Covergirl TruBlend Foundation | Review

Last month BzzAgent gave me the opportunity to test out a Covergirl foundation for free.  I had a choice between a few different ones, so I picked the TruBlend formula in the colour L2 (and because I am the palest, I could have probably gone with L1, but it looked way too pink for me).

My thoughts on this foundation are quite concise. It is a lovely, thinner texture that covers imperfections with ability the of a much thicker foundation.  Covergirl offers 21 different shades - a true bonus, knowing how hard it is to find a nice matching foundation. I've applied this foundation to my face using my fingers, a beauty blender and a makeup brush - looks pretty sweet every which way you could desire applying this.

This leaves my skin looking AMAZING. Seriously, glowing but not greasy - trust me, my face gets greasy so easily that this is a must. It doesn't cling to dry patches, it sets beautifully and it lasts all day. I am able to cover all of the unsightly things that I need to, without feeling like I'm coating my face.

Bottom line? This is one of the nicest drugstore foundations I've ever used. I'm shocked.
I said I would be concise.

Cheers,
Kait

Empties | April 2015

Time again for my monthly collection of beauty trash!  I feel like I've used a great variety of things this month. As with last month, I've divided them into categories & marked the samples with an asterisk (*). 

Makeup

Revlon Photoready Pressed Powder - This has been my powder for the last couple times I've needed to replace a powder. I enjoy this & would repurchase, but for a drugstore item it is quite expensive (around $16 CAD) so this time I have chosen to go with something cheaper.

Maybelline Dream Wonder Foundation - This foundation was lovely! It has a wonderful lightweight feel but a surprisingly high coverage finish. It did leave my nose a bit dry, but it's hard to tell whether that was the foundation or the winter. I would definitely repurchase - in the summer - if only to see if it really does cause dryness.

Revlon Lip Butter in Peach Parfait - I love the lip butter formula for quick, on the go uses. This particular shade didn't leave me thrilled simply because it had gold glitter that seemed really gritty after a little bit of wear. I would buy another lip butter, but not in this shade.

Urban Decay Perversion Mascara* - I LOVE this mascara & have already ordered a larger size.  If you want volume, this stuff is perfection.

Ultraflesh Mascara* - I received this in a Beauty Box a couple of months ago & this is completely dried up. Hard to test a product if it isn't even usable.

Cartier Baisés Volés Perfume* - This stuff was yummy smelling. It was quite sophisticated while being light and floral.  While I really enjoyed this I don't think this would be one I would buy in full size.


Face & Body

L'Oreal Paris Makeup Remover - This is a lovely eye makeup remover and also a repurchase of mine. As of late I think I have found a makeup remover that I prefer, but this one does an excellent job for drugstore prices.

Secret Clear Gel Deodorant in Ooh-la-la Lavender - I was sent this by BzzAgent to review about 6 months ago. So as far as a product lasting an appropriate amount of time - this was great. It had a nice scent & it did it's job. I'm not sure I'm a convert of the gel deodorants yet though.

EOS (Evolution of Smooth) Hand Lotion in Rose - I purchased this years ago in a set with a lip balm as a breast cancer awareness promotion. It lived in my purse & it has finally kicked the bucket. It wasn't super moisturizing but it functioned well enough in a pinch. I would not repurchase - at least not in this scent.

SoftSoap Body Wash in Tropical Acai Berry - These body washes are absolutely my favourite from the drugstore. They have moisture beads (which - I've checked the ingredients - is not the same as the plastic scrubby beads) that dissolve when rubbed into the skin. This purple gel wash smells divine, but the pomegranate & mango one is really something amazing as well.


Hair

L'Oreal Paris Elnett Satin Hairspray - This was acquired during the day of my wedding to tame some flyaways at the last minute. While this can looks tiny you can actually purchase this at the drugstore. It works, but it stinks, so I did not repurchase.

Pantene Smooth & Sleek Shampoo* - This shampoo made my hair feel soooo greasy right out of the gate. I used up this sample, but I would not purchase a large size. If I had very dry hair, this may have worked better without leaving me feeling dirty before day one was even over.


Another month, another 12 items used up. I would like to point out that I'm not trying to « get rid » of products.I'm not using anything in excess, I just like making sure I'm using what I have (& when I have 5 of the same thing this takes time).

What have you been using up?

Cheers,
Kait

Beauty Box 5 | March 2015

So I've just received my March Beauty Box 5 in the mail.  This one will be my last box (I only signed up for 3 months & have cancelled my account due to some sketchiness surrounding the company).  I never had a problem with this subscription & I have used around 80% of the products I have gotten. I know that others have not had the same experience as I've been fortunate enough to have had & I thought that maybe I should get out while I'm ahead. This is not to discourage anyone, I'm just saying that before you sign up for anything it's good to read up some different reviews - for better or for worse.

Anyway! On to what I did receive in this month's box. This month I was actually super impressed by BB5.

Scandalous Mascara by Nanacoco
This is supposed to be a voluminous mascara. I received mine in the black formula, but the card indicated that there were assorted colours, so maybe other people got strange colours?  It is a full-size & is valued at $ 4.99.

Laugh Out Loud lipgloss by Nanacoco in the colour The Lift
While this product seems bizarre to me, given that the name is strange & the colour is nondescript, it is a very pretty bright pink. Lovely for this time of the year! It also smells alright, which is a bonus as I was expecting a plastic smell. The lipgloss was also available in assorted colours.  This is a full-size & is valued at $ 3.99.

Rosemary Eucalyptus body cream by Elite Therapeutics
This was a sample size, but quite a nice amount. This is definitely not my favorite scent, as it is quite herbal/medicinal. I'm not against it, but I don't think I will be putting it on at work or anything. The full size is valued at $19.00.

Line & Seal Eye Liner by Styli-Style in the colour Orchid
This is a mechanical eye liner, which is a nice touch. I received mine in Orchid, which is a dark plum colour, but again this came in assorted colours. This is a nice change after I received a bright magenta eye liner in a previous box - which I tried but have no practical use for in my life. I will actually wear this one! It is a full-sized liner & is valued at $ 4.99.

Assorted foil packets by Eslor
They came in a little pouch & there are four different products, but they are tiny little foil samples non-the-less. There is a cleanser, a peeling gel, a mask & a moisturizer. These are expensive products when purchased in full-size at $28.00, $38.00, $38.00 & $85.00, but as foil packets they are virtually worthless.

Overall, this box is worth around $16.00, which is only $1.00 more than I paid for it ($12.00 + $3.00 shipping to Canada). While I'm happy with 4/5 of my products this month, & I mean very pleased, this is really not a very exciting service value-wise & I'm happy to not be continuing my subscription.

Do you have any suggestions for a NEW subscription box for me to try?

Cheers,
Kait

Empties | March 2015

This month I did some serious cleaning out of samples. We plan on buying a house sometime in the next 6ish months & I really want to try and declutter before that happens. I don't really have any desire to pack up 4371814 samples. I would rather use them all up!

This month, I divided everything into smaller categories. I've also indicated samples with asterisks (*).

Face

Simple Face Wipes - I don't love these, but I certainly don't hate 'em! I would repurchase.

Pacifica Face Wipes - I thought I loved these face wipes. They smell like coconut & they were nice & wet with product but they BURN around my eyes. Not in my eyes, on the skin. I would NOT repurchase these. I have a post on both these & the simple face wipes here.

Purity Made Simple*  - This was a bitty sample, that I used for about 5 days straight. I love this & have already purchased a larger bottle! It smells lovely & it leaves my skin so soft & clean!

Neostrata moisturizer* - This was weird, gelly & ultimately not that impressive. I used it for about 3 nights. I would NOT purchase.

Swisspers Organic Cotton Rounds - These are pretty standard cotton rounds. I like that they are organic, but I dislike that there are only 80 per pack. Overall, these are the ones I usually purchase, so I would most likely repurchase them.


Hair

Fruit Kicks Down Under Hair Spray - This stuff was pretty awesome. It smells like pomegranate & it worked for most things, from taming fly-away hair all the way up to keeping curls & fancy 'dos in check.  For the low cost & how long it lasted (like 2 years), I will definitely repurchase.

Herbal Essences Naked Shampoo & Conditioner* - I've had the full-sized bottles of both of those & while I like them plenty, they aren't what I look for in hair care. They are quite nice & light though (not to mention they smell yummy like grapefruit).

Pantene Sheer Volume Shampoo* - This was BAD for my hair. That's all I have to say about that.

Garnier Nutrisse Conditioner* - I get one of these in every box of at-home hair dye I purchase. I really enjoy using this & I use it around 1-2 times per week. While I can't exactly repurchase the conditioner, I will continue to use it whenever I buy the dye!


Makeup

Lancome Definicils Mascara* - I miss this mascara! I will absolutely not be spending that much money on a mascara in the near future, but based on if it's purchasable - I would in theory buy it. I have a post with a more in-depth review of this product here.

Maybelline Mega Plush Mascara - I used to think I loved this mascara, but I have now realized that I don't. It's very dry & the brush leaves my lashes very clumpy.  I will not be repurchasing this.

Elizabeth & James Nirvana White Perfume* - This smells very floral & light. It's actually not a scent I've ever worn before, but I'm definitely going to pick up a roller ball of this once my other samples are gone.

Almay Clear Complexion Concealer - I've repurchased this concealer countless times. It actually has a small amount of acne medication within the concealer, which aides to heal, while hiding. I am definitely on my way to repurchasing as soon as my other concealer is used up.

Maybelline Dream Lumi concealer - I like this, but I don't love it. It brightens under the eyes quite nicely, but I find that it settles into my creases pretty quickly. I'm on the fence about this. I may just repurchase on a whim, but I don't have any plans for it right away.


Body

Freeman Cucumber, Melon & Ginseng Body Wash* - This smelled fantastic, but it did nothing for my skin.  In a period of the year where my skin is already kind of dry, this actually dried it out more.  This was a Beauty Box 5 sample, but I will not be purchasing a full bottle of this.

Nivea Lotion* - Although this was a tiny sample, I actually almost exclusively use Nivea lotions for my body. I find them to be incredibly soothing & they have super long-lasting moisture. I will purchase/re-purchase.


Phew! What a ton of samples! I'm so happy to be tossing (& recycling) these items! That's 16 more things that I won't be packing once I find a house to call my own (although let's be honest, samples pour into my life at an alarmingly quick rate)!!

What have you been using up?

Cheers,
Kait

Mini Sephora Haul | March 2015

One last haul for y'all this month! I went to Sephora, because how could I resist? I live 3 hours from the nearest store, so I usually have to order online. The opportunity to enter a store gives me the chance to test & swatch EVERYTHING, even if I have no immediate intention of purchasing.

I only picked up three things for myself (& one for my husband) while I was there & they're all little baby products!

 I got a mini Purity Made Simple by Philosophy 3-in-1 face cleanser, which I've only ever tried in a foil-packet sample but it left an impression on me. I love using this on days that I'm not going to wear makeup at all.

In addition, I picked up a new Urban Decay Primer Potion, which I use almost daily & don't even know what I did before I discovered this product. I only ever get the smaller version, mostly because even at this size it lasts for ages & I don't want to risk them going bad on me.

Lastly, I found this adorable little Bite Beauty duo in Musk/Lychee. One end is a pinky-nude & the other is a light rosy-pink. Both are nothing outrageous & mostly very "your lips but better" type colours.  Very flattering!

What are you lusting after at Sephora? Let me know!!

Cheers,
Kait

Lush Haul | March 2015

As per usual, whilst in the city I made my customary stop to Lush. What can I say - I'm addicted!

We actually ended up popping into two separate store because the first store's stock selection left MUCH to be desired. It wasn't the store I usually frequent & it won't be one I rush back into. But I did make it over to my usual Lush, where the staff is amazing and the shelves are always well-adorned with wonderful products, both new & old, to ogle.

Here are a couple of staples in my bathroom - Angels on Bare Skin & Jumping Juniper Shampoo Bar.  I've talked about Angels before in another post (here), but it is just the bomb. It keeps my skin "normal" and non-greasy. Which also means non-blemished.  As for that purple guy, he's a shampoo bar! Now I know some people find rubbing a bar-like object onto their hair weird, but trust me, if you have oily scalp issues - this is a life (& time) saver. & did I mention Jumping Juniper smells delish too? Cause it does.

This Avobath Bath Bomb is one of my standard purchases. It smells of lemongrass & springtime & happiness. It also has tons of avocado in it, which makes it super lovely for the skin! I picked up two of these, just because one is never enough.

& finally, something I have never tried (but have often smelled) - Karma Bubble Bar.  This smells like the signature Karma scent, all patchouli & lemongrass. It smells like fruity hippy & I love it. I'm actually quite obsessed with patchouli-scented things. This guy will do for a couple baths, because my tub is quite small, so twice the enjoyment!

What do you love to pick up at Lush?

Cheers,
Kait

5 Most Worn Products | February 2015

Time to share some of the products that I've not been able to put down during the past month!  Most of these things aren't "normal" makeup products in that they aren't colourful makeup products, but they all have a place in my heart. 

1. Color Whisper in Lust for Blush
This lip product is lovely. It is light, not terribly pigmented and super wearable. I do usually have to wear some sort of balm underneath to make it apply properly, but once it's on - watch out! It is a lavender-esque blush colour. Perfect for the month of love. Not a great wear time, but who cares - it's beautiful!

2. Lush's Tea Tree Water Toner
This toner makes my skin feel amazing. It smells like tea tree & it feels so soothing on my winter-worn face.  I use this twice a day & I have no regrets. Nothing else compares!

3. Elizabeth and James Nirvana White
Confession - I only have samples of this perfume, but I have literally worn this everyday. I adore it. It is perfect to wear during the day & the floral notes make me less sad that there is still a million feet of snow on the ground.  When I run out of samples, this will be purchased post-haste.

4, Urban Decay's Perversion Mascara
Another sample love. I have worn this mascara so much that I've worn it out. I can't wait to go up to the city in a couple of weeks so that I can buy the full-size of this mascara. It makes my lashes look so crazy good, I don't know if anything else compares!

5. Lotions - various
With winter on the East Coast of Canada comes dry, scaly, unflattering skin. I can't even speak to a specific lotion that I've been using because I've been using many different ones. Particularly, Nivea lotions have many good formulas & scents that I enjoy (but I've used Olay, EOS, Aveeno, Jergens...as well this month).

Do you have anything that you've been unable to quit this month? I'd love to hear about them (& probably try them)!

Cheers,
Kait

Makeup, Hair, Skin Collective Haul | February 2015

I went shopping! Multiples times! Here is what I bought -

Here are some makeup, skincare & hair products that I have been dying to try!

The Balm - Frat Boy is a beautiful peachy pink blush. Mary-Lou-Manizer is a lovely champagne highlight with lots of shimmer & Ima Goodkisser is a pretty rosy-pink lipstick that is super creamy & lovely to apply.

Origins - This Make A Difference Plus + Moisturizer is suitable for AM & PM use. It is light, but super moisturizing and, as a bonus, it smells like fruit loops!

First Aid Beauty - 5 in 1 eye cream is for people who don't have any major eye issues. It is suitable for both night & daytime use. It wears well under makeup with no creasing or greasiness.

Bumble & Bumble - This city swept finish spray is meant to give a piece-y, lived-in look. It works kind of like a spray pomade. It has a lovely smell & makes hair look a little less than well-kept, which is kind of nice!

Bamboo (by Alterna) - This is a beach hair spray. It smells like citrus & it has a slightly sticky feel to it. Can be used on damp or dry hair to get a tousled look.


So basically my face is going to be bright & spring-ready, my skin is going to be well-moisturized and my hair is going to be rocking the unkempt look for a while.

What have you bought lately?

Cheers,
Kait

Beating the Winter Blahs

Are you ready for Winter to turn itself over to Springtime? I sure am. As much as I do love Winter, my town is currently buried under about 3 feet of snow, it's hard not to get discouraged even leaving the house in the morning. I've rounded up some things that keep my spirits high & my sights set on Spring.


Floral, Fruity Skincare
Some yummy skincare can certainly perk up even the dreariest day. Here I have a Bath & Body Works foaming hand soap in Caribbean Escape, Pacifica Facial Towelettes & Softsoap Body Wash in Acai Berry. Even the colours scream Spring on these products & each of them are very affordable.

Fun colours
A pink scarf, a fun nail colour, a pretty lippy. It doesn't take much to punch up an outfit and perk up a mood.

Flowers & Candles
Candles are the key to my heart. This Luau Party Yankee Candle is a bright fruity delight. Flowers, real or fake are a way to brighten up a space, whether it be a work desk or a living room.

Here are just a few fun, easy ways to brighten up the dreary days of February.

What things make you think of Spring?

Cheers,
Kait

Empties | February 2015

Sephora Blotting Papers in Soothing Lavender 
I love having blotting papers at my disposal & I generally have a pack in my desk at work, as well as in my purse. I've used up 2 packs of these this month & while I've purchased a different kind for now (still Sephora brand), I would definitely buy the Lavender ones again!

L'Oreal waterproof makeup remover 
Shake well, pour on a cotton round & swipe away the day's makeup & grime. What's not to love? This formula is very gentle but effective, affordable and I have already repurchased.

Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm 
I just wrote about this beauty in my 5 most worn things January 2015 post, and the fact that it is now empty is proof of just how much I did wear it. Trust me, I have backups & maybe even backups for my backups. This stuff is a permanent fixture in my home.

Lush's Bûche de Noël 
This face wash is just okay. I've mentioned before that Lush's Angels on Bare Skin is truly my favourite of their line of cleansers. This one is limited edition and part of their Christmas line & I had tried it in the past. The only reason I purchased this was because I live 3 hours from a Lush store & at the time that I was there in December, they were all out of AOBS & I hate to leave without some sort of cleanser. I would maybe buy this again if I were stuck & it happened to be during the Christmas season.

Live Clean's Exotic Shine Bali Oil Conditioner
This conditioner smells like summertime. It is nourishing without weighing down the hair & it is 98% plant-based. If you have major conditioning needs, this may not be the one for you, as it is a little on the light side. I would repurchase.

Olay Fresh Effects Out of this Swirled Deep Pore Cleanse
Lovely standard little cleanser. I wouldn't call it "deep pore"face wash, but it works for basic cleansing purposes. I would repurchase, I enjoyed it as a nighttime wash up.

Hello Mouthwash
Maybe it's weird to include a mouthwash, but this one is different than your run of the mill brands. Fomulated without alcohol, this adds freshness without burning. The grapefruit mint flavour might be a bit strange, but enjoyable all the same. For the less adventurous, it also comes in a normal mint flavour (& a mojito one as well). Would repurchase, yum!

These are some of the things I have been using up lately, what have you been using? Have you found something you love? Let me know!

Cheers,
Kait

5 Most Worn Products | January 2015

Just thought I would share some of the things I have been wearing CONSTANTLY this month!  Some of these things I'm wearing because I'm actively trying to use up, some I just use because I love them and choose to include.

5. Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm
This is my absolute go-to lip balm for the winter. It's 100% affordable at around $4.99 CAD & it heals even my most chapped, rough lips. Some people find this lip balm to be too waxy, but for me it is the perfect consistency for healing. I mostly wear it at night, but on no makeup days I slather it on many, many times. I like the original peppermint one the best, but the pomegranate flavour is pretty magical as well.

4. Revlon Photoready setting powder in 010 fair/light
This stuff is NOT great. I am truthfully just trying to use it up, but it does the job. I just find it to be too heavy & it leaves my makeup looking a little too powdery, especially for the dead of winter. I much prefer a translucent powder that it a little more finely milled.

3. Maybelline's Dream Bouncy Blush in Pink Plum
This is a love it or hate it type product. It's a cream-to-powder blush that came out a few years back & I just couldn't help myself. At first I disliked it, just like everyone else. Now, I pretty much love it! I don't know if it's the time of year or what, but this stuff is the bomb. I was finding my powder blushes were starting to be too powdery & if my eyes water (it's really cold in Canada), it leaves streaks clear through the powder. With the bouncy blush, little oopsy moments like that are easy to fix with a little finger blending at a red light.

2. Urban Decay 24/7 glide-on eye pencil in West
This is probably the only liner I've worn all month. It's a deep brown with a slight shimmer. It was in a limited edition set last Christmas (2013), but it is similar to Corrupt, which is a part of the permanent line. It's perfect!

1. Urban Decay shadows in Virgin & Sin
Both of these are found in the original Naked palette. Virgin is the perfect browbone + inner corner shade. Sin has been my go-to all over shade. It's light, pinky goodness is the perfect colour to wear to work without looking like a try-hard.


That's all folks! Everything else has changed, been on rotation or not stood out enough to mention. These are the staples of January.

What are your most-worn products of the month? Let me know!

Cheers,
Kait 

Battle of | The Cleansing Cloths

I'm starting a new series on this blog in which once a month I compare 3-5 products in the same category and decide which ones I enjoy the most on a specific criteria. That way for you it becomes a giant review of a bunch of things & maybe a starting point - or a new product or 2 to try. 

For the first round, I decided to do cleansing cloths/wipes. I chose the 4 following brands to try:

   Simple , Live Clean, Pacifica & Burt's Bees.

   All four of these brands sell their wipes for around the $10 or less price mark (Canadian).

I gave each 10 days worth of use (not necessarily in a row). Usually I use facial cleansing wipes when I'm too tired to care (Friday nights) ... but for this I used them a little bit more frequently, so that I actually got to the end of this experiment. Mostly, I used them after work to remove the bulk of my makeup before exercising.

 I judged them on:

•  overall moisture upon first opening the package
•  moisture still remaining after 10 uses (more than 10 days)
•  effectiveness - does it actually remove face makeup 
•  pleasantness to use (this includes whether or not it's nice on the skin, smell, etc.). 

Simple Cleansing Wipes
For sensitive skin. 25 wipes in a package for around $8.27 ($0.33/wipe)

No artificial perfumes or dyes.

The moisture at the start was good. Not sopping wet, but enough to be pleasant and not rough.  These do remove makeup pretty well with a little bit of effort. They feel nice on the skin and they don't smell like a whole lot of anything. They are also a little bit bigger than the others.  92%

Live Clean Fresh Face Refreshing Facial Wipes 
30 wipes in a package for around $9.99 ($0.33/wipe)
97% plant derived, SLS/sulfate-free, paraben free & phthalate free

The moisture on these babies is great! They are soft and pleasant to use.  They do smell quite strongly of flowers - botanical orchid in fact - so if scent is something that is not great for you this might be a deal breaker.  I actually enjoyed the scent & it didn't seem to bother my skin any. They do, despite the smell, remove makeup like a dream, even waterproof eye makeup! They also have a hard-top with a snap closure, which keeps the moisture locked and loaded & of course best of all (for me) is that they are fairly natural & made with better ingredients for the same relative price as all the rest! 94%

Burt's Bees Facial Towelettes with White Tea Extract 

30 wipes in a package for around $10.29 ($0.34/wipe)

Natural Fabric & natural fragrance. 

Moisture at the start was alright. I found these wipes to be rough and the scent to be a little bit overpowering - especially at night. They were soft, but they left a tingly-stingy sensation. They did remove makeup though, without trying. 67%

Pacifica Purify Coconut Water Cleansing Wipes 
30 wipes in a package for around $8.00 ($0.27/wipe)
100% vegan, petroleum, phthalates, SLS/sulfate & paraben free, biodegradable towelettes
&& A portion of proceeds support clean water

So these aren't the most moist (ew) of the face wipes in this battle, but they still have a lot going for them! They are doing great in the natural skincare department, they support a good cause, the packaging is adorable & features, like the live clean ones, a snap closure to seal in what moisture was to be found. They also smell lightly of coconuts..yummo! They are also (as already noted) the cheapest choice per towelette! 75%


Ready for a conclusion??
So you may have noticed that I graded each one (teacher that I am). I graded each out of 16 - 4 points for each of the 4 criterion. Then I converted them into percentages so that people actually understood my madness. I am totally happy with the one that worked out with the highest score - the Live Clean Fresh Refreshing Facial Wipes. I would definitely buy those over & over again. I did however enjoy the Pacifica ones almost equally, even if they weren't the most soaked in product, they were nice and natural. I would definitely buy those two again. The others? Not so much.

What are your favourite wipes? Do you have any criteria when you pick out products like these?

Cheers,
Kait

2015 Beauty Resolutions

I like to set goals for myself. I'm not always fantastic at achieving these goals, but I work pretty hard at most of them, if they are realistic.

This year, I am resolving to be better about certain aspects of my beauty routine. 

1.  I resolve to wash my makeup off completely every night
2.  I resolved to always use heat protectant on my hair when styling.
3.  I resolve to try a new colour of lipstick/eyeliner/eye shadow every month that is out of my comfort zone
4. I resolve to hydrate myself more ( drinking more water). 
5. I resolve to wear SPF under my makeup every single day.

I realize that a lot of these are unexciting resolutions ...but the key to great beauty regimes begin at the base. So by drinking water, protecting my skin & caring for my hair, makeup and styling become much easier tasks.  But I'm also excited to step out of my comfort zone colour-wise & to, of course, report my adventures on here!

Do you have any resolutions, beauty or otherwise, this year? Let me know!

Cheers,
Kait

Best of 2014 | What did I love this year?

Another year has come and gone! I've explored some fantastic products this year (& found a few duds along the way as well..). BUT because I would rather focus on the positive, here are my favourite discoveries of 2014 in every category:

Lips
Maybelline Color Whisper in Lust for Blush & Tarte Lip Gloss in Visionary

Eyes
Maybelline Butterfly Mascara in Waterproof [not pictured] & Urban Decay's 24/7 liner in West 

Face
Physician's Formula Mineral Wear Foundation in Creamy Natural & Tarte Cheek Stain in Muse 

Nails 
Sinful Colors in Queen of Beauty & Essie's Fishnet Stockings 

Skincare
L'Oreal Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover & Origins Charcoal Mask

Hair
Pureology Shamp'oil in Reviving Red 

Bathtime
Laura Mercier's Honey Bath in Creme Brulee


I have found some wonderful products this year, whether or not they are actually new releases, they are all new to me. There are some higher end/ more expensive picks, but also plenty of affordable drugstore-type brands as well!

What are your beauty favourites from this past year? Let me know!

Cheers,
Kait

My Beauty Wishlist | Blogmas Day 8

Here's a wordy post for the masses -

I don't know about y'all, but this time of year I always get sucked into all kinds of Christmas beauty goodies. They are always packaged so wonderfully & the bigger brands tend to come out with gift sets, which are great for an intro into a new brand, or for some good deals on old favourites.  I don't have too many wishes this year as far as beauty, but here are some great ideas if you are looking for some new beauty items for yourself or a loved one!


For a fragrance - Chloe Perfume.
This smells wonderful and girly, but not too young. Perfect for a woman who still likes to smell feminine.

For a gift set - Too Faced La Belle Carousel & Tarte Bon Voyage
Two multipurpose gift sets for a beauty lover! I own the Tarte set already & I have reviewed it here.
The Too Faced set is perfect for dividing and gifting to multiple people or sharing some of the brands best sellers with one special person!

For Skincare - First Aid Beauty & Burt's Bees 
These are both great brands for a lady with sensitive skin. None of the products have strong scents, they are all really gentle and will generally get on well with any type of user. First Aid is a little more high end than Burt's Bees, which can be found in drugstores. I love both!

For Hair Care - Live Clean
This is a drugstore brand that I adore. I always request some of these products for my stocking! Their hair care is 98% plant derived, SLS, Paraben and Silicone free. & it smells SO GOOD!

An Extra - MorrocanOil
Great brand for hair & skincare. These products smell like a dream, are super hydrating and work as well as they claim. Generally you can find them for purchase in professional salons.

What I really want this year is a new curling wand. Mine died in the summer and I have been sadly living without since. I don't care what brand, as long as it does the job. I am very much hoping to find one under my tree this season.

What are some beauty items that you would love to give or receive this year? Let me know!

Cheers,
Kait