Blue Face of the Day

I just wanted to show you my outfit and my make-up for today. I got this beautiful shirt and necklace both from my mother for Christmas and it's my first time wearing them.

Here are the products I used:

For eyes:

Hedgerow eye shadow by Scaredy Cat Cosmetics

Craving eyeshadow by Nyx

Brûlée eyeshadow by Wet n' Wild

Purple mascara from Blinc

Midnight Gel Liner by Mac (from when they were still cruelty-free. There are some other cruelty-free  options available now instead. Meow Cosmetics has one in blue called Oceanic. I plan on reviewing the purple eyeliner soon from that line).

For Face:

Becca Ultimate Coverage Cream Concealer in Banana

Jaydancin Mineral Foundation in shade 1

Laura Mercier blush in Rose Petal

For Lips:

Tarte Lip Crayon in Hope

Notoriously Morbid Changling topcoat in Siren

Hope you have a wonderful day!

Quick New Years Day Look!

Happy New Year's everyone! This is a look I did for a party on New Year's Day that I was quite pleased with.

 I used
Face: 
Marcelle Ultra Thin Mattifying Fluid
Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer in Porcelain
MUFE Full Cover concealer in shade 1
Lost in Makeupland Oily Skin Finishing Powder
Lorac Oil-free illuminizer in pearl L1
Eyes:
Lise Watier Eye and Lip primer
Too Faced Glitter Glue
Darling Girl Cosmetics Rudolph eyeshadow
Darling Girl Cosmetics Blitzen eyeshadow
Blinc Tubing Mascara in Black
Lips:
Morgana Cryptoria Gel Lipstick in Persephone

Hope everyone is having a wonderful start to 2012! :D

Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer~ Review

I've been meaning to do this review for about six months so I'm glad I finally got around to it! Mainly this is because my skin is finally nice enough to wear a lighter covering foundation/Tinted Moisturizer and because I've been crazy busy with school and have been lazy so applying this has been my go to option for the last little while. 

Laura Mercier Oil-Free tinted moisturizer I originally bought to go on my trip to Africa with as it is something that has an SPF of 20 built into it as well as having as good of coverage as most sheer or light foundations. On me it certainly does reduce the appearance or completely hide my reddness or acne marks (depending on how bad they are) though for any active pimple or spot you're going to need concealer for sure. 

I figured showing you a swatch was pretty much useless as the colour Porcelain matches my skin perfectly (if a smidge pink). I like how you don't need very much to cover your entire face and I also like that it spreads easily. The tinted moisturizer doesn't feel greasy or heavy on at all and gives a natural youthful slight dewy finish. This dewy finish is great for winter I've found as my skin is quite dry lately, though in the summer with my oily skin I need to powder otherwise the dewy migrates into oily. I find the packaging easy to use and very convenient for traveling as no brushes are needed (I apply with my fingers). Honestly the SPF is a big one for me as most days I don't feel like adding yet another layer to my face so having it in another product is great for me. 

Unfortunately, the news is not all good and like most things this Tinted Moisturizer has some down sides. I really dislike the smell of this. It fades quickly (Thank God!) but it's pungent and in your face and chemically. I'm almost positive it's the SPF in the product that causes the smell but this one is worse than most. This also costs a pretty penny at $42 USD for 1.7 oz of product. And though this doesn't cause any break-outs for me and is oil-free I find that unless you have fairly calm skin that only needs some subtle evening out of tone this won't be enough coverage for you and it won't control oil at all. 

Even on my oily skin though it does last all day. There are 10 shades available and due to sheerness I would think that most people will find a match in their skin shade and undertone. 

Sprite Rating: 8/10 

I like the product and it does a good job but I need more coverage usually and it doesn't work on my oily skin in the summer time though it's perfect for winter. The smell also bothers me but I do have a perfect shade match!

Would I buy this again? Though I would be reluctant to purchase based on the price and the fact I really can't wear this year round I think I would purchase it again. I like the finish and the light weight of it as well as the sun protection. Plus it's hard to get this good of a match to my skin colour!

Laura Mercier Silk Road

Image from British Beauty Blogger

Due out next year sometime (most likely spring or summer) is the Silk Road Collection. And isn't it lovely? I adore purples and Laura Mercier always has good quality. Be sure to click on the image to see the larger version. Doesn't this look great? I'm excited to eventually see the real thing, looks like it will be a nice collection. 

On the plus side I'm FREE! I've finally finished all my finals so I'll be back with regular updating. Yay!

Laura Mercier Deal!

Pretty nice deal especially as Laura Mercier is such good quality (and the price certainly reflects this!)

P.S. Sorry for the lack of posts I've got major projects and papers and exams right now, along with multiple appointments I'm trying to make! So the blog will probably be slow for a couple of days, sorry!

TheBalm TimeBalm Concealer~ Review

Recently I purchased TheBalm's TimeBalm concealer in lighter than light as an alternative for the Laura Mercier Secret Cover concealer sample I've been using for my undereye circles. The thing to know is that my undereye circles are super dark. As in I look like the walking dead or give the impression I'm an insomniac dark circles. Unfortunately, they're genetic and allergy related and no amount of sleep is going to make them better. I'm very acne-prone everywhere else on my face and so a creamy concealer isn't something I want to use anywhere but my undereye area, so this review only applies to the purpose I got it for, I haven't tried it on blemishes, or redness elsewhere on my face.

The little plastic pot comes with a sponge on top. The sponge was useless in my opinion and the packaging I'm worried about cracking from twisting too hard closed. So the packaging isn't good quality in my opinion. Certainly no where near the Laura Mercier.
The product itself though? So much better than the Laura Mercier! Though the product is drier than the Laura Mercier Secret Concealer, it's still creamy! TheBalm TimeBalm is more pigmented, has a more matte/skin-like finish, and doesn't crease! The Laura Mercier was alright for undereyes, I certainly liked it but after this I certainly won't go back, as the Laura Mercier had a tendency to crease every once in a while and didn't have as much coverage as I'd like. Plus TheBalm concealer blends into my skin seamlessly all the way up and into my eyelash line without causing my eye to sting or react at all. I do find that it works best warmed up on my finger whereas the Laura Mercier worked on fingers or with tools, but since I apply with my fingers this isn't an issue for me. I also like that this doesn't fade over the day, I still have coverage at the end of a long day. Though it isn't complete coverage, I would say it's a medium-full coverage. Personally I think this is good because taking away all the darkness would make you look a little unhuman.

Swatched on my finger (enough for one undereye)

Personally, I'm not convinced this has any anti-aging or anti-wrinkle properties. It might help moisturize a bit but past that, not convinced though I'm certainly not going to discount it. I look at it as a bonus or an extra, but not something that really is influencing my view of the product. 

There are 6 shades in this concealer line. I think they all have a peachy undertone to them (which helps combat the dark circles). I'm Lighter than Light, the lightest shade but they also have Light, Light/Medium, Mid-Medium, Medium, and Medium-Dark. The amount contained is 0.25 oz. This costs a fairly decent $18 USD, which for how little you need is a good deal. Especially when you compare to the extravagant Laura Mercier price.

Overall Rating: 9/10- lost a point for crappy plastic packaging. But other than that I am so impressed by this product!

Holiday Gift Sets

I got bored and decided to put together a list of neat (cruelty-free) make-up sets and palettes available at Sephora that I think would make great gifts. Above is the Smashbox Eye Wish palette. Every WISH purchase donates $1 to the Children's Miracle Network up to $25,000 USD. Children's Miracle Network helps with research, education and medical care to injured and sick children. The palette costs $45 USD, and contains 12, 0.63 oz eyeshadows in Champagne, Soft Grey, Matte bone, Ballet pink, Shimmering Bronze, Mauve, Aqua, Cool Grey, Warm Brown, Eggplant, Deep Teal and Charcoal. Also included are 4 cream eyeliners (Dark Brown, Black Violet, Blue-Black, and Gunmetal), a mini eyeshadow primer and a mini DNA mascara. The palette is limited edition.



Beauty in a Box are Sephora's main deal packages, and this Nars Junkie one is no exception. Though seemingly quite expensive at $69 USD, the set is worth $121 USD (as Nars is quite expensive!) Included is a lovely eyeshadow palette that has 5 powder eyeshadow and 1 cream eye shadow. The powder eyeshadows are in Night Star (Sheer Peach with Gold Pearl), Galapagos (Rich Bronze with Gold Flecks), Nepal (Rose with shimmer), Ondine (Plum with Gold Shimmer), Thunderball (Midnight Grey) and the cream shadow is in Unconditional Love (Peach-beige with shimmer).
Also included in the kit is a lip gloss in Ophelia (Strawberry Nectar), a mini multiple stick in Orgasm (Peachy-Pink Shimmer), and a mini Bronzer in Laguna (Brown with golden shimmer- you could use this as a nice eyeshadow too!) Included are 3 step by step guides to different looks as well. Overall I know I'd be happy if I got this as a gift!



Laura Mercier is a brand well known for it's high quality items. I love all my Laura Mercier items and this lip kit certainly looks like it will live up to the rest of the brand. Named Laura's Secrets Volume 1- Flawless Lips and priced at $59 USD this high end brand doesn't come easily but it sure does include lots for all the lip product lovers out there. The little quad palette is 4 different lipstains in Mocha, Shy Pink, Sugar Violet and Mulberry. Also in the cute little brown bag is a Lip Glace in Pink Diamond, a Lip Balm in SPF 15, a Lip Pencil in Chestnut, and a double ended Lip Colour Brush.



Liners anyone? This kit by Urban Decay has got you covered in all different colours! The Jackpot 24/7 eyeliner pencil kit has 9 mini liner pencils and 1 full size one (in Zero a black). If you haven't tried these pencils before they're awesome, soft so they don't tug, highly pigmented, and they last all day too! The colours included are El Dorado (Bright Yellow Gold), Stash (Gold Mossy Green), Mildew (Mossy Green), Electric (Bright Blue), Binge (Dark Metallic Blue), Ransom (Bright Purple), Rockstar (Deep Reddish Purple), Gunmetal (Dark Metallic Grey), and Whiskey (Dark Brown). Tons of great colours! Costs $39 USD.



Korres Brightening and Anti-Aging Rose Collection is (according to Sephora) worth a whopping $133 USD, but it's available for $54 USD. I've not tried it myself but I'm tempted to get it for my mom, as it's supposed to be chock full of anti-oxidants and Vitamin C. Included (all in Wild Rose) is a Moisturizer, Serum, Mask, Shower Gel, Body Butter and Lip Butter. Certainly looks and sounds decadent doesn't it?



Stila Lip Glaze Set, perfect for lip gloss girls everywhere! This $25 USD kit (a great deal) contains 8 lip glosses, 4 best selling ones and 4 limited edition. The Best Sellers include Kitten, Guava, Grapefruit and Apricot; while the holiday exclusives are Seashell, Blush, Majesty and Merry Merry. They all look like nice very wearable colours to me.



Last one for now is the Fresh Sugar Plum Let It Glow! Set. It costs $28 USD and consists of all mini. It also has lovely silver and purple packaging on it. Included is a Sugar Plum Tinted Lip Treatment in SPF 15, A Supernova Mascara, Twilight Fresh Face Glow (an illuminator) and Citron de Vigne Eau de Parfum. A nice little multipurpose set that goes well with the season.

Next week I'll do some more of these gift ideas as we're closely approaching December (Gosh it's going by so fast isn't it?)

Halloween Look! (and some extra Halloween items!)

Happy All Hallows Eve everyone!

One of my most favourite times of the year, when the veil between life and death thins and we dress up to confuse the demons who are up to no good! I've got my current vampy manicure, my make-up look for my costume, the pumpkins me and my mom did and the spiderweb cupcakes we made. Lots of spooky goodness in this post!

I painted my nails first with my base coat Gelous then two coats of Vampira by Eyeko. Then I took painters tape and taped across so only the tips showed and used Sephora OPI's Sample Sale for blood red tips on a very blood splattered and gothic looking nail design.

Showing the shimmer :D

Green slime and purple webbing blood splatter cupcakes! (Actually it's just buttercream icing and cherry chip cupcakes but they were fun to make!)

Here's my vampire look! My first time using false eyelashes I had to cut them in half to get them to stick on okay but overall I'm quite pleased.

My vampire teeth (I love these, no lisp and the look awesome!)

My vampire look :D (Some of the white eyeshadow has come off by this point but you get the idea). Here's what I used: 

• Annabelle matte eyeshadow single in Snowflake
• Lorac oil-free illuminzer in pearl 01
• Revlon dark red lipstain in Twilight
• Mac Greasepaint stick in Greengrease
• Wet n' Wild Holographic Silver glitter
• Mac Vex eyeshadow
• Gosh Waterproof eyeshadow cream stick in Love That Ivory
• Kat Von D 500 point Sephora palette black sparkly eyeshadow
• Fake Lashes from Life Brand
• Urban Decay 24/7 Pencil in Zero
• Fyrinnae Lip Lustre in Ghostly Voice
• Quo Eiffel Tower lip gloss in burgundy
• Cargo Activating Primer
• Laura Mercier Secret Concealer in number 2
• Make Up Forever Full Cover Concealer (forgot the number)

My Graveyard scene with the wind-blown tree branches!

And all lit up!

Mom's pumpkin topiary :D

Top lit up!

That's all for now! Hope you enjoyed, feel free to ask any questions.