May Favourites! NEW PRODUCTS!

MAC Mineralize Skin finish in Soft and Gentle

My HG highlighter!! It looks sooo pretty when applied, catches all the light in the right places. Its like angel kisses on your face. 

This a very multipurpose product, and you get an insane amount so its definitely worth the $30 price tag. I've been using it for MONTHS and have yet to see a dent in the pan. It provides a subtle champagne sheen that's great for day OR night time and looks great on all skin tones. Very finely milled, and a little goes a long way. 
If you over apply it, it is very noticeable so use a light hand. 

During the summer time, I like to sport a fresh face with minimum eye make up so what I do is apply a bit of it on my cheek bones, cupid's bow, tip of my nose, under the brow bone and lids and I'm good to go!

If you wanna glow like J-Lo, YOU NEED THIS!! a must-have in my collection


Aussie 3 minute miracle deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep conditioner 

 A tropical vacation in a bottle and a drugstore gem in my opinion! It's an awesome and highly inexpensive treatment for damaged hair for those on a budget. Detangles hair easily and makes it so soft! 

I honestly only wanted to try it cause of the way it smelled ._. Smells like delicious coconuts but not so overwhelming that you're walking around smelling like a pina colada. The packaging is super sleek and kind of odd (but in a good way). You just squeeze it and product comes out, you don't have to bother opening, closing or twisting any caps.

I've done a lot of things to my hair ever since I was 13-14, its been bleached, burnt, dyed and over processed. At this point, my hair is just simply pissed off so I'm always in search for products that target hair renewal and conditioning so that I can restore it back to its healthier state and of all conditioners I've tried, this one seems to give my hair the moisture it so desperately needs. I prefer to keep it in my hair much longer than the recommended 3 minutes, but of course that's entirely up to you. 

I think there are better deep conditioners out there for dry, damaged hair (Macadamia deep repair masque $33, for example) but if you want something cheaper that still does a great job hydrating, this is worth a try!
Highly recommmend it!

Benefit They're Real mascara

This product makes my eyelashes look SO glamorous. Really defines each and every lash, adds crazy length and volume. I love the formula, it applies super black and doesn't flake or smudge.  I don't have to worry about my mascara smearing when I perform wudu, you honestly need an eye make up remover to get it off which is great for people who have a long day ahead of them and don't like to retouch.  

With Flash - After 9 hour wear (still kept my curl)

I could never justify spending $20 plus on a tube of mascara that I go through SOOO FAST, but now that I've tried this one I can understand why it is such a raved about product.  

Whenever I wear it, I get people asking me if I'm wearing falsies, no joke! I've never gotten this many compliments on my eyelashes, EVER!! I know some people consider it 'spidery', so I suppose its a hit or miss. I personally adore full, dramatic lashes that give you a baby doll look so its a winner in my beauty book.

(Excuse the shine, I had just removed all my face and eye makeup (aside from mascara and a bit of eyeliner)

I'm a huge fan of the brush. Its perfectly sized to coat and define each and every lash and the spikey ball at the tip of the brush is great for getting into those hard to reach places. It really brings out my bottom lashes as well. I think this might just be my #1 mascara now .___. 

Macadamia Healing Oil treatment 

 I've heard tons of good things about this product but I wanted to try it out before I purchased the full size as it is quite pricey. I spritz it on after showering, focusing mainly on the tips and then just go over the rest of my hair with whatever is left on my fingers. It smells great, and has only done good for my hair. Keeps it silky and manageable but doesn't weigh my hair down, like many hair oils do. I will repurchase it as soon as I run out. 

Ever since I incorporated this into my hair care routine as well as the next product I'm about to mention, I've noticed a significant decrease in hair fallout. Love love loveeee

Its a 10 miracle leave-in treatment 

I've been using this religiously since I bought it. My hair tangles REALLY easily and struggling to comb through it usually results in a lot of hair fall out but ever since I used this stuff, my comb glides through my hair like butter. Its amazing! My hair and I just might become friendsies again ._.

Mariah Carey 'M' Perfume

Its a sexy and sophisticated scent, smells sweet but with a hint of dark, smoky mysterious musky goodness that compliments my personality. When applied too much, its quite strong so its important to spritz lightly otherwise you may overwhelm yourself and the people around you. I've honestly owned this for years and I still have a good amount left. 

The lasting power is phenomenal. I can smell it on my clothes days after wearing it. It lasts especially long when my body temperature is high, like during the summer time. 

Even though I think it is suitable to be worn all year round, I think this would be fantastic during winter cause it makes you feel super warm and cozy.

It's definitely not the best fragrance in the market and I personally know a few people who can't stand the scent, but it seems to work wonders with my body chemistry and I mean, who doesn't love that? I get compliments on it EVERY SINGLE TIME I wear it. Packaging is super cute as well! 

 It's a beautiful scent for any time of the day and suits women of all ages. Try it out, its definitely worth a sniff! :) 

Benefit Porefessional

I did a review of it here. Great for those with noticeable pores like me, makes my foundation go on so much smoother.

Boots N7 Beautifully Matte foundation

I hardly even have to do any touch ups. Surprisingly not a lot of people talk about this which is interesting cause its a good drugstore foundation. It offers medium coverage with one layer but is easily buildable to a full coverage. Sits beautifully on the skin, matte but not flat and looks natural/skin-like throughout the day.

Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Seashore Frosts 

 I simply adore these colour tattoos! Really inexpensive, don't crease, super creamy, great pigmentation, wide variety of colours to choose from, just really great quality products. 

This shade is perfection in every way. It has the most gorgeous soft gold duochrome, I've never seen anything like it so I had to have it - kinda reminds me of a mermaid's tail. It can go from looking gold to like a blueish grey and green and bronze, agh its so hard to describe it. When I swatch it on my hand, the blue and gold stands out, but on my eyes its more of a gold and emerald sheen, but then in the sunlight I see hints of mauvey bronze and gold @_@

I just find it absolutely stunning and definitely my favourite of all the new shades. Worth the hype in my opinion. I'm thinking of trying out 'Lavish Lavendar' as well - the swatches of it are so prettyy!! 

This was the best I could do to give you an idea of what it really looks like

Nuance Wild Lime exfoliating facial gel 

 I've seen products from the Salma Hayek line at CVS for months but never thought of trying anything out until one day, I came across this product and the list of ingredients just really intrigued me so I decided to pick it up along with a few other skin care items and have been enjoying them a lot. 

This stuff works like a chemical exfoliate, there are no visible, gritty beads like regular exfoliating products. Its just a gel that you smear over your wet face and massage it in circular motions, let it sit for 5-6 minutes and then wash it off. The lime makes it tingle a little so you feel it working. After washing it off, my skin felt supple smooth and even looked brighter. I use this twice a week and been really enjoying the results. 

I've also been using the Walnut facial scrub and dark spot corrector from this line, and love them both as well <3

That's it for my may favourites! I'm hoping to upload my blog more often now that I'm on summer vacation so stay tuned for more beauty posts! :) 

August Favourites

1. Rimmel Stay Matte pressed powder - this is my all time favourite face powder. It does a great job mattifying my oily t-zone. I've gone through three of these already and just bought my 4th one :D

2. Amlactin lotion - This was a hand me down from my sister. Its recommended by dermatologists to heal or reduce KP (keratosis pilaris) and/or eczema. I don't have either of the two but I use it to soften my elbows and knees and the rest of my body, dry skin or not and I find that it works really really well, which probably explains why it is so pricey :X Its runnier compared to other lotions so a little goes a long way with this. It leaves my skin feeling smooth as silk. The first time I used it, i couldn't get my hands off of myself u__u Don't judge the product by its outside. The bottle is ugly and it does have a very unpleasant scent but when it sinks into the skin, the smell goes away AND it makes your skin look delicious; to me that's what matters the most. I first scrub my arms and legs/feet with a fairly rough body brush (for exfoliation) in the shower and then apply this after my skin dries and the results I've noticed are fantastic!

3. Physicians Formula pH matchmaker lip gloss in Light pink - So one day I just randomly picked up this gloss cause I was running late and dumped it in my bag and oh my gosh ever since, I've been hooked! :I Okay first of all, lets discuss how adorable the packaging is!

 It comes in a pink tube with a mirror AND a light which is perfect for touch ups anywhere (even in the dark, haha). It retails for about $9.99 at CVS but Physicians Formula cosmetics go on sale very frequently at the store so you can snatch this baby for free or close to free when you use coupons! :)
This is one of the most long wearing lip glosses I've ever used. It goes on smooth, looks shiny and  doesn't feel overly sticky. Even though after a few hours the shininess of the gloss fades, you can still see the pink tint on your lips. So its like a lipstain-gloss.

The shade of pink depends on the natural colour of your lips so it may turn a different shade for you, but for me it goes from being clear to a rosy pink, which is exactly how I like it. Very pretty colour to brighten up any look. Very fun to play with :)

4. Urban Decay 24/7 Eye Pencil in Perversion - BLACKEST EYELINER I OWN! stays on all day (even on my waterline), looks super dark. Loveeeee

5. Real Techniques Expert face brush - my new favourite brush to use for foundation. With this brush, I have more control than when I use a regular buffing brush. Its super soft, distributes the foundation evenly over the skin and is really inexpensive. Its very easy to clean, dries fast and doesn't shed.

6. Urban Decay Naked + Naked 2 Palettes - I love them both equally. Since I have a warmer skin tone, the eye shadows in the Naked palette compliment my skin tone more but honestly I get just as much use out of the Naked 2 palette. If this helps at all, I use the Naked palette for an everyday neutral look and Naked 2 for days when I want to look a little extra dressy and do like a subtle smokey eye make up.
A lot of times I even mix n match and create my own warm/cool combos. Great palettes, long wearing and super pigmented eye shadows. Although they are similar in shades, they are different. I'm happy I have both, cause I wouldn't know how to choose.

(top) Naked 2  (bottom) Naked - Click to Enlarge

7. Maybelline limited edition color tattoos in Barely Beige and Gold Shimmer - If you are a fan of neutrals, I think this is something you'd really enjoy. I've done a review of the permanent shades here so check it out for a more detailed review + swatches.

Barely Beige is a shimmery champagne colour with a hint of peach. It would make a great base for Urban Decay's Sin. Gold Shimmer would be a cream shadow version of Urban Decay's Smog. You can apply the colour tattoos on its own or layer it beneath these pigmented Urban Decay eye shadows and you are bound to get a long lasting/crease-free eye makeup. Out of the four that came out, Barely Beige and Gold Shimmer are super creamy and quick to apply. I'm super pleased with these new shades. They're great colours for the fall time!! :)

8. NYC high definition volume mascara - Bought this on a friend's recommendation and lately its all I've been reaching for. Its a good every day mascara. I haven't experienced any flaking, it stays on all day, does a good job separating my lashes and gives it some length.

If your looking for a more lash-intensifying mascara, I'd suggest Maybelline falsies. But this one is a good option for those who want defined but natural looking lashes.

Nail Polish of the month :)

Sally Hansen in Pacific Blue

Favourite Drugstore Foundations

Here are a few of my drugstore favourites that I've discovered over the past year and have recommended to others.

Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse foundation - Natural Beige

LOVE this foundation. It does exactly what it says. The coverage is wonderful, the finish is stunning and it really does apply like a dream. The coverage I'd say is light to medium but it is definitely buildable.  It looks lovely, feels light and for those who have dry skin, it is quite moisturising. This could be a good winter foundation. I've recently been testing out a few different skin care products, so my skin is a lot more dry than normal. But despite that, this foundation has been very forgiving; it hydrates my skin and gives it sort of a 'cooling' effect without emphasizing any dry patches or anything of that sort. The thing that I love the most about this is the way it makes my skin look after application. My skin looks smooth, dewy and flawless, almost air brushed. I use either my Sonia Kashuk or my Real Techniques buffing brush to blend it in. 

Even though it says its a mousse foundation, consistency-wise I'd say its more of a cream foundation. The 'hydrating' properties of this product might scare those with oily/combo skin but even then, I'd definitely suggest you try it out before forming an opinion about it. I have combo/oily skin but i absolutely LOVE dewy finishes and personally, don't mind blotting once or touching up my powder every few hours or so. I've already used up a good amount of it. Might hit pan on it soon even. And yes, I do plan on repurchasing it once I run out.

The very few negatives that I can really think of are 

1. no sunscreen in it 

2. no mirror in the compact

3. sponge is kinda sorta useless

4. not so great color selection (especially for darker skin beauties)

5. lasting power is okay, not the best

Revlon Colorstay Whipped creme foundation - Warm Golden

When I first spotted this product at CVS, I thought it was poo. The packaging definitely looked fancy but I didn't think much of it. However, my curiosity got the best of me and I ended up buying it anyway.

I had some trouble picking out my shade mainly cause its hard to tell the colour through the jar since they all looked the same to me. I figured I'd stick to the usual 'Natural Beige' that I get but it was too pinky so I had to exchange it and bought it in Warm Golden instead which is more yellow toned. I have to say I do like this better than the original colorstay which used to dry up rather quickly during application. This stuff is light, feels creamy and is a lot easier to blend. It offers a medium to full coverage without looking cakey. Like the original colorstay, it does last all day. I wore it once on a super hot and humid day and it didn't budge. The finish is satin - semi matte. I didn't like the way the foundation looked when I used a buffing brush, so I just use my fingers to apply it. The foundation photographs well, it doesn't have spf so its great for taking pictures.

The packaging is sooooo nice. It looks like something Chanel would make, so chic. However, the jar is a little heavy and because it comes in a jar, for sanitary reasons its best to ALWAYS make sure your fingers are clean before dipping it in.This product hasn't broken me out, thanks to the salicylic acid it contains.

Revlon Photoready Foundation in Natural Beige

Click for Review. 

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Foundation in Natural Beige

I've been hearing fabulous things about this foundation for a year or two but never thought of picking it up since I had other foundations to use up but then one day, I just felt like testing out a few different things and ended up purchasing this with my CVS extra care bucks and tried it on as soon as I got home. On youtube a lot of girls have even compared it to the Nars Sheer Glow foundation which I've personally never tried, but I've watched people apply it on videos and it always looks so beautiful on the skin.


For first impressions, the foundation is super liquidy, its one of those open-mouth jars that most of us hate so u got to be careful when pouring it out. I didn't even tilt the bottle to the side that much but still got a pretty decent amount poured out. It has a fragrance to it, similar to the Benefit Porefessional in my opinion. Kinda like a refreshing citrus scent. Because it is so liquidy, its easy to blend and when blended, it left my skin looking luminous and 'healthy'. It has a dewy finish (without the shimmer) but not the oily greasy kind. My biggest concern was its longevity. I've heard that it doesn't have a great staying power but surprisingly, it lasted longer than what I was expecting. Lasts longer for me than the Revlon Photoready.  I have combination skin so I set this with my MAC mineralise skin finish and it works great.

CoverGirl Natureluxe foundation in Sandstone

Purchased this a year ago around summer time and wore it literally every single day cause I enjoyed it so much. It offers medium coverage but feels very light, as promised. It has a fresh cucumber scent which I love. It is definitely moisturising and of all the foundations listed, looks the most natural in my opinion (it has a satin finish). A lot of times you feel like your foundation is sitting on top of your skin giving it that masky appearance but this stuff just melts in. The texture is sooo smooth and silky, sometimes I forget I even have anything on (no joke). 

This is one of those foundations that look so-so at the drugstore but actually do a really good job evening out the skin and giving it a subtle glow while still allowing your actual skin to show through. The squeeze tube is nice, it makes it easy to pour out however much you need without overdoing it. Plus Taylor Swift is the spokesperson for this brand so that alone should convince you to go try it out =) It is a little pricey though...but when I run out of this and the rest of my foundations, I will repurchase :) Its a great product for school days where you want to look polished but not overdone. For those of you with already clear skin, this is also a great product to just even out and brighten up your complexion. This foundation will also suit people with dry skin.