Weekend Away Skin Care Lineup

Hi, everyone! If you follow me on social media, you'll know I just returned from an ultra fun weekend in my hometown. I spent Thursday babysitting my adorable and extremely active 18-month-old niece, on Friday my sister threw me a bachelorette party with several of my closest friends, and on Saturday I got to celebrate my cousin's wedding! Some very busy days that involved tons of quality time but also more drink and junk food- and less sleep- that my typical weekend. Knowing these activities were in-store, I wanted to bring with me a streamlined, simple, but effective lineup of skin care products to keep my complexion balanced amidst the chaos! 

Here's what I brought!

The Body Shop Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter

I say without reservation that this is my favourite makeup remover of all time! It feels luxurious on the skin without being one bit heavy or clogging, removes my heavy makeup thoroughly and rinses clean, and has never broken me out. And all for less than $20! 

Pure Skin Botanicals Aloe & Chamomile Gel Cleanser**

A gentle, effective cleanser from an indie brand I'm obsessed with! Pure Skin Botanicals is a British Columbia-based natural skin care line that focuses on holistic healing and harnessing the power of plants in artisinal formulas that are also a pleasure to use. This cleanser is designed for oily, acne-prone skin and is meant to deep clean while soothing the skin. It's amazing as a morning or second cleanser and, despite the mild lather it creates, it never leaves me feeling stripped!

Pure Skin Botanicals Rosemary Toner**

This toner is designed for oily skin prone to enlarged pores and breakouts. It aims to detox the skin, regulate hormonal fluctuations, and work as an anti-microbial. It has a wonderful mix of astringent ingredients like witch hazel and apple cider vinegar, but also soothing elements like rose and aloe. I love that it's alcohol-free and has a wonderful herbal scent! It has really helped with clearing some persistent breakouts over the last week. 

The Ordinary Advanced Retinoid 2%**

Every single retinol-based product I've used the in the past has irritated my sensitive skin. All but this one, that is! I've been using this serum nearly nightly for the past two weeks and have never once woken up to any red, angry patches or breakouts. In fact, my skin looks quite calm and even come morning! In the longer term, this serum promises to reduce signs of aging and smooth skin texture- looking forward to those results to come! 

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5**

I've been coming to terms with the reality that my skin, despite superficial oiliness, can get quite dehydrated. Hyaluronic acid is one of my favourite ways to hydrate my skin, as it's lightweight and penetrates super easily. This serum is no exception! It smooths over skin effortlessly and sinks in to a super-sheer finish. It wears well underneath heavier oils, creams, and serums and hasn't irritated me one bit. So far, so good! 

Dr. Alkaitis Organic Nourishing Treatment Oil**

I raved about this oil in a previous post, here! It's a wonderfully hydrating blend of antioxidant oils and extracts to smooth fine lines and soothe redness and yet is lightweight enough to wear under makeup during the day. It leaves my skin glowing and does not break me out. Plus, a little goes a long way! This little bottle is only half emptied after nearly two months! 

This lineup really is a mish-mash of brands and formulas, but did an amazing job at keeping my skin calm, balanced, and properly cleansed during my busy, booze-filled, ultra fun weekend away! Not a dud in the bunch! 

What skin care products have you been loving lately?

Thanks so much for stopping by! xo

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**These products were sent to me as PR samples for consideration and review. All opinions expressed in this post are 100% authentic and my own! 

Kerastase Nutritive: Science and Luxury for Dry Hair!

Hi, everyone! Despite being a lover of all things beauty, hair care is a realm where I rarely treat myself to advanced, higher-end options. I guess I have to be frugal in some areas, right?! That said, there are fewer things more satisfying than a luxurious treat that leaves my locks looking fabulous. So when I was given a chance to test out a variety of products from the Kerastase Nutritive range, I was more than eager!

A bit about my hair- it's super fine but I have lots of it, so it can look thicker and more coarse than it really is. It has a natural wave that can range from lumpy and flat to near-curly and more voluminous, depending on the day. I've always seen it as "combination" in that my roots can be oily (they start looking greasy the day after washing my hair), while the ends can get quite dry. 

The Nutritive range was designed to provide nutrition and nourishment to all levels of dry hair, with products for slightly dry, dry, and very dry hair of both fine and thick textures. It aims to address both the cause of nutrition loss- oxidation due to environmental stress, as well as the impact of nutrition loss- hair dryness. It's a scientific approach with the technology to back it up! And the icing on the cake (almost literally) is that the scientific approach of this line leads to product textures that feel ultra luxurious. Evidence-based formulas that are also a pleasure to use? That's what I look for in skin care, so why not in hair care too?

Here are the products I received:

Kerastase Nutritive Bain Satin 1 Exceptional Nutrition Shampoo** ($42 CAD)

This shampoo is designed for normal to slightly dry hair and promises to provide deeply penetrating nutrition to the full length of the hair. It also claims to detangle and add smoothness and shine. The formula includes lipids to increase production of the hair's natural oils, glucids to boost the production energy and nutritious elements, proteins to nourish and soften the hair fibre, and iris rhizome extract to protect the hair from oxidation and prolong the effect of the delivered nutrition.

I have to say this is one of my favourite products from the collection! My hair tends to be combination (oily-ish roots, with dry ends), so I do not need a shampoo for super dry hair. The texture of this shampoo is perfect for me! It is creamy and foams luxuriously, but never leaves my hair feeling stripped, nor does it deposit any heavy moisture. One of the loveliest shampoos I've tried! 

Kerastase Nutritive Lait Vital Irisome- Incredibly Light Exceptional Nutrition Care** ($47 CAD)

This conditioner is also designed for normal to slightly dry hair and promises to nourish and soften without adding weight. It also touts benefits of brightening, protection, and prolonged nourishing effects. It also contains the lipids, glucids, proteins, and iris rhizome extract possessed by its shampoo companion. 

This conditioner has a formula that mimics some of my favourite facial hydrators- it feels quite moisturizing, but is wonderfully light-weight. I am able to use this condition on the roots of my hair (which I have not done in ages) without any oily after-feel, and yet it provides enough moisture to leave my hair soft and tangle-free afterwards. I'm not sure if the effects of the formula warrant the intense pricetag, but cost aside, this is a lovely light, effective conditioner!

Kerastase Nutritive Fondant Magistral Fundamental Nutrition Care** ($47 CAD)

This conditioner is designed for dry to extremly dry fine hair and promises to replenish, soften, and imbue the hair with nutrition from the inside out. It also touts adding smoothness, radiant shine, and increased manageability and styling ease. It features Irisome 4600ppm, which claims to be the most potent nutrition complex on the market, as well as gluco-actives to provide balance and protection to the hair fibre, iris rhizome to prevent hair dryness from returning, benjoin resin to allow the hair to stimulate nutrition from within, and ceramide and xylose to protect the hair fibre from heat.

The name of this product is what tempted me first- Fondant made me think of thick, rich cake toppings, which sounded quite luxurious! I have to say this formula didn't disappoint! This is a wonderfully rich conditioner that my dry ends just eat up. It really does leave my hair feeling super nourished and it's a pleasure to use! It never weighs down my hair and a little goes a long way! 

Kerastase Nutritive Masquintense Irisome for Fine Hair** ($64 CAD)

This is a concentrated treatment mask that nourishes hair that is dry, fine, or sensitized. It touts the line's highest concentration of Irisome and promises to nourish deeply, add nutrients that impart radiance, maintain the nutrition it delivers over time, protects the hair against oxidation, and keeps hair bright, soft, smooth, and easier to detangle. Like the shampoo and conditioner from the line, it includes lipids, glucids, proteins, and iris rhizome extract.

I am a huuuge sucker for a good hair mask, so I was so excited to try this! As expected, it is super rich and creamy and sinks into hair beautifully. It really hydrates deeply- not in the instantly tangible way that silicone-laden formulas might work, but in a more subtle, actually moisturizing manner- again, as a quality, non-superficial face cream will do. It leaves my hair smooth and nourished, doesn't weigh things down (it really is great for my fine hair!) and is also a pleasure to use. Is it worth the steep price tag? Perhaps not, but it does everything it promises! 

Kerastasse Nutritive Nectar Thermique Polishing Nourishing Milk** ($48 CAD)

This post-shower product is designed for dry hair and promises to protect the hair against heat. It also aims to improve the ease of hair styling, polish the hair surface to improve softness and shine, and deeply nourish the hair. It includes royal jelly extract, which is rich in nutrients that add softness and shine, iris rhizome extract to protect hair from oxidation and prolong nutritive effects, xylose to protect the hair from heat, and siccative linseed oil to add intense shine and softness.

I've been blow-drying my hair a bit more often of late, so it was perfect timing to give this a go! This smooths into hair nicely without a heavy, greasy, or artificial feel. I can't say that it's been producing any mind-blowing results, but my hair has been looking happy post-blow dry. This probably isn't the product from the line that I'd splurge on (as I don't always blow-dry and there's nothing unique about the texture), but it seems to do the job!

I started using these products at a time when I had not had a haircut for about 10 months. Definitely a recipe for long, dry, unhappy hair. I have to say that using the Nutritive range in unison really kept my long, dry, mildly damaged hair looking quite good! 

What I like most about this range is that it doesn't provide superficial benefits (e.g., the temporary shine and smoothness that tons of silicones create), but rather seems to actually be moisturizing the hair from the inside out. When I first started using the range, I wasn't sure if they were helping because they weren't giving me the quick-fix effects of other products I'd used in the past. But with continued use, my hair just slowly, but surely felt healthier. More hydrated, shinier, and stronger. As I did earlier in this post, I really liken this range to quality skin care that may not give your skin an instant glow, but over time improves skin health and quality. I'll take that over temporary, superficial benefits any day!

So while Kerastase is not a brand I would have gravitated to on my own (due to the price and because I do my best to stick with hair care that's cruelty-free- Kerastase is a L'Oreal brand), I'm very happy that I was able to give this brand a try. My hair has been thanking me! 

You can find the Nutritive range on the Kerastase website, here!

What are your favourite hair care products at the moment? Favourite hair products worth the splurge?

Thanks for stopping by! xo

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**These products were sent to me as PR samples for consideration and review. All opinions expressed in this post are 100% authentic and my own!

Star Trek Look of the Day #2: Bird of Prey

Hi, everyone! In my last post, I shared with you a MAC Star Trek-inspired makeup look that was warm, soft, and glowy. Ethereal enough to trip the light fantastic! Today's look is quite different, but still in-line with the Star Trek theme. It's bold, alien, and colourful! I aimed for it to be more of an editorial look, with graphic shapes, metallic, shimmery textures, and hues of blues and greens on the lips and eyes. 

Since the eyes and lips in the look are more severe, I wanted to keep the skin soft and glowing. I added warmth and gentle contour to the face with MAC Trip the Light Fantastic Powder in Highly Illogical and some shimmery highlight by sweeping Trip the Light Fantastic Powder in Luna Lustre on the tops of my cheekbones, down the bridge of my nose, and lightly on my forehead. 

Now onto the eyes- the star of the intergalactic show! I started by priming my lids with NYX  Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk, which allowed the colours to follow to look extra bold and true. I then messily smudged MAC Pearlglide Intense Eyeliner in Undercurrent (a stunning teal blue with gold shimmer) all over my lid as an added base. Next, I applied Undercurrent in a bold line above the crease to create the graphic shape as well as along the outer half of the lower lash line, drawing upwards to create a wing on the outer corners. I then applied MAC Pressed Pigment in Bird of Prey all over the lid, up to the liner defining the crease. Bird of Prey is the most gorgeous blackened deep green gold that really looks magical on the eyes! To add some touches of light and contrast to the eyes, I applied Kat von D Eye Shadow in Vinyl (a lime green from the Mi Vida Loca Remix Palette) on the inner corners of the eye and Kat von D Skulls shadow on the brow bones and tear ducts. I finished things off by lining the upper lash lines with MAC Pearlglide Intense Eyeliner in Black Line (a deep greenish black with gold shimmer) for added definition and a few coats of Essence Forbidden Volume Mascara- my new fave!

For a final alien touch, I painted my lips in pale, milky, shimmery blue thanks to the perfectly quirky MAC Lipglass in Twerkquoise. 

Here are a couple close-ups of the eye look, followed by a full break-down of everything I used!

The Breakdown:

Foundation: Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation No10 mixed with Clinique Even Better Foundation in Alabaster
Concealer: Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer in Fair Neutral
Powder: MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light Plus
Bronzer and Blush: MAC Trip the Light Fantastic Powder in Highly Illogical
Highlighter: MAC Trip the Light Fantastic Powder in Luna Lustre

Brows: Anastasia Brow Powder Duo in Taupe and Tinted Brow Gel in Caramel
Primer: Blinc Eye Shadow Primer in Light Tone and NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk
Eye Shadow: MAC Pressed Pigment in Bird of Prey (all over lid, up to crease, blended with MAC Pearlglide Intense Eyeliner in Undercurrent for added vibrancy and depth), Kat von D eye shadows in Vinyl (lime green- on the inner corners) and Skulls (white- on the brow bone and tear ducts)
Eyeliner: MAC Pearlglide Intense Eyeliners in Undercurrent (along lower lash line, blended up to a winged shape, and to define the crease) and Black Line (along upper lash line)
Mascara: Essence Forbidden Volume Mascara in Black

Lipstick: MAC Lipglass in Twerkquoise

And a few more shots of the look:

I was super happy with how this look turned out! Even though it was quite bold and intense, it was still oddly flattering. It was definitely one of those looks I didn't want to wash off at the end of the day! It allowed me to channel my inner alien and reminded me that I need to reach for blue and green shadows more frequently. Pressed Pigment in Bird of Prey is certainly a place to start!

What shades would you reach for if you wanted to channel your inner Trekkie? Favourite blue and green eye shadows?

Thanks so much for stopping by! xo

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Star Trek Look of the Day #1: Luna Lustre

Hi, everyone! A few weeks ago I raved about the cosmic wonder of the MAC Star Trek makeup collection. This burgeoning Trekkie went a bit wild for this release and ordered several products from the lineup. I thought I'd share with you a few makeup look using these new intergalactic goodies, as they're so incredibly stunning! The first look I have today focuses on warm, glowing skin and lips, winged liner, and lots of lashes. 

For a luminous complexion, I first topped my foundation with MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural powder in Light Plus, then reached for the new MAC Trip the Light Fantastic Powder in Highly Illogical, a gorgeous peachy berry bronze shimmer powder that doubled as a bronzer and blush. For some extra out of this world glow (apologies for all the outer space puns), I applied Trip the Light Fantastic Powder in Luna Lustre, an ultra shimmery pale ivory pink, on the tops of my cheekbones and down the bridge of my nose. I also used Luna Lustre to highlight my eyes on the centre of the lid and inner corners.

To keep with the luminous theme, I used my favourite metallic eyeliner, Trish McEvoy 24/7 Shadow and Liner in Glamorous. It's the most flattering reddened plum that I wear all the time! Finally, the lips were all about MAC Lustre Lipstick in Where No Man Has Gone Before, a killer soft, warm pink with prominent gold pearl throughout. It makes the lips look so full, lush, and ethereal!

The Breakdown:

Foundation: Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation No10 mixed with Clinique Even Better Foundation in Alabaster
Concealer: Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer in Fair Neutral
Powder: MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light Plus
Bronzer and Blush: MAC Trip the Light Fantastic Powder in Highly Illogical
Highlighter: MAC Trip the Light Fantastic Powder in Luna Lustre

Brows: Anastasia Brow Powder Duo in Taupe and Tinted Brow Gel in Caramel
Primer: Blinc Eye Shadow Primer in Light Tone and NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk
Eye Shadow: MAC Trip the Light Fantastic Powder in Luna Lustre (concentrated on centre of the lids, brow bone, and inner corners of the eye) and MAC Eye Shadow in Wedge (lightly in the crease)
Eyeliner: Trish McEvoy 24/7 Shadow and Liner in Glamorous
Mascara: Essence Forbidden Volume Mascara in Black

Lipstick: MAC Lustre Lipstick in Where No Man Has Gone Before

And a few more shots of the look:

I have to say that I've been reaching for Luna Lustre (the pinky-toned highlighter that my stash was missing) and Where No Man Has Gone Before (the most beautiful golden pink lipstick) tons over the past few weeks. They're both totally gorgeous and make intergalactic beauty so easy! 

Did you pick up anything from the MAC Star Trek collection? What products have you been reaching for lately for some serious glow?

Thanks for stopping by! xo

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Create Your Own Fool-Proof Custom Fragrance with Demeter!

Hi, everyone! One of my biggest weaknesses in the beauty industry is any product that allows for customization. A product made just for me with my own personal touches? Sign me up! Given that I'm a sucker for such individualized creations, I was thrilled when a bunch of us from the Canadian Beauty Bloggers posse were given the chance to blend our own custom fragrances with Demeter!

Demeter is a brand that has been piquing my interest for years, with their immense selection of unique, singular fragrances that capture everyday scents simply and flawlessly. With options ranging from Laundromat to Sunshine to Vanilla Ice Cream to Dirt, they really offer a scent for anyone! 

Recently, Demeter has created Foolproof Blending Trios** ($45 USD), which allow you to choose three of their best-selling scents to then combine into your very own fragrance masterpiece using their Foolproof Blending Tool Kit** ($6 UDS). 

The Foolproof Blending Trios** come with three full-size(!) Demeter fragrances that are designed to blend easily with each other for a guaranteed (hence, fool-proof!) beautiful, wearable combination. The kit encourages you to tap into your creativity and to play around, mixing and matching the scents until you've found a custom fragrance that's totally you! 

The three scents I chose were based on aspects of summertime that I love- fresh, water-side air, sexy flowers, and summer cocktails! I chose:

Salt Air- a scent that Demeter describes as channeling "the perfect sea breeze on the perfect beach at your favourite tropical island" (from demeterfragrance.com). Sounds magical, right? Unfortunately, this was my least favourite of the trio. I was hoping for this scent to be more crisp and earthy and instead found it a little too reminiscent of musk and seaweed (maybe my nose is just weird?)

Jasmine- I typically don't love floral scents, but jasmine I can get behind. I always find it to be a sexy, more complex floral that's right up my alley. Demeter describes it as "an exotic, sweet, warm floral bouquet". This was my favourite of the three! It really captures the flower just right and is a perfect balance of depth and freshness.

Gin & Tonic- My favourite summer drink in a bottle! This fragrance is described as "a light crisp fragrance... with a... juniper finish and a citrus twist". I definitely found this fragrance to be light and refreshing as promised. It's the kind of scent that might be a bit underwhelming on its own, but was the perfect finishing touch to my custom fragrance (more on that below)!

Along with the fragrance trio was the Blending Tool Kit**, which includes an empty full-sized glass bottle for your new creation, paper strips for testing, and droppers and a funnel for the actual mixing process. It helps channel your inner perfumer and chemist all in one, which I found to be quite fun! 

I have to say that, even with the dropper and funnel, the mixing process was a bit messy (again, maybe I'm just that awkward and clumsy?), but with a bit of persistence and mastering a steady hand, it was a really fun process! 

In the end, I was thrilled to create a fragrance that I quite like! I used 1 part Jasmine to half parts Salt Air and Gin & Tonic. The Jasmine gave the fragrance a deeper, sexy base (just how I like a fragrance), while Salt Air gave it a touch of musk and Gin & Tonic upped the freshness factor. 

Demeter was lovely enough to provide us with some crafty extras (a Sharpie and stickers galore) so that we could also customize a bottle for our masterpiece. Since my fragrance was designed to capture the crisp, lush aspects of summertime, I adorned my bottle with some beachy footwear, a sunny-hued smiley face, and some water droplets. And thus, Salted Jasmine Gin & Tonic (longest fragrance name ever?) was born! 

Overall, I had such a fun experience with this kit from Demeter, as it allowed me to harness my love of customized beauty while also channeling my inner chemist and crafter. I'm super happy with the end result and this little bottle will forever hold a place on my vanity as a souvenir of Summer 2016!

You can now find the Demeter Foolproof Blending Trios on the brand's website, here! 

What kind of fragrance would you design if you had the chance? Do any of the scents I chose sound up your alley?

Have an amazing day! xo

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**These products were sent to me as PR samples for consideration and review. All opinions expressed are 100% authentic and my own!

My Picks from the Chanel Le Rouge Fall 2016 Collection

Hi, everyone! When it comes to makeup fears, a trepidation I hear most often is sporting shades of red. "I could never wear red lipstick" they say, "eek, that's so bright! I'll look like a clown". Convincing people that red lipstick is 100% do-able is often tricky enough, let alone shades of red for the cheeks and eyes. But if there is ever a time where red-toned makeup is possible, it's now! Not only does Fall call for warm, saturated shades, but Chanel has recently made it ultra- easy with their new Le Rouge collection for Fall 2016. When Chanel does colour, it is always done in chic, sophisticated style, so what better way to delve in!?

I first encountered the Le Rouge collection last month at Shoppers Drug Mart, where I was lucky enough to sit down for an hour-long makeup application at the Chanel counter with the amazing, hilarious makeup artist, Jorge. He totally got my love for colour, and makeup in general, and we had a proper play with several of the new products! 

You can see that we had lots of fun ;)

I gave Jorge full license to create a bold, colourful look. He started with the eyes, applying one of the stars of the collection, Illusion d'Ombre in Rouge Brulee (a stunning copper orange) all over my lid as a base. He then reached for the collection's eye shadow quad, Le 4 Ombres in Candeur et Experience, using the palette's red and brown tones to add depth to the look. He lined my eyes with the gorgeous Stylo Yeux Waterproof eyeliner in Eros, a rich metallic cranberry shade, and finished with a couple coats of Le Volume mascara. For the cheeks, he reached for the bold, fantastic Joues Contraste blush in Rouge Profond, a deep rosy red, sculpting my cheekbones for a 70's-inspired look and then adding touches of the blush to my eyes as well for an extra pop of red. Finally, the lips were warm and vibrant! Jorge lined my lips with Le Crayon Levres in Desir and filled my pout with Rouge Allure Velvet lipstick in Rouge Feu, a killer orange red. 

Here's a shot of the final look! 

I of course could not leave the makeover empty-handed (limited edition collections from Chanel are typically irresistible for me), so I snagged two products that are true red-toned gems! 

The limited edition Le Rouge products come packaged in Chanel's typical glossy black boxes with white lettering and gold accents. Very chic, of course! 

Stylo Yeux Waterproof in Eros ($35 CAD)

My first pick from the collection is perhaps one of the prettiest eyeliners I've ever tried! Stylo Yeux Waterproof in Eros is an amazing metallic cranberry red that glides effortlessly across the lids and truly wears all day! The shade is vivid enough that the cranberry hue is apparent, but deep enough that is still provides amazing definition. It looks amazing with my brown eyes, but I can also see it contrasting perfectly with blue and green eyes too! Its subtle brown and purple undertones make in amazingly wearable. 

It comes in handy twist-up packaging with a skinny point for easy application. 

Joues Contraste in Rouge Profond ($53 CAD)

There's something about red blush that instantly reminds me of Studio 54, disco, 70s-inspired glam. Always fantastic inspiration in my books! So of course I had to pick up the Joues Contraste in Rouge Profond. It's a bold, but totally chic rosy terracotta red with subtle shimmer throughout. This can definitely be super bright and intense with a heavy hand, but with a lighter touch it creates a flattering rosy glow!

It comes in a compact with a good-sized mirror and little brush. Not the worst mini brush ever, but I prefer my Real Techniques Multi-Task Brush for this (and most other blushes). 

Here are swatches of Eros and Rouge Profond on my inner arm (MAC NC15 skin tone):

(L-R): Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof in Eros and Joues Contraste in Rouge Profond (lightly, heavily)

And here I am wearing Eros and Rouge Profond in the context of a completed makeup look! This time around, I went for a more subtle look than the one created during the makeover. 

I aimed to make these bold red shades extra wearable by pairing them with some new favourite neutrals in MAC Trip the Light Fantastic Powder in Luna Lustre (gives amazing glow!) and Viva Glam Ariana Grande 2 Lipglass. 

So... red eyeliner? Red blush? Have I convinced you? As always, my makeup mantra is- "vibrant colour- yes, you can!"

The Chanel Le Rouge collection really is a thing of beauty and the perfect Fall fix for those drawn to shade of red for the eyes, cheeks, and lips. There really is a red hue for everyone in this launch- even the colour shy! 

Are you a fan of red makeup or does it intimidate you? Favourite red blush? Favourite red lipstick at the moment?

Thanks so much for stopping by!

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MAC Viva Glam Ariana Grande 2 Lipstick and Lipglass: Review and Swatches!

Hi, everyone! If you've stopped by my blog over the last two weeks, you may have read that the MAC Viva Glam family has grown! The Viva Glam range, which donates 100% of proceeds to the MAC AIDS Fund, has collaborated again with pop star Ariana Grande to create a brand new Lipstick and Lipglass. The newly-released shades are fun, flirty, and girly and support an amazing cause! 

The MAC Viva Glam Ariana Grande 2 lip products come in limited edition packaging with the traditional Viva Glam red accents and the addition of an Ariana Grande signature graphic on the product boxes and tubes. A cute detail of you are a fan of hers, but also a subtle enough touch if you're not a die-hard Ariana fan. 

MAC Viva Glam Ariana Grande 2 Lipstick ($21 CAD) is the bolder shade of the pair and is described as a "deep cool pink". It comes in MAC's Matte formula and in the tube looks like a mid-tone pink-tinged orchid purple shade. 

MAC Viva Glam Ariana Grande 2 Lipglass** ($19 CAD) is the subtler shade of the duo and is described as a "neutral nude pink". In the tube, it looks like a glitter-filled pinky mauve-beige. 

Here are swatches of the Ariana Grande 2 Lipstick and Lipglass** on my inner arm (MAC NC15 skin tone): 

MAC Viva Glam Ariana Grande 2 Lipstick and Lipglass

On the lips, Ariana Grande 2 Lipstick is a true matte that pulls more pink-toned that it looks in the tube. It is certainly cool in hue, with definite purple undertones, but is quite flattering! It performs as well as the other MAC Mattes I've tried, with excellent pigmentation and lasting-power and a wonderful comfortable feeling and smooth application. 

MAC Viva Glam Ariana Grande 2 Lipstick

Ariana Grande 2 Lipglass** is also a stunner on the lips. Out of the tube, it looks less mauve and instead has more of a neutral, pinky-beige hue. The glitter in the formula is also  incredibly wearable. There is no hint of grit to the texture; instead, the glittery bits are tiny and really work to add dimension and extra fullness to the lips. 

MAC Viva Glam Ariana Grande 2 Lipglass

Although the Lipstick and Lipglass shades are quite different, they also layer wonderfully together! I love that the gloss doesn't mute the lipstick underneath, but instead brings the matte lipstick to life, adding shine and dimension- and an extra girly touch! 

MAC Viva Glam Ariana Grande 2 Lipstick + Lipglass

And here I am wearing Viva Glam Ariana Grande 2 Lipstick and Lipglass in the context of a completed makeup look! I've paired the cooler-toned lips with contrasting shades of warm shadow- MAC Eyeshadows in Mythology, Swiss Chocolate, Wedge, and Naked Lunch. 

MAC Viva Glam products have rarely steered me wrong and these two goodies are no exception! While I have never really been a fan of Ariana Grande, I'm so glad that I put my biases aside because both the Lipstick and Lipglass are true stunners! The lipstick is an amazing option for those who want to play with bold colour but are not quite ready to venture into the realm of blues or greens (or for anyone who loves a bright, cool-toned pink lip) and the gloss is perfect for those who fear that nude lip shades will wash them out. This one won't! 

You can click here and here to see my previous posts on this new collection!

If I've been tempting, you can find the new Viva Glam Ariana Grande 2 lip products online here now and in-stores this Thursday, September 8th!

Thanks so much for stopping by! xo

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**This product was sent to me as a PR sample for consideration and review. All opinions expressed in this post are 100% authentic and my own.