review: morphe make it big plumping lip gloss

In the earlier days of my makeup obsession, plumping lip glosses were all the rage...and I wanted to try each and every product on the market. I loved the idea that my (much smaller) top lip could look plump and beautiful, so I tried all sorts of different products from Hard Candy, Lise Watier, Avon, and at least a half dozen others. I desperately wanted that plump pout! Unfortunately, I am also an advocate for comfortable beauty products, and most plumping products tend to either smell or sting. Despite my history with plumping lip products, my curiosity was piqued when the Make It Big Plumping Lip Gloss from Morphe was gifted to me over the holiday season. (Yes, it is the end of May and I am still reviewing beauty products that were given to me at Christmastime. What can I say? My friends and family members knew exactly what types of items to spoil me with.) I wondered whether the lip gloss would work, if it would be comfortable, and whether it might reignite a beauty obsession from the past. Ready to find out? Here is everything you need to know about this Morphe lip plumper. 

testing out a stila beauty boss lip gloss (blue sky)

From the drugstore to the dollar store to Sephora...it seems I can find fun beauty products just about anywhere. One example? The Beauty Boss Lip Gloss from Stila that is pictured above actually came from a duty free store. Makeup clearly is my weakness, even during times of travel. For a reasonable $10, it was possible to try out Blue Sky, an iridescent blue/purple lip gloss. That unusual shade was simply too tempting to resist. Ready to see what it looks like? Find out if it was worthwhile?

rediscovered product: nars turkish delight lip gloss

NARS used to be my all-time favourite high-end brand. For a long time, my makeup collection was overloaded with the iconic NARS blush shades, eyeshadow palettes, eyeliners, and lip products. Over time, that love faded a bit. Their new releases stopped wowing. They didn't stand out the same way they had before. Ultimately, other high-end brands eclipsed NARS and became my new favourites. That being said...NARS still has plenty of must-haves. One is the lip gloss, Turkish Delight. This is a lip product that first entered my life way back in 2011. (As seen in this old-school Sephora haul.) It was an instant love. The colour and formula made me positively giddy. Recently, I was digging through my lipstick collection looking for a particular colour and finish. After a few minutes, I realized exactly what I was looking for: Turkish Delight. 

review: paris hilton cosmetics (rainbow highlight + lip wonderland)

Paris Hilton Cosmetics hasn't been in my makeup collection for long. Despite this, it seems that more and more of their products are entering my life. Whenever the opportunity arises, I browse the selection at discount shops (like Winners and Marshalls) to see if there are new items available. Sometimes there are. Sometimes there aren't. Luckily, on a trip downtown, a few new Paris Hilton Cosmetics items caught my eye. That included the Rainbow Highlight and the Lip Wonderland set.  Needless to say, I was excited to find these treasures. So, are they fabulous finds or total failures? Here is my review (complete with swatches and a completed makeup look) of the products.

makeup revolution week: review (brow palette + lip gloss trio)

Here it is! The second post in the latest theme week here on the creation of beauty is art. My last post introduced the massive set of Revolution (aka Makeup Revolution or Makeup Revolution London) products I was gifted over the holiday season. There were also a couple of mini reviews thrown in there. Today the focus is on the Brow Palette and Lip Gloss Trio. Take a closer look, find out how they perform, and see the products in action.

nude by nature lip trio (review + video)

Surprises are not my favourite. I am someone that likes to know what is coming and when. In fact, I am guilty of reading spoilers for television shows and reading movie summaries before heading to a theater. There is comfort in knowing. Despite this, it was especially surprising (in a good way) when my husband came home with a Nude by Nature Lip Trio. He knew that I had been missing some of the simple things in life. Like being able to see friends without social distance, heading to the nearest shopping mall, and seasonal attractions. So, even though he couldn't fix the world....he could bring a smile to my face with some unexpected makeup. On that note! Today's post is all about the Nude by Nature Lip Trio in the shade Dusk. Take a closer look at what was inside, see some swatches, a YouTube video, and find out whether these products wowed.

stila part two: light up the night (eye and lip set review)

Are you ready for part two of my Stila review? In my last blog post dedicated to the Liquid Eyeshadow Set, I mentioned that this brand wasn't largely on my radar. Though I'd tried a few things here or there...it simply wasn't a brand that I found myself purchasing in bulk. However, in recent months, a couple of Stila sets made their way into my makeup collection. The first was the liquid eyeshadow set and the second set is the focus of today's post. The Light Up The Night Eye & Lip Set includes an eyeliner, mascara, and a lip gloss. Definitely a great way to test and try a handful of products from the brand. Here is everything you need to know about this high-end beauty set.

review: maybelline lifter gloss (lip gloss with hyaluronic acid)

Oh, how I have missed Maybelline. This is a brand that I used to buy from on a pretty regular basis, but then the pandemic happened. I stopped leaving the house as often and that meant there were only very occasional stops off at the drugstore. However, the Lifter Gloss was recently recommended to me. It has been described as a dupe for the Gloss Bomb. Of course, this makes it intriguing. A drugstore version of a beloved high-end product? It was worth a shot. So, the Maybelline Lifter Gloss with Hyaluronic Acid came home with me. There were several different shades to choose from, but 020 Sun really stood out to me. Ready to find out how this drugstore lip gloss performs? Here are all the details...

review: bite watercolor lip gloss library

Out of all the lip products I own....few of them are glosses. This is because I am excessively picky about lip glosses. The reasoning is simple. There is nothing I hate more than that sticky, goopy feeling on my lips. Ick! Which is why I shocked even myself when I bought the Bite Watercolour Lip Gloss Library from Sephora. Without testing out the glosses first. Without hesitation.

It was one of those moments. I took one look at the colours and got ridiculously excited. Pastels? Purples? Reds? Sold! Here is the thing. The lip glosses I own all various shades of pink - with a couple of nudes thrown in there for good measure. What drew me into the Bite collection was the diversity of shade selection. Yellow, mint green, coral, purple, oh my! There was a little big of everything. Don't believe it? Here is a look at the colours in the Lip Gloss Library.

As you can see, the colour selection is fabulous. The simple fact that there was a mint green included was beyond exciting. Not to mention the yellow and light purple. So so gorgeous. Lately I have been all about lipstick shades that are a little bit different. To find glosses that were a little out of the box? Well, it is no wonder I simply had to add this lip gloss library to my makeup collection. 

Let's get to it! How did the shades deliver? What was the texture like? When it comes to the shade selection, I applaud Bite for taking some risks. There was so much going on here - and that aspect of it really worked. As for the glosses themselves? I found them to be a bit of a hit or miss. Some of them were super pigmented and had just the right amount of colour payoff. Others were more sheer and needed to be paired with an additional lip product. 

Going in, I really wanted the yellow and mint green to wow me. Sadly, they didn't. The colours were pretty sheer. They had just a hint of colour rather than being a bold, look-at-me kind of lip product. They played it a little too safe with the more unusual shades in this set. All of the other glosses? Fabulous. The soft pink? Amazing. The light purple? Gorgeous. The coral? Stunning. Those rich deeper shades? Out of this world. The darker the colours were the stand outs for me. They had all of the pigmentation I wanted - and then some. I love that they can be worn all on their own.

Now for the texture. As I mentioned before, I am picky about lip glosses. Very picky. Which is why I was so happily surprised with these! The texture was smooth rather than sticky. It applied easily and had great staying power. Actually, these reminded me a lot of the NARS lip glosses. (Those are my absolute favourites. I cannot get enough of them.) In terms of texture and quality I had no issues whatsoever. That is always a good thing when it comes to makeup products.

This is a look at one of the shades in action. While my favourite happens to be the dark purple, I recently used the coral shade for a summery makeup look I put together....

This is one impulse buy I was very happy with. The Bite Watercolour Lip Gloss Library had some gorgeous shades and great quality to boot. The only downside? Some of the pastel shades were not as pigmented as I hoped they would be. Despite this, I find myself reaching for these glosses regularly. As a lipstick fan....this is pretty telling!

Have you tried this set? What do you think of the colours?

xo Shannon

one/size + disney fantasia week: dazzling extras

Though it is nice to have everyday essentials, the unexpected beauty items tend to be far more fun and exciting. Case in point? The Bit of Magic Highlighter and Lip Snatcher Velvet Flex Cream and Cushion Gloss Lip Duo from One/Size. The previous post in this theme week was dedicated to essentials like brushes, complexion puffs, and eyeliner. Today? It is all about the glitz and glamour. Keep reading to find out how these Disney Fantasia themed products performed and to see them in action.

who says makeup has to be serious to look good?

It's time for another review! I have been trying out tons of new makeup products lately...including a few from Bourjois. I've heard great things about this brand in the past but had never tried anything from them. This Christmas, I was given the Khol Kajal and the 3D Effet Lip gloss. 

The first part of this review is going to look at the lip gloss. It is a shimmery red colour in the shade 06. As you can see from the swatch below, the colour is very true to how it looks in the packaging. This really impressed me because so many lip glosses out there look like one colour in the tube but come out really sheer on your lips. 

When it comes to lip gloss, I am pretty picky. I don't like anything that feels remotely sticky. Unfortunately, I find the majority of glosses on the market are either sticky or have very little colour payoff. (That is why NARS lip glosses are my absolute favourites. Not sticky and still super pigmented.)

That is why when I tried out the Bourjois 3D Effet Lip gloss for the first time, I was a little bit hesitant. Would the colour last? What would it feel like? After trying it, I found myself happily surprised. The colour looked gorgeous, it lasted for several hours without needing to be touched up (though not quite as long as that 8 hour claim!), and it wasn't the least bit sticky. This is definitely a good quality lip gloss that I can see myself reaching for a lot.

Now, moving on to the Khol Kajal. This is essentially a kohl liner with a pointed tip that gets wider the further down it goes. I don't have anything quite like this in my makeup collection, so it was fun to try! There are things that I like about this and things that I don't love quite so much.

What do I like? The fact that the colour is super pigmented. It's quick and easy to use and it looks great. What I don't like as much? The fact that once that pointed tip starts to wear down, it will be much harder to have control of the product. Also, this isn't as creamy to apply as I hoped it would be. Overall, though, it's a decent - if not spectacular - product. I'm excited to get creative with this one!

To end this post, I thought that I would show you the makeup look I created using the Khol Kajal.

So, that is my first experience trying out products from Bourjois. There are a few more that I have on my wish list...it's just a matter of time!

Have you tried anything from Bourjois? What do you think of these products?

xo Shannon

review: lise watier prisma donna collection set

Even though my birthday was back in October, there are still a few birthday gifts that are waiting to be reviewed here on the creation of beauty is art. One example is the Prisma Donna Collection Set from Lise Watier. This Canadian beauty brand has all sorts of wonderful products to choose from (a few of them have been reviewed here over the last several years) and sometimes, I am lucky enough to receive items as gifts from my loved ones. Ready to take a closer look at the Prisma Donna Collection Set? See a makeup look featuring some of the Lise Watier products? Keep reading for all of the details. 

theme week: lip products (NYX shine loud high shine lip color)

Well, the lip products theme week is wrapping up here on the creation of beauty is art. Over the last several days, there have been all sorts of different lipsticks, lip stains, and balms featured. Now? It is time to talk about the NYX Shine Loud High Shine Lip Color, which is described as a high-shine, long-lasting lip gloss. Apparently, this has been creating lots of buzz on TikTok, but that is not something that I can speak to. Honestly? I don't have TikTok and have no plans for it, considering the degradation and abuse that can spread like wildfire on the platform. There are so many issues with social media sites and user-created content apps. The amount of misinformation out there...the creators who profit off of pain...it really bothers me. Though I still use social media and consume certain types of content, it is something that I try to be very mindful about these days. On a happier note, there is always makeup. Here is everything you need to know about the NYX lip product that is generating buzz.

morphe x coca cola 1971 unity collection (mini reviews + haul)

If you ask me...there was something special about the 70s. Despite everything that was happening in the world, there was this beautiful sense of hope that could not be denied. There was a belief that activism, positivity and kindness could truly make a difference. Sometimes, I wish there was more hope in the world today. Though, it is understandably difficult to be hopeful with more immediate access to news (both good and bad) and the constant barrage of opinions (both good and bad) on social media. Perhaps the latest collaboration from Morphe x Coca Cola can act as a reminder that there is always room for a little optimism. The 1971 Unity Collection states that it is intended to be "a look at the past and a glimpse into the future with warmth, togetherness, and a hopeful spirit." Talk about makeup with meaning! Recently, this collection has been in heavy rotation. It has been wonderful to test and try these different products, like the eyeshadow palette, brushes, lip glosses, and mascara. Here are mini reviews of each of the different items in this Morphe x Coca Cola Collection. 

review: red apple lipstick

There are so many different makeup brands out there - some good, some not so good. When it comes to Red Apple Lipstick...they are simply amazing!

Not only are the products high quality, but safe too! Every single Red Apple Lipstick product is gluten free, lead and paraben free, vegan, cruelty free, and mineral based. So, not only will you look gorgeous, but you'll feel gorgeous knowing that your makeup is good for you!

I was recently lucky enough to sample a few Red Apple Lipstick products - a lipstick, lipgloss, and eyeshadow. Here are some of my thoughts.

katy kat glam: lip gloss + body glitter review

One of my favourite artists has to be Katy Perry. I love her music, her unique style, and quirky personality. Something else I love? Her collaboration with Cover Girl. It was a couple of years ago that they released the Katy Kat Eye mascara (you can read a review of that here) and since then, it has been product after product. There have been eyeshadow sets, eyeliners, and more recently, Katy Kat Glam sets. These feature two items: a Katy Kat Gloss and a Body Glitter. Though there are different shades to choose from with these sets, the one I will be reviewing today is the gloss in Cantaloupe and glitter in Gold.

trash or treasure? kardashian beauty makeup

It had the potential to be a major beauty find. It also had the potential to be a complete and total waste of money. When I stumbled upon a Kardashian Beauty Au Naturel Nude Lip Set (in the shade In The Buff) for a mere three dollars at a Winners......my heart beat faster. Could it be? After all those years of searching for Kardashian Beauty products, could it really be right in front of me? Within reach? I distinctly remember visiting Ulta a couple of years back. I was visiting the states and it was my first time ever being in the store. I'd heard that they carried the Kardashian Beauty line and was thrilled for the chance to get my hands on some of it. (Yes, I love the Kardashian's/Jenner's. I've made videos and have written many blog posts about them over the years!) Turns out, they had stopped selling the line just days earlier. It seemed that I would never see Kardashian Beauty products for myself. And then, bam! There it was. So, was it trash or treasure?

holiday highlights: hard candy fiercely festive makeup set

It just wouldn't be the holidays without a little Hard Candy. Over the years, I've gotten used to seasonal releases from this drugstore brand. Last year, it was The Secret Stash Set and the year before it was the Blushing On You Set. One year, there were even Hard Candy Christmas crackers! And another year, there was an advent calendar! Hard Candy always goes above and beyond around the holidays...and I love that. It's wonderful that there are special seasonal releases available at a drugstore price. That means everyone can enjoy something fun and festive around the holidays. This year, there were a few different Hard Candy holiday options. For instance, there were sets with three mini eyeshadow palettes. I almost added one of those sets to my shopping cart, but then I noticed the Fiercely Festive Set. It had a nice variety of products and seemed to be both fun and practical. Ready to find out what was included? Here is everything you need to know about the Fiercely Festive Set.

r.e.m. beauty yours truly makeup set (mini reviews + FOTD)

It has been nice having r.e.m. beauty products available in Canada. There is a lot that I have enjoyed so far. Recently, the limited edition Yours Truly Makeup Set was released from the brand. It includes three different products: Lustrous Liquid Shadow, Highlighter, and Plumping Lip Gloss. These colours are all really beautiful and wearable. Plus, it was a nice way to test out a few other offerings from r.e.m. beauty. Ready to take a closer look? Here are some mini reviews and a recent #FOTD. 

review: jessica simpson lip products (beauty fiend nude lip kit)

Jessica Simpson is a memorable celebrity for so many reasons. Not only has she had a successful pop music career, a hit reality television show, a celebrity perfume line, a billion dollar fashion empire, and a hit memoir....she also has dabbed in the beauty world every now and then. It wasn't too long ago, that I was browsing the selection at Winners that I found this Beauty Fiend by Jessica Simpson Nude Lip Kit. It contained four different lip products and cost a mere $9.99. Needless to say, curiosity took over, and this little lip kit came home with me that day. Since I am a fan of both beauty products and Jessica Simpson, it only made sense. Ready to find out what was inside this aesthetically pleasing lip kit? See how it all performed? Here is everything you need to know about the Jessica Simpson Beauty Fiend Nude Lip Kit.