The Best Do It All Eyeshadow Palette: Stila In The Light

A few months back I wrote a post about eyeshadow palettes since I was looking to find a good neutral one that could serve me well. After quite the crazy excursion to track down one palette, it finally came home with me and for the last 6 months it's the only thing I reach for! The Stila In The Light Palette is a serious winner, here's why! 
Alright, here are the basic things you need to know. This palette can be found at Sephora for $50 CAD and it comes with 10 eyeshadows (6 shimmers, 4 mattes). Not only that, but the palette also comes with a full size Stilla Stay All Day Smudge Stick in Damsel which is one of the best things they could've added (I really dislike those sponge applicators they always include which usually get thrown away!) The colour selection is neutral but I find that the variety is great to cover all the looks you'd want to create from daytime to night time. 

Packaging wise, I'm not the biggest fan of the cardboard thing but I make it work. It would definitely be better to have a more solid, tin like the newer Urban Decay Naked Palettes though! It does come with a mirror which makes application a breeze if you need to do your makeup somewhere without a mirror (traveling perhaps?) and the inspirational quote is always nice to reflect on as you get ready ;)

When trying to choose a neutral palette, I was obviously directed towards the Naked palettes but this is why I think the Stila offering is better. I think one of the most important things in a palette is to have a good mix between mattes and shimmers and Stila really drivers on that front. Sometimes you really don't wanna go all glitter ball on the lids, so being able to use a matte transition shade on the crease or having a matte dark black shadow to deepen the crease or use as eyeliner is fantastic! The quality of the eyeshadows I think is very comparable to the Urban Decay ones, from what I've felt in swatching them, but I will say that Urban Decay did a little better in so much as the shimmer shades are a bit creamier and give off less fallout than the Stila ones but that could only be said about the shade Kitten. 
I really like how the palette isn't just filled with varying brown shades, since it does include a gorgeous gold, a coppery shade that would work beautifully on green or blue eyes, and a vibrant greyish navy shade. As you can see, there are endless amounts of looks you can create and that would pair well together because I find the shadows in this palette are really complimentary to each other. But, if you're stuck on what looks to create, then there is always the little book with ideas and steps for eyeshade application! 

The Smudge Stick in Damsel is a great addition to the palette and I've loved using it! The colour is a dark black brown and it can be used to add definition but without the harsh effect that a straight up black liner would create. It's really smooth and creamy so it's definitely not a pencil you could do a precise cat flick with, but as the name suggests, it's perfect for smudging across the lash line and it really doesn't smudge at all, which is rare for me to find since all eyeliners end up on my cheeks (whoops!) 

Since I've used this palette to death in the last 6 months, I think I'm gonna write up a post about different looks you can create with it, just to give you ideas! All in all, the In The Light palette is a great starter neutral palette for anyone and it's versatility is incredible. Love all of the options I get with this little guy. 
Side note: Any other eyeshadow palettes you think would be a good addition to my makeup stash? My birthday is this weekend and there may need to be an eyeshadow palette included in the birthday wish list ;)

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 ;)

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?

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. 

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?

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?

Lilly Pulitzer x Estée Lauder Collaboration

Alert! I wanted to share something for all the Lilly print lovers out there and those who want to venture out and try Estée Lauder! I've never owned any Lilly Pulitzer clothing items but they do some rather adorable accessories and lifestyle items are much more accessible price wise - so when I saw this little set I jumped at the opportunity. In my search for my holy grail foundation I decided to finally take the plunge and purchase an Estée Lauder foundation (more on that soon) and therefore I was eligible for a free gift with purchase which was beautifully packaged in an amazing Lilly printed makeup case. 
This special promotion is going on right now until March 16th so I wanted to let you guys know about it now if you're interested before time runs out. Lilly has made exclusive prints for their Estée Lauder collaboration, so if you live in another country and have stores like Macy's for example, then the contents of this gift with purchase may be different - as well as the Lilly print. But for my Canadian gals this is what The Bay is offering with a purchase of $36.50 or more, which really isn't too difficult to reach. If you choose to spend more, maybe on a fragrance ($80 or more), you can get an extra little bonus which includes a dual ended concealer/lipgloss duo, a lip conditioner, a lipstick and a Lilly Pulitzer print travel mirror!
Since I only purchased a foundation this is what I received and I must say I'm very pleased. The contents that come in the bag have two variations; one is a daytime look that includes a purpley pink eyeshadow palette and a frosty pink lipstick and the other is the "bolder" options which contains a neutral eyeshadow palette and a bronzy pink lipstick. I thought the undertones of the bold option suited me better so that's what I chose. 
The bag comes with a 7 mL sample of Estée Lauder's famous Advanced Night Repair serum, a sample of their Sumptuous mascara in black, a 30 mL tube of Take It Away Makeup Remover, a 15 mL jar of Daywear Moisturizer for Normal/Combination skin, an eyeshadow quad with the shades Sugar Biscuit, Nude Fresco, Hot Cinnamon, and Lavish Mink, as well as their Pure Color Lipstick in the shade Sugar Honey. 
I think this is an awesome gift with purchase and it gives you a chance to use some of their most popular products before committing to the full size! I love that they teamed up with Lilly Pulitzer because it's a perfect transition into a brighter Spring mood, plus it's very appealing to a younger audience as well since Estée Lauder can sometimes appear a bit "outdated" to the younger generation. 
And no, I'm not sponsored or endorsed by any brands (I wish... lol) but I thought this was a great opportunity to try out some new products and have some adorable Lilly sitting around in your makeup stash! I mean how cute is it to have a Lilly printed eyeshadow palette?! Let me know if you decide to take advantage of this gift with purchase!