Favorites of November

Okay, so frankly there were not as many makeup favorites this month. My cosmetic favorites have pretty much remained the same since the previous month. However, there are a couple little beauty-related things as well as some other items that I have been partial to during this month of November.

MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack

I prefer this gel formula when it comes to eye liner. If I use any other eye liner - like a pencil liner, MAC technakohl liner - it will transfer to the upper part of my eye lid. Fluidline doesn't do that. And it's also ideal when using false lashes.

Pure Liquid Vitamin E

I like to use this at night on my lips, around the eye area, any dry patches on my skin,nails and cuticles. Vitamin E is vital for healthy, shiny hair, nails, and skin. So in its pure liquid form I can apply it directly to those certain areas. I got mine from Shopper's Drug Mart.

Botanics Night Cream

This stuff is heaven. I love the way it feels, it's like a fluffy cream texture. It works well in moisturizing and repairing my skin during the night. And it's a drugstore product!

Tea: Green, White, and Mint

I've been drinking quite a bit of tea in the past couple months, especially these three kinds. Green tea because of its health benefits. I picked up Tazo's Berryblossom White Tea because it sounded good and I have proved that it is in fact good. And mint is a good one to drink after dinner, especially if what you ate isn't settling well, because it aids in digestion. Tea also makes for a warm and healthy treat in these coolers months.

Snow Fairy Shower Gel

Smells so good; vanilla and candy. I want to eat it.

And..

Breakfast at Tiffany's, The Movie

I watched this film for the first time while in Montreal. I loved it! I can't wait to watch it again and again.

♥M

October Favorites

i.d. bareMinerals All Over Face Color in  Warmth (and brush)

I can't believe how orange this looks in the picture! That's terrible. It really is very brown, quite a dark brown. I only use a little bit to give me a sun-kissed glow. I am in love with the all over face color in Warmth! It contains super fine shimmer (mica I believe) so it gives off a beautiful glow without being too sparkley or chunky glitter like other shimmer bronzers. It's not muddy on me. And I think because of the formulation, the minerals and it being a loose power, it's a dream to blend it onto the skin; I'll use it on my face, neck, chest, or/and anywhere else I feel I need it.

MAC 168 Contouring brush

I have been using and loving this brush for my blushes!

Red  Earth Cherry Blossom Blush in Cheeky Flirt

Too bad Shoppers Drug Mart no longer carriers Red Earth Cosmetics. I bought this blush a year or two ago when it was marked down for clearing out. I bought some other items as well and it really is a great brand. However, nobody gave it any attention before (myself included) until everything was marked down. This shade is a matte light mauve color.  Hopefully I can find a good dupe or at least another new favorite :)

MAC Paint Pot in Painterly

This should be in my favorites every month, but I'm not going to do that. This one will go without saying. I think this is a must-have, especially for any beginner's makeup bag. It's a matte skin-tone color to even out the eye lid area. It's lovely alone by itself or to enhance eye shadow colors and their longevity. I hear that not all MAC paint pots are creasless (like Blackground, however I haven't tried it for myself) but you don't have to worry about any creasing with Painterly.

Sally Hansen Salon Strength Nail Polish Remover 

The best nail polish remover ever! It removes any last traces of dark nail polishes effortlessly. I got mine at Wall-mart. I find moisturizing formulas are pointless. I have to use more swipes to get the polish off as oppose to 2-3 easy swipes of a stronger remover. Eventually, a moisturizing remover is drying my nails out after all the rubbing I have to do.

Sally Hansen Vitamin E Moisturizing Nail and Cuticle Oil

I need something to treat my nails after all that acetone. Any nail cream or oil would surely work just fine. I've had this one around for a while and I always use it. I paint the oil on and massage it in until dry. My nails are quenched and healthy looking. I only use polish again the next day if I'm going to paint my nails again.

Color Corrector Slimline

I got this from Sally's Beauty Supply. This truely does beat the q-tip-dipped-in-nail polish remover trick. The tip on this polish corrector is hard and it's not dripping with remover like a q-tip would. So it's very precise and you're not removing more color than you had wanted.

Botanics Skin Conditioning Body Scrub

This is an "invigorating salt scrub with moisturizing ginseng extract" and it really works. I tried some salt scrubs from The Body Shop but I found that it disolved too quickly while in the shower. This formula here is thicker and doesn't dissolve so easily. I was able to scrub longer and slough away those dead skin cells. The scent isn't amazing, but it's not bad either nor strong. Although I'm not too concerned about the fragrance anyway because this stuff does the job wonderfully. My skin is really soft afterwards.

Samples

And finally, who doesn't love samples!? Especially free samples? The only sample I paid for was the argon oil from Sally's Beauty Supply. And by the way, those Benefit samples (Erase Paste & Some Kind-a Goregous) are super generous sizes!

I hope everyone has a safe, fun, and happy Halloween! I can't wait to see everyone's costumes in pictures tomorrow! I'm not dressing up this year :( I'm actually going to see a David Copperfield show tonight. Anyway, take care!

♥M

September Favorites

Hey Everyone!


Here they are, my September Faves! Enjoy! 

Almay One Coat Nourishing Triple Effect Mascara

I had used this mascara in the past, a few years ago, and re-purchased again recently. I've been trying out some other drugstore brands, including a variety of rubber bristles. I decided to go back to my favorite trusty drugstore mascara because it simply does what it says. It works best in both volumizing and lengthening. And it's nourishing (apparently) so that's always good - not that I can really tell a difference in regards to that. And the brush itself is a bit different. The magic's in the brush for sure. One side of the brush is for volume while the other is for separating and lengthening. And it's not very clumpy at all, like the Maybelline Oscillating mascara I find to be a bit too clumpy.

Benefit's Box Blush in CORALista

This was a relatively recent purchase, about a month or so ago, and I have been using almost all month. I had wanted this for a while and finally indulged myself. I use a couple different brushes  to apply this blush (including the one that it came with) depending on how much pigmentation I want. I appreciate that this blush is not glittery like some other boxed blushes can be, but it's rather a fine shimmer, providing a sheen to the cheeks. It's a very pretty and unique color.  And it smells great! Oddly enough.

Bed Head TIGI Blush in Glowing

I've had this blush kicking around for a while - I must have purchased it around spring 09. It's a medium brown matte shade. Iit is a blush, not like a bronzer. It simply adds some life and color to my face, especially if I'm just doing quick makeup or I want to be minimal. It simulates a natural glow without the pinks and the shimmer.

Borghese Nail Laquer in Bambina Pink

What I love most about this polish is that it dries so quickly! I've used up about half the bottle now. I'll have to purchase a back-up soon. The color is a sheer pink and it's very natural looking which is great for everyday, it will go with whatever I'm wearing and whatnot. I also use this when I give myself a French manicure.

MAC's Paint Pot in Constructivist

I just recently got this. And I'm loving it! I think it's a great base for brown e/s looks or I have worn it just by itself too.

Cuticle Clippers

Is this weird that this is in my faves? Hah, whatever! I have been all about my nails lately. And I mean just taking care of them, grooming them, trying to make them look effortlessly gorgeous. I find that I have naturally disgusting nails if I don't manage them. Therefore, I do file them often to keep the desired length and shape. I use a nail & cuticle oil (by Sally Hansen) and massage that in.  Then, I push back my cuticles and snip 'em off! It looks so much cleaner this way! I'm actually addicting to cutting off my cuticles.

♥M

August Favorites

Benefit Talk to The Tan

When I first seen this I popped the lid, squeezed a bit of the product out onto the back of my hand, and then became a bit startled. The color is a medium brown and you're suppose to slather this all over your face. Well, I decided to take a chance and try it out. Needless to say, I love it. I'm not sure about you, but my face is a lot lighter than the rest of my body. I do not tan in tanning beds (anymore) and I've relied on the natural sun to achieve a sun-kissed glow. I'm not super dark, at all. But my face does not keep a tan. And I know why; it's because of all the facial cleansing I do, day and night. That's okay though, I've found Benefit Talk to The Tan! I just apply a small dollop all over my face and down my neck. And if I want it darker, I apply a second coat. I wear this over moisturizer. It's a nice, light gel-like substance, it doesn't feel like you've added another layer to your face. If I'm wearing foundation that day, it goes like this: moisturize, slather on talk to the tan after the moisturizer dries, mix the tan stuff into my foundation of choice and rub that all over, using just my hands. And voila! This is not a self-tanner! This will wash off next time you cleanse.

Smashbox High Definition Healthy Fx Foundation

This product claims it is "an oil-free, weightless formula packed with anti-aging, revitalizing, and firming ingredients that work overtime to provide cellular nutrition for skin." Doesn't that sound delicious? It also as an SPF 15 and some vitamin C. What I personally love about this foundation is that it is a light weight formula and super easy to blend. It's more of a light to medium coverage, which is what I like. However, it's definitely buildable for more coverage. As of recently, I purchased MAC's Studio Fix Fluid in NW30, which I'm trying out here and there. But compared to this Smashbox, it's very difficult to blend. But I guess that's what you get for a full coverage foundation? I predict that this Smashbox foundation will continue to be my go-to foundation, and I'll wear the studio fix fluid on special occasions in which I desire that extra coverage.

Vichy Ultra Protection Sunblock Stick SPF 60

Summer's pretty much over, but if you still spend a lot of time outdoors throughout the year, this is a great investment! If I'm spending a day in the sun - at the beach or on the boat, wherever - I ensure that I do not leave the house without this. If I do, I'm not a happy camper. Where do I use this? Around the eye  area and on my lips. These are my most sensitive areas. I'm trying to take extra special care of my skin now so my future will thank me. You could also use this on your nose and ears.

Realness Of Concealness 

I think this is a great little trial kit, especially if you are new to the Benefit line. I especially love the boi-ing concealer in #2, which luckily is my number (the skin-toned block on the bottom right of the palette). Benefit only carries three shades when it comes to concealers, which some people love and others not so much. I find the stuff works pretty great for me, so no complaints here. All you need is to tap a little bit on the under eye circles with your ring finger, and build on with more product if need be.

The lemon aid (the yellow block above the concealer on right side of palette) is a nice wake-up call for your eyelids. I generally wear this if I'm not wearing much makeup that day, but it's fine alone or works well as a primer for eyeshadow. It takes away redness and makes you look well rested and fresh.

Ooh la la I have to try a bit more. It receives enough raves, but I only tried it maybe once or twice, and didn't see much of a change.

The lip plumper I like to use as a lip primer/base for my lip stick. Honestly, I don't notice any change in the size of my lips. I may or may not purchase the full size when I'm done, as I can use other products instead, like foundation. But we'll see.

And the high beam is a wonderful highlighter! Love it! I will more than likely purchase the full size when I run out. It is not a sparkly highlight at all. It's a nice creamy sheen. I place this on top of my foundation, on my cheek bones, up to the temples, then apply a bit of setting powder in the t-zone and eye area. It's a nice dewy, glow.

I enjoyed this palette and I would certainly recommend it for those who are looking to try the essentials from Benefit.

Physician's Formula bronzer

As you can see, I hit pan with this bronzer. I've been using this bronzer all summer long. Now, when I run out, I'll have to find a different bronzer. I was looking in the stores and online, but it looks like the brand does not make this specific bronzer anymore. Which is fine with me. I was using this just because I had it lying around, I realized I kind of liked it after a couple uses, and then became heavily reliant on it throughout the summer months. I'll just have to try out some new bronzers is all! This one was just a two-toned mosaic talc-free bronzer.

♥M