February Favourites!

Hi, everyone! This has been one of the busier months on record (i.e., dissertation hell), but I still managed to get good use out of several makeup and skin care products in February. Many of my January Faves were still staples in my routine, but I didn't want to bore you by doubling things up. So I rounded up a fresh bunch of goodies that I have totally been digging in February!

Shu Uemura UV Under Base Mousse SPF 30 PA+++
This used to be a staple of mine, but I'd been using some other pretty great primers for the past couple of years. I received this in swap recently and instantly remembered why this is amazing stuff. Unique foam texture, high SPF, and imparts a lovely glow with subtle coverage.

By Terry Cover-Expert Perfecting Fluid Foundation in 01 Fair Beige
After finishing up a tub of ColourStay Whipped Creme, I dug this out of my makeup reserves and am so glad I did! This provides amazing coverage and longwearing colour without looking too flat or powdery. Perhaps the most elegant matte-finish foundation I've tried!

The Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder 02 Fair Matte
Even though we're still in the death grip of the winter cold, I've been more motivated lately to pretend it's Spring and add a touch of warmth to my complexion. This is my all-time favourite matte, natural bronzer. Plus, the packaging is so fun to look at! Check out my review, here! 

Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Red Dahlia
These are some of the best tinted balms out there! Super hydrating, and decent colour payoff, with a nice fruity scent. Red Dahlia looks ultra dark in the bullet, but provides a gorgeous sheer berry wash on my lips.

BeneFit They're Real! Mascara
This freezing cold and blustery wind make my eyes water like crazy, so I've been opting for waterproof eye products on the regular. In addition to providing amazing volume, this old fave of mine is also totally budge-proof. No wintry raccoon eyes here!

Revlon ColourBurst Lip Butter in Fig Jam
This is a totally underrated shade in the Lip Butter family. It's a lovely brown-tinged berry that can be worn sheer or layered for a fuller-on look. Either way, it makes my lips look lush and hydrated!

RMS Living Luminizer
We all know that I've been properly obsessed with organic skin care and makeup lately. Throughout February, I brought this amazing highlighter back into my rotation. It gives the complexion an amazing natural glow without any noticeable shimmer or glitter. Plus, it's loaded with coconut oil!

Make Up For Ever Artist Shadows in ME512, ME612, ME624
I raved about these shadows here and am still loving the heck out of them. These three metallic-finish shades work perfectly to create a bold, yet perfectly neutral eye look. Ultra pigmented and they truly wear all day! 

Chanel Les Quatres Ombres Multi-Effect Quadra Eye Shadow in Tisse Fantaisie
This was part of my February Makeup of the Month and I'm so happy I picked it! This palette is surprisingly versatile and so perfect for the Spring that I'm hoping emerges so, so soon! The ivory and bronze shades are ideal for an everyday neutral look and the coral and green shades are lovely pops of colour. 

The Body Shop Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter
The best budget makeup remover on the market! There, I said it. This removes all of my long-wearing foundation and mascara with ease, has a rich, yet non-greasy texture, and has never broken me out. Zero complaints. Use it nightly. 

Aromacentric Citrus Cheer Not Just Body Lotion
I bought this at the Green + Good Pop-Up in the Spring and have been reaching for it often during the past month. It's uplifting citrus scent is the perfect antidote for the winter blahs. It hydrates amazingly well without a greasy after-feel. Can't wait to try more from this brand!

Living Libations Seabuckthorn Best Skin Ever**
I had been super curious about this brand and they were generous enough to send me this bottle of goodness- their best-selling product! This elegant, potent oil really does it all. Cleanses, tones, and hydrates via a thoughtful blend of natural ingredients. My skin has really been liking it!

Odacite Black Cumin-Cajeput Serum Concentrate (for Pimples)
This oil smells like herbs and spices and has really been cutting down the lifespan of my breakouts! I apply it as a spot-treatment every other evening and this gets the job done without causing any dryness or redness. Very good stuff! 

Odacite Baobab-Sarsaparilla Serum Concentrate (for Eye Contour)
I received this as a free gift via Cult Beauty and it's the most unique eye product I've used. This plant-based oil smells wonderfully comforting and instantly plumps my emerging fine lines. I apply a small amount under my eye cream each night and wake looking refreshed.

Lush Honey Trap Lip Balm

This is the only lip balm that has been keeping my crazy chapped lips in check this winter. It smells of sweet honey, is deliciously rich, and hydrates like no other balm I've tried. A true gem!

So there you have it! The makeup and skin care that has been floating my boat in February. Hope I've tempted you with something that you'll love as well! 

What have you been loving this month??

**This product was sent to me for consideration and review. All expressed opinions are authentic and totally my own!

Vibrant Beauty Blog has a New Look!

Hi, everyone! A quick post today to share my excitement that Vibrant Beauty Blog has had a makeover! When considering next steps for the blog, a redesign had been at the top of my list for ages. Problem was, I'm rather clueless when it comes to html and the like, so things remained stagnant. Last week, I was contacted by the lovely Jenna of Northern Beauty, who generously offered to create a new header and social media buttons for me and to guide me through the process of streamlining and modernizing the look of the site. The collaboration was a pleasure and I'm so, so happy with the end result!  

If you like what you see, head on over to Jenna's Blog Services page, where she outlines all the skills she has to offer. She's really great at what she does and is a joy to work with. She put up with my perfectionistic tendencies with grace and patience, which was so greatly appreciated. I totally recommend checking her out! 

What do you think of the new redesign and layout?

Thanks so much for stopping by! And thanks again to Jenna for making this possible! 

Oscars Makeup Faves + Vote for my next Tutorial!

Hi, everyone! It's time for my annual Oscars makeup roundup where I get to share my favourite beauty looks from the night and then you get to vote for which look you'd like me to re-create in an upcoming tutorial. I always have so much fun with this, so would love to hear your thoughts!

There were a lot of super soft, uber-natural looks on the red carpet last night, which aren't always my favourite, but I've highlighted the ladies who rocked the fresh-faced makeup look the best. I also included some of the lovely actresses who made bolder, more expressive choices. We all know that I'll stand behind a vibrant, glamorous makeup look all day, every day! 

Let's get to it:

1) Naomi Watts

This is an actress that often graces my 'best of' lists and this time was no exception! I absolutely loved her lush lashes, deep plummy lips, warm rosy cheeks, and wavy hair. 

2) Julianne Moore

Julianne Moore is such a classic beauty and she looked so radiant last night! Her bronze liner, sheer rosy cheeks and lips, and dramatic lashes were ultra flattering! 

3) Lupita Nyong'o

Lupita is another regular on my awards show makeup lists. She is always radiant and never afraid to play with colour! Her icy blue eye shadow, luminous skin, and warm, tawny lips were fabulous!

4) Rosamund Pike

Rosamund Pike was one of those ladies who completely rocked a nearly bare-faced look. Her skin was radiant and the sheer rosy brown lipstick and shadow were ultra elegant. 

5) Felicity Jones

Another trend I noticed on the red carpet was a major mod movement. Felicity Jones sported the look perfectly- with soft, sultry black liner and a luscious peachy lip.

6) Margot Robbie

I will never deny a classic pinup look its spot in the limelight! Margot Robbie looked quite stunning while channeling her inner Marilyn. Love those sculpted red lips and soft, smokey bedroom eyes.

7) Cate Blanchett

Yet another regular customer on my lists, Cate Blanchett is always a vision. Last night she sported soft pinky peach cheeks and lips with a subtle bronze eye. The shades (and that amazing necklace) really made her eyes pop!

8) Ava Duvernay

Finally, a serious smoky eye! This vivacious Selma star looked incredible with her bold sultry eyes, bronzed cheeks, and lush, rosy lips. Totally fierce!


Ok, so now it's up to you! 
Which of these looks would you like me to re-create in my next tutorial?? 
Which look was your favourite?

Also, you'll notice that the blog has had a bit of a makeover! Once the updates are finalized, I will share with you the lovely blogger who made this transition possible :)

Thanks for stopping by! xo

Quickie Product Review: Yaby Pearl Paints

Hi, everyone! Apologies for the "quickie" posts lately- I'm in serious a dissertation crunch and don't have quite the time allotment for the fuller reviews I like to share. But given that blogging keeps me sane, I wanted to continue with posting nonetheless. Hope you're finding the more concise reviews to be just as helpful!

I've sported an eye look in my past two blog posts that many of you have been asking about. What was I wearing on my eyes here and here? It's none other than these amazing little Yaby Pearl Paints!

Yaby is a Canadian makeup artist-driven brand that I originally heard about via the lovely artist who did my cousin's wedding hair and makeup. I was thrilled to spot the brand at IMATS this year, where my attention was quickly directed to their Pearl Paints. The makeup artist told me that these were the most shimmery, pigmented eye products they offered, so I was instantly intrigued! Yaby describes the Pearl Paints as powder shadows that feel as soft as a cream. They are designed to be extremely pigmented, waterproof, and to show up true-to-colour on film and camera. The line is also vegan and made with sturdy packaging for makeup artists on the go. 

Yes, they are ultra tiny. But given that they are ultra affordable ($3.85 each) and that I neeever finish full-sized shadows, I didn't mind one bit! In fact, this is exactly why Yaby designed all of their products this way. The smaller, compact size allows for makeup artists to carry so many more shades with them without having their kits bursting at the seams. Quite ingenious! 

You can purchase the Pearl Paints on their own (they are magnetic, so will fit into any open custom palette), or you can buy them alongside Yaby's custom, Stackable Set Palettes. The palettes are made of sturdy white plastic and are perfectly compact (5.3 x 5.4 cm). You can buy them in "free" form or with inserts suitable for housing 1-5 products (e.g., one blush or 5 shadows). The extra neat part is that the lid easily removes (see above photo), so that you can stack several layers on top of one another, and then secure the stack with the original lid. So essentially, you could have your go-to foundation, concealer, blush, brow colour, lip colour, and eye shadows all in once little cube palette. Very cool!

Please excuse the chipped black polish. How very goth of me!

I picked up five Pearl Paints at IMATS, so chose the corresponding 5-well palette to go with it. Here's what it looks like with all five products inserted:

Narrowing it down to five shades was incredibly difficult (so many striking, unique shades!), but the colours I ended up choosing were:

Summer Night- a cool, mid-tone sea blue with subtle turquoise shimmer
Sea Turtle- a pale-to-medium lime green with soft golden shimmer
Baby Sapphire- a pale icy blue with silver shimmer
Tamarind- a warm, mid-tone spicy brown with coppery shimmer, and 
Purple Iris- a warm magenta purple with soft blue-toned shimmer

I have to say that the cute shade names really are a fun touch! Here are all five shades swatched on my inner arm (MAC NC15 skin tone) without any primer underneath:

Yaby Pearl Paints in:
Summer Night, Sea Turtle
Baby Sapphire
Tamarind, Purple Iris

And here is a makeup look I created using all 5 of the Pearl Paints. Yes, it's the same look that I've worn in my last two Face Atelier reviews! I also featured this makeup in an IMATS-inspired Look of the Day back in November.

For this look, I applied Baby Sapphire to the inner third of my lid, blending it into Sea Turtle which I smoothed over the centre of my lid. For added definition, I applied Summer Night, the deeper blue, in the crease, and popped Tamarind on the outer corner of my eye. Finally, I buffed a small amount of Purple Iris along my lower lash line. And that's it! 

Well, I guess this didn't end up being too much of a "quickie" after all! If you couldn't tell already, I'm totally smitten with these little shadows! The shades are bold, unique, and pigmented and have a beautiful amount of shimmer that's flattering and not completely over the top. I love that they are tiny (and affordable to match), as it allows you to grow your collection without breaking the bank or busting your makeup drawers. I really can't wait to pick up more! If you're in Toronto, you can find Yaby at the Blur Makeup Room on Queen Street. I may be paying them a visit for my March purchase of the month! :)

Have you heard of Yaby? Do these shades appeal to you? What do you think of tiny, compact eye shadows like these?

Thanks for dropping by and have a wonderful weekend!

Quickie Review: Face Atelier Facade in Chameleon

Hi, everyone! If you saw my last post or any of my IMATS coverage from last year, you'll know that I discovered Face Atelier back in November and was instantly happy to get acquainted with the brand. In the process, I discovered their Facades, which are versatile lip and cheek products with quite the unique texture. Let's take a look! 

As with the Ultra Foundation, the Facades come in silver, cardboard packaging with white lettering and a complete ingredient listing: 

The product itself comes in a small, clear plastic tube with a silver cap and lettering. The applicator comes via a slanted, plastic tip. When I first spotted the Facades on the display, they looked like tiny lip glosses, and thus, didn't instantly pique my interest. When the makeup artist explained that they were potent little cheek and lip stains, I immediately zoned in! 

Face Atelier describes their Facades as a "one of a kind, silicone-based, gel-to-powder [product that] provides translucent, non-streaking, and crease-free buildable matte colour that sets with a natural, dewy glow" (from faceatelier.com). It promises to give cheeks a natural glow and to act as a water-resistant base for lipstick and gloss. The brand also touts that the Facades are heat- and sebum-resistant. Quite the tall order for this tiny little tube!

The Facades come in 4 stunning shades, but the hue I opted for was Chameleon, a bold cherry pink. When initially squeezed from the tube, it feels like a dense gel-cream, which, as you can see, is super pigmented! When blended out, however, it feels incredibly lightweight and smooth and does indeed take on a soft, matte, powdery finish. 

Here I am wearing Chameleon on my cheeks (over foundation) and lips. As you can see, the bold, full-on cherry hue blends out easily into a much more subtle candy pink. It looks incredibly fresh and healthy on the cheeks, with no streaking in sight! On the lips, the texture is super interesting. It does dry totally matte, yet does not feel drying in the slightest. Also, it gives the most soft, rosy tint. I never knew that I needed a matte lip tint until I found this! 

And here I am wearing Face Atelier Facade in Chameleon in the context of a completed makeup look:

Overall, I am super smitten with this little tube of colour! The texture is unlike any other product I've tried, and that's a good thing! It blends effortlessly without disrupting foundation beneath. The finish is ultra flattering- matte, but not flat- and the wear time really is impressive! Yes, the tube is tiny, but seriously- a little goes a very long way. At $27, I find the Facades to be a great value! Definitely eager to try more shades from the range and more products from Face Atelier in general!

Are you a sucker for multi-purpose lip and cheek products? Have you tried anything from Face Atelier?

Thanks for stopping by! xo

Currently Obsessed: Face Atelier Ultra Foundation

Hi, everyone! Back in November, I attended my first-ever IMATS conference and had an incredible time. With so many amazing products and such great talent all in one (enormous) room, how could I not?! While I have shared with you an overview of the products I purchased at IMATS, I realized that I've yet to review any of them! Bad blogger. Today marks my initial attempt to rectify this and I'm doing so by sharing one heck of a foundation!  Face Atelier was offering an amazing deal the day of the conference, and one of the goodies I selected as part of the promo was the Ultra Foundation in Shade #1 Porcelain. Luckily, I have not regretted this purchase one bit. 

For those not familiar with the brand, Face Atelier is a niche, makeup artist-driven line aimed at creating products that are simple, versatile, and performance-driven. It is designed to be "age- and race-neutral" (i.e., offering products suitable for those of all ages and ethnicities) and focus on the philosophy that each woman is their own "beauty icon", cherishing individual differences rather than promoting societal beauty standards. Quite refreshing! The products are based on the principal of "innovation, not imitation". In other words, the brand really attempts to create items that are unique and functional, rather than racing to replicate other popular products on the market. Yet another reason why I completely respect the brand. Face Atelier is also cruelty-free, which is always a huge bonus in my books! 

Now onto the product at hand! Face Atelier Ultra Foundation comes in a simple silver cardboard box with white lettering:

The box features a pretty killer quote, reminders that their products are cruelty-free, and a full ingredient listing, which is always so much appreciated! 

As you can see, the formula is silicone-based and does contain parabens (for those of you who are curious about these things):

The foundation itself comes in a weighty glass translucent bottle with silver detailing and a pump (yay!):

Here is one pump of Ultra Foundation #1 on the back of my hand. As you can see, it is quite fluid (it will run down your hand if tilted), but is not so watery that it immediately drips everywhere. I would say the consistency is somewhat similar to that of NARS Sheer Glow (though correct me if I'm wrong; I haven't tested SG in a while). 

So onto the nitty gritty! I'll first let you know what Face Atelier has to say about the foundation, then I'll give you my own breakdown! 

Face Atelier describes Ultra Foundation as the "heart and soul" of the brand, as it is innovative and much-loved. It promises to be highly pigmented and long-wearing with buildable coverage and a "natural satin finish" (from faceatelier.com). It aims to be versatile, allowing sheer through opaque coverage, as well as being lightweight and comfortable on the skin. Face Atelier also touts that, due to the unique oil-free, silicone-based formula, it neither requires a primer beforehand nor a powder afterwards. 

Quite the tempting list of features! Here are my thoughts on the product, after wearing it several times: 

Colour Match-Shade #1 Porcelain is quite an excellent colour match for my complexion. I'd say that it's neither too warm nor too cool and has the saturation of a MAC NC15 shade (just not as yellow). It might be a touch too fair for me in summertime, but for these colder months, it's perfect! 

Texture-The texture is quite fluid, but is just viscous enough that I wouldn't label it as runny or watery (see above photo).  It does feel rather lightweight on the skin and, while it does set slightly, it retains a slightly dewy feel on the skin. 

Application- This really does smooth over the skin like a dream! Perhaps due to the silicones, this glides and blends effortlessly. Additional layers can be added easily without causing caking or patchiness. I find that this applies easiest with fingers, but a brush should also work just fine! Plus, this is fragrance-free, which I know many of you would appreciate. 

Coverage- This can be applied with a light touch for a sheerer finish, but when layered I would describe this as a true medium coverage. It blurs and covers the majority of imperfections, but still lets a touch of natural skin shine through. Concealer is only needed on the peskiest of blemishes, scars, and dark circles. 

Finish- I would agree with the brand's description of this as a "natural satin finish". It is far from matte, but is definitely not as dewy as some of the most moisturizing foundations on the market. And I do think it looks incredibly natural on the skin, despite the medium coverage! It leaves skin looking glowy, healthy, and luminous- not at all greasy.

Wear- As this does have a more satin finish, the wear time isn't as solid as the matte foundations in my stash. On my combination/oily skin, I'd say that this looks perfect for about 5 hours, after which it does begin to look oily. After 6+ hours, this can tend to look slightly patchy around my nose and chin. While I agree that this can be used easily without a primer, adding a touch of setting powder on top does help with the wear time. 

Here are some before and after photos to demonstrate the shade, finish, and coverage of the foundation. As you can see in the "Before" shot (taken back in November), I was having a bit of a breakout on my chin that needed some serious covering:

And here are some "After" shots. It is pretty clear that this foundation covers wonderfully without looking flat or mask-like:

Wearing Face Atelier Ultra Foundation only

And here it is in the context of a couple different completed makeup looks:

And since this post is already super long, here is a quicky list of the pros and cons:

Pros:

• Smooths and blends into skin effortlessly
• Provides a flattering buildable light-to-medium coverage
• Imparts a lovely natural satin, luminous glow to the skin without looking greasy
• Truly leaves skin looking flawless without a mask-like effect
• Despite the silicones in the formula, this has not broken me out
• Shade #1 Porcelain is a perfect match for my NC15 skin tone!
• Cruelty-free, which I really appreciate!
• At $48, this is definitely not a bargain, but I think it is a rather fair, balanced price for the quality

Cons:

• This would likely be too dewy for those with quite oily skin
• The wear time is not as bullet-proof (at least on my combo/oily skin) as the brand promises

Overall, I am really smitten with this foundation! While this is dewier than the bases I usually sport, I just can't rave enough about the natural, luminous finish this imparts on the skin. Just so flattering and beautiful! It really leaves my complexion looking flawless without a flat, mask-like appearance. While it does start to fade more quickly than my go-to long-wear foundations (and thus would not be ideal for summertime), it is a true no-brainer for special events during the colder months. Really happy that I snagged this foundation and looking forward to trying more from the brand! 

Do you think you would enjoy Face Atelier's Ultra Foundation?  Have you tried anything from the brand?

Thanks for reading! xo

Beauty Event: W3LL People Launches at the Detox Market!

Hi, everyone! Hope you all had a lovely Valentine's and that your weekend continues to bring good things. A few weeks ago I got an invite from The Detox Market to an exciting beauty launch. The invite spawned a few sentiments: 1) There is a Detox Market in Toronto!? Where have I been? 2) Yes! A perfect opportunity to discover some new organic skin care and cosmetics products, further feeding into my current addiction, and 3) I get to attend another beauty event with Jenn? Always fun!

Before delving into the exciting brand we were introduced to that evening, a bit on the shop itself. The Detox Market was founded in California by Valerie Grandury (also the creator of Odacite skin care) and Romain Gaillard, entrepreneurs who were interested in curating a collection of truly pure, truly effective products. In a world where a growing amount of beauty products are marketed at 'natural', they wanted to hone in on the brands and items that are truly non-toxic and skin-friendly without sacrificing results and a luxurious experience.

The Toronto location opened up over three years ago for the Toronto International Film Festival and stuck around due to the success of the shop. So glad it did and wish I would've discovered it sooner! 

Upon entering the store, I was instantly struck with a vibe that was both rustic and luxurious:

The Detox Market features an impressive array of natural skin care (including this drool-worth lineup of Odacite booster serums)...

... as well as teas, soups, and juices...

... and beautiful organic makeup lines. I was truly impressed with the selection and the range of exciting brands. 

Speaking of amazing brands, let's get to the reason I was at The Detox Market that evening! That day, the shop was launching W3LL People, a natural cosmetics line that is brand new to the Canadian market. The Detox Market is the only brick and mortar store in the country to carry the line! 

W3LL People was launched by three passionate entrepreneurs who were dedicated to creating completely non-toxic, skin beneficial, professional quality makeup products. The faces behind the brand are James Walker (a marketing guru and self-proclaimed tree-hugger), Renee Snyder (an experienced dermatologist), and Shirley Pinkson (a professional makeup artist of 20 years). Quite the trifecta! For the event, we were lucky enough to have Shirley in-store to tell us more about the brand and demo some of the products. She had been doing makeovers using her W3LL People products all afternoon, and was incredibly gracious to spend over an hour with a room of us eager bloggers afterwards. 

Listening to Shirley speak, it was clear that this woman knew her stuff. Not only does she have a keen understanding of the ingredients that go into a quality natural makeup product, she also has a strong grasp of the conventional beauty world and the makeup items and trends that get consumers excited. Some of the key points from her talk were:

• The main objective of W3LL People was to create safe, natural products that perform just as well as our conventional favourites. Not sacrificing quality was a must!
• The products are designed to be streamlined, simple, and a pleasure to use
• The brand is completely free of fillers, petrochemicals, preservatives, fragrance, or petroleum by-products, such as mineral oil
• Since makeup is worn on our skin, it should be skin-friendly! As such, W3LL People products include ingredients like aloe, green tea, peptides, and essential oils
• All products are made in small batches and are completely cruelty-free
• The line contains items ideal for a "no makeup makeup" look, but also includes goodies to bump up the glam factor, if desired. 

After reviewing the brand's ethos and sharing with us each product from the line, Shirley demonstrated how to create a quick 5-product face on one of the lucky Detox Market interns. It was a pleasure to watch and the results were ultra glowy and natural! 

A product and price list was passed around, which revealed a solid, non-excessive lineup of items with standard, mid-range price tags, quite similar to brands such as MAC or Clinique. Shirley stressed that despite the careful ingredient selection, she wanted to ensure that the prices of W3LL People products were non-prohibitive and on-par with many conventional brands. 

After the talk and demo, we all got to have a closer look at the product range and a one-on-one chat with Shirley. She was down-to-earth, friendly, and knowledgeable and was eager to give recommendations. These products are her babies, after all!

While I was able to show some shopping restraint (I had already purchased my February makeup of the month!), I did allow myself one treat- W3LL People's Altruist Mineral Foundation. I had just finished up a tub of Revlon ColourStay that morning (perfect timing), so thought it an appropriate move to replenish that with a more  natural option. Shirley matched me to the fairest shade 11, and I have to say that my preliminary trials have been quite promising! 

Overall, I was so thrilled to attend this event. Not only did I get to discover a new store full of luxurious, organic treats, I got to interact with the creator of a cutting edge brand. Not everyday that you receive such an opportunity! I am definitely eager to try more items from W3LL People (my March beauty purchase, perhaps?!) and am sure I'll be back to visit The Detox Market soon!

Have you tried any natural, organic makeup brands? Does W3LL People appeal to you?
Thanks for dropping by! xo