Lip Product Overhaul

It is with tons of embarrassment that I bring you this post today. The truth is I have never considered myself a lipstick aficionado. However, there is something about trying different lipsticks that is so much fun/ addictive. I’m sure there are more of you lipstick addicts out there who want to scale back your collection. So here are my tips:

1.       Toss out the old ones. The best rule of thumb is if it looks different and smells gross throw it out.

2.       Give to friends and family! I was on the hunt for the “perfect” nude and I have come to the terms that most wash me out. Luckily I happen to have a cousin that loves all nude shades. On the other hand I also have another friend who loves blight colors. The combination of these two ensure every lipstick gets some love.

3.       Rule number three is DON’T forget your Mom. My mom is a lipstick addict! I’m telling you I’ve never seen someone go through lipstick as quickly as she does.Which basically means she always gets lipstick too!

4.       Try on before purchasing.

Dearest Tanya you tend to be picky about formulas and colors, so don’t waste your money and try them the heck on! Anyone else have this impulsive "looks nice must have" philosophy? From now on I vow to myself before I purchase I must try (when possible).

5.       Limit yourself… I did this to curb my nail polish obsession a few years ago. I made a promise to myself to only buy 5 nail polishes in a whole calendar year. In return I got some well researched beautiful shades, got use out of my preexisting colors and saved money. So I plan I plan on doing the same method for my lip product infatuation.

 Hopefully these 5 tips on scaling back will help. If you have any tips feel free to let me know as I will be needing them.

Summer Essentials

 Ice cream sandwiches, fresh tomatoes and family BBQ’s are all obvious choices. 
Sangria and popsicles make it to that list too! My life literally revolves around makeup and food. 


However today we are taking about summer beauty essentials.

Sunscreen

I tend to wear a low SPF during winter months. However in the summer I make a conscious effort to wear a higher SPF every day. My last year go to was the La Vanilla Baby Block, which was perfect for my sensitive skin. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to find this so I opted for my long-time favorite Clarins UV plus HP.

Some high SPF’s can make you feel sticky, slimy, greasy and just over all disgvusting. I can assure you the Clarins UV plus HP is so light weight you won’t even know it’s there. This not only does this combat sun damage this “powerhouse” helps fight free radicals by using organic cantaloupe extract. If you have oily skin, sensitive skin or just need an SPF I highly advise you pick up this one.

Fruity Body Wash

My every summer go to is the Philosophy Senorita Margarita body wash. Over the years I have gone through a few of these and I still come back for more. This somewhat zingy yet somewhat sweet is the true definition of refreshing. Philosophy’s shower gels are also extremely handy because you can use them in your hair, on the body and even as bubble bath. Philosophy’s Melon Daiquiri and Mimosa are great scents too.

PS: they don’t smell boozy so don’t fear the cocktail inspired names.

Cream Blush

I love cream blush all year but it really dominates in the summer time. NARS Penny Lane is a great neutral “transitional colour”. Come to think about it does NARS still do cream blush?

Either way you can’t go wrong with a cream blush they look extremely fresh on the cheeks and give you that dewy goddess skin. 
Actually if you are looking for blush there are always amazing summer releases so keep an eye out. My two favorite cream blushes happen to be limited edition blushes. While I don’t like to go on about limited edition product’s I just have to do a small mentioned to these two stunners.

Mac Weekend Get Away – Amazing formula and a great shade for both lips and cheeks.

Clarins Vitamin Pink- This has to be one of all-time favorites. The particular shade of pink literally just lifts my completion, while the slight shimmer adds a healthy glow. Application is easy and it lasts forever on the cheeks. Maybe your local Clarins counter might have one of these kicking around; if they do I can’t recommend this enough. 

What are your tried and true summer essentials? leave me a comment!

Pampering Treats

 Today I thought I would take the day to relax, catch up on some blog stuff, watch some TV and indulge in a Sunday pamper. I happen to love lazy Sundays but since the weather has become warmer I have to admit my weekends has become busier.

So with it currently pouring ran outside I thought I would share with you my Sunday pampering treats.

Yes I am still in love THEFACESHOP! So it’s no surprise my relaxing day includes a slew of their masks. Today I will be trying out the Vitamin E Blood Orange mask. Unlike the other sheet masks I’ve tired from THEFACESHOP this on is a gel mask.

Should be interesting!

Another gel mask I am going to try today is there eye gel mask. I am someone who has dark circles and puffiness so I am pretty excited to get these on and see how they work.

The eye mask was $4.00 and the Blood Orange Mask was $2.00.

Don't forget about the lips! I have been using the Mango Seed Lip Scrub from THEFACESHOP. Not only does this lip balm taste good but it’s also super hydrating. While it says lip scrub on the pot this is really more of a hydrating lip balm with a couple of scrubbies.

Disappointing… kind of but nonetheless a really good nourishing lip product.

Next up to any pamper party is nail polish. While I’m not into pinks I do happen to really like coral nail polish. A summer favorite of mine is Essie’s California Coral.

Finally I am finishing up my spa day with my body care powerhouse duo NUXE’s Huile-Prodigieuse and The Body Shops Shea Body Butter. Not only do they leave the skin smelling great but also the combination of both is a real treat. I simply just mix the body butter with a couple drops of the oil and I’m ready to go!

Well that is it! I hope all of you are enjoying your Sunday!

Out Shopping

The weather is warm and the malls are air-conditioned. It’s shopping season ladies!

Is it just me or do you panic every spring because you know summer is around the corner and you have “no” summer clothes? So before embarking on an adventure to find some summery office apparel I thought I would share with you some of my low-makeup essentials.

Concealer … yes this should come to no surprise.

I need concealer, I really do!

To work I like to wear two concealers but on low-key outings I keep it simple. Clinique’s Airbrush Concealer is great because it really brightens up the eye area. While this has some coverage and brightening properties it’s not too heavy. I think the best way to use this is to simply dot straight from the tube and blend it in with my fingers.

Mascara! Yes another basic product and one that I wear everyday. Just recently I have opened a tube of The Face Shops Freshian Volumizing Mascara. The couple of times I have worn this it made my eyelashes very long. That the funny thing about mascara you don’t know how it really works until a couple of weeks of use.

As for my skin on weekends I barely wear any foundation. When I do wear foundation I like to add a drop to my finger and combat areas where there is redness. I blend in the dotted areas with my fingers and leave the rest of my skin bare. Not only does this look natural but it honestly takes seconds to do. My foundation of choice has been the NARS Sheer Glow. It gives a decent about of coverage but doesn’t look too heavy. If you have dry skin I hydrate the skin well before application.

Tarte’s Glisten is a gorgeous coral with pink and gold glitter running through it. I must say chunky glitter isn’t something that I reach for often but in the summer there is something very fun about this color. There is something cool about wearing almost no makeup in contrast with a faint shimmery cheek. 

If you have NARS’s Super Orgasm they are very similar. Like all Tarte blushes they last for a long time, bendable yet very pigmented.

Just when you thought I was done raving about the Clarins Lip Perfector I am here to tell you… I’m not

 The amazing lip balm, lip-gloss hybrid adds the slightest touch of color that looks very natural to the lips. Not only is formula amazing, but the actual application is made simple with the slanted doe foot applicator. It smells amazing and tastes like a heavenly vanilla dessert. It’s one of the best lip products I’ve encountered if you’re into hassle free lips.  What more can I say? If you want to read my review click here.

Pared up with a pair of sunglasses and I am ready to go!

Let’s hope I can find some summery work clothes.

Between you and I this is posing to be quite the daunting task. Everything is either too bright or too revealing.

And on that note I am off to some summery shopping.

Bebe Lip Review

Now how cute are these? I am telling you THEFACESHOP has been my favourite recent discovery. Not only are most things inexpensive but the products I’ve tried have been pretty good too.  So wandering through their makeup section I stumbled upon the Bebe Lip line. I’m always weary of trying things out with really cutesy packaging. I suppose a part of me thinks it’s meant for little girls and therefore lacks quality. Gut instincts aside and my compulsive personality in overdrive I ended up purchasing the both the Bebe Lip Mask and Bebe Lip Essence.

Bebe Lip Essence… I’m not going to lie I thought the texture of this would have been runny, kind of like a serum. Don’t be confused by the word “essence” in reality this is a semi shiny lip balm. The smells like a delicious fruity bubble gum, which both tastes and smells wonderful. While THEFACESHOP’s website recommends you use this at night, I say you save this for daily use. This cute little balm has an SPF 15 which is perfect for daylight usage. If you are looking for a hydrating summer lip balm, with SPF, a sanitary tube, decent list of ingredients for under $10.00 this is one to check out.

Plus the cute packaging just make this a winner. 

Again absolutely adorable packaging, but between you and I this seemed gimmicky. This mask is made of silicone sheets that stick on to your lips. My lips weren’t dry before hand but still they felt much smoother after.

Should you try it? The simple answer if you have $2.00 kicking around you should. I personally feel this is a good SOS lip product to have just “incase”. Since this contains the hydrating hyaluronic acid this would be great at instantly reliving wind burnt, sun burnt or just plain old chapped lips.

Lip Smackers the Review

 My love for beauty all started with my obsession with Lip Smackers. I remember getting Lip Smacker tins around Christmas time and thinking to myself ‘damn am I ever cool’. Not going to lie I still get this feeling when whipping out an YSL lipstick from my purse. While I still am a huge lip balm fan I somewhere in my makeup evolution I have forgot about Lip Smackers. So mostly based on curiosity, somewhat based on reliving the past here is my review of the cult favorite Lip Smacker Lip Balm.

It has been 10 years since I’ve tried these maybe more. So I went on adventure to Wal-Mart and picked one up. Right off the bat I can tell you I love that they have kept with similar packaging. I was hoping to find the Jelly Bean flavor (an all-time favorite of mine) but they didn’t have it so I settled for the Strawberry Banana (another old favorite of mine)


The Strawberry Banana Lip Smackers smells kind of like plastic but sort of like starburst candies. If I had to pick which fruit wins the banana or the strawberry, I would have to say the banana hands down. Taste wise… not that I suggest you eat one of these but I’m pretty sure I have at some point! The taste underwhelming, it does kind of taste like the name suggests but with an undertone of plastic.

Application wise this Lip Smackers applies completely clear. The formula itself feels really nice actually! This is a lip balm that you can feel on your lips after you apply it. It’s not too thin and it’s not goopy… I think the word I am looking for here is smooth this is a very smooth moisturizing lip balm.

Now for the $100 dollar question… is it as good as I remember?

Honestly the formula is better. This balm left my lips hydrated and smooth. 
As for the scent/taste I don’t think Strawberry Banana is for me. The strong plastically scent and taste took away from just how good this lip balm is.

Have a favorite Lip Smacker flavor leave me a comment!

Shopping the stash

This has to be one of my all-time favourite posts. Personally, I think every collection both big and small has some amazing hidden gems in it. Not only does thing bring out my inner treasure hunter, but it’s also good to get a good rotation going especially since makeup expires.

So come see what I found while shopping my collection.

YSL Rouge Volupte in 9

The tinted YSL Sheer Candies have to some of my favorite lipstick formulas ever.

So I hate to say it but this very gorgeous pink lipstick gets left in the dark more times than not…

Honestly this colour is very pretty and very wearable. I would describe this as a neutral toned medium pink with some shine to it. As for the formula it’s both hydrating and ultra-pigmented. Makes me wonder why the heck haven’t I been wearing this?

Chanel Blush in Frivole

This apricot blush looks extremely natural on and lasts forever. Peach blushes and spring go together like apple pie and ice cream… Poetry aside this is a great colour that I can’t wait to bring back into my routine.

Dior Addict Lipstick in Dior Kiss

This is one of my all-time favorite lipsticks ever. Because it was hidden in the back of my collection I almost forgot about this one. I am happy to report this is already in my purse and ready for use!

L’oreal Rouge Caress something rather in Coral Tattoo

These have a really long name, I apologize. I wore the Rouge Caress in Rose on Rose all last summer.

Coral Tattoo however I maybe wore once. I’m not sure why but I am putting this one into full rotation and I will report back.