Nars Narsissist Eyeshadow Palette Review+Swatches!

This palette was probably one of my most coveted purchases in 2014, maybe it is the fact that Nars never did an eyeshadow palette this huge or maybe it's the fact that it looks simply stunning. This palette offers 15 eyeshadow, is super sleek, comes in the usual rubbery packaging that Nars always offers and contains a BIG mirror, nice little bonus. It is kind of pricey, it retails at the hefty price of 85CAD$, I got mine from Sephora. Now, onto the actual quality of the eyeshadows themselves, every shade was a hit and miss for me. Now, keep in mind this was my very first time trying Nars eyeshadows so I can't compare to the actual quality of Nars Duo eyeshadows and so on. The biggest pro to these shadows is that all of them blend out effortlessly and beautifully. There's a few shades in here (about 4 of them), mainly the lighter offerings, which are poorly pigmented and seem like they don't stick to the lid properly (if you know what I mean). I highly suggest to use an eyeshadow primer underneath just so it helps a bit with that problem. But, the darker shades are all gorgeous and seem to have better pigmentation and texture, which I find quite odd to say the least. These did not crease at all on me, even without a primer so it's a great one to reach for if you want your eyeshadows to stay on for a long period of time. I don't reach out for this palette as much as I'd like to, which disappoints me quite a bit but it doesn't take away the fact that every makeup lover or Nars lover would love to have this in their collection It's a great palette for daytime (and even better for nightime if I'm honest) and has a wide array of shades ranging from neutrals to purples and blues, matte to shimmery and glittery. Sure, there are some less pricy and better quality neutral eyeshadow palettes out there (Naked palettes anyone?!) but none of them compare to the luxury that it is to own a Nars Palette this beautiful!

(From left to right: Coconut Grove, Bali, Fez, Madrague#2, All About Eve#1)

(From Left To Right: Mekong, Brousse#2, Ashes To Ashes, Nepal, Madrague#1)

(From Left To Right: Pandora#2, Bad Behavior, Dogon#2, Lhasa, Bellissima#1)

xx

Laurence  

The Drugstore Dupe: MAC Pâtisserie and Nars Dolce Vita

When I was cleaning up my lipstick collection last weekend, I found an unexpected dupe for two of my all time favorite nude lipsticks, NARS Dolce Vita and MAC Pâtisserie. Both are those kinda ''my lips but better'' lip colors with a gorgeous sheen, very natural. These two look pretty similar, almost exactly the same, the only big difference is the texture (I prefer the NARS one, it's so lightweight!). The dupe I found is a lipstick I used to wear a lot when I was younger, Rimmel Airy Fairy, a 5$ drugstore lippie! When you swatch them all next to each other, you'll notice that NARS Dolce Vita is a tad darker and Pâtisserie a tad pinker, but overall, especially on the lips, they are all spot on the same. The Rimmel one is great quality aswell, the finish is the same as both of my higher end options and the lasting power is great.

xx
Laurence

The Spring Edit: Bright Lipsticks

Spring is slowly creeping upon us so better get ready for it! When I think about spring, I think about bright lips automatically! So today, I'll be sharing with you my favorite bright lips options, bring on those oranges and flashy pinks!

Maybelline Vivids in Hot Plum: A bright blue-based magenta/purple.

Maybelline Vivids in Fuschia Flash: A flashy neon fuschia.

Rimmel Moisture Renew in Coral Queen: A medium coral/orange leaning towards red.

Revlon Matte Balm in Mischievious: A matte pastel, almost neon orange. 

MAC Saint-Germain: A bright blue-based Barbie-esque pink.

xx
Laurence

Products I've Used Up/Empties #1

Caudalie Grape Water: This is definetly like a thermal water but way more hydrating and softening on the skin. I used it to set my makeup, refresh my face or as a toner. It's also on the cheaper side and smells like freshly picked grapes! I would repurchase, definetly.

Soap And Glory The Righteous Body Butter: This was my third tub of this stuff, it's one of the best winter body moisturisers out there. It smells of the classic Soap And Glory scent, it's thick, creamy and rich, super moisturising for parched skin!

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo: This was my saviour when my skin got really prone to breakouts a couple of months ago, it literally cleared all of my imperfections. After a while though, it seems like my skin got ''immune'' to it, it didn't really do much after a while, weird. I'm still not sure if I would repourchase. For those of you that struggle with acne, I would highly recommend it.

Nuxe Rêve De Miel Lip Balm: This is the best lip balm I have ever tried! It's really heavy on the lips, so I suggest to use it as an overnight lip moisturiser. It's nice for daytime aswell if you don't want to wear lipstick since it has a matte finish, a nice twist for a lip balm! I would repurchase, hands down.

Korres Lip Butter in Jasmine: I love love love the Korres Lip Butters, they are such versatile products. I used this on lazy makeup days as a lipgloss/lipbalm, over the top of lipstick or as a plain lip moisturiser. It gives your lips a faint baby pink color and keeps them smooth for a pretty long time aswell.

Skin79 VIP Gold BB Cream: This was my go-to foundation for a long time! It melts onto the skin and leaves skin soft and dewy and covers what it needs to cover. Definetly a must-have for me!

Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch in Radiant: This is as good as the Bobbi Brown correctors, it works the same way as it cancels out any darkness under the eyes. The texture is amazing, it doesn't crease and looks flawless. For even more coverage I liked to apply another lightweight concealer on top, no undereye circles in sight!

Benefit Stay Don't Stray Eyeshadow Primer: I struggle with a lot of eyelid discoloration, they are almost transparent! This helps to disguise all of that, it has an opaque flesh tone color. I wouldn't say this is the best eyeshadow primer, I like the Urban Decay primer in Eden a lot better, so I think I wouldn't repurchase. It's still worth it though, it's a decent primer and the bottle lasted me for months and months! 

xx
Laurence

The Edit: Current Makeup Bag Favorites

MAC Myth, Revlon Mischievious, Benefit Watt's Up, Dior Nude Paradise bronzer and blush.

As a fellow makeup addict, my makeup bag switches up on a weekly basis, that way I don't waste or put aside any makeup products. I suggest you to do the same, especially if you are like me and have an excessive amount of beauty products! Today, I am sharing with you products I've been obsessing about lately.

Lately, I've been enjoying lightweight foundations, Revlon Nearly Naked is one of those that fulfills all my needs. Concealer wise, I've been loving the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer, it brightens my undereye area, doesn't cake up even when my eyes are dry and most importantly, doesn't crease at all. To set my foundation and concealer, my Hourglass Ambient Lightning Powder in Diffused Light haven't been put down for the last couple of months, this powder is simply perfection. 

To add some color back into my face, I've rediscovered my beautiful Dior Nude Tan Paradise in 001, one of my last year lovely birthday present from my boyfriend. This looks wonderful on my pale winter skin, especially the bronzer! For my highlighter, I switched up my holy grail Benefit High Beam, for a more golden glow alternative, Benefit Watt's Up.

On my eyes, of course, the Urban Decay Naked 3 has been my only lover recently. I've been also relying on the L'Oréal Lacquer Liner for a long lasting cateye and the L'Oréal Voluminous False Fiber Lashes for full fluttery lashes. A fairly recent addition to my makeup routine is the Anastasia DipBrow Pomade in Chocolate, the perfect product for flawless eyebrows!

On my lips, I've been obsessed with nudes or flashy oranges. Combining both is a nice combo aswell, I just apply MAC Myth all over my lips and apply the Revlon Matte Balm in Mischievious on the outer corners for a gorgeous ombré effect.  

The Review: Anastasia DipBrow Pomade

For a couple of years now, I have tried every way possible to get perfect eyebrows, and let me tell you, it's a never ending quest. Anastasia Beverly Hills recently came out with the most intriguing product, brow obsessed as I am, I just had to give it a try. I was hesitating shade wise and decided to pick up Chocolate, a dark warm brown and it's the perfect color match for me! This is supposed to be kind of like a waterproof gel eyeliner but for your brows, it makes defining them so much easier and quicker. I remember the first time I tried it, I used way too much and my eyebrows looked like I used a Sharpie pen on them, horrible! What I do is I just dip my angled brush once in the pot, put some on my hands and use small amounts at the time. I promise you'll need only one dip for both brows! It's a bit tricky to get right but once you do, you will be left with natural, amazing looking arches! I really like the fact that this product stays put no matter what, even if I accidentally rub my face, it will not budge. It also isn't expensive(24$CAD)considering you only need a tiny amount and you get 4 grams of product which is almost double the size of a regular gel eyeliner. You can also use this as an eyeliner if you want to. The only downside is the shade range, it's not very wide but last time I went to Sephora they told me they'll come up with 3 more shades next fall I believe. Overall, the Anastasia DipBrow is probably one of the best eyebrow product available right now, go get some!

Laurence
xx

Urban Decay Naked 3 Review+Swatches

I received a wonderful gift for Valentine's Day, you guessed it by the title probably but it is the oh so beautiful Naked 3! I have to say, after hearing and seeing everyone and their mother talk about it, I gave in. My main concern was that I wouldn't use it that much because all the shades are mainly in the pink family, I was wrong on this one. These are still neutral, but with a romatic twist I guess. As usual, the quality and texture of the Urban Decay eyeshadows are really great, unbeatable. The only one that is a bit tricky to get right is the shade Dust, it has a lot of fallouts and isn't really opaque, the only thing you need to do is to use it with a wet brush. I already own the Naked 2 and like it, not as much as this one though. Don't worry if you have warm or cool, pale or dark skin, in my opinion this palette will suit virtually everyone. So, if you are still on the fence about getting this palette, I'd say totally go for it, it's gorgeous and really versatile!

Strange: Warm white-pink with a satin finish.

Dust: Light warm pink with white and gold glitters.

Burnout: Pinky peach with a pearly finish.

Limit: Cool mauvey pink with a matte finish.

Buzz: Warm pinky copper with a metallic finish.

Trick: Light copper with hints of gold and a frosty finish.

Nooner: Warm medium to dark rosy plum with a matte finish.

Liar: Medium mauvey brown with a metallic finish.

Factory: Medium to dark warm brown with a pearly finish.

Mugshot: Medium warm taupe with a frosty finish.

Darkside: Cool purply taupe with a pearly finish.

Blackheart: Warm deep burgundy with red micro-shimmers.

xx
Laurence

The Edit: Favorite Haircare Products/Styling My Short Hair!

I'll be honest, I am not too big on hair products nor styling my hair. Do you know about a girl who struggles to do a ponytail? Well, that'll be me, seriously. Recently, to start off the year in a fresh way, I got my hair chopped off to shoulder length, which is a pretty drastic change for me. The goal was to minimize the time I spent doing my hair in the morning for the reasons above. These are what I call my hair heroes!

Short hair looks blah without a bit (or a lot!) of volume and the best product I found to do so is the L'Oréal Volum' Max Volumizing Spray, in the same category as the Bumble and Bumble Thickening Dryspun Spray but on the more affordable side, this spray simply adds texture and volume to your roots. It can be used on dry or wet hair, the only thing you need to do is to spray at your roots, fluff up your mane and voila! It holds up pretty well during the day and doesn't leave hair greasy or weighed down, the scent is pretty nice aswell!

I love a bit of texture, stick straight hair is not my thing at all. I've been loving the cult favorite Bumble And Bumble Surf Spray recently. I can safely say that this is probably the best sea salt spray on the market since I've tried a couple of others and let me tell you they do not compare! I like to spray this on my dry hair when a want a bit of added roughness and texture or use it midway trough blowdrying my hair to enhance my natural waves. Another option, is the Organix Morrocan Surf Paste, which can be used in multiple ways. Don't be scared, this paste is non sticky, even on dried hair. Use it at the base of your roots for some effortless volume or rub a little bit inbetween your hands to scrunch up your hair!

Since I got my hair chopped off, I want to keep them healthy, strong and shiny. The best way to do so is to, of course, condition but I also like to use my Phyto 9 Leave In Conditionner on the ends of my mane to keep them silky in between washes. This stuff really works wonders for me, it is definetly worth the price. You would expect this to be a thick treatment but it's actually super lighweight and emulsifies to a watery texture when rubbed onto your hair. 

As far as shampoo and conditionner goes, I am not a fussy girl. During the past year, I discovered the wonderful L'Oréal EverCrème Shampoo, a sulphate free, chemical free, softening and hydrating option. I love the conditionner from the same line aswell but most recently I've been trying out the L'Oréal Power Moisture Conditionner, so far, I am loving the really silky feel it gives to my hair!

The Review: Vichy Dermablend Foundation

Hi ladies!

Hold up your horses, this is probably going to be a rave review since this is the absolute best full coverage foundation. Yes, you read that right, the best.

I bought this a while ago when my skin was looking horrible; scars, breakouts, redness, you get the jist. I was a bit scared to try it because I heard from quite a lot of people that it was a bit mask like, well, that doesn't apply for me at all and I do have very dry skin! So, tried it, loved it and probably never going back. This foundation has a really full coverage, a flawless natural finish and a lasting power of about 10 hours. The best about it, is that you only need a tiny amount to cover your whole face, if you use too much though, expect to look like a cake face. I found that the best way to apply it on a daily basis is to use a sponge, which will give you a bit less coverage with a natural, dewy finish. Apply it with a buffing brush and you'll get the fullest coverage and a beautiful semi matte finish. I do need to set it with a bit of powder since it makes me a bit oily in the t-zone area, this really isn't a big deal though. By the way, I have the lightest shade available ''Opal'' and it does run a tad bit too dark for my NC15 skintone. They have, I think, 5 or 4 shades avaible, a bummer, but if you can find a shade that matches you, it is definetly worth a try. If you don't like it and you find it's too much coverage for your taste, try mixing it with your daily moisturizer or use it to spot conceal. (tested and approved!). Sometimes I like to use it over another foundation to spot conceal redness for a more natural look. Vichy Dermablend gets a thumbs up from me for sure!

Laurence
xx

3 Things I've Enjoyed This Week #1

This week has been insanely cold here in Canada, my hands have been getting gross and cracked so I relied all week long on my beloved Soap And Glory Hand Food Hand Cream. This hand cream is the mother of all, no kidding. It smells divine, the original Soap And Glory scent, it's completely non-greasy and deeply hydrates hands and cuticles. It's as simple as that.

I was pretty excited to try the Garnier Skin Repair Overnight Peel, since I was on the hunt for an affordable serum. So far, I am really impressed, my skin looks absolutely glowing and I've been using it for only a week! I won't tell you too much about this product, I have a review up on my sleeve.. 

Lastly is a new purchase I did on a whim at Sephora about two weeks ago. It's the Sephora Luminous Primer, this stuff is seriously awesome. I honestly didn't expect it to be so good. It gives a beautiful luminosity to the skin while injecting moisture troughout the day, great for us with dry lackluster skin. On good skin days, this is the only thing I need to get gorgeous skin! Another product I plan on reviewing!

xx
Laurence

The Edit: Beauty Books To Read

#1 - Bobbi Brown Beauty Rules:

This one is targeted more towards young womens or teenagers but nonetheless, it's a pretty nice read. A total of 19 chapters guides you through a wide array of subjects like of course, makeup basics but some other interesting bits like how to treat your skin right to self confidence. I love Bobbi for her ability of really focusing on natural beauty and loving yourself for the inside out. Also, the photographs in this book are so inspiring and darn beautiful! A great book for begginers or simply to find inspiration.

#2 - Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual:

This is, in my honest opinion, a bible for us beauty lovers! No matter if you are a begginer or a pro, you will probably learn a lot from those well structured 11 chapters. I love that there's a big section on how to become a makeup artist, what you need in your pro kit and who's who in the beauty industry. The rest of it is mainly about makeup applications and techniques, brushes and tools topped off with beautiful, colorful photographs. If you are on the hunt for a great, professionnal looking beauty book, this is the one!

#3 - Jemma Kidd Makeup Secrets:

Oh god, this one is simply stunning and beautifully made. The first part is called ''Making Makeup Work For You'' which is all about finding the perfect makeup for your eye shape, the perfect brows for your face shape and finding colors for your skin tone. Second part is called ''Problem Solver'' and it teaches you everything from how to maintain radiant skin to how to contour your nose the right way, truly clever. If you love iconic beauties like Brigitte Bardot or Sophia Lauren, there's a whole chapter on how to exactly recreate their looks, genius! 

#4 - Lauren Conrad Beauty:

This is the newest addition to my collectio and I have to say, it made me totally crush on LC! I would describe this as a coffee table book, since it doesn't take long to go trough it and it's not jam packed with texts. There's is nonetheless, a lot of in depts informations about skincare, fitness, well-being and makeup (duh!). Don't expect to learn how to do crazy colorful eyes with this one, Lauren is a minimalist and that is what makes this book so darn perfect! Simple yet effective with a personnal approach, that's an A+ for me.

xx
Laurence

My Essie Nail Polish Collection!

This is such an exciting post for me, I wanted to do it for ages! I started collecting Essie nailpolishes quite a while ago and quickly became obsessed with them. They have a wide range of colors, finishes and they just look nice overall. I have 17 of them in total, so let's get to it!

(from bottom to top)

Mademoiselle: A sheer nude pink
Sugar Daddy: A sheer baby pink
Eternal Optimist: A creamy mauvey rose/dusty pink
Cute As A Button: A creamy bright coral/pink
Meet Me At Sunset: A creamy vibrant deep orange
Fifth Avenue: A creamy red with hints of orange
Bikini So Teeny: A sparkling pastel blue
Warm And Toasty Turtleneck: A creamy pink tinged lavender
Wicked: A deep, dark purply red
Toggle To The Top: A deep burgundy with ruby red micro-glitters
Sable Collar: A plummy brown with plum micro-shimmers
After School Boy Blazer: A creamy blackened navy
No Place Like Chrome: A mettalic true silver
Good As Gold: A mettalic true gold
Hors D'Oeuvres: A platinum gold with silver hex glitters
Good To Go: A fast drying, shiny top coat
All In One: A base coat, top coat and nail strenghtener

Laurence 
xx

Review + Swatches: Maybelline Color Tattoos!

I've been literally obsessed with Maybelline Color Tattoos ever since I bought my first one, in my opinion they are one of the best drugstore products on the market. If you don't know what these are, hello where have you been? They are cream eyeshadows that claim to last for hours and hours without creasing or fading, and let me tell you they do live up to their claims! For those of you that have a problem with eyeshadow creasing on your lids, use these as a base or simply as an allover the lid shade, you will be surprised at how well they last! Every of the 5 shades I own feels really creamy and is easy to blend, I haven't had any problems with my Color Tattoos drying out aswell (just make sure you screw the lid really tightly). 

Pomegranate Punk: I wore this all autumn long, no kidding. It's a really unique shade, a deep cranberry with a bit of purple in it. Stunning if you are feeling in the mood for a smokey eye with a twist!

Bad To The Bronze: Say hello to the most talked about eyeshadow for the last two years or so, everyone and their mothers owns this, it's insane. It's a straight out bronze, so versatile and perfect for the neutral eyeshadows lovers.

Though As Taupe: A matte greyish taupe, this pairs so well with my Naked 2 palette. Not at all chalky despite its finish


Barely Branded: This shade is from the "Metal" collection, meaning it has a beautiful metallic sheen to it. This is a light beige, perfect for everyday as an allover the lid color!

Inked In Pink: Another one from the "Metal" collection. This one is more on the "colorful" side but still a wearable shade. It's a pink with rose gold undertones, if you own the Naked 3 palette, this practically screams your name *winks*.


Laurence 
xx

The Edit: Faking Glowing Skin

You know those days during wintertime when you're skin looks dull, lackluster, pale and dry? Well, lucky you, I am introducing to you today a few of my best friends during these colder months. Let's just jump into it, shall we?

Start by prepping your skin (after washing it, preferably with a creamier cleanser!) with an oil. Contrary to popular belief, oils aren't going to make your face melt off during the day, it will just inject that glow while keeping skin moisturized. My current favorite is the Josie Maran Argan Oil, a lighweight option. Don't forget eye cream aswell, since you want a smooth canvas for your concealer. With the Origins GinZing Eye Cream, I can even skip concealer since this wonderful little products has a pinky shimmery color that reflects light and diffuses those pesky undereye circles!

Makeup wise, I have to say that I love full coverage foundations but when my skin is incredibly dry, I opt for a BB Cream or a Tinted Moistuizer. At the moment, the Smashbox Photo Ready BB Cream is my most loved, not too dewy, not too matte, just bang in the middle. I then set my t-zone with the fabulous Hourglass Ambient Lightning Powder in Diffused Light, an undetectable yellow toned setting powder with a faint shimmer, it keeps things fresh and blurs redness. For an extra bit of oomph, I dust Dior Highlighting Powder in Rose Diamond all-over with a big fluffy powder brush. Almost done! You can stop here if you find this is enough for you but I like to add a bit of Benefit High Beam on the high points of my face. Don't worry, you won't look like a glitter ball! Your complexion will look luminous and awake, you can thank me later!

Laurence 

xx

I'm Back+Life Update!

Hello ladies, long time no talk eh?

First of all, I want to apologize for my absence, I just wasn't really feeling like blogging for the past months, reason being I was dealing with some serious personnal issues. Now, I guess I am in a better place and got my problems sorted. Second of all, blogging on my IPad was a pain in the ass so my boyfriend decided to buy us a laptop and I have to say it will probably make my blogging life a lot simpler. I've been really thinking about starting YouTube videos for a few weeks now aswell. Only thing is, I'm pretty scared honestly. Should I do it? I's a hell of a commitment, I would probably be 10 times more busy and I don't know if I could handle it. Anyway, another great thing is, I will probably be getting a new camera soon to take even better photographs for my blog! A lot of stuff is changing for me right now, change feels great! I feel like I was stuck in the same place for years but now, my life is moving forward. I am not sure if you care but, I got a new job, it was my dream job since I was really young and I am so grateful, I adore it. Honestly guys, I will say I am happy, finally.

So, new posts are coming soon and maybe some other exciting things! I promised myself I would work hard. Lastly, I want to wish to all of you Happy Holidays! I can't wait for Christmas to come!

Big kisses xx

Laurence

Let's Talk About: Blushes!

From left to right: Benefit Bella Bamba, Nars Gaiety, NYX Glow and Benefit Sugarbomb.

The Seriously Glowy One - Benefit Bella Bamba:

This was my first Benefit blush and I bloody love it! I would describe it as a watermelon pink with golden glitters running throught it, a bit similar to Nars Super Orgasm but less glittery. The color, in my opinion is universally flattering. It gives you a gorgeous sheen on the cheeks, no need for highlighter with this one, so stay away if you don't like too much shimmer! All of Benefit blushes smell lovely, which is a nice addition, and the packaging is always so cute.

The Perk-Me-Up Pink - Nars Gaiety:

This color will probably scare you, don't be! It's a completely matte blush that is quite buildable to your own likings, which makes it super wearable. The bright bubblegum pink hue really works wonders when my complexion feels dull or tired, it perks your cheeks up with a natural flush of color (yes, natural). Of course, if you are familiar with Nars blushes, you'd know they are ones of the greatests out there. They blend into the skin seamlessly and never look to done up.

The Creamy Offering - NYX Cream Blush in Glow:

I can't get ove how great these are for the price you pay! His was probably my most worn face products this summer since it looks effortless and über natural. I was afraid it would fade during the day, as a lot of cream products tend to do, I was actually surprised to see it was intact by the end of the day despite the heat and humidity. A nice plus? You can also use it on your lips and it lasts and lasts!

The Natural Peach - Benefit Sugarbomb:

Meet my ultimate no-fuss/goes with every makeup look blush! If you have fair skin like mine, chances are you would fall in love with this beautiful peachy/abricot shade! If you have darker skin, I bet it'll look fantastic used as a highlighter. Same great formulation and scent as all of the Benefit Boxed blushes but this one will always remain my all-time favorite of the whole line!

Let's Talk About: Powders!

From left to right: Rimmel Stay Matte and Make Up For Ever HD.

The Undetectable/Flawless One - MUFE HD Transluscent Powder:

First of all, let me just tell you, this was the first setting powder I've tried in my whole life. I have dry skin so I don't really need it that much, I just didn't see the point of it. I bought it on a whim at Sephora and wasn't expecting it to do much but holy cow, this makes your skin look flawless!  The great thing about it is it does't make you look overly matte or cakey, and that comes from someone who gets dry patches here and there. It goes on completely clear, no white cast left behind, to leave your skin looking and feeling like a baby's butt (for me, that is a great thing!), just poreless and perfect. I doubt there are other one out there that are so finely milled and silky. If you look up a my swatch picture, you can easily notice how smooth it looks besides the other one.

The Affordable Cult Favorite - Rimmel Stay Matte Powder:

This is a great one for those of you on a budget (even if not, you still need to try this). I bought this during summer as my skin was turning into an oil slick on my t-zone area and I needed something compact to travel with. This is just an all-around amazing powder, though I wouldn't recommend it for drier skins. It never looks cakey unless you overdo it (as with everything), it controls oils and doesn't settle into lines around my eye area, all of that for a cheap price! 

xx
Laurence

Let's Talk About: Concealers!

Left To Right: Bobbi Brown, Benefit, Clinique and Hard Candy

The Cult Favorite - Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer:

If you didn't know about this concealer already, where have you been? Just kidding, of course. This one is a great multitasker, especially for those undereye circles for an almost full coverage. Because I have dry skin, I use it on my spots and it doesn't look cakey at all, neither does it under my eyes. As the name suggests, this is the most creamiest and blendable concealer I have ever come across. You do have to set it with powder, otherwise it will slide around or settle into lines. Besides that, this is a little pot of goodness that really does deserves all the hype, totally recommend it! I have the shade Ivory.

The Dark Circle Eraser - Benefit Erase Paste:

The reason why I love it so much? This concealer has a very strong pink undertone which means it counteracts blue hues under the eyes, a must-have for someone that doesn't get a lot of sleep (who? me?). It has a gel like consistency meaning: no creasing and perfect blendability! You can even run out of the door without setting it, pretty rare for concealers in general. I wouldn't suggest using it on blemishes, for your eyes only. I have the shade No. 2.

The Blemishes And Scars Best Friend - Clinique Even Better:

At first, I thought this would be perfect for my dark circles, let me admit I was wrong! It looked cakey, patchy and just horrible. I hated it forgot about it for a while until I randomly started using it to cover my spots and scars. I fell in love with how long lasting   it is and how it made my skin look. If you are looking for a nice one to spot concealer, give this one a go! I am in the shade Porcelain.

The Heavy-Duty, Cover It All - Hard Candy Glamoflauge:

oh my, this one just blows all of those higher end products out of the water! For as small as 6$, you get a huge tube of concealers that covers everything you want (yes, even tatoos). I've been obsessed recently with using it to highlight my undereye area, it makes my face look flawless. The best of it all? Only the tiniest amount is needed, a tube will last you for ages.


What is your holy grail concealer?

xx
Laurence

Let's Talk About: Foundations!

Hi everyone! First, let me apologize for being gone for a while, I got really sick and needed a bit of time off. On a more positive note, I decided to start a huge series of posts named: Let's Talk About. Basically, I am going to go through eveything from foundations to blushes to mascara and share with you my favorites while talking about each product individually. I hope this will give you a bit of ideas in what your next splurge might be makeup wise! Let's get into it, shall we?

The Full Coverage Hero - MAC Studio Sculpt:

I am not entirely sure if I mentionned Studio Sculpt already but this, ladies and gentlemans, is my holy-grail base. I got it last winter, as I was looking for a full coverage but still natural looking foundation and a lady at MAC made me buy this (I will never thank her enough!). My main concern was that it would cling to my dry patches or look too matte (I get über dry skin during colder seasons). Instead, it smoothed over my dry skin, covered everything and made my skin look ethereal (like photoshop in a tube, it's that great). The finish leans towards satiny/a bit dewy, The only way I could describe this is by saying a ''plumped skin'' effect. Lastly, it's the only foundation that matches my skin spot-on. I am NC15 for reference.

The No-Foundation Foundation - DiorSkin Nude BB Crème:

I got this in the beginning of summer as a lightweight option to my fuller coverage foundations and fell in love with it immediately. This baby right here got crazy hype a couple of months ago, it was insane (and the main reason for this purchase, oops). The bottle is gorgeous, so convenient with the pump, and the product inside is even more perfect! I wear this on good skin days to even out my skin tone and cover my pesky rednesses but it stil has an excellent coverage for a BB Cream. The reason why I love this so much is you can apply it with your fingers to get a dewy finish or withna buffing brush for a matte skin like finish. On top of it all, no matter how close you look at yourself in a mirrorm you wil never see a trace that you are wearing foundation, this stuff is like magic. Sorry to say that but... you need the Dior BB Crème in your life, no matter what skin type you might have. I am in the shade 002, which is a little too dark for me at the moment (losing that summer tan, boo!)

The Luminous Base - L'Oréal True Match Lumi:

Now on the more affordable side, L'Oréal Lumi is for all my dewy/glowy skin lovers out there! I have loved the original True Match in the past and this one is as amazing, except with much more luminosity! The bottle is gorgeous, considering the fact it's a drugstore foundation, what surprised me the most was actually the quality of the pump, it is perfect. It's a pretty runny liquid but does cover everything I want to be covered, medium coverage I'd say.  It is nearly undetectable on the skin (not as much as my Dior BB Crème though!) and the color range is just great. I'm about sure every skin type would like it, except the very oily-skinned gals. Now go try it, you won't regret! I have the shade W1-2, perfect match for my pale skin.

I hope you enjoyed reading about my foundation picks!

I want to know, what is your holy grail foundation?

The Edit: Autumn Lipsticks!

Hi girlies! I'll be brutally honest with you; fall season is approaching big times! Here in Canada, it's been getting colder and a bit groggy, sadly. So put away those pretty corals and flashy pinks (just kidding, I still wear them all year round) and search your makeup stash for vampy reds and rich pinks. Today, I'll be suggesting a few of my favorite lip products that match the beautiful season that is autumn.

For the vampy lady:

-MAC Rebel: A rich berry shade with a satin finish.
-MAC Viva Glam III: A deep browny red with the perfect matte finish.
-Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey: A sheer glossy dark red.

For the girly girl:

-Revlon Kissable Balm Stain in Lovesick: A blue undertoned deep berry/pink.
-Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquer in Apocalyptic: A dark but still flashy fuschia with a glossy finish.
-Wet N' Wild Matte Lipstick in Mauve Outta Here: A medium purple/pink with a matte finish.

For the natural babe:

-Wet N' Wild Matte Lipstick in Bare It All: A browny nude with a matte finish.
-MAC Pâtisserie: A neutral toned pinky nude with a sheer finish.
-OCC Lip Tar in Hush: A vintage nude/pink with a satin finish.