Two Makeup Tools Everyone Needs

That's quite the title for a beauty post, huh? After a few weeks of playing around with these two beauty tools, I can honestly say that I would never go back to not having them around. Why might you ask? Because they make your life so much easier! 
Let's start off with that little egg shaped, pink sponge. You've probably seen it before and thought that it's so overpriced (which it kinda is but that's besides the point) but the BeautyBlender is essential for making your base look like skin. I have no idea what it is about it but once dampened, it's able to seamlessly spread out foundation and concealer and press it into the skin so as to not have a masking effect. You avoid any harsh streaks that could come out of using a generic foundation brush and you get a natural look even from higher coverage foundations! Magical I tell you. My biggest tips would be to always use this sponge after it has been soaked in water and rung out - it will prevent the sponge from sucking up all of your foundation. On that same note, I think you get the best results when using a foundation that has a bit more of a thick consistency. Something like the Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet is so liquidy that it'll be soaked into the sponge. Just like any of your brushes, always wash this after you use it. With my other brushes I tend to wash them every week, but I wash my BeautyBlender after each use because I want to prevent it from getting stained and from sitting around collecting bacteria. Cleaning it is super simple - take a small blob of cleaner onto the sponge and gently massage it in. Then all you need to do is rinse it out well with water until the water is clear and let it dry. All in all, such a good makeup tool!
I feel like I'm going to talk about the MAC 217 for the rest of my life and make everyone I know get it. This brush is the most useful one I have in terms of eye brushes because it does it all - buffs shadows onto the lid, it's perfect for adding depth into the crease and it blends out all of your shadows to prevent any rough edges. It's amazing! This is my first MAC brush and I must say, you get what you pay for. Sure, it's more expensive than ones you can get at the drugstore, but the quality is impeccable. You could easily have two or three of these in your collection and it wouldn't be a waste because they're so multipurpose and will last you ages. If I had to recommend one eyeshadow brush to you, hands down it would be the MAC 217. 
While getting makeup is exciting, you can't forget about the tools you use to apply it with and these two are my absolute loves! If you have them, let me know your opinions and send some more recommendations my way of tools you just can't live without. 

What's On My Face #4: Matte Eyes

Yet another neutral look from me, surprise surprise. I'm really not into lots of colour anywhere other than my lips, so this look is natural and just enhances what you've got. When you want to look polished and not over the top, a good staple matte eye is the way to go and it is so easy to create with the Urban Decay Naked Basics (which I'm in love with!). This look is quite to throw on when I'm in a hurry and there are a few reasons why!
In terms of base, there isn't anything very new here except for the fact that I've been skipping liquid foundation on chill days and going for some NARS Creamy Concealer on areas where I need it and blending it out with my Real Techniques Contour Brush. It's a light base that covers any redness without making my face feel too clogged up with makeup. To even out my skin and give me a little bit of extra coverage, I applied the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Plus all over with a fluffy powder brush. As always, I can't put down my Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Tipsy so a good sweeping of that was a must! Before heading off to tackle the eyeshadow portion of the look, a girls gotta get dem eyebrows in check and y'all know how I feel about the Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil in Dark Brunette - love!
Yes for matte eyeshadows! I'm loving the naturally defined eye look recently and the Naked Basics palette is quickly becoming a go to for no fuss eyeshadow. I took Foxy under my brow bone and Venus in my tear duct. Then with a shader brush I took Naked 2 all over the lid. I usually use this as a crease colour but I wanted to have a slightly more smoked out look. Since the Naked Basics doesn't offer a warm transition colour for the crease, I went into my Coastal Scents 28 Neutral palette, which I honestly always forget I have, and took a mix of the 4th and 5th shadows in the 2nd row through the crease to add some warmth and definition to the eye. I wanted a little bit more drama so with the shade Faint from the Naked Basics palette, I deepened the outer corner. That's eyeshadow done. A quick swipe of the Stila Stay All Day Liquid Liner and some L'Oreal Telescopic Mascara and the eyes are done! 
Finishing off the look, I wanted a lip colour that was slightly sophisticated looking and a neutral shade that would just add to the naturally enhanced look I was going for - MAC Modesty was the way to go. This lipstick was one I bought on a whim but I really love it and think it's a shade everyone should own. That's it, simple and easy. 

Beauty Haulin': Birthday Edition

Cutting down on beauty purchases seems like the type of thing every beauty obsessed girl says she'll do... but never gets around to. Since my birthday passed and I had an excuse to check some things off of my "To Try" list, I picked a few things up, tested them out, and now I'm ready to give you guys a sneak peek at some products that will surely be featuring on the blog in no time! 
While buying lipsticks and eyeshadows is usually what ends up happening, we can't forget to focus on the tools that make application a breeze! There were two things high up on my list, the Beauty Blender and the MAC 217 brush. I must say, it took me way too long to test these out. Applying foundation with a damp Beauty Blender gives the prettiest finish and really does give an airbrushed effect. The only issue I've had with it is that some of my foundations have stained the sponge which really bothers me, but there really wasn't any way of knowing which liquid foundations would do that more than others. Other than that, the Beauty Blender is awesome! Alright, now don't get me started on the MAC 217. Honestly, if you need a "do everything" brush, then this one is probably your best bet. Great for a wash of colour all over the lid and Iincredible for blending in eyeshadows. Highly, highly recommend this! 
Onto the beauty products. The eyeshadow loving girl inside of me is finally out and was looking to expand her horizons. While a Naked palette was very tempting, I thought the Naked Basics would serve me well especially because I needed more matte eyeshadows to work with. This really doesnt disappoint and it gives you the versatility you would want in a palette. Next is another Amelia Liana recommendation: Sephora's Cream Lip Stain in 01 Always Red. If you're looking for a matte red lip that will not budge, even when you're eating pizza (I know from experience...), then you've found your new best friend! Perfectly vibrant, smooth, lightweight and incredibly long lasting. This. stuff. rocks! 
Last two things were thrown in on a whim, but mostly the Urban Decay Triple Threat Eyeliner Set. You know how the checkout at Sephora always gets you with the cute minis and special offers, and this time was not exception! I was browsing around and this little set caught my eye instantly. It seemed perfect because I'm not a huge eyeliner person so getting a smaller size and getting three very useful shades (Black, Grey and Navy) was a no brainer - had to get it! I've used the navy shade so far and I loved how smooth the pencil was, as well as the pigmentation being through the roof. Last but not least, the Elizabeth and James Nirvana White perfume. I had been wanting this since I first took a whiff of it while walking around Sephora but I really wasn't looking to buy a full sized perfume just yet, so the rollerball seemed like a good idea. In hindsight, it's probably not the best value for money but it is really convenient. In a few months time I'll most likely be trading it in for the full size! 
That's it for this years round up of birthday beauty purchases. Really didn't go too crazy but in reality, I think I bought myself enough early birthday presents for them to count! Anything new beauty wise you'd like to recommend? You know I'm always open to suggestions!

My MAC Lipstick Collection (so far)

It's no surprise that my first step into the high end beauty waters was through MAC. Back in the day, there were basically three makeup categories: drugstore, MAC, and everything else. I still remember walking into the store and buying my first item (the paint pot in Rubenesque) and feeling so posh ha! A few years later, and the MAC craze has kind of died down for me but there is always something at MAC that will forever tug at my heartstrings and that's lipsticks! I can never walk past a store and not leave with a hand full of lipstick swatches and making a list in my head of what the next one will be. Since the collection has grown in the past few months, I thought I'd share the lipsticks I own and tell you which ones are must haves!

L to R: Creme d'Nude, Shy Girl, Peach Blossom, Modesty, Lovelorn, Syrup, Up The Amp, Morange

As you can tell from the picture above, 6 out of the 8 lipsticks I own are in the neutral shade range. On an everyday basis, I tend to gravitate towards those shades so I find it to be more cost effective if I buy shades that I'll wear often and save more of the bright colours for drugstore purchases since I don't grab for them as often. But let's be real, there are some gorgeous bright shades at MAC that I'm dying to get my hands on (Rebel is next come Fall time!). 
My first ever lipstick was Hue, which I don't have anymore because I used it to the last swipe but the longest standing one in the collection is Creme D'Nude, which you can see is on its last legs. I was a huge nude lip lover back in the day so it's no surprise those were my first two purchases. I don't use Creme D'Nude often now on it's own, but I will use it to white out the natural pigmentation of my lips if I need to tone it down or as a base for sheerer lip glosses to stand out more. 
Now, for Back 2 MAC lipsticks. The first one I chose was Up The Amp, which is SO out of my comfort zone but I guess that's why I chose it. If I'm gonna get a lipstick for free, might as well choose something I wouldn't spend my money on normally. It's quite the unique shade and I only pull it out on rare occasions but I do love mixing it with a peachy pink gloss to create a really cool effect! The latest Back 2 MAC I did was for Syrup. Lily Pebbles constantly talks about this shade and my mom had it in her makeup bag a few years ago and I surprisingly really liked it so I thought it would be a good one to go for. A neutral pink with mauve undertones that gives enough colour but is truly an unexpected take on the classic neutral lip. 
The one lipstick I would say to get: Peach Blossom. I seriously love this. Perfect for everyday and goes with just about everything. It's a cremesheen so it goes on really smooth and it has the ideal mix of pink, peach, brown... oh my, this is just a beauty! To finish off the neutral and pink lipstick section we've got Shy Girl, Modesty and Lovelorn which are my most recent additions. Shy Girl is a ViviannaDoesMakeup suggestion, as most of my makeup choices are, but this is a really nice peachy nude that definitely leans more peach. At first, I thought it would wash me out but I was pleasantly surprised at how flattering it is. This one is gonna be one that I grab for a lot when doing more smoked out looks on the eyes! Modesty is one that doesn't look very special in the tube but oh dear, it is just gorgeous when worn. It's a dusty muted pink shade with a bit more of a brown undertone that is so flattering and kinda has that whole sophisticated look down. It's a good default shade if you want something neutral. Last but not least in the neutral category is Lovelorn, which is definitely the most pink of the bunch but is really pretty. It has less warm undertones and stronger blue base to it then any other lipstick I have but that helps it look really fresh and the pink pops more on the lips, despite it being more neutral than a pink like Chatterbox. 
The last one sticks out like a sore thumb when next to all of my lipsticks but I just love Morange. It is not for the faint of heart but there's nothing like it! it's a true orange and I love wearing it during this season because it's a bit unexpected but definitely on trend and brightens up your whole face. It's an amplified finish so the colour pay off is amazing but unlike a matte finish, it doesn't make your lips feel or look dry! So glad I purchased this one and I can't wait to wear it as the Summer heats up even more. 
There you have it, my MAC lipstick collection. Sooner or later, I'll probably film a video where I actually apply them on which is really helpful, and by that time I'm sure there may be a few more added to the bunch. Have any MAC lipstick recommendations for me? I always love discovering new shades so send them my way!!! Hope you have the best week.

What's On My Face #2: Day to Night Makeup ft. Orange Lips

Welcome to another edition of What's On My Face! Today I thought I'd show you how I take my makeup from day to night - and it is literally the simplest thing you could ever do! I'm not huge on tons of eyeliner or crazy smokey eyes but when I want to make my look more fun for a special occasion or going out to dinner, a bold lip is my choice. Sure, it may be slightly impractical when you're chowing down on your spaghetti, but you'll look good while doing it, right? 
The look I created has really simple skin, featuring a sneaky purchase I made a few days ago, that is matte but still natural looking. I kept it simple with some primer in my t-zone, a thin layer of foundation, and a few swipes of concealer where I needed it and that was it! For cheeks, I put on a coral hue, making sure to keep it away from the inside of my face close to my nose. Eyes were kept minimal, I didn't play around with eyeshadow, all I did was take some waterproof eyeliner in a dark brown and lined my upper lashline softly and then took an angled brush and smudged it out for an undone look. A few swipes of lengthening mascara in the blackest black you can find, and eyes are finito! Of course, you know me and my love for bold brows so that needed to happen or else this look just wouldn't be complete. 
Alright, now for the fun. During the day, a swipe of a sheer pink gloss gets you through but if you want to embrace the warmer weather and wear this season's hottest makeup trend, you have to go for a bold orange! I definitely stick to my pinks but I've been loving the look of orange lips and I can see myself rocking this for a fun dinner or running errands at the grocery store, but that's just me and my love for a bold lip. If you want to really take it up a notch for night time, Maybe add a bit of black liquid liner and do a little feline slick for a fun edge - but since the lip is already so bold, I'd stay away from adding to much else to the look. Another thing you can try is skipping the blush and going for a more contoured effect with a matte bronzer, I think that would look fantastic! So, what do you think? Are you gonna be trying out the citrus inspired pout this Spring and Summer?
Face: Benefit The POREfessional //  Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet in B30 // NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Custard // Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Tipsy // Hourglass Arch Brow Sculting Pencil in Dark Brunette
Eyes: Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner in Damsel // L'Oreal Telescopic Carbon Black
Lips: Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector in 05 // MAC Lipstick in Morange

New In: Spring Lip Colours

Oh lip products, how I love thee! I'm always interested when my favourite beauty bloggers give recommendations for new shades or product releases so these are my latest blogger inspired lip products purchases for Spring!
Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids in Vivid Rose// Bright lips are something I'm always down to experiment with, especially in warmer weather, and this lipstick is just gorgeous! Vivid is definitely the right word to describe this shade - it is incredibly bright and pigmented and the rose undertones of this pink make it a great transitional colour for Spring. Definitely one to swatch when you see it! 
Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balm in Unapologetic & Complex// I have two shades from the original Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain line but these matte balms were definitely intriguing. I find that I don't have many matte finish lipsticks in my drawer and these fit the bill for closing that gap. They are surprisingly, incredibly creamy and glide on like a dream (although you definitely want to have exfoliated lips beforehand). The shade Unapologetic, a bright true coral, is one of Alix from ICovetThee's favourites and looks so good on her, so naturally it was a colour I gravitated towards. Complex is a peachy nude which wouldn't be my first choice if I saw the range but ViviannaDoesMakeup included it her Spring Edit and suggested another way to wear it so I was convinced. I'm definitely loving these so far!
MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Peach Blossom// This. Is. A. Beaut! Another Anna inspired purchase (do you see a trend here?) and one that is now basically my default when I need a peachy pink nude for everyday wear. I don't know how many different ways I can say that I love this but I seriously do. It's such a flattering shade, and one that would be foolproof for a lot of different skin tones. The formula is one of my favourites - Cremesheens are super creamy but still give more colour than my old favourite Hue which is a glaze. I'm so glad I heard about this shade because it's not one that you hear about very often. 
Have you tried any new lip products for Spring? What's your favourite formula or brand?

Big, Bold and Beautiful

On an everyday basis I'm a neutral lip girl through and through but on the rare occasion that I feel like spicing it up a bit, a bold bright lip is always the antidote. It always makes a statement when you have on a light base, a simple eye and a show stopping bright lip! You don't always have to go full on and swipe that lipstick like you mean it - occasionally I'll pat the colour in and blot in order to get a fresh wash of colour that still livens up the face.
My picks that are shown above (top to bottom): Revlon Kissable Balm Stain in Smitten Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Coralberry Mac Lipstick in Up The Amp Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Love That Pink Lancome Rouge In Love Lipstick in 340 Rose Boudoir  Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipgloss in Fuchsia Therapy
Apart from the gloss, I usually prefer my brighter lip colours to have a cream finish, without shimmer or frost. Also, I'm not a fan of extremely glossy bold shades because they tend to get messier more quickly. If I had to choose my favourite from the ones I've selected it would most definitely be Revlon's Coralberry. I find that with this shade I can pull off a stronger coral and it suits my skin tone really well. Sometimes I'll even wear it with a nude lip underneath to get the best colour pigmentation and to stop my natural lip shade from getting in the way of its beautiful colour.  Any bright and bold lip favourites you recommend?

The "I Need To Leave Right Now" Look

I know I've shown my 5 product face routine previously on the blog, but I thought I'd narrow it down even more for when you're extremely pressed for time. Hopefully I'm not the only one who has woken up 30 minutes before I had to leave and needed to sandwich in a shower, breakfast and makeup in that time span. When I'm caught in such a dilemma I only apply the staples that make me look a bit more alive. 
Complexion This step really depends on what kind of a skin day I'm having. If my skin is look alright I can usually get away with a few swipes of concealer (note: this means it needs to match your skin tone perfectly or else spot concealing will be very noticeable). Since I'd usually set any liquid products on my face with powder, I thought sticking with just a quick buffing in of powder would take care of most of my redness and keep the oil at bay. The powder I'm currently finishing off is the MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation
Cheeks No matter how pressed for time I am there is always time to put a little life back into my face. Since I don't suffer from terribly pale skin, I usually opt for some blush. It's perfect for giving you a rosy glow! Tip: If you still like the warmth of a bronzer, a good option is MAC Melba blush. The blush I have been grabbing for is Lancome Blush Subtil in Aplum.
Eyes I can't lie, almost everyday without fail all I do is apply a few coats of mascara and that's eyes settled. I'm not a big fan of a full eyeshadow look for daytime because it's too done up for my style of "no-makeup makeup" so I keep it as simple as possible. A swipe of Benefit They're Real Mascara is all I need to add a little extra umph.
Lips Again, when you're running out the door you can't be bothered with lipsticks and liners. Applying something that you can throw into your purse and touch up as needed without the mess is essential! For this step I always choose a tinted balm of some sort because it gives me some colour but all the nourishment I want in one simple swipe. To go with the rosy look I chose Nivea Fruity Shine in Cherry.  Those were my steps for the quickest makeup I can do without having to go out looking like a mess. What are your favourite products to use when you're in a rush?

The Perfect Mix

I'm sure I'm not the only one who has an intense love of lip products, but don't you just hate it when you can't seem to find the right colour to wear with a certain look? No matter how many colours you've acquired and hours you've spent on the hunt in a Sephora, there just seems to be a void. Solution? Mixing colours you already own. This girl right here is the biggest advocate for it. I'll often apply a nude under a brighter/deeper shade to get the best pigmentation out of it (mostly because my lips tend to get very red on their own) or to tone it down. The best part is that you have a colour that's all your own and you can pull out the pigments you want to see the most of with just one swipe.  Lately, I've reorganized my lip product drawer and tried to start using the shades that have slipped my mind and been shoved to the back burner. The star of the show for this is MAC Up The Amp lipstick which I bought as part of the Back to Mac program. I used to be must less daring with the hues that I dared to wear but I thought, I don't have to technically pay for it so why not. Truth be told, I had a hard time pulling off until I tried mixing it with other products and made it work for everyday. 

Shade to the far left is when the colours are mixed

From L to R: MAC Creme d'Nude, Mac Up The Amp, Rimmel Vinyl Gloss in Be Famous

I firstly apply Creme d'Nude softly and blend out with my finger just so I don't get the concealer lips look, then swipe on a bit of Up The Amp and top it off with the Rimmel gloss in Be Famous to turn the purple shade into a purple toned coral, if you will. I love this combo for a fresh faced look with a bit of a twist.  Don't let those lip products at the bottom of your drawer go to waste, create your perfect shades and make them work for you!  What combinations are your favourite? How are you making use of left behind lip products?
Verse of the day: "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see" Hebrews 11:1

The Five Product Face

Lately I've been having those mornings where my alarm doesn't off or I'm exhausted from studying too late, so I can't be bothered with colourful eye looks or complicated makeup before heading to class. Solution? Coming up with a foolproof, simple routine that makes you look fresh and awake without taking up all of your time. I'm well aware that there are 6 products in the picture which defeats the purpose of the "five product face" but I'll explain in just a sec.

After cleansing and moisturizing, my next step is applying a tinted moisturizer. Surprise, surprise - it's Jouer Matte Moisture Tint in Nude! This is perfect product in the morning to give my skin a nice base and is easy to apply which makes the beautifying process much easier on me when I'm barely even alive yet. I follow up with my favourite concealer of the moment - NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer under the eyes and over any blemishes. This stuff is magical, nuff said. The wand applicator is perfect for quick application and the formula blends in seamlessly. This product is great for those who want radiance but like the added benefit of having a more matte complexion. That's it for the base! Now let's add some life back into the face. When I don't know what blush to wear I will almost instantly reach for MAC's blush in Melba. I think this shade would look flattering on a wide range of skin tones and the matte finish lends to the ability of this blush to make your face look more defined. For eyes I usually keep my look streamlined and simple with a coat (or two) of black mascara. I've been trying out the Benefit They're Real! mascara since I got it in the Sephora birthday gift this year and I really like it. It defines the lashes and prevents them from getting clumpy which I cannot stand! I'll probably be buying a full size of this in the near future. Alright, here's the twist. If you have a few seconds to spare, spice up your look with a cream eyeshadow pot! Easy application with maximum impact. My favourite for fall has to be the Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze. I take this on the finger and smudge it onto my eyelid and extend the colour into my crease to add some depth. It's amazing how applying it this way gives the effect of an eye look that may have taken you more than the 20 seconds it actually did. Perfect for that smudgy, just rolled outta bed, but still look fabulous look. Last but certainly not least, a swipe of a glossy hue on the lips is all you need to finish off this effortless look. Another shocker here, I tend to gravitate towards my Clarins Natural Lip Perfector in Candy Shimmer because it has a bit more colour and pairs well with the blush.

That's it folks. An easy look to get you through that door looking fresh and radiant! Depending on the season you can always switch out the products to cater to your needs. Lately, if I want a look with a bit more impact, I've switched out the blush for some bronzer and rotated in a deep burgundy shade on the lips (Rimmel Kate Moss lipstick in 107). Knowing that you have a go-to look that only takes 5 products is always great to have up your sleeve for when you're in a rush or want to avoid wearing too much makeup.

Hope you're having a great weekend! xo