February Favorites! (2014)

Hello everyone, I'm back for another favorites post!

I love doing these to reflect on what I've been consistently using lately. I wasn't very proactive this month (what's new?) and I forgot to write down my favorites as I noticed them. I had a little trouble remembering all of them but here they are!

I actually have a re-favorite from last month! I've been using the Benefit World Famous Neutrals most glamorous nudes ever palette ever since I got it! It has very wearable shades and the pigmentation is amazing! I definitely want to eventually purchase more Benefit shadows.

 Another eyeshadow I've been loving I don' think I've ever talked about on my blog. It's the essence eyeshadow in strawberry ice cream. It says new, but it's definitely not new anymore as I got it over a year ago for only $2. I've found it sold at Shoppers Drug mart and I don't go there often so I never remember to try more shades of it.

And lastly for eyes I've been brightening my lower lash line with the Rimmel Scandal Eyes waterproof kohl kajal eyeliner (that's a mouthful!). It makes me look more awake on the days I don't get enough sleep.

For lips, I've only been using a few products apart from my usual Nivea lip balm.

The first thing is the Maybelline Baby lips in Grape Vine. It's a very subtle berry color which looks great with a very natural eye look! It's also super moisturizing! Check out my full review here!

I debated putting this lip gloss in here because I got it around 4 years ago at Garage, which is a clothing sale! On top of that, it was on clearance for $3 so I highly doubt you could find it anywhere anymore. :( I apologize about that but it is a really pretty lip gloss. it adds a lot of shine and a fair amount of color. It also smells super sweet which is amazing!

A have quite a few face favorites form this month, I've been really into creating a flawless complexion!

First off, I've been blending my foundation with this sponge I received for my birthday. it's from Winners and I like to use it damp. It gives a very natural look. I need to buy a new one, this one's getting a bit old.

I recently purchased (and reviewed) The Covergirl 3 in 1 foundation. I really like the appearance of this but I won't go into too much detail as I recently posted a full review.

I've been in love with MAC's fix+ this month! I won't go into too much detail, as I'm planning an upcoming review, but this gives a dewy look and helps my makeup stay for hours!

For cheeks, I've been using the elf blush in tickled pink! It adds a really natural coral tint to your cheeks and I adore it!

Lastly, I have a  random favorite! During the after Christmas sales, I picked up this bracelet form Walmart for only $3! It looks like Pandora and I really love the colors. Quality isn't great, a few things have already broke, but I love how it looks!

That's all of my favorites! I hope you enjoyed, see ya next month!

Current Wishlist!

Hey guys!
I posted a wishlist similar to this during Blogmas and I had a lot of fun with it so I thought I'd do it again! So here's just a few things I've been really wanting lately, I hope you enjoy!

1. NUDE tude palette by The Balm Cosmetics: $36 www.thebalm.com
This palette has 12 neutral shades which is basically all I wear! Most of them are shimmery and I've heard great reviews on this!

2. Models Own: Indian Ocean: $9.50 www.nailpolishcanada.com
This color is so unique and I've never tried this brand. It looks super exciting!

3. Real Techniques, Powder Brush: $10 realtechniques.com
I've heard great reviews on this brush and I've been searching for a good quality powder brush for a while. I actually recently ordered this online but it hasn't come yet.

4. DKNY Be Delicous: $28-$98 www.sephora.com
I smelled this at Sephora and fell in love, it smells just like apples!

5. Michael Kors Small Bedford Tassle Pebbled Messenger Bag (Black): $228 www.michaelkors.com
Huge doubt that I'll ever buy this but I can still wish! This simple, black, cross body bag is gorgeous!

6. Clinique 3 Step (Intro kit): $26 www.clinique.com
I've wanted to try this skin care system for a while now as I've heard it works really well.

That's all for my current wishlist!
Bye! =)

C.O. Bigelow Rose Salve Review!

Hey there!

I've been pulling out my rose salve lately because my lips have been really dry and I thought, why not do a review on it? So that's exactly what I'm doing!
I purchased this about a year ago, on sale at Bath and Body Works. (Regular price: $5.50) 

The brand is C.O. Bigelow, but a few of their items are sold at BBW. It says you can use it on lips, face, elbows, cuticles, knees, or any dry places.

I absolutely love the packaging and scent of this product! The packaging is very classic and bright. It smells like a sweet rose scent and it's not overpowering. I usually use this for lips, but my other favorite place to use it is to moisturize my cuticles.

This is almost like a translucent, gel-looking texture and it applies very smoothly. it doesn't give of any color but it adds a lot of shine. While it lasts, it's extremely moisturizing but it doesn't last very long at all. Maybe 30-60 minutes. It also doesn't have any long term benefits for me. I still like to apply this as a lip balm and cuticle cream, but it's nothing extravagant.

That's pretty much all I have to say about this.
I wouldn't say not to buy this but I probably wouldn't recommend it either. If you want to buy it, go for it, it's only about $5 (which could be considered pricey for a lip balm). 

Anyways, that's it for today!

Bye!

The Procrastinating Beauty Blogger TAG!

 Hey there! I've seen a few of these tags going around in the past year or so and it seems really fun so I thought I'd try it out today. I wasn't actually tagged by anyone but I still wanted to do it!

1. You must copy and paste these 'rules' onto your post when you write it, it doesn't take long!.

2. You must state that this tag was created by 'The Beau Bow' and link www.thebeaubow.blogspot.com

3. You must thank the person who tagged you at the start of your post (link their blog as well) -follow them if you're feeling nice!, and then at the end of your post state who you tag, and then comment on their blog on their latest post to let them know you tagged them, and link your post so they can see what to do.

4. Title this post 'The Procrastinating Beauty Blogger TAG' so everyone knows what it is about.

5. Have fun! :)

 1.Name a beauty regimen that you rarely do?
I rarely blow dry my hair. I honestly only do it a few times a year! It takes so much effort with my long, thick and it usually end up taking about 30 minutes. I would much rather let my hair air-dry.

Please excuse my awful nails

 2. Is washing your makeup brushes something you do regularly?
Sort of. I wash my brushes about every 2 weeks unless I'm really lazy. Sometimes I just spot clean and don't wash them for a month (Bad, I know)!

3. How long will you last with chipped nail polish?
It depends. Usually around 4-7 days, but sometimes I'll give up and leave them chipped for nearly 2 weeks!

 

  

4. How long do you put off buying/replacing a beauty or nail polish product even if you need it?

A while! I don't repurchase until I'm absolutely desperate! I usually buy a ton of impulse buys and completely forget I'm out of something until I have none left.
Like my face powder for instance. I've needed a new one for months now and I still haven't bought one.

5. What is your worst beauty habit?
Definitely picking at my mascara. It's a really bad habit, and I know I need to stop, but I still find myself doing it daily, ugh!

 6. Name something non-beauty related that you put off doing all the time?
Working out & any work I need to get done. I've been really into procrastination lately...

7. When going out somewhere, do you leave getting ready until the last minute or not?
Usually. Sometimes if I'm going somewhere really important I'll be proactive, but if I just have small plans, I'm usually struggling to get myself together!

8. Can you commit to spending bans?
I can actually! Finally a question I'm proud to answer! I often like to save up for a big purchase and sometimes when I realize how much makeup I have, I cut down of the spending for a while. It helps me to keep my money in a jar and tell myself not to use any of my cards.

9. How organized is your makeup and nail polish collection?
It's actually really organized. I really enjoy organizing everything in my home and I'm constantly changing the setup of everything. Although at the moment my makeup drawers are overflowing so I'm currently thinking about how I could organize better. I keep my makeup in separate little trays and store my nail polish on a DIY stand.

10. What is the longest amount of time you have gone without writing a blog post?
I don't remember exactly, but probably around 2 weeks. I remember there were a few months last year I wasn't that into it, but now I totally am!
Well, that's the tag! I hope you enjoyed, and i think everyone should do this tag even if you weren't tagged!

I tag:
 Sweet Electric
Mimibeauty
leahloves1.blogspot.ie
Oodles of rae
Katherine Nicole

Bye! =)

Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3 in 1 Foundation Review! (100th Post!)

Hello Everyone!

Today is actually my 100th post! I can't believe I've already posted 100 blog posts. I've had my blog for nearly 1 year and I love posting on it! I'm very excited to write my 100th post, so here it is!

As the title says, I'm going to be doing a review of the Covergirl 3 in 1 foundation. I picked this up recently as I had heard great things about it and I already love it!

I really love the packaging of this! It contains an average 1 oz. and I really like the shape of the bottle. It has a pump, which makes it super easy to dispense. I use 1 pump when applying with my fingers, and 2 when using a sponge. This foundation is extremely blendable. My favorite way to apply it is with a damp beauty sponge, this gives the most natural-looking application. It sets to a non-shiny finish but it's also not matte, leaving it looking natural on the skin. I usually like to apply powder, and set it with MAC fix+ for a dewy finish & lasting power. 

I really like the fact that this contains and SPF of 20, it's great for the sunnier months. 

The coverage is medium to full. It covers all discoloration & redness as well as blurs any acne. As I said, it looks really natural on the skin and it doesn't appear cakey. It also lasts a fairly long time. Most foundations don't look great on me at the end of the day but this one holds up pretty well. 

I'm in the lightest shade (ivory) and I find that it matches me perfectly! It does oxidize a little bit but nothing too dramatic.

Overall, this is actually my new favorite foundation! I don't have anything negative to say about this apart from the price. It retails for $13 at most drugstores in Canada, but I often see coupons for Covergirl.
That finishes my review for today. I hope you anjoyed my 100th post and I can't wait to do more!

Bye!

Nails of the Day! China Glaze "Charmed I'm Sure"

Hello there!
Today I finally have another Nails of the Day!

I feel like I haven't done one of these in so long, so I thought it was about time. Today I'm wearing a deep purple polish called Charmed I'm Sure. I received this as a late Christmas present and this is actually my first time wearing it. In natural lighting it looks a little lighter, but in artificial light, it looks super dark!

This is 2 coats. The formula is really creamy and nice, always what I expect from Chins Glaze!
Hope you enjoyed & thanks for reading!

xx,

Ella

Liebster Award!

Hello Everyone!

I'm coming with an off-schedule post for today because I recently received a nomination for the Liebster Award! I was very excited to see the comment on my blog so I definitely wanted to answer the questions! Thank you so much to Katherine for nominating me!

The rules are:

-Give 11 random facts about yourself

-Answer the 11 questions tagger has given you

-Nominate 11 bloggers with under 200 followers and create 11 questions for them to answer

-Also don't forget to let them know you nominated them!

Facts about myself:

1. My favorite color is blue!

2. Most of my makeup collection is from the drugstore

3. I paint my nails nearly every Sunday

4. I would much rather be shopping than sitting at home

5. I only get my hair cut about twice a year (I love keeping it long!)

6. I don't have 1 favorite food but I'm a total chocoholic!

7. I'm Canadian

8. I love making smoothies every day!

9. I love to read it's very relaxing

10. Fall is my favorite season, I love the weather & fashion

11. I really want a cat but I'm allergic :(

Katherine's Questions:

1. Are you an early bird or night owl?

Definitely a night owl, I can't stand waking up early!

2. What are you currently reading?

I'm currently reading Allegiant from the Divergent series but I'm looking forward to staring The Fault in our stars

3. What would be your dream job?

A makeup artist or interior designer for sure!

4. Chocolate or vanilla?

Vanilla!

5. What is your most prized possession?

Photos, and not the digital kind. I love looking back at the hard copies I have, I cherish the memories they hold.

6. What's the first thing you do in the morning?

My Makeup!

7. What is your favorite food?

I can't choose just one, but I love smoothies, sweet & sour chicken, chocolate chip cookies, and tons more!

8. Biggest pet peeve?

When people reply to texts a day later.

9. What was the last movie you watched? What did you think about it?

It was actually Frozen, haha! I'm not usually a fan of Disney movies, but I quite enjoyed it!

10. Pasta, wine and a good book OR pizza, beer and a movie? Why?

I don't drink, but I'd have to say pasta and a good book. There's just something about cuddling up with a blanket and good book that makes me feel great!

11. What's something your readers might not know about you?

 I'm really into baking and cooking, and I like to do it as often as possible! I also love trying healthier recipes.

My Nominees!

1. makeupwednesday

2. Pout and be Pretty

3. All Thingz Bright & Bootiful

4. Nicas Beauty

5. Perla Kristin

6. Jenny's Everyday Life

7. emsypickle

8. The Dotted Bow

9. The Glueless Scr4pbook

10. My Fair Pixel

11. Freshly Pressed Beauty

Questions for nominees:

1. What is your favorite makeup brand?

2. Where is your favorite place to be alone?

3. Favorite place you've traveled to?

4. Are you wearing lipstick right now? If so, what color?

5. When and why did you start blogging?

6. Who is your favorite you-tuber?

7. How often do you wear makeup?

8. What is your favorite candy?

9. What is your all-time favorite movie?

10. Do you have any pets?

11. Name 3 things you couldn't live without.

And that's a wrap!

Sorry for the late response, and thanks again to Katherine for nominating me!

xx,

Ella

Cake After Dark 3 Piece Set!

Hello again!

Today I'm coming with another review, this time on the Cake 3 piece set I featured in my boxing day haul! Happy Valentine's Day, by the way!

Anyways, I've been using these products for a while now and I've finally developed my full opinion on them.

There were 2 sets available, one for darker hues and one for lighter hues. I chose darker hues as I have quite dark hair but I've come to regret it. The colored dry shampoo tends to stain my roots an orange/brown color which doesn't look very pleasant. I wish I had gone with the light shade so that there wouldn't be as much color payoff.

I bought this on an offer for only $13 which was a steal considering the retail value of all 3 products combined is $40!

The dry shampoo & body powder is full sized while the other 2 products are travel sized. 

May I add the packaging it unbelievably gorgeous and pink!

I really liked the dry shampoo powder. It soaked up all of the oils from my scalp and added a lot of volume. The only dislikes I have are that it stains my roots and scalp an orange/brown color, and it is very messy to work with as it is a colored powder. I've tried the lighter version before and I quite prefer it. 

Full size: $18

Travel size: $9

I just recently finished the dry shampoo. This smelled great and it worked really well too! It left no white residue behind like most dry shampoos do, and it also soaked up the oil really well. It didn't give as much volume as the powder, but it also doesn't let your hair lie flat. It smelled great too, which was a plus! 

If I ever decide to splurge on a high end hair product, it would definitely be this one!

 Full size: $22

Travel size: $12

As for the Velveteen hand creme, it wasn't anything special. It didn't last very long and it made no difference to the dryness on my hands. It is definitely not worth the high price, and I don't think I would repurchase although it does smell great too!

Full size: $18

Travel size: $10

That's all for my review on this Cake 3 Piece set, I hope it was somewhat helpful and I hope you enjoyed.

The places I've seen this sold are cakebeauty.com Sephora in store (haven't seen it online), and I even found a dry shampoo powder in the clearance bin at Urban Outfitters!

Bye for now!

Last Minute Valentine's Day Fashion!

Hello Everyone!

I've never done anything with fashion on my blog before, but I love creating outfits so I thought I'd share a few with you! 

Casual Chic

 Top: Topshop

Pants: Aéropostale

 Sweet and Slouchy

Dress: Ross

Cardigan: Forever 21

Red Tights: Target

Necklace: Unknown

 Lace&Velvet

 Lace Bodysuit: Aéropostale

Red "Velvet" Skirt: Garage
Bracelets: Brandy Melville & Small Boutique

 Casual Layers

 Tank: Garage

Cardigan: Jacob

Pants: Forever 21

 

Edgy & Flirty

 Dress: Ross

Blouse: Winners

As you've probably noticed, I'm awful at creating outfits names so sorry about that one!

I hope you enjoyed and I hope this gave you some inspiration for Valentine's Day or any day, Bye! =)

Dollar Store Beauty! (Hits and Misses)

I went to the new Dollar Tree in my city for the first time and found a huge beauty section!

The whole store was tidy, clean and stocked with great stuff! I was really suprised.

Anyways, i restrained myself and only bought 3 makeup products. Each cost $1.25 which is a great deal! Here's a "haul" and first impression on each product!

First thing I picked up was this Enregin make up foundation.
I really don't know why I bought this. I had my doubts when I first saw it. Makeup from the dollar store can sometimes be kind of sketchy, especially face makeup. I would definitely recommend reading the ingredients which I did not do until I got home.

I really like the outside packaging, it's very clean and sleek. It's in a tube and the "dispenser" is a little too wide, making the product come out very fast. There are absolutely no claims to this, all it says is apply and blend with fingers. The shade range isn't the best, I saw around 5 shades at my Dollar Tree.

When I put it on, I noticed it had a very thin consistency almost like a BB cream. it also had little to no coverage! I was disappointed, but I also had expected that. It doesn't cover any blemishes, redness or discoloration. It smooths the appearance of your skin a little bit but every imperfection still shows through. It blends easily but it also feels heavy and sticky on the skin. It is not matte, but it also doesn't make you look super shiny.

Here's the part that bothers me. It contains multiple ingredients that you should avoid in your makeup (the underlined ones). It also had tiny black specks in the foundation I noticed when I looked at the bottle closely. I haven't decided if I will continue to use this, but I will definitely not repurchase or recommend to anyone. I suggest staying away from this product, and trying something else.

It was very affordable at $1.25 but I would rather pay a little more for better quality. 

Next, I picked up the Billie mascara in clear. I thought I would try this out as a brow gel!

So far, I really enjoy this. The brush is large and it's a perfect size for eyebrows. It isn't too thick or heavy and when it dries, it isn't too stiff. I would definitely recommend this!

The only downside is the packaging. The brush slides out easily but it is very difficult to get back in The hole is very tiny and the bristles always get stuck trying to squeeze in.

The last thing I got was the L.A. COLORS loose eyeshadow in honey suckle. 

So far I really like this too. It's a really nice shade and it's fairly pigmented. For a loose eyeshadow, it is very tidy and it doesn't spill everywhere. 

It comes with a brush, which is convenient, but it isn't my favorite. The product has a very small opening just big enough for the brush to fit which prevents spills. I think the packaging is really great and useful!

Overall, I was really happy with the makeup section at the Dollar Tree and this proves that you can find good quality makeup for less than $2 you just have to be careful .

Thanks for reading, Bye! =)

Product of the Week: MAC Studio Finish Concealer

So this week I've been using the MAC Studio Finish concealer a ton! I got a huge zit at the start of the week and this was my life saver! It completely covered it all!

Its really creamy but also thick. It's fairly easy to blend and if you set it with powder, it stays in place. 

I'm in the sahde NW20.

Anyways, there's not much tos ay about this other than it covers great and wears well throughout the day. I'd definitely recommend it.

Bye!