Tarte Shape Tape Concealer

Hey guys,

I recently ordered the Tarte Shape Tape concealer from tarte.com, since they had a free shipping offer for Canadians, and otherwise the concealer is exclusive to Ulta and quite difficult for Canadians to find without crossing the border.

 

The shipping was fast, everything came packaged really nicely and everything was in good shape. Since it was the only thing I ordered I was surprised at how much effort was put into the packaging, with Tarte tissue paper and the little postcard pictured above.

 

I purchased the concealer in the lightest shade available and it's a good match for my skin. It's a very neutral tone, although I do wish it was slightly more cool. The doefoot applicator is huge, I hope the picture does it justice. It's a bit insane, but works wonderfully for the undereye area which is pretty much what I'm exclusively using this concealer for. It's incredibly pigmented and covers everything, and blends out well with brushes, sponges or your fingers.

I just applied a quick swipe on my hand and you can see how flawless and high-coverage it is. I do find that the lasting power is wonderful, however I will say that it can look a bit dry if your undereyes are drier. If I use a rich eyecream and make sure my skin is hydrated it's okay, but I thought I'd include that detail. It's not too bad for creasing, but again, if your eyes are dry it may accentuate any lines or texture. I think this concealer is an excellent option for anyone who loves high coverage and intense, flawless skin... it may not be for everyone on an everyday basis. I usually love concealers from less expensive brands like Maybelline, but for a higher-end purchase I will say its worth it. A little goes and very long way, and it could very easily double as a foundation if the shade is right.

I hope you enjoyed this review! Thanks for reading,

Megan

Urban Decay All-Nighter Setting Spray

Today's post is all about the Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray- now with new packaging! Before reviewing this product, I should mention why I purchased it in the first place. Firstly, I have very dry and irritated skin, but I like using heavy and full-coverage products. Powder makes my face look cakey, and I wanted an alternative. I tried the old version of this product in a miniature size and loved it, but used it up quite quickly during the summer months when I worked quite a bit outside. It helped my makeup to stay on and look fresh all day. Last October I purchased a makeup setting spray from NYX, and figured they were one in the same. I was very wrong. The NYX was cheaper, with a harsher spray and it was much less effective. So seeing that I'm in a wedding this summer and I'm doing makeup for my beautiful best friend and bride, Jess, I thought it'd be worth the repurchase.

 

Firstly, the new packaging is stunning! I love the sleek design, new colours and fonts. Not much of a change with the spray nozzle (which is good) and I do believe the formula may be the same as the original, a partnership with skincare experts, Skindinavia. Urban Decay write that the product is designed to keep makeup looking vibrant and fresh for 16 hours, and I wholeheartedly agree. For example, Tuesday's are a very long day for me, usually averaging makeup wear from 7:30am until 11pm. This product helps my foundation to stop breaking apart, and to keep my blush, bronzer and highlight stay vibrant for most of the day when it would typically fade.

The spray itself is fine and comfortable, it doesn't make your skin feel tight or dry. The product also has a patented Temperature Control feature, cooling the temperature of your makeup to help it last during hot and humid weather, but also colder, drier climates. I can't claim how the new packaging lives up to the heat, but the old certainly did, and using this product in the cold Canadian winter has really helped my makeup last all day long!

I hope you enjoyed this review,

Megan

Mini Lipstick Collection

Hey everyone!

Today I'm running through my mini-lipstick collection. This might seem a bit odd, but the reality of shopping at Sephora typically means you end up with a mini lipstick at least every 3 months, through rewards or samples or other little perks like Christmas gift sets etc. Throughout my time as a Beauty Insider (7 years) I've collected quite a few mini lippies (including some glosses that aren't included in this post) but I thought I'd share them, and why they're both wonderful and a bit useless in this post!

Let's start with the positives- Pro's of tiny lipsticks:
- Great way to trial different brands, formulas and colours without the commitment
- If you do purchase them in sets, they're much more affordable than the full-size, plus often they are either point rewards or samples so it's a very cost-effective way to try new things
- They're tiny. So they fit in purses, wallets, pockets.. perfect for a night out without the stress of bringing out your $40 YSL lipstick to the bar

Negatives:
- They're tiny. Get ready to lose these, forget where you put them, have to find weird storage for them... oh and when you leave it in your wallet in the car and forget because it's the first time you've ever put a lipstick in your wallet... they melt.
- The packaging never seems nearly as substantial as their expensive alternatives (sometimes). Lots of the lids just don't clasp on, while others are very heavy duty and awesome- it's just more difficult to predict what you're going to get.
- Usually they're free or in a gift set, so while it's great to try new things it's pretty rare to get a colour you're really into. But sometimes there are pleasant surprises! If you're not a makeup junkie I'd just save for a full size in a shade you know you'll like.

So heres my little collection. Wonky swatches from Top - Bottom:

Estee Edit Mattified Lipstick in Wrapped
Hourglass Femme Rouge Lipstick in Grace (discontinued)
Urban Decay Vice Lipstick in Naked (old formula)
Marc Jacobs Le Marc Lip Creme in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural in N9
Bite Beauty Luminous Creme Lipstick in Bellini
Bite Beauty Luminous Creme Lipstick in Mimosa
Marc Jacobs Le Marc Creme Lipstick in So Rouge (VIB Rouge exclusive)

Sephora 2017 Birthday Reward

Hey everyone,

Today I'm sharing an annual post- Sephora's Birthday Reward! It's a traditional birthday post, and this February marks my 23rd year! This year it's a gift from Tarte, a brand I've loved for a long time now. I've been a Beauty Insider, VIB and VIB Rouge member over the last 7 years and I've seen birthday gifts from Benefit, MakeUpForEver, NARS, Marc Jacobs and now Tarte. Sephora really does a good job with birthday rewards and I'm happy to show off what this year has to offer! 

 

The set includes a Creamy Matte Lip Paint in "Birthday Suit", and an Amazonian Clay Blush in "Paaarty"

 Both are very wearable, neutral shades, deep enough for many skin tones but perhaps a little bit light on the deepest skin. Despite both products being deluxe sized samples, the texture and formula is outstanding. I've loved the Tarte blushes for years, and I was very pleasantly surprised by the lip paint. 

 

The blush is very pigmented, but blendable and long wearing, exactly what I've come to expect from Tarte blushes. (I now own 4!) The liquid lipstick was comfortable to wear, a tiny bit drying but long lasting and it didn't flake or settle into lines like a lot of other lip paint type products. 

Overall I was impressed with what Sephora had to offer this year. The gifts seem to get more generous each year, and having a selection between a makeup gift and a skincare one (Caudalie this year) provides nice options for customers. I can't wait to see what 2018 brings!! 

Thanks for reading,

Megan

Dior Lip Glow Colour Reviver Balm

Hey everyone!

Today I'm talking about a beauty purchase that was inspired by my Mum, I watched her buy the original Dior lip glow when we were on vacation in Chicago and I thought it was the coolest thing ever, constantly going through her back to find it and wear it. It's a balm texture which is very hydrating, but has a formula that provides a unique shade for each wearer, something to do with body temperature or PH level or something sciency. Anyway, the original pink shade always turned into a muted fuchsia on me and remained a pretty pink on my Mum, so when Dior released the new Berry shade I also had to pick up the Lilac as well!

 

The packaging is very classic Dior, with the same Dior Addict fonts and silver lipstick bullet. All shades have the same pink clear plastic case, but they each have a sticker at the top showing the shade name.

I was concerned the shades I had chosen would be too similar, but there is quite a difference between Lilac and Berry. Lilac is much paler and more similar to the original pink shade, whereas the Berry is quite a bit deeper and makes more of a statement while still being a wearable, glossy balm.

The swatches on my arm show immediate payoff, without the colour adjusting, so you can see what the base colour looks like. On me the lilac gets a bit deeper and brighter, and the berry becomes a bit deeper as well. Apparently my million degree body temperature insists that all of the Dior balms turn into a darker shade, whereas on normal temperature people the changes are more subtle.

Overall, I do think these are a first in the whole mood-ring like colour changing technology, it was the first product I knew that self-adjusted for a unique colour, followed by other brands like Smashbox, and now drugstore brands. Because the technology isn't new any longer, I'm not sure if a product like the Dior lipglow is for everyone, and at $40+ CDN I think it makes a very pretty, but very expensive lip balm. I wouldn't necessarily repurchase, but will I use them up? Most definitely. The formula is lovely and hydrating, it's great for no-makeup days and easy to apply on the go, and the makeup hoarder in me has totally justified having two shades.

Let me know your thoughts on luxury balms, I'd love to hear from you!

Megan

2017!

Hey everyone,

It's been a very long time since I've posted, and I frequently look at my Blogger tab and feel guilty about abandoning this blog. 2016 wasn't the best year, but I had some great times with friends and family and I have high hopes for the New Year.

I still love makeup and skincare, but I've found myself scaling back on the products I purchase or use, and I've lessened my makeup stash significantly, keeping only the essentials or products I truly love. I find it quite hard to write about new products if they're repurchases and I thought people would be much less interested, but I think in 2017 I'm going to spend some time writing about a wider array of topics, maybe about places I go and things I do, I'm getting back into doodling and art so perhaps I could post things related to that, but I intend to still share makeup related posts as well. As I'm getting a bit older I'm noticing my interests shifting to more lifestyle and social posts, and I almost want to use the blog as an online diary of things I'm up to, I hope that works for all of you guys reading!

I hope you all have a happy, healthy new year, and I look forward to keeping the blog updated!

Megan

Marc Jacobs Sephora Birthday Reward

Hey everyone,

So February was my birthday month and I made sure to head to Sephora for that Beauty Insider Birthday reward. I loved the Nars set from last year, and this year there were two options, a skincare and a makeup choice, and of course, I went for the makeup.

The 2016 makeup reward is from Marc Jacobs, and I have to say I'm pretty happy with it. There are two products included, a miniature Highliner black gel liner and a Creme lipstick in the shade "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang".

They are both deluxe sample sizes, perfect for nights out with a small clutch bag, frequent flyers, and just for people who get enjoyment out of miniature sized products (me.)

The liner is a very intense black gel which is creamy and blendable when first applied, but sets down to a nice demi-matte finish and does not budge. It's incredible for in the water line, and it's soft gel texture makes it very comfortable to apply. It does't drag and could very easily be used to create a simple smoky eye in a hurry.

The lipstick is so aesthetically pleasing alone, in it's mini Marc Jacobs packaging, but the colour is also really lovely, particularly for the spring and summer. Its a nice shade of pink that is pretty universally flattering. I have quite dark lips on a fair complexion, but this shade would look lovely on many skintones both lighter and deeper than my own. I have applied it by sweeping on the colour, and also by pressing it into my lips for a more sheer finish. 

Here's how the colour looked on my lips, a pretty pink that doesn't have too much of a yellow or blue base, quite neutral and flattering. It lasted for a very long time and wasn't drying at all.

I did do a kiss test, and it does transfer a bit, so be aware of that if you're drinking or eating, or kissing!

I hope you liked this review :)

Thanks for reading,

Megan

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Strobe Powder

Hey everyone,

Today I'm back reviewing another item from Hourglass cosmetics. I'm a big fan of the brand, specifically their powder products and when I saw that they were releasing some strobing powders I was very excited. In my mind, strobing is just highlighting, but a little bit softer. It doesn't surprise me that Hourglass have gone the strobing route, considering they always have more subtle, glowing powders versus harsh contour and sparkly highlighters. I was originally drawn in by the shade Incandescent Strobe Light after almost entirely finishing Incandescent Light, a limited-edition shade from the Ambient Lighting Palette that released a few years ago and is now permanent. I loved that middle shade for setting my undereye concealer, and thought I'd give this a go because of the similarity between the two shades.

The packaging is the standard Hourglass packaging, a small compact, this time with a silver metallic finish instead of the rose gold or bronze.

The powder itself looks very similar to Incandescent Light LE shade, but definitely has more shimmer to it. The pink base is almost identical to the LE shade, but the difference in shine and shimmer is quite apparent. It's a beautiful product by itself, and I almost wished they had named it something different because I feel like lots of people will spend money on this product thinking it's a repackaging of the older shade. It's certainly not inexpensive, so I feel like they could have thought of a new name or made a distinction between the two a little clearer- particularly for the people who purchased this online. 

The size of the compact is most similar to their blush shades, about 1/3 of the size of their powders.

The powder is very finely milled and soft, incredibly blendable and quite pigmented. I do think it might be a little too shimmery for an undereye setting powder, but you can make it work if you're not too heavy handed. Overall, I think this product is really nice, and the pink shade is wonderful for fair skinned gals like myself, however they do have more peachy and yellow toned shades which I imagine would look lovely on people with darker complexions. I love the product, but as I mentioned before, I wish they had made the differences between Incandescent Strobe Powder and Incandescent Light much clearer.

Thanks for reading,

Megan

Lush Twilight Bath Bomb and Shower Gel

Hey everyone,

Today's post is a little different, with a focus on a bath and body product (something I don't usually review!). This is the Lush Cosmetics bath bomb and shower gel in the scent "Twilight". The reason I'm so desperate to share these products is because it's my absolute favourite product from Lush, and although I recieved these as a gift for Christmas, I only started using them now!

The shower gel is a limited edition Christmas launch, but the bath bomb is a permanent product, and my absolute favourite. The main reason I enjoy this product so much is for the scent. It's a lavender and tonka smell which almost instantly relaxes me and makes me feel very, very sleepy.

It creates a beautiful pink and blue fizz when it hits the water, and as it dissolves the water gets a deeper and deeper shade of purple. There are little sparkly glitter bits in it, so if you don't like that on your skin I wouldn't recommend it, but it's very subtle and washes off, plus it makes the tub look like a starry night sky!

Not only is this product my go-to for hellish exam weeks, after stressful work days and when it's 5am and I haven't slept yet (all true stories), Twilight helps ease muscle tension, the delicious smell makes me breathe deeper and I feel much more relaxed and sleepy afterwards.

The bath bomb is great for stressful, sleepy people who want a nice hot bath, but the shower gel surprised me. Sometimes I feel too tired or stressed and think that baths take too long to run, sometimes make me feel a bit lightheaded and I'd much rather just shower instead. I figured the shower gel would be kind of a disappointment in comparison to the bath bomb but I was so surprised. It isn't a thick product so I wouldn't want to waste it to wash my whole body and shave etc etc. Instead, I do my usual routine (mostly using the Body Shop's shower gels, or one by Soap and Glory) and then after my hair is washed, my legs feel as smooth as a baby dolphin and I've pondered what on earth I'll do with a history degree, I like to take a little bit of this shower gel and just rinse it over my body for the divine scent before getting into some cozy PJ's and hitting the hay.

I really couldn't recommend this product enough.

Thanks for reading, I'm sleepy even thinking about it!

Megan

Clinique Moisture Surge

Hey everyone,

This post is dedicated to one of my favourite moisturizers, Clinique Moistire Surge. Over the years I've owned two full size jars, and I've been through several travel sizes as well. I thought I'd do a full review today!!

Clinique's Moisture Surge is a moisturizer with a thick, gel texture which leaves a light feeling on the skin. It can be used day or night, and I've found that it is incredibly hydrating while still being light enough to wear under makeup. It really helps my skins texture and is very good with sensitive skin. It is my  go-to for very dry skin, and days when my skin is irritated, sun damaged, or just not having a good day. A 1.7 oz jar will set you back $47.00 CDN, so it's certainly not as cheap as other moisturizers by Clinique, but I've found I even prefer it to the Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizer- a product I've used for years.

One of my favourite times to use this product is when I'm travelling, specifically by air. It works wonders on dehydrated skins from airplane cabins, or just for dull and tired skin after time changes and lack of sleep. I used this religiously while travelling in Europe last May, and couldn't recommend it enough!

As mentioned above, the texture is a lightweight but thick gel. The texture I've found most similar to it, is the Origins GinZing gel, but the formulas do not compare at all. This is far more hydrating and certainly enough for both day and night, I sometimes even like to layer a tiny amount of the Clinique Moisture Surge mask over top in the evening if my skin is particularly dry. It hydrates my skin immediately and I see results the following morning.

Overall, I would really recommend this product for anyone who is experiencing dry, irritated, dull or tired skin. For people who travel frequently, pick it up at the airport for a significant discount and you will not regret it!!

I hope you're all having a wonderful day and enjoyed this post!

Thanks for reading,

Megan

Too Faced HangoveRx Primer

Hey everyone,

Firstly- sorry about no Tuesday post! Tuesday posts are going to be little additions whereas Fridays are for properly scheduled posts. I'm sure I'll have more Tuesday posts coming up here and there though!

Today I'm reviewing a product I bought on a whim after feeling a tad hungover on January 1st. It's the Too Faced HangoveRx primer which claims to give the appearance of a full nights sleep to skin that is tired or dull. I used to use primers very regularly, and then as they ran out I thought I'd see how makeup worked without them, and honestly I didn't notice enough difference to find that they were worth the cost. Products I felt made the most difference were silicone-based products, for example, Benefit's PoreFessional. I personally don't mind the feeling of silicone, but I know many people prefer a water-based primer without the slippy texture. I thought I'd try one out! Here's my review.

First impressions, the packaging is adorable. Too Faced always package their products so well, always practical and pretty.

The primer has a lot of claims, and here's what I think.
- Makeup did apply more smoothly, particularly base products like foundation and concealer.
- My makeup was ever so slightly more radiant. If anything my skin after just the primer was applied looked more radiant, but when layered with product I'd say it's a very minor difference than the actual finish of your foundation.
- My skin did look more hydrated and plumper, as well as feeling a lot more refreshed and comfortable. I'm glad it doesn't claim to feel more hydrated, because it doesn't particularly, but it did look better!
- This is the one I can't really get on board with. Yeah, if I apply any makeup I look like I got a hell of a lot more sleep than is realistic, but I cannot say this primer made any additional difference whatsoever.

Ah! Practical and pretty! The packaging has a pump dispenser with a lid (hallelujah!) and is so, so perfect for travelling. Sturdy enough lid and pump, but soft tube to ensure you can get all of the product and it won't get too damaged if stored in a full makeup bag! It isn't bulky and is very light and durable.

The primer itself is lovely to apply because of it's refreshing texture and delicious smell. It has coconut water in it to help with hydration and plumpness, but honestly I enjoy it for the smell mostly. It isn't overpowering and doesn't linger, but is a pleasant addition to my morning routine. I will say it layers over moisturizer very nicely and does make a visible difference to your skin without makeup as far as looking plumper and more hydrated. I do think this will be better for dry skinned gals, as it helps your foundation have something to adhere too, and it doesn't stick to dry patches. Oiler skinned ladies may find that this product isn't totally compatible with mattifying foundations because they do somewhat counteract one another.

Overall, I'm enjoying using this primer. It's refreshing, smells wonderful and does help my makeup and skin to appear more hydrated. My makeup does last longer and looks better for longer, something I've appreciated during this last week of -27 weather in Ontario. From the perspective of a dry skinned girl, I give it a thumbs up!

Thanks for reading,

Megan

Valentine's Day Nails

Hey everyone,

Sorry for this delayed post, I had one scheduled and realized it was almost Valentine's Day so I should write something more appropriate! Here's some nail art I did for this weekend using various pink colours and glitter. I hope you enjoy! 

The shades I used were all from Essie, from L to R we have "Gel Setter", "Blanc", "Muchi Muchi", "Mod Square", "Big Spender" and "A Cut Above".

For this nail look your will need a plate or surface you don't mind getting messy. I wrapped a plate in plastic wrap so that it wouldn't get any paint on it. You will also need a small brush and some nail polish remover.

I started by painting my nails white with a few coats to make an opaque background colour.

I then tipped out a small amount of each of the colours I wanted to use.

Using the small brush, I created little hearts all over my nail, starting with one colour for my whole hand and then moving on to the next. The best way for me to create the heart shapes was actually to draw in a "V" shape, the brush helped make this look more like a heart.

I decided to add glitter onto select hearts on different nails. I think this made it extra girly and valentines-y, and I was pretty happy with the result.

Here's the finished look!

And of course no Valentine's look is complete without chocolate.

Happy Valentine's Day! Hope your weekend is full of nail polish, chocolate and love!

Thanks for reading,

Megan

Dr. Weil for Origins: Mega Mushroom Skincare

Hey everyone,

I've been a big fan of Origins skincare for a while now and just recently ran out of a lot of my moiturizers. I'm a big skincare fan and hated being without it or not having much choice so I decided to purchase from a line I've never used before: Dr Weil for Origins' Mega Mushroom Skincare. There was a great gift set online from the holidays which included the majority of the range in sample/deluxe sizes perfect to try out the entire range.

It came packaged in a really nice cosmetics bag which made me happy, it's wipeable and a great size for travelling. The Mega Mushroom line is designed for sensitive skin and reducing redness, both problems I encounter quite frequently. So far I like the products, some more than others! 

The Mega Mushroom Skin Relief cleanser is a really nice, gentle cleanser. I like to use it in the mornings when I wake up because of its soothing scent and gentle texture. It's not designed as a deep cleanser or one that will remove makeup, so it's perfect for in the mornings.

The Mega Mushroom toner is a really nice soothing product that leaves a slight moisturizing residue on the skin. It's very light, making it a perfect toner for daytime that sits nicely under other face products and makeup.

The Mega Mushroom Skin Relief Serum has to be one of my favourite products from the range. It's a very light serum which I like to use in the morning and I find it's great if I'm breaking out or having issues with stress which tends to effect my skin quite severely. All of the products have a light scent, it's quite spa-like with an essential oils type smell but it might be irritating for some.

The Mega Mushroom Skin Relief Soothing Face Cream is a really nice thick cream that provides a lot of moisture. I'm very faithful to the Origins Night-A-Mins face cream and this one is quite similar but not as hydrating. It's a thick cream for daytime, and suitable for nighttime as well.

I've only used one of the little Mega Mushroom mask pods because I wanted to save them for travelling, but this mask is really nice. It's a leave-on mask, similar to the Drink Up Intensive mask by Origins, but is more soothing on irritated skin than it is just for hydrating. I think this product would be a great natural treatment to skin issues such as minor allergic reactions or if your skin is sensitive after using an acne product etc.

I hope you liked this review, all of the products are nice, I'm not sure if there's anything that particularly stands out for me though. I will certainly use all of them up and may repurchase if in time I see some more results. I think the Origins sets are a fantastic way to sample new lines and products and I would definitely check out their website versus shopping for their products on Sephora because they often have free shipping and provide lots of samples as well.

Thanks for reading,

Megan