MAC survival guide

Going into a MAC Cosmetics store to me is like a kid in a candy store. I just love exploring all the different products and colours. My imagination races at light speed as it ponders all the possibilities these beautiful pigments and pastel lip colours can create.
Makeup to me isn't just about looking good or feeling good. I mean thats a big part of what Cosmetics are all about, but Makeup to me is like art and when I step foot in a MAC store I'm a artist shopping for my next inspiration, my next out of this world look.

This being said a MAC store can be overwhelming for those who don't particularly know what their looking for. There are an abundance of products with various finishes, formulas, pigments, satin, sheen, matte, liquid, powder, it goes on and on. My first time in a MAC store I was 13 and I could only afford two eyeshadows and boy let me tell you I must have sat there for 45 minutes trying to decide which two eyeshadows, out of there selection of about 60 different colours and finishes. The two colours I proudly walked out of the store with that day were SWISH and SATIN TAUPE. I chose these two colours because I wanted to create a look that was both sophisticated and funky just like my personality;)

first two MAC eyeshadows as you can see I love Swish

My love for MAC and my collection have long grown since then, and although there are times where I walk into a MAC store awed and somewhat overwhelmed by the varieties, I always go back to my staples. These are my MAC staples that I use on a daily basis either on myself or my clients. They are high quality versatile products that are my most definite recommendations to first time MAC shoppers.

MAC Eyeshadow in Vanilla, Carbon, Naked Lunch, Satin Taupe

This one was a bit more tricky for me to establish. I love exploring with colour and looks and therefore use and love most of MAC eyeshadows. Not only for their colour variety but for how pigmented and high quality they are.

It's morning your getting ready for school, work, ect.. you have your eyeshadow perfectly applied and blended, your rocking your look only to see around lunch time it has slipped and no longer looks visible... has this happened to you??.. me to, all the time when I was a just a little preteen beginning to play with makeup...and I thought it was me and my poor abilities to apply makeup. Little did I know it was the poor quality of my dollar store eyeshadows.

These four eyeshadow colours would be the perfect start to a MAC collection. These colours are all neutral tones and are capable of creating looks from simple day looks to full drama smokey eye looks, and will look great on all skin tones.

Vanilla: Is a beautiful velvet textured, soft peach white colour, with a tiny hint of shimmer. This is a great pigment for highlighting the brow bone, brightening and opening up the eyes by adding a touch to the inner corner of the eyes. or is a great all over base colour to start the look and can be used to blend other colours out.

Naked Lunch: I love this colour and is my most used colour for brides, where the term Nude Smokey Eye is often used :S quite the contradiction but this shade makes it! It is the softest shade of pink with a light shimmer. This colour I use mainly all over the lids for a nice natural sheen, and will look stunning on all skin tones.

Satin Taupe: As I mentioned before this was literally one of my first MAC eyeshadows and still a favourite. It is the most beautiful taupe colour with a golden silver like shimmer to it. I love using this in the crease area to bring depth and drama to the eye without looking to harsh, as black can sometimes do. This colour is also beautiful in a golden smokey eye look, swept over the eyelid using black as the crease colour. If you prefer to have a matte finish ESPRESSO is a great substitute for this colour.

Espresso

Carbon: Carbon is the perfect black colour and can be used wherever black is needed. In the crease, smudged into the upper and lower lash line. Apply over eyeliner to give your eyeliner more staying power. All around versatile high quality eyeshadow that will stand up to those early mornings or late nights.


MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer

I love how creamy and blendable this concealer is, unlike some concealers I find can be to dense and a bit more tricky to blend. The coverage is also amazing. I had a job doing hair and makeup on cruise ships and while training and studying over at the prestigious academy in London England we were not allowed to show our tattoos. This was unfortunate for be because I have a tattoo on my forearm that had to be covered up daily. This is what I used and although I no longer need to cover up my beautiful tattoo, this concealer is still a staple for personal use and in my professional kit. 32$ CA

Painterly Paint Pot

Remember my story earlier of the disappearing eyeshadow. Well this product is great for slapping that problem right in the face and showing it who's boss. MAC paint pots are creamy and blend fabulously. They come in a variety of colours, however I love Painterly because its a nude colour. You will use this with every eyeshadow application and not only will your eyeshadow last all day, but this product will also cover any little veins or discolouration of the eyelids so that the true pigment of your shadow can shine through. 21$ CA

MAC Prep and Prime Transparent Powder

This is a translucent powder but to me its like photo shop in a container! It gives the silkiest finish and is perfect for setting your makeup to allow it to last all day into those wild nights. Its great for reducing shine and minimizes the look of pores and fine lines. Apply this all over the face over your makeup or after moisturizing your skin for a smooth flawless airbrush finish. 27.50$ CA

Blacktrack Fluidline

Fluidline+angled brush= Unstoppable. Wether its a timeless cat eye look your aiming for, or classic retro pin up look Fluidline and a angled brush is all you will need. I love this formula because it is so easy to work with. It's ultra smooth gel formula basically does all the work and allows you to create as thick or thin of lines you'd like. 18$ CA


MAC 217, 239 and 168 Brushes

 Mac brushes are awesome, I think most makeup artist can agree on that however can be a bit pricy. For an everyday makeup routine you don't need a pile of professional makeup brushes, but having a select few of high quality brushes will be efficient on your wallet, deliver quality results and will be durable enough to last for years! I highly recommend investing in these three particular brushes because they are versatile and deliver great results.

239 is a soft, flat, dense eyeshadow brush perfect for picking up pigments and dispersing them evenly on the eyelids.  29.50$ CA

239

217 brush is perfect for applying and blending shadow in the crease area, as well as working with creamy products such as paint pots. I absolutely love this brush for working the crease area. Because the dynamics of this brush are in an oval shape it fits perfectly in the hollows of your eyes (crease) and pretty much does all the work, building and blending colour in the crease a breeze. 27$ CA

217

168 is a angled contour brush. I use this brush to apply blush, contour, highlight, buff and blending, you name it this brush can do it. The fibres are firmly bundled for precise application yet soft enough for blending.  41$ CA

168

MAC Powder Blush in Blushbaby, Pinch O'Peach and Blunt

Out of all my MAC blushes these are the two I wear most often and also use on most my clients, especially for weddings where the cheeks are just an accessory to the all over look. When your new to the blush market it can all look a bit scary, the fear of looking like a clown or that grandmas been pinching our cheeks all morning strikes a little fear, so keep it simple and choose a blush to work with your natural skin tone.

Blushbaby is a perfect beige-pink that gives the cheeks a subtle nude glow, nothing to overdone or uncomfortable to the eyes.

If your feeling up for it or if you have darker skin tones Pinch O' Peach is a beautiful warm peach colour that will add the most beautiful glow to your cheeks.

Blunt is my go to colour for contouring the cheeks and adding depth and dimension to the face. Its a beautiful matte bronzer that can be used in place of your usual bronzer.  24$ CA

MAC Cream Color Base in Shell

This is a cream colour (obviously) and is very versatile, another favourite among my clients. I love using this product to add a healthy radiant glow. Using either a brush or simply your fingers, I love applying this as a highlighter right at the top of the cheek bones, down the centre of the nose, on the brow bone ect.. This brightens up the face and reflects light to give the perfect highlighted glow. This product can be used on moisturized skin, or layered over foundation or powder. 21$ CA

MAC Lipstick in Hue

For everyday looks I'm a big fan of the soft pale nude lips and this colour is perfect for just that. Its a soft pale pink that can rock out on its own, or be the cherry on top to complete a dramatic smokey night look. 17.50$



Let me tell ya I sure wish I had a blog like this to tend to for my first MAC runs. My local MAC store is quite a drive, and the pictures in the online MAC store don't do the colours justice so I would research and make lists of all my desired products and make one MAC trip every couple months.

So wether its your first time stepping into a MAC store or if your in the mood to try something new I definitely recommend these as my staple products. You really can't go wrong in a MAC store. And if your ever overwhelmed amongst all the pretty colours, the wonderful artists working there are just as passionate and excited to take you on a journey to discover your perfect fall in love shade for whatever the occasion.

Whats in your makeup bag??

A womens purse... To men its a scary mysterious place they don't often venture, but for us ladies a purse is our home away from home, a lifeline..our bag of tricks. What we keep in our purse can be the difference between a good day and a bad day.
 So what kind of things do you keep in your purse ?? what products do you always have on hand to prepare yourself for anything?

Whether its a spontaneous get together with your secret someone, a date with the family, or simply going from a day look to night look, be prepared for any occasion by always keeping these products handy in your makeup bag.

 My makeup bag survival kit

These are the products I always have on hand with me. I may not necessarily use them all in a day but having a selection of your favourite products, allows you to create any look any time, carrying the least amount of products. I have only been carrying these products with me for the past 5 months and I have been able to create any look from casual day looks, to full on night on the town looks. Let me share with you my secret tips and tricks to getting the most out of these basic products.

note: These are just the brands and products I enjoy because they work for me, please feel free to utilize your favourite brands and products in your own unique way. However if your in the mood for trying something these are definitely worth a try.

Liquid Foundation/ Loosed or Pressed Powder/Concealer

 We all know these are the basis to a flawless foundation and can be used separately to achieve sheer coverage or in combination for maximum coverage. For simple day looks, try just using concealer where needed, and powder. I love using mineral powders because they are light on the skin and give a perfect sheer coverage for days where your just hanging out.

For a night on the town use a sheer liquid foundation followed by your favourite concealer and powder for maximum last all night foundation.

I always carry my favourite's **Clinique Perfectly real makeup, Glo minerals loose powder and Mac studio sculpt concealer.

Bronzer/Blush/Highlighting trio

These three products are more versatile then you think. Not only can a Bronzer be used to contour your features and give a sun kissed glow where needed. I have also used Bronzer has a eyebrow colour, and it makes the perfect eyeshadow colour for more dramatic looks. 

Carry your favourite Blush colour and lightly dust on the apples of the cheeks to add a soft glow. For night looks sweep the blush along the cheek bone up towards the temple for more drama. Depending on the colour you choose and the look your going for Blush can also substitute for a eyeshadow colour.

 The highlighting trio I always carry around with me is MAC Mineralize skin finish in Smooth Merge. I use the lighter colour to highlight the cheeks and brow bone however I have also used this for many different eye looks. its amazing how many different looks can be created with the same three colours. get creative with your products.

**MAC powder blush in BLUNT, Mineralize Skin finish Smooth Merge, Powder blush in spaced out.

Mascara/Eyeliner/Liquid liner

These products are key in any makeup look but can be used in different ways to achieve different looks. For a more dramatic way to open the eyes try applying mascara more so on the outer eye lashes having them flare outwards towards the outer corner of your eye.

I definitely recommend having two different eye pencils on hand, one in black and one in brown. Believe it or not I use brown more often then the ever famous black eyeliner. Brown is great because its more "soft" looking then black and is perfect for day looks. I also love using brown eyeliner as a brow pencil to fill in and define eyebrows. 

To turn a day look into a night look using black eyeliner along the inner waterline is simple and efficient. I have also used black eyeliner as eyeshadow base for creating smokey eyes. Simply apply black eyeliner along your lids and smudge into shape using a blending brush or your pinky, apply your bronzer colour to soften the edges. 

Liquid liner is great to have on hand to create the infamous cat eye liner which goes well with any look day or night. 

**My favourites are Benefit Bad gal Lash mascara, Bonnebell eye definer, Almay Liquid Eyeliner

Lip Pencil/Lip Color/Lip Moisturizer

Changing your lip colour is always a great way to go from a day look to night look.

 I love carrying around a light pink lip colour and a darker pink pencil. That way they can become more versatile. Using just the Lip colour on its own is great for soft day looks, for a more saturated look I like to line and fill my lips completely with my desired Lip Pencil and simply apply the Lip Moisturizer or Lip Color.

**My favourites MAC Viva Glam Gaga, MAC Lip Conditioner, GOSH Pink Peony velvet touch waterproof lipliner.

                                       Perfume/Antiperspirant/Hand Sanitizer

**Favorites Juicy Couture, Lady Speed Stick, La Senza Perfect Passion  






So wether its a spontaneous getaway, a overnight sleepover, or just a regular day at the office your beauty survival kit should be able to handle it all... In case of emergencies..Powder...Gloss..Glamorous










What products get you through the unexpected??

Body Shop must haves!

I have been a huge fan of the body shop since I was a pre teen. I was always asking for body shop products for christmas, birthdays and everything in between. Every mothers day my mother would faithfully recieve a body shop bathroom set, which would mysteriously get picked at as it sat untouched on display in our bathroom..mmhmm I wonder who that could have been ;)That love for thier products hasnt slowed down since. Over the years I have tried many products and have found my perfect combination for skin and body care. Every body shop visit, armed with my body shop card in hand, I stock up on these must haves.

Try stopping in at the Body Shop when they have there
          Buy 3 Get 2 FREE
          Buy 2 Get 1 Free
          Buy 1 Get 1 50%
I love going to the body shop during this sale time, it's a great time to stock up on all your favourites.





Tea Tree Foaming cleanser: 
This product has appeared on my blog many times and here it still stands at the top of the list. I have used many face cleansers from really expensive high end products to drug store bargains, and Iam always going back to this great quality budget friendly favorite. Tea tree, as ive explained many times before, has great antibacterial and antifungal properties to kill bacteria and help clear blemishes. This foaming cleanser feels great while cleansing your skin and your face feels amazingly fresh afterwards. I discovered this skin saver when I was 13 and 9 years later this is my number one must have from the body shop. This product is great for combination and oily skin types. I wouldnt recommend if you have severly dry skin but becuase its a foam it gives a nice gentle clean and may be worth a try.



Seaweed Mattifying Day Cream:
Again, this product has been mentioned on my blog before simply because I LOVE IT! I can still remember how I stumbled across this wonderful moisturizer. My dad had got me the gift set for my 14th birthday. Like most Body Shop products I enjoyed them, but this moisturizer I fell in love with. It wasn't to greasy, it didn't feel heavy on my face, my skin could breath and felt refreshed. All the things I look for in a moisturizer was contained in this magic little container. They have since then redesigned the packaging and changed the formula but it still remains all I look for in a moisturizer, and is still my number 1 budget friendly choice of moisturizer. As stated under the cap, this moisturizer contains Bladderwack Seaweed. Did you know seaweed contains phytonutrients which boosts blood flow making the skin glowing, soft and smooth while repairing damaged skin...yea me to ;) but it does and it definitely shows in this moisturizer. This formula is great for combination and oily skin types because it gives you moisture where you need it and has a matte finish for the oily areas, controlling excess oil and shine. It has a very light refreshing scent which feels cool and calming while applying. Honestly the best part of my skin routine is moisturizing with this cream, your skin feels so light and soft afterwards...amen for seaweed and their phytonutrients.


note: For severely dry skin I wouldn't recommend this moisturizer because it might not be moisturizing enough for your skin, this formula is designed to balance skin.

Coconut Body Butter:
Wow I'm beginning to feel like a broken record here.. Yes I have also mentioned this product on my blog before because, like I promised it is one of my must haves! I religiously use this every day right out of the shower, after being out in the sun to long, in the winter when my skin gets dry, I've even used this as tanning oil. They have many different formulas and scents another favourite being Satsuma, but the Coconut is my all time favourite. Coco Butter, which is the base of all their body butters, Contains many different antioxidants that help battle against free radicals that destroy skin cells and cause premature aging. This product is perfect for keeping skin hydrated and ideal for preventing stretch marks and treating scars.


Strawberry Body Polish:

My shower always contains a bottle of this delicious body polish. It's not a scrub or exfoliator it does both and then some....It cleanses and exfoliates while moisturizing, its magic! This formula contains crushed walnut shells and kiwi seeds which act as a natural, gentle exfoliator. The scent of strawberries is not only delightful but strawberries contain lots of vitamins and antioxidants that nourish and protect skin from those darn free radicals everyones talking about. The moisturizing properties in this body polish come from Honey, sunflower oil and sweet almond oil. A little goes a long way with this product and therefore lasts a fairly long time. Who needs a day at the spa with a product like this.


Tea Tree wipes:

Now I'm sure I don't need to go into my big speech on how much I love tea tree oil and how it naturally kills bacteria and is great for blemishes and so on. But now they come handy in these wipes. I love keeping these wipes in my overnight bag, makeup bag, gym bag, pretty much anywhere on the go. These are great for cleansing and taking off makeup at the end of the night, after the gym, camping, at sleep overs, and leaves skin feeling clean and refreshed.

Lip Butter:

Oh yeah!!!! pretty much everything I love about the body butter for your lips. its sensational! awesome for protection from the sun, protection from the cold winters while moisturizing your lips.


Body Shop Face Brush:

I love the Body Shop face Brush. Like all of their brushes they are so unbelievably soft and are completely harmless to animals yayyy!!!! The tapered cut to the synthetic hairs are perfect for precise application of mineral powders, translucent powders, bronzers ect.. Applying makeup with this brush is a treat all on its own. The softness of the brush is great for all skin types especially delicate sensitive skin. Blending with this brush is effortless and the softness is quite enjoyable. I get compliments on my clients all the time when I use this brush, I even had a client doze off she was so comfortable, wether that was the brush or my magic touch for applying translucent powder..we'll never know ;)




Don't get me wrong there a many other products that I LOVE from the Body Shop but these are my essentials

What are your favourite Body Shop product?? 

Product review- GOSH

Spring is in the air!! although you would hardly know it here in British Columbia. Where its sunny and beautiful one minute and raining cloudy the next.

Richmond. Vancouver, B.C

Fraser River. Fort Langley, B.C

  Days like these I like to bring in a spring feeling with bright spring colours.
Nail polish is a great and simple way to add some spring colour to your wardrobe, even when it doesn't feel like spring.

While searching for some sprinspiration (spring+inspiration) at my local Shoppers Drug Mart. These nail polish colours just sprung out and screamed its Spring!!!


Gosh Nail Lacquer:

597 MISS MINTY

555 SILVER

598 BUBBLE GUM

PS. I Love these colours...
              This was my first purchase of GOSH Nail Lacquer, I was definitely not disappointed with the colours and the bright vividness of the polish itself. After only one coat the colours showed and covered really well. I only used one coat and a clear finish and the results were great saturated spring colour. I especially loved how the silver wasn't opaque as some silver nail polishes are, below you can see just how beautiful the colours show after only one coat.

Other products I really enjoy from GOSH

Precious Powder Pearls in Magic (top,lighter) and Glow (bottom,darker)

These are really cool, there little pearls of powder. They have such a delicate sheen to them that look stunning in the light and add beautiful dimensions to the skin. I keep these on hand for photo shoots to give the perfect yet dramatic sheen to the skin. 

I love using Glow(the bronzy colour) along the neck, collar bone and contour areas to give a bronzed glow in the spring/summer months. The time of year when all us ladies are rocking tank tops and summer dresses. I love using Magic as a highlighter along the tops of the cheekbones, down the centre of the nose and a touch above the cupids bow to give a fuller dramatic sheen.

TIP: These are loose powders so I do recommend using a creme colour as a base first to prevent smudging and falling. My favourite is Shell from MAC. 

Velvet touch lipliner *waterproof in Pink Peony, Peach Pearl and Auburn Twist

I purchased these lipliners while they were on sale and decided to give them a try. I instantly fell in love with Pink Peony and Peach Pearl, Simply because I'm a big fan of Pink traffic stopping lips. The formula in general didn't disappoint either, this lipliner glides on so smoothly and last for the majority all day.

Soft'N Shine Lip Balm in 30 BARBIE

In combination with the lipliners I love using the soft'n shine lip balm. 

However this is a must have all on its own. This lip colour is so smooth and conditioning I never found that it dried out at all! and this colour is a stunning barbie pink. This is the first and only colour I have for this particular brand. I was really pleased with these finds and they still remain a regular staple in my makeup bag. Having a bright colour option in your makeup bag is a quick and easy way to take your look from a day at the office to a night out on the town.

TIP: To give your lip colour extra staying power, line and fill your lips completely with your lipliner, apply lip colour and then lightly pat lips with translucent powder using a tissue.

Extreme Art Eyeliner in 26 (silver) 17(purple) 77 (turquoise) 10(blue)

I purchased these for a specific look I wanted to create. I love creating fantasy looks and stepping outside the box. These are great for just that! they come in such a range of colours and are perfect for drawing specific lines, creating dots, and just having fun with colour. I do warn you though when they say "extreme art eyeliner" they aren't kidding around. This eyeliner is quite difficult to take off with just your typical face cleanser, a makeup remover is required to take this product off. However if you don't mind putting in a little extra elbow in your cleansing routine and your feeling adventurous this is definitely a great place to start. 

In honour of todays review I have created a look using all the products above. I created this look for a fun flirty day out on a beautiful spring day, I kept it clean and simple with a pop of colour in the lips because I always like to stand out in a crowed. It may not feel like spring here in British Columbia but that doesn't mean I can't look the part :)

What are some of your favourite spring/summer products ?? 

Back to business

Hey Everyone!

wow has it been forever! Good to see everyone :) hope you didn't miss me to much ;) (insert confident sarcasm here)  I have been MIA the past 5 months but its for a good reason I promise :) I have been working my little rump off and saving pennies to finally purchase myself a place to call home. Iam very excited to announce that I will be moving into my condo in 2 months 17 days (but who's counting) Not even words can describe how excited Iam for this day to come, Finally I have a place to call home. A place to express myself and live out my craziest colourful dreams :)

Furniture and Decor shopping has been so fun these past months, I have already picked out the colours and theme of each room and have started collecting decor to match. I will post some photos of the great finds I have purchased. Like many of us I have a unique style that will obviously be reflected in my home. I have found great pieces that scream original :) I'd love to share them with you.

Where does your inspiration for making your home personal come from??


Just a few of my favourite finds:......more to come

Like most people in this world I LOVE LOVE LOVE marilyn monroe, she is truly a classic beauty that will live on for generations. So naturally I saw this picture and fell in Love! I envision this beauty on the walls of my future living room. I have many marilyn pictures but this one is so unique I had to have it.

Don't mind the Iphone boarder. I had this chandelier custom painted.

Jennifer at My painted furniture is wonderful!!! I found her about a year ago and fell in love with her work. It's amazing what she can transform. Her work is truly original and you can guarantee no one will have such a beautiful unique piece at a great price. I have designed and purchased 70% of my furniture from her and my home is going to be proud to display her work. She is truly talented and can accommodate any design you may have in mind. 

www.mypaintedfurniture.com 

I was downtown vancouver one night for an event, this bed was displayed a store front and I fell in love with it! I had never seen a bed like this and it was calling my name. After researching almost every furniture store in vancouver I finally found it online only to see that this beauty of a bed cost 1200$ before taxes..ouch..not exactly on the budget. After arguing with myself and anxiously pondering on how much I could sell my blood for (insert joke here) I decided that this bed will be a fun future project I can attempt to make myself. I will be sure to keep in touch on how that goes ;)

I was in home sense and I spotted these lamps and again they screamed my name! I love how original and unique they are. As I brought them up to the counter to officially claim them mine the store clerk even mentioned these were the only ones they had or have ever had..this pleased me and for a great price :) 

I love dollar stores! especially when everything really is 1$$ I have found all sorts of decor goodies at the dollar store, these being one of them. Fake flowers can be a great, easy, cheap way to brighten up a living room or add sparkle to a bathroom.

Again excuse the iPhone boarder. 

Another beautiful creation from jennifer at my painted furniture. I had picked out these nightstands on her website in the unpainted section and asked her if she could paint them silver. Well she sure did and they look amazing!! 

 Let me tell ya I will be so happy to have my "girly" space for I have been living in a mans world far to long, bar decor, brown leather couches, pictures of Harley davidson bikes. Testosterone fills this space and is the definition of a man cave. I have spent my last three years amongst the boys, saving up for my own place, that I'm surprised I don't pee standing up (insert awkward laugh)


Thanks for stopping by and keeping in touch.  As always I love to hear from you. where and when was your first home?? how did you decorate??


What are your favourite decor finds??
What is your style ??
Where do you find inspiration??



www.mypaintedfurniture.com 

Top favourites: Face cleansers/Moisturizers

Hey everyone! first off Happy New year!!!! I hope everyone had a fun and safe holiday and I hope the new year is filled with lots of love, health and happiness for all of us...let this be the year our dreams come true!! What are some of your goals for the new year??


 To start the new year off I thought I would do a product review series. I will be posting reviews on all my top favourites that I seem to come back to time and time again. Iv been keeping track of my stats and you all seem to really appeal more towards product reviews. This I totally understand, there are literally hundreds and hundreds of products out on the market today that its hard to tell what works, what doesnt, and whats really worth purchasing.  Being the spontaneous, commitment feared, adventurous girl that Iam. I easily get bored of products and therefore over the years have tried hundreds of different products. These are the products that at one point or other I always come back to...

Please keep an open mind that everyone is different and therefore a product that works for me may not have the same results for you. These are the products I've really enjoyed over the years and feel are worth the purchase. these are my own thoughts, critiques and opinions on the products and I have no been paid or sponsored in any way.



Top Face Cleansers


 Dermalogica Special Cleansing gel:   First off I love love love anything Dermalogica! I worked in a salon that only carried Dermalogica. I have heard first hand, many reviews and stories from so many genuinely satisfied customers.  Working at the salon I had a discount on products and this was always my cleanser of choice. Dermalogica has such a wide range of products and regimens for all skin types and skin problems. Anybody that is really troubled by their skin I definitely encourage you to find a salon/spa that carries Dermalogica products. The only downside about their products is obviously the price. Their products can get pricy. Seeing as I no longer work at the salon and don't get a discount. I rarely purchase this product anymore HOWEVER! if I had the money I would without a doubt purchase this product regularly. Like I said though If your really bothered by the condition of your skin the money is well worth it, their products are amazing!


Body Shop Tea tree foaming cleanser:  Next to Dermalogica this is my second go-to cleanser. It's extremely budget friendly and cost under 20$( in canadian dollars) its the cleanser I purchase the most. If your familiar with my blog you'll know that I'm always going off about Tea Tree oil and how it has amazing natural antibacterial, anti fungal properties, including the ability to kill bacteria that cause pimples, blackheads and acne. This cleaner comes out has a foam and feels so good on the skin. One pump is all you will need to cleanse your face and therefore lasts you a good couple months. After using this cleanser your face feels so fresh and clean.

Vichy: I recently posted about my top drugstore purchases and this cleanser made the cut. I've been using this cleanser since I was 13. Being 21 now, I have been watching my little cousins grow into teenagers, fighting hormones and blemishes just as I did at that age.  I have now passed this product down to them and it has helped them as much as it helped me as a teenager. What I love so much about this product is it gives such great results for such a decent price. Vichy products can be purchased at drugstores and therefore is easily accessible.


St. Ives Apricot Scrub: Aside from your everyday cleanser its good to exfoliate the skin 1-2 times a week. This removes dead skin cells that can build up on the surface of your skin resulting in acne, blackheads and  a dull looking complexion. This is a great budget friendly exfoliate. This product brings back a lot of memories, my grandma had used this product for years and I have been using it since.


Arbonne FC5 New cell scrub: I have received this product as a gift from a friend and I have fell in love with it! I at first wasn't familiar with Arbonne. Arbonne is a cosmetic company based on botanical principles, meaning they use natural ingredients from plants, fruits ect.. Similar to Mary Kay or Avon, their are representatives that sell Arbonne, however I believe you can purchase their products on their website. So far this is the only product I have tried from Arbonne. I have been using it for about three months and Iam very happy with the product and the results so far. This exfoliate is amazing!! and your face looks and feels so radiant and clear afterwards. It has a clay like texture with tiny micro-exfoliants to gently scrub away dead skin cells and promote the growth of new ones. Iam not looking forward to the day I run out of this product..its going to be a sad day :(







Top Moisturizers:
 Iam a moisturizer-aholic and have tried hundreds of different moisturizers, there are very few that make the cut for me mainly because Iam very picky when it comes to my moisturizer. I don't like anything at all greasy, heavy, cakey, sticky, shiny or suffocating on the skin. These are my top moisturizers that I use because they are the few that I have really really really liked and I didn't complain about to much. I have other moisturizers I like these are just my go-to's


Dermalogica skin smoothing cream: Along with Dermalogica special cleansing gel, I love love love this moisturizer from Dermalogica (in general you really can't go wrong with any dermalogica products)
 This product is non of the above. It's hydrating without being greasy. Again I rarely purchase this product because of the price but if I win the lottery any time soon I would definitely be purchasing this product on a regular basis.


Body Shop Seaweed mattifying day cream: This is my all time favourite moisturizer because it dries matte and doesn't leave your skin feeling at all greasy or shiny. I stumbled across this product by accident 7 years ago and haven't looked back. This is my most purchased moisturizer ever and is again very budget friendly. This moisturizer is oil free and has oil-balacing properties that mattify where and when the skin needs it. This moisturizer is recommended for combination/oily skin, I would highly recommend this moisturizer for oily skin types because it dries so matte and doesn't add any shine to your face. I wouldn't recommend this product for anyone with dry skin types because it's a very light hydration.


Kiss my Face:  Those of you who are familiar with my blog will know that I have blogged about this moisturizer a couple of times. It is extremely budget friendly and can be purchased at drugstores or natural food stores. This product is made from all natural ingredients and comes in three formulations for specific skin types. My favourite is the Aloe and Olive oil moisturizer. This is also my all time favourite moisturizer for mixing with my foundation to create my own tinted moisturizer. It has such a creamy texture and goes onto the skin so smoothly without feeling heavy or greasy.











What are some of your favourite face cleansers/ moisturizers???

DIY Recycling your old Vintage T's

We all have those favourite T-shirts we love and cherish, and as the years pass, they become smaller and worn out although their to precious to give away. why not recycle them and give them a new life?
 I have a confession to make Iam a tinee tad bit of a hoarder, I find I'm always hanging on to certain items hoping to find a new life or use for them.
 I've been hanging onto certain T-shirts I love and used to wear all the time. Sadly I eventually grew out of them. They've been sitting at the bottom of my drawers neglected to be worn for months,they needed a new life. After contemplating finally giving in and giving them away, I decided to give them a new life as art for my walls. I love this because not only do I have original pictures to personalize my place and hang on my walls, but the memories and beauty of the T's will live on :D

Here's what you'll need:

• Large Picture frames to fit your T-shirt. (these are 30x40cm, 11 3/4"x15 3/4")
• Old favourite T-shirt
• Scissors

To do this project takes three simple steps!!!


1.) Take your desired picture frame out of the packaging, take the backing out.

2.) Position your T-shirt where you want it over the backing.

3.) Replace the backing into the frame and secure. Take your scissors and cut the access fabric off the T-shirt. Pick the perfect place for it on your walls and enjoy :D

Yayy!! now your favourite T's have a wonderful new home and you can cherish them for many more years. What I love about this project is the options are endless!!! Recycle your old concert T's, favourite vintage T's any T your proud to display on your walls. 

Enjoy and have fun

What are some of your favourite T's??? 

Would love to see what you guys come up with. feel free to send me emails and pics :D

makeup-addiction@hotmail.com

xoxoxox

Relish