Look of the Day: Metallic Succubus

Hi, everyone! Surprise, surprise- another Look of the Day! And one with quite the dramatic title! I love the look of metallics on the eyes and today's look took that turn somewhat accidentally. I had planned on a smokey bronze look highlighting a new goody in my collection, Josie Maran Coconut Watercolour Eye Shadow in Bora Bora Bronze. I started off on that route, and then I pulled out the amazing Marc Jacobs The Siren Eye-Con palette and the rest was metallic makeup history! As for the "succubus" element, that has everything to do with my blood red lips. But more on that in a moment...

Let's start with the lips. I was at the Illamasqua counter a few weeks ago and made a beeline for the lip gloss section. I rarely gravitate towards glosses, but I spotted a couple shades that I'd seen bloggers rave about and I knew I had to try one! Given my lipstick ban, I had to get a bit creative. So I went ahead and asked for a sample. Yes, only I would ask for a sample of lip gloss! The sales associate, with a cheery determinism, diligently scooped some gloss into a jar and I left happily with my new treat! I opted for Succubus a slightly cool-toned bold red with a seriously awesome name. For this look, I blotted it down (as to not overpower the eyes) and paired it with one of my favourite soft, shimmery blushes, MAC Mineralize Blush in Dainty. 

For the eyes, I started with Bora Bora Bronze, applying it to the outer half of my lid, blending it outward and upward towards the crease. I also added a gentle touch of it along the outer portion of my lower lash line, to smoke things up just a bit. I then popped some of the metallic orange bronze shade from The Siren palette on the centre of my lid- I was instantly dazzled by the effect! It layered wonderfully over top of the liquid eye shadow, so I kept going! I popped some of the orange shade along the lower lash line as well. I tried to make the look pop while sticking with the metallic theme, so I packed on some of the reflective lemon yellow shade from The Siren on the inner third of my lid and the inner corners of the eye. I created definition courtesy of my favourite liquid liner, Revlon ColourStay Liquid Eye Pen in Blackest Black and lushed up my lashes with two coats of BeneFit They're Real!

Here are some closeups of the finished eye look, followed by a full list of everything I used! 

The Breakdown:

Primer: Laura Mercier Oil-Free Foundation Primer 
Foundation: Revlon ColourStay Liquid Makeup (Combination/Oily Formula) in Buff
Concealer: Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place High Cover Concealer in W1
Powder: Revlon ColourStay Pressed Powder in Light (on t-zone) and Revlon Nearly Naked Pressed Powder in Light (lightly all over)
Bronzer: The Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder in Fair Matte
Blush: MAC Mineralize Blush in Dainty


Brows: Maybelline Define-A-Brow in Dark Blonde
Primer: Urban Decay Primer Potion Original Formula
Eye Shadows: Josie Maran Coconut Watercolour Eye Shadow in Bora Bora Bronze (as a base on the outer two thirds of the lid, blended outward and upward toward the crease) and from the Marc Jacobs The Siren Eye-Con palette, the bronzy orange shade (packed heavily in the centre of the lid and on the lower lash line), the lemon yellow shade (applied heavily to the inner third of the eye and inner corners) and the white shade (applied to the brow bone)
Eyeliner: Revlon ColourStay Liquid Eye Pen in Blackest Black (along upper lash line, winged out) and Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Liner in Nude (on lower waterline)
Mascara: BeneFit They're Real!

Lips: Illamasqua Intense Lip Gloss in Succubus (blotted down)


And a few more shots of the look: 

I have to say that this was one of my favourite makeup looks ever! I know that's saying a lot, but I really love metallics and don't play with them nearly often enough! Once I finished the eye makeup, it reminded me of a stunning look that Lauren Luke created in this video, inspired by the Roberto Cavalli runway. Some true subconscious inspiration! As for my version, Bora Bora Bronze really is a stunning shimmery (ultra long-wearing!) bronze shadow and I'm so pleased with how much use I'm getting out of my rainbow-coloured The Siren palette. I'm reaching for it every weekend! And just a moment for Succubus- I had zero complaints about this bold gloss. From the texture to the shade- it was perfection!

Do you like playing with metallics? Any favourite red glosses?

Thanks for stopping by :)

Look of the Day: Limes and Popsicles

Hi, everyone! Today's post is all about a recent makeup look that channels summery hues of sweets and citrus. Neon, lime-coloured eyes and cherry pink popsicle lips. I found it to be a perfect way to play with colour without piling on too much makeup in the summer heat. Plus, I got to play with a new favourite and a longtime staple- products I'm excited to feature here!

For this summery look, I subtly bronzed up my skin with the incredible Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzer in Fair Matte and added a pop of candy colour to my cheeks with my much-used Sleek Blush in Flamingo. On the lips, the aim was to create a fresh, cherry popsicle-stained effect. A "who me? I just indulged in a refreshing treat, no lipstick at all!" sort of look. But using lipstick :) I created a stain with the help of my favourite fuchsia lipstick, MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Lickable (an appropriate popsicle related shade, no?). I dabbed a bit of Lickable lightly on the lips, blotted, and repeated. I found that it left the perfect amount of colour without a thick texture, which works well on a hot day!

The "lime" aspect of this look comes courtesy of my brand-new Make Up For Ever Aqua Matic in Iridescent Lime Green, a vibrant waterproof number. After subtly evening out and sculpting my lids via some neutral shadows, I applied a generous swipe of the Aqua Matic just above my natural lash line, winging it out slightly. Then, for some extra definition, I created a thin line of MAC Pearlglide Intense Eye Liner in Black Line to mirror the Iridescent Lime Green. I finished with a quick coat of mascara and voila! A high-impact eye look with minimal product!

Here are some closeups of the final eye look, followed by a full breakdown of everything I used:

The Breakdown:

Primer: Laura Mercier Oil-Free Foundation Primer
Foundation: Revlon ColourStay Foundation (Combination/Oily formula) in Buff
Concealer: Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer Stay-in-Place High Cover Concealer in W1
Powder: Revlon ColourStay Pressed Powder in Light (on t-zone) and Revlon Nearly Naked Pressed Powder in Light (all over)
Bronzer: The Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder in Fair Matte
Blush: Sleek powder blush in Flamingo
Highlighter: BeneFit Watt's Up (on cheekbones and down bridge of nose)

Brows: Maybelline Define-A-Brow in Dark Blonde
Primer: Urban Decay Primer Potion Original Formula
Eye Shadows: (from the Urban Decay Shattered Face Case): A mix of Minor Sin and Bleach (blended from lashline to brow bone and on inner corners) and Shakedown (applied lightly in the crease)
Eyeliner: Make Up For Ever Aqua Matic in Iridescent Lime Green (applied in a thick line just above my natural lash line and winged out) and MAC Pearlglide Intense Eyeliner in Black Line (applied thinly along my upper lash line)
Mascara: BeneFit They're Real!

Lips: MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Lickable

And a few more shots of the look: 

I had so much fun with this look! It was a perfect way to let the Aqua Matic in Iridescent Lime Green shine without too much drama. Neons really can be wearable, people! Plus, as someone with ultra pale lips, I always enjoy creating a stain that gives my pout a cherry-stained blush. Lickable really was a spot-on shade for the job! 

Is this a look that you would try? What are your favourite summer eye/lip combos?

Thanks for reading! xo

Two New Unusual Summer Shadows!

Hi, everyone! Not only has summertime reignited my passion for bold colours, it has also piqued my curiosity about new and interesting makeup formulas. Today's post is all about two new eye shadows that aren't your run of the mill in terms of shade, texture, and packaging!

The two shadows I'm bringing you today are the Josie Maran Coconut Watercolour Eye Shadow in Bora Bora Bronze and Make Up For Ever's Aqua Matic in Iridescent Lime Green I-30. I find both to be super unique, ultra gorgeous, and quite perfect for summer!

If you've been reading the blog lately, you'll know that I fell head over heels for the Josie Maran Coconut Watercolour Eye Shadow in Playa del Pink. Given how well it impressed me, it was inevitable that I'd snag another shade from the range. Housed in a small glass bottle with a doe-foot applicator lid, Bora Bora Bronze is a hydrating fluid shadow that looks much like liquid metal. It's a gorgeous warm shimmery bronze with a slight hint of purple. The colour caught my eye immediately (I love my shimmery neutrals!) and I can imagine this instantly becoming a summer staple.

Make Up For Ever is one of the first-ever high-end brands that caught my attention. I had been seriously ignoring them of late- shame on me! It was one of their newest offerings, the Aqua Matic shadow pencils that called me back. I'd heard countless raves about the pigmentation and ultra long wear of these eye colours, and it was Iridescent Lime Green that spoke to me particularly. It's an intense, essentially neon lime yellow with a subtle reflective sheen. A practical colour? Heck no! Tons of fun? Absolutely!

Here are some swatches of the shadows:

Make Up For Ever Aquamatic in Iridescent Lime Green I-30

Josie Maran Coconut Watercolour Eye Shadow in Bora Bora Bronze

As you can see, both of these shadows are beautifully pigmented and absolutely lovely! Both embody the warm summer months impeccably and offer formulas that aim to withstand the heat an humidity that come with the territory. I'm so eager to give them both a go- look out for some makeup looks featuring them soon!

Have you tried the Josie Maran Coconut Watercolour Eye Shadows or Make Up For Ever Aqua Matics? What makeup products are your summer staples at the moment?

Thanks for reading, and have a wonderful weekend! xo

Look of the Day: Tropical Monsoon

Hi, everyone! It seems like all I've been posting lately is makeup looks- sorry if y'all are tired of my face! It's just that I've accrued some beautiful products over the past several weeks and have been so eager to show them off. Consistent with my warm-weather driven obsession with vivid colours, today's look is all about marine-inspired hues of gold, green, and blue. The look was essentially born out of my desire to play with my new ARTDECO Miami Collection goodies, as I'd been so impressed with my first go with them. From there, I dabbled with my Marc Jacobs Style Eye-Con The Siren palette and the rest was history!

Given that the eyes  in this look are fairly bold, I opted for fresh, but neutral lips and cheeks. For blush, I layered NARS Deep Throat (my favourite shimmery pinky peach) over Laura Mercier Oleander (a cool pink cream blush) for a healthy glow. I also warmed up my complexion with the lovely Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder in Fair Matte which, without fail, warms up the complexion without ever looking orange or artificial. On the lips, I layered my longstanding favourite nearly-nude shade, YSL Glossy Stain in Beige Anarchist. 

I started the eye look with an even layer of ARTDECO Waterproof Long-Lasting Eye Shadow Stick in Tropical Monsoon, a gorgeous seafoam green. I then grabbed my Marc Jacobs the Siren palette, sweeping the minty green shade all over the lid and applying the deep teal shade on the crease and outer corner for definition. I popped some of the golden yellow shade from the palette in the center of the lid, just above the crease, and on the inner corners of the eye to boost brightness, and finished things off with a touch of the shimmery white shade on the brow bone. For liner, I opted for the stunningly beautiful and easy-to-use ARTDECO All in One Liquid Liner in Sea Port, winging it out slightly. Then a couple coats of BeneFit They're Real! and the look was done!

Here's a closeup of the finished eye makeup:

One more smoldering look from me, then a full list of everything that went into the look! ;)

The Breakdown:

Primer: Laura Mercier Oil-Free Foundation Primer 
Foundation: Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Full Coverage Foundation in Ivory
Concealer: Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer Stay-in-Place High Cover Concealer in W1
Powder: Revlon ColourStay Pressed Powder in Light (on t-zone) and Revlon Nearly Naked Pressed Powder in Light (all over)
Bronzer: The Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder in Fair Matte
Blush: Laura Mercier Creme Cheek Colour in Oleander in topped with NARS Deep Throat
Highlighter: BeneFit Watt's Up (on cheekbones and down bridge of nose)

Brows: Maybelline Define-A-Brow in Dark Blonde
Primer: Urban Decay Primer Potion Original Formula
Eye Shadows: ARTDECO Waterproof Long-Lasting Eyeshadow Stick in Tropical Monsoon (as a base, all over lid, blended up to crease and underneath lower lash line) and the white, gold, seafoam, and deep teal shades from the Marc Jacobs Style Eye-Con The Siren palette
Eyeliner: ARTDECO All in One Liquid Liner in Sea Port
Mascara: BeneFit They're Real!

Lips: YSL Glossy Stain in Beige Anarchist


And a few more shots of the look:

Overall, I found this look to be a fun way to play with colour (blue, nonetheless!) while still keeping things quite fresh and wearable. I felt rather tropical and not the least bit clown-like, so I guess I did it right! ;) I continue to be thoroughly impressed with both the ARTDECO and Marc Jacobs goodies highlighted here and am sure they'll persist in being summer staples!

Do you ever reach for blue or green eye makeup? What makeup goodies make you feel summery and tropical?

Thanks for reading! xo

Currently Obsessed: Coastal Scents 10 Blush Palette

Hi, everyone! So this is my second "Currently Obsessed" post in as many weeks- I've been lucky enough to stumble across some truly top-notch products of late! Last month I stopped by the FTB Beauty Pop-Up Shop and picked up a few treasures. Among them was one of the best bargain items I've discovered in some time! The Coastal Scents 10 Blush Palette features ten pigmented blushes in one sleek package. Even though my stash was far from lacking in blushes, I ultimately snagged this because each and every shade in the palette looked absolutely beautiful and like something I would wear gladly. Plus, it cost a mere $16.99 CAD, which adds up to less than $2 per colour. Truly a blush- and budget-fiend's dream!

The palette is boxed in an ultra pretty cardboard package with a vibrant multi-coloured design on the front.

The palette itself is basic and no-frills: a slightly reflective black case that's as slim as possible give that it houses ten shades. It tends to fingerprint easily, but this isn't such a problem for me, especially given the price!

The back of the box gives a sneak preview of the shades inside the palette and- ta da!- beneath are the lovely blushes!

As you can see, the blushes come in circular pans that are about three-quarters the size of a MAC blush. 

As for the shades included, here are my best descriptions (and shade comparisons):

Top Row:
1) a neutral dusty rose with plummy undertones (like a slightly lighter NARS Sin) 
2) a warm yellow peach (similar to Illamasqua Lover)
3) a cool candy pink with silver shimmer (like NARS Angelika) 
4) a warm, tawny coral (like a slightly deeper MAC Modern Mandarin)
5) a warm tan plum (like a deeper MAC Margin)

Bottom Row:
6) a neutral to cool baby pink (similar to NARS Desire)
7) a golden nude (similar to MAC Sunbasque) 
8) a warm matte coral-tinged pink (close to NARS Amour)
9) an ultra-cool fuchsia (similar to MAC Full Fuchsia) 
10) a warm bronzy brown (like a slightly more orange-toned NARS Laguna)

Here are swatches of the shades (same placement as in the palette) on my inner arm (MAC NC15 skin tone):

Coastal Scents 10 Blush Palette under artificial light

Coastal Scents 10 Blush Palette under natural sunlight

And now onto the pros and cons!

Pros:

• Perfect mix of warm and cool tones
• Extremely pigmented shades- a little goes a very long way!
• Incredibly soft- these blend like a dream!
• Long-wearing formula really stays put all day long (even in this steamy summer heat)
• None of the shades features over-the-top shimmer or glitter. No disco ball cheeks here!
• These shades should be flattering on most skin tones, with the exceptions of extremely fair or deep complexions
• Sleek, compact packaging
• At only $17 CAD, this is an amazing value!

Cons:

• The texture of these aren't as elegant and finely-milled as more expensive blushes, so it's difficult to achieve a super-sheer application
• Plastic packaging perhaps not the most durable and gets dirty quite easily
• This palette would really benefit from a mirror!

So there you go- one of my best budget buys of all time! I think I've worn 7 or 8 of these blushes so far and I can confidently say that I've been thoroughly impressed which each and every one. They blend like a dream, are vibrant without looking clown-like, and have lasted on my cheeks even on the steamiest of days. At less than $2 a pop, the quality is truly top-notch! I'm so happy I picked this up and can't wait to try more from from the brand. 

Have you tried anything from Coastal Scents? Would a palette like this melt your heart like it did mine? What are your favourite budget blushes?

Thanks for stopping by! xo

Tropical Eyes with the ARTDECO Miami Collection!

Hi, everyone! In the spirit of my recent enthusiasm for cheery summer colour, I bring to you my newest beauty editions- three tropically-hued goodies from ARTDECO*! The ARTDECO Miami Collection is all about saturated, playful, beachy shades of long-wearing colour that stand up to the summer heat. The brand was kind enough to send me a few highlights from the collection (thank you!) and yesterday I got to have a proper play with them!

The three products sent my way were all about eyes. I received two Waterproof Long-Lasting Eyeshadow Sticks* (which I'd heard raves about from the Canadian Beauty Blogger gals) and an All in One Liquid Liner*. All of them are sleekly packaged with reflective black finishes, silver touches, and metallic, colourful highlights.

The Waterproof Long-Lasting Eyeshadow Sticks* come in my much-loved chubby pencil format with metallic caps that match the shade inside and a handy twist-up bottom. The shades I received were American Girl (an icy, pale pink with silvery shimmer) and Tropical Monsoon (a complex seafoam green with gold shimmer). They both have lovely creamy textures that blend effortlessly and stay put. It is possible to overdo it by applying too much (which I might have done, oops!), but with a sheer layer these offer great pigmentation and a smooth finish.

The All in One Liquid Liner* comes in a thin black tube and features a firm, but semi-flexible felt-tipped applicator. We all know felt-tipped liquid liners are my favourite and I must say that this one was an absolute breeze to use! It created an effortless cat-eye shape and, once applied, this really stayed put! Even more so than the shadow sticks, this needed some extra determination to remove! The shade I received was Sea Port, a warm, shimmery navy.

Here are swatches of the three products on my inner arm (MAC NC15 skin tone):

(L-R): ARTDECO All in One Liquid Liner in Sea Port and Waterproof Long-Lasting Eyeshadow Sticks in Tropical Monsoon and American Girl

And here's an eye look I created with these lovely, summery goodies. I applied American Girl all over the lid and on my brow bones and inner corners of the eye as a highlight. I then used Tropical Monsoon on the outer corners of the eye, a touch above the crease, and on the outer half of the lower lash line. I finished things off with a swish of Sea Port to create a winged liner effect. I also added a touch of neutral brown shadow in the crease for extra definition.

And in the context of a completed makeup look:

Overall, I am really happy with all three of these summery offerings. I don't get to play with pastels nearly often enough, so both of the eye shadow sticks are a great excuse! I'm especially smitten with the nautical, multifaceted finish of Tropical Monsoon-so ultra pretty! And the All in One Liquid Liner really is tops in my books. Not only is Sea Port a gorgeous, wearable blue, the applicator made creating a cat-eye rather effortless and the formula didn't even think of budging all day. Colour me impressed!

Thanks again to ARTDECO for sending these Miami Collection goodies my way. It's definitely helped me to channel my summery feelings and left me curious to try more from the brand!

Have you tried anything from ARTDECO? What are your favourite summery hues at the moment? Thanks for reading!


*These products were sent to me by ARTDECO for the purpose of review. All opinions are authentically my own.

Look of the Day: Hot and Cold

Happy Friday, everyone! Three cheers for the weekend! It's just been one of those weeks... Time for some much-needed respite. In terms of today's makeup, leave it to me to turn an eye-focused look into one that highlights a statement lip at the last minute. Sometimes I just can't help myself! The end result was one of my favourite ways to play with contrasts in makeup- a warm, sultry eye paired with a vivid, cool-toned lip. Perfectly summery, if I do say so myself!

Cue the dramatic, smoldering expression...

The look started out as on homage to a brand new MAC eye shadow in my stash. Antiqued is a stunning warm reddish, coppery brown that has instantly taken a front seat in my summer makeup rotation. I paired it here with some of my favourite warm-toned MAC shadows and they all worked so nicely together! I started by applying Motif all over the lid, blending up to the crease. I then added a healthy dose of Antiqued to the crease for added warmth and definition and popped some of Bronze on the outer corners. I added some extra dazzle by packing Amber Lights to the centre of my lid and brightened things up with touches of Ricepaper on the inner corners and brow bones. I also added some Antiqued to the outer half of my lower lash line, to subtly smoke things up. 

Here's a close-up of all of these warm MAC shadows working in unison:

I had originally planned on an ultra-neutral lip, but then I looked inside my makeup bag and thought "colour!". I contrasted the ultra warm eye look with my favourite cool-toned fuchsia lipstick, NARS Schiap. A true classic! The matte texture of Schiap also contrasted nicely with the super shimmery finish of the eye shadows. Another example of opposite attraction! I finished things off with a mix of warm and cool-toned blushes, Clinique Cheek Pop in Ginger Pop and Urban Decay Blush in Temper.

And for a full list of everything that went into this look:

The Breakdown:

Primer: Laura Mercier Oil-Free Foundation Primer 
Foundation: Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Full Coverage Foundation in Ivory
Concealer: Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer Stay-in-Place High Cover Concealer in W1
Powder: Revlon ColourStay Pressed Powder in Light (on t-zone) and Revlon Nearly Naked Pressed Powder in Light (all over)
Bronzer: The Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder in Fair Matte
Blush: Clinique Cheek Pop in Ginger Pop layered with Urban Decay Blush in Temper (from the Shattered Face Case)
Highlighter: BeneFit Watt's Up (on cheekbones and down bridge of nose)

Brows: Maybelline Define-A-Brow in Dark Blonde
Primer: Urban Decay Primer Potion Original Formula
Eye Shadows: (All from MAC): Motif (on inner third of the lid), Amber Lights (on centre of the lid, blended up and out), Antiqued (on the crease), Bronze (on outer corner of the eye), and Ricepaper (as a highlight on inner corners and brow bones)
Eyeliner: Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Pencil in Bourbon
Mascara: BeneFit They're Real!

Lips: NARS Semi-Matte Lipstick in Schiap

And a few more shots of the look:

Sometimes my favourite looks are those that don't end up as planned. Those that pair shades that intuitively shouldn't harmonize. And those that involve a vibrant fuchsia lip! Antiqued and Schiap will undoubtedly reign as heavy favourites as summertime marches on; they are both perfect warm weather companions!

Do you ever have fun contrasting warm and cool tones? What are your go-to summer staples at the moment?

Have a wonderful weekend! xo