NAILS | Sally Hansen Satin Glam in Taffeta #CBBxManiFriday

Purchased by me

As you can see, I have baby nails (for me) as I had to chop everything off after suffering 6 broken nails! The December season was not kind to my nails and I am hoping they grow FAST so I can do some beautiful nail art on them! I went with a blast from the past today with this polish from the Sally Hansen Satin Glam collection from 2014. I had yet to even try this polish so while my nails are growing back, it called to me as a swatch!

MAKEUP | Tom Ford Traceless Soft Matte Foundation with Before and After Photos

Purchased by me

This is the first true foundation I have purchased since before the pandemic and my third "complexion improvement" product in three years so this was KIND OF a big deal! I went to my first Estee Lauder warehouse sale last November and right in the lineup were a couple Tom Ford foundations. This was completely an impulse buy as I have never tried a Tom Ford foundation nor had the urge to until that very moment in the check out line! I took a guess on the shade after looking up some positive reviews online and decided that for $45 (more than 50% off as it retails in Sephora for $115!), I would give this luxury foundation a go!

MAKEUP | Avon Cashmere Complexion Longwear Foundation and Concealer

Nothing excites me more now than a fresh bottle of foundation to try out. I didn't always used to be this way with the first foundation review only appearing on Cosmetic Proof in 2013 because that is when I first used foundation EVER! Up until then, it was Asian BB creams or the Pur Minerals 4 in 1 Pressed Mineral Foundation because it was powder and easy to blend. Liquid foundations would freak me out because I was convinced they would be cakey, but over the years I have found that by taking care of the "canvas underneath", most foundations get a fair chance and give me a good idea of how they wear and look throughout the day.

 PR gifted

MAKEUP | Milani Amore Matte Metallic Lip Cremes with Lip Swatches

When I first started getting into makeup, it was the drugstore stuff that pulled me in. At the time I was watching Michelle Phan and Holly Ann get ready with NYX, Maybelline and Milani. Those were the brands I heard a lot about and I bought everything they used because they were the first Asian influencers I saw using shades that worked with my skin tone. Now, I have MANY women of colour to choose from which is fantastic and though I feel like I have moved on from drugstore makeup as a whole, there are still brands that stay on my radar because they do have some cult favourites that I swear by. When it comes to Milani, it has to be their Liquif'eye Eyeliner and their Luminoso Blush. I am literally wearing this blush as I type this! Now, I had never tried a lip product from them and why I decided to be adventurous and blindly buy these Amore Matte Metallic Lip Cremes I don't know, but it was on a lunch break at work and maybe I was feeling sassy. Regardless, they did not turn out to be something I would want to experience often, but they did seem pretty cool in theory.

Purchased by me

MAKEUP | Avon Glimmerkiss Liquid Lipsticks with Lip Swatches

It seems silly to think that it is very possible that no one outside of my home will ever see my lips again as they will probably be covered up at work and shopping with a mask, but I have to keep thinking positively and have faith that one day we will be able to show our full faces again. I guess for those of you who are able to work from home and take Zoom calls, then you might be able to get all glammed up and show off some sparkly lips with the new Avon Glimmerkiss Liquid Lipsticks! It's possible I may have grabbed one of these and baked with it on just to feel fancy because these guys pack a punch without feeling heavy. You can even eat your baked goods without the lipsticks budging as that has now become a VERY important requirement for me!

 PR gifted

MAKEUP | Physician's Formula Healthy Lip Velvet Liquid Lipsticks with Lip Swatches

As much as I have always loved lipgloss, I have found that my preference for lip products has shifted to what is the most longwearing which are often more matte finishes or liquid lipsticks mainly because I don't feel like re-applying at work. I've become sort of a one-stop-shop when it comes to makeup so I pretty much make the effort once in the morning and don't touch my face again until I'm home removing my makeup. When it comes to liquid lipsticks, we are all want the same things: colour payoff, longevity and comfort - three things that the Physician's Formula Healthy Lip Liquid Lipsticks promise! So, how did they do?

 PR samples

MAKEUP | Mary Kay Timewise Matte 3D Foundation

You know what I have just noticed? It seems that I only have blog reviews for foundation every summer despite switching things up during the colder months as well. Maybe summer just feels like a good time to do it, but for the last 3 years that seems to be the trend for me so in keeping with old habits, here is my review for the new Mary Kay Timewise Matte 3D Foundation! 

PR samples

MAKEUP | MAKE UP FOR EVER Matte Velvet Skin Foundation *Flexi-Fit Formula* with Before and After

It has been a hot minute since I have talked about actual foundation and though I don't do a lot of individual foundation reviews, I am quite the foundation hoarder as I consider it to be on the cusp of a skincare product so I will spend what I have to to get that perfect finish! MAKE UP FOR EVER was the first foundation brand I ever tried and I remember when I first started blogging being terrified to review the Pro Finish when it first came out because I just didn't think I would know how to apply it or make it look good. Turns out that I didn't need to worry because MUFE has been making solid foundation formulations for YEARS so that even a novice like me could figure it out! I have been a faithful MUFE foundation user since my first experience with Pro Finish and when Matte Velvet Skin ($48.00 CDN) got a revamp last month, I was immediately curious as to how a full coverage matte finish foundation would work with my dry skin. Spoiler alert: I have never had such flawless skin in such sweltering summer heat!  

PR samples