Truth be told, I am sitting on my couch writing this while it pours with rain outside. Hot coffee in my hand it feels only suitable that I am writing about my Fall Makeup Favorites.
I recently bought the NARS Extreme Effects shadow and have fallen in love with it very quickly. It’s the perfect blend of Fall colors. I love buying from Hudsons Bay because you always receive a bunch of freebies with your order, making it that much more exciting. This time around I got a free eyeshadow primer from NARS and a whole goodie bag from Clinique!
The palette itself is just stunning. NARS is hands down one of my favorite high-end brands. The quality of the shadows are pigmented, yet apply buttery soft.
Along with my NARS eyeshadow, I’ve been obsessed with the NYX Soft matte lip creams. My go-to shades right now are Copenhagen and Stockholm. I had to re-stock these shades because I ran out of my selection from last year. I know this might be different from other opinions, but I really like how light they feel on the lips after they dry. I dont like how some liquid lipsticks feel thick and chalky. These are an absolute dream to wear.
Those colours though! Such a fall aesthetic π
Also Iβve been looking at Tik Tok lately… Should I use it? Am I missing out if I donβt?
I feel like itβs going to be something where I donβt like it at first, and then suddenly Iβve fallen deeply into it and totally obsessed. I am still not entirely sure how to use it.
Anyway, TGIF everyone! What are your plans this weekend?
Iβm going to carve pumpkins and drink a bit of wine with my friends. π π₯
I feel like Iβm welcoming Autumn with an especially warm hug this year. Itβs as though I am finally able to breath deep and catch a glimpse of a more relaxed pace. Does anyone else feel this way?
Besides being relaxed, I am so excited for all the fun Autumn activities we are still able to enjoy during these ever changing times.
Things I am looking forward to this Fall are: enjoying everything in Pumpkin Spice Flavour π Staying in watching movies on stormy nights. And more mushroom picking adventures with Alex and our pup!
With the whole pandemic happening I put a pause on any unnecessary spending for about 3 months. I did this mostly to save just in case anything happened, but Iβm not even sure how much I really saved because my makeup budget turned into a snack budget real fast π
When I saw that little pink parcel in the mail I was over the moon. Whatβs that song again?
πΆ Brown paper packages tied up with strings, these are a few of my favourite things. πΆ … but pink instead of brown… you get the picture lol
I did something I never usually do and had a sneak peak of my bag when Ipsy released the lpreviews. I was so happy with what I saw it definitely fuelled my anticipation.
The bag they came out with this month is so cute! I love the bright yellow colour as it immediately makes me think of summer. And the pattern is just so fun! Iβll definitely be using this to pack all my little Knick Knacks in.
Iβll start with what I was looking forward to the most, and that was the perfume Juliette Has a Gun, in the scent Vanilla Vibes.
Ipsy has never sent me a perfume that I didnβt love. Theyβre always such a good size sample too, it tends to last me a really long time!
The funny part is that Iβve been on the hunt for the perfect summer scent. Something light and fresh that captures the essence of summer. Then Ipsy sent me this, and I was immediately in love. It was literally the exact scent Iβve been looking for. Usually perfume is just plain overpowering for me but this is honestly just the right combination. It also just smells really good on me, like it goes well with my body chemistry… does that make sense? Itβs a thing right? π
Anyway I 100% plan on buying a full sized bottle once Iβve gone through the sample. And that is really saying something! They always get the perfume right with me.
Honestly if youβre ever unhappy with your Ipsy bag itβs a good idea to re-do the quiz because
a) Itβs just a fun quiz to take in general and
b) It will totally change your bag to what you actually want and are going to get use out of.
Moving on!
The other product I was most excited for was the #inmo Cosmetics Velveteen Dream Shadow in the shade Kween Bee. Starting with the packaging I was obsessed. The little illustration on the front made me think of a Sailor Moon character.
For the actual shadow, I am always drawn to gold shimmers, they look amazing on any eye colour and skin tone. Unlike other shimmery shadows, this one actually applies amazing and the brush picks it up perfectly. Hardly any fallout and true to colour. Nothing more I could want! Itβll be at the top of my giant collection of gold eyeshadows!
I was very happy to receive the Youth To The People moisturizing cream as I have never tried the brand before. Supposedly this cream is filled with a whole list of superfoods including kale. π€ It can be used all over your face, or as a spot treatment for under your eyes. Itβs a whipped consistency so it feels light on your skin but leaves you hydrated. Iβm using it mostly for my under eyes and since itβs not very heavy, nor is it scented, it feels very refreshing.
Next this in my bag was the lipstick from Real Her cosmetics.
Honestly something about miniature lipstick just makes me so happy. Most people would probably say this shade is nothing to write home about, but to me it is the exact colour that matches my natural lip perfectly. It enhances the natural colour of my lips beautifully π Itβs not the longest lasting formula but it feels very comfortable on the lips, as itβs not drying or too smudgy.
Lastly was the Kohl eyeliner by Sugar. Iβll start by saying Iβve never found an eyeliner pencil that has worked for me outside of Makeup Forever or Mac. Unless itβs luxury quality it tends to melt down my eyes immediately… and thatβs definitely what happened here. I was looking like a member from Kiss at the end of the day and it was not working on me π I will be sanitizing and putting this is my kit so it wonβt be a total loss!
Today I wanted to talk about my favourite fitness must haves. I feel like more than ever nowadays, there is an overwhelming sea of products for fitness and healthy living. At times it can be hard to sift through that plethora of information to find an honest and experienced answer.
So here are my 5 favourite workout goodies, and why I absolutely love them!
1. And Probably my most favorite of all is the Fitbit Versa Lite. This is a necessity for me as I LOVE keeping track of things lol. The Fitbit Versa tracks my calories burned, steps, and most importantly (for me) my heart rate. I love the colors it comes in, although I definitely would have loved it even more if it came in pink. Overall it’s a wonderful device. One of my favorite features that is the most underrated is the ‘Relax’ app. It will track your heart rate while it takes you through breathing exercises, using colors to indicate if your breathing/heart rate is in a great, good, or needs work zone. I use this quite often at any time of the day if Iβm feeling anxious or stressed. It is an easy and discreet way to slip in a guided meditation.
2. I decided to fully invest in some good quality resistance bands and it improved my workout game so much! I decided to get the Peach Bands Resistance bands. I did some research looking for a Canadian fitness company and I was immediately obsessed with their bright pink and purple fitness gear. Not only are they aesthetically pleasing, but the bands themselves are resilient and have a great feel. They donβt roll or pinch (unless you really twist them). The weight of these bands ranges from Light (10 lbs) to Xtra Heavy (35lbs) giving a broad range of weight. If you need to have heavier resistance you can easily double up on the bands and get that weight you need without any discomfort. These bands are a slender shape making it easy to use 2 at a time. They also pair great with dumbbells or by themselves for the perfect quarantine workout. (Should I do a post on my quarantine workout?!?!)
3. Sweet Sweat Workout Enhancer. This stuff has taken my cardio from average to a full-on sweat sesh. It is a bit of an adjustment applying a product like this to your skin as itβs not supposed to soak in. The whole idea is you apply it to the surface of your skin and it makes you sweat like 5x more than normal (not an actual scientific number but you get what Iβm saying π) You apply to slow-reacting areas or spots you want to focus on in your workout and presto, you are sweating your booty off. I find it helps me be less sore in the morning and helps my muscles be less fatigued at the time of my workout.
4. Keto Bomb Coffee Creamer. Just thinking about this makes me so excited for my morning cuppa coffee. Like Iβm actually salivating a little bit π Save your money you would spend on expensive βspecialtyβ coffee, and try some Keto Bomb. My favorite flavors are French Vanilla and Caramel Macchiato. The best part is enjoying the amazing flavors and knowing they are a fraction of the sugar you would normally have with a regular Starbucks coffee. Not to mention youβre giving your body the fuel it needs with Vitamins like Calcium, Magnesium, and Potassium. I love using my Bodum frother to top it off and making it deliciously frothy and aesthetically pleasing. βοΈ βοΈ
*A a side note hereβ¦.specialty coffee if fun and delicious and nothing is wrong with enjoying them! I love a PSL and nothing will hold a candle to that. The amount of sugar in a food doesnβt make it βgoodβ or βbadβ. π
5. Is the most basic but makes the most sense and that is a Yoga Mat. I got my yoga mat so long ago I canβt even remember the brand π But I use it every workout. Not only is it an important cushion for your body but itβs nice to have a designated area laid out for working out. I find it creates guidelines for me when Iβm doing exercises. It helps me center myself and check my form.
I hope everyone is having a happy Saturday and Iβd love to hear about your favorite fitness goodies you canβt live without!
I wanted to share my personal , perfect no makeup makeup look today. I really love it because it doesn’t use a billion products but just enough to cover all your bases.
I wanted to use beautiful neutral colours and the first thing that came to mind was my quad from MAC that contains Taupe, Espresso and a white and black (which names I’ve forgotten π)
The stars of the look are definitely my Rimmel Match Perfection (as always) and my favourite affordable powder from NYX the Stay Matte Powder Foundation. Besides my primer this is the base especially on my good skin days it’s all I like to use.
The biggest reason I love my MAC quad is the multi use I get out of it. The taupe shade is all I wear in my brows (with a tad espresso mixed in) and then I can make a natural eye look, and even more dramatic looks like a smokey eye.
Eyes: MAC Espresso and Taupe
Brows: MAC Taupe
Lips: MAC lipstick in Myth
Face: Rimmel Match Perfection and NYX Stay Matte But Not Flat Powder Foundation
Lashes: Rimmel Total Tease Mascara
Do you have any favourite no makeup, makeup products??
I was recently thinking about the plethora of makeup I own and began to ponder about how much of it I have actually used. (I know dangerous territory haha) I specifically remembered how excited I was when I bought the Urban Decay Gwen Stefani palette in Los Angeles last year, and the immediate let down I felt when I first tried it. I basically used it twice (maybe) and then put it to rest in the back of my makeup drawer. When I started school in March I put it in my kit in hopes it would get used. It did here and there but not until TODAY have I given it a second chance on my own face.
I created a fun look using the brown and red shades in the palette and I’m not afraid to say I’m loving it… the look that is.
I am still on the fence about a few shades in the palette (specifically the chunky/glittery shades)Β but quite a few of them have redeemed them self.
The lighter shades like Stark and Skimp are lovely base and highlight shades. They’re indeed very soft and create a great base for other shadows and the taupe shades like Zone and Anaheim go great in the crease and don’t shift in colour once applied.
Now we move to where I had some trouble…
I tried to add Punk into the crease and things got a little sticky. That shade does not blend well at all. It goes on and stays exactly where you put it. The pigment in the darker colours is almost too much to work with (dare I say something can be too pigmented?). I could feel the yucky disappointment creeping in again but I fought it and spent a few extra seconds (minutes… hours who knows lol)Β blending it out. I realized that its insane pigmentation could work better perhaps as a liner than a shadow, and I was right!
I used Steady as my shimmer shade and I was pleasantly surprised by its creamy consistency. My faith had been slightly restored, to say the least! The shade is beautiful while still being subtle.
All in all, I am happier this time around with the palette than a year ago. I can say that I really like about 75% of the colours and consistency of the palette. π
Did you like this second chance kind of blog posts where I bring back an ‘oldie’ and give it another try? I feel like I get caught up in needing to have the newest and best makeup and forget about just having fun and being creative with my writing.
Well I’m back to share what I’ve been so busy working on (and essentially what’s been taking up my time causing me to *ahem* …neglect this blog π )
I started Airbrushing classes in school and time just seems to fly by. It’s been the most incredible time of my life and I still can’t believe that I’m so lucky I get to go to school for this. π
I’ve been posting a lot on my Instagram but I have completely forgotten to share here. I know a few of you follow me but in case you don’t my Insta is @missmmua π
Learning airbrushing has been the most difficult task so far but the most rewarding. I’m still SO new to it, so if you’re a pro, yes I know these aren’t amazing or industry standards yet but they are huge accomplishments for me π I love learning it, especially because I have a great teacher who is so knowledgeable in her field and will always be honest with how your work looks.
Aβ’Iβ’R ~ Bβ’Rβ’Uβ’Sβ’H
Starting from my first time Airbrushing the body, to my most recent creation.
(Like I said… not a pro, I just like using platforms to keep track of my progress π)
I can totally see a pink/purple/blue theme happening π I’ll have to work on trying more colours. I just happen to love that colour combo and it’s the colour palette I’m using for my final exam so the more practice with it the better right? π€·πΌββοΈ
How are you doing on this fine, fabulous Friday? π
Today I wanted to share with you my favourite holy grail face mask. It not only removes impurities but adds antioxidants and important nutrients back into the skin.
I wanted to call it something funny like ‘Mean Greeny’, but I didn’t think it would be a very attractive title πΒ Instead I will call it the Best Detox Mask! (ever?)
For the base, I started with Bentonite Clay which is the most common ingredient in clay masks. It is a lightweight clay that is best used to rid your pores of any dirt, oil, or lingering toxins. Secondly, this clay helps with the healing of acne and can help lighten past acne scars.
Like I said this mask is all about being green! So it was a no-brainer to add Spirulina Algae to the mix. This algae, in particular, is a powerhouse of antioxidants which can reduce signs of ageing and are just important for the general well being of our skin, after all the epidermis is the largest organ we have! Spirulina algae are also filled with amino acids which help with the hydration of the skin and help with the elasticity.
If you don’t have Spirulina Algae lying around the house, Spinach can even be a good substitute since it is also high in antioxidants and vitamins.
Lastly, if you want this to be a healing mask as well as a detoxing one, adding honey can add a whole new list of benefits. Honey is best known for its antibacterial qualities making it amazing for soothing and healing acne. It also contains antioxidants that help slow the ageing of our skin, AND last but not least, gives your skin that wonderful glow afterwards.
I felt such a difference after using this face mask I would not speak about it so passionately if it didn’t help as much as it did! More amazingly I can’t believe it was (kind of) a fluke haha! I try many different recipes and some flop (very hard) and some work wonders. This just happens to be one of the lucky ones!
I also feel very strongly about using organic and ethically sourced ingredients too, so when I make my own face masks I know exactly where the ingredients are coming from, and the quality of them.
A big shout out to Oleum Vera for being an amazing organic brand that makes amazing starter kits so you can create your own face masks. (No this is not sponsored by them π I wish haha!)
Let me know if you guys like more of these skincare posts, I certainly love writing them and sharing my experiences π
I know the first day of summer isn’t for another month, but today feels pretty darn close!
We are going on the first boat ride of the season today and I am so excited. π³
I really am a country girl at heart and going out into nature is my favourite way to unplug, relax, and find some quiet time.
I wanted to do a quick little outfit of the day since I’m wearing one of my favourite lazy-lounging outfits. Does anyone else have that? Outfits that are super comfy but dressier than sweats or PJ’s? I feel like I always go for them. π
I am also just realized that I’m basically dressed head to toe in H&M or Forever 21. π
No makeup day today. π
Hat: H&M
Jean Shirt: Forever 21
Pink T-shirt: H&M
Sweat Pants: Forever 21
Shoes: Denver Hayes
Watch: Fit Bit (gotta count those steps!)
Time to hit the water! π³π
If you live in Canada I hope you have a fabulous May Long Weekend π
And everyone else in the world have a wonderful Saturday too!