Video Tutorial Advice?

Hey guys! I need some help! I've been trying to film some video tutorials and applications but have been having a hell of a time! They never seem to work out how I want them to. There is just always something wrong! I've seen all your guys's videos and they are fantastic, and I'd love to know some of your tips and tricks for how you do them! I am not camera savvy in the least and am quite silly when it comes to technology (it mostly just doesn't make sense to me). I would really appreciate any info you guys can offer as I have no clue even where to start! :)

I'm a "Concealaholic"!

I love how Benefit put it when they came out with the “Confessions of a Concealaholic” palette, because that’s exactly what I am, a “Concealaholic”! If there were only one makeup product I could have it would be concealer, hands down, no questions asked! On that note, I have quite a collection of them because I’m always looking for a new and better concealer. I have compiled a list of my favourites (for all different skin problems) and hope it helps you guys out with your quest for the perfect concealer!

Undereye Concealers

I have hereditary dark circles so I need to conceal under my eyes. They aren’t too bad but bad enough that if I’m not wearing concealer I look tired and run down. I’m always looking for a great non-cakey, brightening and covering concealer for under my eyes that looks natural. Here are a few of my all time favourites!

Maybelline Dream Mousse Concealer

Maybelline Dream Mousse

 I love this because its light and airy but has amazing coverage! I use it everywhere! I only got it a few weeks ago and its almost half gone :( Thats how much I love it!

Rimmel Recover Anti-Fatigue Concealer

Rimmel Anti-Fatigue Concealer

This is awesome because its amazingly well priced (Usually on sale at shoppers for $2.99) and covers great as well as having brightening properties! I used to use The Body Shop Illuminating pen but this gives the same results at a fraction of the price! Its super creamy/liquidy and blends great!

Benefit’s Erase Paste

Benefit's Erase Paste

This is for SERIOUS dark circle days! I don't use this as often as the other two but when you need some real coverage, this is great! It is thick and you only need the tiniest amount! You also have to blend this in really well but if you take the time and set it with powder it will give you a brightening, well covered look all day!

Blemish Concealers

I, like many others, struggle with breakouts so I need a great concealer to cover that up! I find that covering blemishes is a lot trickier than covering undereye circles or general redness. You need something thick enough to stay and cover but non-cakey so as not to draw extra attention to the blemish. It’s a delicate balance! I’ve tried so many I can’t remember them all, here are some of my favourites!

Maybelline Mousse Concealer (Again)

Another View of Maybelline's Dream Mousse

Again, Love it! I use it on blemishes for super light, non-cakey coverage with incredible pigmentation! It stays all day and looks invisible, I LOVE THIS!

Benefit’s Boi-ing

Benefit's Boi-ing

This is another great concealer! It is super a thick, cream consistency and covers anything you might need covered! I find it works and stays much better when set with powder but it doesn't crease or slip away! I have this in light and medium and mix them for my perfect shade! This is a great consistency for blemish coverage. 

Sally Hansen’s Concealer Wheel

Sally Hansen's Concealer Wheel

I like this for blemish coverage because of its thick, cream consistency as well as the array of colours and correctors. If you have major redness, you can use the green first to counteract, then they flesh shade to conceal. The yellow and lavender are also great for colour correction all over the face! This is my Dupe for Lise Watier's Concealer Wheel and is much more inexpensive!

Redness/Overall Concealers

For something like all over redness, you can’t use something thick, but it still has to provide great coverage! I get redness on my cheeks and on the sides of my mouth and eyes. I find liquids are best for covering large areas of redness so I tend to stick to those!

Clinique All About Eyes Concealer

Clinique All About Eyes Concealer

This is a great moisturizing concealer. It doesn't clog pores and has a great consistency that is perfect for blending over large areas. The best part about this concealer is the tiniest bit goes a really long way! I have two of these in different shades and mix them together to get a perfect shade! This has great pigmentation and coverage without a heavy feel!

Maybelline Mousse Concealer

AGAIN! I'm not going to put another photo, you guys get that I LOVE THIS!

Neutrogena Eye Perfector SPF 25

Healthy Skin Eye Perfector

I know this says "eye perfector" but I don't like it around my eyes. Its thicker than I like for that area (I use it occasionally for the sun protection is provides) but works really well as an all over concealer for large areas of redness! I set this with a great powder and I'm good to go! This also includes extra beneficial ingredients for skin just like the other products in the Healthy Skin line.

Overall Winners

As you can tell, I personally have a clear winner! I am in love with Maybelline’s Mousse Concealer! It works so well for me and covers everything I need covered without any cakey-ness! My second runner up is Clinique’s All About Eyes Concealer. It is super moisturizing (without being pore clogging) and provides a great amount of coverage for the light texture it has. Obviously, I also love Benefit's Confessions of a Concealaholic because it combines a ton of my favourites in one little package! (Benefit's Boi-ing (2 shades), Benefit's Erase Paste)These three are what I can’t live without and is what is always in my makeup bag! What are your favourite concealers? Let me know!

Economical Indulgence

Hello ladies! Tonight I'm thinking of doing an at home spa-night (one of my all time favourite things to do!) so I thought I would share a few of my inexpensive but super effective finds with you!

I usually like to have a bath first, so here are some great bath finds!

Lush Bubble Bar - Creamy Candy

Okay, this is arguable regarding the "economical" part but I have some tricks to make it more cost effective! This is Lush's bubble bar in Creamy Candy! If you want to really indulge yourself and relax any of Lush's products are a great way to do it! They are so well formulated and fragrant you don't need much else! My trick to make it last longer is to break it up into 4 chunks, that way you get 4 baths out of it! I do like to add bath salts as well to suck all the toxins out of my skin. I like Rocky Mountain Soap Company's Detox Bath Salts (www.rockymountainsoap.com) or for an even less expensive option, regular epsom salts from Wal-Mart work great and are only around $2.50 for a large carton!

I really like to use candles when I bath too to get the full spa like effect! Some of my favourite candles are by Beanpod. The scents are so rich and they have such a wide variety! They last forever and are completely soy so they are much better for you than regular wax candles. You can find retailers at www.beanpodcandles.com. An easier option to find, and my second favourite, is Bath & Body Works candles. Again, super fragrant and moderately inexpensive and MUCH easier to get your hands on! I really like the Sweetpea but am really into Christmas-y, fall scents right now! Beanpod has one called Oatmeal Cookies and it is to die for!

After my bath I'll move on to a facial. Here are some fantastic masks I use that are so cheap you wont believe it and more effective than my high end spa brands!

Freeman Pineapple Enzyme Mask

I usually use two masks if I'm doing a full indulgent spa night. This is the first one I use, Freeman Pineapple enzyme mask. I use this first to get rid of all the dead skin cells that have built up from the week! It works incredibly well and is only $3.77 at Wal-Mart, YAY!

Lush Magnaminty Mask

Next, I'll use a clay mask to get every last bit of debris out! This is one of my favourites and its by lush. This is their only mask that doesn't have to be refrigerated (which I love) and also works the best for me. Another great mask (that I actually use more often because its less expensive) is Freeman's Mint/Lemon Clay mask. It has the same effects for about a third of the cost for $3.77 as well! St.Ives also makes a really good one but recently it has been making my skin itch. Its called their Mineral Clay Firming Mask, it works really well and its only about $4.50.

I also like to give myself a mani/pedi on these nights! I'll start in the bath with a pumice stone to remove all the dead skin. Then I'll push all my cuticles back and add a good cuticle oil or cream. I love Sally Hansen's Green Tea and Soy oil as well as Lush's Lemony Flutter balm. Then I'll polish my nails with whatever I choose (tonight it will be Unripened from my Go Goth! collection!) 

I love doing all this stuff and hope it will help you find a great, inexpensive alternatives to a pricey spa visit! 

Have fun! :)

O.P.I. Go Goth!

"Go Goth", Halloween Collection

Hey everyone! Here is my latest purchase and I am so excited about it! I've been looking at this set since it came out because I love dark polish, especially in the fall! This is a collection of 4 different dark polishes so I was sold right there! The second thing that hooked me was these sets (along with the "Swiss" collection minis) were on sale for $10.99 at London Drugs, which is a great deal considering they are regularly $16.99! This set includes Unripened, Nevermore, Sanguine and Obscurity. It also comes with this random stretchy lace "bracelet" that my cat will probably get ahold of and tear to bits. (She loves anything stretchy, especially my hair elastics...)

How-Tos

Another thing I loved about this kit is it has a bunch of "How-Tos" on the back for different nail art designs! This is great for people like me who want to try something new but need step by step instructions haha!

Unripened

This is the first shade in the box, Unripened, and by far my favourite! The picture doesn't do it justice but its hard to capture glitter on camera. This is a black base with green and sometimes purple glitter, depending on what kind of lighting you are in. I just love it because of the different coloured glitter! This one is definitely amazing and a great fall/winter colour!

Nevermore

Number one, I love purple. Number two, I love glitter. Perfect! This is the second one and is called Nevermore. Its a gorgeous blackened purple with purple glitter LOOOVVEEE!

Sanguine

Here is the third colour in the collection and again, another LOVE! This is such a pretty blackened red (darker than the photo shows, the flash picks up on the red not the black) and will be fantastic for christmas! I love that all these colours have a black base to them because I love dark polish! This one doesn't contain glitter but does have a little shimmer!

Obscurity

"Obscurity" is right! I was so shocked when this came out matte! I haven't owned a matte polish yet and I am so happy that there was one in this collection! This is a true black and very matte, great for anytime I think because I'm obviously an advocate of dark polish! haha I love the matte but its going to take some getting used to, I desperately want to put a top coat on it haha!

Honestly, SO happy with this set! I think its one of the best mini sets I've ever bought from O.P.I.! I really hope these are all available in full size still, especially Unripened, because I NEED MORE of it! If anyone knows if they are still available, or ever were, in full size let me know! :)

Oh, Canada!

Hey everyone! I've been doing a lot of research on Canadian beauty brands lately and have been so excited with what I've found that I decided to do a whole look with ALL Canadian products! (YAY!) Lets get started on my Oh, Canada! look!

Canadian Made

Heres what I used.

1) LashFusion XL by FusionBeauty in Black

2) Annabelle Mineral Foundation in Nearly Nude

3) Annabelle Mineral Blush in Au Natural

4) CoverFX Clear Prep Primer

5) LipFusion in Clear

6) Balmshell Smear Campaign in Blackmail Betty

7) Annabelle Smudgeliners in OhMyGoth! and Armour

8) Annabelle Mineral Pigment Dust in Prism

9) Annabelle Studio Pigments in Matte Black 

10) Quo Optical Illusion Concealer in Sand

Concealer Placement

I started out with applying my CoverFX Clear Prep all over my face. Then used my Quo Optical Illusion Concealer with a concealer brush. I placed it under my eyes, the outter corner of my eyes, nose to mouth folds and the bridge of my nose. All places where I tend to get red! (I look so silly in this picture I can't believe I put it up!)

Set With Powder

Built into the Quo concealer is a little pot of yellow-ish toned powder to set your concealer. I used the little finger pad it came with to gently pat powder over my concealed areas for extra staying power and redness reduction.

Blush Placement

Next, I used my new Balmshell Cheek Smear in Blackmail Betty. I applied three dots to my cheeks and blended in with the built in sponge on the other end. (NOTE: You HAVE to be lightning fast in blending this! I stained by cheeks taking this picture and had to scrub to get it off! The end result is worth it though, its a gorgeous colour!) After the blush I buffed in my Annabelle Mineral foundation with a Kabuki brush. I then added a light layer of Annabelle's Mineral Blush for added glow and a bit of shimmer!

Upper Liner

Next, I moved on to eyes. I applied Annabelle Smudgeliner in OhMyGoth! (black) to my upper lash line and created a small wing at the corner to elongate my eye shape. I didn't use the smudger on the top lash line, I wanted a solid, defined look! I went over that line with my Annabelle Studio Pigment in Matte black to smoke it out a tiny bit and to give it more staying power! (By the way, ignore my terrible nail polish! Not even my Seche Vite could keep my Claire's Mood polish on... haha)

Lower Lash Liner

I then took Annabelle's Smudgeliner in Armour, a GORGEOUS grey/purple-ish (hard to explain but so pretty!) and smudged it into my lower lashes for a little colour and a soft line. After that I took a small shadow brush and dipped it into my Annabelle Mineral Pigment Dust in Prism (iridescent white/pink/purple - it changes colour depending on the light angle) and tapped it onto the inner corner and brow bone.

Finish with Mascara

I then applied two coats of LashFusion XL in Black to give my lashes some volume, curl and length!

Glossy Lips

And polished off my look with a coat of LipFusion in Clear (my favourite gloss ever!)

The Finished Product

So heres my finished Canadian look! (I personally think the blush is too heavy but this was my first time using it and as I said, I stained my cheeks taking that picture!) Other than that I absolutely love this look and I love that it is all from Canadian brands! I really hope to see more Canadian Labels making it big in the beauty world soon!

There are a couple things I would like to find from a Canadian brand that I don't yet have! If you know of any great Canadian eye primers, spot concealers (not undereye) or bronzers please let me know! And let me know your favourites from Canadian brands, I'd love to try new things and hear your opinions!

Thanks so much for reading guys, enjoy! :)

CoverFX Clear Prep ((Review))

Clear Prep

I've never really been one to wear a foundation primer, even though I do wear foundation almost everyday. I think its because I've always been disappointed with the ones I have tried and it discouraged me from trying more. I had a bad experience with Smashbox Photo Finish Primer, Tarte Clean Slate and BareMinerals Prime Time. They all either made my face break out like crazy or felt too heavy on my oily skin! I recently was given a gift card to Murale, and being the product junky I am, didn't know what to buy because I pretty much have it all! The sales lady asked me if I had a primer and in wonderment, I said "nope lets find me one!" I was skeptical of course because of my experiences but she walked straight over to the CoverFX range and picked me out Clear Prep. Not only is this a foundation primer but also an Anti-Acne treatment (YAY!) with 1% Salicylic acid to fight breakouts at the same time! I was still a little worried it would feel heavy on my skin but when she applied it, it was so light and silky I was sold! My mom uses the Cover FX Anti-Aging primer (which I turned her on to) and loves it so I figure this would be worth a shot! Since I have got it home, I love it more and more everyday!

Texture of the Primer

As you can see (I hope! haha) the texture of this primer isn't as thick as other silicone based primers which I really like. It absorbs really nicely and doesn't leave any feeling on your skin so there is no heaviness or stickiness. I find this primer really does help my makeup apply smoother (by filling in pores) and last longer! I even use this when I am not wearing makeup just because of its Anti-Acne properties, and it keeps my skin matte! Which is hard to do because I have really oily skin! I don't think I will ever be without this product now! If you have oily skin or breakout prone skin this would not only be a great primer for you but a great addition to your skin care routine to help prevent future breakouts!

Thanks for reading :)

Annabelle's Mineral Blush (LOVE)

Annabelle's Mineral Blush in Au Natural

I really like to support Canadian companies whenever I can and thats why I really like to buy Annabelle and Marcelle products. That is obviously not the only reason though! After falling in love with Annabelle's Mineral Foundation (and I mean IN LOVE, see my post on flawless skin) I spotted this little guy in Glow Magazine (another Canadian!) as Canada's top voted blush. After reading this and having such great experiences with other Annabelle products I ran right to the store and picked it up!

Back View

In Glow, the top shade was Au Natural so I decided to go with my fellow Canadian beauty voters and pick up that shade. It is a gorgeous really natural pinky/mauve that I believe will probably look great on every skin tone! I also love the consistency of the product, its so finely milled and has faint shimmer which gives a great glow.

Swatch - Concentrated

Here is a swatch of the colour. First, I couldn't believe how pigmented it was! I've never tried a mineral blush before and kind of expected to have to layer to get the colour I wanted. This is literally such a small amount of product on my hand I couldn't believe the colour it gave! And the colour is even prettier than in the jar. I didn't blend this out just so you could see the true tone of the product but after I did blend it on my hand it was a gorgeous flush with light shimmer! I just got this and had to share it so I haven't had a chance to try it on my cheeks yet but I will definitely be using it in a tutorial soon so you can see it on the face! :)

Tutorial: Stila's Pretty in Paris Palette

Pretty in Paris

So here is number two in the Stila Travel Palettes, Pretty in Paris. I LOVE this palette, to me it is the prettiest one (yet)! This palette contains, like the others, four shadows and one convertible colour! The colours in this palette are very warm and earthy and I think they are fantastic for fall!

Paris - An inside view

Heres a view of the inside of this palette. As you can see they are all very warm and rosy colours that are perfect for fall! The colours in this palette consist of Jolie (top left), Crepe, Chocolat (bottom left) and Cherie (all french! :)) The convertible colour in this collection is a limited edition shade called Rosebud and is my favourite of all the palettes! It gives an amazing rosy, just outside glow that is what I picture when I think of fall!

Pretty in paris eye Look

In this post I opted for a muted, soft, girly look! I started with NYX Eye Primer in Nude all over. Then took the softest shade in the palette Crepe (Soft Pink Shimmer - Top left in Photo) and applied it all over my lid to the brow bone and on the inner tear duct. Next, I took a medium fluffy brush and packed on the medium shade, Cherie (brown/cherry shimmer - Top Right in Photo) up to my crease. Next, I took my contour brush and used Jolie (Burgundy/brown with Pink undertones - Bottom Right in Photo) and packed it gently into the crease to create a contour. To finish off, I took Chocolat (Chocolate Brown - Bottom Left in Photo) and used it as a liner both under and over my eyes. I didn't wet the brush like I did in the Road to Radiance tutorial because I wanted a soft definition.  

Another view

I love this look because its so wearable for everyday! Just add a little mascara and you are good to go! This look is so great for fall with all the warm tones and burgundy shades! This is my go to right now, I feel like I'm in Paris when I use it!

I hope you enjoy this look, I really do and wear it often! :)

PS I should have filled in my eyebrows...haha

Tutorial: Stila's Road to Radiance Palette

Road To Radiance

I am absolutely in love with the Stila Travel palettes! What an amazing deal for only $13 CAD you get four shadows and an (amazing) convertible colour! This is the first in the series and is called Road to Radiance Across the USA. I will be honest this wasn't my favourite palette when I first got it, but the more I used it, the more I loved how it looked!

Inside View

The colours in this palette are very girly and all in the pink/purple family. Starting at the top left is Southern Belle, Snow Bunny, City Chick (bottom left) and Valley Girl. The convertible colour is in a limited edition shade called Hibiscus.

Road to Radiance Eye Look

Here is the look I created with this palette.  I started by priming my eyelids with NYX eye primer in Nude. Then continued by sweeping the Valley Girl shade (bottom right - muted pink) all over my eyelid, not past the crease. I packed on this colour by gently tapping the brush against my lid instead of sweeping to get a little more pigmentation. Next, I took the Southern Belle shade (Top left - Vivid Pink) and worked it into my crease, again, tapping to add extra pigment. After working the crease shade in I took the darkest colour, City Chick (bottom left - metal grey/purple) and lined my upper and lower lash line. I also dampened my eyeliner brush to increase the intensity of the colour. Lastly, I took the brightest shade, Snow Bunny (top right - white shimmer) and highlighted my brow bone and the tear duct. This is only one way you can use these colours to make a look! 

Another View

I love the vivid pop of pink in the crease! It makes this look so fun! I also used Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara on my top and bottom lashes to accentuate them!

I hope you all enjoyed this look! I have all the other travel palettes as well so there will be more to come! :)

What Every Girl Needs To Know About SKIN CARE!

Okay, so there are a few tried and tested skin care tips that I believe everyone should know! Unless you are like me and spend most of your time reading beauty magazines, beauty blogs, beauty websites etc. you may not have heard of all of these, but they are absolutely essential to me now that I know them! Here I will pass them on to you and hope they help your routine!

1) Go From Thin To Thick - this may sound funny but I'm talking about the consistency of the product! When you are applying skin care products you should always go from the most liquid to the most creamy consistencies. Doing so will ensure penetration of each product you use. An example (using my routine) is to start with your serums. In my case, I use my LUSH Tea Tree Water toner, then ISOMERS Copper-P Peptide serum which repairs skin and makes it stronger. I then use my acne serum, NEUTROGENA 3-in-1 Hydrating treatment. This is a salicylic acid product that is also very liquidy. Next, I go to my sunscreen which is much thicker than the other products. I use AVEENO Ultra-Calm SPF 30 lotion. Make sure to always go thinnest to thickest!

2) Wear Sunscreen EVERYDAY! - I know this has probably been drilled into your head every place you turn but it really is essential. Sun damage is the number one cause of aging and also causes skin cancer. The earlier you get in the habit, the better off you will be so if you are young START NOW and if you are older START NOW! It isn't too late to start, its always better to wear sunscreen, even on cloudy days! (I like AVEENO Ultra-Calm for my Oily Skin)

3) Exfoliate - You have to get the dead skin cells off your face if you want a radiant complexion. Exfoliating is essential for every skin type, dry to oily. It provides different benefits for each type but the overall idea is you NEED help to get all those skin cells off. As you age, skin cells slough off more slowly so helping them is essential! It also helps by not having the dead skin cells on your skin that can lead to clogged pores and breakouts. You can use an everyday GENTLE polish or a weekly intensive treatment. (I use Freeman Raspberry Facial Scrub daily and The Body Shop Vitamin C Microdermabrasion weekly!)

4) Use Toner - Toner may seem like a product that you don't need but it plays a huge role in keeping your skin healthy. Toner helps to restore the optimal pH level of your skin so it doesn't produce excess oil and is in a healthy balance. Toner also helps to remove any bit of residue that you might not have removed with cleansing (and it even removes excess cleanser) for a truly clean skin! (I use Marcelle Tonifying Lotion)

5) Oily Skin Needs Moisture Too! - just because your skin is oily, doesn't mean it can't be dehydrated. An imbalance of moisture can cause a lot of different skin concerns such as increased oil production, more prominent lines and wrinkles and of course dry, flakey skin. Many people with oily skin don't realize that if you strip the skins natural moisture barrier it actually makes it more susceptible to breakouts by producing more oil to make up for its loss. Therefore, you can't over dry your skin if you are prone to breakouts, it won't make it better. You have to use a moisturizer formulated for oily skin though so a gel, serum or very light lotion will work well! (Something with a sunscreen preferably!) 

So I hope these tips helped you all out! I live by them and they work very well for my skin! And always remember to keep up with your skin care routine, thats the only way it will be effective for you!

Good Luck with your skin, and check out my skin care GIVEAWAY!

GIVEAWAY! The Body Shop & More! (CLOSED)

Giveaway Set

Hey everyone, is it just me or does it seem like its time to hold a contest/giveaway? I think it is, so in that case heres whats up!

I am doing a giveaway consisting of a skin care gift set! I put together a few things that I think you guys will like, heres what I am including (all brand new):

The Body Shop Aloe Protective Serum - 30ml - $20 CAD value

The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil Blotting Papers - 2 x 65 sheets - $20 CAD value

The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil - 10ml - $9 CAD value

Clinique Moisture Surge 15ml (Deluxe sample size)

Josie Maran Mini Argan Oil Stick - $8 CAD value

Total Value = $57

RULES & TERMS:

This open to USA and Canada (sorry not international this time).

To enter you MUST follow my blog or friend/follow me on Luuux. You can only comment here though so let me know your Luuux name if you don't follow me on here!

Entries:

1) Comment below and say ENTER ME! Be sure to include your email so I can contact the winner. (comment as many times as you want, 1 entry for each comment)

2) Follow me on Twitter for 2 extra entries. www.twitter.com/cosmeticcurious then leave a comment with your twitter name.

3) Create a blog post on Blogger or on Luuux about my giveaway for 5 extra entries. (make sure I see your post!)

You can earn so many entries for this guys so don't be shy! This contest will run until NOVEMBER 19 and the winner will be selected and contacted (using Random.org) on NOVEMBER 20!

Good luck to everyone, I'm so excited to be doing this! :)

(THIS IS NOT SPONSORED, ALL BOUGHT WITH MY OWN MONEY!)

Flawless Coverage

Annabelle Mineral Foundation

Hey everyone! Recently I've switched from liquid to powder foundation because with the change of season my skin has become increasingly oily! So much so that liquid foundation (even the ones I regularly used all summer and fall) have begun to not work well for me! I was looking around for something to fill my void, something not too pricy because I'm a student but that did the job well! The last powder foundation I had was Clinique's Almost Powder which I loved, I was just looking for something a little more cost effective! I happened on Annabelle's Mineral Powder (in Nearly Nude) and I must say, was skeptical because I haven't had much luck with Mineral Foundations. I decided to pick it up and I'm so glad I did! This makeup is fantastic it gives absolutely flawless coverage which I have yet to find in a mineral makeup.

Mini Kabuki

 I also got it with a bonus kabuki brush that is actually VERY good! It helps the foundation buff on better and has very stiff and well packed bristles that do not shed. This foundation also keeps my very oily skin shine free all day! And unlike BareMinerals (nothing against them I love their products) it doesn't give your skin a shimmery finish which is great for oily skin! I know BareMinerals now has a Matte range and I'm sure that would work great as well, this is just a less expensive alternative! Honestly, I can't get enough of this foundation though! Its the first foundation I've wanted to repurchase and I probably will.  

Nearly Nude

The only thing I would caution you about is the inclusion of the Bismuth Oxychloride which can be problematic for anyone with a sensitivity to it. This foundation also doesn't include a sunscreen for those of you who require one but I use a lotion with sunscreen before hand! :)

Lush Haul!

Hey everyone! Long time no Blog! Well here I am to make up for it with a nice big haul! I went to Lush today to return a shaving cream that I had bought for my boyfriend (he hated it!) and ended up walking out with a bag of goodies! So heres what I picked up today!

Avobomb

 First off I got one of my favorites, AVOBOMB! This bath bomb is actually a favourite of my boyfriends too because of its universal scent! It's super citrus-y with lemongrass and bergamot oils, along with avocado and olive oil to nourish the skin. Whenever I use this one I feel awake and refreshed and my skin is super soft and nicely scented.

Mask of Magnaminty

 Next up is Mask of Magnaminty. I actually have yet to try this mask but I usually use their other facial masks. What drew me to this one is the fact that it doesn't need to be refrigerated (which seriously makes me forget I have them because they get pushed to the back of the fridge) and it has a much longer shelf life which is awesome because I have a bunch of masks that I alternate between depending on my skin. I will let you know how I end up liking this one but it looks good and has great ingredients for oily skin!

Too Drunk...

 I love this one haha its so funny to look at! This is one of Lush's Emotibombs which are meant to be used in the shower instead of the bath! This one is called Too Drunk... and is supposed to wake you up and revive you after a long night of partying! It smells like peppermint, fennel, lemon and orange and really does have a great aroma therapy effect! All you do with these is put them in the bottom of your shower and let the water run over them for a aromatherapy/sauna effect!

Up You Gets

 This is another one of Lush's Emotibombs and its called Up You Gets. Most of the Emotibombs are meant to invigorate and refresh you in contrast to the bath bombs that are made for relaxation. This one is fantastic and smells like intense lemon, lime, grapefruit and orange!  A surefire way to wake up in the morning! With both of the Emotibombs, I cut them up into small pieces (my shower is small) so they last longer and aren't quite as intense!

Tea Tree Water

 This is another new find for me, the Tea Tree Water toner. I regularly use their toner tabs which I make a toner out of afterwards and store in the fridge but this is a great alternative and will last longer! (If you use the water from the toner tabs you are only supposed to keep it as a toner for a week). I love the feeling it gives (tried it in the store), it tightens, absorbs oil and keeps your skin feeling fresh. I also love that it comes with a spray top so you can carry it in your purse and use it throughout the day even over makeup. This contains tea tree oil and grapefruit extracts to fight oiliness and breakouts!

Big Blue

 My boyfriends all time favourite bath bomb that I'm sure he would use four at a time of! This is Big Blue and it has lemon and lavender oil that smell SO amazing! The best part about this bath bomb is that it actually makes your bath look like the ocean! It turns the water bright blue, has sea salt on top and pieces of sea weed through out! Its an amazing experience and one of my favourites too! (By the way, seaweed is great for your skin for softening and nutrients!)

Creamy Candy

 I love bubbles in my bath so bubble bars are one of my favourite things from Lush! This one is called Creamy Candy and smells just like that! It has vanilla, cocoa butter and almond oil to make an amazing scent and super rich and hydrating bubbles! (which is rare because usually bubble baths are kind of drying on my skin) I love these because they last a super long time you just crumble a little bit into the bath and you get a huge amount of bubbles! Highly recommend any of the bubble bars!

Dark Angels

 I really enjoy Lush's face washes because they are so different and effective! This one is new for me but I love Coalface and this one also has coal in it. If you are familiar with Lush this is a combination of Angels on Bare Skin and Coal face so it provides the scrubby effect of Angels as well as the poor tightening, oil zapping effects of Coal! I notice an insane difference in my skin after using the Coal face my pores honestly almost disappear and my skin stays matte for hours! I have never had that effect with any other cleanser (or cream or treatment or ANYTHING!) If your an oily skin girl, try this or Coal Face out!

Butter Ball

 Butterball! I got two of these because they are my favourite! They honestly provide as much hydration as body lotion without having to use anything after your bath! Once you plop this in you can actually see the oils forming on the surface from the cocoa butter chunks throughout the bomb! It also has a great light scent that isn't overpowering (vanilla and musk) and makes it good for male use too! (Another one of my boyfriends faves!)

Cinder

 LIMITED EDITION! Lush's holiday collection is already out which is awesome because it has some of my favorites! This one is Cinder and has pop rocks in it to provide the real effect of a crackling fire (hence the name Cinder!) This bomb is spicy and cinnamon-y to give you that real holiday warmth! I haven't used one of these yet but it also has almond oil in it to hydrate so I'm really looking forward to it!

Twilight

 I'm not sure if this one is limited edition or not but I really hope it isn't because it is probably the best smelling bath bomb Lush has by far! This one is called Twilight (I'm assuming for the movie or because it makes you go to sleep!) and is scented with lavender and Tonka bean! Tonka bean is sort of sweet and vanilla like. This bomb relaxes and soothes and is a fantastic one to use right before bed after a long day!

Last but not least I picked up a Honey I washed the Kids soap! This is one of their best sellers because it has a completely unisex scent and is super gentle so the whole family can use it! It hydrates and doesn't leave my skin feeling tight like most soaps can and lasts a long time if you keep it out of the water flow or in one of Lush's metal containers (if it fits)! 

Thats it! (actually I got another Limited Edition Bath Bomb but the picture didn't load, its So White and looks like Butter Ball but is scented with apple (very yummy!)) Let me know what you love from Lush, I'm obviously an addict! Enjoy!