Announcement | I’m going on a ban…

Hi guys, I am going on a make-up ban. No, no the blog is not going to shut down anytime soon, its just that lately, I have become a bit of a hoarder. I just buy, put it away and don’t look again. I am running behind on reviews that I had previously planned of the things I had purchased, but they just don’t seem to be happening. Just to encourage myself to review things I have collected over these months, I am going on a no buy till April 30, 2012. What is excluded from this no-buy:

  1. Skin care, obviously.
  2. Mascara
  3. PR samples
  4. Gifts

Link Love | Jan 28

Lisamarie from Beauty Crazed thinks size does matter and tests out her theory with Maybelline Illegal Length Fiber Extensions Mascara – check out her results and see if you agree!

My Funny Valentine is proud to present…A vain person’s guide to water sports: how to waterproof your makeup and deal with chlorine.

Nail bling strikes again! Musicalhouses shows you her silver and blue nail art with pearls and hearts!

At Lipstick Musings, Shannon embarks on her first-ever fragrance review with the all-natural artistry of Aftelier Perfume’s Cepes and Tuberose.

With the BB cream craze in full swing, Rae takes a moment at theNotice to review (and swatch) the much-hyped Marcelle BB Cream. Find out it if this new wonder-product is all it’s talked up to be!

New year calls for new product launches! Miss Beauty Nerd tests out Maybelline’s newest – their SuperStay Lip Colors and EyeStudio Color Tattoos.

Beauty In The Mirror has been reviewing the very popular OCC Lip Tars. Pop over for some great pictures and advice.

Kajal Couture shares her tips on preventing eyeshadow fallout.

Prime Beauty is dreaming of spring with the Nordstrom Exclusive Dior Garden Party Milly Garden Clutch.

Looking for some double duty beauty products? Check out Krasey Beauty’s recs!

Kimberly at Kimmie Karma Love shows her New Years Eve makeup and the day after pictures!

Phyrra presents a variety of lovely lipsticks and pigmented lipglosses from Morgana Cryptoria.

Tracy at Beauty Reflections has a new PRECIOUS called Guerlain Cruel Gardenia Meteorites.

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Join Anita in celebrating reaching 400 followers and win yourself a gorgeous Accessorize Eyeshadow Palette!

Review | Lancome Les Yeux Doux Vert Tendresse

Lancome Les Yeux Doux Vert Tendresse ($54 Cdn) is an eyeshadow quad from  Lancome’s Spring 2012 Roseraie Les Delices collection.   It consists of four gorgeous, pastel green eyeshadows. My initial impression of this was, it is pretty but will I be able to carry this off? Well, sure enough, I am able to carry this off. The shades are mainly pastel-like in tone, but have a slight jewel toned finish so they don’t end up awkward on someone like me who has warm undertones in my skin.

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Favorites | Products I reach out for the most.

There are products we just love; regardless of what xyz person may feel about them, but they are holy-grail for us and we use them the most. I have been more or less a minimalist ever since I moved to Vancouver for post graduate. Independence comes with responsibility and that leaves you for very little time to pretty yourself. My favorite basics include LUSH Bubblegum Lip Scrub which is perfect to perfecting that pout. My lips are almost always dry, nearing death and it is my favorite thing to revive them with and tastes nom-nom-nom to boot. I also love Tweezerman’s slanted tweezers, they are the #1 beauty tool for me. If there is a beauty holy book in the world, I am sure this thing has made a name for itself in chapter one. Unruly brows, womanstache, gross chin hair – good bye, au revoir, ciao! MAC Hug Me Lipstick is the perfect everyday lipstick for me, it is a nude, but a very natural one and adds just a bit of gloss and warmth on your lips. Another favorite is MAC Mocha Lipstick, but they are both along the same lines, only Mocha is a tad deeper. I am also loving MAC Smolder Eye Kohl, well I have been for the longest time. It is one of the smoothest, darkest black eyeliner which is perfect for tight-lining. It smudges though, so if you are not into that, you may not love it as much as I do. MAC Peachykeen Blush is a big winner for me, I don’t really see that blush’s name popped up in the blogosphere, but it truly is an underrated one. Medium skin-tones, take notice because this one is fantabulous for any day, anytime, anywhere. Benefit Posietint gives the perfect pink pout, even if you have pigmented lips, I love mine to death. Only recently, I discovered my love for The Body Shop Body Butters, they are fantastic to hydrate dry skin with. I rediscovered my Dior DiorSkin Forever Compact Flawless & Moist Extreme Wear Foundation (it is a powder), I have hit pan on it and am about to finish it, I am so excited because it will be the first product in months years that I would finish. It is absolutely flawless and I will repurchase it because it gives me very natural skin and matches my skintone to a t. Last but not the least, Benefit Girl Meets Pearl is the best highlighter in the universe.

What have you been loving since forever? 

Review | MAC Goldmine Eyeshadow

MAC Goldmine Eyeshadow ($18/ $14 for refill*) is an intense gold with shimmer with a frost finish. It is a stunning all weather turmeric sort of gold. It pairs beautifully with pretty much every colour under the sun. My favourites to pair this with is greens, namely, Juxt, Humid and Lucky Green. It also pairs well with red based browns such as Sable. If you are pretty much a minimalist, fear not, because it look stunning just as an all over lid colour with simple winged out eyeliner. If you already have a gold you love, then this is not a must have. Overall, it is a nice gold eyeshadow, but if you have another that you are absolutely in love with, skip.

Rating: B

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Review | Batiste Dry Shampoo

Batiste Dry Shampoo ($8.99 Cdn for full size product) is a wonderful product to have in your purse/gym bag/pretty much anywhere on the go. My roots get greasy nearly the day after I wash my hair, I think it comes from living in a centrally heated environment. Well whatever the reason maybe, until a few months ago, I could not go without washing my hair every other day. Thanks to the miracle that is dry shampoo, I can change that. Come to picture, Batiste Dry Shampoo, I no longer have a greasy roots post 48 hours after washing my hair. It comes in a spray nozzle which releases a great smelling powder for your roots.

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Review | Benefit Hervana Face Powder

You know, I’ll be honest, when I first saw Benefit Hervana Face Powder ($36 Cdn), I thought to myself that it would just not work with my skin-tone. I thought it was more or less a dupe of Sugarbomb, which I love but have to admit, is very sheer on me. Who wants another sheer blush, you know? Boy, was I wrong! Benefit Hervana is different and quite workable on my skin-tone, too. For reference, I have medium skin-tone with a mix of red and olive undertones. I also had another prejudice, that it would be kind of blah. Well, I am more than pleased to announce that I was wrong on all accounts.

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Link Love | Jan 14

At Musing on Beauty, Mariella gives Japanese brand Suqqu a try with their Reset Cleansing Oil.

At long last, BB creams are (finally!) hitting it big in North America. Check out theNotice’s BB cream coverage, which has only just begun.

polish insomniac shows us how to make a difficult polish look good!

The Pink Sith has FINALLY finished her quest for the elusive L’Oreal Infallible Eye Shadows! Read about the colors she got and see what she thinks!

Have old dried out nail polish strips and don’t know what to do with them? Musicalhouses shows you how to save your dried out nail polish strips!

Miss Beauty Nerd loves nude colours, especially ones by Bobbi Brown. Currently, she’s coveting the Bobbi Brown Nude on Nude Eye Palette!

Check out Jenn from Spiced Beauty’s current obsession from Sleek makeup.

Phyrra shows you the latest lip product she’s been lusting after, new Fyrinnae Lip Lustres.

Looking for a full coverage foundation that doesn’t feel like a full coverage foundation? Gouldylox Reviews checks out this one from Tarte and puts it’s lofty time promises to the test!

My Lips But Better learns the hard way Tweezerman’s nail files aren’t nearly as good as their tweezers.

Wishing for Spring like Tracy at Beauty Reflections is? Then take a look at the new Lise Watier Aquarella Spring 2012 Eyeshadow Palette.

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Beauty Crazed is giving away a giant pile of makeup to celebrate the new year! Come enter and decide for yourself just how crazed they really are!

FOTD | Is it spring yet?

Is it Spring yet, seriously? I just want to forget my red’s and move on to other bright hues, ya know? In the beauty blogosphere, at least, we are well immersed into the spring collections, so we will pretend it is ok, y’all!

Like what you see that’s on my face? Well then for the breakdown, you gotta keep reading.

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