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

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer: Best, Ever?

I think this little review is very overdue, judging by how many times I've actually mentioned this product in posts before. When it comes to concealer, I've been using the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer for a year now and nothing else has taken its place! The love I have for this stuff is real, so it's time for me to gush about why I love it and why it may as well be my holy grail (yup, I brought out the "HG" on ya!)
I'm almost sure that this isn't the first time you've heard about this concealer. Unless you've been living under a rock, you will have seen it pop up on blogs and YouTube videos alike, and for good reason! Last year around this time, I was looking for a new concealer that could offer a lighter weight texture while still giving me the coverage I was looking for. Oh, and of course it had to last all day on my skin. The sales rep at Sephora recommended this, which then lead to a wild goose chase for an entire month before I could get my hands on it because everyone went crazy for it when it was released. So you can imagine how I cherished the first application!
This concealer is definitely medium to full coverage if you build it up and although it is radiant, in the sense that it doesn't make your skin dull, it dries to a more matte finish which is great for oily skinned gals! The texture is smooth but it is slightly thicker than some other concealers that come in a doe foot applicator style tube. It glides over the skin really easily and you can blend it in with fingers or a brush (my favourite is the Real Techniques Contour Brush!). This is one of those concealers that works great for anything- discolouration, under eye circles, blemishes... you name it, this will conceal it! 
I started out with the shade Ginger for the summer months but at my palest I had to move down a shade to Custard. Getting the right shade makes your life so much easier because this concealer is amazing for when you want to do quick 2 minute makeup when you're really pressed for time. If I can't be bothered to put on foundation or tinted moisturizer, a few swipes of this under my eyes and on any red areas gives me the perfect no makeup base. Since the finish is somewhat velvety, I never have a problem with creasing or the product breaking down on my skin, but the finish still makes me look natural and radiant. Although the texture is thicker in consistency like I mentioned before, it still provides enough of a moisturizing feel where dry skin won't be accentuated. So, I'd definitely call this concealer the perfect all-rounder - good for any area of the face and any skin type, plus there are 10 shades that will satisfy most skintones! 
All in all, this concealer is definitely my favourite out of all of the ones I've ever tried and if I could recommend one product to people, this would be it. I feel like if I ever decide to try something else, this will always be the standard it'll have to live up to. So, you heard me makeup companies, you've got big shoes to fill! 
Have you tried this concealer yet? If so, what do you love the most about? Oh, and if you have something else that is better than this, leave it in the comments because I'm certainly curious ;)

The Repurchase: Setting Powders

Look into your makeup stash and you'll probably notice that there a few items that you've had in there since the beginning of your makeup loving journey. The act of repurchasing an item is quite the milestone. It means that you loved the product so much that you were left with the empty packaging; and if you loved it enough, you needed to rush out and get a new one because you just can't live without it! On the other hand, sometimes you just finish something up and move onto something new, and then you forget how much you loved it! So, here is my version of the repurchase!
These two setting powders were part of my little makeup arsenal when it could all fit into one bag (that memory seems so distant that I don't know how I was able to limit myself that much haha!) I used to use the Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Transparent all the time for touch ups on the go. The reason I loved it so much was because a light dusting of it took away the shine without adding a huge amount of coverage or changing the colour of my foundation drastically. Ever since it ran out, I haven't had any powder replace its function so it was time for a restock! So far, so good. I'm definitely remembering why I purchased it in the first place and I'll get lots of use out of it during the summer months!
The next little guy was one of my first MAC purchases, the Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Plus. This was when I went through that "MAC is the centre of the universe" phase.... (we've all been there, right?) I went through this bad boy like it was nobody's business. I used it to set my foundation and sometimes in place of any liquid product for a quick, no fuss base. This powder is really unique because, although it isn't super oil-controlling per se, it gives your skin this really beautiful airbrushed finish and it never looks too cakey, unless you go extremely heavy handed with it of course. If you look closely, it has very, very subtle light reflective particles in it and that lend to its ability to make you look fresh and not powdery. I've never tried the Hourglass Ambient Lighting powders, but this seems like a less shimmery alternative. Anyone have an opinion on that? 
Do you have any products you repurchase frequently because you just love it that much? I'd love to know! 

Faith Friday: Outside The Bubble

(Background image via College Prepster)

Our life is a series of choices and of paths we can take. There's what "everyone" else does and then there's what we choose; the norm and the not-so-norm. Growing up, I always remember myself feeling completely out of the loop. I observed who I could be, but ultimately I knew God had a place for me and most times that wouldn't be a place everyone else was already. Our lives are unique to us!
Every day you have 86, 400 seconds to live through. Each second will require you to make a choice, big or small. Will you go here or there, talk to a new person or not, choose Jesus or forget Him for the moment. All of these choices, although seemingly insignificant at times, have an impact on how things will end up. This is why it's so important to be connected to what God has in store. While you can't even begin to imagine the amazing things He has planned, being in constant connection through prayer helps you focus on what things to say "yes" and "no" to, and these decisions will get you one step closer!
So you have all of these choices to make but what will be the deciding factor between one choice and another? I had a lot of opportunities to lose who I was at my core in order to fit in with the larger crowd, but I learned that their opinion of me was never going to be the deciding factor because I didn't define myself by their standards. I had been told, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2). I really urge you to not settle for what the world thinks you should be! They tell you to be prettier, skinnier, more power hungry, while God tells you to be more loving, faithful and kind. Yes, you will be different, but in a world filled with people who enjoy putting people down, I don't see anything wrong with more having people who are loving! You'll make the difference by being a light where there isn't any, and speaking of a hope that conquers all fears and worries. 
It won't be easy being "outside the bubble", especially when being inside the bubble is what makes you popular or liked. Jesus didn't come to this world to be super popular, we all know how the story went! But it's worth it! Taking the road less travelled and doing things that are out of the norm really do make all the difference. Being considered cool isn't the end all and be all, but being confident about what God says you are is! When I look back now, the times where I decided to not conform to the worlds' expectations of me made me into the person I am now and I'm thankful for that. It may have been hard then, but it was certainly worth it!
What are you going to do with the endless choices you've been given? Will you go on the road less travelled or follow the crowd?
"But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it"  Matthew 7:14

#PRESSDAYS at Lotus Leaf Communications F/W '14

Remember when I mentioned that something exciting was coming this week? Well this is it! Yesterday I had the incredible opportunity to take part in the #PRESSDAYS event at the Lotus Leaf office where media and bloggers alike were invited to take a sneak peek at what trends and new collections are coming up for Fall/Winter '14. I was extremely humbled by the fact that I was invited and had a great time! So let's cut to the chase, here's what's coming up next season! (get ready for a very long and picture heavy post... you've been warned!)

But first, let me take a mirror selfie! 

Manitobah Mukluks If there's anything that defines us as Canadians, it's the incredibly harsh winters we put up with! Manitobah is a brand that creates moccasins and mukluks to keep your feet warm and they definitely don't skimp on the cool factor! They stay true to their Aboriginal roots and a lot of their footwear is made right here at home. You can stick to a classic style or have some fun with colour and beading. Definitely take a look at their site! 

Pink Martini I'm in love! After seeing their Fall/Winter collection I knew I needed one of everything. Not only are the clothes beautiful and incredibly made but they are affordable! I'm so glad I discovered their brand because I'm thinking that I'll be browsing their site for a long while. This navy coat is on sale on the Pink Martini site... how cute!

Brika This is a brand that really caught my eye. Their specially curated selection of handmade goods are things that you'll want to put on display and they support other peoples creativity, which I think is fantastic! I definitely want that YYZ pillow, although I'm more of a YYZ-ish girl myself ;)

Alex and Ani I was so thrilled that Alex and Ani were featured at the event! I'd seen their bangles on a few bloggers on Instagram and I fell in live with their concept of mixing and matching different styles and metal colours, while also mixing the different meanings of each bracelet. You can customize each stack depending on who the person wearing it is and I think that is perfect for really personalized gifts! Their vision of sharing positivity in the world through they jewellery is awesome, and I'll definitely be adding these to my birthday wish list! 

Upcoming F/W '14 pieces - love the earthy tones!

S/S '14 Collection on the left - perfect for adding colour to plain outfits!

Guess? This Fall and Winter season, Guess? is mixing a Western and Glam feel with a bit of rock n' roll and it's gorgeous! There's lots of studs, tassels, fur and even some snake print so it's definitely a fun collection and there's something for everyone! I, of course, gravitated towards the sparkly jacket they had and I can definitely see myself wanting that white tassel dress (it comes in black too!)... 

Henkaa One dress, 2 sizes, 3 lengths, 24 colours, and over 40 ways you can wear it! I must say, it's almost a magical dress. It was amazing to see how quickly you could transform the dress and have a completely new look. With all the colours, you can achieve the perfect dress for whatever season it may be and any occasion. Their most exciting news was that they are now coming out with a new dress, the Iris convertible dress, that has sleeves so it widens the variety of looks you can get even further. This dress will come in 5 colours at first but they will surely expand to all 24 colours. Whether you need a go to dress, need a maternity dress, or even bridesmaid dress, look no further!

Watch It! I love watches so much, so I was ecstatic when Watch It! gave us a peek at what trends would be coming our way and the brands that were going to be doing them! I'm pretty faithful to Fossil so I loved seeing their new watches but I was definitely intrigued by Michael Kors, Marc Jacobs and Karl Lagerfeld. We are definitely seeing the Rose gold comeback in a big way, but it was included in a more subtle way and I think that's great, especially for guys out there! I also loved seeing navy, it was a bit unexpected but oh so pretty- and mixed with rose gold? Yup, we've got my new watch obsession!

The Guess watch at the top left... #swoon

The Marc By Marc Jacobs watches with navy faces were STUNNING in person!

Hillberg & Berk If you love anything shiny and sparkly, this one's for you! I was stunned by the incredible pieces displayed by Hillberg & Berk and I loved that they had so much variety interns of their offering. Some pieces were super blingy and others were dainty, but they were all spectacular! It was definitely a joy to talk to H&B's Dina Holoien, she was super sweet and encouraging!

I was instantly in love with this!

Dr. Martens I've never been one to be interested in getting Docs but from what I saw at the preview yesterday, they're really expanding their offering. It's not just about the classic, clunky boot that you associate with the brand, they do sandals, heels and silhouettes that are much more sleek! If you were never a fan, they might have a few styles that could change your mind!

Woah, did you make it to the end? If you did, congrats! I hope you enjoyed coming along with me to see what will be trending for F/W '14 and hopefully you found some new brands that you didn't know about, like I did! Besides the horrible rainy weather, crazy transit issues and my wet, curled hair, I had a fantastic day yesterday and it was really fun to experience something out of the norm for me!

Hardest Makeup Technique to Master?

The queen of winged liner herself! (source)

We all have one thing that we just can't seem to get the hang of when it comes to doing our makeup - and let's be honest, for 85% of us in this world, winged liner is our number one enemy. I don't know what it is but there is nothing I do that makes it easier! I'm not a fan of extremely exaggerated winged liner but I think a simple feline flick can look so pretty, especially when paired with a bold lip! 
Just last week I decided, "Hey, today is the day to give this whole winged liner thing a go!" A good 20 minutes later, I had two crooked patches of black eyeliner extending out of my eye that made me look like I'd been punched. So yeah, you could say it went well... I had to rush to bathroom and grab a q-tip and try to get rid of the mess I'd created before I left the house! Thank goodness for makeup remover! 
But seriously, is it just me or is this an issue for other people? There's all kinds of tricks, like following the line created by your lower lash line and using a soft, white pencil to draw the line before you go into liquid/gel liner so that you can fix mistakes. As good as that all sounds, I feel that the execution is what is challenging. You either get the line at an awkward angle or your line looks different when you close and open your eyes. There should really be a coming of age ceremony for girls and their makeup skills where someone could sit with us and just show us how to do it. Am I right ladies? 
Here's a video that could be helpful! (I'm almost sure that the problem here are my eyelids or something and that nothing technique wise that I do will ever allow me to get the perfect wing ha!)

So I'd like to know, what makeup techniques are the hardest to master, in your opinion? Are you with me on the deadly trap of the winged liner or is there something I'm missing? Makeup should always be fun and experimental. It's so fun to learn and try out new things and see how we can work with it ourselves! (Fun until you look like a bus hit you in the face, but that's besides the point, right?)