January Favourites

Thursday, January 30, 2014




January has been awfully cold here where I live, with temperatures as low as -37C...BRR! I'm quite happy that January is on its way out as we are now one month closer the warmth of Spring and Summer.

One of my new favourite foundations is the bareMinerals Matte Foundation - I had heard so much about bareMinerals for years but always figured it wouldn't be a favourite of mine...oh how wrong I've been! I purchased this mid December and have been wearing it almost (switching between this and Jouer Matte Moisture Tint) daily! Wonderful coverage that is adjustable with brushes, lasts ages, and doesn't oxidize. Although it is the matte formula I'm not looking flat or lifeless at all! It really is wonderful.

This past month I have really gotten into blush. I never used to wear it daily but all month I have been reaching for it every single day that I've been wearing makeup. I've talked your ear off on how much I love the Tarte blushes, but one sneaky little blush I haven't mentioned too much is the beautiful blush by NARS in the shade Deep Throat. It is a beautiful pink with *slight* shimmer. Sephora labeled it as a peach, but personally I see a lot more pink then I do peachy coral. I apply this higher up on my cheek bones then the apples to sculpt my face a little.

For my eyes I have been loving wearing a wash of NARS Cyprus all over my lid with a bit of MAC Sumptuous Olive in the outer V with MAC Wedge in the crease. Cyprus is a beautiful bronze with shimmer that I personally find has a hint of green or olive to it. Lovely shade!

Lastly for January I have been loving two lipsticks. Lipsticks (like blush) are something that can completely transform your makeup by making you appear more lively and awakened. I have talked so much about the Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Streak so I will let you read the full review of this lipstick right here. The second lipstick I am completely in love with is Hot Gossip by MAC. It in the cremesheen formula and is a beautiful pinky plum. Very similar to my all time favourite lipstick by MAC - Syrup. It is perfect for everyday and is semi sheer - which can alter the average wear time. For me shade is perfect as I don't look to good in the classic nudes.

What are your January Favourites?

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Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick - Streak

Monday, January 27, 2014



You've probably heard in my past several posts talk about how much I have fallen in love with the Urban Decay Revolution Lipsticks - and I have to 100% blame Brittany for that as she told me via twitter how amazing they are and how I need one! Well, I am definitely not disappointed at all. Thank you Brittany!

I purchased the shade Streak which is a lovely coral pink that is very pigmented and glides on so smoothy. I find that it is so wearable and really brightens up your whole appearance! The finish has a beautiful shine that is very obvious in the photo below. If you're curious about what makes these lipsticks so smooth and creamy - its the jojoba oil, avocado oil, cocoa butter and Shea butter! These Revolution lipsticks are packed with wonderful moisturizing properties. I find I get a solid 3 hour wear time with this lipstick before I have to reapply - which I'm totally okay with doing if it means pulling out the beautiful packaging in pubic!

The packaging is a very sturdy metal bullet with a beautiful gunmetal tint to it. When I first took the lipstick out of the packaging I must have been incredibly excited because I dropped it and I was so nervous to see a broken lipstick, but this wonderful packaging saved me!

There are so many colours from very wearable nudes, to a stunning mauves & plums shade, all the way up to fiery reds and bright pinks. You will definitely be able to find a shade perfect for you.




Do let me know what UD lipsticks you own as I'm itching to add another to my collection!

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5 Minute Makeup

Saturday, January 25, 2014





If you're anything like me you will probably try to stay in bed for as long as possible. This can include pressing snooze on your alarm at least 4 times. THEN once you decide to peel your eyes open you continue to check up on Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, you know - the usual morning social networking routine!

After a little while of rolling around in your bed really not wanting to get up...there comes that moment when you're thinking "oh my gosh I have 30 minutes to get ready and out the door!". I'm a night time shower-er (Did I just make up that bad english?) so my hair is usually okay the next morning with slight waves that a 2 minute run through with a straightener can it make a little less "bed head" like. As for the makeup..

I start off by applying my bareMinerals Matte Foundation (shade fair) using my Real Techniques Multi Task Brush if I want a lighter coverage or the Buffing Brush if I want a more full coverage look. This provides the perfect amount of coverage that I like while allowing my skin to show through. To add a little colour to my cheeks I've been using the Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed which provides a natural flush to my cheeks.

For my eyes I go really simply by applying the MAC Black Track Fluidline gel eyeliner with a small flick to create the illusion of thicker lashes and opened eyes. I then like to apply my Maybelline Falsies Mascara in Blackened-Brown to my upper and lower lashes. I apply a thin coat on my lower lashes to make my eyes appear more awake!

Lastly for my lips I have become OBSESSED with the Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in the shade Streak. Such a beautiful pink coral shade that really awakens the face and ties the whole simple look together. I really think you can wear the simplest makeup and the lipstick can make you look so put together.

Now it's time to get dressed, eat some breakfast, and you're out the door!





What are your 5 Minute Makeup items?

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My Love for Argan Oil

Wednesday, January 22, 2014


My mom had been using the Josie Maran Argan Oil for quite some time on her hair and skin, once the bottle ran out she didn't want to spend another $58.00 on a bottle when she had found the exact same thing for $14.99 at the drugstore. She had talked about how much she loved using it to help her dry damaged hair and to nourish her skin, that I had to give it a try. I was definitely very excited when my mom found this "Be Better" version at Rexall Pharmacy for much cheaper then the hyped Josie Maran version, and they really are the exact same thing! If you are looking for a cheaper alternative make sure you find a "100% Pure" Argan Oil and that the one and only ingredient is simply the Argan Oil.

- Argan Oil is packed with essential fatty acids and antioxidents therefore restoring the appearance of dull skin. You can apply to your elbows, knees, feet, cuticles..anywhere! It will also give you a beautiful radiant sheen.
- Antioxidants also help restore your skin that may be a little more mature. It is so hydrating that it helps with improving your elasticity and firmness of your skin!
- After cleansing apply a few drops of this dry oil onto your face and neck in a patting motion. Since it is a dry oil it absorbs quickly without giving you an oily appearance - I swear! Scouts Honor!
- Use 3-4 drops and rub between your hands then apply to your hair from the ears down to help mend any split ends or fly-aways and add some extra moisture into your hair that the winter months take away.
- When making your own DIY Body/Lip scrub apply a few drops into your scrub for the added moisture!
- You can apply a few drops into your favourite foundation for that gorgeous glow

If you tend to get a little oily like myself during the day - do not fear facial oils! I've also noticed that when I wake up in the morning after applying the oil at night that my skin is looking a LOT less oily...that's new to me! 

You can find many more benefits online, but there are just a few to get your mind thinking "I must go buy some!". I would definitely recommend going to your drugstore and seeing if their brand carries Argan Oil to save yourself money while getting the same product.

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Sephora Purchase Ideas

Sunday, January 19, 2014

 

I was very lucky this past Christmas to receive several gift cards to the makeup lovers candy store, which of course I'm talking about Sephora. When I told my friends out of pure excitement I heard the same question several times: "What the heck are you going to buy?". I've also been asked the same question by friends who received gift cards but get a little overwhelmed in Sephora and wanted some advice. 

I've put together a little list of a few of my favourite items from Sephora if you're feeling stuck or overwhelmed:
- Urban Decay Naked 3: for something a little more romantic then the typical neutrals.
- NARS Blush: My personal favourite is in the shade Deep Throat, a beautiful light pink with *slight* shimmer. Next on my list is Sin!
- Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick: Can't believe it took me months to try this! I only own one in the shade Streak from my most recent Sephora Goodies post but my gosh...stunning! Can't wait to go back and get more.
- NARS Sheer Glow Foundation: Perfect if you're looking for a medium coverage foundation with a very natural finish. Oily Skin gals don't be afraid! Ask for a sample before buying to make sure it's the right foundation for you!
- Hourglass Ambient Light Powder: Okay I cheated here, I don't own one of these but I hope to soon! I want to purchase Dim Light since I've heard so much about it and I love the idea of walking around with a "soft focus" effect and blurring out imperfections.
- YSL Rouge Volupte Lipstick: Because they're so dang pricey why not use the help of a gift card on this one?! A super luxurious lipstick that will look stunning on your vanity or applying in public just to show off that stunning gold packaging.
- Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush: I have completely fallen in love with these blushes! I own the two most talked about blushes, Dollface and Exposed. Both are so lovely and I can't wait to grow my collection - next ones I need: Blissful and Flush.
- GlamGlow Supermud Clearing Treatment: This pricey mask ($69 CAD) can do wonders for blackheads as well as decreasing redness and the "bump" of any blemishes, a must for me but if your skin is clear you may want to save your gift card for an item listed above!

Those are my top Sephora items that I would recommend getting your hands on if you have some extra money to spend or if you received a gift card!

Did I miss anything?

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MAC Coral Bliss Lipstick Review

Friday, January 17, 2014

MAC Coral Bliss





I'm 90% positive that this beautiful lipstick will be constantly on my lips come spring and summer. It is a soft coral pink (with a slight yellow undertone) that is very opaque and glossy as it is in MAC's creamsheen formula. It is so simple to wear because of the glossy affect makes it look so natural and a quick chose for a natural make up look. I also find that I don't need a mirror to apply this shade which I love as I'm often on the go and don't have time to constantly be checking up on my lipstick. As someone who is just making my way out of my lipstick comfort zone (aka MAC Syrup) and dipping my toes into the world of Coral lipsticks - I think this was the perfect place to start. It lasts about 3 1/2 hours on my lips which is very good for a chatterbox like myself!

While I was at MAC I had swatched about 5 or 6 lipsticks on the back of my hand and I was so indecisive as too which lipstick I should choose...so naturally I asked Ryan (my boyfriend of a year and a half) and I must admit I was slightly shocked when he picked this shade! I tried it on and asked him what he thought and he said he loved it. Fast forward a month and he is the one who picked out Urban Decay's Streak from my Sephora Goodies haul! The boy has good taste...he's a keeper!

You can see this lipstick in action in THIS post.

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Letting Your Skin Breathe

Wednesday, January 15, 2014


As much as I love everything to do with makeup, I am a firm believer of also letting your skin "breathe" for a day or two. I've been going through a few breakouts the past few weeks (realistically it's probably been months) so not wearing makeup and allowing your skin to breathe as much as possible is very important for clearing up your skin. Of course you should always take your makeup off before bed time as well! I was having a good skin day so I took this photo (three days ago) since then I have had a little break out on my chin due to hormones, but over all my skin has cleared up a lot since my initial horrible skin phase. Yahoo! I also do think that when I upload photos through Blogger it blurs your skin a little making it seem more perfected then it is.

Since I am in College full time I do tend to wear makeup Monday-Friday, then basically the second I get home I head straight for the washroom and wash off all my makeup following up with a toner and some Argan oil. Saturday and Sunday are days that I like to allow my skin to be free and not wear any makeup. Technically, the term "letting your skin breathe" is actually a myth, because externally your skin does not breathe. Skin gets nourished from oxygen & nutrients that are carried inside your blood, not from the oxygen outside. What I mean by allowing my skin to breathe simply means not wearing any makeup. Foundations, concealers and powders all lay on top of your skin which makes your skin less able to function properly (eliminating toxins, sweat and oil).

In December while I was in Sephora buying some presents for my mom I also picked up my newest foundation - bareMinerals Matte Foundation and I am loving it! I like that it is a more natural brand using less chemicals that all absorb into your skin. I also find I get good coverage with this foundation while improving my skin overtime. I have had less breakouts since using this mineral foundation and it isn't as heavy as a liquid foundation so my skin is still able to function as it should!

Do you allow your skin to "breathe" for a day or two?

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Love For Makeup Never Ages

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Although taste in music or movies may change depending on your age – the love for makeup and beauty products never seems to go away. When you’re younger and wanting to play dress up the only place to go is your mothers makeup bag (unless of course you have an older sister, in that case I envy you). Today I got the chance to dig deep into my moms makeup and she showed me some of her favourite products that she likes to use.

My mom is someone who likes simple makeup but loves wearing navy shadows to enhance her baby blue eyes. She also doesn’t like the feeling of foundation but a light BB cream she’s recently been okay with. Now for her favourite products…


Stila Stay All Day 10-in-1 HD Illuminating Beauty Blam – “I find it goes on very smooth, creamy and doesn’t feel oily. It disappears and looks flawless on your face while feeling light and giving me an even complexion. I personally don’t like anything on my face so the light coverage this gives is perfect for me.”

Pink Toned Inglot Palette – “I had never heard of Inglot before but it looked fun and I love the colours. I had so much fun putting the colours together from an Interior Decorator perspective as I was trying to make all the colours flow. I think I did a pretty good job because it is a palette I reach for often.”

Benefit Watt’s Up! Highlighter – “I LOVE THIS! I use this lightly under my eyes and blend it along the occipital bone or along my eyelid to bring some shimmer to my eyes. I find it almost acts as a primer, without creasing my eye shadows. I love the feeling of it and I find it blends really well.”

Benefit They’re Real! Mascara – “I love how my eyelashes look when I use this mascara. It isn’t clumpy at all and makes my eyelashes look flirty long. The brush is fantastic! I love that it has the plastic/rubbery spikes oppose to a bristle brush. Going on – Love it. Having it on – Love it. Taking it off – HATE IT! I feel like I loose eyelashes trying to take it off but the effect it gives is wonderful.”

bareMinerals Ready 8.0 Power Neutrals Palette – “I love this palette! It makes me so happy. Kyra and I hunted this palette down in New York City going to several different Sephora stores and when we found it I swear angles sang! I find I lean towards the left four more often then the right four – but the right four really bring out my blue eyes! I also have found that I really need to layer each shadow to get lots of pigmentation but they are so buttery smooth. I also really enjoy the brushes they supplied with it.”

Too Faced La Crème "Naked Dolly" Lipstick – “It goes on very smooth, stays for a long time and it is feels very soothing and smooth. I find for my skin tone it is the perfect nude, without looking washed out. Very soft neutral and I am loving this look!”


bareMinerals High Shine Eyecolour in Meteroite – “Thinking of this eyeshadow makes me want to clap my hands and jump up and down. This shadow makes me so happy because I love the shimmery mocha bronze colour and how smooth it applies. I usually will tap it on with my finger then blend it out with a brush. It does have some fall out so I usually use a wet Q-Tip to wipe that away. For an older eye it has the most subtle elegant shimmer for an evening look.”

Navy Toned Inglot Palette – “I love this palette when I want a more smokey eye. It is my most used eye palette – I love the shimmery golden colour in the bottom left as it isn’t overly shimmery. I thought since I have more mature eyes that I couldn’t get away with shimmer, but if anything I think I’m more comfortable with shimmer then I expected to be!”

Josie Maran Argan Lip Treatment – “This is a great lipbalm as it is so light and it isn’t sticky at all. It’s very moisturizing and easily absorbed. I apply this at night right before I go to bed and it has certainly helped my lips from cracking in our -35 weather. I do think you need to get through the lop layer before your able to pick up more of the product though.”


Those are a few of my Mom's favourite makeup products, have you tried any of these?

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Jouer Matte Moisture Tint Review

Wednesday, January 8, 2014


I'm sure you're bored of me saying now how much I love my light weight foundations (Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua, Revlon Nearly Naked) and how much I love tinted moisturizers (Laura Mercier - I'm talking about all your TM's!) but as someone who gets a little shiney in the forehead and nose area, setting powders are a must. In comes the Jouer Matte Moisture Tint - the name gives its description! It is a lightweight mattifying tinted moisture that has a very good coverage. I absolutely love that it is hypoallergenic, oil free, and fragrance free, which is perfect for all skin types including sensitive.

The shade range seems to be good as well. If you're incredibly fair like myself you would want to pick up the shade Porcelain (fitting name, eh?), on the website it seems to go up to a tan complexion with the shade Hazel. This can be worry-some if you are someone with a deep skin tone, I would recommend trying to find a counter near you to see if there is a shade perfect for you - hopefully there is! This does contain SPF 15 but I have yet to see any flash back in flash photography, a definite plus!

I personally think that the coverage is a really nice light to buildable medium coverage. I find I get a more natural look by using my fingers, and a more medium coverage when using my Real Techniques Buffing Brush. Before buying this product I had read several reviews of it, and I saw quite a few times that people thought it was a slightly lighter (coverage wise) version of the Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation. I haven't tried that foundation myself, so I can't say what I think on the subject but if you have - this could be a lighter offering! I was given twelve...yes TWELVE, samples of the sister Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint by a MUA in Henri Bendel and she recommended applying the luminizing on my cheeks and chin, and the matte on my nose and forehead. This is definitely one of my favourite ways of wearing the two - give it a try if you can!

This Matte Moisture Tint also has Vitamins A, C and E that deliver antioxidants to the skin - a skincare bonus! Overall, I think that this makes for a perfect "no makeup" looking base and lasts a very long time on the skin. The photos below of me wearing this base are after 7 hours of wear so you can start to see some slight redness around my nose and on the bridge of my nose - but again...seven hours later! (Applied at 9am and photos were taken at 4pm)

Have you tried the Jouer Matte Moisture Tint?





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Face of the Day - YSL, Naked 3, Tarte, bareMinerals

Saturday, January 4, 2014





I just uploaded a video to my YouTube channel for this "Face of the Day" look, which really was me just getting ready and turning the camera on to film what I used for today!
All the products are listed in the video which you can watch by clicking HERE.

You can tell I'm very much a natural makeup kind of gal, as you can see all my freckles even though I'm wearing foundation! I also don't mind my blemishes peeking through as I like to keep it real (ya know?) but if that bothers you then wear your favourite foundation & concealer - as long as you're feeling beautiful!

Hope you enjoy and please subscribe to my channel!

Thank you for watching!
xo Kyra.

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