Luscious Locks: Some Hair Favorites

I'm certainly not high maintenance when it comes to hair care and styling. My fine hair can't handle heavy or greasy products, so I always look for things that will give me volume and texture without drying it out. Each product mentioned today is not utilized on a daily basis but rather for specific occasions to meet my hair needs. I happen to have a lot of drugstore products that I am enjoying currently but I often switch back and forth between high end and drug store hair care. Here are my five hair essentials of the moment:

L'OREAL ELNETT HAIRSPRAY
Elnett Hairspray is a bit of a beauty icon. The hairspray has literally been around since the 60's and continues to be a favorite of many today. I love it because it has amazing hold but applies to the hair very dry, rather than wet and goopy. I use this hairspray usually when I sport buns and ponytails to keep the baby hairs around my hairline in check. It lasts all day for me without touch ups and can easily be brushed out at the end of the day. Best hairspray ever.

JOHN FRIEDA FRIZZ EASE GLOSSING MIST
For those of you with blonde or light hair, you may find that your hair can look dull and flat sometimes. Light hair does not seem to shine in the same way darker hair does. I bought this glossing mist on a whim and it's become a lovely addition to my hair wardrobe. I love to spray from my ears down to my ends after curling my hair for glossy curls that never look greasy.

WELLA OIL REFLECTIONS
I religiously apply oil to my ends every time I wash my hair. In comparison to the ever-loved Moroccanoil, I think Wella blows it out of the water. It smells delicious and absorbs quickly into the hair to keep it soft and nourished for a few days. I love that I can layer more oil on when my ends feel like they need some moisture.

JOHN FRIEDA LUXURIOUS VOLUME ROOT BOOSTER BLOW DRY LOTION
I've tried many a root boosting spray in my lifetime and this is certainly a favorite. I like to spray this on to the roots of my damp hair and blow dry my hair upside down for volume boost that never feels weighed down or sticky.

DOVE DRY SHAMPOO
I needn't go on about this on for too long. It's the perfect gym companion for sweaty locks and it's perfect for second/third/fouth/fifth day hair. It smells divine and adds a piecey texture to the hair.

So there sums up my favorite hair products of the moment. I would love some recommendations for shampoos, conditioners and deep conditioning treatments!

Thanks for reading,

The Best of February 2015

Hello folks! It's been a few weeks since I last posted on Newfound Beauty but I'm back with my slightly tardy February Favorites. In the past month I've been playing around with my beauty routine and trying some new looks to spice up the long Canadian winter. This month has focused on wearing smoked-out muted colors like grey, plum and bronze. I'm craving some more color on my face to compensate for the dreary, monotonous cold and jazzing up my makeup in the mornings helps a little. Here are my favorite things from February:

SMASHBOX STUDIO SKIN FOUNDATION
I used this foundation almost every day in the month of February. I love the medium buildable coverage which reduces the amount of concealer I need to put on in the morning. This foundation has done wonders for covering up pigmentation left on my cheeks and jawline from acne and has an incredible lasting powder for 12 hour work days. As I mentioned in my review of Smashbox Studio Skin Foundation (check it out here), I have the lightest shade which is still a smidge too dark for me but I make it work by mixing with lighter foundations or bronzing my neck. Just a warning to those uber pale ladies out there looking for a good color match- you won't find it here!

MAC MELBA BLUSH
I'm willing to bet that this blush is one of MAC all-time best sellers. And I totally get why. Although I think this would be the perfect shade on it's own in the summer time paired with a tan, I've been loving to use it mixed with my other blushes. Swiped over the top of a pink blush it creates a gorgeous rosy-peach shade that makes cool toned blushes much more wearable on my warm-toned complexion. The blush is a pretty matte peach that is a must-have in any collection. Matte blush is a great choice for people like myself with uneven skin texture on the cheeks (scars, acne, pigmentation, psoraisis, large pores, etc) as it does not emphasize imperfections.

MAYBELLINE COLOR SHOW POLISH IN KEEP UP THE FLAME
What a perfect red nail polish. Not only do I adore the beautiful shade that is Keep Up the Flame, but I am doubly impressed by the formulation of this polish. It lasts about 5-7 days completely chip-free on myself. I've never encountered any red nail polish that could take such a beating. I have not tried any other Maybelline nail polishes in at least ten years, but I'm extremely impressed with such an affordable polish from the drugstore.

URBAN DECAY NAKED PALETTE
All hail the king! This Naked Palette was my first foray into the world of makeup. A lovely birthday present gifted to me back in 2012 by the boy, it started an obsession with mid-high end makeup. I have to admit that I really haven't gotten much use out of this puppy in the past two years but I've been really enjoying it in the month of February. In particular, I've been favoring Naked (matte beige), Buck (matte warm brown), Smog (bronze with gold shimmer and Toasted (shimmery antique copper). The fall down of these shadows is annoying but the result is absolutely stunning. Urban Decay hits it out of the park when it comes to pigmentation and color selection- every time.

So there sums up my favorite things in February. What have you been putting on your face this winter? What are your favorite combinations from the Naked Palette? Let me know in the comments below!

Thanks for reading.

Vintage Beauty in the Modern Age: Downton Abbey Inspired Look

I am a fan of the TV series Downton Abbey. For those of you who have not seen the show, it is about a very rich family and their servants living in a massive estate in Yorkshire, England in 1912. I've always been interested in period dramas and Downton Abbey is one of the best. Especially when it comes down to the fashion and beauty of the early 1900's which are so different than the makeup looks we see today. After doing some research, I decided to do a makeup look based on the characters in Downton Abbey and historically accurate makeup techniques of that period.

Facts about 1910's Makeup:

• It was frowned upon to have any tan or color to your skin- as it was an indication of class. The rich did not work and protected their skin from the sun while the working class were more tanned from working outside. Pale skin was very sought after to show the public that you were upper class. 
• To look very "made up" was frowned upon and women wore very minimal makeup at that time. Mascara had just come on the scene but was not yet popular making eye makeup practically non-existent.
• Little pots of rouge would be utilized to create a rosy flush on the cheeks and a bitten stain on the lips.

For today's look I kept things very minimal. Eye makeup consisted of a very light brown blended into the crease and along the bottom lashline. I added a very light coat of mascara as my eyelashes are blonde and practically invisible without it. The face was kept clean with foundation and a rosy blush just on the apples of the cheeks. For lips I applied a few swipes of a deep plum lipstick and dabbed it in with my fingers until only a slight stain was left on the lips. 

And that sums it up! The look is simple and minimal but comes across as feminine and fresh. Would you wear the pared-down rosy Downton Abbey look? Are you a fan of the show? Please let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

Products Used:

Face: Smashbox Studio Skin Foundation mixed with Bourjois Health Mix Serum Foundation, Bobbi Brown Correction in Porcelain (to highlight), Maybelline Dark Circle Eraser (undereyes and blemishes) and NARS Translucent Crystal Setting Powder. 

Cheeks: NARS Amour blush

Eyes: Naked and Darkhorse (Urban Decay Naked Palette), Wet n Wild Brulee and Covergirl Clump Crusher.

Lips: Rimmel London Kate Moss Lasting Finish Lipstick in 108

Thanks for reading!

My Favorite MAC Lipstick

Today I pay tribute to a gorgeous lipstick. My absolute favorite MAC lipstick (granted I only own two). Drumroll please.....MAC Kinda Sexy. I think everybody should own this lipstick. I've seen pale girls and darker girls rock this color and it looks great on everyone.

WHY I LOVE IT:

• It's a mid-priced product, so you are paying a semi-reasonable amount of money for a fabulous product.
• It's matte finish is very "on trend" but feels really moisturizing on the lips (and believe me, I hate the feeling of most matte lip products).
• The gorgeous color which is like nothing I've ever worn. It's un-dupable in my opinion and it's an ultra-flattering warm-toned pink with the slightest touch of brown. 
• It looks absolutely beautiful with a gloss on top.
• It wears for a long time and fades evenly (doesn't leave that nasty ring of lipstick around the perimeter of the lips).
• It has a vanilla scent. 
• It appears to be in the nude-spectrum of colors but provides a little pop of color that doesn't wash out the complexion.
• Versatile enough to work with a more heavily made up look or a minimal makeup look.

MAC Kinda Sexy is a very popular shade and I totally understand why. It's not only my favorite MAC lipstick but also one of my favorites in my entire collection. I'm nuts about it and I HIGHLY recommend to anyone looking to try out a new MAC lipstick. 

What is your favorite MAC lipstick? Let me know in the comments below.

Thanks for reading. 

The Best of January 2015

January is never my favorite month and I'm happy to see that it's over. This month I have not purchased ANY new makeup products as a part of my Project Pan, which is in effect until March 21st. That said, this has pushed me to dig deep into my makeup bag and rediscover some gems that I've forgotten about along the way. Here are five things that I've really enjoyed in the past month:

MAC MINERALIZE SKINFINISH in SOFT AND GENTLE
After purging my makeup in the last month, I now own only two highlighters. I ordered this highlighter before Christmas after hearing so many great reviews and I'm so happy I did. MAC Soft and Gentle is a peachy champagne highlighter that reflects a white golden sheen. It is shimmery with finely milled glitter throughout the product. When applied lightly to the tops of the cheeks, it appears as an almost wet-looking sheen without visible glitter. Of course, if applied with a heavy hand, you could easily look like a Christmas tree ornament. I adore a subtle application to the tops of the cheeks, bridge of the nose and cupid's bow. See me wearing it in last week's post on the top of the cheek. It's a beautiful cult classic that I am happy to own and I've used it every day of the month. Although it's expensive at $37 CAD, it has 10 grams of product which is certainly enough to last years.

CLARINS ROUGE ECLAT LIPSTICK in 01 NUDE ROSE
As a part of my project pan, I've set my mind to using up a full lipstick. Enter, Clarins Nude Rose. The formula itself is incredibly creamy and soft with a scent that reminds me of berries. It's a cool toned rosy pink that has a touch of berry. I find that this lipstick is makes teeth look really white and brightens up the whole complexion. I'm finally down to the bottom and I will probably have this finished in a day or two.

WET N WILD BRULEE EYESHADOW SINGLE
I have definitely mentioned this eyeshadow in past monthly favorites. This is a very versatile eyeshadow that feels very smooth and creamy, though it is a powder. I like to use this on top of my eye primer before putting on any other color eyeshadows to help them blend together better. The yellow toned cream shade neutralizes redness and veins on the eye lids, creating the perfect canvas for any eyeshadow look. I've made a pretty decent dip in the Wet N Wild Brulee Eyeshadow this month and I will soon be hitting pan.

TWEEZERMAN TWEEZERS
Since taking Accutane for the past few months, I cannot wax or thread my eyebrows due to skin sensitivity (and secretly for fear that my skin will get ripped off). I invested in a good pair of tweezers to tie me over until I can start getting my brows professionally tamed again. Tweezerman Tweezers are the easiest and most precise tweezers for getting the most stubborn hairs and I love that I can grip the exact hair I want on the first try-every time. If you pluck, you should definitely look into Tweezerman.

HERBACIN KAMILLE HAND CREAM
This product has saved my hands from the harsh Canadian winter/Accutane/eczema/nurse hands. It's an incredibly thick and somewhat greasy hand cream that skins pretty quickly into the hands making them immediately soft and silky. It is scented in a subtle, non-offensive scent that sort of reminds me of old ladies. I like to apply it throughout the day and always in a thick layer before bed. Herbacin Hand Cream is available at most drugstores and Walmart, coming in at around $5 CAD.

So that rounds up the product superstars of the past month. What have you been enjoying lately?

Thanks for reading!