A Review: MAC Lipstick(s)

Colour: High Tea (lustre) and cost: $17.50 CAD

Claims: According to MAC's website their lipsticks provide, "Colour plus texture for the lips...".

Actual Experience: They certainly provide color and texture for lips with their EIGHT DIFFERENT FINISHES! Amplified (rich colour, what you see is what you get), amplified cream (rich colour, what you see is what you get but with a sheen finish), cremesheen (not quite as rich as an amplified creme, sheen finish), frost (color is somewhat pigmented, very shiny and I don't recommend for anyone), glaze (fairly sheer, can have chunky glittery finish), lustre (sheer-medium pigmentation, shimmery but not chunky), matte (completely matte, colour drenched), and satin (very pigmented, very slight sheen).

My colour that I wear every day is High Tea (lustre). It is the perfect nudish, peachy, neutral colour for daytime or anytime wear. Not harsh, and not overbearing (your lips but better).

Buy or Avoid: Buy (if you have the extra cash). I honestly don't think that even Sephora can top the amount of finishes that MAC provides. You may be able to find something similar at the drugstore but most likely it will not have the same finish and this can really make or break a lipstick.


This product was bought with my own money

A Review: MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural

Skin type/color: combination (oily) and sensitive, pink undertones, MAC NW 20

My color in this product is medium.

Claims: According to MAC's website, "A luxurious domed face powder with minerals, slowly baked to provide a dimensional yet natural-matte finish. Provides perfect low coverage. Use to set and fix foundation or as a touch-up throughout the day."

Actual Experience: I use this to set my liquid foundation but I have a friend that uses it as her actual foundation (she loves it so far). It provides the most natural finish of any powder that I have ever tried. It doesn't cake, doesn't clump, and doesn't look chalky. Tip, if you have a blemish use a little cream concealer on top of it, gently blend. Then use a small eye shadow brush to buff some of this gently over top. I have never been able to hide a blemish so naturally or completely as when I use this method (it only works for me with this specific powder mind you).

Buy or Avoid: Buy! This powder is a little pricey at $33CAD plus tax but this is the third time that I have bought it.  I got sick of throwing out the drugstore powders when they didn't work (big waste of $$). One of these used almost daily lasts me 6-8 months.


This product was bought with my own money

Skin Care Routine

I have combination (oily) and sensitive skin.

All products purchased at Wal Mart unless otherwise noted.

Products (right to left): 1. Exact Gentle Skin Cleanser (knock of version of Cetaphil from Superstore).  The ingredients are exactly the same and listed in the same order, which means they are in the same concentration.  2. Softlips (cucumber melon). The only lip balm that I have found that actually softens and helps to exfoliate any dry skin from the lips. Added bonus it has SPF 15. 3. Neutrogena Moisture (combination skin version).  Fragrance free, oil free, matte finish. Excellent under makeup. The one con is that it doesn't have any SPF, so you have to use a sunscreen underneath or a foundation with SPF over top). 4. Neutrogena Light Night Cream. Fragrance free, oil free, no SPF. 5. Aveda Botanical Kinetics (available at any Spa that carries Aveda).

Morning Routine: Apply cleanser to dry face. Massage in for about 60 seconds. Rinse well and dry. Apply Neutrogena Moisture (combination skin). Apply Neutrogena Light Night Cream under eyes, and on the nose, including the bridge. This gives an extra shot of moisture to the areas that I think I will get wrinkles first. Apply Softlips lip balm.

Nighttime Routine : Apply cleanser to dry face. Massage in for about 60 seconds. Rinse well and dry, then repeat.  Repeating gets any last traces of makeup off of your face. Every other night exfoliate using a cotton pad and Aveda Botanical Kinetics Exfoliant. Apply Neutrogena Moisture (combination skin). Apply Neurtrogena Light Night Cream under eyes, and on the nose, including the bridge. If I am experiencing a breakout I only moisturize under my eyes, my whole nose and cheeks. I usually wake up the next morning with pretty clear skin :) Apply Softlips lip balm.

If you would like advice for your specific skin type, comment below and I will get back to you.

These products were bought with my own money

A Review: Maybelline, The Falsies Black Drama

Claims: According to Maybelline's website, "False lash glam goes extra matte, extremely black"

Actual Experience: As mentioned in my MAC False Lashes review, I have short, thin, and sparse lashes on both the top and bottom. I curled my eyelashes and applied two coats to the top and one coat to the bottom. The results were pretty darn good. As to the claim of it being matte, I can't really say that I have ever noticed a mascara of any kind being shiny.  Same goes for this one.  It is however very true to its' claim of being extremely black.  It is the blackest mascara that I have ever used! It has little fibres in it to help add fullness and length to your lashes (it is contact lense safe).  This mascara takes a little more work than MAC's False Lashes but at $6.76 (Wal Mart) versus $22.50 for the MAC I am willing to spend the tiny bit more time with it. Now I don't have to feel guilty for the Lulu Lemon sports bra that I am buying this weekend.

Buy or Avoid: If you are looking to not spend mega cash on a mascara (which only lasts for three months anyway) then this in my opinion is the best drugstore one out there right now.


This product was bought with my own money

What's in My Makeup Bag...?

Top to bottom picture, left to right.

Face Products: 1. Aero Minerale Makeup Mist (available at select Lawtons). Color: Bare. 2. MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural (available at MAC Cosmetics stores, counters, and online). Color: Medium. *All MAC products listed are available at the same locations unless otherwise noted. 3.MAC Mineralize Blush.  Color: Dainty. 4. Makeup Forever 5 Camouflage Cream Palette (available at Sephora, Sephora.com).  Color: #2. 5. MAC Skinsheen Bronzer Stick (L.E. Summer 2011).  Color: Gilty Bronze.

Eye Products: 1. Rimmel Match Perfection "Skin Tone Adapting" 2 in 1 Concealer/Highlighter. Color: Classic Beige 030. 2. MAC False Lashes (mascara). Color: False Black. 3. MAC Eyeshadow Palette (L.E. Fascinating Ruby). 4. MAC Paint. Color: Untitled. 5. Maybelline Define a Brow. Color: Dark Blonde.

Lip Product: MAC Dazzleglass. Color: Baby Sparks.

Brushes/Tools: 1. Sally Hansen Eyelash Curler (available at Wal Mart). 2. MAC 217 Blending Brush. 3. MAC 239 All Over Shadow Brush. 3. Costal Scents Large Powder Brush (available at http://www.coastalscents.com/).

Products not used daily: 1. Mac Eye Kohl. Color: I Get No Kick (L.E.). 2. MAC Powerpoint Eye Pencil. Color: Stubborn Brown. 3. MAC Paint Pot. Color: Bare Study.


These products were bought with my own money

A Review: MAC False Lashes

Claims: According to MAC's website the key benefits of this mascara are: volume and curl.

Actual Experience: I have short, thin, and sparse lashes on both the top and bottom. I basically have the worst eyelashes anyone could be born with! This mascara; however, works wonders for me. I curl my lashes and apply approximately two coats to the top, one to the bottom. My lashes look longer, thicker and more plentiful! This (and many other) MAC mascaras tend to get really dry after about three weeks. My solution to this is to make sure that it is sealed well and run it under hot water for 30 seconds. It will liquefy the product again for several weeks.

Buy or Avoid: Buy! This is going to be a repurchase for me shortly as I am getting low.


This product was bought with my own money

A Review: MAC Dazzelglass

Claims: According to MAC Cosmetics website this lip color is supposed to provide a similar brilliance to quartz or crystal. It claims to be non-sticky, non-tacky, lightweight and moisturizing.

Actual Experience: I whole-heartily agree that this lip color provides excellent shine and has excellent shimmer properties. In regard to the non-sticky, non-tacky claim, I find this to be untrue. I find this lip color to be extremely sticky and tacky. However, I do love a really sticky gloss because I find they last longer on the lips and I hate having to reapply constantly. I also do not find this product to be particularly lightweight or moisturizing.

Buy or Avoid: If you like or love a sticky gloss, then this is one of the best on the market! I will continue to buy this as long as it is made! Note: there are tons of colors!

This product was bought with my own money