MAKEUP | Beauty Sponge Showdown featuring Beautyblender, Real Techniques, Sephora and Juno & Co.

I have always been a sponge girl when it came to foundation application and prior to that I would use my fingers, but that often got messy. I have tried brushes, but for some reason using them just never stuck with me. For awhile, the Beautyblender was the only option us sponge lovers had, but as beauty tech has evolved so have the sponges and the materials used to create them which has led to the opportunity to create this beauty sponge showdown!

Some PR samples

HOLIDAY | Gift Ideas from Farleyco Beauty

How is it already the middle of December?! How have I already had ONE Christmas dinner?! My God, this season is absolutely insane, but thankfully I have fun treats for everyone from Farleyco to make it alllll better!

BEAUTY TOOLS | Real Techniques Miracle Diamond Sponge vs. Miracle Sculpting Sponge

Using a sponge has been the only thing that has made me unafraid to use foundation. When I see people using brushes, I am always in awe, but from watching YouTube and other makeup artists, using a brush is preferable to a sponge. I have been told it's something about how much more absorbent a sponge is leading to wasted foundation. It IS a sponge after all, but honestly I just love how much faster I am at applying my face in the mornings! I love the "bouncing" motion to deposit product and though I have loved the Beauty Blender over the years, Real Techniques has been the only other company that has made sponges that I find even remotely comparable to this pink beauty sponge conglomerate.

Over the last two months, I have been using both the Miracle Sculpting Sponge* ($10.49 CDN) and the VERY pretty Miracle Diamond Sponge ($12.99 CDN) from the Bold Metals Collection to see if one was better than the other even though their marketed purposes differ. The Sculpting Sponge is intended for contouring and highlighting, but rules are just guidelines right? 

Real Techniques | Miracle Complexion Sponge

I don’t talk about Real Techniques often enough do I? I am addicted to their multi-task brush that I use for blush as well as their kabuki blush and bronzer brush, but I need to talk about one of the newer “brushes” in the form of the Miracle Complexion Sponge ($9.99) which is a 3-in-1 multi-functional sponge. It has rounded sides to the blend larger areas of the face, a precision tip to cover any imperfections and a flat edge to contour around the eyes and nose. Sounds like this sponge took the best qualities of all makeup sponges out there and made a MEGAAA SPONGE!

March Luvs

Not much makeup this month, but I have picked up a couple of things in the last week that will DEFINITELY be making it into April’s Luvs post! To tell you the truth, I feel like I’ve been surviving each day by the skin of my teeth with the fiscal year wrapping up. There are always so many little things to do that I am breathing a sigh of relief as I type this as I can finally have this week be a fresh start. Here are the things that have contributed to my sanity this past month!

Blogger Favourites Giveaway!

I had hinted on my Facebook page that I might have had a giveaway up my sleeve! I figured this was the best time to do a giveaway as most of you are on beauty bans for the next 90 days and won’t be buying things for awhile. So, here is my guilt-free gift to all of you!

1. Real Techniques On Location Travel Essentials

One of the most raved about brush sets, this includes a 2 in 1 case and stand, an Essential Foundation Brush, Multi-Task Brush and Domed Shadow Brush.

2. MUA Heaven and Earth Palette

Often compared to the Naked palette, but at a much more affordable price point, this palette contains all the brown shadows you could ever need to create the ultimate neutral look.

3. Bioderma Sensibio Micelle Solution

Touted as one the gentlest makeup removing solutions, I have been loving this for removing even the most stubborn eye makeup without irritation. This is a travel-friendly size that I have only seen at Shoppers Drug Mart and comes in a too cute bottle!

4. L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream

I have raved about L’Occitane enough and realized I should share with one lucky reader how wonderful their products are! This is a full sized version of their best-selling hand cream which I know you will love!

5. L’Occitane Lip Balm Duo

This was just such a cute duo that I could resist getting it!

This giveaway is open internationally and is open until February 14th. Good luck everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

November 2012 Luvs

A year ago I started doing monthly product favourites so when I went into my Dropbox folder to add in my photos for November, I realized that I now had to specify what YEAR of November I was referring to! My, how time flies! I feel like I should have more favourites for the month, but sometimes I forget to write a product down and then *poof* it disappears from my brain. Anyway, here’s what I could remember!