Wet n Wild Mega Last® Liquid Lip Color

Are you a lipstick junkie?  Love highly pigmented lippies that are very budget friendly.  Welcome to the wonderful world of Mega Last Liquid Lip Color.  This product comes in 13 fabulous shades that are truly worth it.  With a smudge proof formula that comes in matte creme and shimmers, this product is truly to please.  Applies like a lip gloss but dries to a lipstick (can life get any better!) It can, this product only retails for  only $2.49/$3.99 (USD/CDN).  Oh what a wonderful world this is.

Tips: (This product is good without these steps, but follow these steps and you'll fall deeper in love with this product). Exfoliate your lips (get rid of the dead skin), then moisturize them with your favorite balm.  When your pout is prepped, line lips with your favourite liner for a perfect pout.  Then apply stain and VOILA! a perfect matte pout that will last all day (add gloss for a shiny look). 

Pros: Glides on smoothly (no choppy patches), highly pigmented, dries smoothly.  It is a lip stain, therefore it isn't very moisturizing.  This product does not transfer easily.

Cons:  Though the wand does make for an easier and precise application, you may want to apply a lip liner for a flawless lip.  Like all other stains, this product can be drying to your lips if worn bare (use a lip balm under stain for a more comfortable wear.)

Final Thoughts:  This product is a fantastic buy.  The product is truly great and for all lippy fanatics, like myself you should definitely try this product out.

Red Shade: Red My Mind

Pink Shade: Back to the Fuschia

(No liner or lip balm was used in the picture above)

My Favourite High End Mascara: Benefit Cosmetics They're Real! Mascara

I am sure we have all heard about this mascara, but for those of you who haven't (and can afford to splurge) this is a must have, especially if you have barely there lashes.  This mascara comes in one shade, jet black and with this colour it lenghtens, lifts, curls and seperate your lashes.  This mascara takes your lashes into hyper drive and creates a dramatic look featuring your lashes but will have people thinking, are 'they real'.  With a price point of $23/$29 (USD/CDN) for 0.3 oz (full size) of product, this isn't the cheapest price for a mascara, however it is well worth it.  Please note that you can find this product in full size and a sample size (0.14 oz) for the price of one full size (Sephora).  A fantastic buy at this point.

Tips:  Apply horizontally at the base and then follow my focusing vertically on the tips of your lashes, for best results.

Pros:  This mascara gives the illusion that my lashes are actually there (natural looking falsies for those of you who actually have lashes).  With a base to tip thickening and lengthening magical formula and wand, I am truly in love with this mascara.  This mascara is very long lasting even with my oily skin.

Cons:  The price isn't the greatest but if your struggle with your lashes it is honestly well worth it.  The lack of colour selection makes this product a one trick pony.  I wish it came in other colours such as dark brown and blue (yes I still wear blue mascara).

Final thoughts: After finally giving in to buying a mascara at this price point, this is truly my holy grail of mascaras.  Usually I have to use two mascaras for lengthening and thickening (none for curling since my lashes are naturally very curly) but this truly gives me all in one (without that cakey, lumpy and heavy feel and look to my lashes).  There is no looking back after using this, thank you Benefit Cosmetics.

Benefit Cosmetics Stay Flawless 15 Hour Primer

This is an amazing primer, especially if you don't have oily skin (and you are willing to apply your foundation quickly.)   It acts like a double sided tape and HOLDS onto your makeup.  The staying power of this primer is fantastic even on oily skin (which tells you something!)  This primer does nothing to control oil throughout the day, however even with your skin glistening with oil, your makeup will not move.  For $32/$38 (USD/CDN) you will get 15.5 grams of product presented  in a cylindrical twist up container, which I must say is fantastic packaging.

Tips:  Ensure you follow with your foundation quickly since this product does dry fast.  As soon as your rub this stick primer onto your face proceed with your foundation and blend the two together for a flawless application.  I focus strictly on the problem areas (forehead and cheeks) to ensure a flawless yet natural look to my face.

Pros: This primer works fantastic to fill pores and fine lines-see picture below, therefore giving the appearance of flawless skin. Very cute girly packaging.  It does allow my makeup to last hours, approx. 9 hours on my oily skin.

Cons:  This product does not oil control, therefore I find that I have to layer my primers.  If you are of a deeper skin tone, you may find that this primer leaves a grey cast over your skin and therefore ensure your blend blend blend.  The drying time on this primer is quick, so you have to ensure that you work quickly when applying your foundation or it (the foundation) will not apply smoothly.

Final thoughts: Overall it does not work best on it's own with my skin tone (deep) or type (oily) and therefore forces me to layer primers.  If foundation is applied after primer has dried, your makeup will look cakey and will not blend well.  I like to take my time when doing my makeup so having to rush through applying foundation can be irritating.  For the price point on this product, it is good but not great.

C.o. Bigelow Rose Salve (my all in one arsenal for cold weather blues)

Today I stepped out of the house, and ran right back in. When did it get so cold.  It went from summer to winter in two days.  I may have an oily face but in fall/winter weather, think desert for the rest of my body.  When I re-entered my house my first thought was where is my winter lip balm.

This balm is the mother of all balms.  Put away the old school chapstick and fad of 2012 EOS, where is my trusty old, sure to soothe and protect Rose Salve from C.o. Bigelow.  With a petrolatum base and rose extract infused into this product it soothes the lips and skin on impact.  Oh and did I mention it makes your lips feel like butter (super soft).  For $5.50 (USD)- a dollar more in Canadian stores this is surely a must have for the cold weather we are about to embrace.  This product can be found at your local Bath and Body stores.

Tip: Use before bed for super soft and moisturized lips in the morning.  A purse must have in the winter.  This baby will soothe any winter dryness.

Pros: Makes lips super soft. Pleasant soft rose scent.  Can use product on elbows, cuticles, face, knees etc.

Cons: For those of you who are scent sensitive, this product does have a slight rose scent.  It is packaged in a tin, which means dipping your fingers in and applying (not the most hygienic-especially when applying to lips).  Also I do believe in having a SPF protection in most of my beauty products and this doesn't.

Final thoughts: This is a great product year round, but I tend to reach for it in colder weather when I know my skin is prone to cracking (and strong sun damage isn't as likely).

Have you tried this product before? What is your go to "save my lips" balm for cold weather?

The Body Shop ® Tea Tree Skin Clearing Facial Wash

This is daily water based cleanser that truly cleanses your skin.  With 250 ml for $12 (CDN/USD), that usually goes on sale at 1/2 price this product is worth every penny and more (especially if you have oily, acne prone and uneven skin).

How to use: Wet face with lukewarm water.  Put a dime sized amount of product in palm and lather. Massage your face and neck with lathered palms moving upwards and then rinse with lukewarm water. When done rinsing, your face feels smooth and well cleansed.  

Pros: The price can't be beat especially for what you are paying for (don't forget you can get it for 1/2 price).  It deep cleans very oily skin and treats acne prone uneven skin.  It contains tea tree oil which is an antiseptic, anti-viral and anti-fungal.  That is, it cleans any impurities that can cause problem skin. Gentle enough for everyday use.

Cons:  If your skin isn't oily, you will find this product to be drying to your skin.  For those of you who are scent sensitive, this product does have a slight tea tree scent to it. 

Final thoughts: I have extremely oily skin and therefore this product is a miracle in a bottle for me. With acne spots (very few left thanks to this product) and some trouble areas (yes... even in my mid-20s) I do love this product.  As mentioned earlier, it does have a slight smell of tea tree oil, which for me isn't a bad thing since I know the benefits of such an oil on the skin and quite frankly it's worth it.

Jordana Cosmetics 12 HR Made To Last Liquid Eyeliner Pencil

As you approach this item you are skeptical with 0.04 oz of product for a $2.49 US / $3.99 CDN, my initial thought was "let me just try it...". The company describes this liner as an intense and instant colour liner that is made to last. Let me do the honors of confirming. This product is fantastic, if I had three thumbs, I would give it three thumbs up!

How to use this product: Line/tight line those pretty eyes of yours.

Pros: The colour pay off is fantastic. The price can't get any better and it's paraben free. The product is so pigmented and soft it takes little to no effort to apply and see the results you are looking for.

Cons: Lack of a wide variety colours for those bold beauties (think orange, gold, bronze, silver etc.) If you live in the USA these bad boys can be easily found in stores such as Walgreens; however us Canadians are limited on where we can find these unless we go on Amazon.com. However, do check your random Beauty Supplies my Canadian beauties(if your lucky you might stumble across them.) Also these liners are not hyopallergenic, so if your eyes are sensitive, you'll be out of luck.

Final thoughts: I am a user of MUFE aqua liners and MAC smolder and feline or should I say I was... this product beats them both(by a landslide). I will do a detailed comparison post in the near future. Overall a fantastic buy. Oh and did I mention this bad boy doesn't budge? and I have OILY skin-truly made to last. Now that's fantastic. It comes in 6 colours from your basic black (which is JET BLACK-see picture)to a funky purple and blue.

Sephora VIB Rouge

Sephora VIB Rouge, "a place for people with a serious beauty addiction."  A very well described description of this beauty card, since it takes you a whooping $1350 CDN (yearly) to get there.  Its takes nothing less than an addiction to get you there (one of which I must say I have).

As a past VIB and now a VIB Rouge at Sephora, here are my initial opinions of the welcome package.  Though it does offer some awesome benefits such as free shipping, free unlimited makeovers valued at $50 CDN each time, special gifts on random events (so does the VIBs) etc., the welcome kit was very lack luster.

Yes its beautiful, with a rich red and black wrapping it screams FABULOUS.  However, soon after you are greeted with a small sample size lipstick.  Now, I'm not asking for a full size product but I do believe at $1350 they could at least give a bigger sized lippy.  It's the regular sized sample lipstick you can get if you redeemed 100 points or on a random day just as a free sample.  I guess I should just be happy I got something; but to be frank I would have preferred another 10% discount (the one you get when you get to the VIB level).

I am yet to sample and review the Bite* custom lipstick created for Sephora VIB Rouge, that came included (coming soon); but it better be darn fantastic all things considering.

Will keep you guys updated, with all events to come with this newly reached level.

YAY... VIB Rouge (Sephora).

Lorac Tantalizer® Baked Bronzer

The product: This product is referred to as bronzing powder for the face and body. Overall it gives a fantastic glow to woc (also looks fantastic on medium tones) without looking too golden, glittery or ashy.

How I use this product: Focusing on the highest point of my cheekbones and brow bone.  Also on special occasions, pop a little on your collar bone and you’ll be BEAT for the GODS.

Pros: Offers a perfect glow, a little goes a long way.

Cons:  Available only online at Sephora.com (Canada) - no longer in stores.  This is a higher end product; therefore the full size (0.624 oz.) rings in at $32 CDN, however there is a smaller size (0.06 oz.) for only $7 CDN.

Final thoughts:  Truly gives a radiant look worth every dime.  A definite repurchase.

Welcome

Hello and thank you for taking the time to explore my blog.  Let me start by introducing myself. My name is Rozlyn and I am a make up addict and enthusiast. From an early age I found myself fascinated with the power and ability of makeup.  From foundation to nail polishes, the way makeup can make you feel is undeniable.

My collection of fab finds over the years, reviews of popular & not so popular products and everything else beauty related (including makeup looks I dabble in) will be the focus of my blog. Please enjoy and thank you again for visiting.

See you soon,

Rozlyn P.