Let Your Eyes Do The Talking | Buxom Cosmetics Big Tease Mascara | Review & Demo

Hey Beauties! 

They say that the eyes are the windows to the soul and I totally agree. Your eyes can speak a million languages in a single glance and the words they speak can be drastically different if they look bright, wide awake and a little bit flirty. 

I am well aware that my eyes tell a completely different story if they are au natural with my blonde lashes and complete lack of definition. However, when I break out the mascara, the liner and the brow gel, watch out because my eyes will be here to play. Adding just a little bit of depth and definition to your eyes completely changes the game from sad and tired to full and flirty. 

Lately, I have been obsessed with using the Buxom Cosmetics BIG Tease Mascara to bring that life to my eyes. It has been the perfect final touch to my glamorous looks and also the little bit of drama I needed on my lazy days. Keep reading to find out exactly why I love this beauty! 

The Buxom Cosmetics BIG Tease Plumping Mascara ($27 CAD/$22 USD - 0.45 oz) is taking the signature big, bold, sexy plumping power that Buxom is known for with their lip products and delivering it straight to your lashes. 

Described as the ultimate lash plumper, the BIG Tease has a creamy, velvety formula that blends 3 high performance waxes together to create a buildable, intensely black finish. It has a smooth, creamy consistency that glides onto the lashes easily and coats every little lash. 

It is the kind of mascara that builds on itself easily becoming thicker and more dramatic as you go. The thicker, softer texture builds up to give gorgeous volume and super black lashes but doesn't weigh them down. This formula does tend to clump up as you build but that is actually something that I like because it makes my lashes look even more dramatic. Totally personal preference! 

The thicker formula needs to dry completely before you touch it to prevent smudging and transfer but once it sets it won't move! 

The unique tapered, conical wand is the key to this mascara, it has natural, chisel-tipped bristles that grab onto each lash, coating them from base to tip! The wand is perfectly shaped to get right down to the root and pick up every last lash. You can wiggle the wand at the lash line to create even more volume and lift and the smaller tip lets you reach the most inner corner lashes. 

I have really enjoyed the wand for helping me find every little lash and bring them to life. Every single time I have done my makeup in the last month, I have reached right for this mascara to get those rich, black lashes. 

If you are a fan of natural bristled mascaras that give a serious boost of drama and deep inky lashes then you might just love the Buxom BIG Tease Plumping Mascara. It has a gorgeous, creamy formula that builds up onto the lashes to make them appear thicker, darker, and fuller. 

You can find the BIG Tease mascara at Sephora.ca

*press sample but opinions are all my own*

It's A Winter WonderGLAM | Benefit Cosmetics Holiday 2017 Collection | Full Overview

Hey Beauties! 

Every year, when the holidays come around I get so positively full of anticipation to see what my favourite brands will release to celebrate the season. There is just something so pleasing to not only my makeup loving heart but also to my slight obsession with the packaging that brands come up with. Brands like Benefit Cosmetics always seem to knock it out of the park with their creative visions and thoroughly themed holiday collections. 

This year is definitely no different with Benefit Cosmetics going back to their roots and celebrating the city that started it all - San Francisco. 

Benefit was founded by two sisters in San Francisco in 1976, right smack dab in the middle of the Love revolution which saw San Francisco brought into the spotlight. The energy and atmosphere that filled the city had a major impact on the creation of the brand's identity and it has carried through in all of their work. 

Now 50 years later, Benefit is celebrating their legacy with a holiday collection of snow globes that each depict iconic San Francisco scenes like the Golden Gate Bridge, the Painted Ladies, Lombard St and even the cable cars!

There are 8 snow globes in total with exclusives at Sephora, Shoppers Drug Mart, and Ulta. Each globe is filled with some of Benefit's cult-favourites and best selling products in a mixture of full sized products and deluxe samples. They all range from between $25 to  $65 CAD with the higher priced globes holding the most full size products. 

Exclusive to Sephora

Head Over Hills ($65 CAD - $120 value) - features a Hoola Bronzing Powder, a POREfessional Primer, a They're Real Mascara, and a deluxe sized Gimme Brow. 

Hello, SanFrancisGLOW ($35 CAD - $55 value) - features a Dandelion Twinkle Highlighting Powder, a Watts Up Cream Highlighter, a Shy Beam Matte Highlighter, and a High Beam Liquid Highlighter. 

I Left My Heart in TanFrancisco ($59 CAD - $121 value) - features a POREfessional Primer, a Hoola Bronzing Powder, a Rollerlash Mascara, a Gimme Brow and a Browvo Brow Priming Serum. 

Exclusive to SDM & Ulta

Beauty and the Bay ($49 CAD - $115 value) - features a full sized Hoola Bronzing Powder, a full size They're Real Mascara, a full size High Brow Highlighting Pencil, and a deluxe sized High Beam Liquid Highlighter. 

Golden Gate Glam ($50 CAD - $81 value) - features a They're Real Mascara, a They're Real Duo Lipstick, a Gimme Brow, a deluxe sized Rockateur Boxed Blush, and an Eyeshadow Duo. 

Galifornia Love ($39 CAD - 83 value) - features a deluxe sized Galifornia Boxed Blush, a full size Rollerlash Mascara, and a full size Gimme Brow. 

Cable Car Cuties ($29 CAD - 45 value) - features a Rockateur Boxed Blush, a deluxe sized POREfessional Primer, and a deluxe sized Gimme Brow. 

B.right by the Bay ($55 CAD) - features a full size Browvo Conditioning Primer, a full size Total Moisture Face Cream, a deluxe sized It's Potent Eye Cream, and a deluxe sized Instant Comeback Facial Serum. 

To go right along with the San Francisco theme, Benefit also released the City Lights Party Nights Gift Set ($42 CAD - $84 value). It's a gorgeous collectible makeup bag that you could totally use as a clutch and inside are all of Benefit's favs for a night out on the town.

 Achieve defined brows, long lashes, full looking lips and a soft glow with a full size Precisely My Brow (in shade 3), a deluxe sized Dandelion Twinkle Highlighting Powder, a deluxe sized They're Real Mascara, and a deluxe sized They're Real Double The Lip Lipstick in the shade Nude Scandal. 

To cap off the collection, Benefit released their best-selling cult classic They're Real Mascara ($31 CAD) in special edition holiday packaging! 

This limited edition treat takes the beautiful gun metal tube and tops it off with a cut crystal inspired cap! Just like last year, it has already sold out on Sephora but you can find it at Ulta and SDM. 

Benefit Cosmetics never fails to come up with the most ingenious themes and the most adorable packaging for every release but the holidays take it one step further. This year's range is absolutely gorgeous and one of my favourites yet. Which gift set is on your wish list?

* I have linked as many sets as possible, quite a few are either sold out or have been pulled from shelves due to the recall on Gimme Brow. If you would like to learn more about this recall or how to manage it - check out this link.* 

Blend The Rules | NEW NARS Soft Matte Foundation Stick | NEW Fall Shades of the Audacious Lipsticks & Mascara | Review & Swatches

Hey Beauties!

Tis' the season for new releases and there are a million and one things on my radar. I'm slowly but surely working my way through the products that have come across my desk and today I wanted to share a peek at the newest permanent releases from one of my favourite brands - NARS Cosmetics. 

NARS is one of the most iconic makeup brands out there, known for their rule-breaking, high-style, forward thinking products that challenge the norm and celebrate individuality. They are all about creating products for every attitude and every lifestyle so no matter who you are or what you do they will have a range of products that are perfect for you. 

New For Base

Their latest release is perfection for the girl on-the-go, the girl who hustles all day long and needs to look put together and naturally flawless without too much fuss. The new NARS Velvet Matte Foundation Stick ($55 CAD/$45 USD) is a new foray for the brand who is so well known for their stunning foundations that come in liquid form (Sheer Glow, All Day Luminous etc). Now you can take the beautiful, skin like yet perfected magic that is NARS foundations wherever you go with this new double ended stick format. 

Formulation

The new Velvet Matte Foundation Stick is a lovely cream foundation that instantly smooths over skin, covering most imperfections, redness, and discolouration with it's low-medium yet buildable coverage. It blends beautifully into the skin and layers easily for a lightweight skin-like finish. It is perfect for the girl who likes a more natural look or for those easy makeup days when all you need is a little bit of coverage. 

It is described as having a "soft matte" finish that mattifies skin and it is indeed "soft" with more of a velvety satin finish that lets your natural glow show through. Although it is not an overly dry matte, I found this foundation to be best for combination or thoroughly hydrated skin that doesn't have dry patches or excessive texture because it will accentuate that. It can be combined with a fuller coverage concealer and a setting powder to amp up the coverage and tame any issues but keep in mind that this foundation is not designed to deliver an intense flawless face so let your skin do the talking!

Application & Shade Range

Foundation sticks (and all other stick products in general) are one of my favourite forms of makeup. I love how quick and easy it is to swipe on and blend out and NARS have really nailed that aspect. The double ended stick has 0.31 oz of product on one end and a removable Touch-up Blender on the other. I love this packaging for those rushed mornings or days when I need to reapply because you can snap the blender into place and buff the product into the exact place you want it. On a regular basis, I use a beauty sponge to apply the foundation but I think the blender is a great idea for when I need to throw it in my purse and head out the door. 

The Velvet Matte Foundation Stick* currently comes in 20 shades, all of which match up with their other foundations. So if you are Siberia in Sheer Glow you will also be Siberia in the Velvet Matte - how awesome is that?

Overall, the shade range is great but could use some expansion. They have a pretty big collection of light-medium toned shades with both warm and cool undertones but they are lacking shades for very fair skin with a cool or neutral undertone as well as for deeper skin. 

I was sent the shades Fiji Light 5 (light with yellow undertones), Mont Blanc Light 2 (light with pink undertones), and Tahoe Med/Dark 2 (medium/dark with caramel undertones). I absolutely love the undertone of Mont Blanc but it's actually a shade or two darker than my true skin tone. The lightest shade Siberia might have worked but it is too yellow for my neutral complexion. I am able to make Mont Blanc work with some blending and some bronzer and I really don't mind with such a pretty finish. 

New For Lips

Another new release from NARS is probably one of the most exciting releases this year, my all time favourite lipstick formula has expanded to include 6 NEW SHADES! I originally reviewed the Audacious Lipsticks ($40 CAD)* 2 years ago (read it here) and I instantly fell in love with the shades Anna (a smokey rose) and Barbara (a tan rose). 

Now they have released 6 new STUNNING shades of these weightless, ultra rich, super-pigmented, luxurious lipsticks. The shades are Vibeke (a beige nude), Linda (a caramel), Aya (a chocolate brown), Dayne (a lavender grey), Kirat (a deep bright purple) and Louise (a deep crimson). 

(l-r Vibeke & Louise) 

New For Eyes

Last but definitely not least, the Audacious Mascara ($34 CAD)* has been given a facelift with 3 new fall appropriate shades (a purple, a navy and a red brown) It is described as "a buildable, all-in-one mascara with an exclusive, lash-catching brush that separates, lengthens, and amplifies" and it gave me long, fanned out lashes with a warm, smokey brown tone that had me feeling all sorts of festive. 

NARS is on top of the world with all of these new fall releases and just wait until you see their holiday collection! I have been loving the Velvet Matte Foundation Stick for no-makeup, makeup days and the darker shade has been great for cream bronzing. I am absolutely obsessed with the new shades of the Audacious Lipsticks and I have loved adding the Audacious Mascara to my lower lashes!

What is your favourite NARS product?

You can find NARS at Sephora, NARS.com, Ulta, The Bay and Nordstrom.  

*press samples but opinions are all my own*

Skincare Secrets | Holiday 2017 | Tatcha Skincare Lovers Obento Box Set | Review

Hey Beauties!! 

Every year around this time, brands will come out with all of their holiday kits and deluxe sized products that are perfection for gift giving but when it comes to skincare they are the perfect opportunity to test out a few products or even a brand you've never tried before! 

It's also perfect timing with the Sephora VIB sale happening right this minute! It starts today and goes till the 15th with 20% off all purchases! Did you catch my wishlist and tips and tricks for shopping the sale? If not - here it is! 

I may or may not have a small obsession with checking the Sephora app for new releases and the second this amazing skincare set was released I placed an order. I knew it would sell out quickly because frankly, it's amazing!

Who are Tatcha?

Tatcha is a relatively new brand to me. I have heard wonderful things about their products  and I have quite a few on my "must buy" list but the only product I actually have experience with is the Luminous Dewy Skin Mist. I'm currently on my second bottle of the magical mist and it has made such an impact on my routine that I knew I needed to try more from the brand. 

Tatcha is an incredibly innovative brand that is based off of the traditional principals, products and ingredients that Geishas have used for years and years. The Geisha's beauty routine is considered an art and their rituals are simplistic and effective, rooted in a trio of powerful ingredients - green tea, red algae, and rice bran. These rituals have been enhanced by a proprietary process developed by scientists and Geishas themselves to bring you Tatcha. 

So what did I buy?

The Tatcha Skincare For Makeup Lovers Obento Box ($72 CAD - $134 value) is a stunning 4 piece gift set with everything you need to give your skin and lips a healthy looking glow. Housed in beautiful bento box style packaging, it comes with two full sized products - one of which retails for $58 alone - and two deluxe sized products. 

The star of the set is the Luminous Dewy Skin Mist ($58 CAD), a full-size hydrating mist that was made famous by Kim Kardashian and Jaclyn Hill. One of my absolute favourite products and a staple in my collection, this silky mist moisturizer is designed to be used before or after makeup to add hydration and bring a beautiful radiance to the skin. When sprayed onto the face it delivers a dewy sheen and a luminous, lit from within glow. It is formulated with botanical oils, humectants, red algae and hyaluronic acid to act as a magnet for moisture, soothing the skin and adding life back into lacklustre skin. 

The Water Cream ($82 CAD alone) is a deluxe-sized oil-free, anti-aging, water based gel cream that delivers nutrient-rich balanced hydration with it's unique water burst technology that bursts upon application. The "bursts" contain a potent dose of nutrients and powerful botanicals for optimal hydration without a sticky or greasy feeling. Japanese wild rose visibly tightens pores and smooths skin texture; Japanese leopard lily helps control excess oil and purify skin by supporting natural skin turnover; and hadasei-3—an anti-aging trinity of green tea, rice, and algae—restores healthy-looking radiance. 

The Violet-C Radiance Mask ($79 CAD alone) is a deluxe-sized creamy, anti-aging mask that is packed with brightening Japanese beautyberry, 2 types of Vitamin C, and smoothing AHA's from 7 different fruits to exfoliate skin, remove dead skin cells, visibly improve texture and reveal brighter, more even toned skin. It is a rinse off treatment designed to explore the power of superfruits and natural botanicals and reveal smoother, softer skin. 

The Camelia Gold Spun Lip Balm ($36 CAD alone) is a full size intensely hydrating lip balm, rich in camellia oil, which has been prized in Asia for centuries for its superb ability to help seal in moisture. It hydrates deep down, nourishes and helps protect lips with a combo of antioxidants and essential fatty acids. It also delivers a touch of subtle shimmer and glow with flecks of 23-karat gold. 

The Obento Box gift set is such an incredible set with some of Tatcha's most famous products at a steal of a price. It is the perfect way to try out some more of Tatcha's range and learn more about the brand as a whole and I have been loving it. 

The Obento Box is currently sold out on Sephora Canada but it is just an example of the amazing sets that Tatcha has available! Why not try the Bestsellers Set, the Kyoto Cleanse, or grab a mini version of the Luminous Dewy Skin Mist to throw in your purse! Also, don't forget to check your local store, they might just have it in stock! 

What is your favourite skincare brand? Have you tried Tatcha?

Moody Lip Lifestyle | Top 8 Must Have Warm Toned Fall Lipsticks | Comparisons, Suggestions & Swatches

Hey Beauties!

Summer who? Fall has officially landed, it seemed to waiver back and forth for awhile with some super warm days but now it is all chilly weather, blankets, slipper socks and cozy candles. Before we know it, winter will be at our doorstep so I want to get as many rich, warm toned fall shades on my lips as I possibly can!

I think we all know that warm tones are my absolute jam and while you can rock whatever your heart desires at any point of the year, there is no time quite like fall for a warm burnt orange or a rich chocolate brown lip. 

So with no further ado, I'm sharing my Top 8 Must Have Fall Lipsticks with swatches, suggestions and comparisons to help you find your new favourite!

The "Neutrals"

the warm toned nude for the cool tone lover - 

Huda Beauty Liquid Matte Lipstick in Venus ($26 CAD) - described as a deep taupe brown this lipstick will look different on a variety of skin tones, personally it tends to look like a warm, rusty nude on my lips but I have it seen appear much darker and also much lighter depending on your complexion. I like to think of it as a gateway into the warm lip world as it has a more neutral tone that is not overly red, orange or purple. This formula is one of my favourites, it is super lightweight with a thin liquidy texture that is infused with antioxidants for a comfortable, slightly hydrating feel before setting into a matte transfer-free finish that lasts all day long. 

the warm toned mauve for the pink lip lover - 

MAC Cosmetics Matte Lipstick in Whirl ($22 CAD) - one of the most raved about MAC lipstick shades (also known as the Kylie Jenner lip) it is described as a dusty mauve but it definitely has more of a warmer tone than the traditional mauve/pink. It can tend to pull slightly cooler on my skin when I am at my fairest and it can also become lighter in tone on darker complexions. The MAC matte lipsticks are richly pigmented with a strong colour payoff that layers beautifully and they feel comfortable on the lips with a slightly dry finish. 

the pumpkin spice burnt orange lip - 

Ciate London Liquid Velvet Moisturizing Matte Liquid Lip in Oh Honey ($23 CAD) - one of my absolute favourite colours for fall, Oh Honey is described as a rust brown and it truly is. The epitome of fall in a lipstick, it is beautifully rich, highly pigmented and bold with a thinner formula that glides on and delivers full colour in one swipe. Wonderfully, the shade you see in the tube is exactly the shade you get on the lips. It is formulated with hyaluronic acid and other moisturizing ingredients to draw moisture to the lips and keep them hydrated throughout wear. This means they feel less drying than the average liquid lip but they also are not quite as transfer proof as other brands. 

the universal warm brown lip - 

L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche Matte Lipstick in He Thinks He's Matte-cho ($10.99 CAD)* - my favourite range of affordable matte lipsticks, the Colour Riche lippies come in 16 shades all of which are absolutely beautiful. This particular one is a nice warm mid-tone brown that will suit a variety of skin tones as either a statement brown or a nude. The formula is lovely, they have a drier consistency but they melt onto the lips and apply smoothly and evenly. The inclusion of pure pigments provide bold colour for rich colour payoff and opaque coverage. 

(top-bottom - Nudestix, L'Oreal, MAC, Huda Beauty, Ciate, Smashbox, NARS, ABH)

The Vampy Lips

the moody brown lip - 

Nudestix Magnetic Matte Lip Colour in Boho ($28 CAD) - my new favourite lipstick formula, the Magnetic Mattes are a 3-in-1 lip stain, lip colour and lip liner. They feature lightweight pigments that allow it to glide on like a liquid but the shape gives you the precision of a pencil. The "stain" factor then comes in when the lipstick sets onto the lips and locks on like a tattoo for kiss proof, transfer proof colour. They are even waterproof! The shade Boho is a beautiful deep brown with a red/purple undertone and a velvety matte finish. 

the brown toned berry lip - 

Anastasia Beverly Hills Matte Liquid Lipstick in Veronica ($26 CAD) - the ultimate iconic matte liquid lip, ABH has a range of 38 shades with new ones popping up all the time. They are ultra pigmented, rich, saturated lipsticks that offer full coverage in a swipe or two and they dry down to last through practically everything. They are on the drier side but I love to use these on days when I know I don't want to worry about my lipstick moving or disappearing throughout the day. The shade Veronica is a beautiful deep taupe berry that screams fall. 

the truly weightless plum lip - 

NARS Powermatte Lip Pigment in London Calling ($34 CAD) - a truly innovative range of lipsticks with 18 shades in total, London Calling is deep warm purple and the formula is where the magic lies. It has an incredibly weightless, super thin consistency that is infused with liquified pigments for fully saturated colour in an ink-like liquid that sinks into the lips and then sets to a matte finish. It tends to become one with your lips, it is ultra-flexible and fills all of your lines and crevices for a beautiful finish that doesn't look dry or cracked. 

the statement red - 

Smashbox Always On Liquid Lipstick in Disorderly ($28 CAD)* - you can't do fall without a dramatic red lip and this beauty is my absolute favourite both in formula and in shade. The Always On formula is my number one choice (you can read more about it here) for bold, vibrant lip colours that stay put through every little thing you could throw at them. They are a range of intensely pigmented, fully opaque liquid lipsticks and Disorderly is a stunning deep brick red. They are formulated with Smashbox's iconic Primer Oil to help condition the lips as well as help the lipstick adhere to the lips fully. The oil makes them ultra comfortable and lightweight on the lips but it doesn't effect the wear as these bad boys do not budge, smudge, transfer or feather. 

wearing Huda Beauty in Venus

wearing ABH in Veronica

Which lipstick is calling your name for this fall season?

*press sample but opinions are entirely my own*