If you are Olive-Medium-Tanned skin-toned & Looking for a wearable, everyday Nude Lipstick--- then YOU NEED  MAC's Velvet Teddy Lipstick in your LIFE! For reference I am around NC42 in MAC and Velvet Teddy is my absolute favourite and go-to lipstick. I reach for this on a daily basis for a neutral look and even when I've gone heavy on the eyes. No matter what makeup look I am going for, I can always rely on Velvet Teddy as the perfect nude that never washes me out.

It is a creamy, matte-with the slightest sheen, full coverage lipstick that is described by MAC as a "deep-toned beige". However, I'd say it is more of combination of pink, peach, beige and brown that really compliments Medium-Tanned complexions.  Being a matte, it isn't shiny or glossy. However, it is not at all drying and glides on my lips ever so smoothly. Even though, it is not drying I always wear a lip balm before applying this lipstick as I do with any lipstick. I usually never add a lip-gloss on top, because it really isn't needed and I prefer the look of matte lips.  I apply Velvet Teddy directly from the tube. But if you have the time, a lip-brush would give you much more precision to evenly distribute it throughout your lips since it is a heavy formula.

Also, because it is a matte and heavily pigmented, the lasting power of this lipstick is a lot longer than other MAC lipstick finishes. I would say it lasts several hours before it needs touching up nor does it easily smudge off if you are eating/drinking as a glossy lipstick generally would. I've had this lipstick for 8-9 months and after wearing it almost daily, I still have a fair bit to go. I LOVE it to bits, definitely a repurchase and recommend it to medium skin-toned girls looking for a wearable nude.

What's your favourite Nude or Neutral Lipstick?

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Spring 2014 Beauty Wishlist

Since I put myself on a makeup-spending-ban for the past few months, my beauty wishlist has been getting longer and longer! I've only allowed myself to buy replacements for items I've run out of. I even held back on the Sephora VIB sale (15% off) sale which trust me, was beyond difficult to resist. Any who, I'm planning a trip to the States in a few months so I thought it would be a great time to put together a list of things to get whilst I'm out there. If your from Canada like me, you know that almost everything here is always unreasonably marked up several dollars more, or the products are not even available here and if you able to buy online the shipping costs are outrageous! Okay, so lets get into the details of my wishlist:

1. Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz (Shade Dark Brown/Brunette): I really need to step up my eye-brow game and this would be perfect especially for quick, on the go use to fill in any sparse areas. I've read so many rave reviews on this and am convinced that I need this in my life. I also like how this is a 2-in-1 products as it also has a spooley on the other end to brush my brows in place.

2. Anastasia Beverly Hills DIPBROW™ Pomade (Shade: Dark Brown): This brow product has blown up amongst beauty bloggers/vloggers. Dipbrow would be perfect to achieve a really defined brow for special occasions that wont smudge and will stay on for hours. I plan to use the Pomade to define brows and then use the brow wiz to maybe fill in sparse areas if needed.

3. Anastasia Beverly Hills Mini Duo Angled/Spooley 7 : I really only want this for applying the Dipbrow Pomade as I don't own a high quality brow brush, so this would be a good investment. As a plus, this brush could also be good for applying eyeliner as well.

4. Bobbi Brown Corrector : I have the most horrendous, genetic dark circles under my eyes and need some extra coverage in addition to my concealer. I have tried this on a few times and I noticed a huge difference in diminishing the appearance of the dark circles.However, I've always held back from buying it because I noticed that it creased under my eyes. But I think that if I use it sparingly and set with powder I won't have this issue. 

5. Benefit Cosmetics Hoola Bronzer: I have been lusting over this bronzer FOREVER! It does seem to look too light in the pan for my skin tone (medium-tan) but don't be fooled. It is so pigmented, a great contour colour, shows up well on my skin tone, and you don't have to keep building it up. I currently use NARS Laguna Bronzer and Too-Faced Chocolate Bronzer but those bronzers barely show up on me. 

6. Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation: As summer is slowly creeping up, so will my tan and so I need a foundation to match my summer shade. This foundation seems to be more popular among UK beauty bloggers as I believe its more readily available there. Ever since I heard its a dupe for Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, I've been dying to try it!

7. MAC Lipsticks in Half-n-Half and Rebel : Again, these 2 shades have been on my wishlist for ages. I think Half-n-half would be a great wearable nude as it is a nice mix between pink and brown. It seems quite similiar to MAC's Velvet Teddy Lipstick which I own, but Half-Half is an amplified cream formula (so it will be smoother and glowy) which would be ideal for the spring/summer months. I barely ever wear bold lip colours, but wanted to experiment out of my comfort zone and think Rebel would be a great fit. I think its a great colour for night-outs and days you go easy on the eyes. It is one of MAC's best sellers and I believe its flattering on most skin tones.

8. MAC Eye-shadows Pans: Even with all the eye-shadow palettes that I own, I lack basic neutral, matte colours for blending, outer V, crease and lid colours for an everyday look. As much as I love my shimmer shades, I barely ever use them for day-to-day as that's just a little too glam for work. The colours that I want are: Brule for lid colour/base, Arena as a everyday lid colour, Brown Script as a crease colour, Texture as blending colour, Embark as an outer V colour and Rice-paper as a highlight colour. I'm so excited to put together my first MAC eye-shadow palette as I currently don't own enough to call it a palette. I'm not too keen on buying pre-made palettes anymore because I never end up liking or using ALL the shades, that's why I think its better to buy a few single shadows you know you will like/use.  

9. Real Techniques Brushes: I can't get enough of these brushes!! I already own the Core Collection, Starter Collection and the Blush brush. For me, these are the most amazing quality & affordable brushes on the market. I also love how cute and colourful they are! The ones that I particular want is the Powder Brush, Expert-Face brush, Stippling Brush and the Setting brush.

That is all ...for now! (As I fight off the urge to add more to my wish list)

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DIY Lip Treatmeant for Super-Soft Lips

 

Tired of forever living with rough, dry, cracked, chapped, flaky lips like me? They are annoying, unattractive and for some even painful! If that description fits you, then, you need to try this incredibly easy DIY Lip Conditioner/ Treatment. I find it a little silly to call it a DIY as ll you need is 1 simple ingredient: Vitamin E oil!  Throughout the years, I tried countless lip balms, chapsticks and the ever so popular Vaseline but besides providing temporary relief they didn't do much. I even tried applying coconut oil as a lip conditioner every night which just made my lips even drier and chapped over time. Lip scrubs whether with a tooth-brush or a an actual lip scrub only aggravated my lips and again only helped for a couple hours until I was back to chapped lips.

Vitamin E oil a multipurpose product but for me it has only been most effective to attain smooth, flake-free lips. I've used Vitamin E oil for so many different uses in the past but none of them have really been effective for me at all. I've used it to try to reduce acne scarring and also as a under-eye treatment, both of which did absolutely nothing noticeable for me at all (even after months of use). Also, I only recently learned after reading Paula's Begoun's beauty books that the heaviness of Vitamin E oil can be problematic if used on the skin for some skin types (More Skin Care Tips). It was only then that I stopped using Vitamin E oil on my face and was looking for other uses for it until I read about using it on the lips. Now, I've been religiously applying Vitamin E oil on my lips every night for several weeks and my lips have never been smoother and soft. Gone are my chapped and flaky lips. Lipsticks now sit so much better on my lips and the application is such an ease. Vitamin E oil has really been my savior to smoother lips.

You can either use prepackaged Vitamin E oil as I do or you  can simply take Vitamin E gel capsules, slightly cut them and squeeze out the oil whenever you need it. I use Jamieson Brand 100% Pure Vitamin E Oil which costs around $13-$15 CAD. Vitamin E oil is a little thick, heavy and gooey so applying it can be a little messy if you aren't careful. You could put some into a small lip-balm sized container and apply it whenever you need it. Its best to use this at night as like I mentioned it is really heavy and its not a balm rather a treatment. Try this for a few days and hopefully you will wake up with smooth, moisturized and chap-free lips in no time, as I did. No promises, but if it worked for me, it wouldn't hurt to try it out yourself and maybe just be amazed! 

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MAC Face and Body Foundation Review

If you are anything like me and hate the look and feel of heavy coverage foundations, then you will LOVE this! MAC Face and Body Foundation is my current favourite foundation and have been using it for over a year now. It is a water-based foundation and provides light, sheer coverage but it can be built up to medium coverage. It feels so light, blends in so well, and lets my skin breath. It dries to a dewy finish which I love but you can mattify it by powdering afterwards. I have tried so many other popular foundations but nothing beats this. This is the only MAC foundation that I adore!

Most people assume that light coverage foundations such as this one are meant for people with nearly perfect skin, but trust me my skin is NO WHERE NEAR PERFECT! I suffer from hyper-pigmentation around the chin area/forehead and have a number of acne scars as well as the occasional breakout here and there. Instead of slathering on a full coverage foundation all over of my face, I simply use a full coverage concealer on my problem areas first followed by a light coverage foundation. I conceal with Mac Prolongwear Concealer (NC35) on my problem areas and then follow up with MAC F&B. I like to apply 1-2 layers of F&B to get the perfect amount of coverage for my skin. FYI, I apply this foundation with Real Techniques buffing brush and it works like a dream.

The shade I use in this is C4 which works well with my NC42, Olive/Tan skin tone. This shade is perfect for the inner parts of my face (cheecks, nose, etc) but a tad bit light for me around the chin (due to my hyperpigmentation). But honestly, this foundation is so sheer, I can't really see a huge difference. I would however say C5 is a much better overall match for my skintone and would choose C5 when I do repurchase it. I think you could easily get away with using a foundation a tad bit too light or too dark for you because this foundation is so sheer. For reference, I'd say C4 is best for NC37-NC42 and C5 is best for NC42-NC44.

BEFORE: Excuse my bare face (eeek :$ was recovering an acne-attack)

AFTER: Concealed, followed by 2 layers of MAC F&B and powdered. 

This foundation also gives you the most bang for your buck if you buy the large size as you get 120 ml or 4oz  for $40 CAD (Smaller size is $30 CAD for 50ml). Other foundations on the market that are along the same price range, typically give you less than half the amount of what F&B gives. Even though, I've used this foundation (occasionally) for more than a year, I still have 80% of product left. It is said to last for about 2-3 years before it goes bad and it's life can be extended if stored in the fridge. During the winter months, I keep it in my makeup bag or dresser but in the summer months I store the bottle in the fridge and decant some into a smaller container that I can regularly use.

MAC F&B is also amazing for flash photography as it doesn't give any flashblack or any white casts. Therefore, I'd say its best for night-outs or weddings as it doesn't have a sunscreen in it either. It also looks exceptionally natural in sunlight as well. However, it does have quite a shiny look to it, so its best to always set the foundation with a powder (I use MAC MSF Natural in Medium Dark). Because of the shiny finish, I would say its best for normal to dry skin and slightly oily skin.I can't speak too much about lasting power as I never really used it for more than 4-5 hours and never experienced any fading away.

So there not much left to say except that I love this foundation & totally recommend it!

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Paula Begoun: Top 20 Skincare Tips

I recently picked up 2 of Paula Begoun's best selling beauty books and I am OBSESSED! Ever since I got them I can't seem to put them down! Don't go the Cosmetics Counter Without Me 9th Edition contains a comprehensive review of hundreds of beauty and skincare products, what to look for and which ones are the best for you (Online version of reviews: Beautypedia). The Original Beauty Bible 3rd Edition is more of a breakdown of everything you need to know and should know about the cosmetics/beauty industry as a whole, common myths, skin care, makeup and so much more. Both books are so informative, eye-opening and fairly easy reads. I can't even believe the amount of knowledge about skincare I had absolutely no idea about.

First off, Paula Begoun is not a doctor, a cosmetologist or dermatologist. She is however incredibly knowledgeable and experienced in the beauty industry for several decades.  Her books are reliable as they are based solely on published, peer reviewed and widely accepted research. She also has her own skincare brand (Paula's Choice). I will outline some highlights from her books that were most appealing to me, many of which I had no idea about.

1. There is NO such thing as a "Miracle Product". There is no single product out there that can give you the skin you always dreamed of so stop searching! Just like eating only broccoli everyday won't give you amazing health, same goes for your skin. You must have a good skin-care routine that consists of different ingredients that are good for your skin. Also, everyone has different skin so there is no one product that will work for everyone.


2. Expensive doesn't always mean better. There are several drugstore products (E.g. ELF) that Paula rates quite high and many expensive brands that she rates quite poorly (e.g Perricone MD, Dr. Hauschhka). Instead, ingredients/formulations should be considered rather than the price.

3. You don't need an Eye-Cream as they are not much different than regular face creams. You should be able to use a face moisturizer under your eyes as well.  Eye creams simply allow companies to sell the product in a significantly smaller container for double the price!

4. Packaging matters when it comes to skincare products as it significantly affects their effectiveness and stability. Jar packaging should be avoided because many beneficial ingredients can easily deteriorate or breakdown upon exposure to air or light. It is also unhygienic to repeatedly put your fingers into a product. Therefore, it is best to use air-tight, opaque, non-transparent packaging.

5. If there's one thing that Paula strongly emphasizes repeatedly, it is the importance of SUN SCREEN, SUN SCREEN and SUNSCREEN!! It should be worn 365 days of the year and yes even when you are indoors (as windows don't block out UV rays). You should use a broad-spectrum (UVA and UVB protection) suncreen with a SPF of at least 15+ (more is better). The sun is a carcinogen and the leading cause for wrinkles, brown spots, etc.

6. That cooling/tingling sensation we sometimes feel when using a certain skincare product (cleanser, face mask, etc.) is NOT a indication that it is "working" or doing something good for your skin. What it actually means is it is irritating your skin and further damaging it.

7. Likewise, that overly dry/squeaky clean feeling we may feel after using a certain cleanser/soap isn't good and may just be irritating your skin.

8. Topical facial scrubs and mechanical scrubs (eg.clarisonic) simply exfoliate the top superficial layer of skin. You cannot scrub acne or blackheads away. Therefore, the best way to help shed built up layers of abnormal, rough, wrinkled, saggy, uneven, sun damaged, acne prone and dead skin cells is with AHA or BHA products. 

Alpha hydroxy Acid (AHA) which includes glycolic, lactic  or polyhydroxy acid, etc. (5% to 10% concentration) is best for dry and normal skin. It best for exfoliating away sun damaged and dry skin. It will also improve the skin's moisture content.

Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA) which is salicylic acid (1% to 2%) is best for oily/acne prone skin and treating blackheads and white bumps. BHA can unclog oily pores and normalize the lining of the misshapen pore that contributes to acne. BHA also has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.

Daily use of an AHA/BHA exfoliant can give you smoother skin overnight. It will unclog pores, reduce redness, blackheads, breakouts, diminish wrinkles, build collagen and improve uneven skin tone. Its best to use these products at night and if you choose to use them in the day then wear sunscreen on top. Also, its best to use AHA/BHA products in the form of a cream or lotion rather than a cleanser so that the ingredients can stay on your skin long enough to be absorbed.

9. The buzzword "Natural or Organic" is not the solution (there are many natural irritants as well).  In sum, natural doesn't always mean good and synthetic doesn't always mean bad (There is good and bad to both).

10. Paula says, the beauty industry may try to do many things but trying to KILL us is not one of them. The ingredient lists of many products may have scary sounding names that we may have trouble  pronouncing but beyond that there is not much scary about them. Paula basically explains with support from extensive research that there is insufficient evidence that proves parabens, sulfates, mineral oil, petrolatum (Vaseline), Phthalates, silicones, etc. present in cosmetics are harmful and some of which is actually good for our skin (such as silicones). She states she uses sulfates and silicones in her own products as well.

11. Vitamin E oil is not a miracle ingredient to reduce scarring and the heaviness of it can be problematic for some skin types.

12. Do not steam or ice the face as doing so will damage and irritate the skin. Use only tepid, lukewarm water to wash your face + body.

13. The only real difference there should be between a night-time and a day-time moisturizer is that the daytime one should have SPF and the night time one should not.

14. A basic skincare routine (in this order) should contain: a gentle, water soluble cleanser, a toner, an AHA/BHA exfoliate, moisturizer with sunscreen (atleast spf 15 with uva/uvb protection).

15. You don't need to be loyal to one brand to reap the full benefits you need. You can mix and match to find the perfect combination of products for your skin.

16. The most irritating ingredients to avoid are: alcohol, camphor, citrus juices/oils, eucalyptus, excessive fragrances, methanol, menthyl lactate, menthoxypropanediol, mint, peppermint, sodium lauryl sulfate, arnica, bergamot, cinnamon, clove, eugenol, grapefruit, lavender, linalol, wintergreen, witch hazel, ylang-ylang, lemon. 

17. The frightening claims floating around the internet that Sodium Lauryl Sulfate causes cancer or has any other long term harmful effects are false (Paula says these warnings spread from misinterpreted studies).  It is however a potent skin irritant as in amounts of 2% to 5%  it can cause allergic reactions to many people. It is an overly drying cleansing agent and thus best to be avoided. The similar sounding, Sodium Laureth Sulfate is however safe to use. (PS. Read about my Experience going No-Poo & using SLS-free Shampoo.)

18. Consuming an anti-inflammatory diet is one of the best things you could do for your skin ( e.g. salmon, colourful fruits and veggies, nuts, ginger, turmeric, etc). Some people may also benefit in reducing their acne by consuming a low-glycemic-load diet (limited intake of sugars and refined carbohydrates) and limiting intake of milk.

19. Four things every skin type needs (in form of a moisturizer, serum, toner): Antioxidants (alpha lipoic acid, vitamin C & E, green tea extract, grape seed extract, coenzyme Q10, etc.). Cell-communicating ingredients (niacinanide, adenosine, etc). Skin-repairing ingredients (glycerin, lecithin, fatty acids, amino acids, hyaluronic acid, etc). Anti-Irritants: allantoin, aloe, bisabolol, burdock root, chamoille extract, green tea, grape extract, etc.

20. Don't fall for the so called "studies" conducted by cosmetic companies that make statements such as "97% of users saw improvements...". Their studies are very biased and manipulated in a way to favour what they want to prove. Third party studies are much more reliable.

My overall thoughts: 

In sum, those are just a few good points out of many more that Paula makes in these 2 books. Besides checking ratings on Makeupalley before making any beauty-related purchases (as I usually do), I will now also be checking Paula's  Beautypedia (where herself and her research team rates hundreds of products not based on personal experiences but primarily  on the formulations, research, application, colour selection, texture and in comparison to similar products).

I recommend both these books, or her "advice" articles online at Paula's Choice) to everyone as there is so much to learn, a lot more than you thought you knew (like myself).

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