Makeup Haul

New In- Makeup

New In- Makeup

I’ve been pretty good makeup buying wise lately, my last Sephora haul didn’t even have any makeup in it (a first for me for sure!). But alas, the no makeup buying thing didn’t last for long. Over the last couple weeks, I hit up Sephora and redeemed a lot of points at Shoppers Drug Mart. So I thought I would do a combined makeup haul, and show you what I’ve picked up.

Clarins Ombre Matte Eyeshadow in 04 – As soon as I started to see blog posts about these matte eyeshadows, I knew I had to try one. This smokey grey colour is so pretty and will be lovely for a fall smokey eye.

Clarins Blush Prodige in Tawny Pink – A new blush release from Clarins. I picked it up for fall, it has a very fall like vibe to me. It’s a natural rosey blush with a slight shimmer, however it isn’t obvious on the skin.

Buxom Waterproof Mascara – I received a sample of the non-waterproof version in my VIB Rouge goody bag, and feel in love with the brush and texture. I picked up the waterproof version because my eyes can make even the most hardy waterproof mascara run all over my face. Plus I find that waterproof versions of any mascara holds a curl better.

Clarins BB Skin Perfecting Cream – Me picking up another lightweight base, shocking! :P I love Clarins skincare, and finally decided to take the plunge and pick up their BB Cream. We shall see if it’s as good as their skincare.

Hourglass 1.5 MM Mechanical Gel Eyeliner – I have to admit, I fully succumbed to the hype of this pencil. I only picked up the single version, instead of the 3 pack, which I somehow justify as not being as bad. I was swayed by the posts which said it lasted all day, was actually waterproof, and was an incredibly fine line. We shall see if it lives up to the hype.

Laura Mercier Eye Basics in Flax – This is an eyeshadow primer, with a hint of colour. It’s actually the perfect ‘no makeup makeup’ shade for me, which I love! It reminds me of a creamier version of MAC Soft Ochre.

Benefit Hoola Bronzer – I’ve had the mini size of this for a while now, and recently it has become my go to bronzer. I decided it was time to pick up the full size version and save the mini for when I travel.

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Rose Gold – This shade is just the most lovely light rose gold shade, perfect for an everyday office eye. Plus these caviar sticks last forever on my eyes, big bonus.

Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Naked – This is my first UD lipstick purchase, and I’m already in love. They’re so creamy and pigmented, but have a sheen to them, so they’re super easy to wear. I will definitely be on the lookout for more of these.

Tarte Power Pigment in Fearless – This was a totally spur of the moment purchase, it’s a lovely pink nude matte colour and smells minty.

Makeup Haul Swatches

L-R: Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Rose Gold, Tarte Power Pigment in Fearless, Clarins Ombre Matte Eyeshadow in 04, Clarins Blush in Tawny Pink, UD Lipstick in Naked, Laura Mercier Eye Basics in Flax

Have you tried any of these products? What is on your makeup shopping list for fall?

Thanks for stopping by!

Meg


My Current Evening Skincare Routine

Evening Skincare Routine, Lush, Clarins, Estee Lauder, Kiehl's, Tarte, Te Face Shop

 

It’s time for another skincare post here on Meg’s Makeup Bag, these are so of my favourite to write and read because I’m always on the look out for new products to try. Today, I’m sharing my evening skincare routine, where I do the majority of my skincare treatments for the day. I posted my morning skincare routine quite a while ago, but it really hasn’t changed that much (you can read it here).

I tend to have normal skin with a slightly oily t-zone, which is very dehydrated. How oily/dehydrated it gets is totally based on the seasons. In the winter, my skin is incredibly dehydrated and rarely oily. While in the summer, it’s slightly oily and less dehydrated.

My evening skincare routine has 4 parts: cleanse, tone, treat and moisturize. I always stick with these steps and will change up the products based the season/skincare needs. I’ve been using this routine for almost a year now, and have found that it works extremely well for my skin.

Cleanse

I start off by removing my makeup, currently I’m using the Lush Ultrabland Cleanser (what I use to remove my makeup changes often). I apply this oil based cream cleanser to dry skin, and then rinse off with a warm wash cloth (this stuff is oil based and does not play nice with cool/cold water). It does a great job at removing both face and eye makeup, the only thing it doesn’t remove is waterproof mascara. Once all the makeup is off my face, I wash my face with the Clarins Extra Comfort Anti Pollution Cleansing Cream; a very long name for a wonderful moisturizing cream cleanser. It feels so lovely on the skin, and doesn’t leave my skin feeling tight and dry.

Tone

I will either do 1 or 2 steps for toner, depending on the night. Every other night, I start out with the Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner, which uses glycolic acid to exfoliate the skin. This toner has done an amazing job at exfoliating my skin and keeping clogged pores to a minimum. I only use it every other day, because I find it to strong to use on my skin on a daily basis. After using the exfoliating toner, I will follow it with the Lush Eau Roma Water Toner, which I will also use by itself on nights when I’m not using the Clarins. The Lush Eau Roma Water Toner is a light refreshing toner made with rose and lavender water, which I use to hydrate and refresh my skin.

Treat

This is my favourite part of my skincare routine, and one that I haven’t changed at all in almost a year. After toning, I first use the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum, which is just happiness for my skin. It leaves my skin plump and clear; and while it hasn’t reduced any of my “congratulations you’re 30, here are some wrinkles”, they haven’t gotten any worse. Once I given that I change to soak in, I will spray my face with the Avene Mineral Water and then apply a combination of the Clarins Blue Orchid Oil and the Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the combination of these two oils, so much so that I wrote a very detailed post about them here. The short version is that the combination of these two oils has made a night and day difference to my skin. The Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate gives my skin the glow from within look, while the Clarins Blue Orchid Oil helps to combat my very dehydrated skin.

Moisturize

This is the step that I change up the most often in my skincare routine. I find that how much moisture my skin needs is very dependant on the weather. Right now because it’s quite warm and humid here in Toronto, I’m finding the Kiehl’s and Clarins oils are providing enough moisture. If I’m feeling like I need a more moisture, I will apply The Face Shop Raspberry Roots Sleeping Mask. I like to use overnight moisture masks in place of a traditional night cream, as I find they do a better job at keeping my skin hydrated. The Raspberry Roots Sleeping Mask is great because it’s a very lightweight gel, so it’s not to heavy on my skin, but I wake up with plump and hydrated skin. Finally, under my eyes I use the Tarte Maracuja C-Brightening Eye Treatment. I have dehydrating lines under my eyes, so I’m mainly looking for something that hydrates the under eye area. This does a good job at hydrating, though I haven’t really noticed any brightening properties.

So there you have it! It may seem like a lot, but honestly I can do the whole thing in under 5 minutes. I actually enjoy my routine, and find it very relaxing to come home after a busy day and go through the process.

Thanks for stopping by!

Meg