Butterfly Dress Wedding Look

The Butterfly Dress

Firstly, I want to apologize for the crumby photos in this post. The lighting sucked and I was in a hurry but I think you get the idea- plus I was really pleased on how it turned out. Enjoy.

 

Products I used

• Fyrinnae Silica Gel Primer
• Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation in Shell
• Physician's Formula Healthy Wear pressed powder foundation SPF 50 in Translucent Light
• Make Up For Ever Full Cover concealer in shade 02
• Mac Kissable Lip Color in Flaunting It (worn for a bit so the intensity has died down in the photos)
• TheBalm TimeBalm concealer in Lighter than Light
• Blinc Tubing Mascara in Black
• Fyrinnae Jade Ghost (inner corner and onto lid)
• Fyrinnae Sakura (all over lid)
• Fyrinnae Faerie Glamour (outer corner/crease)
• NYC cream blush stick in Big Apple Blush

I also did a manicure and pedicure for this outfit. I used Eyeko Pastel Polish on my toes with OPI Breathe Life over top (this photo does NOT do it justice! So pretty and opalescent!). On my hands I had Color Club Fashion Addict polish a really dazzling holographic lilac shade. (Again photo does not do justice!)

Does any of your clothing inspire your make-up looks?

FOTD: Cool and Warm together!

Me with wet hair (just out of the shower!)

For this one I used some warms as well as some really cool colours too! Overall I was really happy with the outcome, what do you think?

I used:

• Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation in Shell
• Nars Cream Blush in Penny Lane
• Urban Decay 24/7 Glide on Shadow Pencil in Sin
• Make Up For Ever Star Powder in 942 (purple-blue sheen)
• Physician's Formula Eye Booster Eyeliner in Black
• Blinc Black tubing Mascara
• Mac Kissable Lip Colour in Peacocky
• Physician's Formula Healthy Wear in Translucent Light Powder SPF 50
• TheBalm TimeBalm under-eye concealer in Lighter than Light

Hope you enjoyed! If you have any questions feel free to ask!

Note: Some of the products used in this post have companies that test on animals when required by law (only then) or owned by a company that does test but doesn't themselves.

Estee Lauder Double Wear SPF 10 Liquid Foundation~ Review

A little over a year ago now I was recommended to try Estee Lauder's Double Wear Stay In Place Liquid Foundation with SPF 10. I was looking for a medium to full coverage foundation that wouldn't cause me to breakout, would last all day, wouldn't transfer and would help to combat some of the oiliness of my skin. That's certainly a high standard as most foundations aren't transfer resistant let alone alright for acne-prone skin. However, Estee Lauder Double Wear meets all of these criteria amazingly enough.

With Mac's foundation pump (an extra purchase unfortunately), the use of this is perfectly hygienic and allows you to control the amount on your brush, which is good because you don't need a lot to get full coverage with this foundation. I find I need a primer with this though as a primer helps it spread better as the formula is kind of thick. A primer also helps minimizes brush strokes on my face during application. When applied it dries down after a bit to a semi-matte finish. Usually however, I speed up the dry-down process and apply a finishing powder over top so I don't have an intermediate sticky feeling. Some people have complained this feels like a mask on but I don't feel that way with this foundation, I don't really feel it on my face at all. Plus I love how well it covers all my acne scars and redness. Or if you want even more coverage you can layer it easily with an additional coat of foundation, which I always like the option of. It comes in a sturdy and sophisticated frosted glass bottle with a gold twist cap that really closes well which is a nice touch.

My shade is Shell or 1C1 the coolest (pinkest) lightest shade they carry in the range. Estee Lauder has divided their shade selections into three categories, C- for cool or pinker based shades, N- for neutral or not yellow but not pink shades and W- for yellow undertones. From there, each darker skin shade can choose which of the three options provide the best match. If possible I recommend getting matched in person because the online swatches give you no idea of what you're actually dealing with. There are twenty shades in total and I was quite lucky to find a match. Though it is the smallest touch too pink for me the shade Shell does match, a huge worry of mine after I fell in love with Ecru (the neutral lightest shade) and it was too yellow for my skin.

As a side note though you could apply this with your fingers I really feel that it needs a brush as the formula is quite thick and you'll want as even a layer as possible.

The formula of it is great too, it's oil-free, low silicone (Silicone normally bothers my skin but this foundation doesn't cause acne flair ups! Yay!), fragrance-free, non-comedogenic and Dermatologist tested. That said, with it being fragrance free when wet it has the tendency to smell like paint. You'll get a whiff of this every so often but it doesn't stick around, thank goodness. It's not as strong as paint smell either but the smell is definitely there. It doesn't linger so for me it's not too much of an issue. For me, a girl that is highly allergic to the smell of paint (migraines!) to say that I think you can tell it's not too bad. And of course the small bonus of 10 SPF is nice too, though as you really need a stronger sun protection everyday I tend to add one underneath. I've had no issues layering it over top of other products.

Warning: Removal is going to be a pain in the ass. This comes with the territory really as it is such a long wearing foundation (Estee Lauder states 15- hours and that is pretty darn close I'd say). I love my Clarisonic for removal but I recommend a make-up remover all over your face before cleansing to ensure that it all comes off!

This foundation has won a bunch of awards and I have to completely agree, it's the best of all of the foundations I've tried. It does pack a punch though price-wise at $34 USD for 1.0 oz or (when you include tax) here in Canada $50 CND.

Sprite Rating: 8/10- lost one point for slight paint smell and one point for sheer expensiveness.

Would I buy this again? Yes! This is my second bottle, though first in my correct shade and I'll repurchase when I eventually run out, though that will likely take over a year. :D

Ten Beauty Products I Can't Live Without!

1. Blinc tubing Mascara in Black
I adore this mascara. It's the perfect easy to remove tubing mascara that doesn't smudge or run or flake. You can read my full Review Here. :D


2. Clarisonic Mia
I can't live without my Clarisonic Mia. Although mine is the white one, if the purple had been available when I bought mine I would have chosen that colour! This helps my acne so much and it really helps clean deep into pores gently. My review on this is here :D.


3. Estee Lauder Double Wear Liquid Foundation (Shade Shell)
Although I've been using the Estee Lauder Double Wear Light foundation lately, I finally got my hands on the Double Wear foundation in my correct shade. This foundation is great, matte finish, lasts all day and covers well. My review here!


4. Mac Prep and Prime Transparent Finishing Powder
This is my favourite setting powder. I've tried quite a few others such as MUFE HD and Laura Mercier's secret finishing powder but this is the best. It really gives a soft focus effect when I use it with my mini kabuki, blurring the look of my pores until they're almost gone. I've finally done a review for this here.


5. Too Faced Shadow Insurance
Too Faced Shadow Insurance is my Holy Grail eyeshadow primer. It lasts all day for me and prevents creasing as well as feeling nice on and intensifying shadows a bit. Check out my review here!


6. TheBalm TimeBalm Concealer in Lighter than Light
The best undereye concealer I've tried this is creamy the perfect brightening shade and covers wonderfully. The only downside is that it doesn't work well over dry skin at all. I also like how inexpensive it is for the amount of product and how there is Vitamin E in it as well. Here's my review! :D


7. Nail Tek II Intensive Therapy
This stuff has saved my nails big time! From weak splitting nails that couldn't grow to strong healthy ones this as a base coat has transformed my nails. Another plus was that it was quick too! Read about my experience with it here!


8. China Glaze Fast Forward Top Coat
I don't know about anyone else but I always always ALWAYS mess up my manicure before it dries unless I have a quick dry top coat and this one by China Glaze is the best! Really quick drying and I actually don't mind the sweet smell to it. As with all top coats it gets a bit thick after awhile but some polish thinner takes care of that. (Review to come)


9. Nars Penny Lane Cream Blush
I just got this blush not too long ago and I adore it! I can't see myself without this anymore as it lasts all day (only blush I've had that does) and the finish is amazing! Check out my full review here!


10. Eco Tools Brushes
The best brushes out there in my opinion. Cheap, Eco friendly, creulty-free, easy to clean, and super soft! There is nothing bad about these brushes except maybe the fact that the range is sort of limited! Full review of them here! The picture above is one of the sets of brushes I've bought and use almost daily.

So that's it! I saw this tag and thought it would be a good fun post to do. I have a couple other posts in the works so more coming soonish! Hope you enjoyed!

FOTD: Thanksgiving

It's Thanksgiving here this weekend in Canada so I thought I'd show you all my Thanksgiving look. It's a simple warm look but I love it especially with my new rust coloured shirt (which isn't showing up as rust in this picture unfortunately!)

Why is it I always like pictures of my self better when I'm looking up?

Here's what I'm wearing:

Face: Neutrogena Water-Light Sunscreen SPF 45

Cargo Activating Face Primer

Estee Lauder Double Wear Light Intensity 1

Laura Mercier Secret Concealer Shade 2

Mac Prep & Prime Powder Transparent

Cheeks: The Body Shop Autumn Leaves Berry blush

Lorac Oil-free Luminizer in pearl (cheekbones)

This look is great for bringing out the green in my hazel eyes!

Eyes: Annabelle Brow pencil in Auburn

Too Faced Shadow Insurance

Wet n' Wild Brule eyeshadow (to even out discolouration)

Urban Decay Lounge eyeshadow (all over lid and into crease)

Stila Eden eyeshadow (from crease to brow bone)

Mac Fluidline gel eyeliner in Rich Ground

Clinique Lash Power tubing mascara in Black

Lips: Mac Slimshine lipstick in Most Wanted

 I find it quite fitting for the autumn with all the leaves starting to change colour here. What do you all think?

NOTD: Estee Lauder Surreal Violet

 Estee Lauder Surreal Violet was released this fall with the Blue Dahlia collection, and honestly the colour is to die for gorgeous! A greyed lavender with copper reflect this colour changes in every lighting.   Even looking at it in the bottle is lovely as the ice cube-like glass seems to capture the subtle copper shimmer well.

 The good about this polish unfortunately ends here. It was costly, a whopping $25 CND dollars for only  9 ml (0.3 oz) of polish. That's a little over half in comparison to China Glaze which has 14ml (0.5 oz) of polish which costs about $8.00 CND here. The formula on this is thin too. You really need three coats as two does cover but can look patchy afterwards (as is evidenced on my thumb in later pictures). Though the polish went on nicely it also didn't last very long. With my normal system (Gelous base coat and China Glaze quick dry top coat) it lasted three days before I got major chipping and tip wear.

Trying to capture the glow!

See near the base of the thumb? It looks patchy despite two coats. *sigh*

Rating: 5/10

Overall, though the colour is unique (I've never seen anything like it!) I've vowed to myself to never fall in love with another Estee Lauder nail polish. The lack of wear, the thin formula and the exorbitant price aren't worth it. Though I love this colour and am happy I got it in the future I'd rather spend my pennies on a polish I know is going to last longer than three days. Like Wet n' Wild coloricon or Nubar.

FOTD: Simple Sophisticated Red

This is a really simple look I did the other day for classes. I think it gives a bit of personality without being overdone, and it's certainly work and uni appropriate. It also gives a nice flair of fall (yay! I love fall, it is by far my favourite season!)

Close up so you can see the blush and eye better.

Here's the products I used:

• Estee Lauder Double Wear Light Foundation Intensity 01
• NARS Face primer (the last remnants of my sample, so I didn't get full coverage)
• Too Faced Shadow Insurance
• Revlon Vintage Lace (matte) eyeshadow
• Stila Eden Eyeshadow (matte)
• Clinique Lash Pwer Mascara in Black
• The Body Shop Autumn Leaves Blush in Berry (metallic finish- highly pigmented so use sparingly!)
• Mac Lipstain Marker in A Classic
• Quo Eiffel tower lipgloss in Burgundy 
• Laura Mercier undercover concealer # 2
• Mac Prep and Prime Finishing Powder

The idea was to have bright light neutral eyes that look awake without attracting attention. The blush I focused on being there ever so slightly (like you've been out in a crisp fall air), which works well with this particular blush from The Body Shop as it has an almost frost finish so it highlights the cheek bones as well. The red lips I put a stain beneath and a gloss on top in near shades of red (less work over time for me!) in a matching colour to my shirt. I love this gloss by Quo as it is the colour of a ruby on, really wonderful rich jewel tone. A very very similar colour that's out right now is the Art of Darkness Hermetic gloss by Illamasqua. 

What do you think? Would you wear a similar look out and about? Let me know in the comments!

P.S. If you'd like to have an e-mail update option added to Hebridean Sprite Beauty please post so in the comments, or send me an e-mail. *hugs*