Bite Beauty High Pigment Pencil Swatches

It's been a while, but I'm hoping that the blogging muse will slowly makes it's way back to me! There are some goodies coming out from Morgana Cryptoria this month I'm hopeful about so *fingers crossed*.

Also if you want to keep following this blog and are currently following only through GFC, you're going to need to change platforms. Unfortunately google has decided to get rid of GFC this month and you won't be able to see anything I write anymore once they rid of it. Luckily there are other ways to follow such as through Facebook, Bloglovin, and e-mail as can be seen under the follow-me button at the top of the page. Hopefully I'll keep seeing you!

Now for what you are really here for, the Bite Beauty High Pigment Pencils- and gosh are they fantastic looking so far. I'm already in love! Lovely matte black packaging, twist up mechanism and super super pigmented semi-matte formula. 

Some of the photos below are a tad blurry- the lighting in Sephora isn't the best. But the colours are all fairly accurate. Yes, some are as bright and out of this world as they appear.

They all had the same texture except Amarone which was quite sheer and glossier than the rest, and Meritage which wasn't as sheer as Amarone but did have a glossier consistency similar. 

Bottom-Top: Syrah, Madeira, Honey Berry, Meritage, Rhubarb, Corvina, Bouquet, Velvet, Chablis,

B-T: Velvet, Chablis, Tart, Violet, Quince, Grapevine, Zinfandel, Toast

Bottom-Top: Toast, Pomegranate, Tannin, Amarone, Bramble

Bottom-Top: Grapevine, Zinfandel, Toast, Pomegranate, Tannin, Amarone, Bramble

B-T: Quince, Grapevine, Zinfandel, Toast, Pomegranate, Tannin

B-T: Velvet, Chablis, Tart, Violet, Quince, Grapevine

Bottom-Top: Velvet, Chablis, Tart

Bottom - Top: Meritage, Rhubarb, Corvina, Bouquet, Velvet

Bottom-Top: Syrah, Madeira, Honey Berry, Meritage, Rhubarb, Corvina

Anyone else as blown away by these shades? There really does seem to be something for everyone!

You can currently purchase these from Sephora for $28 CND. (Yes, unfortunately very expensive, but still cheaper then the Nars ones.) 

EU bans cosmetic animal testing!

If you have already heard the good news, then feel free to skip this blog post, but for those of you who haven't here is some of the latest news.

The European Union (a whole slew of countries that work together to an extent) has banned animal testing on cosmetics or there ingredients from being sold in the EU starting March 11th, of THIS YEAR!

Many people thought that this deadline would be pushed back but they've stood firm and it's a go for March 11th. This is huge news for cruelty-free beauty people like myself who lost so many brands due to China's policy that all cosmetics being sold in their country must be tested on animals.

What remains to be seen is what some of the major brands are going to decide to do- remain in China and continue animal testing but have to pull out of all the EU countries, or pull out of China's booming population and quit animal testing.

I'm sure it will come down to dollars and cents for most of the companies but I'm just thrilled on such a great step forward for the cosmetics industry.

Till next time!

Top 12 of 2012

This year instead of doing my favourites for the entire year and having a winner for a whole slew of categories like I have done the last two years I decided to keep it short and sweet. Here are my favourites from the past 12 months!

1) Make Up For Ever Aqua Liner in Black Diamond or shade 7. Fantastic unique shade, iron-wear time, easy to apply and soft applicator. You can check out full reviews by clicking the names, but I love this liner.

2) Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer in my shade Porcelain. I like how light weight it is, the fact it doesn't cause my skin to go into melt-down mode and that it incluse SPF 20. An everyday staple for me. It's not perfect exactly but it's by far better than anything else I've tried.

3) Marcelle Hydra-C Ultra Thin Matifying Fluid. An everyday thing for me. Not only does this moisturizer have fantastic vitamins in it, it moisturizes well and keeps my skin matte all day long. It helps my skin heal itself faster than without and I never want to run out of this stuff.

4) Beaute Cosmetics Liqui-gel stain in Fever. I've not reviewed this yet but it really is a fantastic lip stain. Beautiful workable colour and long lasting. It has become my go to lip shade. Easy to leave as a slight tint or built up. Review to come soon hopefully!

5) Blinc Mascara. Yes, this is a tubing mascara in black but I must say tubing mascara changed my life. No flaking, no smudging, long lasting, cry-proof, sleep-proof, sweat-proof, pretty lashes. With my watery allergenic eyes this mascara has been a godsend.

6) Nars Penny Lane Blush This is such a fantastic everyday cream blush. The formula on it is fairly unique in that it's cream to powder and it's never sticky or greasy. A wonderful neutral on my pale skin it tends to go with everything. 

7) Nars Albatross Highlighter I only just received this but already I adore it. To be reviewed soon it's a wonderful glowy white-gold shade that when blended along the cheek bones creates the most stunning ethereal effect. My favourite highlighter yet!

8) Smashbox Intermix Bronzer/Blush

The only bronzer/blush I've ever used that has looked healthy and glowy on my fair skin rather than dirty. I honestly can't believe I haven't reviewed this! So subtle and perfect in the summer time. Now that I've realized my oversight it is in my review line-up!

9) Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Blissful

Another perfect summer shade! Gorgeous coral flush and it lasts so much longer than every other blush I've tried. Don't let the coloured plastic packaging fool you this is definetly a blush you can depend on.

10) Avene Clean-Ac Moisturizer

The best overnight moisturizer for my acne. Non-clogging, redness reducing and super hydrating the only downsides are the price and the fact it can feel a bit greasy in the morning. A miracle worker other than that though!

11) Haus of Gloi. This is for a company as Haus of Gloi has continued to impress me over the year whereas many other brands have fallen short. This vegan company always has consistently high quality products and amazing customer service. There Sugar scrub is a must for me in the shower and there perfumes are some of the only ones I've ever been able to wear and not have an allergic reaction too. Plus now they have an option were you can design your own personal perfume out of four notes among a list of options. Some of my favourites are Depravity, Hex, Brier Path, Litchi Milk Tea, Troika, Winter Divinity, Honeysuckle Lemon Curd, and Imp in no particular order. There pumpkin butter is an amazing moisturizing formula that is non-greasy and super moisturizing and like I mentioned there sugar scrub is my favourite scrub ever.

12) Indie Nail Polishes! (Special thanks to Pointless Cafe for permission for the photo use! P.S. this is Underhill from Hebridean Sprite Beauty) I'm sort of cheating with this one, but I fell in love with so many indie nail polishes this year and started my own small indie nail polish company so I didn't feel I could leave it out! Not only was Hebridean Sprite Beauty Nail Polishes a working of the past six months, I found some wonderful nail polishes this year. Ozotic 533, A England St. George, Ascalon and Dragon were all amazing and Cult Nails is still the maker of my go to top and base coats. Plus there are so many other stand-outs! If you like unique polishes the indie polish world really is the place to go to. I find they tend to be more creative than ordinary polish lines. 

Awesome Beaute Boxing Day Deal

Hey everyone! Just wanted to inform you of a great deal from Beaute cosmetics. 40% off right now with the code boxingweek2012 . I adore there liqui-gel stain in Fever and so I'm highly tempted to pick up another shade too at this lower price.

Beaute Cosmetics Here

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas if you celebrate it or if not, a relaxing and pleasant few days :D

Some Gifts for the Holidays

There are always cosmetics that seem to catch my attention that I add my list every year. This year has been harder than others in the past though as so many brands have changed their animal testing status to be able to sell in China. (Extremely frustrating as a cruelty-free beauty blogger and a big part of the reason I've not been blogging as much)

Anyways, here are some items that made the cut! Enjoy!

Hourglass Extreme Sheen Lip Gloss- Siren

This has been on my wishlist for over a year. Expensive but it looks so nice!

NARS Albatross Highlighting Blush

Another long time wishlist item. I love the colour and though again on the pricer side I've heard such good things about Nars blushes over the years it's something I've been eyeing too.

Guerlain Eye & Lip Calligraphy Palette

A beautiful sophisticated eye and lip palette from Guerlain. I'm a little sketchy on whether Guerlain is still non-animal testing though. I've heard both answers lately.

Fresh Sugar Addiction Mini Lip Collection

These fresh lip treatments are half-size but you get a large range of colours! Plus with that many you don't really need the full size anyway. I love value packs. :D

Tarte Amazon Escape Amazonian Clay Eye & Cheek Palette

If you haven't tried tarte's amazonian clay blushes, I highly recommend them. Highly pigmented, long wearing and nicely packaged. This set has two in it and some nice looking eyeshadows.

What about everyone else? What are you eyeing up for Christmas?