Purchased & Reviewed: Nudestix Matte Lip & Cheek Pencil

I’m usually all oooh’s and aaaah’s when it comes to my reviews because let’s face it – my choices are almost always impeccable. [Not so humble brag].

It was a ominous day from the get-go. Let me set the scene – crows squaking, a bite in the air, a cool sinister departure from the otherwise sunny and cheerful week… Ok not really but I’m doing all I can to take the blame off myself and put it on the shitty weather that come to think of it, is completely inaccurate. 

I was looking to add to my collection of nudes. Not those nudes, ain’t nobody need to see those priceless artifacts. I’ve never used Nudestix even because I’ve been on a Marc Jacobs kick since the debut of his lipsticks but the trial in store looked so good I figured why the hell not?

Here’s a real life story as to why you shouldn’t always trust love at first sight. 

Packaging: The pen itself comes in a sleek-ish black tin with a lift top case. I was pretty impressed to find a sharpener with it as well, most pencils leave you to your own devices so I thought it was handy to include a personal sharpie. 

Product: I was fooled by the Mayfair halo Sephora’s mirrors created around me during the initial meet and greet. The texture seemed unlike a typical matte – it was smoother and applied without any pulling or tugging. The description on Sephora’s site claims it’s a non drying , smudge-proof, non feathering matte lipstick, liner & cheek blush in one. The shade I picked was Entice (a soft fleshy nude with light orange undertones). It seemed flattering and worked with the rest of my makeup so I gave it a little kiss and took it home with me. 

Wearability: This is where it all went wrong for me. I usually condition my lips before bed and once again when I wake up so I can’t blame the product on shoddy routine. I applied it without any other liner and/or lip combination and thinking it would do me right, left without any qualms. An hour later my lips felt dry and cakey and all I was contemplating rubbing it off completely and going at naturale or ripping my lips off in frustration. Au naturale won and in all honesty – I hardly ever go sans lipstick (I feel that my lips succumb to dryness without a shield from the elements), but dire circumstances led to dire decisions. Anyway the point is that it was insanely dry and cakey, although the descriptions boast otherwise and I was disappointed and hurt by something I thought was going to treat me right. 

Price: CDN $28 was attractive but not worth having to deal with a sub par product. Thankfully I was able to take advantage of Sephora’s empathetic refund/exchange policy and opted for a matte from the new Marc Jacobs Lip Cremés (which I’ve posted on in the past to rave reviews complete with dripping saliva).

Verdict: A resounding no from me. It was my first heartbreak with a lip product since Kat Von D’s Studded Kiss lipstick and it brought back some pretty unsavoury memories so..my short lived romance with Nudestix could be attributed to poor chemistry, bad application or a defective product but the end result was the same – we were doomed from the start. 

Purchased & Reviewed: Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Luminous Blush in Tigerlily

It’s been a while since I’ve published a purchase post but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been making them 24/7 all around town. What better way to get back to it than by reviewing a Becca product? They’re hotter than me running around a mall with 13 different shopping bags. Shall we?

Packaging: Compact, snap to close circular shell, akin to most Becca powders & blushes. I was a little surprised at the smaller size of this particular product (I guess I’m used to the larger highlighters. The only aspect I can’t get comfortable with is the outer shell of Becca compacts – the material picks up a lot of makeup transfer and are hard to keep clean unless you’re Lysol wiping on the daily. Minor.

Product: Ever since Champagne Pop and the Champagne Glow palette – I have been sold on all things Becca. I had no idea who Jaclyn Hill was nor do I watch her videos but I knew that the highlighter palette she conjured up with the brand was straight out of the golden gates and the rest is history. Anyway, back to the product – it’s sublime, perfect, the ideal blush, the holy grail if you must. The pigment, the shimmer, the multi-dimensional matte/glow effect and the staying power – 10’s across the board. I have not one complaint.

Colour: This is my favourite shade out of all the Shimmering Skin Perfectors. I love me a nice orange especially for my skin tone. This particular shade is a medium orange with red undertones. The gold flecked finish is what’s making makeup hoarders lose their shit. The colour is build-able but I find that a little goes a long way (also depends on which kind of brush you’re using). The end result for me is semi opaque, medium orange and gold glow that’s the focal point of my face. I blend in a little highlighter and add a nude-y lip and have pretty much secured my go-to face for the rest of the summer.

Wearability: All over town. If you use a light hand you can wear it alone for a little pop of colour or if you got your Go – Go – Gadget Sephora hands on you can add it to a matte blush of your choice and up the force shield. I myself wear it as a blush alone over my contour and the colour pay off is more than enough…intense even. I find that I like this particular shade better with a nude/light lip because the orange/red undertones are a little too #ootn for a daytime look.

Verdict: You have to have at least one Becca product to experience what the hype is all about. Whether it’s the blush, the highlighter, or the new eyeshadow palette – the hype is legitimate. These blushes have staying power, nice pigmentation and allows you to build it up to create either a flushed peach look or one that mimics the Snapchat filter of that cute trans. You hold the power.

(Photo above was taken au natural).

Try it for yourself here.

Friday Favourites: Weekend Edition

Since I haven’t posted a “favourites” post in over a month, you should grab a glass of wine, your credit card, and a cozy blanket. This is a humdinger.

Favourite Hair Product

Lush Solid Shampoo in Karma Komba 

I’ve been using Lush shampoo bars for the last 6 months now and don’t plan on switching it up anytime soon. They last forever, require a small rub for the biggest lather, and they smell amazing in the tin and on your hair. This one contains patchouli oil, pine and lemongrass oil (among others) and the Karma fragrance is heavenly. All their shampoo bars leave my hair feeling really clean and soft so unless you hate clean and fragrant hair you have no excuse because they come in like, 20 different scents.

Favourite Skincare Product

L’Occitane Weekend en Provence Almond Discovery Set 

I got this little set in my stocking for Christmas and was thrilled because my almond supple skin oil was half empty (half empty is enough to give me anxiety). The set contains Almond Shower Oil (which is heavenly in the shower), Almond Milk Concentrate (body lotion for post shower), and Almond Delicious Hands (perfect for a luxurious travel lotion). The smell is divine, definitely something to try if you’re looking for a trial pampering session.

Favourite Scent

Jo Malone Mimosa & Cardamom 

I know I’ve mentioned it before but honest to sh*t this smell is one of the softest, elegant, musky and sweet scents I’ve ever worn. Mimosa, spiced cardamom, tonka and sandalwood, powdery heliotrope (which is so intense with each spray) and Damask rose. I cannot emphasize how cozy and dignified this particular scent is. Jo Malone is a scientist. I was gifted it for Christmas and a day hasn’t gone by since I’ve worn it.

Favorite Gift 

Diptyque Holiday Coloured Glass Trio

I not so subtly hinted to my sister all November long that I would drop to the floor in a dramatic and hugely fraudulent fainting spell if I didn’t welcome this set into my life. She shut me up. This limited edition Diptyque candle trio gives Diptyque cult followers life. Me. It gives me life. The set includes Sapin (pine tree scent with mingling notes of mandarin orange), Liquidamber (amber from a tree with red leaves, mixed with cinnamon, nutmeg and muscovado sugar – which I honestly know nothing about but love), Oliban (woodsy and sweet). I’ll be melting these (I have a handy little candle warmer because there’s no way I’m even remotely comfortable burning 80 dollar candles) all year long. I usually save my muskier and woodsier candles for rainy and overcast days when I’m settled indoors with my pyjamas. The rest are for warmer sunnier days when I’m settled indoors with my pyjamas. (Just keeping it real).

Favourite Wardrobe Item

Wildfox Let’s Stay Home Sweater 

I was eyeing this cozy sweater since the day it was introduced but it fell off the radar somehow (the shame). How thrilled was I to find it under the tree this year? Thrilled AF. (Sorry) It’s deliciously cozy, easy to style with a pair of jeans or a skirt and can be thrown over pretty much any set of pyjamas for the utmost at-home comfort. And the saying speaks for itself. If people came with a tagline, this would be mine.

Favourite Wishlist Purchase

Aquazzura Wild Thing Sandals

The Christmas sprites picked me this season and it’s not because I’m their most vocal spokesperson – it’s because I’ve been long-thirsting for these heels right here. I would search my favourite online haunts and never make it to “purchase” because my size was almost always disappointingly sold out. Until now bitches. That last size 37.5 is mine. All mine. Bless you Forward by Elyse Walker. May you always be blessed with abundant stock. The open toe suede fringe, the delicate straps, the 4″ yet comfortable heel. Nothing short of perfection. I’ve never been so pleased with giving away my money. (PS: They’re in limited stock at most online boutiques right now – you’re welcome).

Favorite Pastime

Colouring 

I’m fully aware that this is a so-called trend these days but I’m been going HAM with colouring since 83. Fine, I just recently picked it up again but it’s always been within me yearning to come out and show ya’ll what fine tipped markers were made for. I picked this gem up at Chapters Indigo (along with The Time Chamber by Daria Song). I try and sneak in some colouring time during my hours allocated to TV each evening, also I find that when I colour during the Hawks games I’m less likely to jump up from the couch threatening bodily harm to the opposing team when something goes awry.

Favorite Makeup Product

Anastasia Illuminator in Starlight

I kept forgetting that Macy’s carried Anastasia’s full makeup line (most of the time) so this time there was no way I was going to walk past without stopping in to check for her insanely popular highlighters. I chose this shade (an iridescent white gold) because, let’s be honest – I have pretty much every other shade possible. This was a little brighter than the rest, a little more YouTube guru, and a lot more Khloe Kardashian – AKA – this glow is not from within (even though the site boasts that it’s meant to give off that result). I’m going to do a full review but I will say for now that this shade is nice for adding a real sheen, like full on glamazon glow. You can be heavy handed (like me without natural light during application) or go easy with a fan brush (to add a bit of radiance). 

Favourite Treat

Soft Peaks Ice Cream

I know it’s the dead of Winter but I rarely get a chance to indulge in Soft Peaks ice cream. Although, I can hardly call it indulging since it’s organic, all natural, low in fat and calories, with just a tiny little smudge of sweetness. When I dive face first into their churning tub – that’s when we can call it indulging.

Happy Weekend

xo

Purchased & Reviewed: Becca Shimmering Skin Perfectors

I took a month off blogging because Christmas (and the accompanying holiday season) is my favourite time of year and I feel that every fibre of my being must be allocated to that and only that. I slept, ate, and shopped Christmas. The latter which will lend to the next 36 posts for 2016. Here’s to hoping that you holiday season was jam packed with family that didn’t annoy you, presents that were on your wish list for months and treats that didn’t morph your ass and hips into Kardashian assigned proportions.

I’ll take this opportunity to talk about pretty much each and every single beauty gift I received this Christmas. Really. Not kidding.

Ok kidding.

I’ll stagger them out. This review is on Becca’s Shimmering Skin Perfectors in Blushed Copper and the Jaclyn Hill collaboration, Champagne Pop (which I’ve reviewed before).

Packaging: The gold boxes these highlighters come in are fancy as heck and are indicative of what you get on the inside. On the other hand, the actual compacts are more utilitarian and no nonsense. I find that the outer shell for Champagne Pop is easy to get dirty with your grubby little makeup covered fingers so have a Lysol wipe handy. Blushed Copper has a shinier compact and for some reason is lighter in weight. I wish they would have made Champagne Pop identical to the box it came in (as they did with Blushed Copper) but I’ll let it slide since the product is like crack for your face. If you’re into crack.

Product: Gold. Crushed, crumbled, pulverized & pounded pieces of gold. If you own these then you know exactly what I’m talking about – if you don’t – you can solidify this shit and deposit it into your bank account. Do not get it twisted. The texture is creamy, and for a powder that is absolutely ridiculous yet marvellous. The fine pearls that are infused into this fairy dust is meant to absorb, reflect, and refract light so it looks like your highlight is natural and not man made. Or woman made, should I say. Compared to dry pressed powders, this one blends it’s ingredients with liquid binders which results in the luxuriously creamy application and consistency. The Blushed Copper has a prismatic appearance whereas the Champagne Pop is completely smooth. They both apply in the same fashion, it’s the collaboration with Jaclyn Hill that has Champagne Pop stand on it’s own.

Wearability/Colour: I use Champagne Pop as a highlighter and Blushed Copper as a blush to blend my contour with. They apply with ease, are wildly pigmented and long lasting and honestly, compliment various skin tones. The rose gold Champagne Pop is amazing as a highlighter and Blushed Copper (a warm copper with rose gold undertones) is one of the most flattering blushes I’ve ever come across.

Verdict: You have to have these. They’re not a fad. They’re not a artsy piece or celebrity collab that you need to purchase just because you have zero control when it comes to makeup, and you have an inch of counter space that needs to be filled. These are versatile, reasonably priced for their product range, flattering AF (I know, I know, super millennial ditz of me), and are long lasting in both wear and wallet. Unfortunately the limited edition Becca x Jaclyn Hill Champagne Glow trio palette is no longer available (unless you can find it on Amazon or eBay) because that’s when my love affair with Blushed Copper commenced. Take my advice and don’t be shy. They’re well worth the hype.

Get them here and here.

(The photos are as is – no filter just enhancement to showcase the colours).

xo

 

Purchased: VIB Rouge Pre Access Sale

Somebody call the po-lice because I have been victimized by this here mega retailer. They’re a repeat offender with a track record to rival Bill Cosby’s. I went there. They’re that twisted. The fact that I allow myself time and time again to experience such lascivious turmoil doesn’t say a whole lot about my character either so. No relationship is perfect right?

Anyways, the VIB Rouge and VIB annual holiday shopping event has arrived in a flurry of overly made up artiste faces and a cloud of Bobbi Brown’s beach scent. Both of which I am highly titillated by. The VIB Rouge sale was from the 5th to the 9th and VIB members have access from the 13th to the 16th. Here’s hoping there are some remnants left over for y’all.

Here are the items I scored but didn’t need. HAHAHAHA. Just kidding. I need everything.

Becca x Jaclyn Hill Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Champagne Glow Palette

Ugh. Why. So much unnecessary goodness Jaclyn Hill? You already had us like crack addicts with your Becca highlighter – now there’s 3?! You bitch. You beautiful talented money making bitch. Take all my pennies. Take them all. This little palette contains three highlighters – Pearl (a pale shimmering white), Champagne Pop (soft white gold with pink undertones) and Blushed Copper (warm copper with rose gold shimmer). I love the colour range here – a bright highlight, a shimmery natural highlight and a darker tone to really add some depth to your usual blush application. Each shade is limited edition and exclusive to Sephora – more importantly they’re inspired by the holiday season so unless you’re one of those types offended by snowflakes and christmas trees, and the christmas season or just the word season or just every letter in the word season – how can you not?

Sephora Bright Future Gel Serum Concealer 

This is my new favorite concealer. I’m a fan and avid user of NARS creamy concealer, Marc Jacobs Re(marc)able full coverage concealer, and the tried and true MAC Studio Fix – but this? This is Lindsay Lohan in mean girls. She comes in awkward, runs shit, and then emerges as an accepted, respected leader. The lightweight gel base is what really has me sprung. It’s easy to blend, doesn’t cake (even after an 8 hour day) and is easy to build on. I use it mainly underneath my eyes because that’s the only area I feel needs brightening – and it’s truly effective. No lines, no build up, no heavy feeling. It’s infused with pineapple ceramide which brightens and helps improve the skin texture. Pineapple ceramide – you bad. Also – biggest shade range in a concealer – there’s no way you won’t find something to match your skin color.

Make Up Forever Mist & Fix 

I wish I had started using this product this past summer when my makeup was melting into my collarbone and not have waiting until the crisp autumn months – but clearly I felt I needed more highlighters and nude lipsticks to diffuse into a liquid rather than stay put on my face. Oh well. I spritz my masterpiece once after everything is applied and really – I’m not sure if it does the job because my makeup tends not to budge (professional artiste here) but I do feel like my skin is more refreshed and not screaming for fresh air. It does create a sweat proof, rub proof shield – which I have noticed, as well as keeping your makeup fresh looking for 12 plus hours, all the while increasing hydration, keeping it looking phresh, and silky, and not dry AF. Definitely good to have around if you don’t want to melt into a puddle of $2379489 worth of makeup.

Bite Beauty High Pigment Pencil in Velvet

This is my third go with Bite Beauty’s lip products and I am not disappointed. The Matte Creme lip crayon and the Luminous Creme lipstick are flawless – so I decided to try this one here. I like to get myself acquainted with all products – unless they’re from a drugstore. (Kidding, kidding, so rude). I totally use Sally Hansen‘s Hard as nails and cotton pads hair products. I digress. This pencil is described as a matte but it has more of a creme’/glossy look to it. I’m not complaining – I’m simply correcting Sephora’s description. Not matte. Has matte qualities, but more a glossier application. Micronized pigments, shit ton of antioxidants, and apparently it contains the amount of resveratrol found in 5 glasses of wine. My advice – try the lipstick, but don’t forgo the wine. That’s just preposterous.  *resveratrol -member of a group of plant compounds called polyphenols. These compounds are thought to have antioxidant properties – AKA Drink lots of wine  – it’s good for fending off heart disease and cancer, it also makes you feel happy.

Diptyque Tam Dao

I haven’t tried this scent until now. One of my recent trips to Nordstrom – my favorite connoisseur of fragrance @ the Bellevue location gifted me with a little eau du toilette. Sandalwood is the most poignant note (I love warm, musky scents) and it’s unisex so you can share. Diptyque is my absolute favorite family of fragrance – so you can’t go wrong with any one of their exotic scents.

Shop the products:

Becca x Jaclyn Hill Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Champagne Glow Palette

Sephora Bright Future Gel Serum Concealer 

Make Up Forever Mist & Fix

Bite Beauty High Pigment Lip Pencil 

Diptyque Tam Dao 

xo