Daily, Health, Photos, Reviews

Not so necessary cosmetic haul

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As mentioned, I went to Toronto on Saturday to meet up with Priya at Luminato where she was there working with Vichy.

Yay us!

After our meet-up I ended up going back towards the downtown core of Toronto and shopping mostly at the Eaton Centre. Normally, I’d head straight to Yorkville and do shopping there. But that routine usually happens the same way every time I visit the city. So I decided to stay at the mall for the majority of my day. Until I got lost a bunch of times. Then I had enough and went home ;)

I’ve never tried Victoria’s Secret cosmetics before, but due to me popping into the store unexpectedly during their Semi-Annual sale, I scored. Scored 50% off their makeup. Sweet. No welding equipment here, just beauty and cosmetic things!

All of the purchases. So many purchases. Unnecessary. But so fun.

VS Beauty Rush blush: dollface  // VS Concealer palette.

I have yet to try the blush, but the concealer palette is pretty waxing and difficult to use. I’m not sure I like it. Right now I’m using Sonia Kashuk hidden concealer palette that I LOVE.

VS Beauty Rush – Dazzleshine lip gloss.

Yves Saint Laurent lip products. So luxurious.

Glossy Stain and Lip stick, but reversed when swatched on my hand.

Make Up For Ever Smoky Lash, my go-to mascara.

Buxom lip glosses in the shades Katie, and Bunny. I’ve used so much of this lip gloss up that I thought I’d buy another shade. It has a really interesting formula on your lips. It gives a cooling sensation to the lips! Such a nice feeling.

The colors next to each other again.

Bobbi Brown foundation stick and a bronzer! I have the Bobbi Brown Luminous foundation which I now wear on a daily basis. It has a nice dewy natural finish to it. The foundation stick is a little more long-wearing and has more coverage.

Anastasia’s Brow Wiz in the color caramel. On the right you can see the smallest of strokes you can create with this. Last year, a guy at Sephora filled in my eyebrows and I liked the look so I decided to finally pick this up. He must have been a pro at it, because I can’t re-create this look at all. I’m questioning myself now to whether or not I picked up the correct color. I purchased Caramel, and I looked on the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz site, and I’m confused. Maybe next time I’ll pick up Medium Ash??

If there’s anything you want me to elaborate more on, regarding my cosmetic haul. Let me know!

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Daily, Photos, Reviews

Yves Saint Laurent Summer 2012 collection

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Everyone and their Mom knows that the summer collections from all over include the Pantone Color of the year, tangerine tango. Trends for this summer also include bright neons, and pastels. While I’m a fan of wearing those bright colors as clothing, I’m not the biggest fan of them on my face.

Thankfully Yves Saint Laurent took a different road and branched out into neutrals with a pop of color this summer.

Not too long ago, my friends over at Yves Saint Laurent sent me over a few pieces from their Summer 2012 collection. Let me tell you one thing before I get started, holy moses. YSL definitely knows what they’re doing. Whenever I think of Yves Saint Laurent, I think luxurious. Everything about it. Look at all the gorgeous gold packaging.

Check out some of the items from their summer collection:

The YSL bronzer comes in a luxe velvet sleeve for the brown case. This is Terre Saharienne Collector in # 2 Sunkissed. ($60 CDN / $50 USD)

Terre Saharienne Collector in # 2 Sunkissed. Swatch all three separately or swirl them with a brush to give your skin a nice bronzed glow. It’s quite light but very natural. I’ve been wearing it to work the past few days. I also love the python print in the Bronzer.

Terre Saharienne Collector in # 2 Sunkissed up close.

Terre Saharienne Collector in # 2 Sunkissed watched on my finger. I was shocked to feel how silky smooth and what a buttery consistency that the bronzer had. I didn’t want to stop swatching it. It picks up great on my MAC brush and applies beautifully onto my skin for a warm glowy type of look. I personally think it looks great with my skin tone. I don’t know how it would look on fairer or darker skin tones.

As I stated above, it gives a nice natural golden bronze look to my cheeks. It’s nice and luminescent, as in a natural looking glow. You may notice the product itself does not have any shimmer in it at all.

The next item is such a stunnah!

Golden Gloss in # 54 Golden Sand ($34 CDN / $30 USD) The gloss has a really great shine on your lips without it being sticky. The Golden Glosses actually have sparkling 24K gold  flecks (0.2%) that create a mirror like effect and they’re slightly scented with a hint of mango. You can notice the mango scent in it for sure, it’s so different!

(click to enlarge)

This gloss was difficult to photograph on my lips. Here I am wearing the Golden Gloss in #54 Golden Sand. It’s a really great sparkling peach. But not overly sparkly. Just the right amount.

Next is the Mascara Volume Effects Faux Cils Waterproof in the color Majorelle Blue. I actually own the black version of this mascara, I picked it up at Holt Renfrew a few months ago, and really do love it. It’s in my rotation of Make Up For Ever smoky lash, and Buxom lash. Three mascaras running all at once, I’m a juggler! I’m not the biggest fan of colored mascaras, and this one is quite an intense blue. Perhaps this would be great for someone a little more bolder to play with color than I am. However, I will wear it this summer as it is a unique (and I keep going back to this term): pop of color on the eyes.Mascara Volume Effects Faux Cils Waterproof in the color Majorelle Blue. ($36 CDN / $28 USD)Mascara Volume Effects Faux Cils Waterproof in the color Majorelle Blue. This mascara is a bold blue color and it goes on quite intense directly onto the lashes.

Mascara Volume Effects Faux Cils Waterproof on my lashes.

Super up close of the Mascara Volume Effects Faux Cils Waterproof on my lashes.

Lastly are the Pure Chromatics Wet and Dry Eye Shadow palette ($74 CDN / $52 USD). There are six palettes to choose from and I received # 1.Pure Chromatics Wet and Dry Eye Shadow palette.Pure Chromatics Wet and Dry Eye Shadow.

The blue color may look a little intense, or scary if you’re not used to it. But not to fret, they don’t have to be used all over the lid. Put a dash of color right underneath the bottom of your lower lashes and it’ll transform your look from “meh” to ow ow lady!Closeup of Pure Chromatics Wet and Dry Eye Shadow palette.All four Pure Chromatics Wet and Dry Eye Shadow palette swatched on my inner arm in the day light.Great quality, as you would expect for a $74 eyeshadow quad from the wonderful Yves Saint Laurent.

Yves Saint Laurent, as I’ve stated above, you do not disappoint!

Love the color palette of the Summer 2012 collection. It’s a natural golden goddess type of look,  which is so very much my style.

Summary
Bronzer: Terre Saharienne Collector. $60 CDN / $50 USD
Gloss: Golden Gloss. $34 CDN / $30 USD
Mascara: Mascara Volume Effects Faux Cils Waterproof. $36 CDN / $28 USD
Eyeshadow: Pure Chromatics Wet and Dry Eye Shadow palette ($74 CDN / $52 USD)

The entire  Yves Saint Laurent Summer 2012 collection:

(Click to enlarge. Photo provided by  Yves Saint Laurent)

  Yves Saint Laurent Summer 2012 collection available at Holt Renfrew, selected Bay, Murales & Sephora boutiques.

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Daily, Health, Photos

Makeup routine

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I wear makeup almost on a daily basis. I like how it evens out my skin tone and makes me look not-so sunburnt. I have the reverse effect of raccoon eyes meaning that I have a really white under eye area and rosy cheeks. Not to be confused with rosacea.

Shown in order, here are the products I use on my face on a daily basis. I’ll get further into it below but I don’t wear two foundations on my face each day, but just switch them out whenever I’m feeling it. Same goes for the under eye concealers, I don’t wear them on a regular basis.

After my simplified skincare routine I apply foundation. My go-to was Laura Mercier’s Moisturizing foundation until they took it off the shelves to reformulate it to a Moisture Supreme foundation which is now a thicker, greasier, heavier consistency. I have disowned that particular product but still love the brand itself. Since I have dry skin, I like to have a dewier finish rather than a matte, flat look to my face.  I’d rather look hydrated with luminous foundation than look like I haven’t exfoliated and have dry flaky dandruff like skin on my face. I’ve been using Marcelle BB Cream as my new foundation. You can see a full on routine that I blogged about here.

I am a huge fan of foundation and would purchase the most expensive bottle, if it worked for me. That is the only one item I will splurge on, because I think it is so worth while to me, personally. I recently bought the Bobbi Brown Luminous Foundation but I haven’t used it enough to say that it is my holy grail foundation that will ultimately replace Laura Mercier’s Moisturizing foundation. I’m still a little disappointed that they did discontinue my favorite foundation.

Ever since I had my weird flare up in using a certain eye cream I have been really hesitant on putting too much on my face. If I really feel the need to put under eye concealer on, I use the Bobbi Brown Corrector in the color bisque. I use the absolute smallest amount you could put on your finger. Literally a pin point and blend it in. If I have a red mark on my face from a blemish I use Laura Mercier Secret Concealer. Though I haven’t used that one in ages.

The next thing that goes on my face is one of my favorites. The bronzer. Not sure how to apply it? Here is a video I filmed on how to apply bronzer. I’m not too partial on a certain bronzer but I have gone through a few boxes of Benefit Hoola, I have also tried Laura Mercier Bronzing Pressed Powder, and next to use up will be my Vasanti Brazilian Bronzer.

I’ve been using blush lately just because I have it and I like to use different colored blushes on my cheeks to give it a varied flushed look to my skin. Right now I’m using E.L.F Blush in the color candid coral.

I don’t need to use mascara as my eyelashes are one of everyone’s favorite feature of mine. People have joked about how envious they are of me for having such long lashes. I use mascara to make them more obnoxious and volumized. My day-to-day mascara is Vasanti Long Lash mascara. It’s decent for every day wear since it’s not too in your face. It gives your lashes a nice coat and doesn’t flake and leave residue underneath your eyes at the end of the day. When I want them to look like false lashes I use my all time favorite duo which is the Makeup Forever Smokey Lash then Buxom Lash layered on top.

I know a ton of people are a fan of MAC Cosmetics, and I did a MAC makeup review back in 2009 of all the information still remains accurate in my opinion, so check that out too if you’re interested. I don’t wash my brushes daily anymore more like ever 3-4 applications.

See my skincare routine below:

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