February Beauty Favourites!

February was a big beauty month for me! I went through my makeup collection and realized that it was time to buy a few new "essential" beauty products. Okay so some things weren't necessarily essentials but who's keeping track anyway? Some products were a hit and some were big misses but I'll save those for another blog post. So without further ado here are my February beauty favourites!

Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Airbrush Foundation 

This was hands down my favourite foundation this month. It is so easy to apply and gives a really good amount of coverage. It's also really fast to apply it so I used it on mornings when I had really early classes. It lasts pretty much all day and seems to look even better a few hours after I apply it. Like a lot of other Tarte products it contains Amazonian Clay, which is super cool. Check out Tarte's Amazonian Clay video here. Overall, I love this product!

Benefit Hervana (Blush)

This is the perfect blush for every day makeup looks. The blush is a swirl of three different shades that blend to create a beautiful pinky-purple colour. It also has a bit of shimmer in it which brightens up your cheeks. Perfect for spring!

Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow

I wore this eyeshadow almost everyday this month! Read my blog post about it here.

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer

I love this concealer! It has a really creamy texture, it goes on smooth and doesn't dry out during the day. It works great for hiding dark under eye circles and blemishes. It's an essential part of my makeup bag!

LUSH Popcorn Lip Scrub

My lips were so dry and chapped this month so I used this lip scrub every morning to exfoliate them. This stuff smells so good, like caramel popcorn! The best part about this product is that it is completely edible! Once you scrub it on your lips you can lick it off! Yum!

REVIEW: Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow

I was browsing the Benefit counter the other day when I saw a beautiful display of Creaseless Cream Shadows. The colours were shimmery and smooth, and the packaging was so adorable! I wanted to buy all of them, but I restrained myself and only bought one, a creamy nude colour called Birthday Suit.

One application and I was hooked! The formula is so silky, and it goes on easily with just your fingertip. It is so fast to apply, it's the perfect product for anyone who has a limited amount of time to put their makeup on. 

The lasting power is great. After 9 hours it still looked fresh and hadn't creased at all. I liked this product so much that I went back the next day and purchased a beige colour called No Pressure (a perfect pair for Birthday Suit). 

You can wear the Cream Shadows on their own or as a base for normal eyeshadows.

The Cream Shadows were $24.00 each, but if you are looking for a more affordable version the Maybelline Color Tattoo is similar and costs under $10.00.

In Canada you can purchase Benefit products at Sephora and some Shoppers Drug Marts. 

Make your own eyeshadow palette!

I have a bit of an obsession with makeup. It started when I was pretty young and my mom and I would go to the Bay. We always checked out the M.A.C Cosmetics counter and wound up taking home a new eyeshadow every time. My collection quickly started to build up, and before I knew it I had a tackle box full of shadows.

A couple of years ago, I found out that at M.A.C stores (not the counters in the Bay) you can buy the eyeshadows without the pots. You can also buy empty palettes in different sizes to fill with the shadows of your choice. They are also cheaper than buying the shadows in the pots, a big plus.

I bought a couple of the de-potted shadows and a palette that could hold 15 shadows. I let the palette sit more than half empty for a couple of years and that's when I heard about de-potting M.A.C shadows.

It's a simple process and doesn't take very long. It's the perfect way to convert your old, bulky shadows into a streamlined palette filled with the colours of your choice.

You can also buy palettes at other makeup stores and you can follow this process using pretty much any eyeshadows that you would like to add!

Here's how to de-pot your shadows!

 

What you need:

• Foil
• A knife
• A M.A.C eyeshadow
• A hair straightener
• Magnet sheets
• Labels
• A pen
• Rubbing alcohol and paper towels  
• A safety pin

Step 1:

Write the shade name of the eyeshadows you plan on de-potting on a small label. This way you can remember what your shadow is called once you take it out of the pot. 

Step 2:

Cut the magnets to into small pieces that will fit on the back of your shadows. Mine were 1 cm by 1.5 cm.

Step 3:

Stick the labels on the magnets.

Step 4:

Slide the tip of your knife into the slit between the top and bottom of the shadow pot. 

Step 5:

Twist the knife and the top half will pop out. 

Step 6:

Using a piece of foil to protect your straightener, put your shadow on the ceramic plate. Keep it there for 30 seconds to one minute. 

Step 7:

Poke your safety pin into the centre of the shadow until it starts to come out of the pot. 

Step 8:

Lift the shadow out of the pot. Some shadows didn't want to come out so I gently used the knife to lift it out. If the shadow cracks at all, put a drop of the rubbing alcohol on it and press the shadow back into place.

Step 9:

Put some rubbing alcohol on a paper towel and rub the bottom of your shadow on it to remove an excess glue. Stick the magnet to the back of the shadow. 

Step 10:

Place the shadow into your palette and put the lid on. Voila, a custom M.A.C eyeshadow palette!

A Million Mascaras

Whether it's lipgloss, foundation, eyeliner, or mascara, every girl has her go-to makeup. For me it has always been mascara. I have very light coloured eyelashes so a nice coating of black mascara is a must. That being said, I have tested out what feels like a million mascaras but I haven't found that perfect one just yet. Knowing my makeup obsession, my parents got me a mascara sampler set from Sephora for Christmas. It's great because it comes with a variety of their best selling mascaras so you can try them all and find one you really like. I decided that while I test them out I will rate the mascaras so that at the end I can remember which one I like best.

I will rate the mascaras based on volume, length, clump-factor, whether or not you get racoon eyes when washing it off, comfort, and my overall impression.

To start things off I am reviewing they're real! mascara by Benefit Cosmetics.

Volume

I was very happy with the volume of this mascara. With only a few coats it looks really dramatic.

Length

This mascara made my eyelashes look long and like I was wearing lash-inserts.

Clump-factor

The mascara went on smooth and not clumpy. It looked very natural and not like I pilled on the mascara. 

Racoon Eyes

This was the worst part about this mascara. It looks great on but it is a pain to get off. When I washed my face it left the largest black smudges everywhere and it took a few applications of makeup remover to get it all off. 

Comfort

By the end of the day I noticed it drying up a bit and would fall off in clumps if I rubbed my eyes. I would suggest washing it off after school or work and reapplying it if you are going out. Other than that it was comfortable to wear and didn't bother my eyes. 

Overall

I liked this mascara a lot. It gives a nice dramatic look without many coats and it is comfortable to wear. The only downside is that it is a pain to take off. 

Rating: 4/5

Arm Knitting

In an earlier post I mentioned that I was going to try arm knitting. Well, I tried it and it worked great! It only took me about 30 minutes to make a gorgeous circular scarf. It is hard to believe that it was so easy to make because the end result is so beautiful. I used this YouTube video to learn how to use my arms as the needles, but after a few rows I didn't need the video anymore.

The scarf will turn out very loosely knit so it is important to use chunky wool. You also need to use two pieces of yarn at a time. I used Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick Yarn that I got at Michaels but any thick wool will work.

This project will be very easy if you already know how to knit, but it is also a great project for beginners.

For my scarf I casted on 12 stitches, which gave it a bunchy, cozy look.

After you think the scarf  is long enough to wrap around your neck two times, cast off and then sew the ends together.

Give it a try and let me know how your scarf turns out!

-Sarah

My favourite fixes for dry winter skin

After living in Winnipeg for 23 years I have become an expert at battling against the dry skin and chapped lips that go along with our freezing winters. Here are my favourite fixes for common winter skin problems. Try them out and let me know what you think!

Problem: Very dry face
Solution: Facial oil

I know the idea of putting any kind of oil on your face seems scary, but trust me it works. When your face gets dry it forces your skin to produce more oil which can lead to breakouts. Using facial oil after your normal face lotion traps the moisture in and stops your skin from getting dry.

It's best to wash your face before bed, moisturize, and then put a drop of facial oil in your palm and rub it on your face. In the morning your skin will be soft and ready to handle the cold winter winds.
I use Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil from Sephora.

Problem: Dry itchy skin
Solution: Coconut oil

If the skin on your body gets affected by the winter climate then coconut oil is perfect for you. Coconut oil can be purchased at any grocery store and for under $10 you can get a jar that will last you the whole winter, and maybe even longer. The oil comes in a hardened form but it melts fast when you submerge the jar in hot tap water. 

You can rub the oil on your skin before or after you shower. I find that it works much better than regular skin lotion because it adds a layer of moisture to your skin instead of just absorbing and disappearing. It also makes you smell like delicious, tropical coconut!Coconut oil is very versatile, you can use it in your hair, on your face, and even to cook with! 

Problem: Chapped lips
Solution: Vaseline

I tried every lip chap, balm, gloss, and stick I can get my hands on, and nothing works better to soothe chapped lips than good old Vaseline. The thing I like most about using Vaseline is that is doesn't dry out my lips. I find that lots of lip chaps seem to make my lips more chapped and force me to constantly apply more. Vaseline actually repairs my chapped lips! 

I purchased a cute mini jar of Vaseline that is made especially for your lips. After it is empty you can refill it with Vaseline from a normal size jar to save money.  

Problem: Cracked, dry hands
Solution: Curel lotion

After using tons of lotions to try and fix my dry hands, I have found that Curel works the best. With only one application my hands are relieved and my skin starts to look normal again. It has a mild scent and is great for sensitive skin. It's a must have lotion to fix dry hands!


What's your favourite fix for dry winter skin?

-Sarah

My four favourite things this week

1.) Chi Curling Wand

For Christmas this year I got a Chi Air Curling Wand. I was a little skeptical of this new tool but I tried it out for the first time this week and I love it! I normally use my straightener to add curls to my hair but I found the wand adds more spirals and gives a more voluminous look. The curling wand is also much easier to use than standard curling irons so they are perfect if you are a beginner. You basically hold the wand with one hand and wrap your hair around it with your other hand. The wand comes with a special glove so that you don't get burned. I highly recommend it!

2.) Bodum French Press

I worked at a coffee shop for over four years and I have to say I have become a coffee fanatic! I love trying out new roasts and methods of brewing coffee, so this week I got a french press! I love waking up on these cold mornings and making myself some freshly pressed coffee! I have a Bodum french press and so far it works great. The directions are easy to follow and you just have to make sure you use a coarsely ground coffee. My mom has a travel french press which is perfect for mornings when you are in a rush. I think I'll make myself a cup right now!

3.) Arm Knitting

This is a new trend you may have seen popping up all over Pinterest and I have to say it is pretty awesome! You use your arms as the knitting needles and you can knit scarves in about a half hour! My sister-in-law tried it last weekend and it turned out beautiful. She used a chunky knit yarn and it resulted in a cozy scarf that is perfect for this weather. I am going to try and make one this weekend, check out this YouTube tutorial and make one yourself!

4.) Girls Season 3

As I mentioned in a previous post, I love the HBO show Girls. Season 3 just premiered last Sunday night and the first two episodes were hilarious. HBO made the episodes available on YouTube, watch them here!