One item that did not make it to my New Year's Resolutions list but is still very much a goal of mine, is to get back into enjoying makeup! I can probably count the number of times I wore a full face of makeup last year on one hand, which is such a shame because I have so much makeup & I love to apply it. I don't know why I didn't delve into makeup more last year... I probably got lazy, and to be honest I wasn't really feeling myself ~appearance-wise~ so I guess I didn't want to. I figured I would put together a short list of tutorials I would like to try out in 2016.
I usually think grey/black when I think "smokey eye" but a nice, warm brown-red smokey eye sounds amazing. I love the way the glowy cheeks & subtle lip balance out the eye makeup. This is a must-try for me.
This dark lip paired with cool, silvery eyes is such a nice combination. I definitely have to attempt to pull this off before spring rolls around!
I love the idea of blue/green eyeshadow and this seems like such a polished & classy way to do it! This is tagged as a NYE look but I think it can easily work year-round. The bright blue would be nice in summer as well.
I'm excited to try these out :)
Showing posts with label makeup. Show all posts
Showing posts with label makeup. Show all posts
Sunday, February 21, 2016
Saturday, January 11, 2014
I Love Pinterest
I didn't always "get" Pinterest. I thought the whole concept was kinda lame, but to be honest I never truly gave it a chance. Recently, however, I discovered the amazingness that is this website. Here is a collection of my favorite pins. You can follow my boards if you want.
 |
| x x x x |
 |
| x x x x |
 |
| x x x x |
 |
| x x x x |
 |
| x x x x |
 |
| x x x x |
 |
| x x x x |
 |
| x x x x |
 |
| x x x x |
 |
| x x x x |
Friday, November 29, 2013
Cyber Monday at Sigma
Hey everyone! I'm in the middle of exam-time craziness AND moving craziness, so blogging will be infrequent for the next month. BUT I'm definitely going to post the second half of my Christmas wishlist! This time it'll include non-beauty goodness :)
For now I just wanted to share some information about the Sigma Cyber Monday sale happening on December 2nd. They're offering 20% select items using the code CM2013. Here's a list of what your savings might look like (the sale prices are in brackets)!
For now I just wanted to share some information about the Sigma Cyber Monday sale happening on December 2nd. They're offering 20% select items using the code CM2013. Here's a list of what your savings might look like (the sale prices are in brackets)!
Brushes
- E11: $12 ($9.60)
- E16: $12 ($9.60)
- E17: $12 ($9.60)
- E21: $12 ($9.60)
- E36: $12 ($9.60)
- E46: $12 ($9.60)
- E47: $12 ($9.60)
- E56: $12 ($9.60)
- P80: $18 ($14.40)
- P82: $18 ($14.40)
- P84: $18 ($14.40)
- P86: $18 ($14.40)
- P88: $18 ($14.40)
- Basic Eyes Kit: $69 ($55.20)
- Make Me Crazy Essential & Travel (with colored ferrule): $155 ($124)/$75 ($60)
- Make Me Cool & Travel (with colored ferrule): $155 ($124)/$75 ($60)
- Make Me Blush & Travel (with colored ferrule): $155 ($124)/$75 ($60)
- Mrs. Bunny Essential & Travel (with colored ferrule): $155 ($124)/$75 ($60)
Brush Care
- Spa Glove – Aqua/Pink/Purple/Black: $35 ($28.00)
- Dry’N Shape: $32 ($25.60)
- Classic Brush Roll: $17.60 ($14.08)
Makeup
- Dare Eye Shadow Palette: $29 ($23.50)
- Flare Eye Shadow Palette: $29 ($23.50)
- Paris Makeup Palette: $49 ($39.20)
- Individual Eye Shadows (all): $11 ($8.80)
- Eye Shadow Bases Kits: $36 ($28.80)
Accessories
My personal recommendations are the E11 or E17 - a good liner brush will seriously make you love gel liner, E47 - a really precise shadow brush can help add extra dimension to your eye makeup, P82 - the density of this brush would be perfect for cream shadow or bases, and the Mrs. Bunny Essential Kit - if you're new to makeup and building your brush collection, this is a great addition!
All the links in this post are affiliate links! You don't have to use them if you don't want to, but feel free - there is no extra charge/it does not change your order. Happy shopping!
Friday, November 1, 2013
Holiday Goodie Bag GIVEAWAY [CLOSED]
Hey everyone! I've been wanting to do a surprise goodie bag type of giveaway for a while, and I thought now would be a good time since the holidays are beginning to roll 'round! The concept is simple: I won't be telling you what goodies will be added to the bag, but I will tell you the brand. You will only find out what exactly you've won when the prize arrives at your door!
I know it's a little early for holiday giveaways, but I wanted everyone to get a chance to enter and I also wanted the prize to be delivered in-time for Christmas in case the winner celebrates it!
PRIZES & INFO:
As of yet, the goodie bag will include the following brands: Benefit, Covergirl, Burts Bees, L'Oreal, Maybelline, Essie, OPI, Tarte, Julep, Ardell and Annabelle. The items from these brands have already been purchased, so they are finalized! I will update here and on Twitter in case more brands are added (highlighted in yellow). I will also throw in some bonuses that I may not even list here!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I know it's a little early for holiday giveaways, but I wanted everyone to get a chance to enter and I also wanted the prize to be delivered in-time for Christmas in case the winner celebrates it!
PRIZES & INFO:
As of yet, the goodie bag will include the following brands: Benefit, Covergirl, Burts Bees, L'Oreal, Maybelline, Essie, OPI, Tarte, Julep, Ardell and Annabelle. The items from these brands have already been purchased, so they are finalized! I will update here and on Twitter in case more brands are added (highlighted in yellow). I will also throw in some bonuses that I may not even list here!
TERMS & CONDITIONS:
1) Giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY
2) Must be 18+ years of age or have your parent's permission to enter
3) Must fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter
4) Must be willing to provide a shipping address if won
5) The winner will announced in a separate blog post and will be emailed
6) You are only eligible to win if you have not won a previous giveaway on Abundance of Erica
7) If the winner does not respond to my email within 48 hours, another winner will be contacted
8) All prizes will be shipped in pristine condition (none have been removed from their original packaging), but I cannot be held responsible for damages that occur in transit
2) Must be 18+ years of age or have your parent's permission to enter
3) Must fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter
4) Must be willing to provide a shipping address if won
5) The winner will announced in a separate blog post and will be emailed
6) You are only eligible to win if you have not won a previous giveaway on Abundance of Erica
7) If the winner does not respond to my email within 48 hours, another winner will be contacted
8) All prizes will be shipped in pristine condition (none have been removed from their original packaging), but I cannot be held responsible for damages that occur in transit
9) Entering via accounts dedicated solely to giveaways will be eliminated.
10) GIVEAWAY ENDS ON DECEMBER 1ST, 2013
10) GIVEAWAY ENDS ON DECEMBER 1ST, 2013
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good luck & happy entering!
Monday, June 17, 2013
Empties & Products I've Hit Pan On
Hey everyone! I've been hoarding a few items over the past couple weeks so that I could talk about some products that I've either used up entirely or hit pan on. I've decided to share them with you today!
Bioderma Sensibio H2O: This is what I've been using as my go-to eye makeup remover and it works like a dream. At first I was a little skeptical since this product is oh-so raved about on blogs & YouTube, but when I finished it I went back to my Rimmel remover for a little while, and let me tell you, it is not the same. I've already purchased a new one since I feel like you get good value out of the 250ml format. It lasted me five months which I think is pretty impressive since the bottle is relatively small.
Aveeno Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser: I probably discussed this product already in a previous post, but this is my daily face cleanser. I use it in the morning and at night and although I don't really think it gets rid of acne entirely (I use other products to do so), I think it does at least control it by reducing redness and keeping the pores clean. If I forget to use this at night, I immediately notice a difference the next morning - my face just doesn't feel as clean.
Batiste Dry Shampoo (Tropical): This product was definitely well-loved. A 150ml can lasted me around 7 months, which is fantastic. It's super inexpensive and it really keeps my hair decent in between washes. I don't wash my hair every day since I do style it every time I wash it, so this makes me feel more comfortable about that. I have since repurchased it in a larger format with the original scent (though the tropical scent didn't bother me).
Rimmel Stay Matte Powder (top left): I've discussed this product ad nauseum already so I don't feel the need to be too detailed here. It's just a really great mattifying powder. It doesn't give coverage but it really controls shiny-ness.
Bailey Powder Foundation Duo (top right): This is perhaps the only product I received in a beauty box that has been so frequently used. Contrary to the Rimmel powder, this provides awesome coverage. I wouldn't use it alone, but over a BB cream or tinted moisturizer, or even just some concealer, it works out perfectly. I still use the bronzer side for days that I'm striving for natural-looking contouring. It's matte and just the right shade - no fuss.
NARS Laguna Bronzer: Let me tell you, I was very sad to hit pan on this product. I use this bronzer on the high points of my face just to give my skin a bit of colour. A little does go a long way and you do get a lot of bang for your buck, but you will love it so much that you'll use it daily. It has a subtle shimmer which I find perfect for summer.
Marcelle Hydra-C Foundation: I've been using Marcelle foundation ever since I started wearing makeup, and this foundation is my favorite from their entire range. I'm not even sure it has to do with the formulation, but rather the shade (it's an exact match to my skintone) and the packaging (so convenient and fuss-free!). But, sad story - they're discontinuing this :( I have since moved on to the Rimmel Wake Me Up foundation and am loving that though.
Urban Decay Primer Potion mini: This has actually been empty for a really long time now and I just keep it around thinking I'll be able to get one last drop out of it. It hasn't necessarily been my favourite eyeshadow primer, but it's absolutely neutral (no colour) so it's really versatile - i.e. ideal for any eyeshadow look.
So that concludes my first empties post! Hope you all enjoyed it :)
Aveeno Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser: I probably discussed this product already in a previous post, but this is my daily face cleanser. I use it in the morning and at night and although I don't really think it gets rid of acne entirely (I use other products to do so), I think it does at least control it by reducing redness and keeping the pores clean. If I forget to use this at night, I immediately notice a difference the next morning - my face just doesn't feel as clean.
Batiste Dry Shampoo (Tropical): This product was definitely well-loved. A 150ml can lasted me around 7 months, which is fantastic. It's super inexpensive and it really keeps my hair decent in between washes. I don't wash my hair every day since I do style it every time I wash it, so this makes me feel more comfortable about that. I have since repurchased it in a larger format with the original scent (though the tropical scent didn't bother me).
Bailey Powder Foundation Duo (top right): This is perhaps the only product I received in a beauty box that has been so frequently used. Contrary to the Rimmel powder, this provides awesome coverage. I wouldn't use it alone, but over a BB cream or tinted moisturizer, or even just some concealer, it works out perfectly. I still use the bronzer side for days that I'm striving for natural-looking contouring. It's matte and just the right shade - no fuss.
NARS Laguna Bronzer: Let me tell you, I was very sad to hit pan on this product. I use this bronzer on the high points of my face just to give my skin a bit of colour. A little does go a long way and you do get a lot of bang for your buck, but you will love it so much that you'll use it daily. It has a subtle shimmer which I find perfect for summer.
Urban Decay Primer Potion mini: This has actually been empty for a really long time now and I just keep it around thinking I'll be able to get one last drop out of it. It hasn't necessarily been my favourite eyeshadow primer, but it's absolutely neutral (no colour) so it's really versatile - i.e. ideal for any eyeshadow look.
So that concludes my first empties post! Hope you all enjoyed it :)
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
May Favorites 2013
We've reached the end of another months which means it's "Favorites" time! This month I haven't been going crazy on eye makeup - the most I've done is a neutral eye and some mascara. However, I have been focusing on face makeup, meaning concealer, blush, bronzer, highlighter, etc.
FINALLYYYY the Real Techniques brushes have made their way to Quebec! I found this set at the Walmart Superstore near my house, and I am absolutely in love. The pink one is just perfection - it can be used to apply bronzer, blush, powder highlighter, anything. The purple one is meant for eyeshadow but I've been using it to blend cream concealer. The densities of these brushes are spot-on. Well done, Sam Chapman!
My nail polish favorite this month is Essie "Fiji", which I'm sure you've heard me discuss at length. You can find a full review of this nail polish by clicking HERE, but in sum, I think it's the best summer colour. So flattering, and so pretty. Also, Seche Vite is an all-time favorite but I figured it merited an appearance in at least one monthly favorites post. It dries your nails completely in about two minutes. I'm not sure what I'd do without it!
This is the NYC bronzer in "Sunny" which, honestly, I've been neglecting it for a little while! I'm so glad I rediscovered it because I love how matte it is, making it really easy to dust lightly all over the face, giving you an instant tan!
I got this MAC mineralized skinfinish back in March but since I didn't do March or April favorites, here it is - however, I should mention that I've literally been using it every since I got it. It's the perfect highlighter - a really lovely bronzy, champagne color that looks awesome atop the cheekbones. It's subtle enough that you won't look shiny/greasy, but luminous enough that you'd notice a healthy-looking difference in your skin. It makes it look like it sucks the sunlight right to your cheekbones, which is actually really flattering.
This next product is the Ro's Argan Body Conditioner from Lush. I've been using this after every shower on my arms and legs and I've been enjoying it very much. The scent is sooo nice, and it does a good job hydrating your skin. My only problem is that it takes a little while to sink in, but when it does, your skin becomes really soft!
And last but not least, my favorite candle of the month is Espresso Bar from the Bath & Body Works Italy collection. It makes my room smell like a coffee shop! It definitely smells like espresso, but it also has very detectable vanilla-scented sweetness to it. A must-have if you're into sweet dessert scents like I am!
That concludes my monthly favorites! Let me know if you've done a monthly favorites post for May and leave a link in the comments as I would love to read it :)
That concludes my monthly favorites! Let me know if you've done a monthly favorites post for May and leave a link in the comments as I would love to read it :)
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Because of YouTube Tag
Hey everyone! I picked up this tag off of icallitambrosia and thought it would be fun to do, considering I've been superrrr obsessed with YouTube lately. I'm not on YouTube myself (although I might be one day - who knows!), so some of the questions don't apply. Also, I have a running list of all the channels I'm subscribed to (CLICK HERE) in case you're interested.
Products I've purchased off of a beauty guru's recommendation:
YouTube gurus you would like to meet:
To be honest, most of the YouTubers I would like to meet aren't beauty gurus... However, I would like to meet Tanya and her fiance Jim because they both seem really sweet and lovely. I'd also like to meet essiebutton because she's hilarious and Canadian and I feel like we'd have lots in common!
Three techniques you learned:
1) The importance of blending eyeshadow! I used to shy away from eyeshadow in its entirety because I never achieved a seamless look. NikkieTutorials, in particular, showed me how eye makeup can immediately look 1000% better if you just blend, blend, blend.
2) I remember I first learned how to do winged liner from Michelle Phan. She also taught me the best way to clean makeup brushes. Come to think of it, all of my basic knowledge of makeup/beauty comes from Michelle!
3) I learned from Lisa Eldridge that the best way to match a foundation is to make sure the color is consistent when you blend it in from the side of your cheek onto the beginning of your neck.
Two friends that I have made through YouTube:
I haven't made friends through YouTube because, as I said, I'm not actually on YouTube lol!
One video that has been the most helpful:
I can't pinpoint one specific video, but I feel like some gurus are definitely more helpful than others. In terms of techniques, I would direct you to NikkieTutorials who is so great at what she does at such a young age, Michelle Phan (her older videos that weren't overly sponsored), and Lisa Eldridge who is a celebrity makeup artist. Additionally, the pixiwoo sisters do some really great, easy-to-follow tutorials! In terms of product recommendation, I feel like Allison from Amarixe always offers really thoughtful reviews and has great taste in general.
That concludes the tag! Please feel free to fill it out for yourself and link back to me so that I can read it too! :)
Products I've purchased off of a beauty guru's recommendation:
 |
| Urban Decay Naked palette (icallitambrosia), Rimmel Stay Matte powder (Tanya Burr), NARS Laguna bronzer (pretty much everyone lolol), NYC Smooth Skin Bronzer in Sunny (Amarixe), Korres lip butter in Wild Rose (essiebutton), OPI Vant To Bite My Neck (missjenfabulous) |
YouTube gurus you would like to meet:
To be honest, most of the YouTubers I would like to meet aren't beauty gurus... However, I would like to meet Tanya and her fiance Jim because they both seem really sweet and lovely. I'd also like to meet essiebutton because she's hilarious and Canadian and I feel like we'd have lots in common!
Three techniques you learned:
1) The importance of blending eyeshadow! I used to shy away from eyeshadow in its entirety because I never achieved a seamless look. NikkieTutorials, in particular, showed me how eye makeup can immediately look 1000% better if you just blend, blend, blend.
2) I remember I first learned how to do winged liner from Michelle Phan. She also taught me the best way to clean makeup brushes. Come to think of it, all of my basic knowledge of makeup/beauty comes from Michelle!
3) I learned from Lisa Eldridge that the best way to match a foundation is to make sure the color is consistent when you blend it in from the side of your cheek onto the beginning of your neck.
Two friends that I have made through YouTube:
I haven't made friends through YouTube because, as I said, I'm not actually on YouTube lol!
One video that has been the most helpful:
I can't pinpoint one specific video, but I feel like some gurus are definitely more helpful than others. In terms of techniques, I would direct you to NikkieTutorials who is so great at what she does at such a young age, Michelle Phan (her older videos that weren't overly sponsored), and Lisa Eldridge who is a celebrity makeup artist. Additionally, the pixiwoo sisters do some really great, easy-to-follow tutorials! In terms of product recommendation, I feel like Allison from Amarixe always offers really thoughtful reviews and has great taste in general.
That concludes the tag! Please feel free to fill it out for yourself and link back to me so that I can read it too! :)
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
January Beauty Favorites (Finally!)
Hey everyone! Long time no blog! I'm finally finished my most hectic week of school (apart from final exams), so I thought I'd finally post my January favorites. I didn't have too many favorites this month because I didn't usually have time to focus on my makeup in the mornings, so most of these products would be nice to use if you're in a rush (and I'll tell you exactly how & why I use them).
Bioderma Micellaire Solution: I received this for Christmas and have used it almost every day since. It does an incredible job at removing eye makeup (waterproof as well!), and I also use it as a toner. If, let's say, I already washed my face in the morning, but I'm only getting ready in the afternoon, instead of washing my face again before makeup I'll put some Bioderma on a cotton pad and quickly sweep it onto my face. I'm kind of sad about how fast I'm using up this product considering how expensive it is, but I would definitely say it's worth it!
Marcelle Hydra-C Foundation: This foundation was on sale at Pharmaprix this month so I decided to pick it up instead of my Marcelle matte foundation, and I have been really enjoying it. My favorite part is the packaging. It's not a pump or a screw top, it's a squeeze tube, so you can control exactly how much product you need. It's super practical!
Blistex Lip Medex: I haven't been putting too much color on my lips lately because they've been sore and dry, so I mostly just reached for my Blistex. It does a really good job at moisturizing, and sometimes I'll put it on right before bed and wake up with really soft lips. Definitely a staple product.
Dual-Ended Sephora Face Brush: I picked this up at Sephora on Boxing Day for $12 and have found it very practical. I've been wanting to get the MAC 168 angled blush brush for a while now, but I really feel like this Sephora one has remedied that need. I don't use the round side as I find it too dense for powders, but the angled side is perfect for blush, bronzer, and contouring.
MAC 217 brush: Now I know why Tanya Burr has like 10 of these bad boys. They're so practical for eye makeup - be it for an all-over wash of color, contouring, or blending. I've even seen this used as a concealer brush which is just astounding. It's so multi-purpose and incredible, I highly recommend it.
NARS Laguna bronzer: I've said before and I'll say it again, I adore this bronzer. I've been going back and forth between this and my NYC Sunny bronzer, but I have to say there is really no comparison. This one is just 100% better. It's the perfect shade for my skintone, it's super sheer, and it makes my skin look really healthy. I swear by this stuff.
Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in "RSVP": I think I wore this almost every day in January. I patted some on to my lids with my finger, contoured a little with some matte brown eyeshadow - using my 217 ;), added some mascara and called it a day. I think it's really comparable to Urban Decay's Sin (but I'll probably do a full post on that). It's really convenient and a nice shimmery nude for every day.
So that's it for my January favorites! Now onto February (my birthday month)!
Marcelle Hydra-C Foundation: This foundation was on sale at Pharmaprix this month so I decided to pick it up instead of my Marcelle matte foundation, and I have been really enjoying it. My favorite part is the packaging. It's not a pump or a screw top, it's a squeeze tube, so you can control exactly how much product you need. It's super practical!
Blistex Lip Medex: I haven't been putting too much color on my lips lately because they've been sore and dry, so I mostly just reached for my Blistex. It does a really good job at moisturizing, and sometimes I'll put it on right before bed and wake up with really soft lips. Definitely a staple product.
Dual-Ended Sephora Face Brush: I picked this up at Sephora on Boxing Day for $12 and have found it very practical. I've been wanting to get the MAC 168 angled blush brush for a while now, but I really feel like this Sephora one has remedied that need. I don't use the round side as I find it too dense for powders, but the angled side is perfect for blush, bronzer, and contouring.
MAC 217 brush: Now I know why Tanya Burr has like 10 of these bad boys. They're so practical for eye makeup - be it for an all-over wash of color, contouring, or blending. I've even seen this used as a concealer brush which is just astounding. It's so multi-purpose and incredible, I highly recommend it.
Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in "RSVP": I think I wore this almost every day in January. I patted some on to my lids with my finger, contoured a little with some matte brown eyeshadow - using my 217 ;), added some mascara and called it a day. I think it's really comparable to Urban Decay's Sin (but I'll probably do a full post on that). It's really convenient and a nice shimmery nude for every day.
So that's it for my January favorites! Now onto February (my birthday month)!
Thursday, January 31, 2013
FOTD: January 27th Edition
Hey everyone! Last weekend I went to my cousin's birthday party and pulled together a cute makeup & outfit look that I thought I'd share with you. It was a little bright and summer-y for this time of year but I was tired of wearing black!
Face & Makeup:
- Urban Decay DeSlick
- Stila One-Step Corrector
- Marcelle Hydra-C foundation in True Beige
- Rimmel Stay Matte powder
- NARS Laguna bronzer
- NYX blush in Desert Rose
- Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in RSVP
- Stila In The Know palette (assorted colors)
- Lancome Artliner (black)
- Urban Decay Naked & Buck for eyebrows
- NYX soft matte lip cream in Milan
- Be a Bombshell lip gloss in Hot Mess
Necklace: Forever 21 from a 2009 collection
White shirt: It's actually part of my old high school uniform lol! Yay for reusing clothes!
Green top: TJ Maxx
Anyway, sorry for not blogging too much this month! I just got back to school and it's been time-consuming. Hopefully February will be a little more productive blog-wise. Thanks for sticking around :)
- Urban Decay DeSlick
- Stila One-Step Corrector
- Marcelle Hydra-C foundation in True Beige
- Rimmel Stay Matte powder
- NARS Laguna bronzer
- NYX blush in Desert Rose
- Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in RSVP
- Stila In The Know palette (assorted colors)
- Lancome Artliner (black)
- Urban Decay Naked & Buck for eyebrows
- NYX soft matte lip cream in Milan
- Be a Bombshell lip gloss in Hot Mess
Necklace: Forever 21 from a 2009 collection
White shirt: It's actually part of my old high school uniform lol! Yay for reusing clothes!
Green top: TJ Maxx
 |
| Can we talk about how tall my brother is?......... |
Friday, January 25, 2013
REVIEW: Stila One Step Corrector
Hey everyone! Today I bring to you guys my first ever product review! I purchased this product last year so I've been able to test it out for a long time and give you a well-rounded opinion. As you can see from my photo below, I've used quite a bit of it (at least half, I'd say).
I had my makeup done at a Stila counter one day and the makeup artist used this on my face and it felt refreshing and nice. And then, of course, the presentation & packaging of the product is what sold me. How cool does it look?! It's meant to look like a strand of DNA, I guess, and each color is meant to do something different for your skin. Also, it has a really sturdy pump dispenser that definitely comes in handy.
Green: Minimizes redness. It does a pretty good job at minimizing redness but I do have a small problem with it. I only have redness on certain parts of my face but because the product pumps out as 3-in-1, I can't concentrate it on those areas specifically. I have to say the design is a bit of a flaw in this case. I've previously used the Makeup Forever HD Primer in the blue tone to eliminate redness and it works way better.
Lavender: Counteracts sallow undertones. That means it masks unhealthy yellow tones. To be honest I had no idea what "sallow" meant until now, so I can't really tell you guys if this worked because I wasn't looking out for it... LOL. I'll try to notice it next time and edit this post when I do.
Peach: Brightens, illuminates, and helps diminish the appearance of sun spots. I'd definitely say this part of the concoction works. I do find the product very brightening.
Diminishes the look of fine lines & wrinkles: I don't really have fine lines/wrinkles so I can't really vouch for this one. Sorry.
Minimizes pores: I have massive pores and I don't think this product really masked them whatsoever. I don't think it's thick enough to actually do this well. Again, I'd need a product that could be concentrated on the pores (i.e. not spread out over my entire face) to properly minimize pores.
Hydrates & Balances: This is actually one of the components that drew me into buying this. It eliminates having to use a moisturizer in the morning! I have to say this aspect of the product also really works.
Controls oil: Hmm, well, I wear my makeup all day and I definitely come home to some oil build-up when I use this. I can't say it completely controls oil throughout the entire day, but it does the job for a good portion of it.
The product is also meant to be used as a makeup primer so I'd like to address that for a little. Once the product dries into your skin it changes in consistency. If you take a look at the third panel in the above photo, you will see that it looks very wet. When it absorbs, it becomes a little tacky, and it gives your foundation a base to hold on to. It also creates a barrier between your skin and the makeup, which can be very beneficial if you have sensitive skin.
 |
| PS. How rad do my nails look? |
Green: Minimizes redness. It does a pretty good job at minimizing redness but I do have a small problem with it. I only have redness on certain parts of my face but because the product pumps out as 3-in-1, I can't concentrate it on those areas specifically. I have to say the design is a bit of a flaw in this case. I've previously used the Makeup Forever HD Primer in the blue tone to eliminate redness and it works way better.
Lavender: Counteracts sallow undertones. That means it masks unhealthy yellow tones. To be honest I had no idea what "sallow" meant until now, so I can't really tell you guys if this worked because I wasn't looking out for it... LOL. I'll try to notice it next time and edit this post when I do.
Peach: Brightens, illuminates, and helps diminish the appearance of sun spots. I'd definitely say this part of the concoction works. I do find the product very brightening.
 |
| It does look a little green-cast in the third frame, but that's because I used a whole pump on a tiny surface area. The product would be evenly spread on your entire face so you don't have to worry about looking Grinch-like. |
Diminishes the look of fine lines & wrinkles: I don't really have fine lines/wrinkles so I can't really vouch for this one. Sorry.
Minimizes pores: I have massive pores and I don't think this product really masked them whatsoever. I don't think it's thick enough to actually do this well. Again, I'd need a product that could be concentrated on the pores (i.e. not spread out over my entire face) to properly minimize pores.
Hydrates & Balances: This is actually one of the components that drew me into buying this. It eliminates having to use a moisturizer in the morning! I have to say this aspect of the product also really works.
Controls oil: Hmm, well, I wear my makeup all day and I definitely come home to some oil build-up when I use this. I can't say it completely controls oil throughout the entire day, but it does the job for a good portion of it.
The product is also meant to be used as a makeup primer so I'd like to address that for a little. Once the product dries into your skin it changes in consistency. If you take a look at the third panel in the above photo, you will see that it looks very wet. When it absorbs, it becomes a little tacky, and it gives your foundation a base to hold on to. It also creates a barrier between your skin and the makeup, which can be very beneficial if you have sensitive skin.
VERDICT: It's a nice product to own, but for the price ($47 - damn), it's a bit unnecessary. I'd say only about 3 of the billion "benefits" of this product are actually noticeable.
Have you tried this product? What did you think?
Friday, January 18, 2013
Beauty Blogging on a Budget
Hey everyone! A while ago I made a post telling you guys about my current financial situation, and it dawned on me that I should write up a blog post explaining how I am able to be a beauty blogger whilst maintaining a sort of budget.
First, I would like to throw this out there - having a successful beauty blog does not simply mean that you need to do constant reviews and hauls. In fact, some of my favorite posts are neither of those. I hadn't started doing hauls until I was months and months into blogging, and I still don't think I've dedicated a post to review one single product. Here are some other ideas:
Tags: Honestly, tags are some of my favorite posts to read. They're personal, yet informative. I've done quite a bit so far and I have a few in my drafts that are waiting to be finalized and posted. Generally, there are seasonal tags that tend to float around (Christmas Tag, Summer Favorites Tag), so be on the look-out for those, but there are also tags that never really die. You can check out the tags I've already done by clicking HERE.
Also, in my drafts I have the Sample Tag (wherein you just describe which samples you've been using up and what you think of them), I Heart Drugstore Makeup Tag, and the How Much Is My Face Worth Tag.
Collections, Top 5s: These are a really simple way to exercise your writing skills and give mini reviews on products you already own. You could break up posts like these into sections, or dedicate one post per product (for example, going through your nail polish collection by posting a photo each time you wear a new one).
Speaking of, photos are a great way to add some life to a blog post. You can use your phone camera or a basic digital camera - no need for fancy DSLRs. Also, it might get difficult to do "monthly favorites" if you cannot afford to buy bunches of new products every month, so these are a good alternative. Similarly, you can do "products I regret buying" or "disappointing products", both of which are as informative as favorites posts.
EOTDs, FOTDs, NOTDs, OOTDs: These basically stand for Eye of the Day, Face of the Day, Nail of the Day, and Outfit of the Day. These posts are quick and easy and let you showcase your love of beauty and fashion in a personal way. Again, they allow you to make use of the products you already own making them very cost-efficient. I've also noticed that these posts get many pageviews (at least on my blog).
Giveaways: As of yet, I have won six beauty-related giveaways. Incredible, no? I think giveaways are an awesome way to acquire new products, and I mean - they're entirely free! It would be ridiculous not to enter giveaways. I think I might do a separate blog post on how to win a giveaway. It wouldn't be anything revolutionary (no hacks or cheating), but it would outline some simple tips that might up your chances of winning. Please let me know in the comments if you'd enjoy reading that.
Online Shopping VS. In-Store Shopping: I find it very easy to sometimes get sucked into online shopping, simply because with blogging and getting involved in the online beauty community, links to new beauty websites get thrown around often. What I think is most important is to find a beauty website that is either a) based in your home country (therefore avoiding massive shipping costs), or b) ships for cheap (by my standards - no more than $5 extra). If not, shop in-store! I guess this sounds obvious, but there is no use in paying shipping from the Sephora website if you have a real-life Sephora near you. Save online shopping for exclusively online deals or for products that are inaccessible near you.
Beauty Subscription Services: For a small sum, you can receive deluxe beauty samples (and sometimes full-sized products) sent right to door every single month. This is a great opportunity to try out new products and to guarantee a new blog post per month. You can regard subscription services as an extra expense, or as one of your main beauty sources. If you are low on money, I don't recommend it, but if you see it as an investment, it's a great value.
My favorite service to-date has been Ipsy (formerly known as MyGlam). Unfortunately they only ship to the USA and Canada at the moment, but they send some really nice deluxe products (no crappy sachets of lotion or something). I was also subscribed to GlossyBox for a few months and enjoyed that as well. They didn't send as many well-known brands as Ipsy does, but I received a few products from GlossyBox that I still use on a frequent basis.
So that concludes my budget beauty blogging tips! Let me know if they helped you at all/if you enjoyed reading this! Happy Friday! :)
Types of Posts
First, I would like to throw this out there - having a successful beauty blog does not simply mean that you need to do constant reviews and hauls. In fact, some of my favorite posts are neither of those. I hadn't started doing hauls until I was months and months into blogging, and I still don't think I've dedicated a post to review one single product. Here are some other ideas:
Tags: Honestly, tags are some of my favorite posts to read. They're personal, yet informative. I've done quite a bit so far and I have a few in my drafts that are waiting to be finalized and posted. Generally, there are seasonal tags that tend to float around (Christmas Tag, Summer Favorites Tag), so be on the look-out for those, but there are also tags that never really die. You can check out the tags I've already done by clicking HERE.
Also, in my drafts I have the Sample Tag (wherein you just describe which samples you've been using up and what you think of them), I Heart Drugstore Makeup Tag, and the How Much Is My Face Worth Tag.
Collections, Top 5s: These are a really simple way to exercise your writing skills and give mini reviews on products you already own. You could break up posts like these into sections, or dedicate one post per product (for example, going through your nail polish collection by posting a photo each time you wear a new one).
Speaking of, photos are a great way to add some life to a blog post. You can use your phone camera or a basic digital camera - no need for fancy DSLRs. Also, it might get difficult to do "monthly favorites" if you cannot afford to buy bunches of new products every month, so these are a good alternative. Similarly, you can do "products I regret buying" or "disappointing products", both of which are as informative as favorites posts.
EOTDs, FOTDs, NOTDs, OOTDs: These basically stand for Eye of the Day, Face of the Day, Nail of the Day, and Outfit of the Day. These posts are quick and easy and let you showcase your love of beauty and fashion in a personal way. Again, they allow you to make use of the products you already own making them very cost-efficient. I've also noticed that these posts get many pageviews (at least on my blog).
Acquiring New Products
Giveaways: As of yet, I have won six beauty-related giveaways. Incredible, no? I think giveaways are an awesome way to acquire new products, and I mean - they're entirely free! It would be ridiculous not to enter giveaways. I think I might do a separate blog post on how to win a giveaway. It wouldn't be anything revolutionary (no hacks or cheating), but it would outline some simple tips that might up your chances of winning. Please let me know in the comments if you'd enjoy reading that.
 |
| I recently won Amarixe's Holiday LUSH Giveaway! |
Online Shopping VS. In-Store Shopping: I find it very easy to sometimes get sucked into online shopping, simply because with blogging and getting involved in the online beauty community, links to new beauty websites get thrown around often. What I think is most important is to find a beauty website that is either a) based in your home country (therefore avoiding massive shipping costs), or b) ships for cheap (by my standards - no more than $5 extra). If not, shop in-store! I guess this sounds obvious, but there is no use in paying shipping from the Sephora website if you have a real-life Sephora near you. Save online shopping for exclusively online deals or for products that are inaccessible near you.
Beauty Subscription Services: For a small sum, you can receive deluxe beauty samples (and sometimes full-sized products) sent right to door every single month. This is a great opportunity to try out new products and to guarantee a new blog post per month. You can regard subscription services as an extra expense, or as one of your main beauty sources. If you are low on money, I don't recommend it, but if you see it as an investment, it's a great value.
My favorite service to-date has been Ipsy (formerly known as MyGlam). Unfortunately they only ship to the USA and Canada at the moment, but they send some really nice deluxe products (no crappy sachets of lotion or something). I was also subscribed to GlossyBox for a few months and enjoyed that as well. They didn't send as many well-known brands as Ipsy does, but I received a few products from GlossyBox that I still use on a frequent basis.
So that concludes my budget beauty blogging tips! Let me know if they helped you at all/if you enjoyed reading this! Happy Friday! :)
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
2013 Beauty Giveaways
Hey everyone! It's been a while since I made a post listing the giveaways currently happening in the blogosphere, so I figured you deserved an update.
Quite frankly, I haven't been on my giveaway game recently because of the holidays and whatnot, but I thought hey, why not start 2013 with a nice giveaway win. And then I checked my Twitter replies and noticed that I'd won Where Can I Find The Perfect?'s Zoya Spring collection giveaway, so I figured luck's now on my side, I'm going to enter some more! So without further ado...
Please let me know in the comments if you are having a giveaway at the moment and would like to be added to this post! :) Happy entering!
Quite frankly, I haven't been on my giveaway game recently because of the holidays and whatnot, but I thought hey, why not start 2013 with a nice giveaway win. And then I checked my Twitter replies and noticed that I'd won Where Can I Find The Perfect?'s Zoya Spring collection giveaway, so I figured luck's now on my side, I'm going to enter some more! So without further ado...
 |
| Enter here: http://www.nikmakeupjunkie.com/2013/01/my-year-blogging-tag-giveaway.html |
 |
| Enter here: http://paigeypumpkin.blogspot.ca/2012/12/100-follower-give-away.html |
 |
| Enter here: http://kitschsnitch.blogspot.ca/2012/12/200-followerschristmas-giveaway-occ-lip.html |
 |
| Enter here: http://christineiversen.blogspot.ca/2013/01/giveaway-win-urban-decay-naked-basics.html |
 |
| Enter here: http://shrinkingwallet.blogspot.ca/2013/01/celebrating-350-gfc-followers-giveaway.html |
 |
| Enter here: http://thriftygirlloves.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/200-follower-mac-lipstick-models-own.html |
 |
| Enter here: http://theamazingworldofj.blogspot.ca/2013/01/worldwide-mac-birthday-giveaway.html |
 |
| Enter here: http://www.pdxbeautiful.com/2012/12/sigma-holiday-giveaway.html?spref=tw |
Monday, December 31, 2012
2012 FAVORITES!
Hey everyone! So the year wouldn't be complete without a recap of all my favorite things, and I decided to divide this up into categories, telling you my top 4 in each. This was honestly really difficult and I thought about it quite a bit! Hope you enjoy.
Of course, I could not give you a top 4 without telling y'all my makeup faves. First is the Urban Decay Naked palette that I received for my birthday in February. I won't dwell on this one too long because if you know anything about me, you will know that this is my ultimate eyeshadow palette ever.
Next is the Rimmel Stay Matte powder, which I picked up thanks to Tanya Burr on YouTube. It does an incredible job at mattifying the skin, so if you are of the oily type, I highly recommend it.
Along the same lines, Urban Decay's De Slick has been a lifesaver. I definitely think this helps my makeup stay put, and it definitely controls oil really well.
Last is my Korres lip butter in Wild Rose. I purchased this product during the summer thanks to EssieButton on YouTube, and I've loved it ever since. Whenever I'm not sure which lip product to wear, I always reach for this one. It's such a pretty color and a pleasure to wear.
The first nail polish is China Glaze's Ruby Pumps, which is kinda cheating since I only just received it for Christmas. I can predict that this might also be a 2013 favorite, just because I love it a lot.
Next is also a China Glaze polish, but this one is called Prism. It's an amazing, sparkly, glittery lilac-toned nail polish and I have nothing more to say about it except that it's beautiful. I'm wearing it for New Year's!
Third is Essie's Bahama Mama. This was my ultimate fall nail color and I found myself gravitating towards it multiple times during the season. I honestly think it's such a classy color, and a great alternative to the traditional red.
Last but not least, Julep's Kate. Now, I didn't predict liking this polish as much as I did, but I've been absolutely loving this. I thought white nails were tacky at first, but I've grown to love them. I've found it to be a wonderful year-round color and a perfect base for glitter polishes. The formula is super smooth (absolutely no streaks).
In 2012, I've been obsessed with watching YouTube videos. Mainly for beauty and makeup purposes, but also for entertainment. First is EssieButton, whom I've mentioned many times on my blog. She's funny and has a knack for picking out lovely beauty items. Many products I've purchased have been due to her recommendation.
MissGlamorazzi is also a YouTuber I've been watching very frequently. Her demeanor is always super cute and optimistic and she's just so much fun to watch. Her vlogs are also really entertaining.
Next is FunForLouis. This is actually his second channel, but I can't really bare to watch his main channel to be honest lol. This year, he went on a UK roadtrip with Sam Pepper and Mazzi Maz, and vlogged every single bit of the way. Sam and Maz vlogged too, but I found Louis' the most fun to watch. He's currently staying with Sawyer Hartman (another YouTuber) and Sam in Los Angeles, and is vlogging every second day.
Alright, I seriously couldn't pick between these girls. They're YouTube's trifecta of awesomeness. Last year, I would've placed JennaMarbles in the non-beauty YouTube favorite category, but these three just take the cake this year. MyHarto's My Drunk Kitchen is very likely the funniest channel on YouTube. Hannah is also a really great person. Next is Mamrie Hart's channel You Deserve a Drink. Again, super funny. I can find myself watching her videos for hours. Last but not least is DailyGrace. She uploads videos Monday through Friday and is super witty.
I won't spend too much time talking about my music favorites, but here they are. First is Ed Sheeran's + album, which I listened to all the time whilst in Italy. This is definitely my top favorite album of the year.
Next is Taylor Swift's Red, which I'd been anticipating all year and was not disappointed by. She strays from her country genre quite a bit, but I just can't help loving her music.
I also really enjoyed Ellie Goulding's new album (admittedly not as much as Ed's & Taylor's). Her sound is so unique and I'm glad I was introduced to her music.
Lastly, is Miley Cyrus' backyard sessions which can be found on YouTube. I'm such a fan of her voice and every song she sings is so spot-on. Adore this girl.
This year I spent a lot of time watching movie staples that I had not previously seen, the first being the Shawshank Redemption. I could seriously go on and on about this movie. It was just perfect.
Next is Fight Club. I loved this story so much, and I even ended up reading the book. It's a cult favorite for a reason.
So specifically for 2012, I have to say, I really enjoyed the Avengers. I saw it multiple times in theatres and never got bored of it. It's chock-full of great actors and so much fun to watch. This was a big year for superhero movies but to me, this was the clear stand-out.
Last but not least, the Hunger Games. I read the books a while ago so I was very, very excited for this movie. I had high hopes and they were certainly met. Not much else to say - I loved every part of this film.
Finally, television. This year I kinda strayed away from my usual genre (think Gossip Girl, The OC, PLL), and started watching a variety of different shows. First up is How I Met Your Mother, which has been a favorite for years, to be honest. This show never fails to make me laugh, and I have so much love for all the characters. I'm going to be so upset when this is over.
I also really enjoyed watching the show Revenge this year. It's still relatively new (halfway through season 2), so I recommend starting it if you don't watch it already. It's super thrilling and the premise is really interesting.
Gah, gotta love me some Suits. This was the TV show I least expected to love this year. It's basically about lawyers, which I would generally hate, but the characters are so likeable and the storyline is so great. And yeah. A+
Lastly, the Food Network. I mean, there isn't much to say here. I like food and I like television and the Food Network exists, so obviously I'm a fan. Notables include Chopped, Cupcake Wars, and most recently, Iron Chef.
Next is the Rimmel Stay Matte powder, which I picked up thanks to Tanya Burr on YouTube. It does an incredible job at mattifying the skin, so if you are of the oily type, I highly recommend it.
Along the same lines, Urban Decay's De Slick has been a lifesaver. I definitely think this helps my makeup stay put, and it definitely controls oil really well.
Last is my Korres lip butter in Wild Rose. I purchased this product during the summer thanks to EssieButton on YouTube, and I've loved it ever since. Whenever I'm not sure which lip product to wear, I always reach for this one. It's such a pretty color and a pleasure to wear.
Next is also a China Glaze polish, but this one is called Prism. It's an amazing, sparkly, glittery lilac-toned nail polish and I have nothing more to say about it except that it's beautiful. I'm wearing it for New Year's!
Third is Essie's Bahama Mama. This was my ultimate fall nail color and I found myself gravitating towards it multiple times during the season. I honestly think it's such a classy color, and a great alternative to the traditional red.
Last but not least, Julep's Kate. Now, I didn't predict liking this polish as much as I did, but I've been absolutely loving this. I thought white nails were tacky at first, but I've grown to love them. I've found it to be a wonderful year-round color and a perfect base for glitter polishes. The formula is super smooth (absolutely no streaks).
 |
| I wore Julep "Kate" during the winter as well. Here, it's underneath Essie's Shine of the Times. |
MissGlamorazzi is also a YouTuber I've been watching very frequently. Her demeanor is always super cute and optimistic and she's just so much fun to watch. Her vlogs are also really entertaining.
Next is FunForLouis. This is actually his second channel, but I can't really bare to watch his main channel to be honest lol. This year, he went on a UK roadtrip with Sam Pepper and Mazzi Maz, and vlogged every single bit of the way. Sam and Maz vlogged too, but I found Louis' the most fun to watch. He's currently staying with Sawyer Hartman (another YouTuber) and Sam in Los Angeles, and is vlogging every second day.
Alright, I seriously couldn't pick between these girls. They're YouTube's trifecta of awesomeness. Last year, I would've placed JennaMarbles in the non-beauty YouTube favorite category, but these three just take the cake this year. MyHarto's My Drunk Kitchen is very likely the funniest channel on YouTube. Hannah is also a really great person. Next is Mamrie Hart's channel You Deserve a Drink. Again, super funny. I can find myself watching her videos for hours. Last but not least is DailyGrace. She uploads videos Monday through Friday and is super witty.
Next is Taylor Swift's Red, which I'd been anticipating all year and was not disappointed by. She strays from her country genre quite a bit, but I just can't help loving her music.
I also really enjoyed Ellie Goulding's new album (admittedly not as much as Ed's & Taylor's). Her sound is so unique and I'm glad I was introduced to her music.
Lastly, is Miley Cyrus' backyard sessions which can be found on YouTube. I'm such a fan of her voice and every song she sings is so spot-on. Adore this girl.
Next is Fight Club. I loved this story so much, and I even ended up reading the book. It's a cult favorite for a reason.
So specifically for 2012, I have to say, I really enjoyed the Avengers. I saw it multiple times in theatres and never got bored of it. It's chock-full of great actors and so much fun to watch. This was a big year for superhero movies but to me, this was the clear stand-out.
Last but not least, the Hunger Games. I read the books a while ago so I was very, very excited for this movie. I had high hopes and they were certainly met. Not much else to say - I loved every part of this film.
I also really enjoyed watching the show Revenge this year. It's still relatively new (halfway through season 2), so I recommend starting it if you don't watch it already. It's super thrilling and the premise is really interesting.
Gah, gotta love me some Suits. This was the TV show I least expected to love this year. It's basically about lawyers, which I would generally hate, but the characters are so likeable and the storyline is so great. And yeah. A+
Lastly, the Food Network. I mean, there isn't much to say here. I like food and I like television and the Food Network exists, so obviously I'm a fan. Notables include Chopped, Cupcake Wars, and most recently, Iron Chef.
And that concludes my 2012 favorites! I hope you all have a wonderful time celebrating 2013, and thank you so much for reading Abundance of Erica this past year. It's been a lot of fun to update and I look forward to blogging in the upcoming year :)
Monday, December 17, 2012
Wishlist Pt. 2: Christmas Edition!
Hey everyone! Long time no talk! To be honest, I thought I'd be posting on here way more this month... I guess it's just been a crazy couple of days. I finished off the last of my exams on Saturday and I was out yesterday, so today is looking like the opportune day to get back in the blogging game.
Anyhow, I have my second wishlist I've ever posted on this blog to share with you (click here to see the first one). These are some items I would love to receive for Christmas, and hopefully it gives you a few ideas for last-minute Christmas shopping. These are perfect for a friend or daughter or anyone into beauty (with perhaps the exception of the last three items).
OPI nail polish in "Golden Eye": This nail polish is from the OPI Skyfall collection (inspired by James Bond, of course), and it's a really pretty gold shimmer. I don't have one of these in my collection and I think it's just a nice, luxurious color to have. I would even treat it as a neutral because it could match so many different outfits.
Dior Shimmer Star in "Amber Diamond": I've been kind of obsessed with powder highlighters lately and it seems to me like this is just the ultimate. Everything about it seems incredible. The pigmentation (I've swatched it in-store many times), the pattern on the product, the packaging, everything. This is definitely more high-end given the price, but it would be such a lovely gift.
Bioderma Solution Micellaire: This product is hailed by the online beauty community as the best makeup remover in existence (lol). I guess the price is a point I'd like to address. This is not available in the United States, and can only be purchased in Europe (UK and France for sure, I'm not certain about other Euro countries) and Canada, and from what I know about exchange rates, it's marginally cheaper in Canada. That said, $22 for a makeup remover is a hell of a lot. It does seem like an incredible product, though, and I'm dying to try it.
Benefit POREfessional: The annoying thing about pores is that they're genetic, so any kind of serum that claims to remove pores is a scam. However, there are products available that reduce the look of pores, such as this one. I would be interested in trying it out to see how I'd make do with it, because it can be a hit or miss product. It's gotten generally good reviews, though, so I'm intrigued!
BeautyBlender: This is a product that is meant to seamlessly blend foundation. I don't know why it's $26; I can't really justify buying that for a sponge, but concept really peaks my interest. I still have a problem with streaky/patchy foundation if I don't spend ample time applying it, so this would be a wonder to have on days when I'm in a rush.
MAC 217 Brush: Okay, I love my Sigma blending brush, but this brush is likely one of the most-talked-about brushes in the beauty community. It seems more stiff than the Sigma one, so I bet it's a lot more precise. It can also be used to apply eyeshadow, and I think it would be an all-around great brush to own.
Giftcards: I think giftcards are a great gift, because it shows a person that you're atune to their needs and interests, while still giving them the opportunity to go shopping for themselves. Personally, I'm in serious need of a new bra (hope that's not TMI), and I've been having issues with Victoria's Secret lately, so Aerie is my new go-to. It's actually American Eagle's lingerie line. Really, though, I could make use out of any giftcard, be it Walmart, Pharmaprix, Sephora (of course), Bath & Body Works, Forever 21, etc.
Divergent by Veronica Roth: I'm in need of new books to read, and I've heard great things about this one. A lot of beauty gurus have read it (Tanya Burr and Amarixe, among the ones I can recall), but John Green has also recommended it, so I'm pretty confident that it's a good one.
H&M Braided Headband: So, I couldn't find the price on this because according to their website, it's sold out (!?), but I've seen it in-store many times so I'm sure they haven't completely vanished. American Apparel has similar styles but I'd rather not give them by business (or that of anyone shopping on my behalf). I just think it's very cute and a nice alternative to wearing a hat.
So that concludes my Christmas wishlist! Hope you enjoyed and please don't be shy to comment below! :)
Anyhow, I have my second wishlist I've ever posted on this blog to share with you (click here to see the first one). These are some items I would love to receive for Christmas, and hopefully it gives you a few ideas for last-minute Christmas shopping. These are perfect for a friend or daughter or anyone into beauty (with perhaps the exception of the last three items).
Dior Shimmer Star in "Amber Diamond": I've been kind of obsessed with powder highlighters lately and it seems to me like this is just the ultimate. Everything about it seems incredible. The pigmentation (I've swatched it in-store many times), the pattern on the product, the packaging, everything. This is definitely more high-end given the price, but it would be such a lovely gift.
Bioderma Solution Micellaire: This product is hailed by the online beauty community as the best makeup remover in existence (lol). I guess the price is a point I'd like to address. This is not available in the United States, and can only be purchased in Europe (UK and France for sure, I'm not certain about other Euro countries) and Canada, and from what I know about exchange rates, it's marginally cheaper in Canada. That said, $22 for a makeup remover is a hell of a lot. It does seem like an incredible product, though, and I'm dying to try it.
BeautyBlender: This is a product that is meant to seamlessly blend foundation. I don't know why it's $26; I can't really justify buying that for a sponge, but concept really peaks my interest. I still have a problem with streaky/patchy foundation if I don't spend ample time applying it, so this would be a wonder to have on days when I'm in a rush.
MAC 217 Brush: Okay, I love my Sigma blending brush, but this brush is likely one of the most-talked-about brushes in the beauty community. It seems more stiff than the Sigma one, so I bet it's a lot more precise. It can also be used to apply eyeshadow, and I think it would be an all-around great brush to own.
Divergent by Veronica Roth: I'm in need of new books to read, and I've heard great things about this one. A lot of beauty gurus have read it (Tanya Burr and Amarixe, among the ones I can recall), but John Green has also recommended it, so I'm pretty confident that it's a good one.
H&M Braided Headband: So, I couldn't find the price on this because according to their website, it's sold out (!?), but I've seen it in-store many times so I'm sure they haven't completely vanished. American Apparel has similar styles but I'd rather not give them by business (or that of anyone shopping on my behalf). I just think it's very cute and a nice alternative to wearing a hat.
So that concludes my Christmas wishlist! Hope you enjoyed and please don't be shy to comment below! :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)