December Favorites

If you’ve been reading my past few monthly favorites posts, then you’ll know I don’t just include the standard beauty/hair/body products. Although I’m generally a beauty blogger, I don’t fall in love with enough new products each month to justify a post about them. Instead, I include entertainment-centered things that I’ve been watching, reading, or listening to over the past few weeks. Hope you find a few new things to check out!

 

Christmas Haul!

With two out of my three family Christmas parties out of the way, I thought I’d update on what I’ve received this year so far!

Pictured above are:

My favorite skinny jeans from Hollister

One pair of Bearpaw knee-high beige socks (I received another pair in grey)

Amy Schumer’s hilarious movie Trainwreck

Three Caribbean Vanilla body butters in Original Vanilla, Vanilla & Coffee, and Vanilla & Green Apple (Might post a review on these!)

 Troye Sivan’s Blue Neighbourhood Deluxe album

Ulta Nail Polish

Wen Six Thirteen Ultra Nourishing Styling Crème

Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara

Bath & Body Works warm vanilla sugar body wash

Redken All Soft shampoo and conditioner

A nail file

 

Many of these are beauty or hair care products so I might post reviews on them if I really like them! In addition to the presents pictured, I also got a massive hanging make-up bag, various chocolates, a lottery ticket, and a few other bits and pieces in my stocking.

My parents also informed me that they had wanted to get me an iPhone but they are having some trouble with getting a family contract, so I think I will have an iPhone to look forward to in a few months which will be really cool! I also have a Christmas with my mom’s extended family next week so I may post some presents from there, too.

I hope you had a great Christmas day, whether you celebrate it or not! What gifts did you receive this year?

Xx Katie

Review: Nars Bronzer in Laguna

I have been testing out this bronzer for about a month and a half now and I use it daily! This is a great product for me and I don’t plan on replacing it anytime soon.

First of all, the packaging. This bronzer comes in the standard Nars packaging, which looks very sleek and high-end but it attracts fingerprints SO QUICKLY. It includes a nice, big mirror and 8 grams of product, which is the full-size option. You can also buy this bronzer in a duo with half of the product Laguna and the other half a different blush or bronzer.

 

The bronzer itself is light brown with slight gold shimmer. I find that the shimmer isn’t very noticeable so I’ve been using this bronzer mostly to contour. It works wonderfully for my pale skin. However, if you have naturally tan or darker skin this might work better on the cheekbones as a highlighter/illuminator. I also sometimes use a powder brush and apply it to my forehead and nose for a sun-kissed look.

 

This product is fairly pigmented. I swiped my finger across it a few times before taking the photo above. It does go very easily onto a brush, as one dab is usually enough for me to get the desired amount. I’ve been using Laguna almost every day since I purchased it and I can hardly tell that it has been used, so it will definitely last me a while. It also stays on all day and is very blendable, so it looks amazing on the skin! It definitely looks natural, as well, which I think is a necessity for a good bronzer.

It is a bit pricey ($39.00) but for all the positives about this product, I think it's worth it.

If you are looking for a new bronzer, I really recommend this one! You can try it for yourself here!

Xx Katie

Review: Clinique Long Last Soft Matte Lipstick in Matte Beauty

When I think of Clinique, I typically think of their amazing skincare rather than their make-up line. So when my aunt regifted me this lipstick, I was eager to try it out!

 

The packaging is quite pretty. It has random geometric shapes and stripes in different shades of orange, white, and pink. The lipstick itself is a dusky pink shade called “Matte Beauty”. It’s almost a Barbie pink that looks just a bit pinker than my actual lips. It would look flattering on just about everyone, but it seems more a spring and summer color than a winter and autumn one. I think it’ll look especially nice with a tan, pink blush, and shimmery eyeshadow!

“Matte Beauty” is, as the name suggests, a matte shade. Matte lipsticks tend to be drying to before I apply it I always use a lip balm. This lipstick covers very well and it almost looks like your natural lip shade. It’s also very long lasting. After I swatched it on my hand for the photos, I took a shower and scrubbed it with a loofah and I can still see where it was before.

 

It feels very nice on the lips. The formula is creamy, for a matte lipstick, and does give the “velvet finish” that the website says it gives. It also doesn’t feel very heavy; I almost forget I’m wearing anything at all! The only problem I have with this lipstick so far is that if you don’t moisturize your lips before putting it on, it can settle into the lip lines.

Overall, I think this is a very wearable lipstick and shade, and I think I’ll be reaching for it very often when spring comes around!

You can purchase the Clinique Long Last Soft Matte Lipstick in Matte Beauty for yourself here!

 

Xx Katie

Holiday Party Make-up

With the holidays rapidly approaching, it’s time for a different kind of celebration. That’s right: holiday parties. While these can vary in formality, I always like to get dressed up for them. Whether it’s an ugly sweater party, New Year’s Eve bash, or a family Christmas party, I like to go the extra mile with my make-up when I’m getting ready for a holiday party. Special occasions deserve a special look!

For all festive parties, I like to do a sparkly eye, red lip, and glowing skin look. This looks great on everyone and can suit a variety of occasions and outfits.

 

I don’t know about you, but for a fancy party around this time of year, I love to wear sequins. The more glitter, the better. With such a glamorous outfit, I tone down the make-up (just a little) with a pale cream or white eye-shadow and a matte lip. I like to use bareMinerals’ eye-shadow in embrace, which is a gorgeous shimmery cream color. I pair this with winged eyeliner and my favorite matte red lipstick, Siren in Scarlet by Maybelline (review here!).

If my outfit is a bit more understated, I play up the lips and eyes a little bit more with a really pigmented red lipgloss. I love Mary Kay’s Nourishine plus in Rock n Red. You could use it on its own or over a red lipstick for even more colour. As for the eye-shadow, pale brown or gold shades look good on everyone! There are tons of neutral palettes available. Look for one with shimmery shades and you’re good to go! Lately I’ve been reaching for the Flirt! limited edition eyeshadow palette with various shades of gold.

For a casual get together with friends (ugly sweaters may or may not be included) a subtle look might be more appropriate. The Clinique chubby sticks are a really nice lip tint/balm for this sort of event. I like shade 03, Mightiest Maraschino.

 

And finally, for the skin, it’s time to break out the highlighters for a glowy, shimmery look. I like the Physicians Formula mineral glow powder palette in Beige Pearl, but a liquid highlighter would look wonderful, too.

I hope you have a great holiday season! Have you been to any Christmas parties yet?

Xx Katie

Scent Smarts

 

Perfumes pictured from left to right: Siren by Paris Hilton, Taylor by Taylor Swift, Wonderstruck by Taylor Swift, Poppy by Coach (roll-on), Pure Brilliance by Celine Dion, Elige by Mary Kay, Fantasy by Britney Spears, Paris Hilton's 10th Anniversary Edition, Incredible Things by Taylor Swift. (If you can't tell, Taylor Swift and Paris Hilton make some of my favorite scents! And the bottles are gorgeous, too) These are all some of my favorites, although I have many more perfumes that I don't wear as regularly, or I only wear to school and therefore don't like as much.

 

There are some people who find one scent that they love and stay faithful to it for years.

Then there are people like me, who constantly buy new perfumes and have yet to finish a bottle. It’s an addiction; I love too many fragrances to wear only one!

Over the past few years I’ve learned a lot about how scents are tied to our memories. For example, my mom used to buy a vanilla air freshener for us to spray in the bathrooms, and now whenever I smell vanilla it reminds me of, well, what you do in a bathroom.

It works in other ways, too. Certain scents can remind us of past boyfriend or girlfriends, loved ones, vacations, parties, and other memories. I can no longer wear the Hollister perfume I used to wear in middle school as it reminds me of my awkward, insecure days.

So now that we are armed of this perfume knowledge and how scents are tied to memories, what do we do with that information? If you are a perfume-aholic like me, here are a few ideas I’ve been trying out!

First is an idea that I got from an Into the Gloss interview with one of my favorite actors, Phoebe Tonkin. She explains that she buys about one perfume a year and wears it constantly throughout that year. Then, whenever she smells it, it will bring her back to the time period in her life when she wears it. I love this sentimental idea, however I edited to fit my more eclectic tastes.

As I said before, I could never wear one scent for an entire year. I get bored of them easily and I love to change it up. Instead, I tailor different fragrances to different events. I wear very sweet, feminine scents like Taylor by Taylor Swift or Paris Hilton’s 10th Anniversary fragrance on dates. My all-time favorite perfume, Wonderstruck by Taylor Swift, is reserved for nights out with my friends when I’m sure to have fun. Some I wear to school, others to work, and others still to family events or chilled-out days with my friends.

I’ve been doing this for a few years now and it really works! I associate the different scents with different emotions. I reserve my favorite perfumes for only special occasions and therefore never get sick of them. Whenever I’m feeling down, I find my favorite perfumes to be very uplifting. It’s a philosophy I’m very glad I started.

So tell me…what are your favorite scents? Do you think you will start saving a few for special occasions? .

Xx Katie

Review: MAC Studio Sculpt SPF 15 Foundation

I purchased this foundation online about three weeks ago and I’ve been using it pretty much daily ever since! I really really like it. Let me break it down for you why!

(Also you may have noticed that my hands are looking a bit roughed up--new kitten probs.)

The Studio Sculpt comes in a small, chic-looking plastic tube. I find it quite easy to squeeze the correct amount onto the back of my hand. If you are someone who takes the product right out of the container and puts it onto a brush or sponge, this might be a little bit more trouble for you.

This foundation has a gel-based formula, which makes it very thick and creamy. I’ve also found that a little goes a long way! Only a small amount is needed to give my face medium-to-full coverage. While it covers very well, it doesn’t go on cake-like and it doesn’t make my dry patches look flakey. It really looks like a second skin so my complexion looks naturally even, moisturized, and glowy. My skin is naturally very red-toned so I love the coverage on this foundation!

MAC offers many different shades for pale and dark, warm and cool skin tones! I'm using shade NW20, the second lightest option for warm skin tones. I don't live anywhere near a MAC store so I had a bit of trouble matching myself by searching through swatches online. Luckily my foundation turned out to be a perfect match!

 After a few uses I noticed that the oily parts of my combination skin were emphasized with this foundation. I offset this with a bit of powder in those areas and so the problem was easily solved! However, if you have very oily skin you might prefer to use a matte foundation, as the oil really shows up with the Studio Sculpt.

It also stays on for a very long time. I have no trouble wearing it for a full day of school or work (and I work in a humid pool!)

Overall, I think this is definitely worth the money and I’ll most likely be repurchasing it when my tube runs out!

Pros:

Glowing effect

Excellent coverage

SPF 15

Long-Lasting

Blendable

Many options

 

Cons:

Oil-enhancing

 

You can purchase the Mac Studio Sculpt foundation for $33.00 here. I apply it with a kabuki brush. Let me know if you’ve tried this and how you liked it, and if not if you'd like to!

Xx Katie