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