April Favorites

Happy Saturday folks! I'm so relieved that this week is finally over and has resulted in a big move to a new apartment that I am absolutely in love with. If you have experienced the misery that is moving, you will already be well aware that it is a torturous, awful experience. As a result of the big move, I have stuck to the bare essentials and had a month of (mostly) boring makeup looks. The few times I did put in effort, I went for a retro inspired sixties look. After finishing season 6 of Mad Men, I've been drooling over the beautiful makeup looks on each of the female characters. So keep your eye out for some retro makeup posts to come. Here's what I've enjoyed using this month:

BOURJOIS HEALTHY MIX SERUM FOUNDATION in No. 51
I purchased this foundation quite some time ago on a whim. After hearing the beauty community rave about the foundation for years, I was certainly intrigued to see what the hype was all about. I love this foundation for day to day wear. It claims to have skin care benefits and I would definitely agree that it feels more nourishing on the skin than other foundations in my stash. It has a very healthy, satin finish that looks beautiful on the skin. It can be applied lightly for a light coverage or built up to a medium coverage. I also love that it has a pump that dispenses a very small amount of foundation, so no product goes to waste.

BOURJOIS CREAM BLUSH in 01 NUDE VELVET
After extensively researching the makeup used on the set of Mad Men, I discovered that the makeup artist swears by cream blush with a matte finish to get that lovely peachy flush of the 60's. I've been loving wearing this ultra pretty peachy blush applied to the cheeks without bronzer or highlighter. The formula is cream to powder but still manages to have a healthy sheen on the cheeks.

RIMMEL SCANDALEYES PRECISION MICRO EYELINER 
This is my first eyeliner pen! Somehow I've never jumped on the eyeliner pen train until now, and I have been missing out. I avoid using gel liners and liquid liners on a daily basis because of the potential for making a mess and the effort that goes into drawing a perfect flick. This eyeliner has been essential to creating my Mad Men-inspired makeup looks. The super-fine nib draws the thinnest of lines, which is great for a pretty day time look. The liner is not super pigmented and looks like more of a soft black that a super intense black. I personally like the lack of pigmentation as super dramatic liner can look overdone with my pale skin and light hair.

MAYBELLINE THE ROCKET VOLUME EXPRESS MASCARA
After a major disappointment with a high end mascara (read about it here), I've turned to the drugstore to try some new mascaras. I've heard lots of good feedback about the Rocket mascara and I have to say that I am definitely a fan. I love that the mascara separates the lashes for a pretty defined look, adds a decent amount of volume and helps my lashes hold a curl all day long (which few mascaras are capable of doing for me). I love how my lashes looks with one coat but also love how it layers for more dramatic lashes when I go out. I'm majorly impressed with the quality of this mascara for the price.

NARS SATIN LIP PENCIL in YU
Now that spring seems to be finally hitting my coastal province, I've been loving this lip pencil for a bold pop of color. I've been using this patted in the lips for a stain-like effect and using it full powered for night's out. I swear that this lip product makes me stand a little taller because it just looks (and feels) so glamorous.

THE BODY SHOP HONEYMANIA BODY BUTTER
I haven't used a body butter from The Body Shop in ages, but it's just like I remember. I love how nourishing it feels on my dry skin and how it manages to disappear into the skin without leaving behind a greasy film. Not to mention that I absolutely love the floral-honey scent that lasts on the skin all day long.

LA ROCHE POSAY EFFACLAR DUO 
This has been my go-to acne spot treatment for nearly two years. I've recently had some angry breakouts, and I like to think that this spot treatment makes blemishes disappear in half of the time they normally take to clear up.

AVENE SOOTHING EYE CONTOUR CREAM
I've made it my mission in 2014 to become an avid eye cream user. I've been using this stuff day and night and it seems like my eye area just drinks it up. I have noticed a major difference since using this eye cream, the skin around my eyes looks more plump and hydrated, which equates to less fine lines. The eye cream itself is formulated for sensitive skins and never burns or irritates the delicate eye area.

So those have been the winners of the month of April. What have you been enjoying this month? Let me know in the comments below.

Thanks for reading.