Clinique Pop Lip Colour in Nude Pop 01 and Bare Pop 02 Review

I don't know why it took me so long to try these, but I only got around to trying these Clinique Pop Lip Colour a few months ago. Actually, that's not totally accurate. I've had the Nude Pop 01 for a while, but had only worn it a few times. To be honest, I wasn't totally impressed but wanted to give it a fair shot. The reviews were so great on this, maybe I was missing something?

I started wearing Nude Pop 01 a lot more and the texture seemed to change. It was more emollient and smooth - maybe it just needed breaking in? I wanted to try a different shade so I decided to give Bare Pop 02 a go.

I love their packaging. How neat is it that their packaging correspond with the color inside the tube? Unfortunately, the two I own are so similar that I can't really tell them apart by looking! The rest of the range however has quite varied colors. The packaging is also sturdy and the cap feels very secure.

The formula is quite nice. I wouldn't say this is a very moisturizing lipstick, but it's comfortable to wear. It's a lot moisturizing for me than say a MAC lipstick - those tend to make my lips peel. I get a good 4+ hours wear out of these. For my drinking coffee/eating snacks all day self, that's pretty damn good.

Nude Pop 01 on the left, Bare Pop 02 on the right

Errrm, this is awkward. They look almost exactly the same in the swatch! I swear, on the lips, they look completely different on me. Bare Pop looks like a dark blush nude and Nude Pop looks like a true pinky nude on my lips. Bare Pop also has quite a heavy glitter - which almost put me off purchasing it. The glitter doesn't really transfer on the lips - it's there, but it wears off beautifully and you're not left with glitter chunks on your lips once the lipstick wears off. Thank goodness or else it would be a fail for me! Nude Pop is truly a perfect nude - not too pink, not too brown, and goes with everything. You can't go wrong with that one.

If you're in the market for a new lipstick, I'd highly recommend you check the range. There are a ton of colours available, and in true Clinique fashion, affordable and less than high-end brands retailing at C $22.

Have you tried these lipsticks? Which shade is your favorite? Send me some recommendations - I've got my eye on Plum Pop next!

September Favorites!

Hello everyone! Long time no ... blog? I'm back with September favorites. I've been getting back into trying out new products and I have a few to share with you. Ready?

First off, oh my goodness these Facial Radiance Pads from First Aid Beauty are amazing. There is no other way around it, these little facials pads full of lactic and glycolic acid make my skin look glowing. When I start feeling like my skin is looking a bit dull and bumpy, I swipe this on at night and wake up to new skin. If you're new to chemical exfoliation, this is a great start as the product is not too strong, but strong enough to see results. I'm also a fan of the Clarins Gentle Exfoliating toner which I've reviewed here. This stuff will change the way you see skincare. I've been using this a lot in September as the change of weather has definitely affected my skin.

Again with the skincare, I've been paying a bit more attention to serums lately. When I saw that Caroline Hirons recommended the Soap & Glory Make Yourself Youthful Rejuvenating Face Serum, and it was reasonably priced, I decided to pick it up at my local Shoppers Drug Mart, which luckily, had it in stock, and it was on sale. The serum smells a bit like oranges and cream - it's not offensive, but not my favorite. However, the product works really well. It's light, but also creamy enough to give a bit of moisture to the skin. My mom is also a fan! I use it at night on my oily/combination skin before my moisturizer and wake up with fresh, plump skin. A+

I bought the Clinique High Impact Waterproof Mascara on a whim. I hadn't bought a waterproof mascara in years and thought it wouldn't be a bad idea to wear on my wedding day. Ya know, in case of tears. I had bought this mascara before in the non-waterproof formula and loved it. Turns out, I was pretty meh about this mascara at first. It gave me no volume and kind of clumped in a bad way. After using it about 5 times, all of a sudden, it started being really good, giving me defined lashes, and some volume. And it really is waterproof - this mascara does not budge. I don't know if the formula had to "settle" after opening, but this product is excellent. And I'm very happy it didn't turn out to be a waste of money too!

The Clinique Just Browsing purchase was a suggestion by a Shoppers Drug Mart associate. I swear, I'm not sponsored by SDM, I just buy a lot of my products there! When asked if I could purchase my usual Clinique Brow Shaper, she informed me that Clinique just came out with the Just Browsing product which is described as a "brush on styling mousse". I thought, heck yes, I'm always up for well defined, full brows. Turns out, this product is the bomb. Sadly, it does use up pretty quicky as I'm already on my second tube. The mousse is light enough that it doesn't feel like you have anything on your brows - no crispyness! - but totally keeps everything in place. Plus, the shade Deep Brown is just perfect for my brows. Highly recommend.

The Stila Color Balm Lipsticks are amazing. While I only own the shade "Isabelle", I wish I owned more. The name of these makes sense - they truly are a balmy lipstick. They feel incredibly moisturizing on the lips, and last quite a long time (4-6hrs). "Isabelle" is the perfect shade of pinky nude and goes with everything. The only thing I'm not so fond of is the minty smell. But it dissipates pretty quickly after you apply the lipstick. Next on my list - the nude shade "Sophie".

And finally, my last monthly favorite is this amazing #160 blush brush from Make Up For Ever. I've owned this brush for a while now, and it is one of my favorites. It's incredibly soft and I love using it to apply my face powder. It's great for a more precise application of product and the wooden handle is of amazing quality. I've washed this brush many times and I have never seen it lose a hair. If you're in the market for some makeup brushes, I highly suggest the ones from Make Up For Ever. You won't be disappointed!

And that concludes my September favorites! What have you been loving this month?

Clinique Cheek Pop Blush - Plum Pop and Melon Pop

Like seriously, who can resist this beautiful packaging. I know I didn't! I bought the Plum Pop colour a few months ago, and a couple weekends ago, while at Sephora picking out a blush for my mother, I saw that they came out with new colours. Aaaaand, I just had to get another one!

Plum Pop on left, and Melon Pop on the right. As you can see, my Plum Pop is well loved!

Clinique has never been a brand to be particularly innovative about their packaging. They've traditionally stuck to the basics for lipsticks, blushes and foundation. But lately, they seem to be having more fun  - the new Clinique Pop Lip Colour's tubes correspond to the colour of the lipstick, and the Chubby Sticks are also have the same concept. I seriously wonder how many people bought these blushes 100% because of the packaging. Probably a lot. They are damn cute.

I love that the lid is clear so you can see the beautiful pattern in the blush. The plastic is very sturdy, and the lid is easy to open and close.

The blushes are pigmented and the colors are gorgeous. I'm especially in love with Plum Pop - it gives such a healthy glow. I can see that Melon Pop will be my summer staple. The soft peachy colour will be perfect with a little BB Cream and mascara for light summer makeup. If I didn't have a million blushes already, I would most certainly buy a lot more shades!

Only tiny complaint about the range - while I was looking for a blush for my mom, I checked the Clinique blushes because I love my Plum Pop shade so much, to see if there was a neutral rosy colour. And there wasn't any! Most of the colours (if not all) have shimmer running through - some are heavier on the shimmer, others are lighter. But not a whole lot of them were appropriate for a more mature skin. And none of them were even close to the rosy shade we were looking for for my mom. Out of 12 shades, that's a bit of a bummer.

Still though, I can't help but think these blushes are excellent value for money. The Clinique Cheek Pop Blushes are $24 in Canada - not a bad price at all for such a beautifully packaged, pigmented product. And, if you're like me, buy them at Sephora or Shoppers Drug Mart for points!

5 Recent Faves

Lately, I've been feeling like I have my beauty routine down pat. My makeup consists of products I trust, and reach for again and again. Here are a few of my favorite products of the moment that has made my life just that much easier in the past few months.

1. CoverGirl Flamed Out Mega Curl Mascara* - My new favorite mascara. It does everything a mascara should in my book - separates my lashes, thickens them, and curls them. The mascara stays on my lashes until I take it off at night, and its formula is really black! A+!

2. Almay Soothing & De-Puffing Gentle Eye Makeup Remover Pads* - There's nothing I hate more than having to rub my eyes with a remover in order to get all my makeup off. I don't want wrinkles! These Almay makeup remover pads are amazing! They don't pull at your lids when you're removing your makeup, just place them gently on your lids, and wipe the makeup away. It's that easy, and it removes every trace of makeup with ease. On top of this, they truly are soothing. My eyes are quite sensitive to makeup remove and this didn't irritate them at all! I'll definitely be repurchasing these!

3. NARS Laguna Bronzer - For a while, I wasn't wearing much bronzer. It's quite silly because it's the dead of winter and I'm pale as a ghost! But recently, I've rediscovered how much I love my NARS Laguna bronzer. It's the perfect color of bronzer for my skintone, and it blends beautifully. Plus, it gives me sculpted cheekbones - I just add a little bit of pink blush and I feel ready to face the day!

4. Estee Lauder Pure Color Crystal Lipstick in Crystal Baby - There has never been an easier lipstick for me to wear. This. goes. with. everything. Smokey eye? Perfect. No makeup-look? Even better. The creamy formula is moisturizing and the nude pink shade is absolutely gorgeous. There's a reason this baby is usually sold out at the Estee Lauder counter!

5. Clinique Superfine Liner for Brows - My absolute favorite brow product EVER. I recently ran out of my Anastasia Brow Whiz and was searching for a cheaper alternative. Enter this little gem in the shade Soft Brown. I have to say, I like it better in terms of formula than my trusty brow whiz because it is easier to use and more pigmented. Only downfall? It doesn't have the brow brush at the end like the Anastasia Brow Whiz. Bummer.

As always, thank you for reading!

*Disclosure: I am a #BeautyUnited blogger. As part of my affiliation with this group I receive products and special access to P&G events. The opinions on this blog are my own.

* 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.

Clinique Superprimer in Universal

Some days, on those long long days, makeup simply needs to stay put, without a second thought. When you know your day is going to be so busy, you won't even have time to blot, using a primer before putting on your foundation is advisable. I tested out the Clinique Superprimer Universal Face Primer on one of those days, and I have to say, it did pretty well!

First off, if you're familiar with the silicone feeling primers (like the Smashbox one) this doesn't have the same texture at all. It has a very different feeling than most primer - it almost feels like a thick moisturizer. I don't really enjoy the feeling of silicone on my skin, and my skin doesn't react well to it so I was very happy that this primer had a different texture than the usual primers.

The primer was easy to blend and gave my skin an even base for my foundation. I wore it with my (favorite!) Clinique Stay Matte foundation and it wore all day, no problem. I can usually tell how well a foundation has worn on my face during the day by checking how much foundation is being removed on my cotton pad. Kind of gross, but usually the best way to tell!

The packaging is simple and practical. The products squeezes out with ease. This product doesn't have a pump.

As you can see, the product is a thicker cream like liquid. There is no shimmer in the product, and it blends easily into a seamless finish.

The Clinique Superprimer I tested is colorless, and can be used for any skin type. However, the Superprimers come in a variety of shades and are meant to address skin concerns such as sallowness, redness and discolorations.

I'm more than picky when it comes to primers and while I haven't tested too many of them, this is by far my favorite. Maybe it is simply because primers generally contain a ton of silicone which never works on my oily skin, but this primer actually makes my foundation last longer. The primer doesn't glide on and disappear on my skin, but rather sinks in comfortably. And it smells good too! I had kind of given up on primers actually doing what they are supposed to do, so I'm very happy to have found a mate to my foundations. Especially for those days that never seem to end.

Do you use primers? Any stars out there worth checking out?

* 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.

Clinique All About Shadow Neutral Territory 8 Shade Palette

There are so many nude palettes out there, so why should you need another one? Well, I must say, after a few weeks using the new Clinique Shades of Beige palette, hear me out, you might also need this one. My expectation were set pretty high with this palette. Already being a huge fan of my trusty Clinique Black Honey Palette I was curious to see how these shadows would compare.

First off, the packaging is gorgeous and simple. So happy Clinique got rid of that medical looking green packaging - remember that?! With a big mirror on the inside of its case, the palette is sturdy and quite small. It fits perfectly in my hand and because of its compact size, would be amazing to take traveling. Even with it's mirrored case look, the palettes doesn't attract smudge prints too easily, thank goodness.

As you can see, the color range is quite good. The only color missing in order for the palette to be complete, in my opinion, is a very dark brown or black. I often use that type of color to line my upper lash line and to slightly deepen the outer crease. Some people might also notice that there are no matte shades in this palette. I personally don't mind, but can absolutely see how this can be a problem for some beauty lovers. I like using a matte color in my crease but this palette doesn't give me that option. The third shade from the left is a little less shimmery than the others, and I usually end up using that to blend out the crease and it does the trick.

The palette does have quite a wide range of colors however, from warm toned shades to cooler toned shades, which makes it easy to use for a daytime or an evening look. I'm absolutely obsessed with the 5th and 6th shade from the left. They are absolutely stunning cool toned neutrals and remind me both of a muted Satin Taupe by MAC. At first, I thought maybe there was too much shimmer in this palette, but after accidentally leaving my palette on my mom's vanity over the holidays, and hearing how much she loved using it until she returned it to me, I figured it must not be that shimmery. My mom is one to stay away from shimmer and the fact that she loved this palette confirms that women of any age could use it. The shimmer simply isn't too obvious on the lids. My mom has more of an olive skin (I have a pinky cool skintone) and the colors were very flattering on her as well.

The shades vary in pigmentation. The lighter shades are less pigmented than the darker shades, but they are still easy to work with. The shades have a very different texture than say, a soft MAC shadow. However, I suspect that the fact that they are less creamy than the leading Urban Decay or MAC shadows, is letting them stay longer on the lid without creasing. As with my beloved Black Honey Clinique palette, these shadows do not budge whatsoever (with my usual base). I've also experienced minimal fall-out with all the shades. It's also worth noting that the lightest shade is gorgeous in the inner lid, and that the bronze shade (second from the right) is stunning worn on its own.

Here, I created a quick look with the taupe shades, and the darkest shade in the outer corner. I used the lightest shade in the tear duct area to brighten up my eyes. This has been my daytime look lately: easy and sophisticated.

Overall, I'm very happy with this palette. It delivered what I expected of it: gorgeous shades, staying power and versatility. I've been using it for daytime looks, but have no problems switching it up to nighttime. The only lacking shade in my opinion is a light matte, and a black matte color. But I have no problem replacing my usual use of a black shadow by black eyeliner, so it's not much of an inconvenience. If you have a million neutral toned palettes, maybe this one can be skipped. However, if like me, you don't own any of the Urban Decay Naked Palettes, this might be a great option!

* 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.

A Fave: The Clinique Stay Matte Foundation

It's kind of embarrassing, as beauty blogger, to admit that I haven't reviewed a product I absolutely love. I love this product so much, that I've almost used it all up, and plan to repurchase it. So, I'm here today to talk to you a bit about the Clinique Stay-Matte Oil-Free Makeup. 

A while back, I was in the lookout for a foundation that wouldn't require the use of powder. I don't know about you, but every time I wrap up my foundation routine with powder, I feel like my face is too made up, and often times, it simply looks too made up. I just couldn't seem to find a foundation/powder combo that I liked. But one day, I randomly got my makeup done at a local Shoppers Drug Mart event. The makeup artist used the Clinique Stay-Matte foundation on me and my interest was piqued. I thought the makeup artist applied the foundation a bit too heavily for my taste, but I loved the feel of it and the matte finish so I decided to give it a go. 

One thing I really like about this foundation is that it matches my skintone perfectly. I don't have to worry too much about blending which I love. I apply this foundation very lightly because if you apply too much, if definitely has the capacity of looking cakey. I usually dab it on with my Sigma foundation brush and blend it in all over my face. I barely need more than a pea sized amount to do my whole face.

On my oily skintone, this foundation sits well on application, but it's the fact that it doesn't make my skin oilier during the day that makes me love this product even more. It makes my skin look healthy when my oils break through, not greasy. I find it misleading that this foundation is called the Stay Matte because this foundation isn't that matte. Yes, it's matte, but I usually associate matte foundations with a cakey, heavy look. This foundation doesn't do that at all - when applied lightly, it gives your skin the most gorgeous satiny finish. I thought I'd stop using this foundation during the summer because matte skin doesn't exactly say "summer", but I kept using it anyway because I liked it so much.

I know matte finish foundations aren't exactly popular out there - a dewy skin seems to be the ideal - but as an oily skin gal, I couldn't be happier with this foundation. It seems to work with my oily skin, not try to smother it with heavy ingredients. If you're in the market for a matte foundation that isn't heavy on the skin but still matte, look no further, I'm sure this Clinique Stay-Matte Foundation will do the trick. And at $29 ($23 US), it won't break the bank!

Thanks for reading friends! I am jetting off in a couple hours to attend the Proctor & Gamble Beauty United Launch in Toronto and I am SO excited. I couldn't be more grateful for this opportunity and I will be sure to update with loads of pictures later this week! Feel free to follow me on Twitter or Instagram for real time updates. Thank you to Proctor & Gamble, but also, thank you friends, for reading my blog. I wouldn't be getting an opportunity like this if it wasn't for you all!

Happy Monday!

Clinique CC Cream SPF 30 - An in Depth Review

Hello friends!

Today I'm bringing you a review of the new Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream*. What's a CC Cream? Well, it's meant to correct complexion concerns such as sallowness (which I definitely suffer from!), dullness and redness. It also contains SPF 30 to not only correct, but protect your skin against the sun as well.

The texture of this product is a lot like my Estee Lauder BB Cream that I love so much (and am quickly running out of!). It blends in easily, but is quite thicker than a foundation, so I usually use a foundation brush for application. When I first applied it on my skin, I was a bit alarmed at how thick it felt! My skin initially felt a bit greasy and it my pores were very apparent. Fortunately, the sensation disappeared quickly after the application and my skin looked flawless. I feel as though maybe that initial effect is caused by the SPF in the product - it almost feels like putting on a heavy sunscreen. In fact, it smells a bit like sunscreen as well, but it also disappears soon after application. And it smells like good sunscreen, not like chemicals.

The product is moderately pigmented. As you can see, my skin look a lot more yellow in the second picture below. My skin naturally has a lot of redness in it, so I found it did a great job at neutralizing the red in my skintone. I took the second picture right after application and found that the yellowness settles a little bit more after a few minutes. In the picture where I have a full face of makeup on, you can see how well it blends in with the rest of my makeup. I have no concealer or foundation on in that picture. If you like a light coverage, the Clinique CC Cream can definitely be worn alone. The shade I used is called "Light" but they actually make a lighter shade than that. The shade range is quite good!

What's the difference between the Clinique CC Cream and a BB Cream? Since I only have the Estee Lauder BB Cream to compare to, I'll do my best to describe the differences I have found between the two. For starters, the BB Cream is less pigmented, and has a duller finish. The CC Cream has a more luminous finish (but not shimmery) and truly does offer color correction. My BB Cream doesn't cover the redness in my skin as much. Both contain SPF and have a thicker consistency than foundation. For an excellent skin day, I'd use my BB Cream but for a night out, I think the CC Cream's finish would be perfect for glowing (but not oily) skin.

I highly recommend this product if you're looking for something different than foundation. I don't know about you, but sometimes I get tired of the airbrushed feeling of a heavy foundation. In the summer, I'd rather my skin look like skin, ya know? So this product has been perfect for me on the days I went to the beach, biking or spent time outdoors. I haven't had any issues with it sliding off, or making my skin oily. It actually wears quite well during the day. And since it contains an SPF, I know my face is protected. Just don't forget to put an SPF on your lips as well - I learned my lesson the hard way!

Happy Wednesday to you all! Anyone else counting down the days till the weekend already? Have you tried a CC Cream before? How do you feel it compares to a foundation?

* 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.

Clinique A Different Nail Enamel for Sensitive Skins - Review & Swatches

Clinique has recently come out with a brand spankin' new line of nail polishes. These polishes are meant for sensitive nails, and are designed to minimize unwanted reactions to the nails, skin and eyes. I think we've all been there - prepping yourself to paint your nails, all comfortable and ready for a primping sesh, and after a couple digits painted, the smell gets to you. Some are worst than others, and these, I have to admit smell just about the same as any other polish. But then again, to me, polish is polish. Perhaps Clinique is whipping out some crazy science that I can't detect with my nose? Whose knows (pun! haha!).

From left to right: Sweet Tooth, Fizzy, Pinkini, Really Rio, Red Red Red, Black Honey, Hula Skirt

My favorite color is by far Hula Skirt. It's a fresh green that is almost minty, but not quite. Really Rio is also gorgeous.

On my nails, I tested out Pinkini and Really Rio. Both were opaque in two coats (albeit, a bit streaky) and wore really well. The major downside to these? The dry time. They took forever to dry, and for someone who's always on the go, that didn't work for me. And since I don't have sensitive nails, I can't comment on whether these were gentle. I have to say though, the wear time on these was excellent. Pinkini wore a week without any chips. Perhaps the slow dry time makes for long wearing polish?

Hope this was helpful for you! If you don't mind waiting for polish to dry, this might be a winner!

  * I have received these products 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.

January favorites!

It's time for January favorites!

After some new additions, and products that were being reused over and over again during the month of January, I thought it would be fun to do a post on those items. Some of these haven't been reviewed yet, but they will soon!

Clinique Chubby Stick Intense in Curviest Caramel: The perfect on-the-go easy neutral lip. I've been wearing it a lot paired with a brown smokey eye.

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick Matte in Mauve it Over: Another slap and go lipstick. I picked this up on a whim, without much thought, and it turned out to be one of my favorite lipsticks of the month. It's matte formula doesn't always suit my dry lips, but it's really comfortable to wear, and definitely doesn't make dry lips worse. The Revlon Lustrous Matte formula is definitely worth a look if you haven't tried them yet.

Anastasia Brow Whiz in Brunette: Never thought I'd be one to love a pencil brow product, but this one is so easy to use. I also love that one side has a little brush for brushing my brows into place. It's also pretty much the perfect shade for my brow - no red tones in the pencil at all!

Hourglass Mineral Primer: Because of a few skin problems in the last month, I've been using this pretty much every day to make sure my blemishes are well covered, and stay that way.

MAC Painterly Paint Pot: I've been using this lately, in order to prime my lids and make sure eyeshadow stays in place. It's getting a bit dried up, so I'm hoping to make use out of it while it's still alive.

Laura Mercier Blush in Lush Nectarine: I reviewed this recently and spoke very positively about it - I must say my opinion hasn't change. It's an amazing blush that gives a pop of healthy color to the cheek. My dull January skin definitely needs it!

MAC Eyeshadow in Woodwinked (in the middle of the Z-Palette): This has been my quick out-the-door shadow of most of January. I didn't use to like Woodwinked that much before a few months ago, but now it's one of my favorites. There's something really pretty about having this shadow blended all over my lid and into the crease.

Guerlain Ecrin Couleurs Eyeshadow Palette in Les Fauves: I have not stopped wearing this palette since I got it a few weeks ago. It is absolutely stunning. Lucky for me, I didn't have to pay for it since I had saved up some Shoppers Optimum points for it. I think I'll keep saving em' and get Les Fumes next time. These palettes are amazing! I will review it soon.

Bourgeois Healthy Mix Foundation: As mentioned before, my skin had a bit of a break out last month. I actually traced the problem back to not having enough moisture in my skin. This Bourgeois foundation is actually my most moisturizing foundation and I feel like it's kept my skin healthy!

Shu Uemura blush in Pink 31: I picked this up on a blog sale not too long ago, and it is seriously one of my favorite blushes ever. It's so easy to put on as it's not too pigmented, but gives the most natural healthy flush. I wouldn't be surprised if this one hits pan (one day!).

Clinique Chubby Stick in Two Ton Tomato - Review and Swatches!

I'd like to share with you my new favorite product! I recently purchased Clinique's Chubby Stick in Two Ton Tomato and I absolutely love it! It's very similar to Revlon's Kissable Balm Stain but I find this formula more moisturizing and less waxy. Granted, it doesn't last as long because it is most of a glossy lipstick, but it does leave behind a nice stain.

 Swatch on my hand.

Generously applied on my lips.

If you're looking for a quick and easy way to add color to your lips, I highly suggest this Chubby Stick. It's compact enough to carry around, lightweight and easy to use. It even has a retractable base. Plus, I don't think you can go wrong with this shade - it's a pinky/coral bright summery shade that would look great on any complexion. And if you're not a fan of bright colors, you can always apply it lightly for a soft stain!

Hope your weekend is going well!  It's a long weekend here in Canada and I must say, my extra day off is really needed!

July favorites!

My July favorites are all over the place. I've been loving being more minimalistic with my makeup, usually leaving the house for work with a light base, brows done, blush, mascara and a balm. What has happened to me? Well, in short, the heat. Minimum effort has been my motto, but I've embraced it!

I've been using my Nuxe 24H Moisturizing Body Lotion a lot on my legs. I love that it sinks in immediately and doesn't leave a greasy residue. I also love that it has an easy to use pump, and it smells amazing. The smell is quite strong though, so I'm not wearing this to work. But this is another Nuxe winner for me!

I've been using MAC's Cremeblend blush in Posey a lot this past month, simply because I find it lasts longer on my skin than powder products, and its peachyness warms up my complexion. It is incredibly easy to use (I use a stippling brush) and doesn't slip off like some of my MAC powder blushes.

Not too sure why but I've been really enjoying my face brushes! Those include the Quo Bronzing Powder Brush, the Real Techniques Powder brush, and the MAC 129 blush brush. They are all incredibly soft, easy to clean, and do not shed. Well, let's be fair, the 129 does shed a bit, but I can live with it since it applies blush beautifully!

I've also been using my Clarins Instant Light Brush-On Perfector pretty much every day this month. Because my dark circles aren't extremely pronounced, this has been great at illuminating my under eye area, especially when I'm only wearing mascara. I've also been using my Make Up For Ever Aqua Shadow in 4E as a quick base under a lighter eye shadow, and my Maybelline Eye-Studio Master Precise Pen Eyeliner for a quick cat eye flick. I'm especially impressed with the Maybelline Eyeliner Pen for its durability on the eye during hot and humid weather and how easy it is to use. I'm definitely not buying the MAC version again - I prefer the Maybelline version by far.

For a refresher and as a toner, I've been using the Caudalie Eau de Beauté pretty much every day. I don't want to give away too much because I will be posting a review on this shortly, but it has been very good to my skin!

And lastly, for lips, I've been using L'Oreal's Color Riche Balm in Pink Satin. While this isn't pigmented at all, it was quite moisturizing and gave a hint of shimmer on the lips, perfect for home/beach uses. Clinique's Almost Lipstick in Spicy Honey has been an often used quick option for when I'm stepping out the door and need a quick wash of color on my lips.

Ouuffff... that's a lot more favorites than I thought I had! What's been on heavy rotation for you this month?