Bite Beauty's "Best Bite" Set Review

Hey everyone,

Today I'm reviewing Bite Beauty's "Best Bite" gift set. This was a Sephora holiday collection but it's still available on the website. I received Bite's "High Pigment Pencil" in Rhubarb a while back and it's one of my most worn lip shades. This particular gift set has deluxe sizes of four of Bite's shades: Rhubarb, Madeira, Cranberry and Quince. I love the formula and shades, plus the size is perfect for your purse and lasts a lifetime!

As a Canadian, I love that Bite Beauty is located out of Toronto. They only create products for the lips, which is unique and awesome in my opinion. Here's what they say on their website:

"Bite Beauty is a natural lip care company operating out of downtown Toronto. Our mission is to create lipstick that is high performance and healthy enough to eat for women everywhere.

This is where we keep our inspirations – things we see, things we hear, things we wear. We’ll share what we can and teach what we know."

So not only are the lip products beautiful and purse-friendly... if you need a snack on the go you can always nibble at a lipstick! 

On a sidenote, take a look at Bite's website and feature on lipcolours from Beyoncé's visual album here! I found it to be interesting and great for recreating/taking inspiration from the album itself. Also I love Beyoncé, so there's that too.

 Anyway, on to the review!!

 The packaging is super cute, the cardboard outer later showed all four pencils and their names printed on each.

 Opening the tin showed a little piece of paper with various pomegranates and blueberries.

 "3mg of antioxidant resveratrol + organic fruit butters to fight free radicals and nourish lips with every use"

 And then the good stuff... four beautiful Bite beauty high pigment pencils!

 The packaging is matte black/grey, (think NARS) and I like how each pencil shows the shade.

 Each pencil also has a printed sticker on the bottom to clarify the shade you're using.

 Madeira

 Quite a warm toned nude shade, would look excellent on skin tones slightly deeper than my own.

 Rhubarb

A perfect mauve-toned nude that makes a statement while still being wearable and neutral.

 Quince

A bright pink with fuchsia, some purple which helps make your teeth look whiter.

 Cranberry

A bright, classic red with a little bit of a gold metallic finish. Perfect all year round!

I hope you enjoyed this review, I love the products and will certainly be buying some more full-size items!

Megan

Garnier Skin Renew Dark Spot Treatment Mask Review

Hey everyone,

Recently I was in Shoppers Drug Mart and noticed Indeed Labs had released some Hydraluron sheet masks. I loved the concept, but for 4 masks it was $20.00. Seemed a bit ridiculous, so I'll wait for them to go on sale before reviewing them. Since I was so disappointed by the price I thought I'd look for some other sheet masks and compare prices and whatnot. I came upon the Garnier "Skin Renew Dark Spot Treatment Mask" which has 6 in a pack and were on sale for $14.00. Although still quite steep for some one-time use face masks, I decided to pick them up.

 There are 6 masks in the box, each mask sachet has instructions as well as the box, which I think is nice. The mask claims to deeply hydrate for 24 hours, something I did experience. It also claims to boost radiance and smooth skin, something I think I've experienced more lately due to some sunshine and less acne, but could also be associated with this mask too. 

 I don't think they're lying when they say this, the masks literally come out sopping wet. It's a bit of a stressful application but relatively easy. I left the mask on for way more than 10 minutes, it was so wet I just left it on for about half an hour, and then removed it and gently patted in the excess serum still on my face.

 Of course the instructions make the application seem a little more flawless and graceful, but I am impressed with the masks themselves. I find they don't fit the face perfectly, but covered mostly all of it and I'm actually really happy with the experience and results.

 The sachet shows instructions, expected results and a very peaceful lady enjoying her sheet mask. I would say it's quite cooling and relaxing, however it's definitely something to do when you have "me time", as you could potentially scare others away- making the entire experience a little less spa like. 

 I looked a little less unimpressed than the lady on the box, but keep in mind it was pretty impossible to smile. Clearly my 'smeyesing' skills are not quite up to scratch.  

 A close up of the weird nose area. I didn't like the gappy feeling around my nose because the mask is quite cooling and any breeze that entered my nasal area was especially cold. What a weird sentence to type... but really it was the only thing that bugged me about the whole thing.

 But I was impressed with the length of the mask, it allowed me to stick it under my chin and give my whole face some pampering!

Although I did feel like this...

I hope you guys enjoyed this review, I think the masks are perfect for a pamper session, the box of 6 means you can easily share with friends and family, or keep them to yourself for 2 or 3 weeks of treats!

Have a great day!

Megan

A Product Worth Repurchasing: Anastasia Brow Wiz

Hey everyone,

I figure the last post I wrote about repurchasing products went down fairly well, so why not write another one? This time it's Anastasia Beverly Hills "Brow Wiz", a brow pencil with a fine tip and lots of colours to choose from. I used to have the shade "Blonde Ash" which has now been renamed "Taupe". Luckily the Sephora website makes this really clear, they've added a few new shades and renamed a couple of others.

Anastasia says: "Sometimes brows need a little magic. This must-have pencil features an ultrafine, retractable tip to fill in gaps easily and mimic brow hair. Perfect for spot checking areas that may be sparse or over-tweezed, the smear-proof formula wears all day for a natural, fresh look."

I love the pencil for a few reasons. Firstly, it comes with a spooley (eyebrow brush) on one end of the pencil making it great for on-the-go and travelling. Secondly the shades are amazing and aren't too red-toned which is something I have an issue with being a blonde. Thirdly, the pencil nib is so small and precise, it mimics natural hairs effortlessly.

 Here you can see the super fine tip!

And the convenient spooley on the end!

If you've tried Anastasia's Brow Wiz let me know what you think!
You can buy it in store and online at Sephora for $27.00 CDN, and I think it lasts a lifetime (about 6 months for me with almost daily use)

Have a great day!
Megan

The Difference an Eyelash Curler Makes

Hey everyone,

So I use eyelash curlers pretty much every time I apply makeup. I think it makes a huge difference in the lasting power of my eyelash curl, improves mascara application and overall makes your eye makeup create more of an impact. Boyfriend has told me they look dangerous, and I agree. They could be used as some sort of torturing device, but I like my makeup and it's worth the risk. (Please be careful though)

 Here's a no makeup close-up. Ugh my eyes cropped look so different... and cross eyed for some reason..

 I use Tweezerman's eyelash curlers. They don't have a cushion on the top part of the curler so you have to be extra careful when using them.

 This is after my left eyelashes (your left, my right eye actually) had been curled, hopefully you can see a bit of a difference.

 And then with mascara added you can see a more winged-out, longer lash which lasts all day!

The finished product!

I hope you guys enjoyed!

Megan

My MAC Lipstick Collection

Hey everyone,

MAC cosmetics are a hugely popular, diverse company producing makeup for makeup artists and the general public. They have a Pro line and their regular line found in most department stores or in their own stores. They range from face to lip products, have a huge selection of shades for every skintone and if you're looking for a neon yellow eyeshadow, MAC is likely to have it.

I haven't tried a huge amount of MAC products (there are a lot) but their lipsticks are very popular and some of my favourite formulas. Here is my little MAC lipstick collection.

 MAC's Hue: Very pale, creamy formula. Works really well with a deeper smokey eye. Can separate a bit, so requires some touching up.

Hue is a "Glaze" formula, with a bit of a glossy finish

 MAC's Patisserie: A more shimmery, paler version of Modesty. A neutral pink tone that is sort of a "your lips but better" shade, perfect for everyday.

Patisserie is a "Lustre" finish, with a bit of sparkle but not chunky glitter.

 MAC's Creme Cup: a light pink shade that isn't too bright. It's a step up from Hue, while still being wearable on an everyday occasion.

Creme Cup is a "Cremesheen" finish, one of my favourites. It's pigmented while still being glossy and quite moisturizing.

 MAC's Modesty: A more brown-toned neutral that still has some pink/mauve undertones. Perfect for pale people with naturally deeper lip colours.

Another Creemsheen formula. 

 MAC's Russian Red: Quite a normal red, not too blue or orange toned. Matte formula means no shine. Is very pigmented so be careful not to smudge it!

Russian Red is a Matte formula, which is quite self-explanatory. It is matte which means it lasts longer and has no shine. It can be more drying, but that's just because of it's longevity and harder formula.

I hope you enjoyed this post! Thanks for reading!

Megan 

My Rambling View on Makeup

Hey everyone,

I just stumbled upon a video featuring Amy Poehler, one of my favourite actresses and comedians. She has her own channel named "Amy Poehler's Smart Girls" and after watching two videos regarding body image and makeup I thought I'd just write a little post to address anyone who reads my blog. 

Firstly to clear up any misconceptions you have about me:

1) I do not wear makeup on a daily basis
2) I do not think it is necessary to wear makeup no matter the occasion
3) I do think makeup helps my self-confidence, but I don't think it should

 I've linked Amy's video above so I hope you take the time to check out her channel. It is directed towards girls, but I think it is equally as important for any males to watch, either because you need advice in the same topic or maybe you want to understand some females you know a bit better. And a bit of a disclaimer: I don't really agree with her point that "guys don't like lots of makeup on girls anyway" because a) a lot of men do prefer that and b) who cares? It really shouldn't be important anyway. 

I think if anybody (male or female) chooses to wear makeup for a boosted self-esteem then go for it. My blog is aimed to show you how I choose to wear makeup, makeup products I like, and products I would recommend. It is not a definitive way to apply makeup, you are not required to purchase any product I use to recreate a look and I'm not doing it to show off my face to the world. I love makeup because I think it's very artistic, I enjoy the process of getting ready much more than going to an event itself, and if any of the looks inspire you to try something new and different, or encourage you to step out of your comfort zone then I'm happy. 

I realized I've never really addressed anything like this before and I thought it was about time.

Thanks for reading!

Have a great day!

Megan

A Product Worth Repurchasing: Hydraluron

Hey everyone,

Today I'm writing a quick post to express my love for Indeed Labs "Hydraluron", a serum to be applied before your moisturizing cream to increase your skins hydration levels. I've used an entire bottle of this stuff up before and although my skin certainly isn't as dry as it was in the winter, I still feel as though I should keep my skin happy and hydrated.

Now I'm taking most of my facts right from Indeed Labs website but since I've already finished up a tube I think I can trust what it's selling.

"The ultimate daily facial moisture boosting serum that starts where your moisturizer stops.  hydraluron™ contains a pure form of hyaluronic acid, an incredibly hydrating ingredient that holds up to 1,000 times its weight in water.  Red marine algae helps with maximum delivery.  The result – better hydrated, moisture nourished, plumped up skin."  

I really love hydraluron for a couple of reasons. Firstly, the tube is great, very compact for travelling and eliminates to use of several serum products which makes it excellent for on the go. Secondly, you only need to apply a very small amount which makes it even more cost effective. Thirdly, it retails for $24.00 CDN, but I snapped it up for $10.00 at Shoppers Drug Mart on a Price Freeze. And my fourth reason: It was recommended by Caroline Hirons... need I say more?

 Took a couple of pictures to show that a) I used up a whole tube and b) I was sad enough to actually keep the tube before buying a new one... sigh.

And yet another example of how lame I really am. But really, please go and buy this if you have any issues with dry or dehydrated skin. It is a lifesaver!!

Have a great day!

Megan

FOTD 5: Passport Mugshot

Hey everyone,

So in March I got my official Canadian citizenship! I'm pretty excited about being a duel-citizen and now that I'm Canadian I can apply for a passport. I already have a UK passport, but I live quite close to the US border and going over to the states for a shopping trip or to visit friends is a bit of a hassle with a UK passport and much easier with a Canadian one. But anyway, I'm rambling. Today I got my passport picture taken which is kind of terrifying, because the next time I get a passport picture taken I'll be 30 years old. Thirty?!?! So I figured I should make this picture a good one.

I used all of my favourite products, tried to keep it natural and timeless (at least decent enough for 10 years) so I opted out of a red lip or crazy winged eyeliner.

 I decided to keep my base pretty regular, a little sweep of bronzer and pale pink blush.

 I wanted a neutral eye, 'natural' but filled in brows and a nice pink lip.

 I only used matte shadows on my eyelids and didn't extend my eyeliner too much.

 I chose my favourite pink lipstick and topped it off with a tiny bit of gloss.

 Here's a half-face shot showing a close up of how everything looked.

 This is me about 8 hours later. Foundation stayed in place, I didn't look too shiny and it remained quite a natural makeup look.

 However.... still a mugshot. Goddamn it. 

The moral of the story is "no matter how much you plan ahead or stay up dreading turning thirty, a passport picture will always be terrible, and no amount of cosmetics will make up for sitting in an uncomfortable stool and pretending not to panic while a teenage employee takes your picture and reminds you that smiling is strictly prohibited." 

Ugh. It was worth a try. 

Have a great day!

Megan