MAKEUP | MAKE UP FOR EVER Step 1 Skin Equalizer in #3 Hydrating Primer & #6 Radiant Primer Review & Swatches

There aren’t many times that I remember to use a makeup primer. I usually wear it if I know I’m going to be wearing a full face of makeup for more than 8+ hours OR on my wedding day. Now, I don’t plan on repeating the latter anytime soon, so that leaves me with the long days! The one thing that I don’t like about primers is that “dimethicone-y feeling”. I understand that silicones are what give me perfectly flawless skin, but I still feel uneasy when I smooth typical primers over my skin. I don’t have particularly large pores to blur, so I really just want a primer that keeps things from budging (Yes, I know that a makeup setting spray can do this too). There are two things that I absolutely LOVE about the new MAKE UP FOR EVER Step Skin Equalizers*($43 CDN/30mL): they FEEL like moisturizers and there are TEN different formulations that can be used alone or in conjunction to make sure your skin’s every concern is addressed. 
 

The Step 1 Skin Equalizers are divided into two categories: Texture and Tone, with five of the primers designed to address issues like oil/shine, large pores, fine lines, dryness and redness and Radiance, with the other five primers aimed at boosting radiance in various skin tones. Here’s where the fun part comes in. Cocktailing! Personally, I never say no to more radiance and hydration which is exactly what the #6 Radiant Primer and #3 Hydrating Primer address. All Skin Equalizers also contain hyaluronic acid that you will often see in skincare to plump skin.

I know that some won’t care for this and neither does the analytical side of my brain, but the fact that these primers are coloured to match their packaging colour is tremendously appealing to the squealing little girl in me. They of course blend away to an invisible finish. I start with #3 for hydration and follow it up with #6 as I prefer radiance as my final step. Both feel so similar to moisturizers with #3 leaving my skin feeling SMOOTH, but I’m not too sure if #6 really makes my skin more radiant. I would like to believe it does! Maybe I smile a little more when I wear these primers?

Final  Verdict: I adore how light these primers feel! Even though they still have dimethicone in them, the formulation feels so much lighter than the typical pore-blurring primers. I also like that multiple skin concerns can be addressed with two primers without feeling like I’m overloading my skin before the ACTUAL makeup process has even begun! Do these primers lock my makeup in place? Yes, but I should also add that I don’t have a huge problem with makeup migration. I have been using these in conjunction with a drugstore foundation and I most recently used it starting at 6am all the way until 7pm with a flight in between. My foundation and blush were both still intact so dare I say these Skin Equalizers did their noble priming duty?

Also, today is the last day to enter my MAKE UP FOR EVER Skin Equalizer Giveaway!
MAKE UP FOR EVER Step 1 Skin Equalizers can be found at Sephora, Sephora.com and all MAKE UP FOR EVER Boutiques.

MAKEUP | Guerlain Les Tendres Meteorites Perles de Blush Angelic Radiance Review & Swatches

I feel like Spring disappears so quickly in the world of beauty as collections are planned so far in advance that even I start thinking one season ahead. II briefly touched on a few items in Guerlain’s Les Tendres Spring Collection in a post from February (here) and thought I’d feature a few products that caught my attention or were review requests from readers. From the moment you open the box, you can instantly smell that characteristic floral Guerlain scent radiating from the Meteorites Perles de Blush Angelic Radiance*($58.00 CDN/0.45oz). As you can see from the cherubic angel on the packaging, this blush is all about giving you irresistibly angelic-looking cheeks.

SKINCARE | SEPHORA “Cleaning Me Softly” Facial Cleansing Brush & Detox It Out Charcoal Swabs

God, I love skincare. I love the creams, potions and concoctions that companies come up with and inventive ways with which to make our skin THAT MUCH BETTER. I happily use a Clarisonic, but how would a manual facial brush compare? And at just $13 for the SEPHORA Collection Cleaning Me Softly Facial Cleansing Brush* why not give it a go? This brush comes in either pink or black and is a gentle deep-cleansing brush for both the face and neck. I do tend to forget about my neck and hope that my neck doesn’t hit the age of 50 before my face does.

HAIR | John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Colour Protecting Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner Review

John Frieda hair products have been in my life since I was a teenager and through a couple of beauty boxes, I was able to try (and fall in love with) one of my favourite products, the Frizz Ease Extra Strength Serum. Up until last year, I had never coloured my hair so I never gave “colour protecting” products a second glance. Well, now with my fast-fading ombre hair, I am forever determined to keep the colour intact for as long as possible! The Brilliant Brunette series does just that! There are two sets of products in this line: the Multi-Tone Enhancing Shampoo and Conditioner and the one that I have been using over the last 2 weeks, the Colour Protecting Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner. Made with crushed pearl powder and sweet almond oil, this duo is all about colour preservation and rehydrating colour-treated hair because DAMN does it ever get dry!

The almond oil is what made me love the smell of both products and although I understand that the “stand-up” style packaging gets you EVERY last drop of product, when the bottles are fresh and full there tends to be a lot of spillage when stored in the upright position! With regards to the shampoo, I felt like I had to squeeze out a little more than I normally would to get a good lather going (yes, yes I know it’s NOT always about the bubbles), but without a certain amount I can’t really clean my hair of the hair spray, dry shampoo and texturing spray that I add to my hair for lift on a daily basis (yes, those are my hair secrets).

Final Verdict: While this duo didn’t blow my mind, my hair did feel quite hydrated. I could skip my hair oil a few nights because my ends just didn’t look like they needed the extra moisture blast. My scalp still felt a little dry at times, but my hair was totally fine. I think I’m just weird. I can’t quite tell if my colour has been preserved at all since it has only been a short amount of time, but I liked the fluidity of the formulas of both the shampoo and conditioner and will continue using them once I get my hair re-ombred. Now, THAT will probably be the true test! 

John Frieda products can be found at London Drugs, Wal-Mart, Safeway, Rexall, Jean Coutu, Shoppers Drug Mart and Lawtons.

MAKEUP LOOK |Elate Clean Cosmetics Pressed Eye Colour, Moisturizing Lip Gloss in Charm and Universal Creme in Elation Review & Swatches

Today is EARTH DAY! Last year I had a bit of a countdown of products, but wasn’t quite as organized this year so instead I wanted to feature a Canadian, all natural, vegan brand that I just recently discovered through blogger friend She’s So Eco. Natural makeup can be hit or miss as formulations that are natural AND provide pigment and texture we all love is tough. Elate Clean Cosmetics is based in BC’s capital city of Victoria whose products immediately caught my eye with their West Coast wooden accents and ethereal, yet naturally beautiful looks that were being created. You can imagine how “elated” I was when I reached out to Elate and they agreed to work with me on a makeup look for Earth Day!

GIVEAWAY! | Win All 10 MAKE UP FOR EVER Skin Equalizers!

If you’re like me, you must have been sad to see the MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Microperfecting Primers go (review), BUT there is some awesome news! MAKE UP FOR EVER has released TEN new primers called Step 1 Skin Equalizers that are targeted for specific skin concerns like dryness, redness, oiliness or dullness. What I love is that you don’t just have to choose one primer, you can mix and match this rainbow of primers to create the perfect canvas of skin. I will have a review up shortly of the ones that have been working best for my skin, but for now…ENJOY HAVING THE CHANCE TO WIN ALL TEN!

Terms of the Giveaway

• Open to CANADA ONLY
• Giveaway ends on April 30th, 2015 at 11:59pm
• The winner will have 48 hours to reply once they are contacted.

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

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