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

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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

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Drug Store BB Creams Part Two: L'Oreal Magic Skin Beautifier

Happy Saturday!
A few weeks ago, I reviewed a couple drugstore BB creams (you can check that out here).  During the process, I admitted that I haven't been the biggest fan of BB creams thus far, but Revlon's offering was able to tick the most boxes.  Recently, L'Oreal products were on sale at my local Walmart (sale items shouldn't count during a spending ban!) so I thought I'd give their Magic Skin Beautifier a try.  I've only used it a few times now so this will be more of a first impressions post.
The first thing that I noticed is that the packaging seems to be designed in a way that implies a little goes a long way (very narrow nozzle, thick product).  However, I find it doesn't spread as far as you'd think.  It starts off white, then adjusts to your skin tone, which I have to say works quite well even on my very fair skin.  The finish feels very powdery, verging on dry-  probably why it doesn't spread as far as some other BB creams.
The coverage is extremely sheer, in fact I think it works best under a foundation.  It does somehow make your skin look better but it doesn't do a great job of covering redness, evening skin tone or masking blemishes.  I think it would be a great first step in a foundation routine.
All in all, I'm still feeling a bit iffy.  Thankfully, summer is around the corner, meaning I'll likely be reaching for this type of product: light coverage with a powdery finish.  If you like a bit more coverage from your BB cream or have very dry skin, I'd give this one a miss.  However, if you're looking for a bit of extra "beautifying" in your foundation routine, or just feel like your skin needs that something extra, you could do a lot worse.

Have you tried this or any other drugstore BB creams? Thoughts?
Kendall
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Curly-Hair Problems

Ah, the laugh/cry: toddler expressions at their finest

As you can probably see from this picture of me as a little ragamuffin, I've been dealing with unruly curls for as long as I can remember.  I currently have a ton of hair that is super-fine, meaning tangles and frizz can become a huge problem for me if I don't take care of my hair.  At the moment (when straight) my hair is just about to my waist so I do end up spending a good deal of time on it.

I thought I'd share a couple of my tips and tricks for dealing with curls and fighting frizz that I've picked up over the years.

Here's what the ol' mop is looking like these days (or last summer I suppose)

It starts with the scalp.

Though often overlooked, if your scalp isn't healthy, your hair is simply not going to look its best. The key isn't necessarily the type of shampoo you use but how you use it. Shampooing your hair should essentially entail giving your whole scalp a massage, using your fingertips to apply a generous amount of pressure for a lot longer than you think.  About 30 seconds to a minute for each applying shampoo and rinsing it out should ensure you get rid of product buildup as well as stimulate the hair follicles, causing faster growth, better volume and healthier hair overall.

I recommend a shampoo designed with scalp health in mind such as Clear or something without sulphates like L'Oreal  EverStrong (or any other one from their sulphate-free range) but it's all about trial and error; different things work for different people.

Conditioning

Second to the scalp health, conditioning is so important for cutting down on frizz and reducing damage.  Us curly-heads have the unique challenge of needing more moisture than most, but too much moisture will weigh down our curls, resulting in a limp, uneven curl pattern.

For deep conditioning, without question my favourite mask is the Macadamia Oil Deep Repair Masque (which I buy from Rexall but their website is HERE).  I use it probably every second time I shower; the other times I use whatever conditioner I'm trying at the moment but I'm still looking for that holy grail.  

Right after showering, I always use Moroccan Oil Light and Organix Ever Straight Brazilian Keratin Therapy on my damp hair, then I wrap it up in a towel (or a cotton t-shirt if I'm being good as it cuts down of frizz even more) and continue onto the styling step

Styling
Now, I often straighten or curl my hair with heat styling tools but I'm just going to be talking about how I style my hair on those days when I'm just too lazy for all the blowdrying and whatnot in this post.

Here are some of my very favourite styling products for curly-hair days.  I do like the definition and hold that mousse and styling gels offer, but crunchy, stiff curls are so unappealing.  I recently purchased Pantene Silky Moisture Whip, which is a super creamy mousse that provides light hold while still keeping your hair super soft and touchable. I also love Moroccan Oil Curl Defining Cream, another product that provides light hold while maintaining a silky soft texture.  In my mind, both of these products are pretty great innovations.  It used to be, if you wanted great curl definition, you had to sacrifice a bit of silkiness but no more! To style, I flip my head over, then gently 'scrunch' my curls up to my head, evenly distributing the product. 

For second-day hair, I have a little spray bottle with water and a tiny bit of whatever spray-on leave-in conditioner I'm using at the moment which I use to bring life back to my curls.  I also love Bumble and Bumble Curl Conscious Reactivating Mist, but I find if I apply too much, my hair gets a little crunchy (can you tell what one of my pet peeves is?)

Hopefully this was helpful to my curly-haired friends! If you enjoyed this post or have any products to recommend (or even want me to be your guinea pig) I'd love to hear about it!
Kendall
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Makeup on the Cheap

Happy weekend everyone!

Now I've expressed some major love for my higher-end brands in previous posts but let's be real here:

I'm a full-time student and those higher-end purchases can end up being pretty darn draining on the ol' wallet.  However, if I'm ever feeling the need to boost my spirits with a little retail therapy (which is sadly far more often than I care to admit) drugstore makeup can be a great compromise.

I do admit, there are a lot of products you can find in the *ahem* cheaper locals that are absolute crap.  But oh boy, then there are products like these, that make their way into my daily rotation and I wouldn't trade for anything. 

One of my favourite bloggers/ YouTubers, Essie Button, recently did an I Heart Drugstore Makeup Tag, which you can see HERE. Something that I really enjoy about her posts/ videos is that she has a great mix of high-end and drugstore products, which is definitely something I shoot for as well.  

Funny story, I actually was going to make this post my first YouTube video, however I am being quite honest when I say I have next to no technological skills (how I run this blog is a mystery) so that will have to wait until I get myself sorted.

Anyway, enough rambling, onto the goods!

 Revlon Colorstay Foundation in 110 Ivory

A bit of a crowd favourite, this is really the only drugstore foundation that works for me.  Though there are other products that I usually prefer for a more natural finish, I do love Colorstay for a long-lasting, matte finish.  

Please don't hurt me

Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blushes

I'm sorry.  I know these are absolutely hated by most of the beauty world but I have to put it out there and admit that I kind of, sort of, really love them.  Hear me out: most people/s chief complaint about these is that there isn't great colour payoff.  

...Buuuuut I'm so pale (with naturally rosy cheeks), these just give me the perfect flush of colour when I apply with my ELF Stipple Brush. 

Clockwise, from the top, we've got (70) Hot Tamale, (50) Plum Wine, (15) Rose Petal

 NYC Liquid Eyeliner (887) Black (Brush tip)

I love you.  

Maybelline Color Tattoo 

Alright, I'm not going to say too much about these because every beauty guru and blogger seems to adore these, which should be testament enough. They really are lovely products though.

Clockwise, from top left: (15) Audacious Asphalt, (35) Tough as Taupe, (20) Painted Purple, (25) Bad to the Bronze

Quick Tip: try to store these babies upside-down to slow down that sucky drying-out process.

Wet n' Wild in ( 380B) Walking on Eggshells

Very velvety with a beautiful, slightly shimmery finish.  And crazy cheap.  What more could you want?

Sleek Makeup i Divine Eyeshadow Palettes

From a UK-based line, these eyeshadows have amazing colour payoff and wear beautifully.  Once agin, the value is fantastic and they have many different options.  I know they're difficult to get in Canada but I ordered them off the website (HERE) and I think shipping was only around 5 pounds or so.  My personal favourite is the Storm Palette.

Now I wanted to point out this shadow specifically because it is almost a perfect dupe for Mac's Woodwinked.  It's in the Au Naturel Palette (601). 

You can tell it's gotten lots of use

L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow (888) Iced Latte

Last eyeshadow, I promise.  These shadows come as a semi-loose powder that you press yourself (it comes with a little presser) and they have such a shimmery, long-lasting finish.

Revlon Lipstick (Seriously, almost all of them)

Far and away my favourite drugstore lipsticks, every Revlon shade I've tried has been long-lasting, creamy and not overly-drying.  They have an amazing shade range that I have to admit I think I own a large part of.  I am planning a post just for these little wonders but for now I'm showing you my favourite dupe.

(457) Wild Orchid

Almost a perfect dupe for MAC's Show Orchid, Wild Orchid is a vivid, luxurious magenta/fuchsia/ princess colour that screams to all of our inner five-year-olds enticed by the beauty of a true pink lipstick.  But in a high-fashion way.

Whelp, that's it folks, a few of my drugstore faves.  I'm sure as soon as I post this, I'll think of about a billion more things that I love so this is probably going to be a bit of a running theme.

I hope you enjoyed reading and I'd love to hear about what your favourite drugstore picks are.

Kendall

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Lipstick Alternatives: Colour Without the "Lipstick" Feel

So I realize that not everyone is a huge fan of lipstick.  Some people don't like the feeling, some people don't like the maintenance and I have to say, some days I am in both of those groups.  I really admire people who can dedicate themselves to a full day of applying and maintaining lip colour every day but sadly sometimes a girl just needs a break.  But that doesn't mean you have to take a break from gorgeous colour.  

Below are a few of my favourite lipstick alternatives that range from a flush of colour to vampy, saturated red.  Enjoy!

Stains of all Sorts

I hadn't realized until this post but my favourite stains are mostly from either from the Maybelline Super Stay line or the Revlon Just Bitten one.  From left to right we've got: Maybelline Super Stay Gloss in 140 "Ruby Indulgence", Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in 020 "Lovesick", Revlon Just Bitten Lipstain + Balm in "Flame", Maybelline Super Stay Color in "Endless Ruby"

Swatches in the same order

My most worn of these is definitely "Ruby Indulgence" though it is more on the glossy side of the stains and therefore is not as long lasting.  But it smells JUST like fruit punch!

Here they all are after I've wiped them with a tissue. I'm not kidding, these babies really stick!

Liquid Lipsticks

These are my two favorite liquid lipsticks.  Not quite a stain but not a lipstick either, these little beauties lie in a sort of long-lasting gloss territory, but with more pigment.  Great description, I know.

Again from left to right" L'Oreal Colour Riche Caresse Aqua Lip Laquer in 190 "Endless Red" and NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in San Paulo

The L'Oreal Colour is on top, NYX on the bottom

The L'Oreal Lip Laquers are supposed to be a sort of dupe for YSL's Glossy Stains, which are on my list of products to try so I can't yet vouch for how good a job they've done.  All I can say is that they also smell quite nice though what is supposed to be "Endless Red" turns out to be more of a bright berry.

Here they are after the swipe of a tissue.  You can see San Paulo was not long for this world and to be honest, though it is an absolutely gorgeous colour, it doesn't last all that long on the lip either.

Glosses and Balms

Now tinted glosses and balms are products that probably get the most use from me because they are just so darn easy.  A quick swipe and you're set.  However, finding something that will give you some actual colour payoff can be quite difficult, and glosses do tend to wear very quickly.  That said, there are some real winners out there if you know where to look.

Top: Korres Lip Butter in Plum, Left: Maybelline Baby Lips in Cherry Me, Right: Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Cream in Cherry Flip

Because these colours look so much different on the lip, I thought I'd show you directly.

Here is the Korres Lip Butter

Plum

and the Buxom Lip Cream

Cherry Flip

Please ignore my Billy Idol expression

So there you have it, a plethora of lipstick alternatives for you to choose from.

A quick not about the YSL lipsticks because I didn't include them but I sort of wanted to: I still technically consider them lipsticks but the Sheer Candy Glossy Balm Crystal Colours are also extremely glossy and comfortable.  Luscious Cherry is my colour of choice because as you can probably tell, I love a red gloss.

Thanks so much for reading!

Kendall

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