The Best of 2013: Makeup

As 2013 is drawing to an end, I am honored to present my favorite makeup products of the year. 2013 has been the year of many beauty discoveries and it was quite difficult for me to narrow it down to just a few products. In choosing my favorites, I went for products that received heavy usage and that are excellent in formulation. I'm not going to go too in depth with describing each product or this post will be ridiculously long. Here's the breakdown!

Top Base Products

Best Primer: Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch Primer is a lovely primer that I like to use under long-wearing foundations and it helps to smooth out the skin and increase the wear-time of foundation.

Best Foundation: Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation is definitely one of my most worn foundations of the year. I think it's a gorgeous foundation with light coverage that has such a beautiful finish on the skin. I wore this most during the spring/summer months but I have recently brought it out again to wear on my dehydrated winter skin (and I am loving it).

Best Tinted Moisturizer: I really wasn't into the idea of a tinted moisturizer at first. I never had an issue with wearing foundation and I'm a girl who likes a bit of coverage. That was, until my aunt introduced me to Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer. This product actually feels comfortable on the skin, and at the end of the day my skin feels plump and moisturized as opposed to dried out and cakey. Perfect for weekends, heading to class and hangovers.

Best Concealer: Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer is such a gorgeous product for illuminating tired eyes and adding extra radiance to the high points of the face. I use this product every day and despite some new concealers falling into my makeup bag, I keep going back to this one. An added benefit is that it's really affordable!

Best Powder: I am incredibly picky with face powders because I have a shiny T-Zone that is difficult to mattify while the rest of my face doesn't require anything more than a light setting powder. Clarins Ever Matte Powder is my favorite for controlling oil on my forehead and is light enough to set undereye concealer without looking cakey. It's the best I've found!

Best Cheek Products

Best Bronzer: I've spoken about this bronzer so many times, so I won't repeat myself. The Body Shop Honey Bronzer is the best bronzer I have ever used. It is matte, not too orange and looks so natural on the skin.

Best Blush: I think blush is my favorite beauty product of all time, and by that I mean NARS blush. Nars Deep Throat (Pardon my french!) is such a beautiful rosey pink blush that I used on countless occasions in the past year and it definitely takes the cake for my favorite of 2013.

Best Eye Products:

Best Eye Primer: Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion is a cult classic for a reason. It is fabulous at keeping eyeshadow on the lids ALL day long and helps prevent smudging. I wear it every single day because I notice such a difference without it.

Best Eyeliner: The entire shade range of Rimmel Scandal Eyes Waterproof Kohl Kajals are fantastic. Awesome liners with a gorgeous gel formulation that last all day and don't budge. I recommend these to all my friends because they are the best.

Best Eye Crayon: Clinique Chubby Sticks Shadow Tint for Eyes are the best eyeshadow crayons I have used! They are perfect to swipe over the lids and blend with the fingers for a wash of color the lasts all day. I have Whopping Willow which is a mossy antiqued green.These are great for busy days and rushed mornings.

Best Eyeshadow: This won't come as a surprise. I have banged on about this eyeshadow since the moment I bought it and I am still singing it's praises. Dior Diorshow Fusion Mono in #661 Meteore is the most beautifully textured eyeshadow and it's an absolute treat to use (easily applied with the finger straight on to the lid). I feel so glamorous when I use this bronzey grown-up glitter and I won't be getting tired of it any time soon.

Best Brow Pencil: This was the perfect in-between pencil for my ever-fading brown tints. Lancome Powder Pencil for Brows is an excellent brow pencil because of it's powdery texture that looks so natural on the brows.

 Best Lip Products:

Best Lipstick: Lancome Rouge in Love in #300B is my most loved lipstick of 2013. It is the perfect mix of browny-pink with a touch of coral that looks so natural and flattering. It's super hydrating and comfortable on the lips and leaves behind a stain that lasts for hours. I cannot recommend these lipsticks enough.

Best Gloss: I wasn't really crazy about lip gloss until I discovered this Lancome offering. After becoming so obsessed with the Rouge in Love lipsticks, I was curious to try the matching gloss to see if it compared. Lancome Gloss in Love in #312 is the best gloss ever. It has lovely pigmentation and a slight sparkle with absolutely NO sticky feel to it. Such a lovely product.


So that's the lot of them! I feel like there are so many other products from the past year that deserve honorable mentions but I'm trying to stay concise. If you have noticed a void in my favorites, it is because I do not have a favorite highlighter, and this is on my to-do list for next year (my beauty resolutions post will being coming soon).

What are your most loved makeup products of 2013? Please let me know in the comments below. I wish you all a happy and safe new years celebration, and I'll talk to you again in 2014!

Thanks for reading :)

Christmas Eve Makeup

 

Merry Christmas Eve! I can't believe TOMORROW is Christmas. I am currently feeling so happy to be home with my family. Blasting Hanson's Snowed In Christmas album (yes, I'm aware it's no longer the 90's) is helping me feel extra-Christmasy. On to the makeup! I figured I would put up a short post of my makeup because I'm so happy with the way it turned out. I'm aware that this is the most predictable Christmas Eve makeup look, but I don't care (there's a reason it's a classic!). I decided to go for bold glittery bronzed smokey eyes AND a bold orangey red pout, because what other time of the year could I get away with it? I also used a hefty amount of bronzer to add definition to my ghostly-pale face, and I think it helps to balance out the heavy color on the eyes and lips. The addition of a subtle peach blush helped to bring a healthy flush to the cheeks.

Here's what I used:

Base: I first primed my face with Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch to create a smooth and even base. I then applied Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation in 1W1 Bone. To conceal and highlight under the eyes, the sides of the nose and around the mouth, I used Clarins Eclat Minute in #01. To prevent any shine in photos, I applied Clarins Ever Matte Powder in #00 Transparent Opal to the center of the face (forehead, nose, chin).

Cheeks: To sculpt and define the face I applied The Body Shop Honey Bronzer in #03 under the cheekbones, on the temples and along the jawline. For a flush of healthy color I applied Lancome Blush Subtil in Blushing Tresor high on the cheeks and up towards the temples in a C-shape. 

Brows: My brows are now much lighter than they were a month ago, so I filled them in with the matte shade, Naked from the original Urban Decay Naked Palette. I used Maybelline's Great Lash Clear Mascara to set the brows in place.

Eyes: I started by lining the eyes and waterline with Urban Decay 24/7 Glide on Pencil in Demolition and smudged it in for a smokey base. I then applied Buck from the Naked Palette all over the lid and blended it into the crease with a fluffy brush. I also applied Buck along the bottom lash line and smudged it out. For the finishing touch, I applied Dior Diorshow Fusion Mono in #661 Meteore all over the lid with my finger, which helped to add a gorgeous glittery finish to the smokey eye. I finished with two coats of my favorite mascara, Clinique High Impact Extreme Volume Mascara for thick, dramatic lashes. 

Lips: I used Dior Rouge Dior Lipstick in #844 Trafalgar for a pop of super-festive orange toned red. I think this color looks great with blonde hair and pale skin.

Nails: I wanted traditional red nails for Christmas this year and I chose the lovely Maybelline Color Show in Keep Up the Flame to match my lipstick. 

I know it seems like a lot of makeup... and it is, but it's the holiday season and I like to put extra effort into my makeup looks. And I encourage you to step outside your usual makeup looks to try out some glamorous festive looks (jewel-toned eyes, red lips, lots of highlighter, etc).

Happy Christmas to all of my lovely readers, I am so thankful for the overwhelming support of Newfound Beauty Blog in the past two months and I look forward to the coming new year! I wish you all a safe and happy holiday.

Thanks for reading :)

What's in my Shower?

Good day folks! Christmas is coming so fast and I couldn't be more excited. Today I'm giving you a sneak peek into my shower. The products that take residence on the edge of my bathtub are ever-changing, depending on the season or my latest inspiration from other beauty bloggers. Here's a breakdown of my products du jour:

Body: Since discovering Soap and Glory products (available at Shopper's Drugmart) a few months ago, I have become obsessed. I had to go out and buy this body wash after using the matching body butter for a few weeks and I encourage everybody to buy it right away! Soap and Glory Sugar Crush Body Wash smells like limes and sweetness, it's $18 bucks for a bottle but it lasts for months. I would highly recommend this product as a last minute gift (for you poor buggers who have put off the Christmas shopping until now). Next up is The Body Shop Honeymania Body Scrub, a lovely indulgent exfoliator that smells like a very light and floral honey. I bought this scrub as soon as the Honeymania line was released at The Body Shop and I have no regrets. I use this scrub on my legs before shaving or all over if I am prepping for a night out. I would say this body scrub is less harsh than others I have tried, so maybe a good option for those who find traditional scrubs too irritating on the skin. For shaving gel, I have been using Gillette Satin Care with Olay for Sensitive Skin. I bought this on sale a while ago and it gets the job done, I find that shaving my legs makes them feel really dry afterwards but this shaving gel helps a little. It's not the best shaving gel I have ever tried and I will probably purchase a different kind after it is used up and try something different (variety is the spice of life people!).

Hair: I am a commitment phobe when it comes to shampoo and conditioner. I have never quite found "the one" and I always feel like there is something better out there. I tend to try something different every time I run out and this time I am trialling Dove Nutritive Therapy Oil Care Shampoo and Conditioner. My hair has been feeling really dried out from the cold wintery winds in Newfoundland and I wanted a shampoo & conditioner combo that was extra nourishing. I have only used this a handful of times (not long enough to make up my mind about it) but I'm liking it thus far as it is really moisturizing and smells fantastic. Next up is the L'Oreal Hair Expertise Total Repairing Mask. I used a hair mask each and every time I was my hair in order to keep it silky and healthy while I attempt to grow it out. This mask is great for making the hair smoothed and moisturized, and it's a budget buy! I would highly recommend keeping a hair mask in your shower because it helps to keep the hair healthy from the daily damage we inflict on it (straightening, curling, dying, teasing, etc).

So those are my shower product picks for December. Do you have favorite shower products that you re-purchase over and over? Or are you more promiscuous when it comes to body wash/scrub/shampoo/conditioner/shaving products? I would love any recommendations for shampoo and conditioner, so please leave your comments below.

Thanks for reading :)

Review: Rimmel Apocalips

Although it seems like I can't mention a beauty bit without giving a mini-review, I think this product in particular deserves a post of it's own. Enter the Rimmel Apocalips. I remember a while back when the Rimmel Apocalips were released in the UK, there was much hype surrounding the liquid lipstick-gloss hybrid thingy. It took at least nine months for it to hit the Canadian drugstores and I nearly jumped for joy when I saw them on a trip to Walmart. I was swatching each tester on the back of my hand for about ten minutes before deciding on the shade, appropriately named Apocaliptic. I put it on as soon as I got home but was surprisingly disappointed by my initial application... here are my thoughts:

Color: The pigmentation of this product is absolutely stunning, I love how extremely pigmented the gloss is and the color is like nothing else I have come across. I would explain it as a deep dark magenta that still manages to be very bright against my pale complexion. I seriously give this whole range two big thumbs up for the many beautiful shade selections, from peachy-pink nudes to reds to a gorgeous plum.

Finish: Though the Apocalips are marketed to be a long wearing, they have an incredibly glossy, high-shine finish. I personally prefer a creme or matte finish to lip products when it comes to wearing bold colors. The lipstick screams for attention and I don't think it's very wearable for daytime. The combination of high shine and bold color is just not my cup of tea.

Longevity and Wear: I applied the product in thin layers, building up three coats for maximum impact (I also applied one thin layer for a stain-like effect). My main issue with this product is that it never really felt like it dried on my lips. Even after three very thin coats of the lipstick, it looked and felt like wearing a wet lipgloss. After wearing it for about an hour, it had started to come off in the middle of my lips and seemed to have moved to the perimeter of my lips and feathered slightly above my lip line. It looked as if there was a thick line of super shiny gloss around my lips with bare splotchy bits in the center. Gross. I would also like to mention that in the hour I wore this product, I did not eat/drink, but had a chat with my sister. I cannot imagine how this would last for any amount of time as the wetness of the product allows it to slide around the lips and easily transfer.

Overall I am so disappointed with this product. It is likely that many of you reading this will have loved the Apocalips, as it seems the rest of the beauty community has given it the seal of approval... but that's the way the cosmetics industry goes, right? There's the good, the bad, and the ugly. And what works for one may not necessarily work for others. This is just my own humble opinion on my much hyped product that I don't think I will be reaching for this party season (or ever for that matter). I think Rimmel missed the mark on this one, but I am patiently waiting for their reformulated, repackaged Moisture Renew Lipsticks to hit Canadian stores.

Sadly, I would not recommend the Rimmel Apocalips and I do not plan on risking my precious limited funds for another disappointing, unwearable product. Have you tried the Rimmel Apocalips? Did you like the product? If so, please let me know your technique for best application results in the comments below.

Thanks for reading :)

Mix and Match: One Gloss, Three Ways

With the many festive gatherings in the month of December, it is essential to be prepared. I thought it would be a good idea to feature one product with many uses that can be used to glam up some favorites that you may already have in your own collection. December is generally an expensive month (Christmas presents, going out, eating out, etc) and buying one multi-tasking product can allow you to make very different looks for the price of one product. In all of the pictures below, I am wearing minimal makeup (not even eyeshadow!) as it is all about the lips, to demonstrate how dressing up your pout for the holidays is so simple. This could come in really handy when transforming your makeup from day to night, it's as easy as a swipe of lipstick and gloss (even if it is in the backseat of a Jiffy cab). I have chosen Revlon Colorburst Gloss in #006 Strawberry, a bright fuschia gloss with a fine glitter running throughout. A perfect addition to your holiday beauty bag.

Look One: Pink Liner + Fuschia Gloss: For the first look, I went for a simple look that uses a pink liner to define and color in the lips (I used Rimmel Lasting Finish Lip Liner in #007 Rose Quartz). The liner is a great pigmented base for the gloss and it will help the gloss stay put for longer.

Look Two: Deep Berry Lipstick + Fushcia Gloss: Don't put your plum/wine/berry lipsticks away yet ladies! Layering a hot pink gloss over a wine colored lipstick will create the ultimate glamorous, dramatic look. I used Rimmel Kate Moss Matte Lipstick in #107 (a personal favorite) as the base and coated the whole thing in the hot pink gloss. Though I pared down my makeup for this look, I think it would be stunning if paired with a vintage-gold eyeshadow.

Look Three: Classic Red Lipstick + Fuschia Gloss: If you haven't already figured it out, I'm a huge fan of red lips. You can use any red lipstick for this look, I used Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in #725 Love that Red (This shade has been around since 1951!). I used the gloss just in the center of the mouth to make the lips look fuller, a great tip for girls with thin lips.

I really enjoyed playing around with different lip products to achieve these looks and I encourage you to experiment with your own combinations for new looks. Are there any unexpected lip combinations that you like to wear? Please let me know in the comments below.

Thanks for reading :)

Sister Beauty: A Sneak Peak into my Sister's Beauty Bag

In honor of my sister's birthday today (happy birthday seestor!), I have interviewed my sister to find out her favorite beauty picks. I feel like we can so often get caught up in our own day-to-day morning routines that many of us stick with the same makeup looks out of habit. Such a simple way to get some inspiration for makeup looks and recommendations for great beauty products is to look to your friends and family to see what they are loving. If you are lucky enough to have a sister, it is likely that she will possess at least one product that will also look great on you. Thanks to genetics, you will likely have some features that are very similar. For instance, my sister and I both have blue eyes (though her's are light blue and mine are dark blue) and I have copied many of her eyeshadow looks that I have found to look quite flattering.

I have always admired my sister for her lovely makeup looks from a young age and I have had the pleasure of watching her carefully apply her flawless makeup for years. Here is a breakdown of her makeup looks:

1. Terrie always has a beautiful flawless complexion. Even when short on time or running errands, Terrie puts in the effort to apply either foundation or concealer to make her lovely skin look gorgeous and perfected.
2. Terrie always loves to play up her big, beautiful eyes. Terrie has big blue eyes that she likes to enhance with light washes of champagney beiges, peachy pinks, golds and light bronzey shades to make her eyes look super blue. As always, Terrie adds lashings of volumizing mascara to her insanely long eyelashes. I think her look is very Victoria's Secret Angel-esque with her subtle glittery eyeshadow and dramatic lashes.
3. Terrie always wears some variation of pink on her lips, ranging from light pinks to deep rosy hues. The pinks compliment Terrie's lovely cool-undertoned skin and draws attention to her lovely pout. This adds to Terrie's natural look that never looks overdone.

On to her favorites:

Base: "I love GOSH X-Ceptional Wear Foundation in #14 Sand. I think that it is MAC-quality for half the price. It gives maximum coverage with a velvet finish and is so easily blendable. This is my favorite foundation (and I have tried everything).

Primer: "The Rimmel Fix and Perfect Primer does the job and is inexpensive. There are other primers that are more expensive and better quality but I am happy with this one. I found the Smashbox Photofinish Primer too drying and I absolutely needed to put moisturizer underneath but I did like it better for extending the wear of my makeup. It's good that I don't need to use a moisturizer when I use this primer.The primer helps to prolong foundation wear and smooths skin for foundation application. I would still rather pay less for this primer because it is really good for the price."

Highlighter: "I use Clinique Up-Lighting Liquid Illuminator in Bronze to glam up the simple makeup days. I like to use it under my brows and on top of my cheekbones for subtle highlighting. For going out, I like to mix a dollop into my foundation for an all over radiant, light-catching look."

Lip Color: "I love the Maybelline Baby Lips in Cherry Me, it's perfect to pop on when wearing yoga pants without looking like too much, but still looks nice when going out. I have all of the colors but this shade is definitely my favorite. It feels good and smells good." Note: This balm is the loveliest rosy-pink shade on Terrie.

Facial Wipes: "The Balea 3-in-1 Cleansing Cloths are about a quarter of the price of Neutrogena's wipes. They smell nice and they work. I use them nightly to remove makeup or after my normal cleansing routine to remove residual makeup. These are awesomely convenient for camping. Another bonus: only need one wipe to remove ALL makeup."

Legs: : "The Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs is my go-to product any time I wear a dress without tights. It covers scratches, bruises and scars amazingly. Remember to use the waterproof one, because if not it will look like you have leprosy if you go out in the rain (learned through experience). Make sure to wash hands well after use."

Once again, happy birthday to my fabulous sister who is my own beauty icon. Are there any product discoveries that you have made from snooping through your friend/family's beauty bags? Tell me about it in the comments below.

Thanks for reading :)

Christmas Beauty: My Holiday Beauty Bag

Happy December ladies and gents! I am officially ready to get into the holiday spirit. It seems like the rest of the world starts celebrating Christmas the second the Halloween costumes are put away, but I like to try to make myself wait until the month of December to get festive. I have attempted to refrain from decorating (oops... I may have put up my little tree last week), drinking egg nog and watching I'll Be Home for Christmas (favorite Christmas movie of all time... love the 90's Jonathan Taylor Thomas). Besides that, I have my parents coming home for Christmas, my mom and sister's birthdays, Christmas parties and the last exam of my degree (okay... I'm not actually looking forward to that). In celebration of the holiday season, I have put together a few products that I will be using for the next month.

Face: I love a dewy, radiant complexion for Christmas gatherings and for this I will be getting heavy usage out of my Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation in #100 Ivory. As I have combination skin (specifically a shiny forehead after a few hours), setting powder will be a must to control unwanted shine.

Cheeks: The Lancome Blush Subtil Palette in #126 Nectar Lace is gorgeous enough to make a beauty addict cry (or maybe it's just me?). Thanks to Lancome, I am set for contour, blush and highlighter this holiday season. The contouring powder is perfect for sculpting out some definition on my ghostly pale "winter skin". The blush is so amazing, it is a bright peachy pink with a beautiful gold shimmer running through, it blends into the skin as a bright peach with a gorgeous sheen to liven up the face. Lastly, the golden highlighter is perfect to up the radiance when applied on top of the cheekbones, temples, down the nose and above the cupid's bow. The highlighter is more subtle than most as it does not contain any glitter, but the effect on the skin is glowy-perfection.

Eyes: My latest purchase is the Dior Diorshow Mono Fusion in #661, a treat to myself for completing another semester of university. Might I say that if I had to pick only one eyeshadow to wear for the rest of my life, it would be this. Functional for everyday use? Probably not, but it is so darn gorgeous. I'm not usually a fan of glittery eyeshadow, but this offering has changed my mind. The picture above does not capture the dimension of glitter that this eyeshadow gives to the lids. I will be sporting this shadow when I wish to look like a glittery copper Christmas tree ornament, and I will likely be sporting this on every glamorous occasion this month (and probably the grocery store). On to the Urban Decay Naked Palette. With the upcoming release of the much-anticipated Naked3 palette (a rose-gold version of the ultra-popular original), I have been inspired to take another look at old faithful to see what it has to offer. I love wearing golden smokey eyeshadow looks during the holiday season and I have scouted out Half Baked, Smog, Buck, and Darkhorse to do the job. The Naked Palette is such a versatile palette (and a lovely Christmas present) for creating countless looks while all staying in the "safe" neutral zone. For liner, my Urban Decay 24/7 Glide on Eye Pencil in Demolition will be my pick for a matte dark brown liner that will stay put into the wee hours of the morning.

Brows: As always, I love a strong brow. As my previously tinted brows have faded to a lighter shade, I will be filling them in with Lancome Powder Brow Pencil in Sable, an ashy medium brown that looks so natural.

Lips: A matte red lip is such an easy way to update the beauty bag for the holiday season. For a bright red pout, I will be applying the Rimmel Lasting Finish Matte by Kate Moss in #110. Budget friendly, packs a punch, and Christmas appropriate. Enough said.

Nails: I love wearing red nails on Christmas but I think it is also nice to switch it up and do something less expected. Essie Angora Cardi is a deep dusty rose color that looks every so dainty and feminine on the fingertips. I can see this polish complimenting sparkly holiday frocks and cozy sweaters alike.