Tag Archives: Benefit

Travel Makeup Bag: Christmas 2014

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It’s that time of the year again! I’m packing up shop and heading to Ottawa for the holidays this year. As I’m writing this, Toronto is awash in rain, rain and more rain. I’ve had enough of it – gimme some snow!

I’m hoping Ottawa is inundated with snow and I can get out to the mountains (which are larger than Toronto’s Blue Mountain mole hill) and snowboard. Lately it feels like I’m the only person who likes snow in this city. When you grow up in Ottawa, you kind of just learned to live with it I suppose. Since I now live and work in Toronto, I feel like everyone here hates the snow. It’s pretty clear the city hates it too because it sure as hell has no idea what to do when it snows. Snow tires? Hah no. Ploughing? Hah no. Wear appropriate clothing? Haaaaaahaha… No.

So anyway. I’m going to Ottawa. And here’s the makeup I’m bringing.

Makeup Geek Eyeshadows
Makeup Geek Eyeshadows

This year I gave up on on trying to figure out which pre-packaged palette to bring and instead opted for the Makeup Geek Z-palette I’ve put together over the last year or so. I usually (very sadly) default to neutrals on vacation just because it’s easy, but there’s a chance I’ll be meeting up with Kalyn and goddamn I am not showing up to meet that woman wearing neutrals. As everyone else has said… these shadows are phenomenal.

Tarte – Off The Cuff
Tarte – Off The Cuff

Easy one here! Last year’s holiday palette from Tarte has four blushes and a bronzer and it’s in super slim packaging. This has become my “go to” for taking with me to travel since it’s such a no brainer.

Boots No7 Instant Radiance in Cool Vanilla and Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum in 51 Light Vanilla
Boots No7 Instant Radiance in Cool Vanilla and Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum in 51 Light Vanilla

Neither of these colours match my skin tone right now, but I think they will if I mix them together. Boots No7 Instant Radiance Foundation in Cool Vanilla is slightly too dark and the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation in 51 Light Vanilla is too pale. I’m sure they’ll work out together somehow, I’ll just have to tweak the ratio a bit.

This is if I even wear foundation though. I hate the stuff really – it makes my skin itch and feel uncomfortable, but it looks soooo much better in pictures when I use it. I also like to put it on if I know I’m going to be out for a very brief period… that way I get to come home and wipe it all off. Stupid gunk.

Too Faced Melted Berry and Wet n Wild 910D/Red Velvet
Too Faced Melted Berry and Wet n Wild 910D/Red Velvet

Too Faced Melted lipsticks are forever in my heart, so I’m not going anywhere without one of them. Melted Berry has been ma jam lately, so that’s in the mix. And since it is Christmas after all, I’ve decided to sashay away from MAC‘s Russian Red for a while and use Wet n Wild‘s 910D/Red Velvet. It’s bright and more luminous, and I suddenly feel the need to be slightly electrifying with my lip colour.

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False lashes are mandatory celebratory wear for me so I’m bringing along my current favourites: Femme Fatale lashes in Catwalk.

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And lumped together are my potted products. I’m going risky and bringing only my Manhattan Eyeshadow Base. I say risky because I usually bring two primers to MAKE SURE nothing freaking moves on my eyelids, but this one seems to have been holding steady lately so Imma give it a shot. Tarte‘s gel liner is my current black liner staple (and I’m somewhat close to finishing it). And lastly, is Anastasia‘s Dipbrow Pomade in Blonde cuz without it I only have half-brows and that’s not a good look on anyone.

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Last up are some randoms. I keep meaning to use Elizabeth Mott Tints & Sass because it’s a great “I’ve been outdoors in the cold” shade and it’ll double as a lipstain. I’ve also got a mini size of Benefit‘s concealer I want to try out(not that I ever wear concealer…) and Watts Up because that highlight is amazing. For mascara, I’ve got Benefit‘sThey’re Real and some Duo lash adhesive for my falsies.

I’m also a dumbass because I forgot to include some vitals that aren’t pictured. They are:

  1. MAC Prep + Prime for lips
  2. Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper
  3. And whatever lipbalm I grab on my way out the door.

C’est tout! What are you guys up to for the holiday season?

What’s On My Face – Volume 28

This week’s set of looks has a bunch of glitter, some “tis the season” lips and plenty of lashes!

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An excuse to wear glitter? I’ll take it! I did this look for a sports banquet one of my soccer leagues was putting on. Love how it turned out!

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Eyes

  1. Inglot AMC Shine 33 all over the lid.
  2. Inglot Matte 338 on the outer corner.
  3. Too Faced Milk Chocolate through the crease.
  4. Too Faced Cream Colored Ponies on the brow bone.
  5. MAC Reflects Transparent Teal glitter tapped onto the lid.

Catrice liquid liner in Dating Joe Black to create the wing with Pur Minerals Big Look Waterproof mascara on my lashes. I’ve also applied some Femme Fatale lashes in She-Devil.

Rest of the Face

  • Foundation:  CoverGirl CC Cream in 110 Classic Ivory
  • Bronzer: Revlon Bronzed & Chic
  • Blush: Hourglass Diffused Heat
  • Highlighter: MAC Silver Dusk
  • Lips: Bite Beauty Fig

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I’ve been loving the pinky-red berry lips lately and this eye look just worked out perfectly with this lip colour.

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Eyes

  1. Makeup Geek Bleached Blonde all over the lid.
  2. Makeup Geek Bitten on the outer corner and through the crease.
  3. Makeup Geek Vanilla Bean on the brow bone.

Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper to create the wing and applied Estee Lauder Sumptuous Infinite mascara to my lashes. I also have Femme Fatale Catwalk lashes on.

Rest of the Face

  • Bronzed: NYC Fire Island Tan
  • Blush: Hourglass Mood Exposure
  • Lips: Too Faced Melted Berry

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I love the lid colour on this one because it’s not just pale and shimmery, it’s also got hints of pinky, purple and some gold. Makes it easy to match it with different colours.

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Eyes

  1. Too Faced Coquet all over the lid.
  2. Too Faced Ooh La Orchid on the outer corner.
  3. Too Faced Chocolate Milk through the crease.
  4. Too Faced Cream Colored Ponies on my brow bone.

Too Faced Dark Chocolate was used to line the lid and Estee Lauder Sumptuous Infinite mascara is on my lashes.

Rest of the Face

  • Foundation:  CoverGirl CC Cream in 110 Classic Ivory
  • Bronze: Too Faced Chocolate Soleil
  • Blush: Too Faced Raindrops on Roses
  • Highlighter: Benefit Watts Up
  • Lips: Cailyn Basic Instinct gloss

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I did this look for a guest posting over on Julie’s Swatch and Review blog for a MAC Monday. I’m reposting it for my own posterity!

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Eyes
(all MAC)

  1. Vanilla pigment on the inner corner.
  2. Expensive Pink all over the lid.
  3. Sketch in the outer corner and blended through the crease.
  4. Shroom on the brow bone.

I used Blacktrack fluidline to create the wing, then tightlined both my upper and lower lash lines with Feline Kohl Power Pencil. On my lashes is Urban Decay‘s Perversion mascara.

Rest of the Face

  • Foundation: Boots No7 Stay Perfect in Deeply Ivory
  • Bronzer: NYC Fire Island Tan
  • Blush: MAC Warm Soul
  • Highlighter: MAC Vanilla pigment
  • Lips: MAC Viva Glam Cyndi

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Inspiration? My shirt. Yep, I’m “one of those” that matches their eyeshadow to their clothing!

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Eyes

  1. Too Faced Creme Brulee all over the lid.
  2. Too Faced Gilded Ganache on the outer corner.
  3. Too Faced White Chocolate on the brow bone.

Rest of the Face

  • Bronzer: Tarte Park Avenue Princess
  • Blush: Tarte Dazzled

What’s On My Face – Volume 27

There’s an insanely cool look (to me) in this set amongst the usual ones. Read on!

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Standard neutral lid with bright lip combo.

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Eyes

  1. e.l.f. Coral Reef gold shade all over the lid.
  2. e.l.f. Coral Reef purple shade on the outer corner and lightly through the crease.
  3. MAC Shroom on the browbone.

Tarte‘s black gel liner to create the wing with Urban Decay Perversion mascara on my lashes.

Rest of the Face

  • Foundation: Boots No7 Stay Perfect in Deeply Ivory
  • Bronzer: e.l.f. Surf’s Up
  • Blush: essence Pinky Flow
  • Lips: Too Faced Melted Candy

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I had a bunch of freebie items from No7 (well, FREE if I spent enough money on the brand… which I had) that I wanted to try out and this was the look I got out of them.

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Eyes

I first lined my upper lash line and outer corner of my lower lash line with Boots No7 Metallic Eyes Pencil in Purple, then I applied:

  1. Boots No7 eye shadow in Violet Shine all over the lid and over the liner.
  2. MAC Sketch on the outer corner and through the crease.
  3. MAC Shroom on the brow bone.

Urban Decay Perversion mascara is on my lashes.

Rest of the Face

  • Foundation: Boots No7 Stay Perfect in Deeply Ivory
  • Bronzer: Hard Candy Hula Hula
  • Blush: Can’t remember!
  • Highlighter: MAC Soft & Gentle
  • Lips: Soap & Glory Raplumzel

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Playing around with e.l.f.’s Little Mermaid collection.

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Eyes

  1. e.l.f. High Tide gold shade on the inner third of the eye.
  2. e.l.f. High Tide blue shade on the middle of the lid.
  3. Inglot Matte 338 on the outer corner.
  4. Too Faced Chocolate Milk through the crease.
  5. MAC Shroom on the brow bone.

To line the outer corner of the lower lash line, I used MAC Phone Number pencil and then layered Inglot Matte 338 on top lightly. Urban Decay Perversion mascara is on my lashes.

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I love how this look came out from a visual perspective. It’s in no way flattering on its own (even though I’ve given you somewhat decent photos above) but it was a lot of fun to create. I was looking for orange cut creases online for Halloween and I found this as a source of inspiration/outright copying.

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Taken at the right angle, this look is BEAUTIFUL in photographs. I love the sharp edges and the vivid colour. I wore this to work the day before Halloween (hey, any excuse right?) and it sure did net me some reactions alright! lol

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Eyes

I first applied NYX‘s Jumbo Eye Shadow Pencil in Milk all over the lid and blended it out with my finger. I then applied:

  1. Sleek‘s neon orange from the Acid palette all over the entire lid, right up and over my crease.I then used Kat Von D‘s Tattoo Liner in Trooper and carved out the top of the crease (keep your eye open for this), and;
  2. used Urban Decay‘s Blackout to blend out the edge of the liner upwards.
  3. Urban Decay Foxy is on my brow bone.

I used Kat Von D‘s Tattoo Liner to create the enormous wing and dragged it into a tiny point on the inner corner of my eye. I lined my lower lash line and water line with Urban Decay‘sBlack Velvet pencil. Estee Lauder Sumptuous Infinite Daring Length + Volume Mascara is on my lashes.

Rest of the Face

  • Bronzer: NYC Fire Island Tan
  • Blush: Hard Candy Skinny Dipping
  • Lips: Benefit Ultra Plush Lip Gloss in Coralista

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Totally falling in love with this lip colour! Too Faced Melted Berry is absolutely beautiful and goes with a whole variety of looks (+obvious observation that it’s fall and it’s a dark lip shade, yadda yadda).

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Eyes

  1. MAC Vanilla pigment all over the lid.
  2. MAC Shag through the crease.
  3. MAC Expensive Pink on the outer corner.
  4. Wet n Wild Brulee on the brow bone.

Estee Lauder Sumptuous Infinite Daring Length + Volume Mascara is on my lashes.

Rest of the Face

  • Foundation: CoverGirl CC Cream in 110 Classic Ivory
  • Bronzer: NYC Fire Island Tan
  • Blush: Hourglass Luminous Flush
  • Highlighter: MAC Vanilla pigment

What I Bought This Month – October 2014 Haul

It’s Halloween today! Unfortunately I don’t have an exciting Halloween post for you because I am knee deep in actually trying to get my Halloween makeup sorted (more on that another day!). Instead, please accept my regrets with a recycled Halloween picture of Nemo with a pumpkin.

Just look at that pumpkin butt!
Just look at that pumpkin butt!

Instead, what I *do* have is this month’s haul!

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette ($67 CAD)
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette ($67 CAD)

The most exciting product I picked up this month was the limited edition HourglassAmbient Lighting Blush Palette. I only own one of Hourglass‘ blushes (Diffused Heat) and I use the pants out of that product. Because they’re so bloody expensive, I was really reluctant to pick up another single one (seriously… what is it… $41 for one of their blushes? EESH!). So when I saw that Hourglass was releasing a blush palette for the holiday season, I knew it had to be mine. It’s a costly item, but I adore the formula so much that it’s totally worth it in my book!

Benefit The Real Steal ($29 CAD)
Benefit The Real Steal ($29 CAD)

In a weak move, I finally caved and bought a high end mascara. The only justification I can possibly offer for this is that Sephora was offering this bundle for the same price as just the mascara itself. Benefit They’re Real mascara is amazing on my lashes and I’ve been a bit pissed off with my drug store mascaras lately so I was like “yep, in the basket you go”. I also like that I can try out a small size of They’re Real Push Up Liner with this bundle. The bulk of the reviews on this liner have been negative, but I’m curious to try it out myself and see how I get on with it. The third item in the kit is the makeup remover in an insanely small sample size, but hey, freebie!

Inglot Cream Concealer in shade 37 ($15 CAD)
Inglot Cream Concealer in shade 37 ($15 CAD)

Two days before Halloween I got the idea to do a sugar skull on my face for work. Unfortunately, I didn’t have any white bases or foundations to use, so I stopped in at Inglot and they suggested I try the white concealer they have (shade 37). I think it’ll work out quite well if I mix it in with my foundation.

Marcelle Gentle Make-Up Remover for Sensitive Eyes ($14.95 CAD)
Marcelle Gentle Make-Up Remover for Sensitive Eyes ($14.95 CAD)

And the boring item of the month is Marcelle‘s makeup remover (the waterproof one). I’ve been using Neutrogena‘s makeup remover and I don’t think it works as well as Marcelle‘s so I’ve switched back for the time being.


Additionally, I’ve been getting complaints that there isn’t enough Nemo in my posts… So have some cat nose, because he was very interested in the camera while I was photographing my products!

Nemo nose
Nemo nose

Empties – August through October

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Time to rifle through my garbage! Makeup items first, all the boring stuff after that.

Julep – Paris
Julep – Paris

I loved this polish like nobody’s business. Kalyn had sent me a package of Julep polishes after I had won them on her blog and I dove nose-deep into this disco glitter one. Julep‘sParis is a 3D glitter polish that seems to hint gold more than silver. I wore this sucker out on my toes for several months and eventually finished up the entire bottle.

Repurchase? Unlikely only because it’s a mail order thing and I prefer to pick up my stuff in stores.

MAC Kohl Power pencil in Feline
MAC Kohl Power pencil in Feline

I bought MAC‘s Feline eye pencil because it was hyped up several years back on YouTube. It was supposed to be the blackest pencil available and would stay on my waterline. Well… it’s black. But it’s also incredibly smudgy and would never really stay put if I used it as a solid line. This was great for smudging out and creating smokey looks, but it usually had to be set with a powder to keep it from transferring. Wouldn’t stick on my waterline either. And unfortunately, the closer I got to the bottom of the pencil, the more it just kept breaking off. :/

Repurchase? Nah.

Revlon Just Bitten Lipstain + Balm in Twilight
Revlon Just Bitten Lipstain + Balm in Twilight

I love the Revlon lipstains + balms something fierce. They may be drying, but they feel “normal” on the lips. I don’t have to be worried about my lip product transferring to clothing, food, glasses, etc., and that’s a huge relief to me. This product was in myProducts to Use Up in 2014 post and I’ve only just now reached the point where it’s dry enough that it’s not worth wearing anymore.

Repurchase: Yes, but a different colour.

CoverGirl Clump Crusher mascara
CoverGirl Clump Crusher mascara

CoverGirl‘s Clump Crusher mascara is a long standing favourite of mine: It separates my lashes well, the brush is fun and easy to use and the product doesn’t clump up. So with that being said, I don’t know what the hell was wrong with this tube but it sucked. It was too dry and didn’t work as well as the previous tubse I had purchase. This may have something to do with the fact that I picked it up at a discounted price at Winners one day, so it’s possible I just got a really old tube. (Ew)

Repurchase: Yes, definitely, but I’ll be picking it up at a drugstore next time!

Sephora – Tempting eyelashes
Sephora – Tempting eyelashes

I was gifted this pair of Tempting lashes from Sephora‘s collection by a friend who didn’t think she’d wear them. I didn’t get as much use out of these as I expected given the price tag associated with these suckers. I think maybe 3-4 uses? The band tended to straighten out more than I would like, which gave me a lot of grief when I would apply them. The effect was pretty, but not quite as voluminous as I tend to like my false lashes.

Purchase? Nope.

Tweezerman eyelash curlers
Tweezerman eyelash curlers

Soooo I didn’t realize that eyelash curlers aren’t supposed to hurt. I just assumed that since they look like torture devices, they’re actually supposed to feel like them too. Since this was my first ever pair of eyelash curlers, I really didn’t know any better. I left them at home by accident when I went on vacation and “had to” buy a new pair from a different brand at Sephora. The difference was unbelievable and I’ve since learned that theTweezerman eye lash curlers SUCK for my eye shape! I am so happy to discover that something can fit my eyeball shape better!

Repurchase? A world of no.

Benefit sample size of Big Easy
Benefit sample size of Big Easy

Benefit‘s Big Easy foundation (BB cream?) has certainly seen some hype, so I was interested in trying the sample packet I got from Sephora. However… First of all, there isn’t enough in one of those little swatchy things to actually do your whole face. Secondly, my skin was too dark for their third and fourth darkest shades and yet the 5th darkest said was way too dark. I mixed all three together and even then had barely enough to cover my face. The colour was still off. I’m kind of meh on the skin colours and the product didn’t wow me either.

Purchase? Not worth it in my book.

Pixi Flawless & Poreless primer
Pixi Flawless & Poreless primer

Another freebie from a friend! Pixi‘s Flawless and Poreless primer was… okay? I guess? I didn’t notice it actually doing anything under my foundation, but I felt compelled to use it anyway.

Purchase? No, I don’t see the point in it really.

Neutrogena Makeup Removing Wipes
Neutrogena Makeup Removing Wipes

You’ve seen these before, so I’ll be brief. Neutrogena Makeup Removing wipes are god-like. The Hydrating ones are better.

Repurchase? Yep!

Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer
Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer

Aveeno‘s Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer is a staple in my skin care routine. Love this.

Repurchase? Forever and a day.

derma e Microdermabrasion Scrub and Fortune Cookie Soap Walnut Facial Scrub in Swankified
derma e Microdermabrasion Scrub and Fortune Cookie Soap Walnut Facial Scrub in Swankified

derma e Microdermabrasion Scrub: Small sample from my Ipsy bag. It was fine. Smelled a little too much of fake lemon.

Purchase? Unlikely.

Fortune Cookie Soap Walnut Facial Scrub in Swankified: I hated this by the end of the bottle. It worked fine on my face, but the scent was gag-inducing to me.

Purchase? NO!

The Body Shop Shea Butter Body Butter
The Body Shop Shea Butter Body Butter

I don’t know if this actually smells like what Shea Butter smells like, but I couldn’t care less, this stuff is delicious. The Body Shop‘s Shea Butter scent is almost masculine and rather cologne-like. And I seriously love it. This is a wonderful scent and a fantastic product.

Repurchase? Definitely.

Marrakesh Endz and Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair
Marrakesh Endz and Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair

Two samples from Ipsy.

Marrakesh Endz: I quite liked this actually. It smelled faintly of cinnamon and was thick and creamy. The ends of my hair seem fine, but I also recently had a hair cut, so who the heck knows if it actually works.

Repurchase? Possibly, if I saw it at a discount store.

Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair Deep Conditioning Mask: This stuff SUCKED. I used it as the instructions said and it didn’t leave my hair feeling nice at all. If anything, my hair was sticky and close to uncomb-able after using it. What a piece of crap.

Repurchase? NO!

St. Ives Oatmeal & Shea Butter Hydrating Body Wash
St. Ives Oatmeal & Shea Butter Hydrating Body Wash

St. Ives Oatmeal & Shea Butter Hydrating Body Wash was left at my place by a guest who had come and stayed for a while. I finished it up because why would I let it go to waste? It was okay. The scent wasn’t amazing to me, but it was a perfectly serviceable body wash.

Purchase? Unlikely.