ABH BROW WIZ VS. NYX MICRO BROW

I have been enjoying filling in my eyebrows to give them more shape and dimension. I use either the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz or the NYX Micro Brow Pencil. Both are high quality products I absolutely love, so I thought I would write a quick comparison on the two.

ANASTASIA BROW WIZ- GRANITE

Naturally, this was the first product I decided to try out when diving into the world of brows. I was instantly in love with how it allowed me to easily create a defined shape as well as a fuller, natural effect. It glides on easily and has a creamy consistency. I don’t find that it is completely buildable, but if you are going for more of a natural look, or just looking to add some depth to your already full brows, it is perfect. It has a retractable fine tip with a spooly on one end. I did have some issues with the pencil breaking off quite easily, which is a bit upsetting considering it is $27. This is definitely a high-end product but I have found myself purchasing it time and time again because it really is a great product!

NYX MICRO BROW- BLACK

I have heard a lot of great things about the NYX Micro Brow Pencil, and had to try it out when I saw the price. I absolutely love it and found myself reaching for this rather than my Brow Wiz, which was quite surprising! It is highly pigmented and requires a light hand to apply. It has sort of a waxy consistency but still allows for a creamy application. It has a retractable fine tip identical to the Brow Wiz allowing for a precise application. I found that the pencil was a lot stronger than the Brow Wiz. It did not ever break during application, which really shows the quality of the product for such an inexpensive price. I do however wish the spooly was a tad bit thinner like the Brow Wiz. Of course this is a great drugstore steal for only $12!

Overall, both these products are worth trying out. They are great for defining and filling in the brows, and definitely last all day long once set with a brow gel. It’s really about what you’re budget is. Because I fill in my brows everyday, I prefer to use the NYX Micro Brow pencil to save a couple of bucks. On those days where I am going out to a special event I opt for the ABH Brow wiz. Nonetheless, both are great products!

 

POP OF COLOUR!

It’s finally spring! It’s still a bit chilly here in Toronto, but I found incorporating bold colours into my makeup has definitely been putting me in the spring mood. Here are 3 simple ways to add a pop of colour to your makeup, to give you that fun and flirty look!

LIPS

 Wearing a bold lip has to be one of my favourite ways to take a simple look and kick it up a notch. There are a ton of vibrant colours on the market right now that certainly shout spring! I absolutely adore the Kat VonD Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Ayesha. It is a beautiful, soft lavender that I have been obsessed with. If this colour is a bit out of your comfort zone, don’t worry because there are plenty more colours to choose from!

WINGED LINER

I was thrilled to see a bunch of brands coming out with coloured liners. It’s such a simple way to take your everyday winged liner to another level. For the look below, I used the NYX Vivid Brights Liquid Liner in Sapphire Blue to add a pop of colour to top of my black wing. This added a playful element to an otherwise classic look. You can definitely skip the black liner and apply a coloured liner on its own. It’s such a fun and simple way to change things up. I am loving this trend!

TIP: To maximize your products, use your liquid lipstick as eyeliner. It works just the same!

LOWER LASH LINE

You can either use a shadow or a pencil to achieve this look. Just line and smudge the colour on your lower lash line. You don’t have to be neat or precise, but it will look great every time. I used a teal shadow from the Morphe 35U Palette to create this look. You can even take it into the inner corner for some extra dimension; it’s completely up to you! This has to be the fastest and easiest way to pack a punch with your look this spring.

These are 3 effortless ways to add a pop of colour to your makeup. They take no time at all and can completely transform your look in a matter of minutes. Let me know if you guys try any of these techniques!

FAVOURITE CONCEALERS FOR HIGHLIGHTING

In the last few months I have added highlighting to my every day routine. I noticed that this makes a huge difference with my makeup. It gives my face a lot of dimension, giving me a bright and awake look. I use these products under my eyes, down the center of my nose, my cupid’s bow, and the middle of my forehead. It gives my face that extra bit of light and I have really been enjoying this process! Below is a review of highlighters I have been using to achieve that glow.

MAYBELLINE FIT ME – 25 MEDIUM

This is my everyday highlighter and I have to say I am quite impressed with it. The formulation is creamy, lightweight, and does not crease. It keeps my under eyes hydrated and smooth throughout the day. It doesn’t provide heavy-duty coverage, but it does just enough to brighten up those specific areas for everyday wear. It comes with a doe foot applicator, which allows for an easy effortless application.

Purchase: $7.96 for 0.23 at Walmart

NARS RADIANT CREAMY CONCEALER – BISCUIT

I use this highlighter for days where I am going for a full face of makeup. It is creamy and has good coverage to achieve that flawless look. This also has a doe foot applicator for easy application. The great thing about this line is that they have a ton of colours for every skin tone! If you are having a hard time finding a good concealer for your skin tone, this is worth trying!

Purchase: $36 for 0.22 oz at Sephora

MAKE UP FOREVER ULTRA HD CONCEALER- Y31

This is more of a heavy-duty concealer, again for those days where I am going for a full face of makeup. It has great coverage but doesn’t feel heavy or cakey at all. This concealer comes in a tube, so to apply just dab little dots where you want to highlight. You only need the smallest amount of product, as a little goes a long way. I purchased this at Sephora for $32.

Purchase: $32 for 0.23oz at Sephora

 

APPLICATION

I use the applicators and create a triangle shape under my eyes and on my forehead, as well as a line down my nose and Cupid’s bow. I then use a damp beauty blender to blend the product into my skin. This allows for a seamless transition and also soaks up any excess product that’s not necessary. I set my highlighter using the Sephora Bright Set Pressed Finishing Powder. This will ensure the concealer stays put all day and does not crease.

Highlighting is great technique to use whether you want to do some dramatic highlighting and contouring, or to simply brighten up the face. It’s really up to you! Let me know if these products give you that glow you were looking for!

 

COLOURPOP ULTRA MATTE LIP: REVIEW

After seeing countless YouTube videos and Instagram posts on the ColourPop Ultramatte Lip collection, I finally decided to take the plunge and purchase them. I am always on the hunt for a classic nude/mauve lip that will work on my fellow brown skin girls, so I picked up a bunch in that colour range to try out. Here is my review on the products and some of the colours I have been loving to rock!

FORMULATION

This is a true liquid lipstick. The consistency is wet and runny, whereas some of the other ones I’ve purchased have more of a mousse texture. I find that it dries quite fast so you have to work quickly and diligently with it. I was pleasantly surprised that this is a comfortable product to wear. It is ultra matte but doesn’t feel like I’m wearing cement on my lips. It lasts me about 7-8 hours before having to reapply. I do find that it does transfer a bit and emphasize lines on your lips, but other than that I am very impressed!

APPLICATION

Like any matte lip product, make sure to exfoliate your lips beforehand. Line and fill in your lips with lip liner to give the product a base. This will help with even application and longevity. Then take your time to carefully fill in your lips with the liquid lipstick. Lastly, dab your lips together to evenly distribute them and let them dry. You will get the perfect application every time with these steps.

PRICE

These retail for $6 USD. They are affordable and the quality is comparable with high-end competitors.

TRAP

This is a pale pink shade. I was hesitant to wear this colour at first because it is on the lighter side, but if you pair it with a lip liner you are good to go! It is a nude colour I’m happy to add to my collection.

KAPOW

I am absolutely obsessed with this colour! It’s a pale greyish purple colour that gives the nude lip a whole new meaning. If there’s one colour you want to get out of the collection, I would definitely recommend this one. It is still nude but has a unique twist.

BEEPER

This is the perfect everyday lip colour. It is close to my natural lip colour but gives it that matte flawless look.

TEENY TINY

This is a deep pink colour. It is another great every day lipstick that gives your natural lip some subtle colour.

 STINGRAYE

This is a collaboration piece with YouTube Makeup Guru ItsMyRayeRaye. She always seems to sport the perfect mauve lip so I was thrilled to hear about this partnership. This is very similar to the ever so popular Kat Von D liquid lipstick in “Lolita”. It is a great dupe for an affordable price.

I have been wearing these lipsticks non-stop! They are absolutely gorgeous. ColourPop has a good selection of colours so there is bound to be a shade to work perfectly with every skin tone out there. Overall, these are high quality and affordable products I definitely recommend!

 

 

NOVEMBER FAVOURITES

I have been experimenting with a few products last month and thought I would share my thoughts; enjoy!

MARIO BADESCU DRYING LOTION

I have been breaking out a lot on my chin due to excessive holiday treats and this has definitely been my saviour! It is a spot treatment formulated with salicylic acid to help decrease the appearance of pimples. I put it on all the troubled areas before bed and when I wake up they are noticeably smaller. It has worked quite fast for me, which also prevents them from scarring as much. It does have a rather unpleasant smell when first applied, but as soon as it dries it’s fine!

THE BODY SHOP TEA TREE SKIN CLEARING TONER

This is a great product for those of you with oily acne prone skin like myself. It helps wipe away any left over makeup and impurities, leaving your skin feeling clean and fresh. It has a bunch of great ingredients that help with minimizing the appearance of scars and evening out your skin tone. I scar quite easily when I get a pimple so pairing this toner with the Mario Badescu Drying Lotion has been working great!

NIVEA LIP BUTTER

This is the perfect lip product to have for those cold dry months to come. It is a creamy balm that does a great job of hydrating your lips. If you are someone that loves Vaseline then you will likely enjoy this product as well. It has a similar consistency as Vaseline but feels a bit more luxurious. I picked up the vanilla and macadamia lip butter, which smells delicious!

MAC RAZIN BLUSH

This blush is absolutely gorgeous! It is a matte dusty rose colour that is perfect for the fall and winter season. It is a warm earthy tone that will give your makeup that sultry feel. Because it is such a deep colour, it almost gives my cheekbones definition, similar to that of a contour. It’s a great colour for those of you with a dark skin tone. I think it would look especially stunning on those deep dark beauties out there. It is definitely highly pigmented so apply this with a light hand; a little goes a long way.  

MAC MINERALIZED SKIN FINISH IN DARK DEEP

I have no clue why I haven’t picked this up earlier; it is beautiful! It gives your skin that bronze glow without being too harsh. I find that some bronzer’s can either look quite red or ashy on my skin, so I was quite pleased to find a product with a happy medium. This is the perfect colour for bronzing, especially for brown skin. I am in love!

LOREAL TELESCOPIC MASCARA

This has been my go to mascara lately. It has quite a unique applicator, which works well to coat and define each lash, giving you that long and separated effect. I enjoy pairing this with a volumizing mascara to really give my lashes that long and full effect.

Try out these products and let me know how they work for you! What have been your favourite products to use lately?