My Top 5 Favourite Mascaras

Welcome back lovely people!
Today's post is a little different than my usual content but I decided to upload it anyway because what the heck, why not?!  I am going to take you all through my top 5 ultimate favourite mascaras!  These are the best of the best in my opinion; some of which are great on their own, others look fantastic paired together.  Keep in mind, these products are what works best for me and my own lashes.  Everyone has different preferences when it comes to mascara, as well, everyone has different lashes.  I am very appreciative of the lashes that I have naturally.  Aside from genetics, I must give credit to the DIY Lash Growth Serum that I put on my lashes every night.  I did a whole separate blog post about that so if you want to check it out (why wouldn't you!?), click here!  Now that that is all said and done, onto the mascaras.... (in no particular order)

  1. Covergirl Lash Blast Volume Mascara in Very Black
I mean let's be honest here, if you or someone you know has not owned this mascara at some point in time, then you're doing it all wrong.  This is my go-to base mascara meaning, I love to start off my mascara routine with this baby.  It won't give you crazy length or crazy volume, but it is absolutely fantastic at separating the lashes in between coats.  Decent-sized brush that has little rubber spikes coming out of it so if rubber brushes aren't your thing, then you may want to pass on this one.  The spikes on this wand don't hurt your eyes like other spiked-wands.  The spikes taper down ever so slightly towards the end of the brush and the tip is completely flat.  This baby is great once you first open it and eventually (once it starts to dry out a bit) you will be able to tell once it's time to get a new one.  Wear it alone for a more natural look OR use it as a base to other more dramatic mascaras like I do!  The mascara comes in four shades (black, black brown, brown, and very black) and runs anywhere from 5-8 bucks depending on where you shop (can be found at most if not all drugstores)!







2. L'Oréal Telescopic Carbon Black Mascara in Carbon Black
Another oldie but a goodie.  I'm sure you've all tried or at least seen the original gold-tube of this mascara... Well, the black tube is even better!  This is going to be your go-to lengthening mascara, and when I say lengthening, I mean it will give you length hunny!  I prefer the one if the black tube as it is more intense than the original (but that is obviously a personal preference).  This is definitely a more wet-formula so if you're more of a dry mascara kinda person, then you may wanna skip out on this one.  Similar to the Covergirl mascara mentioned above, this mascara comes with a rubber wand with teeny-tiny spikes that again do not hurt or irritate the eye.  The tip comes to a nice point which can coat the inner lashes very nicely and because the wand is so small, you can get right up close to that lash line and almost give a tight-lined effect to your lashes.  Definitely a great follow-up to the Covergirl mascara since this one won't really add much volume but will give you some serious length.  Price ranges anywhere from 9-12 bucks depending on which stores you shop at and the deals that they have that week!






3. Essence I Love Extreme Crazy Volume Mascara in Black
The cheapest of the bunch but really packs a real punch!  You've probably passed by this section of the drugstore a couple times and thought nothing of it but this mascara is a must try for anyone looking for a bold, dramatic look that is volumized & lengthened!  This mascara will run you anywhere from 3-5 bucks at most drugstores and is sort of a hybrid of the Covergirl and L'Oreal mascaras listed above.  This is a thicker formula and actually needs some scraping off during the first couple uses, however, it gives such a crazy amount of volume that I can look past it.  Comes with a very large brush with rubberized spikes (can we see a trend here with my mascara preferences?) and the tip of the wand is sort of like a ball with spikes, similar to the Benefit They're Real mascara.  Forewarning though with this mascara: after 2 coats it does start to clump up but in no way do you need more than 2 coats (1 is sometimes more than enough for me).  Again, pair it up with the two other mascaras listed above and you've got some dramatic af lashes to hit up the town!






4. Estee Lauder Sumptuous Bold Volume Lifting Mascara in Black
Okay before you kill me for including this crazy expensive mascara in this list, hear me out.  I've never been one to spend crazy amounts of money on mascara especially because if you're using them everyday, you'll eventually have to re-purchase another tube after 3-ish months.  However, this mascara is definitely worth the $27-30 price tag!  I would say this mascara is the Covergirl, L'Oreal, and Essence mascaras combined into one.  The medium sized wand has a bristle-brush applicator (a change from all the rubber) and tapers similar to that of a tree shape.  This mascara adds a ton of volume as well as length and is super black (also comes in a brown shade if that is more up your alley).  I love pairing this mascara with the L'Oreal one for some bombshell looking lashes for nighttime or using it alone for a dramatically natural looking lash (if that makes sense lol).  Personally my lashes are able to hold a curl very well, but I find this mascara definitely keeps that curl in place all day with no flaking!! That is one thing I forgot to mention, none of these mascaras flake on my eyes.  Granted I don't have the most sensitive or watery eyes (I don't wear contacts either), but it's still something worth mentioning.  Get out to an Estee Lauder counter and ask for a sample and see for yourself how great this mascara is!





5. Mac Extended Play Gigablack Lash in Intense Black

This last mascara is definitely different from the other four because it is my go-to lower lash mascara (the other four can be worn on the lower lashes too, I just prefer this one for that job)!  This mascara is comparable in size to the L'Oreal mascara, the only difference is the brush.  Here we are dealing with a long, skinny wand with a bristle-brush applicator much like traditional mascara wands except a lot skinnier (as opposed to the big rubber applicators).  This mascara has a really wet-formula and is super black in colour and claims to be a waterproof formula that can last up to 16 hours.  I for one have not tested that type of longevity before (because who the heck wants mascara on for that long anyway!?), but it does last your average 8 hour day.  Because the wand/brush is so skinny and small, it is perfect for those smaller lower lashes as well as the tight-line of your upper lashes if that's what you are using it for.  This baby will cost you 20 bucks in the Mac stores or at the Mac counters and doesn't dry out as fast as other mascaras.  Has a slight funky smell, but don't all mascaras have a weirdly unique smell to them? I will warn you though, the applicator is a little more stiff (nothing crazy) than the rest of the mascaras so go nice and easy on the eye area.            

Stay tuned for my next blog post and take care,

Glynn  

"Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle."

Napoleon Hill

The Power of Make-up

It is no surprise that make-up has the power to drastically change one's appearance for the better and also for the worse.  Whether it is an ashy brown contour shade to define your cheekbones, or voluminous false eyelashes to open up the eye, there really are endless possibilities when it comes to make-up!  

  I am sure you have all seen the trend floating around social media of women and even some men applying make-up to half their face and leaving the other half bare in order to see what a difference make-up can make.  One video in particular which has almost 20 million views is none other than Nikkie Tutorials' "The Power of MAKEUP!" video.  In this seven minute video she shows 20 million people the power of being able to transform her face using various make-up products.  At the end of the video, Nikkie encourages those watching to take the challenge by applying full-on glam make-up to one side of their face and leaving the other side bare to see the power that make-up has! I have linked the video above so be sure to check it out!

I have decided to take this challenge and show you the drastic difference that make-up can give!  Now, let me just put out this disclaimer for anyone reading this and thinking, "Oh my gosh! Jess is so self-conscious! She needs to slap on all that make-up to feel pretty! Etc., etc., etc!"   No. That is definitely not the case.  My whole philosophy and view on make-up is that it is something fun for me to do and it is just something I love doing.  Anyone who knows me well enough knows that I could spend an entire day just getting ready and playing with make-up because it is what I love doing.  

Do I ever go out with absolutely no make-up on my face? Heck yeah I do! 

Do I feel confident without any make-up on my face? Of course I do!

Do I feel confident with make-up on my face? Hell f*cking yeah I do!  

In no way am I saying that it order to look beautiful that you have to slap on a shit ton of make-up.  All I'm saying is that if you have a love for make-up and you LOVE putting make-up on your face, do it!  Don't let anyone tell you that you're fake because you're putting on all that make-up, or you don't love yourself because you put all that shit on.  I am far from fake and I sure as hell love my damn self so in no way does make-up change any of that!  Okay, enough rambling for me, onto the POWER of make-up! 

Products Used:
Nivea For Men For Sensitive Skin After Shave Extra Soothing Balm
L'Oreal Paris True Match Super-Blendable Liquid Make-up in W5 Sand Beige
L'Oreal Paris True Match Lumi Healthy Luminous Make-up in W5 Sand Beige
MAC Studio Face and Body Foundation in C1
Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Translucent
Kat Von D Shade & Light Contour Palette 
NYX Rouge Cream Blush in CB 02 Natural 
L'Oreal Paris True Match Lumi Liquid Glow Illuminator Prime & Highlight in W101 Golden
Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Spotlight in Opal
Hard Candy's So Baked Bronzer in Tiki
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Lightscapade
Milani Eyeshadow Primer
NYX Be Fierce Palette
Clear Eyes Redness Relief Eye Drops 
Lorac Pro Palette
MAC Sized To Go Pigment in Naked
L'Oreal Paris Lineur Intense Felt Tip Liquid Eyeliner in Black Mica 
NYC Liquid Eyeliner in 887 Black
Murray's Manicure TQ Eyelash Curler
Essence I Love Extreme Crazy Volume Mascara
L'Oreal Paris Telescopic Mascara in Black 
Jordana Easyliner for Lips Retractable Pencil in Rock N' Rose
NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss in 122 Natural
Bonnebell lipLITES in Cappuccino
Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray

Stay tuned for my next blog post and take care,

Glynn  

"Beauty is when you can appreciate yourself.  When you love yourself, that's when you're most beautiful."

Zoe Kravitz

Milk of Magnesia: Oily Skin's Friend or Foe?

Hello loves and welcome back!

Today we are going to be talking about a product that you may have lying around in your bathroom cupboard that is used as a laxative and how you can use it on your face!

Yes, you indeed read that correctly... we are going to be testing out a liquid medicine, that would normally treat constipation, on our faces.  Now before you click off because you're somewhat uncomfortable, read what I have to say and then be the judge!  

The product that I am going to be talking about today is Milk of Magnesia or (MOM for short).  Offered in a variety of brands, Milk of Magnesia is a laxative (osmotic-type) that is thought to work by drawing water into the intestines, an effect that helps to cause movement of the intestines, ultimately making you go to the bathroom to do your "business." 

Basically what Milk of Magnesia is said to do is to keep oily skin from producing more and more oil throughout the day and ultimately keep your face matte.  When I say matte I mean that your skin is not going to look dewy or shiny so if you're after that kind of finish, you won't like this product.  It is also not a product you want to try out if you have dry skin, as the Milk of Magnesia will cling to most if not all of your dry patches.  

Application of the Milk of Magnesia is super easy too!  What you want to do is start out with clean skin and with either a standard foundation brush or a disposable cosmetic sponge, apply a thin layer of the liquid to your face avoiding the eye area, eyebrows, and hairline.  Make sure that you shake the bottle up really well before applying!  After it is applied, you will notice a white cast over the places you applied the product.  Depending on how much you applied, it can look very white, however, if you are applying foundation you will not need to worry about the cast.  If you aren't planning on wearing foundation, I'd suggest applying the product with a sponge and using as little product as possible.  

One thing I want to stress is to not use this product on a day-to-day basis!  I cannot stress that enough here!  Yes it may seem like it is working wonders your skin right now (short-term) but it can have long-term side effects on your skin such as increased acne and contact dermatitis!  This is due to the pH of your skin and the pH of MOM.  

So, to wrap this up.  Is the household laxative "Milk of Magnesia" oily skin's friend or foe?  Unfortunately I'd have to say it is more of a foe than it is a friend.  However, it can be used once in a blue moon (weddings, special occasions, etc.) to combat the skin's oily-ness but on a day-to-day basis it is not recommended.  As always though, I am not a doctor nor am I a dermatologist so be sure to do your own research and/or ask your doctor before you try anything relating to your body or skin. 

Stay tuned for my next blog post and take care,
Glynn  

"If you don't like how things are, change it! You're not a tree."
Jim Rohn

Beauty Blender Sponge

Welcome back beautiful people!

I hope those of you who experience Daylight Saving Time are well-rested and starting to get used to the time change!  Today's post is all about a product that I'm sure you are all aware of.  It received a lot of hype when it first came out and still to this day, people rave about it.  To some it may just look like a coloured, egg-shaped sponge, but to others it really is a miracle sponge.  

 

Who

Invented by top Hollywood make up artist Rea Ann Silva.

 What

The original beautyblender® (pink sponge) is a revolutionary non-latex makeup sponge applicator with 360 degrees of usable surface for creating absolute complexion perfection. This five-time Allure Best of Beauty Award-winner is ergonomically designed to meet your makeup needs. beautyblender® is the first high definition, neon pink sponge application tool that gives you everything from amazingly sheer coverage to a buildable full coverage.

There are three types of beautyblender® sponges: the original, the pro, and the pure.  The pure beautyblender® (white sponge) is the same as the original except that it is colourless and is targeted for your primers, serums, moisturizers, and skincare.  The pro beautyblender® (black sponge) is the same as the original except it was made with make-up artists in mind.  It will hide make-ups that are darker in colour or stain the sponge.

 

Why

To solve the problem that many people find themselves running into when applying make-up.  The beautyblender® sponge is the easiest way to apply your foundations, creams, concealers, powders, mineral make-up, BB/CC creams, etc. and perfects the look of all of them.  It's open cell structure allows the sponge to absorb water so that the sponge isn't soaking in and wasting your make-up.  

How to use the beautyblender® (original, pure, and pro)?  Three super simple steps!

1. Wet
• Either soak the sponge in a bowl of water (hot or cold) or run the sponge under the faucet for about 10 seconds (again, hot or cold water based on your personal preference).  I personally like to use cold water so that the sponge adds extra moisture into my skin as I am bouncing my foundation on.  Hot water could potentially open up your pores which would lead to having those peak through the foundation (unless you are using a pore minimizing primer then it may not be an issue).  
2. Squeeze

• Once the water has absorbed into the sponge, you want to give it a good squeeze.  You'll notice after the first squeeze that the sponge is much larger and softer than it was before you wet it.  You can either squeeze it out with your hands a couple times, or squeeze the sponge into a towel a few times.  Either way you choose, make sure you get most of the water out. 
3. Bounce 

• Now you are ready to apply and blend away your make-up like a dream.  You can either dab the beautyblender® into your foundation and apply to your face or dot your foundation all over your face and bounce the sponge over it.  And once the foundation is either on your sponge or on your face, you are ready to blend away!  You can use bouncing motions on any side of the sponge!

So I'll just go over a quick Pros & Cons list:
Pros

• Applies and blends make-up at the same time
• Super easy to use (wet, squeeze, bounce)
• Beginner friendly 
• Non-latex for those with allergies and/or sensitivities 
• The "miracle" sponge
• Can be used with foundations, concealers, mineral make-up, etc. (liquids, creams, or powders)

Cons

• Other than always needing water to use the sponge, the only other "con" I can think of is the price.  As opposed to other sponge-like applicators, this bad boy retails for $19.95 US and $26.00 CAN.  This may be expensive for some (hence why it is in the "cons" list) and inexpensive for others, however, it is worth the money in the long-run

I would also recommend buying the cleansers that are made by the same brand!  I have tried other methods of washing the beautyblender® such as dish soap, baby shampoo, etc., and nothing works as good as the cleansers that Rea Ann Silva has created.  I have the solid cleanser and I think it works so well with the beautyblender® beause it is fast yet so effective.  A couple swirls in the cleanser, run the sponge under some water, and it's clean and ready to use again.  

Overall, I honestly think that this $19.95 US/$26.oo CAN sponge is worth the price.  It really is a miracle sponge at blending away foundations/concealers/powders into nothing so that your skin looks like skin, rather than it looking like make-up.  The beautyblender® was made to last and I promise once you start using it, you won't want to use anything else!

Interested in purchasing any of the products mentioned?  I gotcha covered!  Direct links to Sephora's online store are listed below!  You can also find these products on Amazon, eBay, and on the Makeup Geek web-store.

*Click here to purchase the Original beautyblender®*

*Click here to purchase the Pure beautyblender®*

*Click here to purchase the Pro beautyblender®*

*Click here to purchase the blendercleanser® Solid*

*Click here to purchase the blendercleanser® Liquid*

Stay tuned for my next blog post and take care,
Glynn
 

"Whether I'm wearing lots of make-up or no make-up, I'm always the same person." 

Lady Gaga

Kat Von D Shade & Light Contour Palette

Welcome back lovely people!

This week's make-up related post is going to be all about Kat Von D's somewhat new Shade & Light Contour Palette!  We all know that Kat is an extremely talented sketch artist and is able to manipulate shadow and light to create dimension in her portraits.  WELL, now we have her very own palette that give us the tools to sculpt our faces through the art of shading and highlighting.

Nowadays, I feel like every brand is coming out with their own rendition of a "contour" type of palette, and with so many on the market it can be quite overwhelming in the stores (speaking from experience).  I walked into Sephora about a month ago and I was on the hunt for a contouring/highlighting type of palette,  The girl that worked there must've given me 8 different options.  I explained to her that I did not want the Anastasia Contour Kit because it was too overrated and everyone and their mother already had it.  On the plus side, it was waaay too warm-toned/orange-looking for my pale skin! 

I stumbled across Kat Von D's palette and after having it tested on me, I fell in love!  Kat created this palette in order to empower us with her artistic knowledge by giving us the tools to sculpt our faces through the art of shading.  

There are three highlighting shades (0.08 oz each) and 3 contouring shades (0.16 oz each).   The kit also comes with an information card where Kat outlines different ways to use the palette and her recommended tips!  The packaging is absolutely beautiful and knowing it was created and designed by Kat, it doesn't surprise me!  The case is very sleek and is perfect for traveling (especially because you can double up the shades as eye shadows!).  In Canada the palette retails for $55.00 and it is $46.00 in the United States.  So the palette IS up there a little in price, but after using drugstore and inexpensive bronzers/contour shades for so long, the splurge was definitely worth it!  

For my fair skin, I find myself gravitating towards the left side of the palette, however, I can still use the super dark shade for my dramatic, night-out looks if I really wanted too.  The only shade I cannot use for my face is the soft peach shade (Levitation); I can use it as an eye shadow though!  Since they are so pigmented, I recommend using a duo-fibre brush with the shades or using a very light hand when applying.  They can also kick up some fall-out when you swirl a brush in there so be careful with that as well!  Below is a small description of each contour and highlight shade in the palette:

Highlighting Shades

 

 Lucid

Pinkish nude shade

Matte finish 

Great for light skin tones 

Lyric

Yellow beige shade

Matte finish

Similar to the other "banana" shades on the market 

Great for all skin tones 

Levitation

Soft peach shade

Matte finish

Great for darker skin tones

Contouring Shades

  Sombre 

A true taupe shade

Matte finish

Great for light to medium skin tones

Shadowplay

Soft, warm brown shade

Matte Finish

Great for all skin tones (either as a bronzer or contour shade) 

Subconscious 

Deep brown shade

Matte finish

Great for medium to deep skin tones

Top Row (Left to right): Lucid, Lyric, Levitation
Bottom Row (Left to right): Sombre, Shadowplay, Subconscious 

So I'll just go over a quick Pros & Cons list:
Pros

•  Compact, sleek case WITH a mirror
• All shades are matte finish
• Different types of shades for different times throughout the year (darker shades for the summer months, lighter shades for the winter months)
• Includes a nice mix of cool and warm shades for both contouring and bronzing 
• Very pigmented and blendable 
• Formulated without parabens, sulfates, and phthalates

Cons

• Price-point ($55 CAN/$46 US)
• Highly pigmented causes some dust to kick up in the palette; must use a light hand
• Some shades may be too light/dark depending on your skin tone

Follow the included inserts—illustrated by Kat herself—and master the art of contouring in three simple ways (Side Note: the brush that you see in the face-charts below is the Shade & Light Contour Brush that Kat Von D also created to go with this palette. I did not purchase it because I find my brushes to work perfectly fine with the palette, but it is there for you at Sephora if you'd like to purchase it): 

1. Define cheekbones: sculpt and chisel your appearance. 

2. Slim your face: slenderize features and define the jawline. 

3. Shape your nose: taper your silhouette.

As you can see, using all three contour shades I was able to slim out my face and define my cheek bones.  By taking the banana-type highlighting shade, I placed it above the contour to really make my cheek bones stand out.  No editing to the photos whatsoever and it looks like I lost 5 pounds in my face haha. 

The photo on the right displays the defined cheek bones and also all three contour shades shades around the perimeter of my face.  Using the shade colours, I'm able to minimize the look of my forehead and defining my jawline/chin.  

 The photo on the right displays all three of Kat's information sheets (Define Cheekbones, Slim Face, and Shape Nose).  As you can see, by using a smaller brush I am able to change the look of my nose by making the bridge more defined and ever so slightly slimming out the ball of my nose. 

 (P.S. I'm not sure what the black dot is on my left eye in the before pictures, so please disregard that. Thank you!)

I hope that if you do check out the palette, you love it just as much as I do.  Like I said previously, it really is a wonderful palette and worth the splurge!  So next time you're in Sephora, get one of the employees to test it out on you!  If you're anything like me, you won't be disappointed! 

Stay tuned for my next blog post and take care,
Glynn

“Strength doesn't necessarily come from resisting fear, weakness, or any other feeling and overcoming it.  Strength comes from looking at those things straight on - and accepting them as they really are." 

Kat Von D