Upcoming Summer 2014 Makeup Collection Releases

A few months back I shared with you the exciting new Spring collections, so I thought I'd share my favourites for the Summer season! I never really used to pay attention to limited edition collections but there's always so many exciting releases - some of which actually stay permanent!
NARS have really been impressing me with their seasonal collections (I'm still bitter that I didn't jump on the Guy Bourdin thang...) and the Summer collection is no different. Firstly, their famous lip glosses are getting a bit of a revamp to their formula, packaging, and even throwing in a bunch of new shades - 7 to be exact, making the collection comprised of 30 shades in total! And even better news, these are permanent. They'll be available on the NARS site April 15th and at Sephora and specialty counters May 1st. I must say I'm pretty excited!

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It wouldn't be a beauty post without me mentioning Anna would it? She mentioned the Chanel Les Beiges powders in videos previously and she always goes on about how smooth these are but I never took the plunge. But, when I saw this new release for the Les Beiges Summer 2014 collection, I was all over it. I specifically feel drawn to the Healthy Glow Multi Colour Powder that comes with a highlighter type shade, a light bronzer and a peachy pink blush (my fave!). It reminds me of the Clarins Palette I talked about a while back. I think this compact would be so useful, especially when you want a foolproof glow without having to take out three separate powders - genius! It seems like the official release date for these is May 5th so mark your calendars people! 

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One release I'm just dying to get my hands on comes from Estee Lauder. I was thinking about this the other day but most of my favourite and most used foundations and base products come from Estee Lauder - so naturally, new summer bases being released get my blood pumping and my eyes wide open! I'm usually all about the matte finish and trying to control my oily face but their sheer, glowy bases have been calling my name for some reason. Maybe it's because of the weather warming up, but I feel like having a fresh, natural base with some precision powder going on is just, well fresher. The Double Wear All-Day Glow BB Moisture Makeup (can that get any longer?) has been out for a little while now and it has me very interested. From the reviews I've seen, this looks like it gives a really natural finish but it stays in place all day - it has Double Wear on it so of course I hope the staying power is as insane as the original! Definitely something to look at. But most exciting to me is their even more recent bb cream release for oily, acne-prone skin. Yes, you heard that right. They've finally come around to the idea that blemishes aren't only for 12 year olds anymore! They brought out an entire range by the name of Clear Difference to help against blemishes (out right now!). They have included a serum, which looks amazing, a spot treatment, and a bb cream! It took one good look at that bb cream to know that I had to befriend it - moisturizing, gives coverage, and actively helps treat breakouts - oh boy, this could be the start of a wonderful thing! Clear Difference Complexion Perfecting BB Creme has an SPF of 35 which is perfect for these sun filled months ahead of us and it's oil free AND oil-controlling. I mean, I just can't - where do I sign up?

As you can see, I much prefer the actual colour collections for Spring. Summer collections tend to be a bit too full on for my liking with the excessive amounts of bright colours in their compacts, so I much prefer single product releases. All of these have me very curious and intrigued so when they come out in stores, I'll be swatting up a storm for sure!
Any summer releases you're excited about?

The Best Eyeshadow Primer For Oily Lids?

This week looks like it's gearing up to be quite eye makeup focused but I'm really getting into trying to make peace with eyeshadows. We haven't had a great relationship for the past few years so I thought I'd come to terms with it and find ways to work around my fear of looking like a clown. 
When it comes to applying eyeshadow, not only are the application techniques important but how you prep your lids is often half the battle. You can be the queen of blending shadows but if it takes two hours to have your eyeshadow land on your cheeks... well, then we have a problem on our hands. For the past two years I've been using the Urban Decay Primer Potion and it did an okay job - definitely better than no primer at all - but I felt like there had to be a better option out there. One of my biggest concerns with taking the time to apply my eyeshadow in the morning was the fact that it would crease up horribly in a few hours and that's just not a good look. It brought back horrific memories of a 13 year old me wearing a sparkly pink eyeshadow stick by Rimmel and going home at the end of the day only to notice that my greasy eyelids had done their magic and gathered up a pink mess within the creases of my eyes- oh dear. I literally cringe. 
I did a ton of research (as one does when you've got 20 options for the same product) and the decision was made unanimous - NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base was the one to get. I mean, the reviews on Sephora were making this seem like a miracle worker and at $29 I was hoping it would be! Let's just get to the point - this. stuff. rocks. my. world. 

As you can see, the doe-foot applicator makes the job really easy - just swipe on a small amount on your lid and then take your finger and spread it from lash line to brow bone. The formula itself is very creamy and smooth, as well as being quite thin. This is a colourless primer, unlike the Urban Decay option, and is great if you want to put this on and not have eyeshade on top and just throw on some liquid liner. That being said, there is a very small little problem with this. Although it will look white when you first swipe it from the tube, it is invisible as you smooth it out and it can be hard to know what spots you covered well and which parts you may have missed. But, if you can take the extra second or two to ensure you've covered your entire eyelid, this stuff will really works its magic.
It lives up to its claims: extends the wear of your shadow, doesn't feel heavy, and is provides a smooth surface that will allow all the colours you put on top to be vibrant! This has really been my security blanket when I do decide to wear eyeshadow because I know that I won't be reliving my teenage horror stories. I don't experience any smudging or creasing with my shadows and it helps my eye look last all day! One thing that really bugs me, about all NARS products in general, is the packaging. Don't get me wrong, it is absolutely beautiful and sleek and the kind of thing you wouldn't mind applying in public - but  apparently they love to matte matte black packaging that leaves evidence that your foundation smeared hands have been there recently. This might not bother some people, but it completely annoyed me that touching it once left fingerprints (as shown in the picture above). But if you're not as ridiculous as I am, this primer will serve you well and make the extra 5-10 minutes where you do your eye makeup worth your while. Oily eye lids will be no match for this guy!
Have you tried this primer? Does it trump the rest of the primers you've tried?

Bright Eyes: Nude Eyeliner Is The New White?

The age old trick of making you eyes look bigger and more awake with white eyeliner was amazing, but how about a little update to your early morning eye rescue team? I know when I have to commute for an early class the last thing I want to be doing is putting a lot of effort into my eye makeup, which is why I usually just stick to mascara so I don't look like a zombie! I'v been testing out a bit of a change up to my eye look and I must say, I'm a fan!
When I was younger I was really into putting white eyeliner in my waterline and it worked wonders for making my smaller eyes look a bit bigger. Recently though, the trend has shifted into the nude eyeliner look and I'm glad it has. White eyeliner could look quite dramatic, especially on medium to tan skin tones, but nude eyeliner is just subtle enough to do the trick without making it so evident. 

I've had my Annabelle Kohl Eyeliner for a really long time (probably too long...) but it was and still is one of the best kohl pencils I've found at the drugstore. Coming in at about $6 each, you really can't go wrong! Using white eyeliner can be great for when you want a really dramatic, wide awake look or as we saw on the S/S 2014 runways, on the top lash line for a very interesting summery fresh effect - though I'm not sure how well that would translate into everyday wear.... A great nude eyeliner I found, that was also incredibly reasonably priced, was the Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal in the shade Nude. I snatched this up at Walmart on sale for $5 but the regular price is right about that price point - certainly below a tenner! I think the pencil is fantastic! It has the long lasting qualities you would look for in any eyeliner that goes on the water line but it is incredibly smooth and glides on really easily. I find that this pencil has more of that soft kohl effect compared to the Annabelle pencil. It would be interesting to try it out in a fun turquoise or even deep blue for a splash of summer colour!
Using nude liner on the bottom waterline and a full, fluttery lash is amazing when you have a barely there look (as if you had any choice when you're rushed!) or even with a bronze toned eyeshadow swept effortlessly onto the lid. If you've always found that white eyeliner can look stark and a bit too noticeable, I would definitely give nude eyeliner a go. 

Faith Friday: Divided Loyalty

Have you ever asked God for something for so long and with such persistence.... and then not received it? You may think, but God you are so powerful and can do anything - why won't you give this to me? You know what He could reply? Your loyalty is divided - you are unstable in everything! If this comes as a shock, good. God is merciful and loving but remember that as a loving Father he needs to discipline us! 
When I read through James 1 and stubbled upon verse 5 to 8, it left me speechless. 
"If you need wisdom, ask our generous God and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do"  James 1: 5-8
Were those times when God said "try again next time" because I was wavering like that wave? It brings to mind when the Bible refers to the lukewarm Christian (Revelation 3:16) and how God prefers for us to either be hot or cold - but why? If I'm lukewarm it still means that I love Jesus most of the time.... God says, but you are unstable and your loyalty is divided. You can never, ever, without fail, be of God and of the world at the same time. It just doesn't work that way. Jesus spoke out about the things that the world did because people needed to learn that choosing Jesus meant leaving behind everything else! 
Think back to my post about being firm in our faith, this is yet another reason why standing firm in your faith is important. God can't trust you with His blessings if you don't even trust in Him. He needs your 100% choice to be His child and define yourself as such. He wants to know that you are wholeheartedly loyal to Him and come what may, you won't be dragged along because you know of who you are! This is the only way that He will ever pour out the full extent of His blessings upon you - when you aren't shaken and your faith is in Him alone. This means not putting your faith and trust in what others can do for you or what you think you can do on your own. You may barely survive on your own merits but it could be so much better if you let God be your guiding post. 
Like the Word says, don't expect God to give you what you ask of Him unless you are willing to say "Jesus, I put all of my faith in you. My loyalty is not divided!"

The "No Makeup, Makeup" Base: Estee Lauder Invisible Fluid

Remember a few weeks ago when I told you about the Lilly Pulitzer x Estee Lauder Gift at The Bay, well I brought home an Estee Lauder foundation along with it. But, there's quite the story along with this occurrence, so I'll keep it short and sweet. My skin was having one of those major freak outs and nothing I had was able to cover the redness and combat the oiliness on my face. I decided to go for Double Wear foundation in Rattan (2W2). Sadly, Estee Lauder at The Bay didn't carry this colour (weird...) and they matched me to Tawny (3W1) instead. Bad choice... it looked really random in direct sunlight although I did really love how incredibly it covered with the tiniest amount of product, plus it really did stay on all day! Since they didn't carry the correct colour, I had to exchange that foundation for the shade Rattan in the Invisible Fluid foundation which, you can only find at Estee Lauder counters (Sephora don't stock it, sorry!). I'll definitely see if Double Wear can work for me next winter because I feel like it might be just too heavy for warmer month - but for now I'm in a happy love fest with Invisible Fluid! So all is good in the foundation department!

What more can I say, than LOVE. I'd gotten samples of this foundation before but never took the plunge and honestly, I don't know why. It is the epitome of a "no makeup, makeup" base which I adore and makes it easy to just slap and go. Now let's talk formula and get down to the nitty gritty (lol, that expression is seriously so weird!) This is one very similar to Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua, or so I've heard, since it has a water based quite liquidy consistency. You really have to shake the bottle well, I repeat shake that bottle! If not, you'll end up with the pigment separating from the liquid and that just won't be good! Once shaken, you may notice that the shade will look a tad bit dark which you initially squeeze it out of the bottle. This happens with a lot of these new foundations, they get lighter once you rub them in so don't buy it from looking at a small dollop on your hand. Keep that in mind when going into a store and swatching it on your face - make sure to blend. (You can see this in the picture below!) That being said, their IntuiTone technology is amazing for allowing the foundation to adapt very well to your skin. You can see in the picture to the right that the foundation blended in seamlessly with my skin!

Coverage wise, this isn't going to be as full coverage as Double Wear but it does so well at covering redness and discolouration while still looking undetectable on the skin. I don't know how it does it, but it is gooood. It is light to a build able medium coverage, but like I said, with the help of some of my trusty NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer on some acne scars, I look flawless but in an imperfect way if that makes sense. Sort of like, wow that girl has pretty good skin naturally - not like dang, you look like you put on a ton of makeup! This is definitely one if you don't like feeling like you're wearing makeup or for those days when you just need a bit of perking up to skin but nothing that's cakey.
I haven't experimented with Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua myself but from what I heard Invisible Fluid is better for combo/oily skin gals. Without making the direct comparison, I find that this foundation keeps the oil at bay for at least 5-ish hours, which for a more water based foundation is all you can really ask for. I will say that even when I have my t-zone getting oilier, my face never looks quite like a grease ball if you catch my drift. I've had experiences with other foundations that have made me look much worse in less amount of time. I definitely suggest using a setting powder if you worry about that! It never oxidizes on me and the lasting power is great considering it has such a weightless feel. It blends really easily so using my fingers is usually how I like to apply it best but a buffing brush is great too! It gives a really natural finish, not too dewy and not too matte. As far as springtime bases are concerned, this one is a winner!
Some stats: Price: $44 Size: a standard 30 mL Formulation: Oil Free, Fragrance free (yay for sensitive skin gals!), non-acnegenic
Have you tried Estee Lauder Invisible Fluid? Are you as much in love with it as I am?

Not Your Average Cookie: French Macarons

I love to bake when I have some spare time... or when I need to stop writing an essay and take a breather. I'm a bit of a perfectionist at times so I usually like to master recipes that are the staples - a good chocolate chip cookie here, a vanilla pound cake there. But a few weeks ago I decided to dive into the unknown land of French pastries and tackle the world famous macarons. Yes, those beautiful little sandwich cookies that you can find on everyone's Instagram feed and that look almost too cute to eat - almost! I looked online to find a recipe that would explain how to make them, as I'd heard that these cuties are quite temperamental. Thankfully, I stumbled upon Entertaining With Beth's Foolproof Macaron Recipe which basically made the process 10 times easier than it would be otherwise. She gives you the crucial tricks to combat any disasters - and hopefully you'll end up with the perfect little treats!

I went to the grocery store and rallied up all of the ingredients and made my way back to the kitchen to see if these French delights would get the best of me or not! Long story short.... my first attempt went pretty catastrophic. NTS: when they say use parchment paper, USE PARCHMENT PAPER. They got stuck to the cookie sheet and burned on the bottom - whoops! I was determined to get these right no matter what, so I tried the recipe again. What I learned was to make sure you get a feel for your oven's temperature stability. My oven is a lot hotter so even at 350 F I had to be careful not to burn my macarons. I took them out early because they were about the get too brown and it caused for a hollow inside in some of them so keep that in mind. Also, if you can, use another cookie sheet under the one you're using to prevent the cookies from browning on the bottom too quickly. 

Other than that, my macarons turned out pretty cute and delicious! Maybe not to Laduree standards but close enough haha! If you try out the recipe let me know, that way we can share in the struggle that is French baking techniques.