Friday Favourites: Vol. 5

So, it's been a minute since my last Friday Favourites post. By "a minute," I really mean "five months." Of course, I've had a ton of obsessions and addictions since March, but I've been so busy with, you know, life, that I haven't had much time to blog here, let alone put together a Friday Favourites. But I found myself with two days off in a row with no freelances, meetings, or social engagements, so I decided it was about time to do one. So, here, my current favourites:

NARS Pro-Prime Pore Perfecting Primer — It is really hard to find a primer that gives a matte finish and has oil controlling or skin smoothing properties that also doesn't contain silicone. But I don't like the feel of silicone because it makes my makeup feel too heavy and thick. I was using the Laura Mercier Oil Free Foundation Primer, and I like the texture of it, but I didn't feel like it was keeping my foundation matte at all, nor did I feel like it really helped with extending the wear-time of my makeup. This NARS one is super lightweight, almost like a serum meets a lotion, and I've found that it helps my foundation keep matte longer throughout the day as well as looking smoother. It's still not as mattifying as a silicone-based primer, but so far, it's the best one I've used that still feels weightless.

NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint — I use a pea-sized amount of this and buff it onto my skin with a MAC Oval 6 brush to create a sheer base for my MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation. Used alone, the Skin Tint doesn't cover freckles or blemishes or pigmentation; it just lightly evens out skin tone with a natural finish. But the addition of it as a base helps my powder foundation from oxidizing on my skin, makes my foundation look more "soft focus" rather than chalky, and keeps my skin more matte for longer in this disgusting summer humidity.

MAC Dazzleshadow in I Like 2 Watch, Let's Roll, and Slow/Fast/Slow — Finally, MAC has made Dazzleshadows permanent! I've loved them since their launch with last June's Le Disko collection (you can find my reviews here, here, and here) and they have replaced Pressed Pigment as MAC's permanent glitter eyeshadow (thank god). Each shade has a 3D multi-dimensional effect that gives a wet, duochrome look, and they shift in colour depending on the angle and the lighting. My favourite way of applying them is using a flat synthetic shader (MAC #242 is my go-to) for maximum impact with minimal fall-out — I use it dry if I want more of a soft iridescent sparkle, or I wet it with MAC Fix+ if I want intense disco ball glitter. Especially gorgeous as the centre of a halo eye look.

Urban Decay Vice Lipstick in Safe Word, Insanity, and Uptight — It seems like every brand is coming out with brand new lipstick ranges lately, but none have been more impressive than Urban Decay, who released 120 shades in six different finishes and priced them at a very reasonable $21 a pop. My go-to shades recently have been Safe Word, Insanity, and Uptight, which are various nudes in various finishes, and all of them have been ultra-pigmented, super-smooth, wear for at least four hours, never dry out or feel uncomfortable, and never leave that nasty white ring of dead skin around the inside of your lips. You can read my reviews on them here and here.

Becca x Jaclyn Hill Champagne Splits Shimmering Skin Perfector Mineral Blush in Prosecco Pop/Amaretto — I love, love, love the Becca x Jaclyn Hill Champagne Collection Face Palette. More specifically, the Amaretto blush and Prosecco Pop highlighter. In fact, I've been using them almost daily since I got it, to the point where I worried that I might hit pan on them before the end of the year. And then what would I do? They're all limited edition! So when the Champagne Splits duos came out and I saw that there was one with Amaretto and Prosecco Pop specifically, I snatched one up right away. Obviously, I am saving this duo until I finish the pans in my face palette, but if there's one thing that needs to become permanent from Jaclyn Hill's collaboration with Becca, it is this.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Eyeshadow Palette — This has been my go-to eyeshadow palette for the last month. You can read my review and see swatches of it here. All you have to know is that this is by far my favourite pre-curated eyeshadow palette of the year. 

Anet Gesualdi macarons — I get mine from the Ela's Macarons kiosk inside Vaughan Mills, but these are my new favourite macarons in the city. (My old favourite place, also a wholesaler, Kerry's Macarons, closed down last year. My favourite place to get macarons in the country is Point G, but alas, it's in Montreal.) Light, crisp shells that don't crumble even when you cut through them, with soft, creamy, flavourful centres, that stay fresh and tasty even three days after you buy them. Favourite flavours include Salted Caramel, Lemon Poppyseed, Pistachio, and Matcha.

The Gallagher Girls book series by Ally Carter — Yes, it is YA, and it's about students at an all-girls spy school and the crazy shenanigans that being teen spies would encompass, like kidnappings and explosions and memory wipes. And as a full-grown adult, I appreciate both its fluffiness and wit. Think Alias meets Veronica Mars meets Gilmore Girls with incredible world-building details and no girl-on-girl hate. It's fucking awesome.

What are your most recent favourites? 

Friday Favourites: Vol. 4

Happy Good Friday! Hope you are all having a pleasant start to the long weekend! It's been a while since I've done a Friday Favourites, and I've acquired and tested out so much product over the past couple months that it was really quite hard to narrow it down to this list (so expect another edition of Friday Favourites really, really soon). But, here, my most recent favourites:

MAC Zac Posen Haute Contour — I totally thought I was gonna pass on this, but I finally decided to pick it up when PRO discounts were applicable (two weeks after launch), and I gotta say, I'm really surprised by how much I love it. I don't use the two shades separately or for contouring, either; I swirl my brush through both, and the result is a gorgeous peachy bronze with a soft golden sheen. This has been my go-to cheek colour for the past few weeks.

Too Faced Peanut Butter and Jelly Eyeshadow Palette — You can read my review of this palette here, but just to reiterate: Too Faced is on fire with their releases this year. This packaging is fucking adorable, the shades are stunning, and every single shadow goes on ultra-smooth and super-pigmented. Plus, they smell like Reese's Puffs. A serious must-have for warm shadow lovers. 

Dior Diorskin Nude Air Glowing Gardens Illuminating Powder in 002 Glowing Nude — By far, the illuminating powders are the stars of Dior's Spring 2016 collection. Formula-wise, it's a liquid-powder hybrid, so it's similar to MAC's Extra Dimension Skinfinish, Bobbi Brown's Highlighting Powders, Anastasia Beverly Hills' Illuminators, Laura Mercier's Face Illuminator Powders, NARS' Dual Intensity Blushes, etc. That also means that it's extremely lightweight with no powdery kickback or glittery fallout, and goes on incredibly smoothly with excellent colour pay-off. The best part about this formula is that you can get it to look really shiny and almost wet, but it's very easy to blend out to get a much softer glow. Glowing Nude is a soft luminous peachy champagne that works on all skintones from fair to deep dark. And honestly, how can you resist the gorgeous packaging and detailing on the powder? 

Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara — This doesn't quite beat out Urban Decay's Perversion Mascara as my holy grail, but it's really damn close. I actually find UD Perversion to give more volume because it's a wetter formula, but that also means it's more prone to clumping and smudging, which the MJ Velvet Noir doesn't do. The Velvet Noir adds amazing volume while still separating the lashes — but not so much that the volume disappears (this is my pet peeve with plastic or rubber bristled mascaras). The most impressive feature about this mascara, though, is its ability to hold curl. I wear three coats of mascara everyday, and I have straight lashes that require some hardcore curling to keep my lashes up. When using other mascaras, I notice that my lashes will droop a little bit by the end of the day, whereas the MJ keeps my lashes looking ultra-curled and perky for at least 12 hours (and it's not waterproof!). 

Dior Addict Lip Glow Color Reviver Balm in 005 Lilac — I had Dior's original Lip Glow from like, ten years ago; there was only the one pink colour and while it was nice, I didn't feel the need to re-buy it. And honestly, no one gave a shit about it back then. But everyone started talking about them again and Dior came out with this new Lilac shade for spring, so I decided to check it out. My friend gave me her staff discount at Sephora, too, so the $40 price tag wasn't as daunting. On me, the Lilac shade turns a very soft cool petal pink, but in a way that is very natural. However, what I like about this isn't necessarily the colour, but in the formula itself. It makes my lips look super-smooth and plump, and it actually hydrates immediately and over time as well (my lips continue to be soft even after the balm has come off my lips). It doesn't feel greasy or thick or sticky, but it has more substance than a waxier balm, making it a truly ideal lip balm for everyday use. And it has a very pleasant subtle vanilla mint scent rather than the really strong rose fragrance from their other lip products. 

Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Cleanser Daily Foaming Wash — I swear, this is responsible for all the good skin days I've been having. I didn't think cleansers could make such a distinct difference because you wash it off, but I've really noticed that my skin looks smoother and clearer and brighter since I started using it. It's creamy and gently foaming (not big luscious bubbles, but it foams up more than a milk cleanser), so it's great for all skin types, and it has a lovely subtle citrusy fruit scent. I have combo-oily skin and I feel like it targets both my oily T-zone and my dehydrated cheeks; my skin feels clean and fresh but not stripped. It is important to note, however, that I use this is my morning cleanser, so I don't know how effective it is on makeup removal. 

Philosophy Renewed Hope in a Jar — I've been using this as my day cream. It has a beautiful lightweight whipped consistency and a very fresh, slightly floral scent. I haven't really noticed a huge difference in my skin's texture (to be fair, I don't have big pores or fine lines), but it leaves my skin feeling soft and hydrated all day without being greasy or heavy, and my skin looks smooth and glowy. It sits really well under makeup, too.

Sansotei Ramen — My favourite ramen restaurant in Toronto finally opened up an uptown location, which means I now only have to travel 15 minutes to get their delicious bowls of noodles in creamy pork bone broth.

Zootopia — I loved every single thing about this movie. The characters, the storyline, the rich colours and stunning visual details. It is funny, witty, adorable, snarky, and heartfelt without being cheesy. As Peter Travers of Rolling Stone says, "The last thing you'd expect from a new Disney animated marshmallow is balls. But, hot damn, Zootopia comes ready to party hard. This baby has attitude, a potent feminist streak, a tough take on racism, and a cinema-centric plot that references The Godfather, Chinatown and L.A. Confidential. The kids, paying zero attention to such things, will love it. But the grownups will have even more fun digging in."

What are your most recent favourites? 

Friday Favourites: Vol. 3

Happy Friday, y'all! Hope you are all having a good 2016 so far. Here, my most recent favourites:

Marc Jacobs Beauty The Shape Contour and Blush Brush No. 15 — Though it's meant for contouring and blush application, I actually find this brush best for applying foundation and concealer. The smaller size allows for greater control and you can easily maneuver it under the eyes and around the nose. I personally use this for buffing out my concealer. It's a tie with MAC's #196 for favourite buffing brush.

Burberry Light Glow Natural Blush in Tangerine Blush No. 06 — I don't have a lot of makeup by Burberry, but their blushes are gorgeous. It is such a finely-milled, silky, pigmented powder that glides on effortlessly on the skin and blends out beautifully. It's not shimmery, but not quite matte; it just looks like skin with a soft glow. And this shade is a beautiful everyday neutral peach.

Kevyn Aucoin The Celestial Powder in Candlelight — There are hundreds of highlighters on the market right now, but what sets Kevyn Aucoin's apart is in the texture. It's not that liquid-powder hybrid type, or that super-buttery, almost cream-like type, or that baked, super-shimmery type. It's just a really high quality, soft, finely-milled, velvety powder. It's never too bright or too sparkly, but it isn't too subtle, either. Like, it imparts a very beautiful soft highlight that makes the skin look glowy and illuminated and gently sculpted, but not glittery or wet-looking. Basically, if Goldilocks were looking for a highlighter, this would be it. And Candlelight is the perfect warm beige shade that isn't too light, too dark, or too gold.

Julep Nail Color in Celeste — Y'all know I love my glitter polishes, and this month, Julep came out with the most stunning, multi-dimensional polish of gold, green, blue, and purple glitters suspended in a charcoal base that reminds me of space rocks.

MAC Faerie Whispers Foiled Shadows — Similar to the Extra Dimension Eyeshadows, but a little softer in texture, and more glittery and luminous in finish. Basically, they are goddamn stunning.

MAC Retro Matte Liquid Lipstick in Oh, Lady — You can read my review of these liquid lipsticks here, here, and here; there's a ton of gorgeous shades in this formula, but the standout for me is Oh, Lady, a gorgeous dark muted berry-wine that will suit every skintone and complexion.

Bite Beauty Luminous Crème Lipstick in Retsina — My most recent go-to nude lipstick. The formula is smooth, lightweight, creamy, hydrating, and pigmented, and Retsina just seems to be the most perfect nude for my skintone. It's not too brown, not too peach, not too pink, and it's light enough to be firmly in the nude category and not a MLBB shade.

Apple Music — Thanks in part to Larie for introducing it to me and in part to my friend Austin for explaining how to use it, I finally got into Apple Music (I'm in my three-month free trial right now, but will definitely continue using it even when the trial term is over). I can download any and all albums I want for $9.99 a month, and they're automatically synced to all my Apple devices (I only use Apple devices, so I didn't have to worry about this to begin with, but I guess this could be a deal breaker for non-Apple users). I feel so stupid for not getting it sooner because I used to spend an average of $50 a month on music alone. Although at the rate that I'm downloading music now, I will run out of space very, very soon...

Coldplay's Parachutes — Random, right? I have always been totally indifferent to Coldplay, and add to the fact that this album came out 15 years ago, it's just weird that I'd be so into this record now. I remember buying it when I was in high school, but I must have lost it during one of my moves 'cause my CD is nowhere to be found now. I decided to download it after I joined Apple Music, and it's literally been on repeat for the last week. Like, in the car, in the shower, when I'm blogging, even right this minute. I forgot what a stellar record this is. Like, every single song is just a total gem.

iZombie — Ever wonder what it's like to see the world through the eyes of a zombie? Well, now you can. Funny, witty, original, totally addictive. I wouldn't expect any less of a show that was created by Rob Thomas, and features a main character who's a zombie. 

What are your most recent favourites? 

Friday Favourites: Vol. 2

Happy Friday, y'all! Here, my most recent favourites:

Shu Uemura x Maison Kitsuné Gold Eyelash Curler — Still the best eyelash curler I have ever used; it's an industry essential for a reason. The flatter curve fits every eye shape so it gets all of your lashes in the clamp and creates a curl that holds all day. This gold-plated version with the Maison Kitsuné fox logo chain tag (it doesn't really help or hinder the curler, it's just a cute accessory) is the same price as the original, but I'm not allergic to this one like I am the original nickel-plated one. Plus, it looks fancy.

Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask — Totally thought this one was gonna be another overpriced, overhyped beauty product, but it really does work wonders on ultra-dry, flaky lips. It's thick and tacky and expensive (it's a $30 lip balm), but I use this as an overnight lip repair, and in the morning, my lips really are smoother and more moisturized. Like, I can wear a MAC Retro Matte lipstick and my lips don't feel like they're torn to shreds by the end of the day. Also, it smells like a vanilla-chocolate ice cream cone, which is always a plus in my books.

Bite Beauty Mauvember Luminous Crème Lipstick — A most gorgeous muted mauve-pink that, despite its name, you can wear all year round. It flatters all skintones with all undertones, and it's a nice pop of colour without being too bright. The formula is smooth, creamy, hydrating, and pigmented. Plus, proceeds go to the Movember Foundation, which helps raise awareness of prostate cancer. It's not November anymore, but this lipstick —  a Canada-exclusive shade — is still available in Sephora stores. A must-have for any purple lipstick lover.

Diptyque Eau Duelle Eau de Parfum — The perfect fragrance on cold winter days. It's a smoky, spicy vanilla scent that is somehow comforting but also downright sexy. I'm not typically a fan of vanilla or smoky or spicy perfumes, but this one just blew me away. And it's an addictive scent, too; I just wanna smell myself all day long.

MAC Fluidline Pen in Retro Black — My new ride-or-die liquid liner. It has the ease of use and ink flow of the Stila Stay All Day, but the flexible foam tip applicator of the Lancôme Artliner (it was my all-time favourite liner but I became allergic to it) that makes it perfect for winged liner. And it's cheaper, too.

Marc Jacobs Enamored Hi-Shine Gloss Lip Lacquer in 318 Pretty Thing — Smooth, creamy, non-sticky, hydrating, comfortable to wear, with medium-to-full colour pay-off and a light sweet mint scent. It has a flexible foam applicator that hugs the lips for optimal lip coverage, and it's glossy. I know it seems redundant to say that, but I find a lot of glosses lose their brilliance or shine within an hour, maybe even less, and this one stays glossy. Pretty Thing is a universally-flattering light-medium muted rosy beige that works on all skintones and looks fantastic on its own and on top of lipstick. 

A-England Nail Varnish in Spirit of the Moors — I'm into blues for nails right now, and A-England really hit the mark with this one. It's a vibrant cobalt blue that stands out from all the dark, moody shades that are so popular for this time of year, but it's not in-your-face or tacky. It has a beautiful holographic micro-shimmer that keeps it more interesting than traditional creams but remains classy. It has that perfect fluid consistency and intense pigmentation that A-England is known for, and it somehow makes hands look brighter and cleaner, too.

L'Occitane en Provence Shea Butter Hand Cream — I sanitize and wash my hands so often that my skin gets seriously dry and cracked (and sometimes with cuts). Add to that hand eczema, and I've pretty much tried all the hand creams out there. And this is still the one I keep coming back to. Nothing deeply hydrates like this one. It's on the thicker side so I use it for overnight repair, but in the morning, my hands are baby soft. And it smells faintly of baby powder, too (which I quite like, and find rather comforting). A winter must-have for me.

Grimes' Art Angels — One of the catchiest, danciest, and quirkiest records I've listened to in a long time, and definitely one of my favourite releases this year. It's not gonna be for everyone, but it sounds like nothing else and it's a really impressive electro-pop album, especially since Claire Boucher (a.k.a. Grimes) not only sings, but also writes and produces all of her own music. I've found myself playing this almost everyday because it puts me in such a good mood. Favourite songs include "Kill V. Maim," "Easily," "Pin," "REALiTi," and "World Princess, Pt. II."

Orange is the New Black — Yeah, I'm just getting into it now. And I may have watched all of Season 1 in two days. 

Tealish Toasty Almond Herbal Dessert Tea — Vanilla, almond, apple, and cinnamon spice. Add a dash of milk and a bit of sugar. Especially good in the winter. Makes me feel all warm and cozy and shit.

Aldo Arielle Ankle Boots — They're cute, they go with everything, and they are ultra-comfortable. They're made with supple, flexible leather, and have the most perfect heel height that gives just the right amount of lift that makes your legs look slimmer and longer but also help with posture. Seriously, I can stand for ten hours in them. And speed-walk through a mall. Best part is, I got them on sale. I may need to get another pair just in case I wear these ones into the ground.

What are your most recent favourites? 

Friday Favourites: Vol. 1

I thought I'd start doing "favourites" posts here, because I'm always intrigued by other people's favourites. Most bloggers or YouTubers do monthly favourites, but I don't necessarily want to limit myself in that way; I've called them "Friday Favourites" so I can post as many or as little as I like (on Fridays). They will be beauty-related for the most part, but I will add other random favourites, too, like if I've read a particularly excellent book or eaten something really spectacular. So, without further ado, here is my first Friday Favourites post!

Viseart Eyeshadow Palette in 01 Neutral Mattes — The most silky smooth, finely-milled, ultra-pigmented matte eyeshadows I have ever used. Truly the only neutral palette you'll ever need. 

Hourglass Ambient Bronzer in Luminous Bronze Light — Creates a most gorgeous, natural glowy warmth on the skin without being shiny or shimmery. I also like to use it as a soft bronzy blush on the cheeks. So great to fake a healthy complexion as we head into winter. 

MAC #196 Brush — The most perfect foundation/concealer blending brush. It's dense so you can add more coverage effortlessly, but blends out like a sponge so make-up never looks cakey or streaky. The size and the angled top are excellent for using under the eye and around the nose. 

MAC Extra Dimension Skinfinish in Oh, Darling! — I almost wasn't going to put this because it's sold out everywhere and going for $100 on eBay (seriously, I just looked it up), but it really has been my favourite highlighter since it launched. It's a weightless liquid-powder hybrid that imparts the perfect champagne gold colour with a gorgeous metallic finish and makes the skin look ultra-smooth and super luminous. Blends out like a dream, too. Honestly, I prefer this over the Becca highlighters. It's a damn shame that this is limited edition. 

Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour in 665 Vibrato — The perfect royal blue cream shade. Ultra-pigmented, self-levelling, no streaks, and no staining. 

YSL Rouge Volupté Silky Sensual Radiant Lipstick in 3 Ultimate Beige — YSL's Rouge Volupté is definitely in my Top 5 lipstick formulas of all time (it's creamy with full saturated colour pay-off, dries down to a satin finish, and is comfortable to wear) and this shade is my ultimate MLBB; it's a medium rosy brown with a hint of mauve. I've been reaching for this more than any of my other lipsticks recently because it's so low-maintenance but looks so polished.

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell — I honestly didn't think I was gonna love this as much as I do. It's a novel that is based on a fictional fanfic that was originally introduced in Rowell's Fangirl (another favourite). It's described as "a ghost story, a love story, and a mystery." Basically, it's like a parody of Harry Potter, but featuring mages instead of wizards, vampire existentialism, and two gay boys as the main characters. It's funny, it's charming, and it's freakin' fantastic.

Raisin gelato from Love Gelato — Not rum raisin. Just raisin. The flavour of raisin without the gross shrivelled up texture of actual raisins. It has a hint of nutmeg or cinnamon in it, too. Absolutely, positively delightful for the fall season. Fuck pumpkin spice, this shit is where it's at.

Carrie Underwood's Greatest Hits: Decade #1 — I don't know why I'm into country pop all of a sudden, but Carrie Underwood makes it hard to resist. I was indifferent to her for a decade, and then I watched a video of her performing Guns 'n' Roses' "Paradise City" (which she absolutely, 100% slays), and now I'm obsessed with her. But, not obsessed enough to buy her entire catalog of music. Enter her greatest hits album. Highlights for me include "Little Toy Guns," "Before He Cheats," "Wasted," "Good Girl," and "Two Black Cadillacs."

What are your most recent favourites?