I last talked about my 5 blush picks for spring and summer, and I thought I’d do the same for lip products. With the exception of one shade, all of these are super bright and therefore not for the faint of heart!
Rimmel Apocalips in Stellar
Just LOOK at that colour! Rimmel’s Apocalips formula is an absolute favourite of mine and their shade in Stellar is insanely pigmented. As a liquid lipstick, this goes on rather creamy and glossy, but will eventually dry down to a less glossy formula. The lasting power is also amazing (although I wouldn’t expect it to last through a meal, which is not something I personally look for in a lipstick). If you want an attention-seeking colour for your lips this season, this one is it.
Maybelline Vivid in Shocking Coral
I have two of Maybelline‘s Vivid lipsticks in this post because they’re just outstanding – everything from the pigmentation, to the colour range to the scent (very sugary/buttery) just make these an absolute pleasure to wear. Sidenote: These actually smell better than the Buffs collection that came out recently, not sure why that is.
Shocking Coral definitely comes off a lot more pink than coral on me but it’s a beautiful shade regardless.
Maybelline Vivid in Vivid Rose
Out of the Vivids collection, this one is my absolute favourite. Vivid Rose is the shade that made me fall in love with this range by Maybelline. It’s the colour rose on steroids with a dash of neon. As with all the Vivids – the lasting power is excellent as is the creaminess of the product.
NYX Butter Lipstick in Fizzies
NYX‘s Butter Lipstick in Fizzies is a shade I get complimented on frequently when I wear it. It’s easy to wear and has a sheer luminosity to it that makes it look a little less stark on the lips if full opacity bothers you. I tend to wear it pretty full-on, but the swatch reflects some of the sheerness of the product. This range of lipsticks appear to have no scent, which seems a bit odd given that the Butter Glosses had such a sugary creamy scent to them. Out of all the shades I’ve included in this post, this is the one that I feel matches most eyelooks the easiest, so this would be a pretty brainless lip product that you could pair with anything.
Benefit Ultra Plush Lip Gloss in Coralista
And when you don’t want a lipstick, Benefit‘s Coralista gloss is an easy one to just pop on your lips. Despite the swatch, it goes on my lips almost colourless with a very sheer hint of coral shine. I reach for this one a lot when I’m going out for dinner and don’t want to worry about having to touch up my lips and/or worry about smearing lipstick all over my face while I’m having a pint.
So those are the lip products I’m most excited to wear this season. Is there anything you’re amped about wearing? I’m so excited that it’s finally patio weather here in Toronto! Had my first patio experience of the season last night and I can’t wait for even warmer temperatures!
This post may get a bit graphic with some of the pictures, you’ve been warned.
Every now and then I get what I think is milia. (From wikipedia: “A milium (plural milia), also called a milk spot or an oil seed, is a keratin-filled cyst that can appear just under the epidermis..[snip]”.)
I hate these little bastards, and they always show up in really inconvenient spots around my eyelids. I’ve never been officially diagnosed and most of the causes of milia are stuff that I don’t even use (like heavy eyecreams, etc.)!
I usually dig the milia out myself in sheer frustration (yep, with a needle or tweezers). I’m not really afraid of facial scarring, so if I get the opportunity to poke and prod at something on my face that’s bothering me, I usually do it. However, this one little milium has been stuck on my lower eyelid for about two years now and no matter how much I stab at it, it just won’t go away!
Milium on my lower left eyelid
The milium isn’t super obvious unless you’re looking for it, but I find myself really ticked off (and slightly repulsed) by the little bump and I’m ALWAYS poking at it all day with my fingers.
Milium
Eesh. Isn’t that a beauty? This was after I’d taken my makeup off for the day.
So after years of poking at this sucker, I’d only made it get bigger and it was looking more and more grotesque by the day. In last month’s Ipsy bag, I received a sample size of the Dr. BrandtMicrodermabrasion Skin Exfoliant and decided, as a last ditch effort, to try this out on my eyelid.
Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion Skin Exfoliant
Of course, with the milium being so stinking close to my eyeball, I had to be exceptionally careful with this stuff. For a week straight, once a day I put a small amount on the end of a cotton bud and rubbed it back and forth over the offending spot. Once I was done rubbing, I rinsed it off and left it alone. It dried out the spot quite a bit and I really didn’t notice a change throughout that week.
Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion Skin Exfoliant – white with very fine grains inside the cream
After the week was up, I stopped using the exfoliant out of frustration and booked myself in for a dermatologist appointment to get it lanced out of my face in three weeks time (something that I was really, really nervous about). However, over the next few days, weird stuff started to happen. The milium got slightly smaller and then started to almost crystallize. The very top surface of my skin got very hard right above the bump, almost as if I had a piece of dry skin stuck there.
Then suddenly, today at work, I was rubbing my eye (and once again poking at the milk spot) when all of a sudden I felt it pop out of my skin.
Weirdest. Feeling. Ever.
I also couldn’t believe it! FINALLY! This stupid little irritating milium was out of my face! I ran to the bathroom at work just to double check, and sure enough, there was no longer any bump under my skin! All that was left was a small little exit hole (see picture below) where the little ball of whatever-the-heck-it-was used to be.
Begone milium!
I am unbelievably happy. This thing has been bothering me for years! I was so pleased that the exfoliant seems to have done its job and that my skin was now back to lying flush against my eyelid.
So if you’ve got milia, I would seriously recommend trying this exfoliant. Be careful if you’re using this close to your eyes, but it’s so soooo worth it!
So Dr. Brandt has changed their products around a lot since this post went up (it’s now 2017), but give these scrubs a try by their brand:
Dr. Brandt Skincare microdermabrasion exfoliating face cream (Canada or USA)
Dr. Brandt Skincare PoreDermabrasion™ Pore Perfecting Exfoliator (Canada or USA)
I hadn’t planned to do an Empties update for another month but this bag was getting way too full and I didn’t want the post length to be too ridiculous. So here we go! Makeup first because I know that’s the interesting stuff.
MAC – Haux and Brule
Not one, but TWO eyeshadows done! Can I get a “HELL YES!”? The top right was MAC‘sHaux, my oldest eyeshadow. After 19 years, I can finally retire it , but it has definitely had a good long life. The bottom right is MAC‘s Brule. Brule only took me about 3 years to finish up as it was my daily browbone highlight.
Repurchase? No, but not because they were bad, but because I have a great many other shades that are near identical. Plus I clearly didn’t like Haux that much if it took me 19 bloody years to finish it up!
MUA Matte Foundation in Shade 1 Soft Sand
I really liked MUA‘s Matte Foundation at first – their Shade 1 Soft Sand was a great match for my skin and it went on my face really well… but the niceness stopped about an hour after application. It started out looking really good, but this foundation eventually dissolved into a greasy mess by the end of the day or night. I’m not even prone to oil but this certainly induced it! I went through about half the tube, so I definitely gave it a fair shot, but I decided this wasn’t worth finishing when I had other products I much preferred.
Repurchase? Definitely not.
MUA All In One Beauty Balm in Light
Another “meh” product from MUA. (So far, the only thing I’m liking from this brand is their eyeshadows.) Their BB Cream in Light was overly thick and not much fun to wear. It had more coverage than I expected (which may be good for some people), but for me it looked like I’d applied a paste to my face. I just never fell in love with it after using half the tube so I decided enough was enough and chucked it in the garbage.
Physicians Formula Eye Booster in Ultra Black
I’m not sure why this hasn’t been included in an empties post earlier, because I’ve been done with this liner for a very long time. Physicians Formula Eye Booster liquid liner inUltra Black made me fall in love with brush tip pen liners (NOT felt tip – those are the devil). Very black and easy to wear although slightly lacking in the waterproof department. I’ve since heard that the Ultra Black shade has gone slightly grey which is a bit of a disappointment. This, thankfully, was a liquid liner that didn’t seem to have the horrible reflective properties of other liners (I’m looking at you MUFEAqualiner).
Verdict: I wouldn’t repurchase this right now as I’m firmly attached to my gel liners, but I would recommend it to others.
l-r: Duo eyelash adhesive, Pop Beauty Fuchsia Freesia, Too Faced Better Than Sex
Duo eyelash adhesive is my staple eyelash glue. This tube is very old (~3 years) and needed replacing.
Verdict: Forever repurchase
As I said in my Ipsy Haul for February 2014, Pop Beauty’s Plump Pout in Fuchsia Freesia smelled bad. Well, it turns out there was a bit of a to do with Ipsy and Pop Beautythat month and I could’ve gotten a replacement for my rotten smelling lipgloss. It’s a shame that I didn’t, but I’m not using this sucker and it’s going straight into the garbage.
Verdict: Just based on the toxic scent and how the whole thing was handled (poorly and secretively) I’ll be avoiding this brand.
Too FacedBetter Than Sex mascara: Loved this stuff, but hated the wand. The formula of the mascara is fantastic, but the wand made it really, really annoying to apply. There’s nothing easy about an hourglass shaped wand!
Verdict: Won’t rebuy – the formula isn’t worth the hassle of the brush.
Blistex Lip Medex
Blistex‘s Lip Medex is like medicine in a tube for your lips. Nothing heals my parched, dry, cracked lips like this stuff does throughout the cold winter months.
Verdict: Love it and will repurchase it in the winter.
Marcelle Gentle Make-Up Remover for Sensitive Eyes
Marcelle‘s Gentle Make-Up Remover for Sensitive Eyes is a forever favourite. This is the best makeup remover I’ve ever purchased and it works wonders on waterproof makeup. I usually wait to buy this on sale and then get a bunch of them all at once.
Verdict: Repurchase most definitely
Clockwise starting at the top: Marcelle Cleansing Cloths (x2), Garnier Moisture Rescue, Neutrogena Hydrating, Neutrogena
MarcelleCleansing Cloths are adequate, but nothing to write home about. They only remove waterproof makeup “so-so”.
Verdict: No repurchase
GarnierMoisture Rescue wipes: Useless and stinky. Dry and irritating. YUCK.
Verdict: Never, EVER repurchase
NeutrogenaAll-in-One Makeup Cleansing Wipes: These are okay, completely satisfactory, but I bought these by accident when I thought they were the same as:
NeutrogenaHydrating Makeup Remover Cleansing Cloths: These are holy grail. Not buying any other makeup removing cloths after trying these. They’re wetter than any other cloth I’ve tried and they actually remove waterproof mascara well.
Verdict: Would repurchase the Neutrogena Hydrating wipes
Lush It’s Raining Men Shower Gel
I love Lush‘s Honey I Washed The Kids soap, but the darn thing just runs out way too quickly. It’s Raining Men is their shower gel equivalent and it such a better investment in terms of money. This stuff lasted me absolutely forever (about a year, using it intermittently with other washes and soaps) and easily outdid the longevity of the bars of soap. This smells like honey and caramel and *edible*. To confirm: It is NOT edible, in a moment of weakness I tested it with the tip of my tongue and it tastes like soap. Horrible. Horrible. Horrible!
Verdict: Definite rebuy!
l-r: Fortune Cookie Soap: Native Nectar Body Wash, Venus Fly Trap Perfume Oil, Make it Rain Whipped Cream
Fortune Cookie SoapNative Nectar Body Wash: A very liquid body wash, but lovely nonetheless. It had small shimmer particles in the product, but they didn’t stick on the skin (so it just looks pretty, really). It has a very clean coconut smell – very lovely.
Verdict: Would repurchase
Fortune Cookie SoapVenus Fly Trap Perfume Oil: This stuff is amazing. It smells like sickly, sweet flowers but not in a revolting way. It doesn’t smell like old lady perfume and it’s pretty light and not cloying (as in it won’t give you a headache with its thickness). I never, ever thought I’d like a scent like this (FCS indicates that it has “Bergamot, narcaisse & musk lurk beneath delicate notes of water orchid, sparkling lemon & pink jasmine.”) but this is just beautiful.
Verdict: Would repurchase
Fortune Cookie SoapMake it Rain Whipped Cream: Love this so much! The formula and it does feel like whipped cream on the skin. I also really, really love the scent. I’ve heard some people say it smells too much like musk, but I actually get a very clean, very laundry scent out of this.
Verdict: Definite repurchase
Foil Packets
DERMAdoctorwrinkle REVENGE: Completely forgettable in every way.
Verdict: Would not purchase
BioreBlemish Fighting Ice Cleanser: I don’t have acne problems (and this contains salicylic acid to help with breakouts) so I can’t really say if this helped combat anything, but it did feel nice on the skin.
Verdict: Purchase if on sale
BenefitThe Porefessional: I genuinely do not get the hype with this product. It seemed fine as a primer, but nothing earthshattering.
Verdict: Would not purchase
H20Face Oasis Hydrating Treatment: I don’t even remember this stuff, so it definitely couldn’t have been amazing.
Verdict: Would not purchase
H20Aquafirm+ Micro-collagen Moisturizer: Can’t remember this one either.
Verdict: Would not purchase
NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer in Alaska Light2: Quite liked this one actually. I got enough out of the foil packet for a single use and it smoothed on nicely and had light coverage, which was nice because it didn’t cover my freckles (which I like). [Click for a pic of the foundation on my face.]
Verdict: Will consider purchasing when I finally run low on other foundations.
Orange Whip Body Butter
My friend Ali made this wonderful Orange Whip body butter for me for my birthday. I used up the whole jar really quickly and loved it to pieces.
Verdict: No need to repurchase, I’ll just poke her when I need more!
Adidas – Pure Lightness
Monumental effort here – I finished a perfume! I really liked Adidas‘ Pure Lightness. Fragrantica.com indicates that it has “Top notes of melon and red apple; middle notes are jasmine, magnolia, violet and lily-of-the-valley; base note is musk”. But to me, this just smelled aquatic. It’s light and crisp and has quite decent lasting power.
Tons of vibrant looks this week with one neutral one thrown in the mix. I’m really pleased with how a lot of these turned out.
Ummm yeahhhhh. Love it – Love this one so much! The lid colour (InglotAMC Shine 24) is so freaking stunning – it seems to go with anything.
Eyes
InglotAMC Shine 24 all over the lid.
InglotMatte 317 in the outer corner and through the crease, also used to line the lower lash line.
Makeup GeekCreme Brulee through the top of the crease.
MACShroom to highlight the brow, Tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof Gel Liner in Black to create the winged liner and L’OrealVoluminous Carbon Black mascara on my lashes.
Rest of the Face
Foundation: Revlon Colorstay in 200 Nude (Combination/Oily)
Bronzer: Joe FreshSand Bronzer
Blush: HourglassDiffused Heat
Lips: NYXVanilla Cream Pie
Another really fun vibrant one. Would’ve been kind of neat to draw palm trees coming up from the winged liner, but I’d probably get some weird looks at work for that!
Eyes
InglotMatte 317 all over the lid.
Inglot Matte 383 on the outer third.
I goofed – there is no third colour here, it’s just more of InglotMatte 383, just blend it up higher!
MACSushi Flower through the upper crease.
MACShroom under the brow bone, Tarte black gel liner for the wing and L’OrealVoluminous Carbon Black mascara on my lashes.
Rest of the Face
Foundation: Covergirl CC Cream in 110 Classic Ivory and Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum in Shade 51 Light Vanilla mixed together
Bronzer: Physicians Formula Bronze Booster in Light/Medium
Blush: Bobbi BrownApricot
Highlighter: Hard CandyTiki
Lips: NYX Butter lipstick in Fizzies
Another favourite look! I really like how this lip combo turned out.
Eyes
InglotAMC Shine 24 on the inner two-thirds of the lid and on the inner half of the bottom lash line.
InglotMatte 334 in the outer corner and through the crease.
InglotMatte 325 in the outer corner to darken it up and on the outer half of the lower lash line.
MACShroom to highlight the browbone and on the inner tear duct, Tarte black gel liner for the wing and L’OrealVoluminous Carbon Black mascara on my lashes. I also put on a pair of Sephora lashes in Tempting.
Face of the Day
Foundation: MUA Matte foundation Shade 1 Soft Sand
Bronzer: Joe FreshSand Bronzer
Blush: HourglassDiffused Heat
Highlighter: MACSilver Dusk
Lips: Wet n WildJust Peachy (903C) with NYX Butter Gloss in Tiramisu on top
That skip in the liner is driving me crazy (even though you can’t see it when my eyes are open)! For this look, I wanted to wear a bright lip, but I’ve not yet mastered (if it’s possible) wearing bright eyeshadows and bright lipstick at the same time, so for now – toned down eyes and bright lips.
Eyes (all Makeup Geek)
Shimma Shimma on the inner two-thirds of the lid.
Goddess on the outer third and to line the lower lash line.
Frappe through the crease.
Vanilla Bean on the browbone, Tarte black gel liner for the wing and L’OrealVoluminous Carbon Black mascara on my lashes.
Rest of the Face
Foundation: MUA Matte foundation in Shade 1 Soft Sand
Bronzer: Joe FreshSand Bronzer
Blush: SleekCrochet
Highlighter: MACSoft and Gentle
Lips: RevlonFire and Ice
Photographing glitter is near impossible! I wasn’t a huge fan of how this look came out, but it was good enough for a 80s night at a nearby club and to be honest, I ran out of time to take it off and try again.
Eyes
Too FacedPure Glam all over the lid and on the outer corner of the bottom lash line.
InglotAMC Shine 33 to blend out Pure Glam and through the crease. Also used to line the inner half of the lower lash line.
InglotAMC Shine 28 on the inner tear duct.
Make Up For Ever Glitter in 13
MACShroom to highlight the browbone and BenefitThey’re Real mascara on my lashes with Ardell102 Demi false lashes on top.
Rest of the Face
Foundation: Revlon Colorstay in 200 Nude (Combination/Oily)
Bronzer/Attempted Contouring: Revlon Photoready Bronzer in Bronzed & Chic
Highlighter: MACSilver Dusk
Blush: HourglassDiffused Heat
Lips: MilaniFlamingo Pose with MaybellineStormy Sahara on top
I don’t know what your April has been like where you are, but here in Toronto it has been wet, cold and blahhhhhh. I’m pretty sure we’re currently on a week long sun-strike, and in the next two weeks there’s rain predicted for 11 out of 14 days. It’s dreary and everything feels permanently soggy. Apparently April showers bring… more showers. In May. Hooray?
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Diffused Heat
I can’t stop talking about this blush. I also can’t stop using this blush. Hourglass‘ Diffused Heat is the best blush I own. There. I said it. This is going to sound ridiculous, but I know someone out there is going to get this: This blush fulfills me on so many levels. In the pan it’s a beautiful swirling masterpiece. So, visually, it’s pretty darn stunning. It also looks rather coral (in the pan) which is my absolute favourite blush shade to look at. HOWEVER, on the skin it actually turns a pretty pale pink with maybe a very faint hint of peach, which is actually the most attractive shade on me. So despite the shade in the pan being a total lie, it really works out for the best.
Joe Fresh – Sand Bronzer
Joe Fresh‘s Sand Bronzer is really light and blends away smoothly and is NOT orange, despite how it appears on the shot on the left. I had a bit of a tiff with my Physicians Formula Bronze Booster this month (no matter how many times I use it, the product won’t even dip down in the pan – so annoyed!) so I swapped to the Joe Fresh one. It’s a quick and easy bronzer that’s very simple to blend out. Plus… sleek, fun packaging – which is always a bonus.
Too Faced Absolutely Invisible Candlelight Powder
I have no real explanation for why I reached for this higlighter so much this month, but I did! Too Faced‘s Absolutely Invisible Candlelight powder is supposed to be an all over face powder but there’s no way in hell I’d use it that way unless I wanted to look like a white-gold disco ball. There’s far too much shimmer in this powder to use everywhere on your face, so I stick to using it as a cheekbone highlight. The swatch makes it look slightly chalky and definitely quite pale, but I think you can see the hints of gold shimmer in it. I usually opt for this one when I want a faint highlight and it provides a lovely golden- white sheen.
Real Techniques – Miracle Complexion Sponge
Makeup brushes and tools aren’t really my thing – I use them out of necessity, but I really don’t get excited about them. Until this. This sponge. Real Techniques‘ Miracle Complexion Sponge has been branded as the Beauty Blender dupe and while I can’t speak to that as I’ve never owned a Beauty Blender ($25 for a SPONGE??!? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!), I *can* say that this makes putting on foundation an absolute breeze. It smushes the product into my skin way better than any foundation brush I’ve ever used (the one exception being Revlon‘s Colorstay – I prefer a brush with that one as I thought the sponge did weird things to that foundation), so it makes me look like I’m way better at applying foundation than I really am! With a price around $5, this is seriously awesome. I’m curious to see how long it’ll hold up too since it is a sponge after all – it’ll definitely have a shelf life. And does anyone know where I can actually get these in Canada? I picked mine up in the U.S. and I don’t recall seeing them anywhere in Canada.
Lavanila – Vanilla Grapefruit Eau de Parfum
This might as well be my crack – I cannot get enough of this perfume! I talked about it at length in my haul for the past month, but I feel like I could seriously bathe in this stuff for the rest of my life. Lavanila‘s Vanilla Grapefruit is wonderfully vanilla scented with a kick of citrus (that’s the best description you’re going to get out of me!). I wear so much of this stuff that I’m probably that annoying person who smells like they had a perfume bottle explode on themselves but I’m so enamoured with this scent that I don’t care! (And I’m totally eyeballing this set on Lavanila‘s web site now. Errrr… well I WAS… until I put everything into my cart and discovered that shipping to Canada was over $20. CURSES.)
What are your favourites this past month? Did you have at least semi-decent weather where you were? *crosses fingers for some sunshine*
