The Ordinary - What I'm Currently Testing

I'd be surprised if you haven't heard about The Ordinary. 
Everyone has been going on about this line from Deciem and this is evident by the current waitlist for numerous of their products (though the company is expanding its location to fix this). 

Now on to what I've purchased from The Ordinary. I made a few online orders and accumulated a good selection of their line that I'm currently testing out. As such, this post is not a full review of these products. I will be doing review on these products once I've used them for a while to see if they actually do anything for my skin.

I first heard about The Ordinary when Wayne Goss brought them to the map with this video. Affordable skincare with great ingredients, who wouldn't give The Ordinary a try?  

My first order consisted of Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 and 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil. I made this order back when I first watched Wayne's video months ago and I've just started using the Hyaluronic Acid. Not sure what's taken me so long, but so far I'm liking it. I apply it at night prior to my moisturizer and I've noticed my skin hasn't been tight or dry in the mornings. I haven't tested out the Rose Hip Seed Oil but my mom is actually a big fan. She finished up the entire bottle that I initially ordered that I just ordered two more bottles - one for me to try and one for her. 

Now lets talk about a few more products that were all recommendations from Wayne. I picked up the Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG as he mentioned this is a great product as an eye cream. I haven't tried this out yet so I'll report back once I test this out. I also picked up the Azelaic Acic Suspension 10%. From reading about this online, this a good product if you have dark spots. I don't have many dark spots but this product has antibacterial properties so I thought I'd give this a try on blackheads. No idea if this will actually work or not but I've suffered from blackheads for as long as I can remember and I've tried too many things that haven't worked out before. 

Another product I've added to my skincare routine is the Argireline Solution 10%. This product is used to target the appearance of facial lines. I'm only 25 so I don't really have this problem yet - but I do have one very prominent line that I'm using this on. So far I haven't really seen much of a difference but I've only been using this for a couple of weeks. 

Now on to the makeup products. The Ordinary have turned the beauty industry upside down. The currently have two foundations - the Serum and Coverage foundation. I managed to get my hands on the Serum foundation. As you'd expect it's lightweight and blends very easily (I use a beauty blender). I've used this foundation for a couple weeks now and I like it but I'm not in love with in. It's a good foundation. But it's nothing to go crazy about. Yes, it is very affordable and it's a great option for that price. 

Finally, I'm currently also testing out the High-Adherence Silicone Primer. I've only used this a handful of times and I haven't really seen much of a difference with using this primer. Will need to test this out more before I give my final review. 

So there you have it. What I've picked up from The Ordinary and will be testing out the next few months. As with most skincare, I want to give this a bit of time to see if I'll have results from using these products on a regular basis. Once I've formed an opinion I'll post an updated post on these products. 

I'm also very excited for Deciem to open up their new retail store as it's right across from my office - so of course I'll be making a visit to test out more products!

My travel beauty essential - Origins Drink Up Intensive Mask

I love travelling. Whenever I get a chance to travel - I take the opportunity. 
One of the most common ways I tend to travel is by air. 
But with the airplane recycled air comes dry skin. 

Now I always fly with the Origins Drink Up Intensive Mask with me. 
Find out more below!

About a year ago I took a trip with some friends to San Francisco. I think with the change in weather from Toronto, my skin had a freak out. I came back with super super super dry skin. I did not know how to handle this. I tend to have normal / combo skin during the winter/early spring so this was a shock for me. I tried many many products and finally after a few weeks my skin went back to normal. 

One of the products I picked up was the Origins Drink Up Intensive Mask. My skin was really dry so this mask didn't really help with getting it back to normal. But this mask has become my staple airplane product. I could never be one of those people that apply sheet masks during a flight. Aside from just the looks I'd get, I wear glasses on flights ... so I wouldn't even be able to see. After the plane takes off I apply a generous layer of this all over my face. Even though it's a mask, it's not that noticeable. If I have a shorter flight (less than 4 hours) I'll apply this only once. But if it's a long flight, I tend to reapply half way through the flight. 

2016 was a busy year for getting on flights. My San Francisco trip was the first for 2016 and every trip I took afterwards I used this mask. I never had the crazy skin fiasco for the rest of the year. Even though the regular size is 100mL and you could take the full size on a plane, I tend to put a small amount in a pot. I now like to travel with only carry on luggage, so space for my liquids is pretty limited due to restrictions. 

The Origins Drink Up Intensive Mask is my favourite product from the brand. I'll definitely be repurchasing this once my current tube is done! 

What are you inflight beauty essentials? 

BITE BEAUTY LIPSTICK REVIEW

Bite Beauty has some of the best lipstick formulas I've tried. 

I've dabbled in most of their ranges and have a few favourites! 

Find out more below!

Their original line of lipsticks, High Pigment Pencil, are my favourite. I was first introduced to these lipsticks from one of their holiday sets with four mini High Pigment Pencils (shades: Rhubarb, Pomegranate, Winterberry, Sable). As the name suggests, these lipsticks are highly pigmented. They have a bit of a shine but nothing too glossy (more of  a satin finish). I do prefer a matte finish so when I wear these I apply two layers and blot in between. This makes them last for hours but after eating I do reapply. In addition to the set I have two in the full size in the shades Velvet and Syrah. Velvet is a bright pink and Syrah is a peachy nude. At first glance, I thought Syrah would be similar to Sable (my favourite nude shade) but Sable has a slight pinky undertone, while Syrah has a peach undertone. 

The following year I was gifted with another of their mini holiday set. This time the set came with four mini Matte Creme formula. The shade were: Aubergine, Cafe, Coulis, and Torte. My go-to from this range is the shade Torte, a wearable everyday rose. This matte range from Bite Beauty is a must if you're into matte lipsticks. They formula is so comfortable to wear, even with it being matte. Similar to the High Pigment Pencil range, I apply this twice and blot in between to increase the longevity of the lipstick. 

Now on to my most recent purchases, the Amuse Bouche lipstick in Mauvember 2016 and the Multistick in Macaroon. First up, lets talk about the Amuse Bouche lipstick. These have a  satin finish with high pigmentation. I absolutely love the scent of this lipstick range - a lovely citrus. I picked up the shade Mauvember and love the mauve shade. Even though it has a purple undertone, it's quite easy to wear. I need to remember to wear this more often! Lastly, the Multistick in Macaroon. When these first came out I was intrigued. As this was the first time Bite Beauty branched out from just lipstick product. I picked up the shade Macaroon as it seemed a safe shade. Macaroon is a lovely rose but I find it is a bit drying on the lips. I don't tend to gravitate towards this shade that often. I know you can use this as blush or eyeshadow but I haven't tested this product out that way. 

Overall, Bite Beaty continues to be one of my favourite brand for lipsticks. They have a large array of lipstick colours and formulas. The High Pigment Pencils and Matte Creme steal the show for me but I'm definitely interested in trying more shades from the Amuse Bouche range. 

What are your favourite lipsticks from Bite Beauty? 

Alumier MD Skincare Review

My skincare tends to change throughout the year. 

During the summer months my skin doesn't need too much moisture but it's a completely different story during the winter time. 

Over the past month I've been testing out the AlumierMD skincare line. I first got introduced to this line from the Spark Session event I attended back in the fall. 

Lets go through by order of use. First up, the AlumierMD Purifying Gel Cleanser. I like using this cleanser at night when I'm in the shower. It breaks down my makeup easily and leaves my skin feeling clean without being tight. I've used gel cleansers in the past and this cleanser has a thicker consistency. One con I have is that I can't use this cleanser to remove my eye makeup. It's not a deal breaker for me but I've become used to using a one step cleanser that removes my eye and face makeup. 

One of my favourite products from this line is the AlumierMD Ultimate Boost Serum. Having an added layer of moisture is much needed during this time of the year. This serum is lightweight and blends into the skin quickly. This means I don't have to wait too long to apply my moisturizer after using this. I use about two pumps for my entire face. 

Next, I'll use the AlumierMD HydraLight Night Moisturizer. Even though it's a night time moisturizer it isn't too heavy and blends into the skin quickly. I use about two pumps for my entire face. This isn't my favourite moisturizer but I find it performs well. 

My other favourite product from this line is the AlumierMD Brightening Eye Cream. A little goes a long way with this product. The tiniest amount will cover the entire undereye area. I find that during the wintertime my undereye area gets pretty dry so I haven't been skipping this step in my nighttime routine. I've been getting very little sleep during the past couple of weeks so my dark circles haven't really been helped with this product. But with the lack of sleep no product would really help me out. 

This line was kindly provided me for review purposes. I do want to point out that out of the four products, the two that I'd purchase for myself would be the AlumierMD Ultimate Boost Serum and the AlumierMD Brightening Eye Cream. I found these were the stand out products for me. The cleanser and moisturizer performed well but I have other products that I like better which I'll go back once these finish up. 

*This is not a sponsored post.This post contains product(s) provided for review purpose. All opinions are my own and no compensation has been provided for this post.  

Best of 2016

This post is a bit late. 
Work has been a bit busy the past couple of weeks but I wanted to still share with you some of my favourite products from 2016. Find out more below! 

We'll start off with face products. This year I changed up my face powder and tried the Too Faced Primed and Poreless Skin Smoothing Pressed Powder. I love this face powder. I apply it after foundation/tinted moisturizer and it keeps my makeup set all day. Oil control is okay but what I love is that it doesn't make my face look too powdery but gives a more natural finish. Speaking of tinted moisturizer, 2016 was the year I started using tinted moisturizers daily instead of foundation. I've found my new love. Hard to go back to foundation after getting such a natural finish with tinted moisturizer. I used the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer all summer and worked great for me. Toped with a powder it lasts throughout the work day. Right now I've switched to the NARS tinted moisturizer as the lightest shade by Laura Mercier doesn't match my wintery pale skin. 

For my under-eyes, another new purchase in 2016 was the Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Complete Coverage Concealer. Once blended out it covers my dark circles and brightens my under eye area. 

For blush, the Too Faced Love Flush Blush in Baby Love continues to be an everyday favourite. This is a great work blush colour but works great for night time too. It defines the cheeks but also give a nice flush to the face. 

2016 was also the year I went a little crazy on Becca makeup. My favourite purchase was the Shimmering Skin Perfector in Moonstone. Moonstone is a gorgeous champaign shade but I love the liquid version. I can use it on my face but also mix it with my body moisturizer and apply all over my body to give my skin a nice glow to it. Another favourite from Becca that was released in 2016 was the Luminous Blush in Camellia. This is another gorgeous everyday shade that has a nice glow. It blends out beautifully and isn't as intimidating as it appears in the pan!

Now on to the eyes! I've always been a fan of Lancome mascaras but this year I fell in love with the Lancome Hypnose Drama mascara. It gives great volume without going overboard. I always get these as a 100 point perk on Sephora when they're available! Not going to lie, I have a bit of an stash going from all the times I've picked one up. 

I also discovered Nudestix in 2016. In the mornings I need my makeup to be quick and the Magnetic Eye Colours do just the trick! My favourite shades are Angel and Twilight. A long time favourite eyeliner is the Lise Waiter Eye Shine in Smokey Brown. I've never heard anyone mention this eyeliner before but I love this brown shade to line on days when I want something different from black. When I want to have a bold eyeliner, the Estee Lauder Little Black Liner is my go-to choice. It's easy to control and the black is very intense. Also love that it has a thicker side to it so I can go back in and touch up my liner easily. 

When I want to wear eyeshadow the Burberry Eye Colours are what I opt for. I love how easily these blend out and how natural they look on the eyes. My two favourite shades are Rosewood and Pale Barley. Now to finish up the eyes, I can't forget the Benefit Gimme Brow. I've gone through numerous tubes of this and it doesn't disappoint. It sets my brows but makes them look thicker with the fibres it has. 

Lastly, let's talk lip products. Liquid lipsticks were the hot product in 2016. I prefer wearing liquid lipsticks with darker shades as this allows me to skip the lip liner but also not worry about the shade smudging throughout the day. My favourite of the ones I picked up was the Smashbox Always on Liquid Lipstick in Bawse. Lily Singh does not disappoint and this shade is a gorgeous red that lasts all night. 

I couldn't talk about lipsticks without mentioning my love for the Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution lipsticks in Bond Girl and Love Liberty. These are my go-to shades for work - both very different shades but perform the same. They apply opaque and sit comfortably on the lips throughout the day. I see my self picking up more in the future! 

There you have it! My favourite products from 2016. Some were new discoveries and some were old favourites. What were your favourite products from 2016? 

Getting New Year's Eve Ready With Charlotte Tilbury

New Year's Eve is fast approaching!

With the big night ahead, I wanted to share with you my top lipstick choices!

I was lucky to be given the opportunity to try out a few shades of the new Hot Lips Collection from Charlotte Tilbury. Charlotte collaborated with twelve celebrities (including Miranda Kerr, Nicole Kidman, Carina Lau) and created shades that represents each individual's personality. 

Going with a red lip on New Year's Eve is always a safe bet. I love wearing red lips with a simple eye look. Carina's Love is a gorgeous cool tone red shade in Charlotte's Matte Revolution formula. I lovee this formula. Even though it's a matte shade, it doesn't dry out my lips. I also never wear a lip liner when wearing this shade. I do find that these don't last through eating. To me that's not a problem, as I'd rather have a comfortable matte lipstick which I can reapply easily. 

If you're going heavy on your eye makeup and want to balance it with a toned down shade, Secret Salma is a great choice. This is a gorgeous deep rose shade that will work for many skin tones. This is a great choice for everyday as well! 

Now if you want to really make a statement, you can't go wrong with Glastonberry. This isn't part of the Hot Lips range but part of the regular Matte Revolution line from Charlotte Tilbury. Even though this is a dark plum/berry shade it applies evenly without looking patchy.

Can't talk about these lipsticks without mentioning the packaging! Charlotte knows how to get that right! I absolutely love the rose gold tubes these lipsticks come in! 

Hope you all have a wonderful time celebrating the New Year!! 

*This is not a sponsored post.This post contains product(s) provided for review purpose. All opinions are my own and no compensation has been provided for this post.