Worth Checking Out: Diorshow Mono Eyeshadows*

While the Dior's Summer 5 Color Palette options didn't quite hit the mark for me, the latest colors and formulation of the Diorshow Mono Eyeshadows* ($36 CDN, 1.98g) have got me more excited. 

The new collection of Diorshow Mono Eyeshadows comes with 10 shades (9 are available in Canada) and are available in department stores (not Sephora). There are four finishes: matte, satin, glittery and intense lamé (its as intense as it sounds). Long-wearing and buildable, these can be soft, subtle, smoldering or dramatic. 

On Keeping My Garbage

I often look at my pile of emptied products and wonder why I bother. David often looks at my pile of empties and often wonders what I'm doing hoarding my garbage. 

The "Empties Post" is a strange blogger culture creature where observance of our beauty habits culminates in a semi-regular parading or declaration of the things we've used up. Sometimes I feel like they're a necessary item in a beauty bloggers post cycle but more often than not, I'm less than inspired when it comes to sharing my own heap of rubbish.

Looks with Dior's Polka Dot Eyeshadow Palettes - Escapade and Bain de Mer*

When a new collection launches, what do you look at first? My eyes always go towards the eyeshadows. After seeing a few promo photos of the Dior Summer collection, Escapade, an orange and pink option seemed right up my alley, while Bain de Mer made me curious. 

Eating Oatmeal - Lush Porridge

It might be boring but almost every morning I eat oatmeal and I'm quite picky about the Oatmeal I eat too. Never "instant" or "quick oats", I reach for "rolled oats" but my first preference is always "steel cut" or "pinhead oats". Though longer to cook, all the nutritional benefits of oatmeal are maintained which are lost when eating pulverized quick oats. 

Getting oatmeal in my daily diet is a healthy way to start the day but another awesome thing about oatmeal is that LUSH uses it in their Porridge soap - my favorite of all the LUSH soaps.

Master Sculpting Your Face (ft. MUFE's Pro Sculpting Palette, Lip and Brows*)

I missed out on the art class that the Toronto kids got to attend for the launch of Make Up For Ever's Pro Sculpting* products. Bigger beauty launch events are one thing I miss about Toronto. MUFE's latest line features a Pro Sculpting Face Palette* ($54CDN, 4x0.08g), Lip* ($32CDN, 1g for the color, 0.9g from the highlighter) and Brow* ($32CDN, 0.3g for the color, 0.4g from the highlighter). Everything you could need to chisel up that jaw line, plump up that pucker and lift up those brows is provided! The series is practically a face lift kit.

Prime, Set and Forget (ft. Hard Candy Long Lasting Primer and Make Up Setting Spray)*

"Set and forget" makes me think of roasting a bird in the oven or the 4 hours of braising that turns tough meat into delicious fall off the bone Sunday dinners. That same quip fits can be taken out of a culinary context into the world of makeup world quite easily and yet priming and setting with a spray isn't something I do all that often.

A makeup artist recently refocused how I thought about primers. At first only considered to be superfluous and a "nice to have", I was asked to consider primers as protection for my face from the makeup I'd be slathering onto it. Never thinking about it that way, there are different degrees to which a primer can "protect" but it has turned me on to the idea of using them more frequently. I had continued to use Make Up For Ever's Step 1 Primers, some of which I reviewed here, but only on an as-needed basis. So when the Hard Candy Fast & Fabulous Long Wear Primer* and Make Up Setting Spray* showed up, I endeavoured to give both a better go.

Make Up Mules

In anticipation of going to Taiwan in May and meeting Daphne for the first time, I offered to be her "makeup mule" in case she was missing western brands. I'll leave her to showcase a few of the Sephora items she will opportunely procure via my trans-pacific voyage.

There have been so many times where I've selfishly utilized a friend's travel plans for my own procurement pleasure. Any mention of a someone heading to Asia is usually met with a sweetly, but hastily, requested list of items to bring back. I am not preferential towards just the Asian continent, go anywhere, and I will find something that you will need to bring back for me. Here are just a few items that my friends have lovingly drug makeup-muled back for me.

Burberry Eye Color Cream in Nude Gold*

I love dramatic looking products and the Burberry Eye Color Creams* are pretty dramatic. A hefty looking block of domed squishy shadow with a gun metal (but sadly plastic) Burberry pattered lid. It looks lux on the vanity and the shade Nude Gold is a great 'topper' addition to your eyeshadow wardrobe. But get it fast because its LE for Spring/Summer 2016.

Make Up Collection Update: First Quarter Results!

Well the first quarter of the year has come and gone and my makeup struggles are still real. The last three months were a forceful attempt at decluttering my stash. I managed to give away some more bags of makeup (and clothing), the ones pictured are merely half. I focused heavily on lips this quarter since it was an easy category for me to start my decluttering journey. So let's do the countdown to see how well I did:

Cushion all the things! (ft. THEFACESHOP Cushion Blush* Review)

Cushions, they're so hot right now.

Known for their proficient back supporting properties, the cushion has now been appropriated for makeup use and to much success. If the make up industry isn't known for taking one concept and attempting it in as many different varieties as it possibly can, then cheese isn't moldy milk. Starting out as the newest concept for foundation application, the cushion format is now found in eye shadows, eye liners and THEFACESHOP's Hydro Cushion Blush* ($15CDN, 10g) is the latest in the game.

The Maybelline Color Tattoo Addition (ft. the Concentrated Crayons*)

Need I say that I enjoy the Maybelline Color Tattoos? Well, these lately have gotten a face lift and becoming more portable and potentially easier to use. Concentrated Crayons* ($11CDN, 3g) are a twist up eyeshadow stick that are supposed to glide on and last all day. If they're anything like the potted Color Tattoos then I will probably be in love but as you know, I always tend to forget about my stick shadows. 

Update: Lash Extension Check In and Final Thoughts

This is just an update on my lash extensions from Double Take Studios. Here, you can read about my experiences getting them put in. I knew the caveats of extensions going in but wasn't sure how I would actually enjoy them over time so here is a follow up and my conclusions.

Trying out #BioreBakingSoda (ft. Baking Sode Pore Cleanser and Baking Soda Cleansing Scrub)*

Filling in another Influenster survey resulted in a little package of Bioré's Baking Soda Pore Cleanser and Baking Soda Cleansing Scrub* at my door. Each includes baking soda as a physical exfoliator during cleansing. Deep cleaning and gentle exfoliation is a great way to fight clogged pores and these products promise to purify, absorb oil and gently exfoliate.