Author Archives: Sarah Kelly

NARS Larger Than Life Eyeliner Review

NARS Larger Than Life Eyeliner Review

Who else is tired of the Urban Decay 24/7 Liners? Everyone talks about those liners and they’ve been best sellers for years, I’m sure. But for me, they were always overrated and too creamy, making them have a long setting-time. I was waiting and waiting for a pencil that really impressed me, but so many brands kept releasing Urban Decay-style liners. I’m very happy to say I think I’ve found a great one! Here’s my NARS Larger Than Life Eyeliner review, please enjoy!

WHAT I LOVE:

NARS Larger Than Life Eyeliner ReviewThe packaging is perfect for me; it’s a retractable liner with a detachable sharpener on the end. This makes it great for traveling or throwing in your purse since you don’t need a sharpener. Also, it never gets shorter because you don’t sharpen is outer casing, this makes is easy to use since you have a long handle throughout your use of the entire liner. A pet peeve of mine is the stub of a liner you’re supposed to use when the classic sharpen-able liner gets to the bottom, it makes the product so much harder to maneuver. I’m in love with the retractable format of this NARS liner.

The wear of this liner is fabulous! On the upper lash line it lasts all day flawlessly, no smudging, melting or moving! I can safely say nothing lasts quite as long on the waterline, but it is more long wearing than anything else I’ve tried.

The shade range is stunning; out of the 11, I have a few favourites.. “Rue Saint-Honor” is a matte navy blue that makes blue eyes pop beautifully, and they’ve included a very sought-after colour called “Rue Bonaparte” which is a neutral beige that looks great on the waterline to open and brighten the eyes. Most brands carry colours for that purpose that are very pink, peach or stark white, so I was happy to see something more subtle. I can’t leave out the classics, brown and black, “Via Appia” and “Via Veneto” are both matte and intensely pigmented.

One last big factor for me is that they set quickly, and they are creamy. Usually it’s a compromise of one or the other, but not for NARS.

WHAT I DISLIKE:

NARS Larger Than Life Eyeliner ReviewThe tip of the pencil doesn’t get quite as pointed as some liners. The sharpener provided can’t seem to taper the end of the liner as much as I’d like.

OVERALL:

There are so many factors I love about this liner, the wear, colours, packaging and more. These totally outweigh the one con I discovered. I can work around it not being quite as pointed, in fact for me, it’s really not a big deal. I love this liner and I’d totally recommend it! Thanks for reading my NARS Larger Than Life Eyeliner Review!

 

 

May Favourites 2012!

May Favourites 2012!
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Sephora Concealer Airbrush Review

Sephora Concealer Airbrush Review

Sephora Collection has a vast variety of makeup brushes, many of which I’ve delved into. There are three different types of brushes; the black handled ones which are the least expensive, the Pro Line collection which have silver handles and lastly the I.T collection which feature brightly coloured handles. Most of the black handled brushes are real hair, but I find they shed a lot. Personally, I prefer the quality of the Pro or I.T line and I would buy many of them over and over again. The brush I’m reviewing today is included in the Pro line, and I truly believe there’s nothing like it and nothing better to blend your concealer with! Here’s my Sephora Airbrush Concealer Review, hope you enjoy!

Sephora Concealer Airbrush ReviewWHAT I LOVE:

The ease of application is phenomenal! If you ever feel your concealer looks unblended, cakey or too heavy, but you still want high coverage, you’ll adore this brush as well.

It will change the way your makeup looks. Go from thick and heavy to buffed and blended! With this brush, you’ll quickly buff your way to a much more natural skin finish! I can’t help but feel like an T.V add, but seriously YOU MUST TRY THIS BRUSH!

It’s so soft and gentle on the delicate under-eyes. Some brushes are rough or pointed at the end, this one is a dome of synthetic hairs which comfortably apply and blend out your concealer without soaking it all up.

The brush is a great size as well, it’s small enough to get into every crevasse, and yet not too small that it’s time consuming to use.

TO NOTE:

If you use a concealer that is very liquid and light coverage, this brush probably won’t blow your mind as much as it has mine. The reason I say this is because it’s already quite easy to blend out a light concealer, so the brush won’t be making a huge difference. However, I would still recommend it because it will make any concealer look better, the result would just be more dramatic when working with a thicker or drier product.

OVERALL:

This brush has quickly become a favourite for me, the way it makes my concealer look like skin amazes me. It’s easy to use, high quality and SO helpful with thicker products. I recommend it fully and I would never go without it in the future! Thank you for reading my Sephora Airbrush Concealer review! If you have any questions or comments please let me know.

Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Foundation Review

Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Foundation Review

Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Foundation ReviewAny fan of Tarte’s would know how they are seemingly obsessed with amazonian clay; Every new product seems to be infused with the stuff… And am I upset about it? HELLL NO! I LOVE AMAZONIAN CLAY! I’ve been wearing their new foundation for a few weeks on and off from a sample and it’s spectacular!! There are only a couple small details that bother me but I can personally look past those because it is SO amazing. Here’s my Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Foundation Review, hope it helps you out!

What I love:

The COVERAGE is awesome, you won’t need to build or “cake” it on. With one swift application, you’ll have a full coverage complexion that looks like your skin.

The TEXTURE does appear to be thick and mousse-like, but once you buff the foundation on, it is FLAWLESS! The key is buffing. BUFF, BUFF, BUFF! Tarte launched an incredible brush along with their foundation which I totally recommend using.

As Tarte claims, the foundation truly does suit any skin type. As a dry skin user, I find my skin looks GLOWING and HEALTHY. Oily and combination clients are in love with it too!

SPF is always a plus for day-to-day wear, so I love the fact that the foundation contains SPF 15, nothing better than protecting our precious skin from sun damage! And I always appreciate that Tarte is paraben free!

What I Dislike:

Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Foundation ReviewI find this product can look unnatural on older skin with dry skin, the consistency is too thick and doesn’t blend out as well. However, you can work around this by using a moisturizing primer like Laura Mercier’s Radiance Primer. This will hydrate and create a smoother texture.

The shade range can be a little tricky, if this foundation isn’t the right shade for you it may become noticeable and unflattering. Although that applies to any foundation, since this is a thicker one, I feel the rule applies even more. If they had more shades, I would have no complaints! Hopefully in the future they will expand their selection, but for now, definitely try it on and even take a sample to ensure the shade is correct.

Overall:

I am absolutely head over heels in LOVE with this product, my skin looks and feels great when I wear it. It’s quick, glowy and comfortable for all skin types making it my favourite foundation! Thanks for reading my Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Foundation Review! Definitely try it out for yourself!

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Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural Lipstick Review

Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural Lipstick Review

Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural Lipstick ReviewMake Up For Ever has finally launched the one item I believe to be what their brand was missing. Hallelujah! Lipsticks with a shiny, moisturizing finish! As much as I love their regular assortment of lipsticks, they can be too thick and matte for what I want to wear every day. The original lipsticks contain three types of waxes (most lipsticks only contain two) and the new, natural collection has much slipperier feel, and according to M.U.F.E, includes nourishing ingredients. I’ve been using my lipstick for a few days now, so here is my Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural Lipstick review, enjoy!

What I love:

I love the colour selection that MUFE has provided, the lipstick comes in 18 shades ranging from beige and pink nudes, to red, berry and lots of in-between shades.

The way they glide on is amazing, they really do feel moisturizing and yet you don’t feel like the colour will dissapear in five minutes – and it doesn’t!

I was surprised by the way these lasted on my lips, for a good hour and a half my lips were dolled up in #27, a pink berry tone. Although there are much longer wearing lipsticks, this is more than what I usually expect from a moisturizing, sheer lipstick.

Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural Lipstick ReviewThis product is extremely easy to wear and comfortable! For anyone who’s not thrilled about wearing a bold red lip, but still wants colour, this product is perfect. The sheer tint to the lips is flattering for every day use and can definitely be worn for a more subtle night look.

Needs Improvement/ Random:

I’ve never liked the smell of Make Up for Ever lipsticks, but it’s definitely not a make-or-break kind of factor. They have the scent of what lipsticks used to smell like. I remember playing with my moms lipstick when I was a kid and they always had that makeup-y lipstick smell which I haven’t experienced in any other lipstick since then, until Make Up For Ever’s.

Overall I’m a huge fan of these lipsticks, the colours, finish and feel are all amazing. I’m willing to pay for a high end lipstick if it’s truly something special and I definitely feel that the natural lipsticks are! I plan on getting several other colours, I definitely recommend that you should try them too! Thank you for reading my Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural Lipstick Review!

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Tarina Tarantino Eye Dream Hyperlight Review

Tarina Tarantino Eye Dream Hyperlight Review

Before I start, I think we all need to hand it to Tarina T. for creating the most blinged out, bedazzled name for an under eye brightener. Love it! If you don’t know, Tarina Tarantino is a jewelry designer who teamed up with Sephora to create a makeup line which most definitely embodies her girly, bejeweled style. The makeup originally came packaged in pink rhynstone encrusted compacts, but later changed to a silver packaging for a more adult friendly approach. Anyways, enough background info – I have been using the under eye brightener for a few weeks now, and decided to write a Tarina Tarantino Eye Dream Hyperlight review, enjoy!

What I Love:

I actually am a fan of the new packaging. It’s sophisticated and very functional, the simple twist-up brush is all you need and applies it just fine. After putting on my concealer, I dab it on my eye a couple times and then blend it out with my finger. It really does add that extra touch of brightness which I can safely say everybody could use.  I love how the consistency is similar to a concealer, you can really see it working as you apply and there is a significant difference.

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I find that with quite a few under eye brighteners you apply it day after day and wonder if it’s really making a difference. This product is certainly not that, you will feel confident about it changing the way your eyes look! I’m happy to say that it exceeded my expectations, I look less tired when I wear this and it draws attention away from my dark circles!

What Could Change:

Tarino Tarantino Eye Dream Hyperlight ReviewI wouldn’t recommend this product for darker skin tones, it’s very pink and can look obvious if you aren’t light or borderline medium skin tones. It would have been really amazing if she had launched one for darker skin tones as well – it’s common to use a lavender colour to brighten darker skin. Even though I have very fair skin, I find it annoying when a product is launched for only one skin tone or without darker options, which happens more often than not.

The other thing I don’t recommend is reapplying this product throughout the day. I tried this and I didn’t like the way it blended out. I couldn’t make it look natural without having to reapply blush as well.

Overall Feelings:

For my skin tone, this product really works. And I don’t usually reapply makeup throughout the day anyways, so that doesn’t influence the likeability of this product for me. I love how I look better rested and brighter after using this product. There is no doubt in my mind that it really makes a difference, I’m really happy with it. Comparable products sell for almost double the price (YSL Touche Eclat) and to me, aren’t even as good! Anyone with light to medium skin tones who wants to look brighter (and ultimately younger) should give this product a try! Thank you so much for reading my Tarina Tarantino Eye Dream Hyperlight review, let me know if you have any questions.

NARS Tinted Moisturizer Review

NARS Tinted Moisturizer Review

NARS Tinted Moisturizer ReviewI’m always pumped when NARS launches a new season’s worth of products! It’s the brand that is consistently unique and sexy, with excellence in quality to top everything off. I was particularly excited about this product because the NARS Sheer Glow foundation has been a staple for me for quite a while now. I’ve been enjoying the new complexion they’ve launched, so it seems according to write a NARS Tinted Moisturizer Review. Enjoy!

What I’m Loving:

First things first, in my books SPF is ALWAYS a good thing. This is your best defense again aging, so hells yeah! This product contains SPF 30 which is a high amount in comparison to most tinted moisturizers.

The texture is beautiful, it glides right on the skin without any tug. It also moisturizes dry skin, making it look healthier and smoother. What I really love is that after I’ve applied the tinted moisturizer to my skin, it feels softer, plumper and I want to touch it!

Although my skin is dry, I still appreciate that this product is oil-free. I add enough moisture to my skin with skincare products so oil in my makeup is not necessary and I feel like I’m less likely experience a breakout. And for the girls who experience acne scarring, you’ll appreciate that this product is formulated to reduce the look of dark spots in four weeks!

Cons:

NARS Tinted Moisturizer Review As you’ve probably assumed, considering it’s a tinted moisturizer, the coverage is very minimal. Unless your skin is nearly perfect or you don’t really want to cover your redness or blemishes, you’ll probably want more coverage. I do not consider my skin perfect, but pairing it up with a full coverage concealer allows me to hide my dark circles and redness while having a lightweight texture on the rest of my skin. This still poses a problem for those who have acne, I wouldn’t suggest this product to you if you want to cover it up.

At first glace, the shades of these tinted moisturizers seem very warm toned aside from the lightest few. Even so, after you’ve applied a shade which is the closest to your skin tone you’ll probably notice that it will blend in because they are so sheer.

In all honesty, I don’t see a huge difference between many of the tinted moisturizers on the market. They all give a dewey finish to the skin and a light, comfortable texture. I really like the way this product goes on, I like the finish a lot but what really sets it apart from the competition is the higher SPF and the claims of brightening the skin and reducing the look of dark spots. I appreciate the bonus skincare components and it is a really nice product. I recommend it to anyone who likes a light coverage and dewey finish. Thanks for reading my NARS Tinted Moisturizer Review, hope you enjoyed!

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Laura Mercier Radiance Primer Review

Laura Mercier Radiance Primer Review

As primers become more and more used and loved, brands are creating additional purposes and benefits to incorporate skin care elements. This is an amazing way to get the most out of your makeup and work towards glowing, beautiful skin. I’ve had dry skin for many years and consequently, I’ve had to use products to give my skin that healthy glow. I tried out this product with great excitement and now I’m writing this Laura Mercier Radiance Primer review for you because I want to recommend this product!

Laura Mercier Radiance Primer Review

What I’m Loving:

The best feature of this product is the beautiful glow it gives me under my foundation. It gives a subtle yet noticeable hint of shine to your skin which is so on trend for summer and well, pretty much all the time! I love how it keeps my makeup fresh for hours and never looks dull.

I would even wear this on its own on a day where I didn’t feel like wearing foundation because it really enhances the texture of the skin. As I mentioned initially, makeup is now being infused with skincare benefits, and this stands true for Laura Mercier’s primers. This one contains vitamins A, C and E which are antioxidants and keep free radicals (which are bad for your skin and health) at bay.

Another thing that’s great about this primer would be that the pearly pigment inside of it is not a pink shade, it’s more of a nude or beige colour. This means that it will work better on different skin tones, from pale to deep. Love it!

Cons:

Laura Mercier Radiance Primer ReviewOne thing I noticed, because I have been a long time user of the original primer from Laura Mercier, is that it is not quite as long wearing as the other formulas. This is almost expected though, because anything that is glowy or shiny tends to have less lasting power. Despite this, my foundation still lasts flawlessly on my skin for 5-6 hours with a beautiful glow. I’m happy to touch up slightly since it is still giving my the beautiful glow I want!

I would 100% recommend this product to anyone with dull or dry skin. It will give you the healthy look everyone’s lusting after and extend the longevity of your foundation! A trick I learned to refresh the skin is to pop these primers in the fridge and then apply, I’m predicting this will come in very handy in the hot summer months. Thank you so much for reading my Laura Mercier Radiance Primer review!

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Five Ways & Five Products to Brighten Your Eyes!

Five Ways & Five Products to Brighten Your Eyes!

We all want a bright and refreshed look to our eyes; there are literally thousands of products out there to combat darkness and wake up the eyes, but what are they and how do we use them? I’m going to outline five EASY ways to bring attention to your gorgeous eyes by brightening them!

Five Ways & Five Products to Brighten Your Eyes!NUMBER ONE: Let’s start with the base for ALL your makeup; it will always be yours so paying attention to it and taking care of it is essential… It’s your skin! Do you believe in eye creams? I DO! I’ve been playing with Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream. It instantly brightens under eyes with light reflecting properties and de-puffs tired eyes. This cream is for anyone who looks tired! Love it.

Five Ways & Five Products to Brighten Your Eyes!NUMBER TWO: Conceal dark areas under and around the eyes, this will direct attention away from dark circles. If you have veiny lids, conceal them as well. Choose a product that isn’t extremely thick, although these concealers cover very well, they can look obvious and tend to cake up. My recommendation is Maybelline’s Instant Age Rewind concealer. It lasts all day and looks like your skin, but better!

NUMBER THREE: People underestimate the eyebrow’s power change the look of the eye. When you fill in your brows, you instantly look younger, more polished and more awake! I use the Tarte Brow Pencil in Taupe, it’s a universal light shade which is waterproof, making it very long wearing. Fill your brows in my using short strokes along the natural shape of your brow.

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Five Ways & Five Products to Brighten Your Eyes!NUMBER FOUR: Highlighting your eye is the most obvious difference which most people already do, whether they know it or not. This involves using a light shade of eyeshadow on your brow bone and inner corner of the eye. You can certainly use this light shade all over the eye if you aren’t wearing anything else. I actually use an eyeshadow-stick duo from Anastasia called Brow Duality. One side is a shimmery pink and the other is matte. I apply the shimmery side on the inner corners and the matte side under my brow. It really cleans up the brow, making it look more defined and lifted – you’d be surprised what a difference it makes!

NUMBER FIVE: Use a white or peach eyeliner in your lower waterline to brighten your eyes and make them look bigger. It may appear too obvious when you first apply, but give it about 5 minutes and it should soften up, giving you a wakeful look. A good example is Sephora’s Nano Liner in Pure White.

All together you can achieve bright eyes in about 5 minutes, it really isn’t hard! And skincare is really the most important step; with continued use of an eye cream you will see lightening of the under eyes and will use less cosmetics. I hope you enjoyed getting bright, take care!

January Favourites Video!

January Favourites Video!

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