Summer Glow Series: Highlighters

Today I'm starting a new series of posts all about my favourite summer products for a fresh, glowing look.  Recently, I posted about my Sunny Day Cosmetics Essentials so these posts are going to be along the same lines, but a bit more detailed to give you all some more options.  

I'm starting with my favourite highlighters because they really are the quickest, easiest way to add that little something extra to make you look fresh and glowing.

It was difficult for me to limit it to five as my love for highlighting products runs quite deep but here we are:

MAC MSF Lightscapade

This is a great cool, pearly highlight that I think would be quite similar to Benefit's Moonbeam.  Although I've had this one for quite a while now, you can see it doesn't appear to be over-used.  That's not because I don't like it but more because a little bit of the product is all you need to get a great highlight.

MAC Beauty Powder in Play it Proper

I bought this when it was part of the Chenman collection at MAC last year, but it looks like it is still sold (at least on the website).  This highlighter looks more like a blush but the pink pigment does not really transfer onto the skin.  It is more of a slightly pink-toned pearly shimmer.

Dior Shimmerstar Amber Diamond

You can read my ode to this glorious highlighter here.

CoverFX RadiantFX Luminescent Powder in Platinum

This is quite an interesting product.  I would almost describe it as a blush/bronzer/highlighter in one as it has pink, bronze, and shimmery tones without being too much of one or the other.  It definitely is not overly-pigmented but a little goes an extremely long way as it has very high shimmer.  I (very self-sacrificially) posted a photo of me wearing it so you can see the look.  Please ignore the messy bun, dopey smile and my eyebrows (this was a couple years ago).

Benefit High Beam

Obviously, this product is massively popular so I'll try to keep it short.  I love the versatility that comes with a liquid highlight- it's easy to use not only on the cheekbones but on the browbones, cupid's bow and really anywhere else you want to highlight.  The pink tones allow for a very natural looking pearly glow.

That's it for highlighters but stay tuned for my foundation favourites coming soon!
What are your favourite highlighting products?
Kendall
x

Sunny Day Essentials: Cosmetics Edit

A couple days ago, I shared some of my sunny day essentials with you guys.  Today I'm sharing some of the products that I tend to gravitate to in the summer.  In the summer, I try to keep it pretty natural (it always surprises me how many products it takes to get the "natural" look) but it's important that a product can stand up to heat and water.

Lips

For the lips, my favourites are mostly cult favourites from the past little while so I'm sure most of you are pretty familiar with them.  For hot days, I like products that are moisturizing and easy to apply (read: low maintenance).  Revlon Lip Butters (pictured here in 053 Sorbet & 047 Pink Lemonade),  and Maybelline Colour Whispers ( 50 Cherry on Top & 35 Coral Ambition) are really moisturizing but also have great colour payoff.  The shade range is quite impressive, meaning they have great "everyday colours" as well as tones to take your look from day to night.  For something a bit longer-lasting, I think I've raved more than enough about Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains (pictured in 020 Lovesick & 040 Rendezvous).  Finally, Maybelline Baby Lips (070 Coral Crush) are a great range of balms that are tinted just enough to give your natural look a little something extra

Pinks and corals continue to be my favourite shades for summer so be sure to check out my pink lips and coral lips posts.  You can also check out some of my favourite lipstick alternatives here if you want to avoid that "lipstick feel" on hot summer days.

Face

During the summer, I try to keep my look to a bit of concealer (Rimmel Wake Me Up in Very Fair) and some bronzer (Benefit Hoola) but for the days where I need a bit more coverage, I try to opt for a BB cream or foundation with a more natural finish (SPF is a bonus).  So far I'm liking Revlon Photoready BB Cream but I've also been mixing a bit of Revlon's Nearly Naked Foundation or Rimmel Wake Me Up in with my moisturizer to sheer it out (you can see reviews on both of those foundations here).  To keep it all from sliding around on my skin, a mattifying primer like Sephora Anti-Shine and a setting spray like Urban Decay De-Slick work wonders.  Of course, when it comes to oil control, blotting sheets are perfect to keep in your makeup bag.  I've been experimenting with a lot of different types but right now I'm using Boscia Green Tea Blotting Linens.  Finally, I'm not very much of a blush person in the summer as I'm quite often a bit too "rosy" from the sun as it is.  However, if I do decide to use a blush, I much prefer cream blushes as they blend beautifully and it's a bit more tricky to overdo.  Benefit Fine One One is a great option.

Eyes

Keeping with my minimal makeup theme, I also tend to get a bit lazier in the summer.  Especially if you're hanging out by the water, you don't want to spend a load of time creating the perfect smokey eye and winged liner just to have it run off once you go for a swim.  A quick swipe of a cream shadow and a coat of waterproof mascara are enough to look "done" without taking up too much precious time enjoying the weather (especially in Canada where no one is quite certain how long nice weather will last).  I'm pretty sure most of you are familiar with Maybelline Colour Tattoos (my favourites are Bad to the Bronze and Barely Branded) but Benefit and MAC both make great cream shadows as well. Plus they double as an eyeliner!  I've been ranting and raving quite a bit lately about L'Oreal Telescopic Shocking Extensions lately so it probably won't be much of a surprise that I am also loving their waterproof option.  However, most of the waterproof option's from Maybelline's Colossal Volume range are great too.

I hope this post has helped you guys find a few new summer favourites!

If you guys have a favourite product for the summer, I'd love to hear about it in the comments

Kendall

x

Sunny Day Essentials

As it starts to warm up, the call of patios, swimming pools, and weekends at the beach starts to become irresistible.  After spending months indoors hiding from the seemingly relentless winter we had this year, there is something so exciting about digging out some tried-and-true summer favourites.

Here are some of my top picks:

Along with the fun times that come with a sun allergy, my skin is generally just very sensitive.  So far, when it comes to facial sunscreen, I've found two options that work well.

Chanel UV Essentiel SPF 50/+++ is not the cheapest but protects amazingly and it very non-irritating.  It is liquid-y but dries to a powder finish.  Because it is a physical sunscreen (rather than chemical), it is a great match for sensitive skin.

Also for the face, Coppertone Faces Sensitive Skin Sunscreen SPF 50 has been working well for me.  I typically hate the feel of most sunscreens on my face but this absorbs somewhat quickly and feels more like a moisturizer than a greasy mess.  Coppertone sunscreens are primarily chemical which means it absorbs more easily but is more likely to react with sensitive skin.  Another downside to chemical sunscreen is that you typically have to leave more time in between application and sun exposure (about 30 minutes is recommended).

You can read more about physical versus chemical sun protection here.

It may seem funny given how picky I am when it comes to facial sunscreen, but when it comes to SPF for the body, I don't have too many requirements.  I like Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration with Hydrating Ribbons SPF 30 because it smells fantastic (probably childhood memories of family vacations or something) and is moisturizing.  I'm sure you've heard this all before but I don't want to leave any ground uncovered so make sure you apply liberally and often.  If you've been swimming or sweating (regardless of waterproof claims), you need to reapply after.  I know it sounds excessive but it's pretty important.  Of course, some are lucky enough to tan rather than burn and while you may not need to apply as often or as much, sunscreen is still a great idea to prevent aging and skin cancer.

Now, there are probably going to be days where you aren't as diligent with the sunscreen as you maybe should have been (somehow it's already happened to me twice this year and it's only May).  If you do end up burnt, there is nothing better than pure aloe.  I picked up some 100% aloe vera gel that has no colour added (to minimize risk of sensitivity) and it's a great soothing, moisturizing solution to burns of all sorts.

Don't forget: your lips, eyes, and even your hair all need protection too.  The sunglasses pictured are from Aldo Accessories and I think they're adorable, but to prevent eye damage you want to look for a polarized lens with full UVA/UVB protection.  For my lips, I love California Mango Lip Balm 100% Natural with Sunscreen.  Lip Balms with SPF are extremely easy to find and if you've ever woken up feeling like one of the "real housewives" because of puffy, painful, sunburnt lips, you'll remember to look out for them.  When it comes to protecting hair from UV rays I'm not as strict, especially because my hair is already quite light and one of the main effects the sun has on hair is colour fading.  If you do have darker coloured hair, you may want to check out one of these products.  When spending a lot of time in the sun and water, it's good idea to keep your hair well-conditioned.  When I hit the beach, I  bring along a hair mask* and put it in after I've been swimming.  The sun's heat helps it melt into your hair and when you hop back in the water you can rinse it out.

For fairly obvious reasons, it's a good idea to keep a mini body spray with you when you're out and about in the summer heat.  I like Secret Scent Expressions Body Spray in Cocoa Butter Kiss.  Finally, if you've been stuck in doors because of work, school, or other obligations (or if you've been super-dilligent with the sunscreen) you may want a little help with getting that 'glow'.  I'm not super into the whole fake tan deal but for a quick fix, it's hard to beat Victoria's Secret Beach Sexy Instant Bronze Body Spray.  Just spray it on and work it into the skin, a little goes a long way to making you a bronze goddess in the most natural, un-orange way possible.  For a slightly longer lasting tan, I'm a big fan of gradual tanning moisturizers such as Jergens because it's not a catastrophe if you're like me and aren't the best with application.

I'm really sorry if this has felt like a bit of a lecture on sun protection but years of fair, sensitive skin combined with a family history of skin cancer has made me pretty conscious of it.  If you have any questions about any of this, please feel free to ask in the comments- I'm always happy to help.

I hope you all have a great Friday!

Kendall

x

*When using a hair mask, if you're going to rinse it out in the water (i.e. lake, river or the ocean), try to only use a small amount and pick a natural option without sulphates.  It's better for your hair and the environment.

I Was Bad 4: Target Canada Haul

Hi guys!

I'm not going to lie, I've been waiting somewhat obsessively for Target Canada to open for quite a while now, so yesterday when stores opened in my city, it was difficult to contain my excitement.    I tried not to go too crazy (as I mentioned, I'm saving for a road trip in a few weeks) but I was able to find most of these items for great prices!

Let's dive in

I first picked up a Remington Keratin Therapy 1" clipless curling wand.  Lately, I have been curling my hair just by wrapping it around the barrel of my curling iron (without using the clip) so I thought it was high time to invest in a clipless version.  It didn't hurt that it was only about $27 CAD.

From the same section, I bought a Conair Reflections lighted makeup mirror for $12 CAD

Onto the makeup

With the opening of Target, I was extremely excited to have both Pixi and Sonia Kashuk readily available in Canada.  Unfortunately, the products that I was most excited for (Pixi lash line ink and Sonia Kashuk hidden agenda concealer palette) were either not in store or sold out.  I managed to make up for that.

Just to try it out, I grabbed Maybelline Volum'Express Mascara the Colossal Cat Eyes (223 Glam Black) I generally really like the Colossal Volume line.  

I'd also been wanting to try L'Oreal True Match Lumi Foundation (w1-2) for ages, but the near $20 price tag at Walmart and Shoppers Drug Mart had scared me off.  At Target, this bad boy was only $12. 

 The concept of a BB powder really interested me but once again, at Walmart and Shoppers, The Physicians Formula Super BB Powder was about $21.  At Target it was $13 (though I think they're on sale right now at some Shoppers).

Target has priced different shades of the Maybelline Colour Tattoos differently (I'm guessing based on how new the colours are) meaning that the older, staple shades such as Bad to the Bronze are only around $5.  I picked up (70) Barely Branded.

As I mentioned, I was super excited to finally have Sonia Kashuk products in Canada, but I managed to limit myself to the eye quad in (16) Shimmering Sands, four beautiful pink and beige nudes.  

I also finally gave in to the Maybelline Colour Whispers and got (35) Coral Ambition and (50) Cherry on Top.  I don't know why I waited so long to try them, I'm adoring them so far!

L-R: Maybelline Colour Tattoo Barely Branded (70), Maybelline Colour Whispers (50) Cherry on Top, (35) Coral Ambition

I also just found at the bottom of my shopping bag NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk, sorry for leaving that one out!

I hope you've enjoyed reading about my retail weakness.  Have you tried any of these products? What do you think?

Kendall

x