September 28, 2015

summer beauty buys!

So many great beauty buys this summer, and now that the cooler weather is here all of them can be used into the fall! Read on to see which ones you should try and which ones you shouldn't! (Spoiler alert: I loved everything)


No. 7 Exfoliating Face Scrub
This was a re-purchase for me. I love to keep a scrub in the shower and use it every few days to keep my skin smooth and my pores clean. This one works great! 

Shoppers Drug Mart, $17

Urban Decay Primer Potion
This was also a re-purchase! I am obsessed with this eyeshadow primer, it's the only one I use for myself and in my kit. Legit it will make your eyeshadow last 24 hours.

Sephora, $24

Benefit Watt's Up! Cream to Powder Highlighter
"Strobing" is the new makeup craze right now (it's a way to highlight... more on this in another post) and I'd heard good things about this cream stick highlighter. It is very creamy (with a powder finish), pretty blend-able, and definitely left me with a serious glow!

The Beauty Boutique, $39

St. Tropez Tanning Mitt
To go along with my coveted St. Tropez Self-Tan Bronzing Mousse, this mitt just makes application that much easier. Make sure to use with a latex glove underneath for added protection against blotchily self-tanning your hand!

Shoppers Drug Mart, $8

La Roche-Posay Spray Sunscreen
I recently read an article about certain sunscreens containing harmful, hormone-altering chemicals like oxybenzone (read the article HERE), and decided to invest in one that was deemed safer. This one was on the list of good sunscreens, and with an SPF of 45 and dry-touch finish, I really do like it. It's on the pricier side but I got it with points at Shoppers so it didn't cost me anything. I think I would have purchased it at full price regardless, because you can't put a price on health, and we only heavily wear sunscreen a few months of the year here in Niagara Falls anyways. 

Shoppers Drug Mart, $24

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in "Milk"
I always stress the importance of using an eyeshadow primer for shadow longevity (see above), but sometimes my fave primer doesn't necessarily make a light, shimmery eyeshadow more opaque. Enter the NYX "Milk" Eye Pencil. Featured in many a makeup tutorial, this stick creates an opaque base for the eyeshadow to stick to and really 'pop'. See the difference this eye pencil makes when applying Urban Decay's pale, metallic pink shimmer eyeshadow "Dust":



Amazon.com, $7

Ben Nye Luxury "Banana" Powder
This powder gained fame during the start of the contour and highlight craze when it was revealed that Kim Kardashian's makeup artist used this to achieve her famously sculpted features. I have to admit it really is smooth and soft (I guess that's why it's called luxury powder), but works best for medium skin tones, anyone too light and it will look yellowy. 

www.makeupmania.com, $16 for 1.5 ounces

Ben Nye "Neutral Set" Setting Powder
Setting your foundation with a translucent powder is a SUPER important step in making it last hours longer, and yet so many people don't do it. It's like painting your nails but skipping topcoat... it just won't look as nice as long! But be warned - not all translucent powders are created equal. Some contain silica which will cause "flashback" (that white under eye look in photos... literally the the light from the flash bounces back in the photo) but this one won't! Perfect for special events that will have flash photography. 

www.makeupmania.com, $9 for 3 ounces

Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick in "Pure Hollywood"
These liquid lipsticks haven't been around for long, but already they have become cult favourites, especially in the Instagram world, and this shade in particular was sold out for months thanks to, you guessed it, Kimmy K. I love how long this product lasted, especially since it's a light colour (which tend to wear away faster than bolds) and it wasn't too pale, just the right amount of pigment while still being a neutral. The only downside is you can only purchase on Anastasia's website and pricing is in USD. 
  www.anastasiabeverlyhills.com, $20 USD

Yves Saint Laurent Vernis À Lèvres Glossy Stain in "Beige Aquarelle"
I was doing some research on the best lip stains and read many rave reviews about this one. I picked it up in a light pink colour (surprise, surprise) so I would get wear out of it, and to see if it would be good for bridal. It's really sheer so hard to tell if it really stays on that long, and for the price I'm not super impressed, but its good layered with a lipstick or liner base. 

www.sephora.com, $38 (this colour only available online)

MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation in NC30
I love and use MAC's Studio Fix Fluid foundation, and this is the powder version. Great for an easy and quick application of foundation and powder in one. It really gives skin a smooth, flawless, all-matte, full-coverage finish. MAC's website claims "A real all-in-one. The choice of pros, and a long time favorite of M·A·C fans." and I couldn't agree more! 


Have you tried any of these products? Love them? Hate them? Let me know in the comments!

- Lianne xo