My Drugstore Beauty Faves

I've been using a LOT of beauty products bought from stores like London Drugs and Superstore lately (mostly makeup) and I thought I'd share some of my favorites with you. These items will not break the bank AND they work!

My All-Time Favorite Foundations at Every Price Point

I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite foundations with you all.

What I'm Loving Lately

Here are a few things I've been enjoying the past couple of weeks ; )

What I'm Loving Lately

Shortalls (also known as short overalls), like these comfy and cute ones Jules is wearing are a big trend this summer and I'm so glad they've made a comeback! I haven't worn overalls since the 10th grade and that was back in the nineties. (I'm old.) P.S. This pair is on sale ; )

MAKE UP FOR EVER New Products Review

L to R: MAKE UP FOREVER Flat Round Brush #156 $45,  

Pro Sculpting Duo #2 (Golden) $45, Step 1 Skin Equalizer Nourishing Primer $43

Most of you know I'm a beauty junkie so it won't be a surprise when I tell you how excited I was when I received a couple of new products from MAKE UP FOR EVER in the mail to try: the Pro Sculpting Duo and their Step 1 Skin Equalizer Nourishing Primer.

Repeat Drug Store Buys

As much as I appreciate higher-end beauty products - hello MAC and Sephora - I love a good drug store buy. Here are all the items I purchase over and over again, without the heavy price tag ; )

What I'm Loving Lately

This book. It was raw, real and brutally honest. I read it in three nights. I love Lena : )

MAKE UP FOR EVER's Artist Shadow in ME202 Iceberg Blue and S228 Petrol Blue. I was given samples of these mix-and-match eye shadows to try and found they are highly pigmented and so easy to blend, not to mention the color payoff is amazing! I'm also loving their Artist Liner in Iridescent Khaki, it glides on so easily and stays put all day.

This $50.00 Aldo bag, as seen on the arm of Taylor Swift. A great bag for fall!

Kevin Murphy's Young.Again and Session.Spray, my two must-have hair styling products that WORK! You can get them from my hair salon Ponytails + Horseshoes in Edmonton.

This couple. Why? Because all of the money they received from People, Hello and Vanity Fair for their wedding photos will be donated to charities. Kardashians, take note.

My 5 Minute Makeup Routine

Hi guys, I'm sorry I've been MIA lately, I've just been really busy getting ready to tie the knot. I promise once all the craziness subsides I will be back to blogging more often! In the meantime I thought I'd share my favorite makeup products I've been using on a weekly, if not daily basis when I only have about five minutes to get ready, thanks to my fondness for sleeping in ; ). Clockwise starting from the top left:

1. NARS Blush in Orgasm 2. MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NW20 (see review here) 3. Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer (my fave) 4. Revlon Photoready 3D Volume Mascara (see what it does here) 5. Lancome Juicy Tubes Lip Gloss in Raspberry Ice 6. the Balm Mary-Lou Manizer

It literally takes me under 5 minutes to apply all of these products and they give me a nice, natural look when I'm crunched for time. What about you? What are your go-to beauty products you can't leave the house without wearing? Let me know in the comment section below!


xo

My Favorite Drugstore Mascara

Revlon Photoready 3D Volume mascara is my new-found love. Definitely the best drugstore mascara I've tried. It lengthened my itty-bitty, short lashes, gave them volume and stayed on all day. And this mascara is really build-able - you can see in the photos below the more coats I applied, the more dramatic my lashes looked.

Without mascara

With one coat

With two coats

It can get a bit clumpy after three coats (like any mascara would!) so I if I apply more than two, I have to comb through my lashes so they don't stick together.

The best 9 bucks I ever spent! What is your favorite mascara? Let me know in the comment section below!

Review: Manizer Duo Kit by The Balm

When I was asked by ObsessedCanada.com if I wanted to review the Manizer Duo Kit by The Balm I responded right away with a quick, "I'd love to!" I'm a huge fan of makeup (including The Balm products) and am always on the lookout for new products to try. Below is my review.

The package (which I thought was so cute!) consists of the Mary-Lou Luminizer and the Betty-Lou Bronzer.

The luminizer is highly pigmented and can be used as a highlighter, shadow and shimmer. There is a ton of product here, this will last me at least six months or more. It has a silky-smooth texture, it's almost creamy, and was so easy to apply.

There is a lot of product in the bronzer compact, too, since they are both the same size ; ). This all-in-one bronzer, shimmer and eyeshadow looked a bit dark for my skin when I first put it on to use as a bronzer but once I blended it in with a contour brush, it looked natural.

I used the luminzer on my upper cheeks, my eyelids and on the inside corners of my eyes.

And I used the bronzer to carve out my cheekbones. I was very happy with the result. Both products gave me a natural, glowing look, they picked up well on my makeup brushes and were extremely easy to apply. I have to say I LOVE this duo kit and it's now on my 'Makeup Must Have's' list! And right now it's on sale for $36.00 (regularly $48.00). Perfect products for spring and summer : ).

What I'm Loving Right Now

Chunky knits - sweaters and scarves that I can wrap myself in, especially on a chilly day like today!

Barre classes. I loved the mixture of ballet, yoga and Pilates so much, I mentioned in an earlier post I took my teacher training and started teaching a few classes a week at Barre Body Studio and Pilates Eq! Such a fun exercise and a complete total-body workout. You see RESULTS pretty quickly! Ladies, if you haven't tried a class I highly recommend you do. I am completely addicted! And my butt has lifted. Seriously.

I instagrammed and Tweeted my love for EcoTools earth-friendly makeup brushes the other day. Affordable and effective and made from natural and recycled materials which gets a thumbs up from me ; ).

Nail polish. Confession: I didn't start wearing nail polish until one of my nails grew in incorrectly, like sideways, it was really weird and gross so I had to cover it up with polish. Now I don't go a day without it on my nails and it helps prevent me from chewing my nails. My favorite brands: OPI and Essie! I also have this on at all times.

 This Acne Velocite shearling-lined jacket is everything. If only I had over two grand to spend on it ; ).

What are you loving right now? Have a great weekend!

Red

I have a new favorite red lipstick to match my favorite red coat: Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Beso. It doesn't bleed and lasts a really long time. Very rarely do I match the color of my lips with what I'm wearing, except if I'm wearing red ; ). 

I hope you're all having a great week!

coat - Banana Republic, jeans - Joe's, top - Nordstrom Rack, booties - Steve Madden, scarf - C'est Moi, Bamboo Ballroom, bag - Marc by Marc Jacobs, ring - Material Girl, The Bay

My Birthday Wish List With Stylicity

Santorini Coat and Mini Brushstrokes Dress

Clockwise starting from top left: Alexis Bittar Santa Fe Deco Large Earrings, Laveer Kadette Peacoat, 

Joe Malone Lime Basil & Mandarin Candle, Open Ceremony Stardust Metallic Crewneck Sweater

Rebecca Minkoff Mini Luscious Studded Hobo, Sam Edelman Porter Quilted Booties

Clockwise from top left: Blush Subtil Palette, Hypnose Mascara, 

L'Absolu Rouge Lipstick in Blush Royale, La Vie Est Belle Eau Legere Perfume

Stylicity, the official retail program of World MasterCard Fashion Week has begun! And as a Stylicity Ambassador I'm happy to announce that from today until November 3rd, MasterCard holders will receive exclusive offers when they shop online at 30 national online retailers like French Connection, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales and Lancome Canada (just to name a few!) and, if they live in Toronto, can enjoy special offers from over 150 retailers. To read all about the offers, click here. Since it's my birthday today I think it's perfectly okay to take advantage of these amazing deals and treat myself to a couple of the items above. After all, it's my party and I'll buy if I want to ; ). Happy Shopping!

What's In My Bag

So I've always enjoyed other bloggers' "What's In My Bag?" posts, call me nose-y but there's just something about wanting to know what other women put in their purse! Make-up? Glitter? Tampons? Sushi? I've never done a WIMB post and I've been blogging for over three years so I thought, "Why the heck not?" Except what's in my bag (a Marc by Marc Jacobs Classic Q Natasha) might be boring compared to others...but here goes!

At the end of every year, I go to Chapters and purchase the same moleskin day timer in the same color (pink). Of course the year on the front is always different.  I don't use my phone to type notes in or jot down appointments, I like writing things down on paper and I also use highlighters to remind me of special occasions and of course, a pen. I always carry a Tide To Go pen, too, since I'm a clutzy eater and drop or spill things on my clothes frequently. I always wear Burt's Bee's Lip Balm and I always have my business cards with me, you never know who you're going to run into at the dentist.

You may think this is weird but it's not, I assure you, because a really good friend of mine does this too - I put all of my cards - my credit card, debit card, my license, health care card, etc. every card and money into an American Apparel zipper pouch. I just stuff everything in there, there are no sections to organize anything in this little pouch but it works for me! All of the cards I use frequently are either at the front or the back for easy access. The shades are my Jessica Simpson sunglasses that I got in Vegas a couple of years ago. I also have Maybelline Dream Mousse blush and NYX Lip Gloss on hand, as well as my keys and my iPhone. I don't have a cute iPhone case because a few months ago I dropped my cell into a pool while on vacation and damaged it so as soon as I got a new phone, I immediately bought a protective water-proof cover. It's grey. And super boring.

Missing in these photos: A Larabar to snack on (I had already eaten one that day), Kleenex (who wants to see Kleenex in this post?) and hand lotion which I forgot to include. Hand lotion is pretty much a given because I live in such a dry climate.

What's in your bag? Let me know in the comment section below! 

 

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer

So say I was going on a trip to a private island or something and I was told I could only bring ONE makeup product for some (awful) reason, well this is the product I'd choose. Laura Mercier's Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 20. I've been wearing this all summer (to see a pic with it on, click here), instead of using foundation and it gives me a healthy, dewy glow while protecting my skin from the sun. It's hydrating, extremely lightweight and blends easily but if you're looking for full coverage, this isn't the product for you. Because of my horrendous under-eye circles, I do put a little bit of concealer under my eyes after applying it. Then I add some blush to my cheeks, a bit of mascara, lip gloss and I'm out the door! I wear very minimal makeup during the day because I like my skin to breathe. Have you tried this tinted moisturizer? I know this is a beauty staple for many make-up lovers out there ; ).

My Favorite Summer Blushes

Summer is officially here (it's about time!) and these are my favorite summer blushes. And by "summer" I mean "light pink." ; ) Clockwise starting from top left: Coralista by benefit, Joe Fresh Cream Blush in Melon, Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush in #20 Peach Satin, NARS Orgasm (my all-time fave). All of these blushes give me a nice, healthy glow and I'll be wearing them on rotation throughout the next few months until the fall when I'll probably switch to a darker shade. But I don't even want to think about the fall yet! Do you change up your makeup routine during different seasons? Let me know in the comment section below!

What's In My Makeup Bag

I don't know about you, but I love seeing what other bloggers/celebrities/my friends have in their makeup bags. Call me snoopy. Surprisingly, in the 3 years I've been writing Marie a la Mode, I've never done a "What's in my bag/makeup bag?" post so I thought it was time! These are just a few items I use on a regular basis and have to have when traveling.

L-R Starting fromt the top left row: 

Revlon Colorstay Whipped Foundation 240 Natural Beige - smooth like butter! I only use foundation on special occasions or when I'm going to be photographed, like for outfit posts.

NARS Copacabana Illuminator - I mix this with my Colorstay foundation and it gives me a nice, luminous glow. Yes, "luminous."

MAC Studio Fix C2 - I've been using this since I was 14. It's a powder and foundation in one but it's not cake-y.

NYX Super Skinny Marker in Carbon Black - I'm not good at putting on normal liquid liner, it's usually a war between me and the liner and the liner always wins, with the black ink ending halfway up my eyelid. I don't have a steady hand but with this, it's easy to apply and it lasts all day.

Clinique Lash Doubling Mascara in Black - This mascara really lengthens and extends my eyelashes. (Just like Pilates and my limbs!)

MAC Pro Longwear Concealer - I've used this for years. To see a review click, here. (I compare it to Cle de Peau's $70 concealer.)

NARS Orgasm Blush - My all-time favorite blush. I love the color and it looks good on any skin tone. It's popular for a reason!

ILIA Lipstick in Shell Shock - My friend Janis got this for me for Christmas and I love the color. Sorry you can't see it in this photo! In Edmonton you can buy ILIA lipsticks at LUX Beauty Boutique.

Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm - An everyday staple. Very soothing and all-natural.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Stockholm - Very creamy but very matte and the color is gorgeous. It goes great with the NARS Orgasm blush.

MAC Eyeshadow in Vanilla - I always use this, on it's own or as a base underneath darker colors. It doesn't crack or cake on the eyelid.

Body Shop Eye Shadow in 07 - A great color to use for contouring.

What's in your makeup bag? Let me know in the comment section below!

How to Clean Your Makeup Brushes

Okay ladies, how many of you clean your makeup brushes? I'm not talking about spot-cleaning, I'm talking about a deep cleanse. Do you know how much gunk and bacteria gets on your brushes when they're being used and even when they're just sitting there? A ton! If you've never deep cleansed your brushes (and I know of a few close friends of mine who haven't, who are my inspiration for this post!) don't worry, it's cheap and easy like Lindsay Lohan.

First, you will need 4 things. #1 Some toilet paper, #2 A sink, #3 Baby Shampoo and #4 Olive Oil.

Take a few squares of toilet paper and pour a couple of teaspoons (or more, depending on how big the brush is) of olive oil on it. Swirl your brush in it, get both sides, as if you're painting. Do this with each one and place them off to the side. The olive oil helps to break down the makeup and bring out the color as well as condition the brush bristles and keep them from drying out. At the end of it all, you should have a bunch of used tissue that looks like this:

Gross hey? Next step: pour a couple of teaspoons (or more) of baby shampoo onto your hand. Swirl the brush in your hand as you run it under lukewarm water until all the color and soap is out. Make sure the brush is pointing downward, you don't want water backing up unto the metal shaft, that can cause it to rust and could ruin the brush. Do this with each one and then lay your brushes on a towel, with the tops hanging over it so they can air-dry. Leave them to dry overnight and in the morning your brushes will be clean and soft and feel amazing on your face! They will also last much, much longer than if you didn't clean them.

If you use your makeup brushes frequently during the week, I suggest deep cleansing them once a week or once every two weeks. If you use them sparingly then once a month should be good. To spot-clean I use MAC's brush cleanser which is a great product.

And that's it! Easy? I think so!

My Favorite Perfumes

Lola by Marc Jacobs (for the summer) and Black Orchid by Tom Ford for the winter. Both completely opposite from one another. Lola is light, girly, fruity, romantic and sweet and Black Orchid is strong, deep, spicy, sultry and sexy. It's great to switch things up once in awhile ; ). What perfume do you wear?

Happy Valentine's Day, Lovers! I just ate 10 Hershey's kisses and I'm completely okay with it.