March 2015 Favourites

MARCH FAVOURITES

NEUTROGENA HYDRO BOOST GEL CREAM  

• feels lightweight on the skin
• non-greasy
• skin feels very hydrated and provides sort of a cooling sensation

LOREAL BROW STYLIST PLUMPER + SUPER LINER BROW STYLIST EYEBROW PENCIL

• holds brow hairs in place without making it stiff
• provides very natural looking tint
• EYEBROW PENCIL - if you want natural but PERFECT looking eyebrows- the search is over! LOVE!!!

MAYBELLINE INSTANT AGE REWIND ERASER

• formulated with Goji berries which are packed with anti-oxidants, and provides excellent anti-aging properties
• conceals darkness/bags without looking cake-y
• applies smoothly and does not crease

PHYSICIANS FORMULA CITY GLOW DAILY DEFENSE BRONZER

• provides a natural looking glow
• has SPF30
• contains active botanical and fruit extracts and minerals 
• promises to provide: anti-aging, anti-dullness, anti-gray, anti-stress, anti-pollution

BENEFIT ROCKATEUR BLUSH 

• rose gold blush that provides the perfect flush on the cheeks.  its a no-brainer 

MAYBELLINE FIT ME FOUNDATION

• provides a natural looking glowing skin that does not look oily
• applies smoothly either with a brush or beauty sponge
• has SPF18

BENEFIT THEY'RE REAL MASCARA

• curls, volumizes and separates the lashes
• does not flake or clump (I use 2 coats max)

RIMMEL LONDON PROVOCALIPS

• a must have for anyone that does not like reapplying their lipstick throughout the day
• provides excellent pigmentation and applies evenly 
• long lasting but still comfortable on the lips (imo)
• tried & tested that IT IS transfer proof! LOVE!

Do we have similar favourites?  Would love to hear your recommendations!

x

Aivee

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Favourite Nude lipsticks

These are my current favourite nude lipsticks.  All of these have a smooth texture - even the matte one.  The formula of all these are very creamy so its comfortable when applied on the lips.  For reference, I am an NC20/NC25 and these colours don't wash me out whatsoever.   

shades from left to right: Maybelline ColorSensational Matte in 'DARINGLY NUDE' - Maybelline ColorSensational The Buffs in 'NUDE LUST' - MAC 'MODESTY' - YSL Rouge Volupte #1'NUDE BEIGE' - Clinique  long last lipstick #03 'CREAMY NUDE'

bare lips - which are annoyingly chapped :( 

 Maybelline ColorSensational Matte in 'DARINGLY NUDE'

Maybelline ColorSensational The Buffs in 'NUDE LUST'

MAC 'MODESTY'

YSL Rouge Volupte #1'NUDE BEIGE' (creamy neutral beige)

Clinique long last lipstick #03 'CREAMY NUDE'

What are your favourite nude lipsticks?  I am always on the look out for one (or two lol)

x

Aivee

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All about Orange

Ok so now, I am crazy about Orange lips :o)

this is my go to combo at the moment:

Mac lipstick in Sushi Kiss

Maybelline Colorsensational high shine lipgloss in Captivating Coral

http://aiveenation.blogspot.ca/2013/05/maybelline-colorsensational-high-shine.html

just a very natural look today - as I was too lazy to go anywhere. I love my bed too much now lol!

x

Aivee

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SWATCHED: Maybelline Master Glaze (by FaceStudio) Blush Stick

I have swatched and tested the new Maybelline Master Glaze Blush stick.

I found these at Walmart, and they are $10 each.  They come in 6 shades , and yes they were pretty.

I actually was surprised that I only bought one colour...

This blush stick is a dream to apply.  It blends very easily and application is flawless.  You can apply the product directly from the bullet and then just blend with fingers.  What I like about the formulation is that it doesn't remove your make up(foundation) underneath it - unlike other products where you have to take some product on your brush, then apply to cheeks. Also, the pigmentation is absolutely amazing on the one i picked out!! 

When in doubt, choose hot pink *_^ lol!

 heavy swatch on the left, and blended out on the right

and here it what it looks like on my cheeks ^_^

which colour are you picking out? 

ps. this is everything a blush stick should be ^_^

xx

Aivee

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FAVOURITES OF 2013: EYES

Annabelle smudge liner CA$9

Annabelle smoothie CA $9

Loreal Butterfly mascara

Rimmel Scandaleyes eyeshadow stick

Essence long lasting eye pencil

Milani eyeshadow primer $6

Maybelline The Falsies mascara CA $5

YSL baby doll mascara CA $36

Anastasia brow gel CA $29

Sephora waterproof eyebrow pencil  CA $16

Elf eyebrow lifter $3

Sonia Kashuk waterproof eyebrow pencil CA $9

Annabelle smudge liner - lots of colour to choose from!  The pencil has just the right amount of softness and makes it easy to use on the lash line.  The smudger is also excellent because it does not take off the colour (unlike some others that I have tried) - and makes its easy to achieve a smoky eye (CA $9)

Annabelle smoothie - love the colour selection and it applies evenly.  It stays put for about 4+ hours but with a primer, it lasts the entire day.  a possible alternative for the MUFE eyeshadow pencil(?) CON is they are not retractable (i hate sharpening) (CA $9)

Rimmel Scandaleyes eyeshadow stick - a little bit cheaper than the Annabelle ones.  Awesome colour selection, very rich and vibrant!  Texture is creamy and it blends like a dream.  It's not retractable :(  (Rimmel, please make these retracble!!)

Essence long lasting eye pencil - love that this stays on my waterline and does not budge.  It is also inexpensive (yes!) and its retractable.  say buhbye to sharpening (in Canada you can get these from Shoppers Drugmart)

Milani eyeshadow primer - inexpensive and does the trick! no need to spend $15-30 for primer ^_^ ($6)

Loreal Butterfly mascara - LOVVEE! i've got a blog post all about it (CA $8)

Maybelline The Falsies mascara - a long time favourite of mine.  The effect is not as dramatic as the Loreal butterfly mascara... but i love it nonetheless.  I use the waterproof version :o) (CA $5)

YSL baby doll mascara - lengthens lashes, and does not clump up.  But it does smudge a tiny bit.  So far, this is my pick for a high end mascara. Love the gold tube (aren't we all suckers for cute packaging?) (CA $36)

Anastasia brow gel - i love that this lightens my brows enough that its the perfect colour :) It also does not make the brow hairs crispy or stiff (CA $29)

Sonia Kashuk waterproof eyebrow pencil - this stays on my brows the whole day, and i love that is is also waterproof.  Love that its retractable and you can easily get it from the drugstore - you can't beat the price on this one! (CA $9)

Sephora waterproof eyebrow pencil - a more expensive version of the Sonia Kashuk one.  This gets extra points because it has a skinnier pencil so you can really be precise with drawing on your perfect brows.  I use shades Midnight Brown and Rich Chesnut (CA $16)

Elf eyebrow lifter - I only use the highlighter side of this pencil - but OMG!! what more can you ask for from this pencil?  super inexpensive and the product is actually really good.  easy to apply on the arch of your brows and blends in easily.  Although this is not retractable, it does come with its own jumbo sharpener. ($3)

xx

Aivee

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FAVOURITES OF 2013: LIPS

Revlon ColorBurst matte balm CA $8

Nars Velvet Matte lip pencil CA $30

Tarte lipsurgence matte lip tint CA $29

Bourjois color boost lip crayon CA $18

Maybelline high shine lipgloss CA $8

Maybelline colour whispers

Mac X Riri lipstick CA$20

Rimmel Moisture renew lipsticks CA $6

Rimmel Apocalips  CA $8

Nuxe reve de miel CA $17

Maybelline baby lips Dr Rescue CA $4

Elizabeth Arden nourishing lip balm CA $20

Nivea lip butter CA $3

Lush lip scrub CA $10

NSPA eye & lip treatment CA $6

Revlon ColorBurst matte balm - love this better than the Just bitten kissable balms.  The colours are really vibrant and rich.  The matte lipsticks are surprisingly moisturizing on the lips.  These are not limited edition - so don't fret if you haven't gotten them yet :) love that its retractable (CA $8)

Nars Velvet Matte lip pencil - oh my gosh! I love these a loot!  I only need to apply once, and it stays on the entire day! love!! even though this is a matte lipstick, its actually has a creamy texture.  My only gripe about this is that you need to sharpen them :( PS. these contain Vit E (CA $30)

Tarte lipsurgence matte lip tint  - provides colour without drying the lips.  Leaves a stain on the lip just a tiny bit.  Love the formula as its not drying at all.  Not as long lasting as the Nars ones -bonus points for being a retractable pencil (CA $29)

Bourjois color boost lip crayon - this is the glossy version on the Tarte lipsurgence.  The colours from Bourjois are very summery, but can be worn all year long for sure.  Texture is very comfortable and its not to slick on the lips.  PRO: retractable yay! (CA $18)

Maybelline high shine lipgloss - my most favourite lipgloss ever - see as to why here (CA $8)

Maybelline colour whispers - i won't bore you with explaining why these made it to my favourites - see my video about it here

Mac X Riri lipstick - i only like the amplified, amplified creme and matte finish lipsticks from MAC.  But i especially love the texture of the Riri lipsticks -the colours are really rich and vibrant, and its non drying ..and the packaging?? winner! (CA $20)

Rimmel Moisture renew lipsticks - the scent smells like cherry bubblegum (i don't mind it, but id rather have it unscented)  These lipsticks feel good on the lips, very moisturizing, and it applies evenly.  some of the best drugstore lipsticks out there.  My favourite is "Nude delight" (CA $6)

Rimmel Apocalips - i almost bought all the colours because of all the hype I've been hearing when these came out in the UK & US.  It's basically a liquid lipstick in a bottle - and i love how opaque & vibrant (some colours) it applies on the lips (CA $8)

Elizabeth Arden nourishing lip balm - really soothes dry lips, and provides sun protection as well. The texture is a bit thick which i prefer when my lips are super chapped.  (CA $20)

Maybelline baby lips Dr Rescue - very soothing and I love the minty sensation on the lips. I like these better than the original baby lips as they are more moisturizing I feel like (CA $4)

Nuxe reve de miel - good option if you want something that will soothe, repair & moisturize the lips especially during winter. ..and aparently one gets sold every 28 seconds throughout the world. Wow! (CA $17)

Nivea lip butter - a good ol lip butter that has no colour, glitter or shimmer.  Unscented so its perfect for those with sensitive noses :o) I have the vanilla and macadamia and it smells heavenly! CA $3

Lush lip scrub - I know you can easily make your own lip scrub, but I just love the ones from lush. Does the job and they taste good too. My fave's are mint julips, popcorn & Santa's (CA $10)

NSPA eye & lip treatment - this sounded weird to me which was what made me buy it in the first place (out of curiosity). But surprisingly, it works. I use this when I want something that's light weight and that will provide a quick relief to my dry lips. (CA $6)

xx
Aivee

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FAVOURITES OF 2013 - FACE

No 7 Pore refining serum
MAC Prep + Prime face protect CA $37
Loreal Miracle Blur CA $25

Maybelline FIT Me CA $8

Loreal True Match Lumi CA $15

 MAC Face & Body CA $32

Giorgio Maestro CA $65

Essence 16 hour concealer

Maybelline Eraser Dark circle CA $10

Bobbi Brown corrector CA $30

Chanel Soleil tan de Chanel bronzer CA $51

Benefit Hoola CA $36

Bourjois bronzing primer CA $24

Nars X Guy Bourdin blush palette CA 65

Benefit Rockateur CA $36

Revlon cream blush CA $9

Hourglass ambient lighting powder palette CA $60

No 7 Pore refining serum - lightweight texture and reduces the appearance of pores (available at Shoppers Drugmart)

MAC Prep + Prime face protect - this keeps my face matte for the entire day, and also has SPF 50 (bonus!) (CA $37)

Loreal Miracle Blur - makes skin super smooth and ready for a flawless foundation application.  Also comes in Oil-Free version (CA $25) 

Maybelline FIT Me - an excellent drugstore foundation that provides light to medium coverage.  This gives a dewy finish to the skin.  Would've loved if it came with a pump for a mess free application.

Loreal Lumi - a luminous (as the name suggests) drugstore foundation that has a light to medium coverage.  Has a wide selection of colours/shades to accommodate all skin tones.

MAC Face & Body - best natural (light to medium coverage) foundation to give you that "looks like skin" finish; perfect for taking photos as it does not contain any SPF

Giorgio Maestro - my pick for a high end foundation that provides a medium to full coverage  without making your face look cake at all.  This applies very evenly on the skin and i  love the scent - it does not smell like makeup (you know what I mean yes?).  The packaging also feels luxurious.

Essence 16 hour concealer - inexpensive and stays on the skin for a long time (Not sure if this will really last for 16 hours, I haven't worn it for that long).  Only CON is that it only comes in light shades (nothing for someone with a medium to dark complexion)

Maybelline Eraser Dark circle - best salmon coloured eye concealer.  Texture is lightweight and does not cake up.  I love how it applies smoothly under the eyes. 

Bobbi Brown corrector - high end alternative to Maybelline dark circle eraser (if budget is not a concern); It has a very creamy consistency but I find that  have to moisturize really well so it won't crease on me.

Chanel Soleil tan de Chanel bronzer - good matte universal cream bronzer and I especially love the packaging.  Definitely a cult favourite

Bourjois bronzing primer - drugstore alternative to Chanel tan de soleil.  The texture is different as this has more of a mousse like consistency (Chanel is more solid) - little goes a long way

Benefit Hoola - another good high end matte bronzer.  this product lasts a looong time, so its worth the price (imo).  

Nars X Guy Bourdin blush palette - Limited Edition offering from Nars for the holidays.  They always offer some of the best blush palettes.  Best for when travelling as the colours will match any makeup look.  If you can still get your hands on this,  grab yourself one! (or two .. lol)  I believe this was $65

Benefit Rockateur - I'm not really too fond of the scent (it doesn't smell bad at all - Id rather that it was unscented) BUT gives the prettiest rosy pinky glow on your cheeks

Revlon cream blush - love the cream to powder finish.  only comes in 4 shades - 2 are perfect for summer/spring as they are super bright and the other 2 are more natural so its best to wear during fall season.  Provides a very natural flush on the face, it is easy to blend and stays on the cheeks the entire day.  

Hourglass ambient lighting powder palette - again, this is a must have (grab one if you still can)  for achieving that perfect glow.  it extends the wear of my makeup, and minimizes the look of pores.

xx

Aivee

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SWATCHED: (Coming soon to Canada) Maybelline Color Sensational lipstick - The Buffs Collection

Today I have the Maybelline's ColorSensational lipstick - The Buffs collection.

These are already out in the US but will be available here in Canada on January 14, 2014 - so mark your calendars!

I have been a long time fan of Maybelline, as their products rarely disappoint me.  I was impressed by the Vivids lipsticks and the ColorSensational high shine lip glosses are my favourite lip gloss ever.  

Vivids lipstick live swatches - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOXauUzM-RI

ColorSensational lipgloss live swatches - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sa_EGUQi4xE

Going back to the new collection... there are 8 colours and in my opinion, the colour selection will suit a lot of skin types.  let me show you.... 

 

910 - Bare All 

This is the lightest shade, and with my NC20 skin, this totally erased my lips lol.  It was like a lip eraser - which can totally be a base for brighter lipsticks

915 - Blushing Beige

Nude with pink tones 

920 - Nude Lust 

This is my favourite out of all 8 shades.  My PERFECT nude.  

The colour is very similar to #915

925 - Maple Kiss

930 - Truffle tease

945 - Stormy Sahara

similar to truffle kiss, but with a light pinky/orange-y tone

950 - Untainted Spice

lighter than 955; has a hint purple undertones

955 - Espresso Exposed

Now, this colour surprised me when i removed the cover.  I thought this was too dark to be considered a nude - but again, the collection can accommodate a lot of skin tones.  When I applied this on my lips, it was a perfect fall colour - it was like cranberry/wine...but of course you can sheer it out of a wash of colour on your lips

I had high hopes for this collection, just because the Vivids & the lip glosses were a hit for me...and the buffs did exactly that. I love them!  The texture was creamy and applied smoothly on the lips. 

The only shade I had a problem with was the lightest one (910) - because it was so light, it emphasized some dry areas on my lips (so if this colour suits you, I highly recommend that you exfoliate your lips with some lip scrub and moisturize) 

I kinda like the packaging as it completed the 'nude' collection really well.  the names are also quite cheeky for this line *_^ My most favourite is the shade called "Nude Lust" - now I know the names are not as vulgar as the ones from Nars, but you know what Im sayin' yes?

I've filmed a video with live swatches for all eight colours -which is now LIVE on my channel - so be sure to check it out ^_^

I was excited when I heard about this collection coming out - and to now have them, its even more exciting ^_^ 

Huge thanks to Maybelline's PR team for providing these lipsticks! They were everything I hoped they would be. 

here's what 920 looks like on me ^_^

xx

Aivee

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