Skin care routine!

I'm going to start off by apologizing AGAIN for being so loafty on these posts... I'M SORRY!!!!
I don't buy makeup on the regular because I can't afford to therefore I end up low on post ideas :(
I would also like to say HAPPY DECEMBER!! Christmas is around the corner and I couldn't be any more excited for the holidays!
Seeing as I don't have that many new beauty products at the moment, I decided to share with you guys my skincare routine! I do have acne prone skin which means these products are mainly revolved around getting rid of acne BUT I do know that a few of my friends use some of these products and they have perfect skin so this is for routine is great for all skin types!!

Neutrogena All-in-One Makeup Removing Cleansing Wipes - $8.99 (Walmart CANADA)
After a long day of school, I use one of these wipes to take off all my makeup at night. I've used many different makeup removers before, some liquid and other brands of wipes, but I really feel like this one does the job. I've found that I have difficulty when it comes to removing my mascara but I think that's because I rub my eyes like crazy with these wipes which I SHOULDN'T BE DOING. Not too long ago, I learned to hold the wipe on my eyes and let the product from the wipe break down my eye makeup in order to be able to take it off without scratching my eyes out. I 100% recommend you do this as well with your eye makeup whether you use these wipes or not. But overall I have really grown to love these wipes and I use them every night!

Proactiv Renewing Cleanser
After wiping off all my makeup with my wipes, I'll splash some hot water onto my face and rub my Proactiv renewing cleanser all over my face for 2 MINUTES and then use hot water to wash it off (pat dry with a clean towel). When doing this, it kind of feels like I'm rubbing wet sand on my face (but in a good way), this helps get all the gunk out of my pores in order to keep my skin clean. I read in a Cosmo article today that we should be washing our faces once, and then washing again right away in order to really get into the pores. Click here to see the Cosmo skincare article.

SIDE NOTE: once a week I'll use Proactiv's Deep Cleansing Wash on my face and neck instead of the renewing cleanser. I also use the Revitalising Toner once a week or once every two weeks just because it tends to burn my skin when I use it everyday/too often.

Proactiv Repairing Lotion
I use this product after either one of my cleansers OR after my toner (if I use it). I feel like my skin get's really dry after I wash it with these cleansers so I use the repairing lotion to help my skin feel less tight and dry.

Proactiv Oil Free Moisture with SPF 15
After my repairing lotion, I'll put a thin layer of this moisturiser overtop to make sure my skin isn't too dry. For some reason I get very dry in the area around my mouth so in those cases I'll add Proactiv's Green Tea Moisturiser (it smells sooooo good!) to add even more moisture around there.

Proactiv Refining Mask
Once a week I'll apply this mask all over my face right after either one of my cleansers (preferably the deep cleansing one) and leave it on for 10 minutes in order to let it suck all the gunk out of my pores and heal my acne, helping get rid of it. On the other 6 nights of the week, I like to use it as a spot treatment. I'll dab a little onto any blemishes and leave it on overnight so that it can really work to get rid of it. ps, I LOVE this product, works really well!

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Eye Cream - $11.99
This is my last product for my skin care routine. I take a tiny tiny dot onto my ring finger and I lightly smudge that around on/under my eye bags. This is supposed to help reduce the appearance of fine lines around the eye around and keep it looking fresh!!

SIDE NOTE 2: I find myself waking up too late in the morning (I can't get out of bed...ever), so what I'll do is quickly wash my face with my renewing cleanser, add my oil free moisturiser and then put Burt's Bees Anti-Blemish Solutions Spot Treatment on any blemishes on my face. (Yes, I have talked about this product before.) Afterwards I'll start applying my makeup!
Also, if my eyes seem puffy, I'll roll on Clinique's All About Eyes Serum to help de-puff them.


That is all for now and hopefully I'll find time to make another post before Christmas rolls around but if this doesn't happen, MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL YOU LOVELIES <3

*don't forget to comment about your skincare routine and whether you like proactive products or not!!

Holiday nail colors!!

October is over, which meaaaaans.......HOLIDAY SEASON BEGINS!!!
In excitement for the holiday festivities I have decided to share my favorite holiday nail colors with you guys! Unfortunately I use my sister's nail polish a lot when she's home therefore she has most of the good colors but I do still have favorites from my own collection!  In this post I'll be showing you my own as well as ones from Essie .

Dating a Royal - OPI $8.50
A dark, royal blue color

From A To Z-urich - OPI $8.50
A burgundy/red color

60 Seconds Vinyl Shine in 606 Dazzle - Rimmel London
A metallic/sparkly gold color

Sombre Overcast UNIQUE - Love&Beauty by Forever21 $3.80
A very pale grey color with a hint of shimmer

I also have two favorites that I got in a kit by The Color Institute-Deluxe Nail Salon, one is sparkly silver and one is black with shimmer, but I'm not sure what they're called and I'm pretty sure you can't buy them anymore/separately so I tried to find similar ones on Essie instead!! (better quality too!)
Sparkly silver dupe
Pure Pearlfection
Silver Bullions
Black with shimmer dupe
Set in Stones

I really like Essie's winter 2013 collection as well
Winter 2013 Collection

And here are some of the separate nail polishes that I love for this holiday season!!
Reds:
Twin Sweater Set - crimson red
Scarlett O'Hara - dark ruby red
Leading Lady - deep red with glitter
Toggle To The Top - sparkling crushed garnet red
Shearling Darling - rich, ebony red
After Sex - a sultry pearlescent burgundy

Greens:
Vested Interest - cool grey teal
Stylenomics - a wealthy, rich and opulent dark green

Greys:
Parka Perfect - serenely shimmering alpine gray

White:
Blanc - French manicure white

ESSIE NAIL POLISH IS USUALLY ABOUT $8.50

So these are just a few of my favorites and some that I would LOVE to try out.  I would have linked some to the OPI website but unfortunately it's not working for me for some reason but I do love Essie so that's okay.
Be sure to check out these colors and also explore around Essie and OPI

What are YOUR favorite holiday nail colors?!

NYC and Hard Candy Product Review

I'm sorry that I haven't been posting much!!!  My laptop is STILL broken and I've been busy with school and such but I promise I will try to make posts more often!

Today I wanted to review NYC's Smooth Skin Loose Face Powder and Hard Candy's Glamoflauge concealer.  Just to warn you guys, I'm not very impressed with Hard Candy's concealer...like at all.

NYC Smooth Skin Loose Face Powder in Translucent 714A - Approximately $3(not 100% sure)
I went into this looking for a powder to set my makeup and I didn't have that much time to read whatever the back of this package said so I just bought it hoping that it actually would set my makeup hahah!  I've found that this powder helps my makeup look smoother and more put together but I don't think it really sets my makeup and helps it last throughout the day all that much.  If you're looking for a cheap makeup setting powder then I would definitely go for this one because it is SUPPPPEEERRR cheap which is just fabulous!!  The only big problem I have with this is that it does have talc in it which, as I have said before, is not good for acne prone skin like mine.

Hard Candy Glamoflauge concealer in Light - Approximately $7
FIRST OF ALL, the package says: A heavy duty, multi-use concealer that provides ultimate coverage. Formula blends flawlessly into skin. Hide everything from dark circles and blemishes to tattoos.  I honestly cannot express how upset I am with this product.  I had always heard about it and how amazing the coverage is but it really is not great at all.  This product is incredibly THICK and DRY.  Or at least on my skin it is.  I tried using it under my eyes and I looked like I put 8 layers of different concealers on.  It's great because a tiny tiny tiny bit goes an insanely long way, but the coverage is no good and it completely dries out my skin.  Unfortunately, I am incredibly disappointed with this product.

Bourjois Fresh, Rested Complexion Foundation Review

Firs I wanted to apologize for my lack of posts lately!!  My laptop broke and so I've been forced to use other desktops.  BUT I'M BACK!  I had always hear good things about Bourjois cosmetics but I never bought anything from their collection because it is quite expensive PLUS it's harder to find in Canada.  I finally decided to splurge on two of their products, I talked about the Color Boost Glossy Finish Lipstick in Peach on the Beach in my Summer Favorites post.  Today I'm talking about the Fresh, Rested Complexion Foundation in Beige Clair 73. 

To start this off I just wanted to let you all know that this foundation smells SO GOOD, I love love love the sent it gives off.  It sort of makes me think of soap which is kind of strange but it really does smell amazing.  The bottle says that it's supposed to give a 10 hour sleep effect and honestly that's the only reason why I bought it but it actually does do that, it makes me look so awake in the mornings and gives me a nice healthy glow.  It's definitely not thick which is really good, it sort of feels like it's been run down with water but it really is super light weight so it's great for acne prone skin like mine.  I'd say it has about a medium coverage so I like to cover up my blemishes with a tiny tiny bit of a foundation that has more coverage (only on blemishes, NOT my entire face).  I will then pump the foundation out ONCE on the back of my hand and use my Smashbox foundation brush to apply it all over my face.  Any excess foundation on the back of your hand can be use under the eyes to brighten up those dark circles.  The bottle also says that it's oil free and that it's a vitamin E, F, B5 and mineral-enriched formula.

Overall am absolutely IN LOVE with this product.  The only down side to this is that it's $26, but honestly it's totally worth it.  Really amazing product, I'm so glad I finally gave it try, you all should too!!!

What's your favorite Bourjois product??

Liebster Award!

To all of you checking out my blog, I'm super excited to say that I've been nominated by the lovely Ivy: stylelifelovely.blogspot.ca for the liebster award YAY!!  

The Award:

The Liebster Award is given to up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. So, what is a Liebster?  The meaning: Liebster is German and means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome. Isn't that sweet? Blogging is about building a community and it's a great way to connect with other bloggers and help spread the word about newer bloggers/blogs.

Here are the rules for receiving this award:

1. You must link back to the person that nominated you.

2. You must answer the 11 Liebster questions given to you by the nominee before you.

3. You must pick 11 bloggers to be nominated for the award with under 200 followers.

4. You must come up with 11 questions for your nominees to answer.

5. You must go to their blogs and notify your nominees.

HERE IT GOES.......

1. What is your favorite mascara?
Maybelline The Falsies Volume Express is, hands down, my absolute favorite mascara!!!!

2. When you were little what did you want to be when you grew up?

As a little girl, my dream was always to become a model!  I actually took courses on how to properly apply makeup, how to present myself at a casting/what to bring, how to publicly speak properly (I still suck at this one though), etc.  As our "graduation", we were part of a fashion show for this company!  It was really a ton of fun :)

3. What is an item on your beauty wishlist?
Well I currently have 33 items on my beauty wishlist.......but one item in particular would have to be the Hello Flawless foundation by Benefit.  I keep hearing really really good things about this product and so I would LOVE to pick this up someday!!

4. Do you have any special talents? If so, what are they?
I love to sing.  I've been singing since I was a little girl, but mostly it's just been to myself.  I'm way too shy to actually try and take that anywhere though.  I do have a youtube channel if you want to check that out: youtube.com/user/mdaoust25/videos but there aren't very many videos seeing as I just hid a bunch of my old ones ahahah!  My family has always tried to get me to try and take this further but I really like just doing it for fun.  It's something I do for myself!

5. What is your favorite type of vacation (mountains, beach, city, etc.) or what is a favorite vacation you've ever been on?
I recently went to New York City with the art students from my school (which included a bunch of my friends) and I had such an amazing time there.  Although there's a TON of people, I really enjoyed the city no matter how crowded it was.  I really love museums (we went to many) and plays (Newsies was incredible!!!!) so that was definitely a great part of my trip.  It's just a really cool place to be and I would love to go back. (NY Fashion Week would be unreal!!).

6. What season do you prefer for fashion?
I'd say it's a tie between summer and fall because I love being able to wear shorts and skirts in the summer but I'm also OBSESSED with scarves, like the amount of scarves I have is actually ridiculous.  I also really love riding boots and you mainly get to wear those in the fall so that's definitely a plus.  I like the colors for both seasons too, the bright summer colors are so much fun but the more neutral and red tones of the fall are gorgeous!!

7. How many different countries have you visited and name one you'd like to visit but haven't yet?
I don't exactly think this counts but I was born in Switzerland so I was there for a year or two buuuut other than that I've only been to the U.S and Dominican Republic.  Picking just one country I'd like to visit but haven't yet is so hard!!!!  I guess I'd have to say France.

8. What is your favorite brand of nail polish?
It's a mix between Essie and O.P.I.  I like the brush from Essie but hate that it takes forever to dry, and I hate the brush from O.P.I but I love that it drys fast enough!

9. What is your favorite makeup tool or brush?
Ummmh.....my hands lol or a sponge I guess.

10. How would you describe your personality?
I hate when people ask this question come on!!!!  I'm definitely a shy person at first, but once you get to know me/when I'm with my friends I'm much more outgoing, and I'm definitely very weird....but in a good way!!  Let's just say I'm not your typical teenage girly girl hahaha

11. What is your all time favorite accessory?
Scarves.  1000000% without a doubt, scarves. O B S E S S E D.  My favorite two are a grey and black, super thin, skull scarf and a more fun printed fall colored scarf from Afghanistan.

My Nominees:

Ashleigh: ashleighbeauty.blogspot.ca

Lisa: llittleblonde.com

Leighton: princessdairy2.blogspot.ca

Katherine: katscosmetics.com

Emma: dearthirty.blogspot.ca

Saskia: saskiarosee.blogspot.ca
Anita: xsundaygirl.blogspot.ca
Zelda: zelda249.blogspot.ca
Katie: itskatiecreative.blogspot.ca
Maria: mariajoyceli.blogspot.ca
Caitlin: caitlinaaa.blogspot.co.uk

My questions to you:

1. What are your three favorite online shopping websites?

2. What beauty product can't you live without?

3. What's your favorite movie or book and why?

4. Who's your favorite youtuber?

5. Who's style would you steal?

6. What is your favorite cosmetics brand?

7. If you were able to do absolutely ANYTHING in the world, what would you do?

8. What is your favorite song right now?

9. What's your favorite thing about yourself?

10. What's number one on your beauty wish list?

11. Do you dream of having a career in the beauty industry? If yes, doing what?

This was really hard to do but also a lot of fun!!  Found so many new blogs through this.  Thanks again to Ivy for nominating me.  Good luck and have fun doing this!!

Pür Minerals Review

Pür Minerals has been a favorite of mine since I started wearing makeup at the young age of twelve!  When I started wearing makeup my mom and I went into Shoppers Drug Mart hoping to find a really great starter kit...AND WE DID.  Pür Minerals has been said to be a cosmetics brand that is GOOD FOR YOUR SKIN, this is the reason I had gotten the starter kit to this (not so known) brand.  I have never loved a  brand of makeup so much.  Unfortunately, the starter kit is a tad smaller therefore I ran out of product fairly quickly.  After looking in different Shoppers Drug Marts, Walmarts as well as other stores that sell cosmetics, I could never find this brand again.  I stopped searching and experimented with other brands when LUCKILY, around Christmas time, my mom was watching the Shopping Channel and saw Pür Minerals on it!!!!!  Of course we had to get one of the limited edition kits but fortunately they do still sell a lot of these products on their own ONLINE: purminerals.com I highly recommend you all go and check out some of their fantastic products BUT FOR NOW, onto the review!!

Untamed Eye Palette
For starters, this case is super cool, who doesn't love a little snake print every now and then am I right??  PLUS it's purple and that's the best color ever but that's just my opinion hahaah.  ANYWAYYYS, this comes with 8 different colors but the colors in this palette are mostly on the darker side so that's great if you like a smokey eye but personally I don't like smokey eyes because of the insanely dark circles under my eyes that I just cannot seem to get rid of (HELP!!), so I don't use many of the colors but they're definitely all very very pretty colors!  My three favorites are charmer (silvery purple/pink), trance (silvery dark purple) and shock (pastel creamy pink).  One problem with this palette.....it's limited edition :(  Unfortunately this means that they don't have it anymore BUT they do have amazing other eye shadow palettes that I have been dying to try!!!

4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup SPF 15 in Blush Medium - $26.00
I find this pressed powder covers blemish extremely well, it's super light weight and it's incredibly easy to apply.  Even though it's a tad pricey, this is a product I would 100% swear by if I could find it in stores!  It matches my skin tone really well and I'm not exactly sure what else I'm supposed to say about this product other than I love love love this product and you should all invest in it.  Seriously, like right now go buy it online it's absolutely amazing and makes my skin look flawless.  IT IS MAGICAL PEOPLE!!!!!!
purminerals.com/4-in-1-Pressed-Mineral-Makeup-Foundation-With-SPF-15

Universal Marble Mineral Powder in Pink - $23.50
I think this is the one product I wouldn't repurchase AS MUCH because I find it takes way too much product in order for it to actually show.  But, as I've mentioned in my other posts I have acne prone skin therefore I would repurchase this product because I know that it's good for my skin and WON'T make me break out which is simply fabulous.  I just wish it was more pigmented!!!!  Otherwise, great for those with acne prone skin (this entire line is actually really great for those who have acne prone skin like myself).

Pür Radiance Mineral Powder - $23.50
To be completely honest, I had no idea what the heck this was until like 2 months ago woops lol..  It's just supposed to add a subtle glow to your face.  It says to apply it to your face and neck, I like to apply it right above my blush, on my forehead, down my nose and on my brow bone.  It just brightens your makeup a bit and adds a nice subtle shimmer.  I'd say I'm pretty happy with this product!!

Chisel Makeup Brush - $23.00
Okay if you're going to buy the 4-in-1 pressed mineral makeup, you have to buy the chisel brush as well.  It's a must, like actually though...  It's so much easier to apply the pressed powder with this.  To use this brush you're supposed to put some powder on it, tap the excess product off and move in CIRCULAR motions all over your face.  Easiest way to get that flawless finish, not even kidding.  Guys seriously this brush and that product together are a match made in heaven, it's absolutely magical I am in love.
purminerals.com/Chisel-Makeup-Brush

Pout Plumping Lip Gloss in Charm - $16.00
This specific color was also part of the limited edition kit so unfortunately they don't have this color anymore but the color Pink Crush looks like it would be super super similar to Charm so check that one out if you're interested in this specific color.  I, myself, am not a HUGE fan of lip gloss, I'll wear it sometimes but it's definitely NOT a necessity for me.  This is a pretty good one though, I don't find it too sticky and I really like the pink shimmery color that it has.  One problem is that I do not like the smell whatsoever, but that's just me.  If you're looking for a good lip gloss I suggest trying this one ESPECIALLY if you have thin lips like myself and you want to plump them up a bit, it does help a little bit!!!

There's two products I forgot to put in the picture below so I'm just going to throw them in quickly...
3-in-1 Universal Mineral Makeup Pencil in Natural (I think) - $17.00, I use this on my eyebrows but only a tiny tiny bit because it's fairly darker than my eyebrow color even though my eyebrows are pretty dark.  The brush on the end is also a life saver for when my eyebrows get a little crazy in the mornings!  It's supposed to be an eyeliner, lip liner and eyebrow enhancer all in one.
Mineral Glow - $23.50, I can't seem to find this one at the moment but I do remember really liking it!  It's a great bronzer that adds a glow to your face and again IT'S GOOD FOR YOUR SKIN YAY!!!

SERIOUSLY THESE PRODUCTS ARE AMAZING I SUGGEST YOU GO AND PURCHASE THEM www.purminerals.com
ALSO, if you would like to test it out first with the starter kit, here's the link: purminerals.com/Pur-Mineral-Makeup-Starter-Kit
They always have great new kits for insanely low prices!!!

If you want to try or have ever tried Pür Minerals, let me know in the comments below!!

SUMMER FAVORITES!!

Some of these products I didn't purchase this summer but I did come across them in my multiple messy makeup bags and decided to give them another go and absolutely LOVED them (they're also still in stores).

Primers
Pür Minerals Cease Crease Eye Shadow Primer - $18.00
I've loved Pür Minerals since I first started wearing makeup and I will always 100% recommend this brand to EVERYONE because their products are absolutely amazing and super light weight.  I do love this eye shadow primer, it prevents your eye shadow from creasing all day long.  Great summer product too because it's super LIGHT WEIGHT.

NYX HD Studio Photogenic Primer - $17.00
I used to swear by my Smashbox primer but my mom recently purchased this NYX primer so I've been stealing it from her every now and then and I must say that I like it much better than any other primer I've used.  It really helps my foundation look better all day long, it's also TALC-FREE which is super good news for people who have acne problems like myself.  I'm not a huge fan of the smell but you can look past that because of how great a primer this is!!

Foundation/Tinted Moisturizer/Concealer
Clinique Even Better Foundation SPF 15 in Ivory 03 - $27.00
I don't usually buy Clinique makeup, I get samples that my mom doesn't want when she gets those special bags, this being said I only have a sample size of this foundation but I would definitely want to purchase a full sized bottle once mine runs out!  I only use this on blemishes on my face, I do not use it as a full foundation all over my face, it's just to cover up certain blemishes that I find.  It has great coverage  and you don't need to use a ton of it to cover up so it lasts quite a while.

Aveeno Positively Radiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30 in Medium - $14.97 (Walmart price)
I got this last year and recently rediscovered it.  This product is so good for the summer, although it's a moisturizer, I like to wear a different moisturizer underneath it to make sure my skin is moisturized throughout the day but the fact that this has SPF 30 is perfect for the summer!  It's great to just throw on in the morning and wear throughout the day whether you're going to the beach or to work.  It's light weight and feels good on!!

Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse Foundation in Medium 2 - $7.94 (Walmart price)
I use this as an under eye concealer.  I get incredibly dark circles under my eyes and so far this is the only product that actually covers them almost completely (exciting I know)!!!  I don't always get that much sleep during the summer so my dark circles are even darker.  If you have the same problem as me try this product, it's also a great full face foundation I used to use it all the time and honestly I'm not quite sure why I stopped because it's a great foundation/concealer.  BUT if you do have my problem with dark circles as well and have a concealer that you swear by PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW!!!!!

Bronzer/Blush
Physicians Formula Powder Palette Healthy Glow Bronzer - $11.48 (Walmart price)
I have used this bronzer since I started wearing makeup when I was 12 so clearly I LOVE IT.  I don't really feel the need to try any other bronzer because this one works perfectly fine.  A lot of people don't like to use bronzer on their entire face, they just use it to contour, but I personally like to buff it all over my face.  I'm usually pretty tan (especially in the summer) so I only put a little bit on my brush and throw it on, I don't need to use very much of it but I like that it pulls all my face makeup together.  If you're looking for a great bronzer that isn't too expensive I absolutely recommend this product.

Almay Powder Blush in Pink 140 - $7.54 (Walmart price)
I bought this blush years ago and I had never used it so I decided to try it for the summer and I really like it.  It's definitely a little more sheer than most blushes but I like that because I can decide how bright I make my cheeks (I like the more subtle/glowy cheek), a couple swipes across my cheek does the trick.  This being said, this is another light weight product!!

Eyes
MAC Paint Pot in Bare Study - $21.00
Yes, this product is ridiculously expensive when you look at how small the pot is BUT I have used this every single day for the last 2 months and I haven't even made a dent in it.  The color I picked is so perfect for brightening the inner corners of my eyes.  It's super creamy and long lasting.  This is the perfect product for brightening up those dark eyes that haven't gotten much sleep this summer!!  Total must have, it's pricey but worth it.

Maybelline The Falsies Volume Express in Very Black - $5.94 (Walmart price)
I AM ABSOLUTELY OBSESSED WITH THIS MASCARA.  I use it every day, sometimes I'll apply one coat of Cover Girl Lash Blast 24hr in blue black right before to make my lashes look extra thick and voluminous!  Even on it's own, Falsies is probably the best mascara I've tried so far and it's super easy to apply a couple coats when you're on the go in the summer time.

Lips
Bourjois Color Boost Glossy Finish Lipstick in Peach on the Beach 04 - $11.00
CAUTION: if you DO NOT like bright pink/peach lips, there's a huge chance you won't like this product.  OTHERWISE, this is a super pigmented, super moisturizing, bright pink/peach color, perfect for the summer!  It says it lasts for 10 hours which I don't really believe but who knows maybe it lasts longer on other people!  It smells sort of like foundation which is weird and kinda gross but whatever it's a lovely product, especially in the summertime and it's a cool brand, they have really great other products that I'm excited to try/have tried and will soon be reviewing SO STAY TUNED.  If you like bright summery colors and moisturized lips try this one.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey 001 - $8.46
I've already talked about this one in my Lip Obsessed post but I really do love this one so I'm gonna talk about it again.  First of all, IT SMELLS LIKE MINT, who doesn't love that I mean really it's just great.  Second, I find it lasts pretty long as well as HYDRATES my lips (thank goodness for that).  And lastly, it's a great color if you're going out at night or when you're rocking a more grungy look OR a Selena Gomez wannabe look as my sister and I did last Saturday night for her concert in Toronto!!! It worked really well with my outfit so I was pretty happy about that.  A great light weight STAIN for the summer, not much reapplying necessary!!

That concludes my incredibly long but very necessary SUMMER FAVORITES post!  Let me know what your summer favorites were for this summer in the comments below!!

Selena Gomez concert outfits!

Review: L'Oréal Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream

"4 Beautifying Actions in 1; Primes, Perfects, Hydrates, Corrects"

Although this is the only BB cream that I have tried so far, I find it to be a good enough product for times that I don't have very much time to do my makeup.  This one's a little bit different than most BB creams because it comes out white with little beads that are supposed to match to your skin tone once you rub it onto your skin (this probably doesn't work for everyone).  It doesn't always match perfectly to my skin tone seeing as my sister sometimes tells me that I look orange...not good.  I do think it's a pretty good product to be used as a primer but that can vary from person to person.  I wouldn't recommend this product to people who have acne prone skin like I do because it doesn't really help to cover up any blemishes (unless you're using it as a primer and cover your blemishes with a different product after, like I do).  Overall this product is pretty good and it isn't too too expensive ($17.09) but I do think that there's probably better BB creams out there.

What other BB creams should I try??

Review: NYC Liquid Eyeliner

I had never tried a liquid liner before purchasing this one.  I chose this one because I've always heard good things about NYC and I wanted a cheap one to try.  I've never been very good with eyeliner because I don't wear it very often and normally if I choose to wear something like it, I'll just wet an angle brush and use eye shadow. I always think that liquid liner will run/smudge really easily so I never liked the thought of that, but when I first tried it, it lasted through A LOT of HEAT (it get's really hot at my work).  I was quite surprised to see how well it stayed on.  The only downside that I've found is that the applicator is a tad thick, I mean maybe it's just me but I find it super hard to make a thin line with this applicator.  Other than that, I really do love that it lasts a long time and it also comes in a very small tube which makes it super convenient to bring around.  IT'S ALSO ONLY $2.97!!!!

Let me know what your go to liquid eyeliner is!!

Dream Lumi Concealer Review

Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer in Nude - $7.99
Although this is supposed to be a concealer, I don't feel it really works on me like an actual concealer.  I get dark circles under my eyes and it doesn't cover them at all but it does brighten my eyes a little bit.  It works as a great highlighter around the eye area but I wouldn't recommend buying it as a concealer if you get super dark circles under your eyes like I do.  I got this one in the shade Nude which sometimes seems waaaay too light for me but there are 6 different shades to choose from!  I like how this product comes out of the little brush at the top, I find it makes the application that much easier.  It also isn't too expensive!!

Favorite Perfumes

I wear perfume everyday so I like to switch it up every now and then.  I have three main favorites, one of which I've had since I was little and just rediscovered it for the summer!!  The problem with these is that they're a tad pricey but then again what perfume doesn't have a ridiculous price?!  Oh well, here we go.....

Clinique Happy - approximately $50
I only have a sample of this one because my mom got it in one of those Clinique packages so it's definitely great for me to put in my purse when I'm heading out the door but I'm running low and I would love to purchase an actual sized bottle!  It has a very sweet, classic scent, it isn't too strong and the weird thing is that this scent actually makes me happy!!  There's just something about it that makes me happy but yea I would definitely recommend this one!!!

Mary-Kate and Ashley Coast to Coast in Beach Honeysuckle
Unfortunately I got this one a long long time ago so I don't know the exact price but the online price is between $15-$20 which is a pretty great price!  When I got this perfume it came with a hand cream that smells the same so sometimes I'll just substitute the perfume for that.  I really like this perfume for the summer time.  It has a really soft, beachy scent that of course reminds me of being on the beach!  And again, this one isn't too strong either which is great.  I don't think I'd really wear this one during any other season but for the summer it's definitely my go to perfume!!

Taylor Swift Wonderstruck - $60
I got this one as a gift so again I'm not 100% sure about the price, it probably varies, but I've been told that the 50ml bottle (the size I have) is $60 so I'm gonna stick with that one.  This perfume is my all time favorite, I've had it for a year and I wear this one the most out of all my perfumes (basically everyday other than in the summer).  I find it has a much stronger scent than the other two which I don't usually like but it seems to last a little longer so maybe that's why it's so strong?  Not sure ahah.  It sort of has a sugary sweet scent and the packaging is such an eye catcher!  The little gold charms around the top are so cute and the fact that the bottle is purple (my favorite color) makes it that much better.  It's also really cool because when it catches the light it has a sort of rainbow look to it.  It's just super pretty and smells great and I love it and I absolutely 100% recommend EVERYONE go pick this up because it's just so lovely!!!!

What other perfumes should I try and what's your favorite?!

Burt's Bees Anti-Blemish Solutions

Let me just begin by saying that my sister and I both LOVE Burt's Bees products, especially the lip products (Josee has OVER 20).  A couple months ago I had heard good things about the Burt's Bees Anti-Blemish Solutions line so I decided to try the cleanser, the moisturizer and the spot treatment.  The best part about these products is that they're all made with NATURAL ingredients.  These are products that I was happy with, but not 100%.  Here's why....

Purifying Daily Cleanser with Willow Bark - $14.99

I did find that this cleanser works to keep the skin clean but it doesn't help too much with blemishes that are already visible.  This cleanser is probably better for someone who doesn't have many blemishes (acne) to begin with.  The part that I absolutely hated about this cleanser is that it comes out in an oil type form and doesn't really lather, it feels like you're rubbing watered down oil on your face.

Daily Moisturizing Lotion with Willow Bark - $24.99

This is the one product I did not like from this line whatsoever.  It smells really bad and it's VERY sticky, unpleasant to apply to the face.  I don't find it fulfills the duty of a moisturizer at all.

Targeted Spot Treatment with Willow Bark - $14.99
I was most pleased with this product, it does reduce the size of blemishes and makes them less noticeable.  It doesn't work insanely fast like some other products, but it does work and it's all natural so you know it's good for your skin!  It's a tad liquidy and has an incredibly strong smell but it's definitely the best part of this line (out of the products that I've tried).

SIDE NOTE:  I do have acne prone skin so this may just not work on me, I don't know how it will affect other peoples skin.
*Also, this is not a post just to bash on Burt's Bees because I really do LOVE they're products!!!!!

If you've tried these products or other Burt's Bees products let me know what you thought of them in a comment below!!!

Lip obsessed!!!

My sister and I went to Walmart a few days ago and got a couple of different products.  Today we'll be focusing on the lip products that we picked up!  My sister and I each got a Rimmel London Lasting Finish Lipstick.  I also got two different lip stains, the first is Revlon Just Bitten Kissable balm stain in Honey 001 and the second is Hard Candy All Glossed Up hydrating lip stain in Chic.

Rimmel London Lasting Finish Lipstick in Candy 002 and Pink Blush 006 - $4.98 each
Candy is more of a frosty/shiny light pink whereas Pink Blush is more of a matte bright pink.  These two lipsticks are absolutely beautiful colors!  The downside is that they don't last long AT ALL.  The application isn't the greatest either, it makes your lips feel a tad dry therefore I don't see myself purchasing another lipstick from this line anytime soon.  I also find that they smell really bad and I don't want to be smelling that during the day but my sister seems to think they taste good once it's been applied on your lips so if you like lipsticks that "taste good" then try it out! (Although I find MAC lipsticks taste much better)  I think the best part about this lipstick is that it's very inexpensive so if you desperately need a cheap lipstick then this is probably the way to go.  This one comes in 18 different colors.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable balm stain in Honey 001 - $8.46
This lip product has been raved about all over the internet so when I saw it I decided that I had to try it out and see if what everyone says about it is true.  I tried this one last night and I'm already loving it!!  This color would normally be a little too dark for my liking but it's actually a very pretty nude/dark pinkish color.  It's super hydrating, it goes on so smoothly and it LASTS!!!!  It didn't fade whatsoever when I wore it and I love that because I hate having to reapply lipstick all the time.  Also it smells really minty and fresh so that's definitely a plus!!  I recommend everyone go out and buy this product, it's totally worth it.  This one comes in 12 different colors.

Hard Candy All Glossed Up hydrating lip stain in Chic - $4.98
I have yet to try this one out but if it's anything like the Revlon lip stain I know I'll love it!  I tried the color our on my hand and it looks to be more of a nude pink shade with a hint of orange in it.  It's super pretty but I don't know how I'm going to feel about it on me so we'll see about that one.  It definitely seems to glide on smoothly so hopefully that means it will be hydrating as well!  I'm super excited to try this one out to see if it lasts and how the color actually looks.  This one comes in 8 different colors.

Let us know what other lip products we should try!!

Newest addition!!

Seeing as my sister was the one who got me to do this, we decided that she should make some beauty posts every now and then of her own!  Her name is Josee, she's 21 and she's recently been getting more and more into makeup!  We've both been looking online at a bunch of different makeup and she recently ordered some products from Sephora so be sure to keep a look out for her reviews on those once they come in!!  In case you haven't read my about me page, I'll inform you that most of our products will be DRUGSTORE (Shoppers Drug Mart or Walmart) products.  Some times we may have more high end products such as Sephora or MAC products, but for the most part it will be totally affordable drugstore stuff!!  So remember, keep a look out for posts by Josee!

Favorite lips

When it comes to lip butters and lipsticks, I like to have a very neutral or more pink shade.  I'm definitely not a big fan of bright and fun colors on my own lips but I do find some girls can wear bright colors, such as red, very very well!  Seeing as I'm probably not the only girl who feels like this, I decided to fill you in on what MY favorite lip products are right now!

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Cotton Candy 045 - $7.50

I am absolutely in love with this lip butter.  Often when I'm at Shoppers Drug Mart or Walmart and I'm testing different lip butter colors on my hand, I find that the color never really comes out the way it seems like it would.  When I tried this one, the color came out very well!  It isn't too pigmented but you can definitely build the color which I like!  It's also super hydrating which is always a good thing!  This is definitely a very pink color so for those of you who are like me, this is a great color!  For those of you who like a brighter color, this lip butter comes in 20 different shades!!!

Neutrogena Lip Moisturizer - $5.39
First of all, the greatest part about this lip balm is that it has SPF 15 so for those of you who are more sensitive to the sun, this would be a great purchase!!  Neutrogena is always a great brand for moisturizing products and that definitely goes into their lip balms as well!  This is an absolute must have all year round.

MAC Glaze Lipstick in Hue AA2 - $17.50
Although MAC isn't all that affordable when you're a high school student, it's definitely one of the best brands for lipstick (I find).  My all time favorite is in the shade Hue which is kind of a nude pink color.  I find it's pretty pigmented and to add a bit of shine to it I'll add any nude/pink subtle lip gloss over top just to bring it all together!

Let me know what your favorite lip products are in the comments below!!

DIY: Lighten your hair

Seeing as it's the summer time, the sun tends to lighten hair.  So instead of going to dye my hair lighter once again, I as a blonde, like to help the sun out a little bit in order to get my hair even lighter in a much quicker and very easy way!  All you need is half a lemon, a lemon strainer and, if you'd like, a cooking brush.

Start off by cutting a lemon in half and using your lemon strainer to get all of the juice out.
Next you'll need to get your hair wet. (This step is easiest if you have a pool, just jump on in!  If you don't have a pool, using a hose or even the kitchen sink will work just fine!)
Now it's time to put the juice in your hair!  I find it easiest to apply by using a cooking brush in order to get the juice right onto my roots.  Afterwards, I'll pour the left over juice all over my head and tussle my hair around to make sure it hits every spot! (You can always skip the brush and go straight to pouring, it's completely up to you!)
After you apply all the lemon juice to your hair, sit out in the sun and let it work its magic! (Make sure to wear sunscreen during this step.)

Another great thing about putting lemon in your hair is that once you shower and rinse it all out, your hair will feel incredibly soft!!!
**Unfortunately I don't know how this will work/if this will work on brunettes.

I can't live without....

I absolutely cannot live without mascara!  I've recently fallen in love with Maybelline Falsies Volume Express in very black.  It's the one thing I won't leave the house without putting on.  Although some people don't like this product, I find that it really does give the effect of wearing fake lashes without the pain of actually wearing fake lashes!  If you've tried this product before and didn't like it, what I sometimes do is layer this with Cover Girl Lash Blast 24hr in blue black.  I find this adds a ton of volume to the length that Maybelline Falsies gives and overall makes the perfect eyelash look!  This product is definitely a must have!!!

What can't YOU live without??

Comment below and let me know what product you can't live without!

Hey hey!

Well I've never really done this before so here goes nothing!  My name's Melanie but everybody calls me Mel, I'm 17 and I live in Canada!  No one's probably reading this yet but I'll just go for it anyways.  Ever since I was a little girl I've loved everything there is to do with fashion.  This has always been something that I do for myself but my sister came to me today and told me that I should start my own beauty blog so HERE IT IS, Mel's Beauty Blog will be a place that I can review different makeup, fashion styles and help anyone who's ever had any questions about beauty (hopefully), of course I'll also be able to fill you all in (well one day) on what's going on in my life!  This seems like it's going to be a fun journey and I hope that some day I'll have some readers that will join me on this beauty journey!!!