Annabelle: Lip Liners Review

My all time favourite Canadian drugstore lipliners.  If you haven't tried these as of yet, you are missing out.  Here's the breakdown of the product with pictures and swatches!

The Product

Pros: Good staying power with a smooth application.  Comes in a wide range of finishes from original to metallic and even waterproof.

Cons: Pencil has to be sharpened so you waste product and not as accessible as a retractable pencil.

Packaging:  A tight cap covers the actual product for proper storage.  Ensures that the product will not dry out.  The liner was produced in the classic basic
wooden style.

Cost: Depending on the type of pencil you get it can range from $5.95 CDN to $6.95 (Very affordable)  On the Annabelle website they also do sales so you can get these
products for even cheaper!

Left to Right: Espresso, Cherry & Burgundy

Left to Right: Espresso (Matte Finish), Cherry (Matte Finish) & Burgundy (Satin Finish)

Tip:  I like to wear these liners as a matte lip colour or add a gloss for some shine!

Final thoughts: I love these lipliners.  Great value and more important product.  If you haven't tried these out definitely give them a try


My favourite liner from Annabelle: Cherry*



Have you tried this product before?

Getting to know a little bit more about me

I wanted to share a little bit more of me with my readers.  So here goes....

As a child and into young adolescence I had a nag for art (visual) as a late teen and into adulthood, I took that skill and love for makeup and combined it.  As a result, I became really good at makeup application.

Self taught freelance makeup artist

My favourite high end makeup line: YSL and Make Up For Ever
My favourite drugstore makeup line: Milani and Revlon

My favourite high end skin care line: Boscia, Estee Lauder and Ole Henriksen
My favourite drugstore skin care line: Neutrogena and Body Shop

My favourite Canadian makeup line: Annabelle Cosmetics
My favourite Caribbean makeup line: Sacha Cosmentics

Hobbies:  I love cooking and nail art (I find it therapeutic).  If you follow my instagram (@daredbeauty) you could see weekly pictures of recipes prepared and nail art done by yours truly.

Blogger secret:  This isn't my first blog.  When I was in my late teens into young adulthood, I had a journal blog.  Unfortunately after a few years, I ended it.

Obsessions?  I have a shoe collection within a full walk in closet and a vanity overstocked with makeup.  In a nutshell, anything that relates to beauty and fashion, I am obsessed.




Share something with me in the comments below, that other bloggers might not know about you?

Splurge vs. Save (Dupe Version): Make Up For Ever Aqua Shadow vs. Shadow Eyez 12 Hr Wear

Top: Make Up For Ever (Aqua Shadow) in 30 E
Bottom: Milani (Shadow Eyez) Champagne Toast

One of my favourite high end makeup brands is Make Up For ever, due to the versatility in products and overall quality. With that being said, high end is always going to be pricey and today I come with a dupe to one of their popular products (with a dupe shade!).

As I was cleaning through some of my shadows and pencils I stumbled across Make Up For Ever Aqua Shadow and Shadow Eyez 12 Hr Wear. When I saw them at a quick glance, it seemed to be the same colour. Yes, ladies I wasn't aware I had a hiding dupe in my stash. As much as I love makeup, I am not one for buying two of the same product! So I decided to do a quick swatch to confirm what my naked eyes already knew. And guess what? Same shade, finish and texture. I am referring specially to Make Up For Ever Aqua Shadow (30E) and Shadow Eyez 12 Hr Wear (Champagne Toast).  Both shades can be described in colour as a pearly pink beige.

Let's Look in Depth

Side by side comparison! (Can you spot the difference?

Formula:

Though I consider these two dupes (very close to being identical), the Milani champagne toast has a very slight frostier finish. However has seen in the swatch above, they look the exact same when tested against my skin tone!

Longevity:

I have to say that both formulas, stand the test of time. I wore both for 10 hours and the wear of them were the same!

Packaging Details:

Make Up For Ever Aqua Shadow (4 grams of product), I find aqua shadow to have a more secure cap on the pencil. Which in the long term prevents the product from drying out.
Milani Shadow Eyez 12 Hr Wear (2.8 grams of product), has a bit of softer application (applies smooth as butter!)

Final Thoughts: Definitely SAVE! If I knew I had the Milani shadow pencil in champagne toast, the Make Up For Ever Aqua Shadow would've stayed on the shelf :)!



Have you ever found a dupe in your stash?

Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser

Canada has finally released Maybelline's Baby Skin.  I scooped up this product weeks ago when I visited New York and was ecstatic when I finally got my hands on it.  I have heard many great things about this product, one of which was to compare it to Benefit's Porefessional (which I cannot do a comparison on because I have never continuously used that product).  This product retails for $6.99/ $9.96 (USD/CDN) for 20 ml of product.  The product can be found in CVS, Walgreens and Walmart in the States and so far I have only seen this product in Walmart Canada.

Maybelline describes this product as being a lightweight and transparent gel that has a cherry extract which will transform your skin into a youthfully smooth and matte base for makeup wearers and non makeup wearers on the go.

When using this product you will notice your pores looking blurred instantly, this is due to the silicon elastomer, silicia and emollient formula.  The high silicone content in this product encourages foundation to glide onto your skin without leaving any patches or streaks.

Pros: This product definitely smooths skin, prevents some shine- blotting is still required (great for combination to oily skin) and is suitable for sensitive acne prone skin.  I love the fact that Maybelline took the extra step to add a beneficial addictive (cherry extract) to this product.  After doing some research, cherry extract is great as an antioxidant, it boosts production of collagen, elastin and it encourages the skin to retain moisture.  This product is clear, therefore on my deeper skin tone there is no tint.

Cons: Though this product claims to be fragrance free it does have a slight alcohol smell (that eventually fades).  Upon application, the gel like product will seem to be oily but after the product settles onto the skin, the product just feels smooth and silky to the touch.

Tips:  Since this product does not claim to help with oil control (though all the ingredients lends to implying that is does), I applied it as such and the results were great on my skin (please note I am reviewing this in colder temperatures).  I found even with my very oily skin, this product didn't make my skin appear oilier.  Less is definitely more with this product due to the texture.

Texture Shot

Before and After

Overall, I loved this product and will be a repurchasing it!  Have you tried it?

Happy New Year | Best of 2013 Beauty Products

To all my readers both old and new. I wish you  a wonderful and prosperous New Year.  May you take this year as a new start and flip a new chapter, forget the bad and cherish the good.  From my home to yours, I wish you and your family a Happy New Year.

Best beauty buys of 2013 

13 best buys of 2013 (Beauty)

***

Nars: Super Orgasm

Used as a cheek highlighter on top of a Pink/Plum Blush

Lorac TANtalizer Bronzer

  Urban Decay: Single Eye Shadow in Baked

Sephora Fringe Benefits Lashes

Half lashes that give your natural lashes oomph without that falsies look

MAC cosmetics Pro Blush in Devil

Orangey Coral shade with slight hint of shimmer that LASTS!

Maybelline eye studio color tattoo

24 hr Eyeshadow Cream in 45 Bold Gold

 Real Techniques Buffing Brush

Boscia Bright White Mask

Rimmel Lash Accelerator

(Growth Formula- saw great results in length and thickness, and when worn my lashes looked bold and beautiful)

The Body Shop 

Shea Body Butter

(thick but easy to blend with a slight nutty smell)

Loreal Wear Infinite in Deep Mocha (Rich)

Perfect crease colour on my skin tone when wearing a quick neutral eye. 

No chalky or grey cast.  

Kat Von D True Romance Palette in Ludwig

Make Up For Ever- Aqua Shadow (2E)

Perfect as a shadow, shadow base for a smoky eye, liner etc. 

staying power is fantastic!

What were your 2013 best beauty buys?

Iman Time Control- Under Cover Agent Oil Control Primer

This is a good everyday primer, especially if you have combination to oily skin.  The consistency of this product is that of a thick serum.  It is easy to spread and therefore blend. The staying power of this primer is fantastic even on oily skin (I blotted once throughout the day in cooler temperatures). For $15/$24 (USD/CDN) you will get 40 ml of product presented  in a sleek  squeeze tube that has a pump attached.

Tips: Ensure that primer is fully dried before proceeding with liquid foundation/pressed powder. This will ensure a smooth and flawless application.

Pros: The primer feels lightweight and smooth upon application.  Perfect for an everyday primer (keeps shine away while it slightly fill pores for a somewhat flawless look).

Cons: Product has a slight scent.  Does not last all day (12 hrs on the go).  I found I personally had to blot my T-zone once (within Canada we are experiencing cooler temperatures).  The price is a bit high for a primer that is not considered highend.

Final thoughts: This product creates a matte base for your makeup application. After doing some research it came to my attention that the product also contains peppermint and chamomile extracts which is said to soothe skin (no noticeable peppermint scent found in product). The formula of the product is color-free, therefore it won't alter your foundation shade. Overall, I would suggest this product (especially for everyday use-not special events).

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure

This is by far my FAVOURITE nail polish line from Sally Hansen.  If you have not tried this polish line you definitely need to.  With one stroke that offers great coverage with a wide brush, this nail polish line makes painting your nails hassle free.  The line promises a manicure in a bottle, a 7 in 1 nail polish.  It boasts that it is a  base coat, strengthener, growth treatment, has salon-inspired colours, top coat, chip-resistance and offers a gel like finish.  All of which I can say it does do.  The price varies from $7.99 to $10.99 (CDN/USD) depending where you get it.

Tips:  Don't paint too close to the cuticle and you will achieve a fantastic 'I went to the salon look'.

Pros:  Nails feels stronger after using.  The finish looks and 'feels' as if you got your nails painted in the salon.  I have a wider nail bed, so this brush overs it well and with no streaks!

Cons: This is a 7 in 1 polish and it is priced to reflect the product (higher cost considering it is a drugstore brand).  But you can always find a sale! The width of the brush is wide, therefore if your nail bed is narrow you will have some trouble using this product.  This product will chip like all other nail polishes (I got 4 days wear before my first chip appeared).

Final thoughts:  This nail polish is great.  Easy to use and with such classic to trendy nail colours you are sure to find something that suits you.  A must try.  Trust me you will LOVE it! I know I do.

Colour:  Kook-A- Mango  

No base or top coat was applied