Product Love | My #Lipstick Love

Is it a shock I love lipsticks? Not at all. My current lipstick love is here with my three newly acquired, gorgeous hued lipsticks! I had my eyes on them for awhile and finally got these babies to join their friends!

1. YSL Rouge Pur Couture Lipstick in Le Nu #70
2. MAC Cosmetics Lipstick in Pink Nouveau
3. MAC Cosmetics Lipstick in Cosmo

Of the three, my fave at the moment is the Yves St.Laurent Le Nu #70! (Trust me I love all of my lippies equally but there are a few that just had me at first application!)

It's a gorgeous nude with a beautiful pigment and finish. It's a warmer nude, which works perfectly with my skin tone and it looks great paired with a dark brown/grey lip pencil or a traditional nude for a more diffused look.

LIPSTICK DETAILS

MAC Cosmo
Shade: is a brown-based pink. It has a warmer undertones and enhances my natural lip pigment.
Finish: Amplified Creme that is full coverage.

YSL Le Nu 
Shade: is a warm, rosy beige Nude. It has a warmer undertone with peachy sheen.
Finish: Creamy texture that is light coverage.

MAC Pink Nouveau
Shade: is a blue based/cooler pink. It has vivid impact.
Finish: Satin texture that is full coverage.

SWATCHES

These are not typical of "Fall" or "Winter" shades, but makeup is about having fun and trying out different things that work for you. The perfect lipstick can really impact on how your day goes! Check out these colours and add them to your kit.

#Instagram Beauty Look | Neutral Tones

Here is a great neutral look that I love wearing as my go-to everyday makeup. The colours are soft, the skin is glowing while the lips and eyes are balanced without being too overpowering.

PRODUCTS USED:

Eyes

BH Cosmetics 28 Neutral Palette

Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill Mascara & Maestro Eyeliner

MAC Eye Pencil in Smoulder

Brows

Giorgio Armani Eye & Brow Maestro in Wedgewood

Face

Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheer #10

Luminous Silk Foundation #7

#400 Bronzer

#509 Blush

Lips

Giorgio Armani Rouge D'Armani #500

MAC Cosmetics Spice Liner

The list above does include many products but you can always start with one new product or technique and try to incorporate it to your own makeup looks. Either elevate the eyes or try a new lipstick, the options are endless! Hopefully you will find something new and discover what works for you!

Product Love | Lip Goodies from MAC Cosmetics :)

You never forget your first love! The same is true for makeup junkies and their first experience with makeup. My makeup shopping started from regular visits to Shoppers Drug Mart where I would get the beauty basics but eventually I grew to discover MAC cosmetics. 

As a Makeup Artist, I have discovered a variety of beauty brands whether it be through the industry, colleagues, clients or from my own experience. Therefore my makeup kit will always have a mixture of products that I have grown to love. MAC has been a line that I have loved for their amazing lipsticks! From vibrant shades, unique collections and the multitude of finishes, every girl has at least 1 MAC lipstick in her beauty bag! Today I would like to share my NEW Lip goodies from MAC Cosmetics!

I went to Square One Shopping Centre on Thanksgiving Monday and I stopped by the Bay and took a quick peek at the MAC counter. I am totally a kid in the candy store when I shop for makeup. I ended up picking three goodies from MAC. (Trust me when I tell you that was a difficult task to reduce it to three!).

• Fast Play Lipstick
• Heroine Lipstick
• Spice Lip Pencil

MAC Heroine I am obsessed with, it is such a beautiful vibrant matte purple-plum shade! MAC Fast Play is a gorgeous neutral brown lipstick and looks great with MAC Spice Liner.  This liner is great with nudes as well. All three are perfect for the season, whether you want to go super bold or muted brown. Check them out the next time you are at a MAC counter!

LOTD | #NationalLipstickDay

Happy National Lipstick Day!

In honour of #NationalLipstickDay, I pulled together a collection of images of my favourite lipsticks! From brights, bolds to neutrals, you can pretty much wear any colour that you are in the mood for.  It is interesting and almost shocking to think that at one point in history, wearing Lipstick was not approved of, considered scandalous and banned. Thankfully, this ideology towards lipstick has changed! Lipstick is probably one of the most popular makeup items purchased, the first of many makeup items when trying makeup for the first time and the quickest way to change or update your look! 

Cover Girl Lip Perfection in Enchantress

  

Giorgio Armani Rouge D'Armani in #400

Cover Girl Lip Perfection in Enchantress

Giorgio Armani Rouge D'Armani #409

MAC Mattene Lipstick in Nights Blooming

Giorgio Armani Rouge D'Armani in Plum #610

Cover Girl Lipstick in Enchantress with MAC Lipglass in Perky

Vasanti Cosmetics Lipstick in Sweden

Today, wear your favourite lipstick and share your love!

New Collection: Spring 2014 - EFFETTO NUDO by Giorgio Armani

Giorgio Armani has launched a beautiful collection for Spring 2014 called Effetto Nudo. The collection offers beautiful shades that are luminous, romantic, sheer and translucent - perfect for Spring!  I recently picked up two products from this easy-to-wear collection!

Belladonna Highlighting Palette

Belladonna Highlighting Palette

I am obsessed with this palette! Adding any sort of highlighting to the skin can be tricky if the product has too much sparkle but you don't have to worry with this product. This is a gorgeous palette that offers the following:

• Illumination
• Universally flattering on all skin tones
• A soft focus sheen & highlight
• Powdery Smooth texture
• Incredible feel
• Includes a soft brush

Belladonna Highlighting Palette

You can apply this powder as your accessory finish to your foundation routine for that added glow. Apply to the upper cheek bones, forehead and down the nose or you can use it as a soft highlight for under the brow or in the inner corner of the eyes. Whatever you decide, the effect will be subtle and natural.

Rouge D'Armani Sheers - Hydrating Lipcolour #514 Ivy

#514 Rouge D'Armani Sheers - Shade IVY

There are 3 new Lip Sheers in this collection. Shade 514 (Ivy) is a cool pink toned nude that is flattering on its own, or added after on the lips for additional dimension. The lipstick texture is smooth and moisturizing. This colour may be too cool for deeper skin tones but adding it to warmer lipsticks would work well. A great addition to your makeup bag!

#514 Rouge D'Armani Sheers - Shade IVY

Be sure to check out this collection which is now available at Holt Renfrew Sherway Gardens. Whatever you choose from this collection, you will not be disappointed and you will be ready for Spring 2014!

Always Smile :)  - Sand

Everyday Smokey Eye :) - Instagram Inspired Tutorial

I was inspired by Instagram and all of the beautiful collage photos by various makeup artists showcasing their gorgeous eye makeup.  I found these photos not only inspirational, but very easy to understand their "how-to" photos.  

I thought it would be fun to showcase one of my favourite looks to wear in the same fashion as well as including the step by step instructions.   Enjoy this post!

Instructions:

Step 1 - To frame the eyes, fill in the brows, I used Vasanti Dynamic Brow Duo in Cape Town.

Step 2 - Apply SIN on 1/3 of the inner lid and up into the crease. You want to press and pack onto the lid.
Step 3 - Apply SIDECAR on the rest of the lid. Sweeping the colour and blending it into SIN.
Step 4 - Then apply NAKED & BUCK mixed together and sweep into the crease, blending very well.
Step 5 - Apply VIRGIN, the perfect shade to highlight under the brows onto the brow bone.
Step 6 - Using CREEP, start at the corner of the eye, lightly pat and sweep this shade into the crease.
Step 7 - Using Makeup Forever Eye Pencil in Black, apply to the inner waterline.
Step 8 - I used Kajal Extreme eye pencil underneath the end of the lower lash line and smudged to soften.
Step 9 - Create a cat eye by drawing a thin line on top of the lash line and winging out.
Step 10 - Apply 2 coats of Mascara, helps to open and define the eyes.
Step 11 - For added sparkle and pop, add SIN the inner corner of the eyes.

Products Used:

• Vasanti Dynamic Brow Duo - Cape Town
• Urban Decay - Naked Palette (All Eyeshadow shades were used from this Palette)
• Make Up Forever - Aqua Eyes Waterproof Pencil 
• Vasanti Kajal Extreme in Intense Black
• Vasanti Conditioning Long Lash Mascara
• Mark - Get In Line Hook Up Liquid Liner

Finish the rest of your face as you like! This is a perfect dramatic yet wearable smokey eye that is great for the weekend or a glam night out!

Hope this post helps you re-create this sexy look.  Here is the finished look:

Always Smile :)  - Sand

Maybelline Coloursensational Lipcolour - Review

Happy Monday and its time for a swatch post!  A while back I did a major haul, that included lipsticks from the Maybelline Coloursensational Collection.  The lipsticks are described as:

 • Crisper color from pure pigments

 • Creamier feel from nourishing honey nectar

 • Lipcolor so rich, so stunning…it’s sensational

 • 48 captivating shades

I am only swatching and posting 4 colours below:

Here are the lipstick,swatches, and lip pics below:

A great peachy lip colour :)



Almost a muted pink



Looks like the name ;)

A great Nude/Pink option.

Overall, the colours are nicely pigmented and offer a smooth application, however if you want to have more of a gleaming look, I would opt to put on a gloss overtop. 

Check them out and let me know your thoughts!

Always Smile :)  Sand