Lying Low: My Weekend-Away Makeup Bag

For us Canadian university students, this past week has been reading week.  Basically spring break without the nice weather, we've had the week off from lectures to avoid stress-related meltdowns.  

During this time off, a few friends and I headed up to my family's cabin in Northern Alberta for some much-needed relaxation.  Because this time was about as laid back as it gets, I thought I'd share my makeup routine for those days when you just can't be bothered.

I never really thought I'd be able to pare down my products this much for any kind of absence from my beloved makeup collection but this really is about as low-maintenence as I get.

Yes, I am fully aware that this looks like makeup one may use on someone playing a ghost in a school production but this is my powder foundation. MAC's Studio Fix in N3 is my ultimate lazy-day product- just buff a bit of this into the skin and you've got good, even coverage in seconds.  I have a sneaking suspicion that if I wear this too many days in a row, it might break me out a tiny bit so if anyone has a favourite powder foundation I could try instead, I'd love to hear about it.

I also brought my NYC Liquid Liner in Black (which I wrote about in my Drugstore Favourites Post) and is pretty much a daily essential for me. 

For even lazier days, a bit of L'Oreal Infalliable Eyeliner in Brown in my tightline was the only liner I used.

For my cheeks, my Nars Laguna/ Orgasm duo was all I used.  I hauled this baby in my First "I Was Bad" Post and my love for it has yet to fade.  Just perfection.

My Naked Basics Palette fit in perfectly with my minimal theme, but it still provided a very decent number of looks for me.  For something very minimal, a bit of W.O.S. and Naked 2 was just enough to look done.  With Faint or even a tiny bit of Crave in the outer corner, this palette even creates a beautiful look for dinner out.

Limiting myself to a single cream shadow was possibly my most difficult task but as I had just picked up a MAC Paint Pot in Vintage Selection, I was eager to try it out.  A beautiful shimmery champagne that is neither too pink nor too brown, a quick swipe of this makes you look instantly "done".  Adding either of the two liners I mentioned above finishes the look in about two minutes.

Adding a few brushes and random lip glosses to this little group creates a great, basic makeup selection perfect for a look that doesn't feel too high-maintenence or done but still adds that little something.

I hope you enjoyed reading this very basic post and if you have any must-have basics, I'd love to hear about them in the comments.

Happy reading week to my fellow Canadians!

Kendall

x

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

x