The One and Only TAG

Hey everyone! Back to beauty stuff for today's post. I had this tag saved in my drafts for a while and I thought it was finally time to give it life. I got it from Coffee and Cosmetics, and it's called "the One and Only Tag".

The idea is simple, you just have to answer the same question for all categories: If you could only have one ____, what would it be and why?

Primer - This is easy. The only face primer I have ever used and absolutely loved is the L'Oreal Magic Perfecting Base. I've said it again and again, but nothing else I've tried even compares! It's on the more expensive end of drugstore products (around $20 in Canada), but it's still cheaper than Sephora brands. I don't know why, but my face really responds well to it! Definitely try it out if your skin tends to get oily throughout the day.

Base Product - Also easy. My number one foundation has to be the Marcelle Hydra-C Foundation. I'm still so dumbfounded that they've discontinued it. I'm on my last bottle and I'm super bummed about it. The shade I use, Natural Beige, is the perfect match for my skin, and it's full-coverage without feeling too heavy.

Blush - I tend to vary my blushes a lot, but one that I constantly gravitate towards is the MAC blush in Pinch O' Peach. It's one of the only pink-toned blushes I use, and what I like about it is that it's quite sheer so it doesn't come on too strong, but it still shows up on your cheeks. If you're new to makeup I would recommend this one because it's very easy to manage.

Highlighter - MAC Soft & Gentle is pretty much the only highlighter I use. I've tried out liquid highlighters in the past, but they don't really do it for me. Soft & Gentle is subtle, but noticeable in the sunlight, and the champagne-y shade doesn't look too harsh. I find whiter/pinkier highlighters tend to be too much against my skintone.

Eyebrow product - My eyebrows are naturally quite thick and dark, so I can definitely go without filling them in, but what I do love to use is a good brow gel to keep them in place throughout the day. I've been using Maybelline Great Lash clear mascara for as long as I can remember, and it definitely does the trick. I don't think I could ever justify buying the Anastasia brow gel, because the Maybelline clear mascara is inexpensive, but effective.

Mascara - Mascara is definitely something I like to switch up in my makeup stash. I'm currently loving one from Annabelle, but my all-time favorite has to be Benefit They're Real. The formula is perfect, the wand separates the lashes incredibly, and nothing gives you the "false lash" look quite like it (...aside from wearing false eyelashes haha).

Concealer - I have to say, concealer is something I tend to struggle with. It's only as of recently that I found one I really enjoy, and it's the NARS creamy concealer in Vanilla. I think it blends really nicely and can be built up for maximum coverage. My only issue is that it's not a color that works all over my face... It covers up the redness near my nose, but if I use it close to my chin/jawline it looks too orange. Still, the formulation is great and it's the best concealer I've used thus far.

Powder - My all-time favorite powder is Rimmel Stay Matte in translucent. It's just the best. It's cheap, it works, and I haven't yet found myself craving a higher end setting powder at all. It works well enough to keep me satisfied, and I feel incomplete without it in the morning.

Bronzer - I've tried a few drugstore products in hopes to find a match for it, but NARS Laguna remains the best bronzer for me. If you go back in the archives of this blog, I'm pretty sure you'll find that I was using and loving Laguna since the very beginning. It's the perfect shade, and it has a slight shimmer that doesn't look crazy, but gives you just the right amount of glow. Really perfect product.

Makeup brush - A brush that I absolutely love using every day is the Real Techniques Multi Task brush. I personally use it for blush, but it can definitely be used for setting powder or bronzer as well. I think it's the perfect density for just about every face product - not too fluffy that it lacks precision, but not too thick that it applies product heavily. It's just great.

Eye shadow - If I had to pick a single eyeshadow it would be "Naked" from the Urban Decay Naked palette. I sometimes just swipe this all over my lids and it gives them just the right amount of depth for a simple every day look. I even used it to fill in my brows (before I got my hands on the Anastasia brow pencil). It's a really good, multi-purpose shade.

Eyeliner - My favorite eyeliner remains, to this day, the Lancome Artliner. I've always preferred liquid liner over pencil or gel, because I feel like it gives me a precise line most efficiently. The black one is really good, but they also do an eggplant shade that's a nice alternative to your standard black eyeliner. It is pricey, and the Maybelline Stiletto liquid liner is a close match to it, but the Artliner lasts much longer than the Maybelline one.

Lip gloss - I'm not much of a lipgloss gal because I find them a bit fussy, but one that I actually like very much is the Buxom lip gloss in "Dolly". It's a great nude shade for my skintone, and it has that tingly sensation (not for everyone, but I like it). If they made a lipstick version of it, I'd be all over that because I love the color.

Lipstick - I don't wear lipstick very often and I change it up too much to actually have a favorite, but if you made me pick I would go ahead and say MAC Plumful. It's super versatile; you can sheer it out or build it up.

I hope you enjoyed this tag! If you do it yourself, please leave me a comment below as I would love to read your answers.

October 2012 Beauty Favorites

Hey everyone! I'm a little late to the monthly favorites party, I know, but here they are finally!

St. Ives Apricot Scrub: This has been a beauty classic over the Internet, I think. I picked one up for my giveaway and one for myself (both travel size, just to test out), and I really ended up liking it. I ended up buying a full-sized version, except the one meant to eliminate blemishes. I might like it even better than my LUSH Ocean Salt because it doesn't leave you with that plastic-y, tight feeling as much. It just leaves your skin soft! :)

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in French Fries: This is also an item I'm giving away, and 'tis so for a reason. I absolutely adored mine so I had to pick it up for you guys. It glides on amazingly and it's perfect for casual days where you don't want crazy eye makeup. I'm fine with just a swipe of this and some mascara. Although I must say, it's important to wear a primer underneath otherwise it might move around.

Evian Fresh Water Spray: Now. Okay. I received this in a Glossybox a few months ago and I was like, "Water in a spray can. Nice", but I've finally found a use for it. It serves as a toner, but I use it as a "lazy girl's moisturizer". On days where I'm running late (ahem, most days), I'll quickly spray this instead of using moisturizer. My acne cream is really drying to it's important for me not to neglect moisturizing, but I feel like this is okay to use as a substitute. Obviously it doesn't moisturize like crazy, but it makes me feel better lol.

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder: Tanya Burr uses this all the time and it looked like a great product so I picked it up for myself. Guys, let me tell you, this is a life-saver if your skin tends to get shiny. It does the job so, so well. My mom is usually skeptical about every single product I buy, saying they're all scams, but she actually loves this one. I highly recommend it.

Lancome Absolue Eye Premium: So this is an eye cream... I can't believe I actually got into eye cream. Who am I!? Anyway, this feels really nice before bed after you just washed your face. It's a sample size, by the way. Would I buy the full size? Maybe. We'll see.

Stila "In the Know" Palette: I picked this up at the Pharmaprix VIP Day and I've been using it all the time since I got it. It's an all-matte palette, which I think is really great. I've been using one of the lighter colors all over and a brown or grey for contouring. I pop on a winged eyeliner, some mascara, and call it a day. The only problem I had is with the Stila Smudge Stick that came with this palette. It wouldn't twist back down so it broke off... Lame.

Lancome Artliner in "Aubergine": So I totally forgot to include this in the photograph above, but I also picked this up at the Pharmaprix VIP Day (well actually, my mom did but she's too inept to use a liquid liner, so it's my now muahaha). It's an awesome eggplant color and I love pairing this with my matte eyeshadows. Highly recommend!

So there you have it! October favorites. IT'S ALMOST CHRISTMAS!