, there's no trace of the product, just hydrated (not oily) skin.

It's paraben-free, cruelty-free, vegan and sulfate-free. The brand's got some humour, too. The back reads "Apply a thin layer to the face, neck and chest after cleansing and toning. May be used over a night time cream to boost benefits. Or whatever. I don't want to be bossy." LOL.

ACURE The Magical Wonderfluff, Paula's Choice Radiance Renewal Mask, Paula's Choice RESIST Brightening Essence

The Paula's Choice Radiance Renewal Mask ($36 USD) is another overnight mask. It was disappointing compared to the Magical Wonderfluff. The Radiance Renewal Mask is more of a gel texture. It did make my skin feel more plump the next morning, however, the product balled up on my skin when I went to apply makeup the next morning (I don't typically wash my face in the morning though sometimes I tone). This one actually reminded me of the Guerlain Blanc De Pearl Sleeping Mask, which I also wasn't 100% in love with.

The Paula's Choice RESIST Brightening Essence ($42 USD) fared much better on my skin than the Radiance Renewal Mask. There's no awkward residue. It's lightweight, almost watery and sinks into the skin instantaneously. I found the RESIST Brightening Essence to be a solid hydration booster for my usual skincare routine as it's an extra step that's easy to add in. The RESIST Brightening can be applied night and day, which gives it a step up over the ACURE Wonderfluff.

Paula's Choice does not test on animals and has a 100% money back guarantee.

What are your favourite radiance and brightening skincare products?

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It's happening - the first Holiday beauty set review of the season! The Tarte Kiss Bliss Tartiest Creamy Matte Lip Paint & Crayon Set ($60 CAD) is a lip wardrobe of 5 lip pencils and 5 of Tarte's new(ish) Creamy Lip Paints (aka liquid lipsticks).

Tarte Tartiest Lip Crayons:

Meme (deep nude)

Rage (mauve)

Queen (raspberry)

Thirsty (red)

Vibes (deep berry)

Tarte Tartiest Creamy Matte Lip Paints:

Fab (deep nude)

Fomo (mauve)

Inspo (raspberry)

Bae (red)

Chill (deep berry)

There is an excellent range of shades in the set – classic red, wearable nude/mauve/berry, and a vampy purple. Only Bae (red lip paint), Fomo (mauve lip paint) and Thirsty (red lip pencil) are part of the regular line. The rest are limited edition, though you’ll likely find similar colours that are permanently available in full-size.

Swatches - Tarte Tartiest Lip Crayons and Creamy Matte Lip Paints in Meme, Fab, Rage, Fomo, Queen, Inspo, Thirsty, Bae, Vibes and Chill

Tarte Tartiest Lip Crayon in Meme and Creamy Matte Lip Paint in Fab

Tarte Tartiest Lip Crayon in Rage and Creamy Matte Lip Paint in Fomo

Tarte Tartiest Lip Crayon in Queen and Creamy Matte Lip Paint in Inspo

Tarte Tartiest Lip Crayon in Thirsty and Creamy Matte Lip Paint in Bae

Tarte Tartiest Lip Crayon in Vibes and Creamy Matte Lip Paint in Chill

I was disappointed by the Tarte tartiest Lip Crayons. Not only is the lip pencil hard and crumbly, but it’s also virtually impossible to draw a clean line with it. Initially, I had thought it was a product-formulation issue isolated to the sample sizes in the Tarte Kiss Bliss Set. However, looking at the reviews for the individual Tarte tartiest Lip Crayons, it seems as though others have had similar experiences to my own. I can’t say that I would recommend them.

Luckily, the Tarte Creamy Matte Lip Paints were more impressive. The Tarte Creamy Matte Lip Paints are probably the lightest-weight feeling liquid lipstick ever. Mousse-like might be a good way to describe them, while still being super bold and longwearing (~6+ hours with eating and drinking). Initially, there’s a bit of transfer but after then dry down completely, they’re almost bulletproof while verging on comfortable… but definitely drying. All but Vibes (deep berry) applied smoothly and without patchiness. My favourite pick from the set is Fomo (mauve), as it’s a wearable pop of pink.

Is the Tarte Kiss Bliss Tartiest Creamy Matte Lip Paint & Crayon Set worth it? No. You’re better off trying a single shade of either of the tartiest Lip Crayons or Creamy Matte Lip Paints. The set includes 5 x 0.001 oz. deluxe-sized tartiest Lip Crayons, which is 0.005oz. of product valued at $11 CAD and 5 x 0.034 oz. deluxe-sized tartiest Creamy Matte Lip Paints, which is 0.17 oz. of product valued at $20. The total value of the set is $31, which means that this $60 set is outrageously overpriced.

Have you tried the Tarte tartiest Creamy Matte Lip Paints or Lip Crayons?

Press samples featured. Tarte is vegan-friendly and dermatologist-tested.

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I started my full-time job as an auditor at the beginning of October, yet somehow I managed to pull off one nail look per week. October was Halloween month, so lots of spooky stuff going on here!

Huda Beauty x Formula X Nail Quatrefoil

I was very happy with the Huda Beauty x Formula X #ColorCurators collection. My go-to nail art look when I'm feeling a bit uninspired is a quatrefoil - it always looks chic and polished!

Products Used: Formula X + Huda Beauty Baroque Babe, Jetsetter and Date Night

Jack Skellington

I don't like horror movies but I love the Nightmare Before Christmas. Inspiration from CutePolish!

Products Used: Ceramic Glaze Pure, Ceramic Glaze Little Black Dress

Meow Meow

October = Halloween month = black cat nail art! Inspo from Hannah of CutePolish.

what do you call a pile of kittens? a meoweww-ntain 😸 #manimonday Inspo: @hannahroxit
A photo posted by stephanie lau (@stephh_lau) on Oct 24, 2016 at 4:40pm PDT

Products Used: Formula X Peach Tea, Ceramic Glaze Little Black Dress, Essence Don't Be Shy!

CSI Crime Scene Nail Art

CSI was one of my favourite shows as a teenager. This is a little ode to the New York, Miami and Las Vegas series. It was as easy as stamping my fingertips all over my nails.

Products Used: Ceramic Glaze Pure, OPI Big Apple Red

What was your favourite nail art look in October?

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Last year was Christmas in Paris, this year Too Faced is celebrating Christmas in New York. In 2015, I reviewed Le Grand Palais ($72 CAD). This year, the Too Faced Chocolate Shop ($72 CAD), which is comparable in terms of packaging, product and price landed on my doorstep.

Too Faced really knows how to package a product. Sure, it's bulky but the big box of 21 eyeshadows, three face products, an eye primer, mascara and melted lipstick make an amazing gift to give your favourite beauty lover.

I appreciate that Too Faced included the Melted Chocolate Liquified Longwear Lipstick in Chocolate Milkshake in the set this year instead of putting the Melted Liquified Longwear Lipstick in Peony in the set like last year. Peony is a light-medium bright pink, while Chocolate Milkshake is a cocoa nude which I think is more wearable for most skintones.

The Too Faced The Chocolate Shop eyeshadows smell of chocolate and are infused with cocoa powder, similar to the Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palettes. To my eye, the layout is a little awkward to look at. I think I might have preferred 6 smaller different coloured eyeshadows instead of 3 large paler shadow shades.

In terms of formulation, the shadows are (for the most part) wonderful. The mattes are smooth and not overly powdery (see Cake Batter, Gingerdoodle, Raspberry Rose), while the satins have the most wonderful, creamy sheen (see Jingle Berry, Mint Chop, Butterscotch). My issue is only the shades with chunky glitter (Sugared Raisin, Lava Cake, Huckleberry).

Too Faced Eyeshadows in Dessert's on Me, Raspberry Rose, Sugared Raisin, Glaze, Cake Batter, Butterscotch, Sugar Bells, Banana Date, Mint Chip Swatches

Too Faced Eyeshadows in Indulge, Cookie Dough, Guilt Free, Tootsie, Gingerdoodle, Chocaholic Swatches

Too Faced Eyeshadows in Toffee Crunch, Lava Cake, Honey Dip, Pound Cake, Jingle Berry and Huckleberry Swatches

Too Faced Highlight in Inner Light, Bronzer in Chocolate Soleil and Blush in Chocolate Covered Strawberry Swatches

The Too Faced face powders are consistently great. Inner Light was also in the 2014 Holiday Palette. It's a pale golden highlight that's not overly metallic. Chocolate Soleil is a matte warm brown without going too warm or too cool. It's one of Too Faced's cult permanent products and I think that it's most appropriate for light/medium to medium skintones. As far as I'm aware, the blush in Chocolate Covered Strawberry is unique to The Chocolate Shop. It's a medium cool pink with a slight sheen. All three wear well through out the day. They're not the most amazing texture or unique colours but they look lovely on the skin.

Too Faced Liquified Longwear Lipstick in Milkshake, Chocolate Honey and Chihuahua

The little extras include deluxe (mini) sizes of the Too Faced Shadow Insurance (which does the job but I'm not too fond of the oily texture), the Too Faced Better than Sex Mascara (which looks amazing but smudges like crazy) and the Too Faced Melted Chocolate Liquified Longwear Lipstick in Milkshake. Milkshake is a light brown nude, lighter than Chocolate Honey and more orangey and less pink than Chihuahua.

Is the Too Faced The Chocolate Shop Holiday Set worth it? Yes. The set is the perfect way to try several Too Faced products at once. The Chocolate Bar Palettes are 0.62 oz. for $59. There is 0.75 oz. of shadow in the Chocolate Shop, therefore the eyeshadows alone are $71 CAD total. Add in the face products and the deluxe-size minis and you've got yourself a product value well over the $72 cost.

Will you be picking up the Too Faced Christmas in New York Chocolate Shop?

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Sephora Collection never really ceases to impress me in terms of variety. Step into Sephora, make your way to the Sephora Collection aisles and there's everything you need for a full face - including tools, brushes and brush cleansers! Today, I've got three Sephora Collection brush-related products to share with you.

The Sephora Collection the Cleanse Daily Brush Cleaner ($19 CAD for 6.75 oz) is a MUST HAVE if you hate washing your brushes. It's quick-drying and alcohol-free, conditioning brushes as it cleans. I actually prefer it over the make up artist favourite Cinema Secrets Brush Cleanser, which has a very strong synthetic vanilla scent. The Sephora Collection Daily Brush Cleaner smells of tea tree oil and citrus. To use it, all it takes is a single spritz (for eye brushes, 3-5 spritzes for face brushes) and a bit of swirling on a paper towel or cloth, then, all of the pigment from the brush is diminished. It's MAGICAL, quick and convenient for lazy people like me. The Sephora Collection the Cleanse Daily Brush Cleaner is available in 2 oz. and 6.75 oz. bottles.

The Sephora Collection Pro Bullet Crease Brush #86 ($25 CAD) is a brush shape that is unique to my collection. I have domed crease brushes but what makes this interesting is the pointed tip, which makes for a much more precise application of product. I don't actually like this in my crease because it's too precise but I do prefer it for softly blending colour onto the upper and lower lash lines.

I don't have too much to say about the Sephora Collection Pro Lip Brush #85 ($20 CAD). It works? Things I expect from a good lip brush include a small tip, precise lip lines, easy to clean, no shedding and soft (but not too soft) bristles. This brush checks all the boxes for me (as most lip brushes do).

All in all, I think Sephora Collection offers some stellar brushes and brush cleansers. I've got my eye on the Solid Brush Cleanser and the Pro Airbrush #55.

Which Sephora Collection brushes do you have your eye on?

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The Marc Jacobs Beauty Up All Night Five-Piece Petites Le Marc Lip Crème Collection ($61 CAD) is a luxury lipstick lover's dream. The Marc Jacobs Beauty Holiday Collection is all about last night. It includes 5 of the Le Marc Lip Creme lipsticks (mini) and a fuchsia makeup bag.

Marc Jacobs Le Marc Lip Crèmes:

No Angel (apricot nude)

Slowburn (rose nude)

Oh Miley (strawberry spice)

Miss Scarlet (deep ruby)

Scandal (intense plum)

If this mini Marc Jacobs lipstick isn't cute, I don't know what is...

The beautiful thing about the Up All Night holiday set is that there are lipsticks that you can take your look from day to night. My favourite shades are Slowburn (which I already own in the full size) and Miss Scarlet, which I feel is very deep and moody but still wearable. No Angel is a little pale for my colouring, Oh Miley is a beautiful red (but aren't all reds?), and Scandal is a bit too Barney for my liking. All five shades are available in the permanent Marc Jacobs Beauty collection.

Le Marc Lip Crème Lipstick Swatches in No Angel, Slow burn, Oh Miley, Miss Scarlet & Scandal (one swipe)

Let's talk formulation. I reviewed the Marc Jacobs Beauty Le Marc Lip Creme Lipsticks. They're amazing. They've got impressive colour payoff. Further, they're infused with seaberry, cocoa butter, and peptides, so that the lipstick is ultra-lightweight and fairly moisturizing. The finish is satin, though leaning more towards the matte side of things. What's amazing is the longevity of such a creamy lipstick. I get 5 to 8 hours wear (more for the nudes and less for Scandal and Oh Miley) out of all the shades with eating and drinking.

Le Marc Lip Crème Lipstick Swatch in No Angel

Le Marc Lip Crème Lipstick Swatch in Slow burn

Le Marc Lip Crème Lipstick Swatch in Oh Miley

Le Marc Lip Crème Lipstick Swatch in Miss Scarlet

Le Marc Lip Crème Lipstick Swatch in Scandal

Is it the Marc Jacobs Beauty Up All Night Five-Piece Petites Le Marc Lip Crème Collection worth it? Absolutely. 5 x 0.05 oz. lipsticks, 0.25 oz. total worth $79 ($38 CAD per full size Le Marc Lip Creme). By size, it's 100% worth it. Let's not forget that the product is fantastic and the set also includes a fuchsia zip-up bag that can double as a clutch.

Will you be picking up this Marc Jacobs Beauty holiday set?

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Once upon a time, I thought that it was the most ridiculous thing in the world to pay for a can of fancy water. Look at me now. Spritzing it all over my face for a plethora of reasons.

It's not just water. Yes, it does feel like it. But I know it's not because I sprayed it in my mouth by accident and it tastes a bit salty. It must be the 15 minerals that are contained in the Vichy Mineralizing Thermal Water ($13 CAD). I do not recommend ingesting it but there's quite a few reasons why adding thermal water into your skincare routine can be more beneficial than you might have thought.

Everyday Pick-me-up - Most thermal waters are available in lightweight, aerosol cans. In particular the Vichy Mineralizing Thermal Water comes in a super fine mist, so it spritzes lightly onto the skin without disrupting the hard work that you put into a full face of makeup.
Toner - If you're into routines, try applying the Vichy Thermal Mineral Water after immediately cleansing and before moisturizing. Thermal Water is ideal for soothing irritated skin, closing the pores, and protecting against environmental aggressors.
In Flight Hydration - Airplanes are one of my skin's least favourite places. The dry, recycled air makes my skin go crazy. Unfortunately Vichy's Mineralizing Thermal Water is 150 mL (over TSA standards). I wish it came in a mini but another 100 mL or less bottle (i.e. Avene) works just fine.
Fever Relief - Feeling a little warm? Spritz a bit of thermal water all over your face for a quick refresher. Beats getting up to soak a towel in cold water.
Makeup Finisher - It won't "set" your makeup in place, but if you're a fan of powder foundation but have trouble making it look more natural, try a little Thermal Water at the end of your makeup routine. The mist is fine enough that it won't make your foundation slip and slide and it adds a kick of hydration.

How do you use thermal water?

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Cargo Eye Contour Eye Shadow Palette in Shade 01

Eye Love Eye Cream - Kate Somerville, NSPA, Life Brand, Vichy, Philosophy and more!

ON-THE GO EYE CREAMS

GEL EYE CREAMS

TRADITIONAL EYE CREAMS

HALLOWEEN: the Glampire #GlamToGhoul

HALLOWEEN: Creepy Cute Cat Nails #ManiMonday

NYX Soft Focus Tinted Primer in Medium Beige

THREE THINGS: Barely There Makeup with CoverGirl

Clinique High Impact Custom Black Kajal in Blackened Black, Brown, Blue & Green

Matrix Biolage R.A.W. Recover Shampoo & Conditioner #LiveRaw

HALLOWEEN: CSI Bloody Fingerpring Nail Art

MAKE UP FOR EVER Pro Light Fusion in Rose Gold and Gold

Skin XL Lip Plumper

VIDEO: Bite Beauty Lip Lab Toronto Experience

Clinique Lash Power Flutter to Full Mascara

THREE THINGS: Brightening Skincare with Paula's Choice & Acure

Tarte Kiss Bliss Tartiest Creamy Matte Lip Paint & Crayon Set

The Month in Nail Art - October 2016

Huda Beauty x Formula X Nail Quatrefoil

Jack Skellington

Meow Meow

CSI Crime Scene Nail Art

Too Faced The Chocolate Shop Holiday Set (Christmas in New York)

THREE THINGS: Sephora Collection Pro Lip Brush, Pro Bullet Crease Brush and Daily Brush Cleanser

Marc Jacobs Beauty Up All Night Five-Piece Petites Le Marc Lip Crème Collection

5 Ways to Use Thermal Mineral Water