PicturesqueMakeup Blog

Goodbye, and Hello

2011-01-01T17:21:00.000-05:00

The mysterious countdown has ended.

I've been waiting for this day for quite a while now.... since October actually! Over my past year of blogging/vlogging, I've met some amazing people, discovered some awesome beauty products and learned a lot about myself and my passions in the process. I've learned that blogging is something that I have a huge desire to do and I made the choice to take it in a new direction. I came up with the idea for a new type of beauty blog when looking through some magazines, wishing I could combine the two. I put the idea into action and a couple months later, here I am. While it is not completely finished- I really didn't want to drag on the development any longer :) BEAUTEZINE.com has officially launched and I would be absolutely honoured and excited if you would check it out. I'm still me- the same blogger I always was here.... but you'll find some cool new things like a monthly online magazine, a daily beauty feature, contests, a look book and many more things....go ahead and take a look!

So with the exciting announcement that BEAUTEZINE is now up and running, it is sad to say that I will be leaving PicturesqueMakeup, here on this blog and on YouTube (maybe not RIGHT away....but BEAUTEZINE is my baby and passion and I want to focus on it). Having said that, I do know that I have put a LOT of work and love into this blog's layout. A while ago I mentioned that I would be having "the most personal giveaway i've ever done"....and that is just that. I'm giving away this blog template to one lovely blogger :) I've gotten lots of compliments on it and I think it would be a shame to let it go to waste so I would love to give it to one of you. The only think I ask is that you would have a basic knowledge of HTML because while I can help you set it up a bit, maintaining it would be up to you. If you would like to give your blog a makeover, please leave me a link to your blog in the comments below :)

So goodbye to the past, and hello to the future, I hope you all enjoy my new blog as much as I've enjoyed creating it.

Much love,

Jessica

mark. lots of lacquer lip gloss Review with Mel!

2010-12-28T08:09:00.001-05:00

If you've been following my blog for a little while, you'll know that I've been absolutely obsessed with these mark. lots of lacquer lip glosses ($7 CDN / $6 USD). These glosses are not new by any means, however I only recently decided to try them out and I ordered "Fever" (red). I was so instantly in love with everything about the glosses, I ordered a couple more (and made it well known on twitter how much I loved them). Mel from A Little Purple Folie discovered her love for these glosses too, and we decided to do a collaboration post to give you guys swatches and reviews for all of the shades.

I will be reviewing Fever, Rush and Wild. Mel will also be reviewing Rush (we both have this color, so you'll get two opinions on this shade!), Pop and Thrill.

Each lipgloss contains 3g / 0.105oz of product and only come in mark's "Hook Up" packaging (connect two hook up products with a connector for easy organization/travel). These glosses have the traditional spearmint scent that most mark lip products have (which I am obsessed with). They are advertised as a "high-shine" and "super color" lipgloss- both of which I absolutely agree with. I do have to say that some glosses have more color than others, but each of them goes on smoothly, feels creamy, smells great and great pigmentation.

FEVER - This ultra-red shade made me fall in love with the gloss formulation instantly. It is however, the MOST pigmented out of all the glosses I tried by far (just look at the picture...that is OPAQUE red, and from a gloss? Amazing!). I have worn this lipgloss several times and I love everything about it. The way it goes on, the amazing pigmentation, the scent and the smoothness (not sticky at all). This gloss doesn't contain any shimmer like some of the other ones do.

RUSH - This would probably be one of the more 'wearable' shades that these glosses come in (aka. the most neutral). This shade seemed to be like my lips, only a bit more deeper in color. It is the kind you can put on without a mirror- but still a gorgeous color none the less.

WILD - I was a bit surprised when I opened this shade.... by the swatch I was expecting a fuschia/purple- something crazy and daring....but it turned out to be a nice berry tone. Not complaining, I just felt a bit mislead by the swatch.

To see Mel's review, click HERE

Overall

As I've said many times, I'm blown away by these glosses. For being so inexpensive yet of amazing quality, I highly recommend them. I love the hook-up packaging- I usually pair this gloss with a hook-up concealer stick or mascara and throw it in my purse for touchups on a night out. The only thing that I do have to mention is that I would NOT consider these glosses to be 'long lasting'. This is usually a toss-up between stickiness and long lasting power. These glosses come off without staining lips, which may not be the best for evenings and events where there is eating/drinking. I just don't think they would hold up. But as a comfortable, pigmented gloss- phenomenal!

These glosses can be purchased from meetmark.com or from independent sales representatives.

Michael Todd Cosmetics Review

2010-12-19T19:28:00.000-05:00

I recently had the opportunity to try out some products from Michael Todd Cosmetics. I had been seeing this brand popping up in some YouTube videos and blogs, with mixed reviews, so I was happy to try them out myself and see how they worked for me. All of their cosmetics are manufactured in the USA and are paraben-free. I tried out several different products and each of them has their own mini review below..

INSTANT FILL PRIMER $25.00

The Instant Fill Primer was one of the products I was most excited to try. I heard some great things about it and after trying it out I must say that I do like this product. It's not the typical silicone-based primer (Smashbox Photofinish), but its also more than just a lotion (MAC Skin, Korres Primer). This one has a slight nude tint, and has a light whipped texture. It blends nicely into the skin with ease, and leaves a natural-looking glow (looks just like healthy skin). I'm not sure if this product is "unscented" but it does have a very slight "plastic-makeup" smell typical of some cosmetics. In terms of efficiency, it does "instantly fill" pores, lines, etc. as well as smooth down skin (it contains salicylic acid to gently exfoliate). Works great, makeup applies beautifully over top....but my main concern is that this type of primer is not one that I would classify as something that really holds your makeup on all day. It's a great prep product, but it lacked the ability to take 5-hour makeup to 8-hours.

VIVIDE GLACE LIPGLOSS IN GIRLFRIEND $9.99

The Vivide Glace Lipgloss in Girlfriend is quite stunning in the tube. It looks like a deep pink-purple with light golden shimmer. I adore the packaging as well, which looks very similar what I've seen from Laura Mercier. They just look a little more luxurious. The problem is in the pigmentation. This lipgloss goes on incredibly sheer, and because it is a light non-sticky formula, it doesn't last very long at all. The swatch above took about 8-10 pumps of gloss just so I could show the tones and dimension. Another thing that I wasn't too fond of with this product is the fact it had a very off-putting scent. A plastic-like scent that would make wearing this lipgloss somewhat unenjoyable. I'm not a huge fan of scents in facial cosmetics...but in lipgloss? Definitely.

NAKED KISS LIPSTICK IN SUBMISSION $9.99

One of Michael Todd's most popular products would have to be their Naked Kiss Lipstick, which I received in the shade Submission (I broke the top off of mine, sorry!). I was quite happy with their lipstick. The packaging is adorably cute and small- perfect fit for a pocket or clutch- however don't let this fool you, the product actually contains 4g of product (which is even more than a MAC lipstick). This shade was an orange-coral with a golden sheen and while I think it looks absolutely beautiful in a swatch, it just didn't match my complexion. I found it to be nicely moisturizing, and while it also had the 'plastic' scent, it actually isn't off-putting in this product. The pigmentation is lovely....probably one of the best things about this product. I wouldn't classify this lipstick as a long-wearing one, but since the packaging is so cute and portable, touch ups are simple.

MINERAL EYE SHADOW IN SHARK KEY $10.99

The Mineral Eyeshadow in Shark Key is your typical, loose mineral eyeshadow. The packaging is very similar to any others you would find, especially something like Bare Escentuals eyeshadows. The good thing about these eyeshadows is that they are usually really good. The pigmentation is fantastic, and foiling them (using them wet) really brings out the color and dimension even more. The bad thing is that they are incredibly messy (usually why I stay away from loose shadows & pigments in the first place). This shade is a deep purple with a light pink reflection, its quite beautiful and something that would look gorgeous paired with a light gold eyeshadow. I'm not blown away by this eyeshadow... but it is definitely a great shadow for those who like mineral makeup.

EYE SHADOW BASE $14.50

After hearing some amazing reviews about the Eye Shadow Base I was very excited to try it out. After trying several times to make it work, unfortunately I have to say that I'm not a fan of this product. No matter how much or how little I use, it still creases on me. I like eye bases that are a 2-in-1....a primer to prevent creasing and a shade to provide a smooth, even canvas. This product does have the nude-tint, so that is great because it does a good job of evening out my eyelids and holds color nicely. But I just can't get past the creasing. Darn!

Overall, my opinion of Michael Todd Cosmetics is just as I discovered elsewhere- mixed. Some products are good, some are not, some are okay. I would definitely recommend the Primer and Lipstick. I would not recommend the Lip gloss. I would say approach with caution to the Eyeshadow and Eye Shadow Base- as it really depends on your opinion and experience with them!

You can purchase the products at AllCosmeticsWholesale.com in the USA or Love-Makeup.co.uk in the UK.

Final Winners for Loose Button Giveaway

2010-12-09T11:31:00.003-05:00

A HUGE thank you to everyone who participated in the giveaway with Loose Button! I had some great feedback and we're really happy with the turn out.

First Place - YouTube
zreggem99

First Place - Blog

Stacey

Second Place - YouTube
OliviaMakeupChannel
Second Place - Blog
Paige Borda

Twitter Giveaway
Nicole White

Congrats to the winners! Loose Button has generously also offered for the first 50 people to sign up for their mailing list and quote "PicturesqueMakeup" as a referral will receive a 10% off coupon code! Awesome! If you've already signed up, you can still email membership@loosebutton.com and let them know that I referred you.

Thanks again to everyone! Hope you enjoyed the giveaway, enjoy the site and hope you find some great discount items on the site!

CoverFX - Give a gift, Get a gift!

2010-11-30T10:49:00.002-05:00

The holidays are time for giving (...and some receiving!) and CoverFX is doing their part to help the community. In support of Daily Bread Food Bank invite you to get mistletoe ready lips this holiday season! For all my lovely Toronto readers (wish I could come up just for this event!!)

WHAT: Give a gift, get a gift. Bring a non-perishable food item for Daily Bread Food Bank and get a FREE MintGlaze FX (value $22). One per person. while supplies last.

WHEN: Monday, December 6, 2010

11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
WHERE: Eaton Centre – on Yonge Street across from Dundas Square. Look for the Cover FX Elves.

WHY: Cover FX is encouraging people to donate during the holiday season to Daily Bread Food Bank to help end hunger in our communities. In the past year, Daily Bread has seen a 16 per cent increase in the use of food banks. Thirty-four per cent of those who rely on food banks are children. Forty-five per cent of food bank users have either a disability or a serious illness.

If you live in Toronto or the GTA, consider attending this wonderful event hosted by CoverFX to get in the spirit of the holidays. Let your inner beauty shine (...and maybe your lips too!)

GIVEAWAY with Loose Button

2010-11-25T11:26:00.002-05:00

So you've checked out LooseButton.com and want to try it out...rrrrright? Well I've got some fantastic news! We are going to be giving away some gift vouchers to use on Loose Button! If you want to read a little more about my opinions and experience with the website, check them out here. I made a video, so you can watch that if you want first...

The contest will run for 10 days, starting today.
There will be 3 ways to win:

YOUTUBE
BLOG
TWITTER

Open to Canadian and US residents only (sorry!)
2nd place winners will be announced on November 30
1st place winners and the twitter winner will be announced on December 5

2 x First Prizes of $50 to Loose Button
2 x Second Prizes of $25 to Loose Button
1 x Twitter Prize of the Shiseido Benefiance Balancing Softener (valued at over $50)

CHECK OUT LOOSEBUTTON.COM AND BROWSE THROUGH THEIR PRODUCTS

VOTE FOR AN ITEM BY LIKING IT ON FACEBOOK- THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT, WHEN ASKED IF YOU WANT TO "ALLOW" ACCESS FOR LOOSE BUTTON, YOU MUST CLICK ALLOW IN ORDER FOR US TO TRACK THE ENTRIES!

SHARE IT WITH YOUR FRIENDS SO WE CAN GET THE PRICES DOWN TOO!

LEAVE A COMMENT ON MY YOUTUBE VIDEO AND ON THIS BLOG POST (TO BE ENTERED FOR BOTH GIVEAWAYS)

FOR TWITTER:
Very simple, follow @PicturesqueMU and @Loose_Button and simply copy & paste the following message:

Follow @PicturesqueMU & @Loose_Button and RT to win http://tinyurl.com/2ga4jtj

You can only vote/Like once per item, but don't forget! New items are released every Wednesday...so check back next Wednesday to enter more!

So there you go! Hopefully the steps are clear and easy to follow...have fun and good luck!

LOOSE BUTTON - Group deals you will LOVE

2010-11-24T18:37:00.000-05:00

Ever since I found out about "group buying" sites like Groupon, Team Buy, Living Social, etc...I've been OBSESSED with them. Whoever thought of it first was a genius (kicking myself once again for not thinking up the greatest idea ever). If you are unfamiliar with these sites, basically they bring the power of discounts and deals available for large groups to sites where individuals come together and get all the benefits. Perfect.

I received an email from Loose Button a little while ago, asking if I wanted to collaborate with them on a contest for my subscribers...so of course I ventured off to their site to check out what it was all about. Within 10 seconds I fell in love with the site, the concept and the products. I knew EXACTLY what they were doing and it was clear, simple and brilliant. Loose Button is similar to "team buying" sites, except for 3 things which sets them above all the others (in my opinion):

The group controls the price - The price is determined by the amount of votes (aka "Likes" on Facebook). The more Likes it receives within its 1-week voting period, the lower the price drops.
It's focus is on fashion and beauty products. Enough said.
Free shipping in North America. Enough said, again.

Here's a look at what you'll see when you go to LooseButton.com

On the front page you'll see a couple items that you can "Like"
Share it on facebook, twitter, email...whatever you need to do to get the word out and get that price down
You can see the discount level meter change as the number of Likes increases
If you want to snag the item, you can purchase it right away- but you won't be charged until the voting period is over (and you will be charged the lowest amount too!)...so why buy early? Many of the products are in limited quantity, so jump fast if you want an item!
Check back each week for new items!

MY EXPERIENCE WITH ORDERING

So like I said, within seconds I was sold and couldn't wait to get involved. So here we are now! But of course, I wanted to try out the site for myself....see the process, get a little customer service (which is PHENOMENAL by the way)...basically go through whatever anyone else would go through when dealing with them. Now I don't want you to think that because I received this product for free from the company, that this review is in anyway dishonest. Therefore, I will be giving away the item I received as part of the giveaway (more details tomorrow). I did some screen captures to take you along with me.

The checkout page

Pay with Paypal- always respectable.

The final page, showing your complete billed amount (which includes the taxes shown underneath). You can pay for express shipping if you like or receive FREE standard shipping everywhere in North America (thank goodness someone thinks of the Canadians!)

One thing that I really like and appreciate is receiving a tracking number for an online purchase....that way you always know exactly where your package is and when it will arrive. Loose Button did just that! When making a purchase from Loose Button, your order will ship out at the END of the voting period (to ensure you receive the highest discount level), then after than it can take between 5-10 days for the free shipping. You can pay extra to have express shipping though. Loose Button DOES ship wordwide, however they can only offer free shipping to North America. They do only charge the exact amount that their carrier charges when shipping internationally though.

The site is heavily focused around Facebook- which is great for those of you who LOVE it, probably not the best for those who don't go on much or prefer other social networks. There are still "tweet" buttons to spread the word (remember, more votes = less cost)...but I think I'd like to see in the future the ability to use twitter or other social networking sites to lower the cost as well.

Make sure to stay tuned for the YouTube video & Blog Post tomorrow to find out how to win a giftcard to LooseButton.com or the Shiseido Balancing Softener :)

So what do you guys think? Pretty cool? Bookmark-worthy?

Happy Anniversary PicturesqueMakeup!

2010-11-23T14:06:00.001-05:00

Today is a special day. Today is my 1-year blogging anniversary! I uploaded my first youtube video and a post to go along with it...I've come along way since MAC Holiday Collection posts on November 23, 2009! My blog has become a passion, a hobby and part of my everyday life. I want to thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart for your continued support, comments, and encouragement. I absolutely LOVE what I do and you guys make it all worth it.

On top of this, I reached 10,000 subscribers on my YouTube channel yesterday too! What a lovely anniversary gift :)

You may have been wondering what the "Mysterious Countdown" is in the sidebar...I have also been working on a new project for several weeks now, which is why I haven't been posting, tweeting or making videos as much as I would like....but over this past year I've learned a lot about myself, about the beauty community and about what my passion is. I wanted to have my project ready for today, however I'm sad to say it is not ready. I am a perfectionist in every sense of the word, and because of the amount of hard work and time that has gone into this project- it needs to be perfect. I've pushed back the date until January 1, 2011- a new year, a new me, a new blog (?!). That's all I'm saying for now...but until then, you can look forward to the most personal giveaway I've EVER done (you'll see why) and tons of new and exciting plans for the new year.

Thank you all for everything,

Love,

Jessica

Red Hot Sigma Deals & FREE SHIPPING Nov 26

2010-11-23T09:57:00.001-05:00

Black Friday SALE - FREE SHIPPING on all orders (National & International) NOV 26 ONLY.

SigmaBeauty.com

My IMATS Experience Part III - The Photoshoot

2010-11-17T22:15:00.002-05:00

For those of you who don't know, Charles (my fiance) is a professional photographer and in the weeks leading up to IMATS we set up a photoshoot for Elessa (aka Pursebuzz) to have some headshots done. We actually did the shoot right at the Toronto Congress Center because the architecture and colors were gorgeous inside... Here's a couple shots!

Koren (aka EnkoreMakeup) did her makeup and he actually filmed it to show everyone the best way to apply makeup for photos...and you can see from the pictures above that he did a fantastic job!

I was the official vlogger of behind the scenes footage, following them around. You can see in the photo below Elessa at the makeup station (my MAC Underage Lipglass saved the day as a prop), Charles (taking the photo), Andre (our friend, also a professional photographer), Me and Koren (probably TwitPic-ing!). It was a fantastic day, the photos are beautiful and I can't wait to hang out again!

Phew! That's the end of my IMATS experience this year. I had an awesome time and can't wait for IMATS 2011 (NYC...perhaps? Who knows!) A very special thank you to my good friend Pascale who helped me with the photos :)

To see more photos, you can check out Charles' website. He also has set up a blog where he answers any photography or photoshop questions so if you're a blogger or just someone who likes to take photos, then feel free to ask him some questions and get some photography advice! You can also tweet your questions to him @EruditePhoto

My IMATS Experience Part I - The Show

My IMATS Experience Part II - The Haul

My IMATS Experience Part III - The Photoshoot

My IMATS Experience Part II - The Haul

2010-11-17T22:10:00.000-05:00

Onto the second (and probably most important) part of my IMATS experience- the goodies! I didn't haul nearly as much as I did last year, however what my wallet felt was much deeper (haha).

OCC LIP TARS - I picked up 5 of these bad boys...probably one of my favorite makeup products ever made. These lip glosses are super opaque with a slight minty scent. I went for more wearable colors this year (I picked up the primary colors last year) like Hush, Trick, Divine, Vintage and Conquest. Ps- Hush is my new fav nude lip.
NYX LIP PENCILS - My kit was in need of a set of lip pencils, and despite being only $2 each at the show, I swear by them! I picked up a good range of colors from hot pinks to soft nudes.
NYX JUMBO PENCILS - I owned Milk and that was about it.... These bases aren't the BEST quality bases in terms of staying power (they require a primer to stay on half the day) but for a quick fix or colored base, they are perfect....and at only $3 a pop, I could afford to play around with some new colors (I heart Yogurt!)
NAKED COSMETICS - I opted for only 1 stack of Naked Cosmetics this year (unlike my 4-stack binge last year). I wasn't going to purchase any but after swatching the Ebony stack wet....I was SOLD. I can't wait to show you swatches!
MYRABELLE MASCARA GUARD (not shown) - I picked up a mascara guard because I remembered seeing a video by Koren on it...and I thought it was a pretty neat tool to have in my kit.

And last but certainly not least, the belle of the ball- my new TEMPTU PRO airbrush system. I spent about half the day browsing around, meeting people and checking out shows....and the other half in a panic trying to decide which airbrush system to go with. I ended up choosing the TEMPTU PRO kit for the gorgeous Temptu Air compressor and a huge selection of included airbrush makeup. I'm so happy to finally have this gorgeous system in my hands! The TEMPTU staff was great...chatted up with them for quite a while and even got my own makeup done by them (which looked flawless late into the night!)

Those are my goodies! More swatches and reviews to come...I just wanted to show you quickly what I picked up!

My IMATS Experience Part I - The Show

My IMATS Experience Part II - The Haul

My IMATS Experience Part III - The Photoshoot

My IMATS Experience Part I - The Show

2010-11-17T22:05:00.000-05:00

A few weekends ago I was in Toronto, Ontario for IMATS 2010! I had such an incredible day. I met so many great people! I arrived with my good friend Pascale at the show at about 9am and we stayed ALL day! Time passed by so quickly, there was so much to do and see and I wish I could have gone for another full day on Sunday just to see some more shows and browse a little more. We first met with the gorgeous girls in the picture above, Rachel (RachhLoves), Stephanie (CityAndMakeup), Casey (MissCaseyB) and Stacey (StaceyBrennan). It was so great to finally meet these girls :)

I did a post before IMATS to cover the important information about the event, so check that our HERE if you want to learn more!

We headed to NYX first, the biggest booth in the whole show (this was their first year at the Toronto show) and boy did they ever bring it! Then there was Naked Cosmetics, Crown Brushes, OCC, Make Up For Ever, CoverFX, FaceAtelier, Stila, NARS, Ben Nye, Kryolan, Graftobian, and tons more! Did I mention that just about EVERYTHING was discounted 25-40% off?

The show was held in a larger location this year, which was very nice. Despite having so many booths and shows, it was large enough to walk around and see everything. I got to sit in on some great shows from CoverFX, Koren Zander (aka EnkoreMakeup), TEMPTU Pro and more :)

I was able to see Elessa (aka Pursebuzz) again this year and even got to hang out with her on Sunday for a photoshoot (see part III)! This was Kandee Johnson's first year at IMATS Toronto and of course she came with her beautiful momma :)

Meeting other bloggers, vloggers and subscribers simply made my day! It was such a pleasure to meet some girls that I've been talking to for so long :) If you want to see what I bought at the show, or see some photos from the shoot then click the link below!

My IMATS Experience Part I - The Show

My IMATS Experience Part II - The Haul

My IMATS Experience Part III - The Photoshoot

IMATS Toronto 2010 Pre-Show Coverage

2010-11-03T12:17:00.001-04:00

IMATS Toronto 2010 is only a few days away and I'm getting very excited! I expect this year to be bigger and better than last year, and I can already tell it will be because of the bigger exhibitor list, new location and a lot more talk about who will be attending! I leave for Toronto on Friday night, but I wanted to give you a little preview of what to expect if you're planning on going, debating going or if you live far away and just want to live vicariously through me (thats fine too)! I'll be attending on Saturday, November 6, 2010 only...as I do live quite far away and must travel back home on Sunday.

To begin, I thought I'd recap a bit of the event from last year with some photos! You can also check out my epic haul that I (literally) dragged home with me last at IMATS Toronto 2009. Many of the same products will be there this year, and even more (hello MAC and NYX!)

You can purchase your tickets from the Makeup Artist Magazine website for $60 for both days, or $35 for either Saturday or Sunday. For this, you'll get access to all the discounted makeup and products offered by exhibitors and to see the shows by amazing professional makeup artists. The schedule is PACKED so make sure to plan out your day accordingly so you can catch some great shows!

The show will get very busy in the afternoon, so think about making your wishlist BEFORE heading to the show and get the items you KNOW you want first. Items DO sell out (personal experience...I missed out on the Make Up For Ever Flash Palette) so keep that in mind. Some exhibitors will hold items for you, so that may be a good idea to ask and come back later for them. Also keep in mind that many of the exhibitors prices are in US$... so while the exchange rate is doing fantastic at the moment, its important to know.

Alcone
Ben Nye
Cici Fashion Brush
Complections
Crown Brush
Dinair
Don's Hobby Shop
Embryolisse
Eve Pearl
Eye Kandy
FACE atelier
FuseFX
Graftobian
Hakuhodo
Halo Hair
Kett Cosmetics
Kryolan
MAC
Makeup Artist Magazine
Make Up For Ever
Myrabelle Mascara Shield
Naime's Beauty Center
Naked Cosmetics
NARS
Nigel Beauty Emporium
Nurturing Force
NYX
Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics
Pari Beauty
Progressive Image
Royal & Langnickle Brush
Stila
Temptu Pro
Tom Savini
Wink Makeup Studio & Academy
Yaby Cosmetics

An airbrush machine...I'm leaning towards OCC, but I'd like to check out the Temptu Pro and Dinar ones too!
More OCC Lip Tars...probably one of my favorite purchases at last year's IMATS. I need more!
NYX Lip Liners and Jumbo Pencils!
Maybe some more Naked Cosmetics pigment stacks...

What my wishlist looks like going into the show and what my bags are filled with coming out of the show may be quite different, but I'll be sure to fill you in on the event!

Are you going to be attending IMATS Toronto 2010? If you are, make sure to say hello!!! See you Saturday!

Last Day to Save $20 on Sigma Premium Kit!

2010-10-31T11:54:00.000-04:00

Act fast :) Ends today!

Perfect Red Lips... from a gloss!

2010-10-29T23:24:00.000-04:00

I raved about it on twitter, and here's the proof! Amazing red lips from a lipgloss (that's under $8 might I add)! Stay tuned to my October favorites video to find out what it is...

What's your favorite gloss?

New Sigma MAX Bags are HERE!

2010-10-25T10:08:00.000-04:00

Several months ago, Simone leaked a little picture of a product she was testing out to see if it would be a good fit for the line. That product was a large, quilted-style makeup bag... large enough to fit pretty much EVERYTHING you need. The response must have been overwhelming because today, Sigma released their newest products- the Sigma MAXBag ($29 US)!

This 14.5 x 11" bag can fit it all! Brushes, makeup, even full brush rolls! They each have a gorgeous, quilted design on the outside and a black interior with several compartments (love that)! If you're not a light packer (I'll be the first to raise my hand) then you need this bag! It even has a convenient carry handle on the site. I can't wait to take mine to Toronto in a couple weekends (hellooooo IMATS!) and I'll be sure to show you guys how much I can fit in it :)

The bag comes in three amazing colors, with names "en Français"! The hardest part is choosing which color to go for! Click on the pictures to see more information about each bag!

What are your thoughts? Worth getting? Perhaps a holiday gift idea?

Save 20% Off Your ENTIRE Sephora Order with F&F Sale!

2010-10-21T19:15:00.000-04:00

Save 20% off your ENTIRE online Sephora order using the code FF2010. Unfortunately this offer isn't valid for Canadians (I suggest we start a protest for equal rights!) but hopefully you can use this code to your advantage somehow!

What's on your wishlist?

Cleanse & Conceal Deal from mark!

2010-10-20T10:18:00.001-04:00

New Foundation from Bobbi Brown

2010-10-18T13:50:00.001-04:00

Hot and fresh off the press- a new powder foundation from my makeup idol and complexion queen Bobbi Brown! I get super antsy when I see a new complexion product from Bobbi Brown and this one is no different....an illuminating powder foundation? I must try!

The NEW Illuminating Finish Powder Compact Foundation SPF12 ($40 US) is a brand new powder foundation formulation that stands out from the rest. This product is designed to have a soft, creamy feel yet be light as air on the skin. It is oil free and has light-reflecting pigments to diffuse fine lines and imperfections. It can be applied with a damp sponge for higher coverage, or with a light, fluffy brush for sheer coverage. Overall this foundation is meant to give a full coverage look without a dry, cakey finish.

Your thoughts? Does this product sound like music to your ears? Or is the price tag too hefty to even think about it?

Review - Benefit Some Kind-a Gorgeous

2010-10-18T12:16:00.002-04:00

$28 US / $36 CDN

Sephora, Benefit and anywhere else that sells Benefit Cosmetics

Sheer-coverage cream-to-powder foundation

3 Shades; Lite, Medium (Original) and Deep

Fingers, Brush or Sponge (included)

No added scent, but smells a bit like traditional cake makeup

Smoothes out pores like a tinted primer
Moisturize well before using- enhances dry, flaky skin
No need to set with powder unless you have oily skin
The compact can get dirty if you aren't extremely careful with clean brushes, fingers or sponges. You can use a palette knife to scoop some out to keep it clean.
Lasts 1-2 months, depending on how many layers are applied in a single application
Sheer but buildable coverage

Light, oil-free product
Feels and looks like skin (natural look)
Can be found in some value sets from Benefit
Quick- takes about 30 seconds to apply and dries fast
No breakouts (from my experience, at least)
Only 3 shades, but self adjusts nicely.
Cute packaging, typical of Benefit Cosmetics

Decent skin condition is a requirement to enjoy this product...it is very sheer.
Expensive! You really need to love this product to bite the bullet and pay this price
Not exactly a 'long-lasting' product...decent day-wear though.
May not be exactly right for all skin tones
Compact gets dirty easily

This sheer complexion enhancer is great for a natural, light look but does require a decent complexion to begin with. It enhances without covering. Try to find a sample size or value set to test it out first before paying the full price.

Free Body Mist from Mark!

2010-10-18T10:23:00.018-04:00

Product Of The Week #23

2010-10-15T13:49:00.000-04:00

A long lasting, creamy eye pencil in a deep blue-green shade

The formulation is awesome, combining long-wear with creaminess is never an easy task! They aren't budgeproof, but they are resistant, especially when setting with an eyeshadow.
The color is amazing, it's just like the name says...think of the rich blue in an oil mark (sounds weird, but its a gorgeous color)

The price is steep for any pencil...I certainly wouldn't pay $20 CDN for one of these (luckily for me I got a set of 10 for only $40...much more reasonable)

I like to smudge it along my upper lashline... precise pencil lines are so done :) Smudgy & smokey is the way I like it!

Korres $21 CDN / $16 US

If you want to put a twist on your regular eyeliner, go for this deep teal shade that still looks subtle with a pop of color. Creamy pencil with long-lasting wear; try to find it in a gift set if possible to save some dollars :)

Benefit Cosmetics FREE Speed Brow Code

2010-10-12T23:16:00.003-04:00

We all love free stuff right? Visit Benefit Cosmetics to stock up your cart and try out a FREE full-sized Speed Brow. Enjoy!

Discount Code for Sigma!

2010-10-12T19:23:00.008-04:00

Have you been longing for a discount code from Sigma? Here it is! Save $20 on the Sigma Premium Professional 15-Piece Brush Kit (Originally $149 US) when you use the code "PREMIUM" at the checkout (all caps). Ends October 31, 2010.

Whether you have been eyeing this kit for a long time or if you want to give it as a Christmas gift- now is the time to jump on this deal!

Visit SigmaBeauty.com

Product of The Week #22

2010-10-08T13:48:00.001-04:00

A cream base/highlighter in a soft, pearlescent beige

This highlighter is my #1 go-to product for a healthy glow. It creates the most natural looking highlight...like dewy skin.
A little goes a long way- you'll get your money's worth!

Any creams in pan-form can get really nasty really fast unless you take extra care to use clean utensils and brushes...it gunks up fast.
Creases on eyelids if not placed on top of a primer

I like to use a palette knife to grab a tiny bit of product, then I rub it in between my two middle fingers to warm it up. I then pat it onto the tops of my cheekbones and orbital bones to highlight and lift my face.

MAC $20 CDN / $16.50 US

If you want more bang for your buck and a gorgeous, glowing, dewy complexion- reach for this pot of heaven. Theres many other shades, but this one is my favorite.