review: satin blend gel eyeliner (essence)

My life would be a lot less beautiful without eyeliner. I love the drama a dark black eyeliner can provide. It adds definition, creates shape, and acts as a bold contrast to colourful eyeshadow looks. There are all sorts of eyeliners in my regular rotation. When it comes to liquid eyeliner, it is the NYX Epic Ink Liner that stands out. For gel eyeliner, the Gel Pot Eyeliner from Maybelline is a rediscovered favourite. My most used pencil eyeliner is the Annabelle Kohl Eyeliner Pencil. More recently, it is the Satin Blend Gel Eyeliner from Essence that has been added to the mix. Keep reading to find out how it performs.

mini essence essentials haul

Every now and then, some beauty essentials are needed. The eyeshadow primer that I was using ran out, so it was time to check the drugstore offerings. While I was there, it quickly became clear that Essence was the main brand of interest thanks to the affordable price and the assortment of products available. On that note, here is a mini Essence essentials haul.  

new in: quo beauty fragrance mist and hand cream

There is a lot to love about scented products. Especially with a new season on the horizon. Somehow, spring is almost over and summer is about a week away. To welcome in the warmer weather, there are a few new Quo Beauty products on my bedside table. Keep reading for a review of two different versions of the Fragrance Mist and Moisturizing Hand Cream.

revisited review: the breakfast club x physicians formula

It was around this time last year that The Breakfast Club x Physicians Formula set was gifted to me. The collection included an eyeshadow palette, two face palettes, three lipsticks, and a mascara. While the mascara is long gone at this point, the face palettes and eyeshadow palette have been heavily used. It seemed appropriate to do a revisited review on the standouts from the collection: Saturday Detention Face Palette Volume 1 and Being Bad Feels Pretty Good Eyeshadow Palette. 

mini review: tresemme workable hairspray

I have always admired people who are talented with hair.  Over the years, I have read countless hairstyle books, watched far too many video tutorials, and made numerous attempts to do something with my hair other than straighten it with a flat iron or curl it with a curling iron. It seems that straight and curled hair are about it for me. Braids seem impossible, twists are a no, and even effortless waves seem anything but effortless. So, when it comes to hair styling products, my focus is really on protection and hold. In search of something that would address hold, it was the Workable Hairspray from TRESemme (part of The A-List Collection from the brand) that was intriguing to me. This is mostly because of the versatility. This hairspray is dual sided with both a strong hold and light hold option, making it possible to customize all sorts of different hairstyles. 

does it work?? jelly job full-bodied shine gloss (nyx)

The name of the new NYX lip product is a little bizarre: Jelly Job. Despite the unusual name, the Jelly Job Full-Bodied Shine Gloss has received a lot of hype online recently, with influencers and beauty enthusiasts alike eager to share their reviews. There are all sorts of colours to choose from in the product line, but with a $21 CDN price, there are two questions that come to mind: does it work and is it worth purchasing? Keep reading for a full product description and review.

shop my stash: coral makeup look

There is something about coral that has been speaking to me lately. While there are all sorts of coral shades, typically, it is something between red, pink, and orange. Some coral makeup products are a little more pink, some a little more orange, and some a little more on the red side. I recently decided to shop my stash to create a coral inspired makeup look. It turns out that coral is supposed to represent joy and optimism. I think this colour has been speaking to me lately because my life has needed an extra dose of joy and optimism! Here is hoping this makeup look will bring all sorts of positivity into my world. 

review: squishy glaze by covergirl (raspberry twist)

The Cover Girl brand will always be nostalgic for me. I remember buying a black eyeshadow from the brand back in the Laguna Beach days and trying to mimic the makeup style of the girls on the show. I remember my first foundation purchase and the first blush that I ever tried. All Cover Girl. At that time, the brand was accessible and affordable. (Though the prices at the drugstore have increased significantly in more recent years.) Perhaps that is the reason my weakness for Cover Girl remains. It is nostalgic, but the brand also has some great products. Recently, it was the Squishy Glaze in the shade Raspberry Twist that called to me. This is described as a Lip Butter Balm and it comes in several different shades. Keep reading for a full review. 

current favourite cheek products (blush and highlight)

What beauty products have you been reaching for lately? With spring fully underway, there are a few blushes and highlights that have been in heavy rotation for me. Colourful, fun, and easy to wear...that is the best way to describe my makeup preferences this season. Need a little inspiration? Here is a closer look at some recent cheek product favourites.

2 looks 1 palette: poisoned forest eye and face palette (wet n wild)

What eyeshadow palettes have you been reaching for lately? For me, it is the Poisoned Forest Eye and Face Palette from Wet n Wild. This is something that was purchased ahead of spooky season, but has been in heavy rotation ever since. There is something about the colour story that speaks to me, no matter the season. Since it is something that I use at least a few times a week, it seemed right to create a 2 looks 1 palette post to highlight some my favourite shades in this drugstore palette.

makeup essentials (drugstore mini haul)

Every now and then, essential makeup items need to be replaced. I was down to a small piece of the Eyebrow Designer Brow Pencil from Essence (it had gotten so tiny that it was a struggle to sharpen the eyebrow pencil) and realized that a visit to the drugstore was necessary. There were a few other items on my list as well, so the end result was a mini haul of essentials.

the ugly side of the beauty industry: brands that i no longer support.

Despite the name, the beauty industry is not always beautiful. In fact, it can be downright horrifying once you look past the glossy exteriors and smiling faces. It has become harder in recent years to consume products in a way that feels at least somewhat ethical. I don't know if this is because there is more information available than before or if there has been a shift in the way companies run their businesses. What I do know? There are many brands that I am no longer willing to support. This post will highlight some of those immoral brands specifically, but this is by no means an exhaustive list. If there are ones I have missed or might still be in the dark about, feel free to leave a comment in the comment section below. It is important that consumers are aware of what it means to spend money on certain beauty brands. In many cases, we deserve much better. 

review: exhibitionist uncensored waterproof mascara (cover girl)

Shortly before our Atlantis vacation, my husband and I created a to-do list. It included various items that needed to be completed before heading on our Bahamas getaway. Laundry, bills, passports, packing, and all the rest. Also on that to-do list? Buying a waterproof mascara. Since the Atlantis resort would have warm weather and waterparks, bringing along a waterproof mascara was a must. Sadly, I have not been able to find The Super Sizer from Cover Girl (in waterproof or regular) in stores recently, so it was another mascara that needed to be added to the cart. Keep reading for a Cover Girl mascara review...

easy valentine's day makeup look and mini product review

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day...a day that is focused on love and connection. There are so many ways to pour love into the people you care about most. Maybe that involves flowers, a card, or a thoughtful text message, but whatever you do, make sure your loved ones know how appreciated they are. To celebrate Valentine's Day here on the creation of beauty is art. there will be a mini drugstore product review and an easy makeup look that is well suited to the holiday. Keep reading...

#FOTD: warm makeup look featuring maybelline products

It is fun to find random drugstore makeup items at Winners. The discounted prices make it possible to put all sorts of different items to the test. More recently, there were some Maybelline products added to my cart, like a warm toned blush and lipstick. Ready to take a closer look at the drugstore makeup products? Check out a recent #FOTD? Keep reading for all the details. 

hard candy: skin serenity set (a vanilla dream)

Hard Candy is a must around the holiday season. It has always been exciting to see the different sets and seasonal releases from this drugstore brand. Some years, there were so many options available, it was difficult to know what to choose. This year? There were two different skin care sets and no seasonal makeup items. (At least in the stores that I visited that happen to carry the brand.) I am trying to be more mindful about my purchases, which can be difficult at times, but the Skin Serenity Set checked off some boxes for me. There were two different scents. The vanilla one, A Vanilla Dream, stood out to me, because this last year, vanilla scented products have been some of my most used. It is time to take a closer look at this seasonal set. 

holiday highlights: essence advent calendar (reveal and mini reviews)

It is always difficult when the holiday season ends. All of the twinkling lights seem to dim as the reality of day to day life takes over once more. Instead of putting off various adult responsibilities, it is time to tackle that neglected to-do list and get back on track. Sigh. As a way of extending some of the seasonal wonder, this week is dedicated to holiday highlights posts. These often focus on Christmas themed products, decorations, makeup looks, and so on. To start this week of holiday highlights, it is time to take a look inside the Little X-Mas Wonder Advent Calendar from essence. Keep reading for a reveal and some mini reviews.

unexpected makeup haul (r.e.m. beauty and wet n wild)

It has been a long time since I casually browsed the beauty aisles of the drugstore. Thanks to a generous birthday gift from one of my oldest friends, there was a gift card burning a hole in my pocket - and I was all too eager to put to good use. That is how this unexpected makeup haul came to be. Keep reading for a closer look at these Wet n Wild and r.e.m. beauty products.

random drugstore makeup haul (nyx, maybelline, and l'oreal)

While out and about looking for Christmas gifts (my intention is to have all of the holiday shopping done by December 1st, so there is time to decorate, watch movies, and spend time with loved ones) an unexpected extra was purchased. A random assortment of drugstore makeup items were tossed into a clear pouch and marked down to $9 CDN at Winners. There appeared to be a lot of products well suited to my makeup preferences. At such a low price, it was a nice way to spoil myself without feeling too guilty about it. Ready to take a look at what was included? Here is a random drugstore makeup haul. 

current obsession: deep plum balm glow (revolution)

Beauty products in various shades of purple have long been my weakness. Purple lipstick? Yes. Purple eyeshadow? Yes. Purple blush? Yes. No wonder the Balm Glow in Deep Plum from Revolution has become a current obsession. This is something that I found a few months back at Winners (of course) for a deeply discounted price. With the cooler weather on the way, a multiuse balm sounded like a logical (and colourful) choice. Keep reading to find out more about this product and how it performed.