Shopping my Stash Series: Sleek Contour Kit in Light

I am such a last minute packer. I absolutely loathe packing and always end throwing stuff in a suitcase a few hours before I leave.

Lucky for me, this Sleek Makeup Face Contour Kit somehow made it with me on my trips this summer! I hadn't been using this product much, but I must have had a wise voice in the back of my mind telling me this would be useful! And indeed, it was useful. This Sleek Makeup Contour Kit was the perfect addition to my travel makeup bag - it is the perfect shade for contouring, and the highlighting shade is gorgeous! I'm not really one to wear highlighter during the day time, but I went out at night a few times on my vacation(s) and found it really convenient to have both shades in one compact case.

So there, I inadvertently shopped my stash while packing, and re-discovered an old favorite!

I forgot how pigmented this duo is - you only need a touch of it for contouring. The powder blends smoothly and I usually use my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush for application. Because this powder is so pigmented, I wouldn't recommend using this all over the face as it could come out a bit patchy. I much prefer my Dior Skin Nude in 002 for that!

I own the shade Light and it is perfect on my skintone, but Sleek also make a Medium and Dark version. At $8.49 and available online, I think it's a pretty good deal! For swatches and comparison of this Sleek Contour Kit, check out my Battle of the Bronzers post!

Thank you for reading! What's your latest stash re-discovery?

Shopping my Stash Series: Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Monte Carlo

I’ve been slowing down in term of makeup buying (how much makeup does one really need?) which has lead me to thinking of starting up a “shopping my stash series”. This series would mean that once a week or so, I’ll bring you a mini-review of a product I’ve recently re-discovered. This is also a way to review products I own but have never gotten a chance to talk to you all about. I think it's nice to rediscover (and use!) products that you haven't regularly used in a while. It's like new makeup!

So today, I’m bringing to you the Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Monte Carlo I’ve recently pulled out of my stash.

I’ve mentioned it a few times in my blog in the past couple of months, but truthfully, this product was neglected until recently. I’m not sure why I kept passing on my Monte Carlo since it is the perfect run-out-the-house-I’m-late color. I love wearing it with little eyeshadow but heavy mascara, flushed cheeks and defined brows. It’s a sheer color, so it’s easy to apply, but it still gives my lips the little punch of color it usually needs.

Applied on my lips

Swatched on my hand

I'm not going to lie, I don't like the rose scent of Chanel lipsticks. It's just very... grandmothery to me. It doesn't bother me that much though because it fades away quickly after application. I wouldn't say this lipstick is terribly moisturizing either, but it doesn't dry out my lips.

It's weird. Writing this mini-review, I've come to realize that it's not an amazing lipstick in terms of formula, but I use it anyway. Why? I think it's because of the simple fact that it's easy to use, delivers a natural color, and admittedly, I love the packaging. Who can resist that lovely Chanel logo anyway?

Hope you guys will like this series! Feel free to shoot me requests on products you'd like to see reviewed!

How to fall in love with Patisserie... and not gain a pound!

Just when I thought I was pretty much over MAC lipsticks, Patisserie came into my life. Patisserie means pastry in French, in case you didn't catch my lame title ;)

It all happened at an Ottawa MAC store, where I had asked my friend to pick me out a MAC lipstick or lipgloss for my Back 2 MAC item. I figured a set of fresh eyes might help give me better options. That it did! I swear, I thought I had tested, researched and swatched all the MAC lipsticks, but I had clearly overlooked the option my friend brought to me: the shade Patisserie.

It's love guys. This is such an amazing lipstick. No wonder it was Jessica's (Getting Cheeky) wedding lipstick! And it's in her top 5 lipsticks, so you know it's gotta be good!

Unlike most MAC lipsticks, it does not dry out my lips at all. It's comfortable to wear, and its formula is one of the best I've come across. It's not the longest lasting shade, but it's perfect amount of glossiness totally excuses this in my eyes. The formula is glossy, but doesn't apply patchy like some NARS lipsticks I've come across. Seriously, if I blind tested this lipsticks, I'd 100% think it was a Dior Addict lipstick. That's how different the formula is from the rest of my MAC lipsticks.

The shade is a neutral pink with a touch of brown which goes with absolutely any type of makeup. I can see myself wearing this every day at the office, but also for a night out with a smokey eye. It does contain a bit of silver shimmer, but it's almost invisible in the swatches. I'd like to think its there to magically make my lips look plumper, but I honestly can't see it on my lips when I apply it. They only appear after the lipstick has worn off.

I'm getting freckled! Patisserie, on my lips.

And Patisserie on my hand.

If you're a fan of the "my lips but better" phenomena, you have to try this one. At first, I thought the lipstick didn't show up on me, but after wearing it a few times, I realized it was only because it emphasized what I already had. Who knows, perhaps it'll be my wedding lipstick someday too?

What is your absolute favorite MAC lipstick? Do you generally like MAC's lipstick formula?

Empties... a bunch of empties!

I don't even remember the last time I did an empties post, but I guess these guys have accumulated for a long time. I serious can't wait to throw all these bottles out - I hate clutter!

Redken Shampoos & Conditioner - Loved these. Don't know what took me so long to switch to these types of shampoos, but Redken doesn't leave any residue in my hair, doesn't dry my mane out, and smells delicious. I only need a tiny amount to wash my massive head of hair, and I can wait longer between washes with this shampoo. Already using a backup bottle.

LUSH Blousey Shampoo - Absolutely LOVED this shampoo. I didn't use it every day, but tried to use it when my hair needed a deep clean, or after using a lot of product and it clarified the heck out of my scalp. I'd repurchase but I'm not anywhere near a LUSH. Perhaps when I visit a LUSHed city?

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser - A staple in my household, and a regular on these "empties" post, this cleanser is amazing. My boyfriend uses it regularly and I tend to use it only in the mornings. It's great at cleansing your face without stripping your skin of all its moisture. This is already repurchased and currently hanging out in my shower.

Neutrogena Body Clear Body Wash - I always have this body wash on hand for the simple reason that I am very prone to back acne. Using this after workouts is enough to keep it at bay so I always have one in the shower.

La Roche Posay Effaclar Oily Skin Cleanser - I can't believe I finished this massive bottle! But truthfully, this is a great cleanser. It gives a deep clean, but doesn't irritate at all. I moved on to my Avene Cleanser after using this up because I felt it was a tiny bit too drying on my skin. I actually think I prefer the Avene cleanser, but they are very similar.

Bath and Body Works Anti-Bacterial Hand Wash in Eucalyptus Mint - I buy these all the time. Just don't buy the Fig scented one ... your hands will smell like pot. Unless you like that sort of thing.

Moroccan Oil Treatment Oil - This was a mini and it took me foreeeeever to finish it. That's a good sign! I really liked this oil - it was perfect for my very thick hair. I have other products to use up at the moment, but I'll definitely repurchase this when the time is right. I wish their hair products were less expensive though because I really want to try their shampoos and styling cream!

Say Yes To Cucumbers Facial Wipes - Love these face wipes but I stopped buying them when I realized it's probably not the best thing to use when removing makeup. Wipes tend to dry out my face, and leave residue, so I generally prefer using my Bioderma and giving my face a good cleanse after. I can see myself repurchasing these again though as they are the best wipes I've found so far, and they are quite practical for traveling.

Bourgeois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation - Loved this foundation! I'd repurchase it again if I didn't have so many to use up already. It's lightweight, but has decent coverage, and it smells amazing. Go me for using a foundation up!

Caudalie Eau de Beaute - I'd repurchase this again, but geez, it uses up waaay too fast. It's such a good toner for when your face needs a refresher. I've finished this bottle months ago and writing about it makes me long for it! Argh, Caudalie, you've pulled me in again! Maybe it's only because it's ridiculously warm and a nice cooling facial mist would make me so happy right now...

MAC Moisturecover Concealer - Loved this concealer! Most people say this doesn't give enough coverage and I agree, but at the same time I actually loved that it was sheer. I tend to have a hard time working with concealers in pot form but this concealer was so easy to buff in. I'd repurchase, but I have other concealers (in pot form! ARGH) to use up. Bummer.

Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet + - This shade was simply too pale for me and while I did try to mix it up with other foundations, I just never got to use it up before it passed its time limit. Too bad, I would have liked to have tried it properly!

So this is it! Empties from the last few months! A lot of these products I actually really liked and I'm sad to see go, but I have plenty (#makeupaddictproblems) of makeup to use, which will hopefully produce another empties post!

Wishlistin' on Monday morning

Wishlisting is totally therapeutic. When I'm feeling the stress of the job, money, home life, whatever's going on, wishlisting can sometimes create a bit of a (healthy and inexpensive!) escape. And this Monday morning the escaping need is big. So here we are friends, Annick's current wishlist!

Starting my Monday morning by reading Amelia's post on Origins products kind of reminded me of the Origins Clear Improvement mask I was dying to try a few months ago. It's now back on the wishlist until I can trek my way to Sephora (1h and 30 minutes away). I've also been eyeing the Nude Pro Genius Treatment Oil that my local Sephora carries. After using up a little sample I received, I'm quite convinced that my oily skin CAN in fact take more oil. When I use it at night, it plumps up my skin like no other product! I'm watching you Nude Skincare, but at your price range, I believe our relationship will remain sadly platonic. 

Another product that I've been eying for a while but never got around to purchasing it (partially because it's quite pricey!) is the L'Occitane Shower Oil. I've never smelled it myself, but the smell of almonds sounds delicious enough to make me want to buy it. I need this oil in my life! 

I have more than enough lipsticks, but my collection would feel way more complete with two more luxurious lipsticks: the Givenchy Le Rouge in Beige Plume and the Bite Beauty Cuvée Crème lipstick in Coral. I'm quite obsessed with Bite Beauty so wishlisting one of their luxury lipsticks isn't anything new, but the Givenchy lipsticks have really caught my attention. The packaging itself is beautiful to make it on here, but I hear the formula is amazing. 

Fat chance of me actually purchasing perfume, so the Chloe Eau de Parfum will simply have to stay on the wishlist forever. Why you ask? Simply because my boyfriend is allergic to perfume - it's really too bad because the Chloe perfume smells like laundry to me (one of my favorite scents). To him? Well, he describes it as breathing in alcohol that pricks the inside of his nose. Lovely. 

I know these Edward Bess Prismette Eyeshadow Quads have been out for a while, but I'm still drooling over them. All three of the quads available are shades I would wear on a day-to-day basis. The only problem is which one should I go with? Have you guys tried these beauties? 

What's are you wishing for this Monday? Have you tried these products? 

Dry Skin? Razor Bumps? Try the Vichy Nutriextra Extraordinary Oil!

Here's my usual morning routine. I shower, shave my legs, dry up, slather my trusty Hydraluron on my face, and then my Nuxe moisturizer. As you can see, I usually skip the step of moisturizing my body. Why do I do this when I actually really need moisturizer, especially on my legs? Well, because I hate the feeling of moisturizer on my body. I just can't quite get over the initial sticky feeling, and if the moisturizer is particularly heavy, I feel it on my skin all day. The problem is, my legs are very prone to ingrown hairs and dryness. It's pretty normal for me to find my legs super itchy from being so dry by the end of the day. So when I was offered the chance to review the Vichy Nutriextra Extraordinary Oil I was really happy since I knew I already liked a similar product in my Nuxe Huile Prodige.

The good thing about this dry oil is that it comes in a spray bottle. For someone like me who doesn't even like applying hair oil because of that yucky feeling in their hands, a spray is very welcome. However, don't do what I kept doing and spraying it on your legs over your tiled bathroom floor. You'll quickly realize, by stepping in slippery oil, that the spray reaches further than you think! I've since remedied this by spraying this on my legs over the bathtub. I usually use one spray per leg and then massage the oil in. It sinks immediately which solves the whole trying to put your jeans with moisturizer on your legs. Don't you hate that? Anyway, the best part of using this oil for me wasn't actually the feeling of putting the product on, it's how smooth my legs were feeling the next day. No razor burn, no bumps, just smooth legs. This oil is actually formulated without silicones, so the oil actually absorbs into the skin rather than sits on the surface.

If I were to compare this Vichy Nutriextra Oil to the Nuxe Huile Prodige, I'd have to truthfully say that I prefer the Vichy version. It is much easier to use because of the spray bottle (my Nuxe Huile Prodige is a mini which doesn't have the spray nozzle), and it smells better. I find the Nuxe scent quite strong while the Vichy oil is mild and disappears after bit. Weirdly enough, it smells exactly like my Nuxe 24 Hour Moisturizing Body Lotion. Like the Nuxe Oil, the Vichy Nutriextra Oil can be used on your hair as well, though I haven't tested that out yet. Just make sure you don't spray it on your roots!

Overall, I'd definitely recommend this product. The price point (at $29.50 for a bottle) is a bit higher than your average dry oil (however, the Nuxe Oil is more expensive), but in my opinion it is well worth the price.

Hope this was helpful for you and have a wonderful day!

* I have received this product for consideration but my opinions are always my own. I am not being compensated for this review and I always strive to review products with honesty.

June Favorites!

I haven't done one of these in a while! I tend not to do them every month because I often use the same items until they run out - it would get boring quickly on this blog! But this time, I have a few new products I've been using non-stop for the month of June that I'd like to share.

My base has pretty much exclusively been the Clinique Stay-Matte Oil Free Makeup. I'm almost out of it! What I like so much about it is that it's the perfect match for my skin,  it doesn't require a whole lot of blending, doesn't need to be powdered at the end, and best of all, it stays on my skin all day. This is definitely a foundation on the repurchase list. I've also been loving my new Inglot palette (reviewed here), of which the middle shadow has been used non stop. It is such a good eyeshadow to blend all over the lid - it looks amazing on its own. I add a little mascara and liner and I'm good to go! My Illamasqua blush in Nymph has been heavily used this month. While it's definitely not a color I would normally purchase, I have found it to be the perfect color to give a youthful glow to the skin. It's perfect for brightening up my face since it is such a cool toned pink. I do have to be careful not to use too much of it because it is such a bright shade. I love using it on the apples of my cheeks, with a bit of bronzer under the cheek bones. Since I haven't been wearing loads of makeup this month, I've place special importance on having groomed brown. The Anastasia Brow Whiz in Brunette has really helped me attain groomed and defined brows. I love that it has a little spoolie brush at one end which I usually use to brush out any foundation in my brows. The Brunette shade is perfect for my dark brows and make them look clean and defined without looking drawn on at all. My official handbag lipstick this month has been the Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Monte Carlo. More often than not, I'm in such a rush in the morning before work (because I'm a master at getting up at the last possible second before I'm late) I apply my lipstick in the car, after having found a parking spot (don't get me started on that). Monte Carlo has been the perfect shade for a bit of color that looks effortless. Lastly, my Caudalie Lip Conditioner has snuck into my night time skin routine this month. It's in a stick form, so no messy fingers necessary, and it's a very thick formula which I find is perfect for night time conditioning. In the morning, I have plump, healthy lips every time. I like this as much as my Nuxe Reve de Miel!

Happy Canada Day friends! I'm actually in Ottawa (in a very last minute happenstance) this year and I'm so excited to be spending the day there. Hope you all have a great day (Canadian, or not!) :)