Lined & Defined Part #2 with Annabelle Cosmetics Instaglam Eyeliner & Mascara Touch Up

I'm trying to be trendy this year...as in I'm trying to adopt the trends while they are "in" opposed to my normal course of action, which is to rock a trend when it is no longer trendy.
 
According to a wide array of fashion magazines, a few beauty trends for Fall 2014 are graphic liner, lashes, and adding pops of colour to your look. Well, the Annabelle Instaglam Eyeliner & Mascara Touch Up in Psychedelic will help me and you achieve all 3 of those trends.
 
This one product offers a black liquid eyeliner at one end, and a coloured mascara at the other, all in convenient sleek packaging that's perfect for on the go. Retailing for $12.95, this product comes in 3 mascara shades: Psychedelic - purple, Abyss - blue, Black Star - black.
 
The eyeliner is an oversized marker-pen with a felt-tip applicator designed for ultimate precision, control and versatility. The perfect tool to achieve thin natural lines to dramatic shapes in one stroke.

The mascara totes a small brush for ultra-precise and flexible application, wrapping even the tiniest lashes. Perfect to intensify your look by using on lower lashes and last minute touch-ups.
 
Of the duo, the eyeliner is definitely the more impressive of the two products. The applicator makes it easy to apply thin or thick lines. The formula is ultra pigmented and opaque in one swipe and dries quickly. Once set it does not budge.
 
Although, I love purple and the concept of coloured mascara, I am not a fan of how it looks on my lashes. I feel it makes me lashes disappear if used on the top and bottom lashes. The formula of this mascara is good regardless of the colour, it reminds me of the BIG SHOW Mascara. In the future I will only be using this purple mascara on my bottom lashes.
 
Overall, the quality of this product is great. Although I'm not a fan of the coloured mascara, I would repurchase just for the eyeliner.

I created my own graphic liner look to showcase this product. This isn't a look I would sport in public, but it is fun to play around with makeup in the confines of my room.

Disclaimer: Product(s) in this post were provided for review purposes.

Lined & Defined with Annabelle Cosmetics Stay Sharp Liner and Big Show Mascara

Back in July the Canadian Beauty Bloggers chose Annabelle to be our brand of the month. Annabelle Cosmetics kindly sent me some products to review during that month, however, due to receiving the products only a few weeks ago, testing time did not allow me to get the post up until now.

Honestly, Annabelle isn't a brand I normally gravitate towards at the drugstore. I'm not sure why, it's just always been like that. After taking some time to try these products, I'm happy to say that Annabelle is a brand that I'm going to be paying more attention to in the future.

The products I'm reviewing today will help keep your eyes lined and defined with innovative packaging, that keeps everything sharp and on point. Annabelle Cosmetics proudly introduces the very first to mass market self-sharpening liner with the New Stay Sharp Waterproof Kohl Eyeliner.

This new eyeliner comes equipped with the stay sharp twist-on cap which includes a sharpener. Every time the cap is twisted back on the pencil, the blades sharpen the tip to perfection and neatly keep the shavings in the cap. No fuss, no mess!

These eyeliners offer an easily blendable formula that lasts up to 12 hours, once it sets. And once they are set there is no smudging or transferring to any other part of your eye. This is a huge selling feature for me because my eyelids get extremely oily during the day. Because they are ophthalmologist tested, they are safe to use on the waterline.

Stay Sharp Waterproof Kohl Eyeliner

This product retails for $9.95 and comes in 6 different shades to help you create a multitude of looks. Today, I am reviewing the liner in Cappuccino, but it also comes in Go Black, Graphite, Ultraviolet, Midnight, and Forest.

Annabelle BIG SHOW Waterproof Mascara

Although, I don't normally purchase Annabelle cosmetics, this is a mascara that I have used before, and I've been a long time fan. The brush and formula really provide lots of length and volume to my lashes. The waterproof formula holds a curl well, and lasts all day without flaking or smudging.

I find this mascara a bit of a hassle to wash off at the end of the day, but that is just the nature of waterproof mascaras. I would definitely repurchase this in the non-waterproof formula in the future.

Overall, I am in love with both of these products and find myself reaching for them on a daily basis. Cappuccino defines my eyes without looking too harsh, and this mascara keeps my lashes full and flirty all day long. If you pick up anything new from the drugstore, definitely put these two items on your list.

Disclaimer: Product(s) in this post were provided for review purposes. Thoughts and opinions are 100% honest and my own.

Review: Revlon Bold Lacquer Length & Volume Mascara

Formula’s lacquer film technology and intense colour pigments deliver a lustrous, deep colour to lashes. The lash stretch brush pulls the formula’s high-shine, lengthening fibers from root to tip and beyond, giving you lashes that look gorgeously long and full.
 

This mascara sounds amazing right? Having loved the Revlon Lash Potion Mascara, I figured I would love this one as well. I mean, super black, shiny lashes that are both long and full…what more could I ask for? Answer: I could ask for a lot more, as this mascara didn’t offer much.

Let’s start with the brush, it isn’t anything special. It is a straight, plain Jane brush that picks up way too much product. Now for formula…holy wet mascara, Batman! Like the wettest mascara formula I’ve ever tried. I have to wipe off the brush before applying or I end up with a clumpy ball of lashes. And for such a wet formula it dries super quickly, and clumps like mad crazy.

 

The result is okay, if you take the time to work it. I have to use a second brush to get the clumps out. But, I can’t deny that this mascara is super pigmented. It doesn’t dry as glossy as I thought it was going to, but I’m happy with how dark and noticeable my lashes are. As for the volume and length, it’s hard to say if I notice amazing results. I have pretty long and full lashes naturally, so for me I don’t notice much in the lengthening department. For volume, I think they look somewhat fuller, but that could just be because of the formula causing the base of my lashes to clump.

The really good thing about this mascara is that it doesn’t smudge, flake, or transfer. How my lashes look when I first apply is how they look when I go to remove my makeup. They hold a curl like nobody’s business.

It’s hard to say if I would recommend this mascara. Am I going to finish the tube? Yes. Am I going to run out to buy a replacement? No. I think girls less endowed in the lash department may benefit from and like this mascara more than I did. If you don’t care about length or volume and just want crazy pigmented lashes that look awesome all day, then I’d pick this up.

Disclaimer: Product(s) in this post were provided for review purposes. Thoughts and opinions are 100% honest and my own.

June 2014 Ipsy "Pretty in Paradise" Glam Bag

This month’s Ipsy bag was all about getting Pretty in Paradise. Warm white sand beaches or a café under a star filled night sky, being pretty in YOUR paradise is only a Glam Bag away. We picked products that are excellent for an extravagant getaway or a quintessential kit for a quick trip for some peace and quite. What paradise is on your bucket list?

My June Glam Bag came complete with 5 deluxe/full size products housed in a gorgeous Rebecca Minkoff designed makeup case. This has got to be my favourite makeup bag so far from Ipsy, and I already have it in my purse to hold my on the go makeup products. I absolutely adore everything I got in this month’s bag and can’t wait to use it all month. If you are interested in signing up for your own Glam Bag click here to sign up. Ipsy cost $10USD or $14.95CDN a month.

Be a Bombshell Lash Out Mascara

Sample Value – 9g/$15

A rich pigmented mascara with a lengthening formula that offers a multidimensional look.

I love getting this brand in my Ipsy bag and I have never been disappointed by anything I’ve received. This product is full size, and reasonable priced. The mascara wand looks somewhat plain, but I have high hopes for this product. I can’t wait to try this out!

NYX Butter Gloss in Éclair

Sample Value – 8mL/$4.99

Buttery soft and silky smooth, the scrumptious new NYX Butter Lip Gloss tastes as sweet as sugar cookies – and makes your lips look down right luscious. Swipe it on alone or over your favourite lipstick for creamy sheer to medium coverage that melts onto your lips and is never sticky.

Can there be a perfect lip gloss? Yes there can and NYX has created it with these Butter Glosses. These glosses go on smooth, last for hours, and provide immense moisture to the lips all without being sticky or slipping around the lips. It is the perfect consistency; just everything about it is perfect. I’m hooked and will be buying more of these in the near future.

Jesse’s Girl Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner

Sample Value – 0.017oz/$6.99

This true black liquid liner creates a bold, precise, ultra-fine liner that’s both waterproof and smudge-proof. The unique calligraphy-style brush allows you to create lines as thin as one millimeter.

I love the Kat Von D Tattoo Liner, and the brush of this liner looks identical and also provides the same pigmentation. I need to test out this liner a bit more, but I think I have found a cost effective dupe for my Holy Grail liquid liner.

Olehenriksen Truth-To-Go Wipes

Sample Value – 10 wipes/$9

Cleanse, brighten and hydrate your skin with out best-selling truth to go wipes. Our thick gentle cloths remove dirt and makeup in one easy step while imparting anti-aging anti-oxidants.

I could always use more cleansing wipes, and these came in a convenient travel size package. I’ve heard great things about the Olehenriksen products so I can’t wait to try these out. They are fairly expensive at $1 per wipe so I hope they work wonders.

Marc Anthony Dream Waves Beach Spray

Sample Value – 1.52oz/$3.18

Create natural, effortless, beach hair worn loose, soft, and wavy. It adds body and texture to straight, fine strands or pumps up the curl in already wavy hair.

First of all this product smells amazing! Like they captured the essence of the beach in a bottle, with a mixture or coconut, sunscreen, sand, and salt water. It is absolutely divine and regardless of whether this product worked or not I would spray it in my hair just for the scent.  The good thing is that this product actually works and makes my hair look textured but not crispy. I’ve tried it on damp and dry hair, and prefer the effect it creates on damp hair. It amplifies curls and waviness without weighing down my hair or making it greasy. I will be repurchasing this product all year round.

Overall, I am really impressed with the products I got in this months bag. They are all generous sized samples of products that I have never tried, but so far have proved to be ones I will repurchase. The total value of my June 2014 Glam Bag is $39.16.

Review: Wet n Wild Mega Plump Mascara

Plump up the volume! Instantly plumps for up to 3x the volume. 

I am always on the lookout for a great mascara at a great price. My lashes are naturally full and long, but I love layering on the mascara to get that VA VA Voom look. I recently tested out the Wet n Wild Mega Plump Mascara in hopes of very black, voluminized lashes. With only a price tag of $3.99, if this mascara ended up being amazing I’d be laughing all the way to the bank with my savings. 

Influenster #MapleVoxBox Unboxing

Finally, after a long year, the first Influenster VoxBox has arrived in Canada! A few weeks ago I received an email and completed the survey, then heard nothing. I really didn't give two thoughts about actually receiving the box until it showed up in my mailbox a few days ago.

From Influenster:
"Canada has seen a lot of firsts: It's the first nation to celebrate Thanksgiving, train the world's first female jet-fighter pilots, & establish a national park! Joining the ranks of these auspicious Canadian firsts is Influenster Nation's first Canadian VoxBox: The Maple VoxBox! We finally made it. Log in to check in your VoxBox now!"

Skinny Cow Milk Chocolate Flavour Heavenly Crisp
"Skinny Cow Heavenly Crisp bars bring you layers of wafer with delicious chocolate crème flavour covered in a milk chocolatey coating. At 100 calories per 19g bar, say yes to delicious!"

Skinny Cow Milk Chocolate Dreamy Clusters
"These bite sized crunchy crisps and creamy caramel drenched in milk chocolate are only 120 calories per 28g pouch. With Skinny Cow Dreamy Clusters, you can say yes to delicious!"

Ice Breakers DUO
"New Ice Breakers DUO combines sweet fruity taste with refreshing cooling crystals. Ice Breakers DUO is a two sided mint with a fruity flavoured, textured side and a minty, smooth side that cools and freshens your breath. Available is strawberry and raspberry."

NYC New York Color Big Bold Curl Mascara
"Big Bold Curl Mascara's oversized curved brush is the ultimate way to get outrageously thick and super sexy lashes. One stroke gives your lashes up to 12x more volume and 99% more lift.

NYC New York Color Big Bold Plumping Lip Gloss
"Big Bold Plumping Lip Gloss makes lips look up to 50% fuller with a high gloss shine that lasts up to 4 hours. The ultra-soft, mega applicator gives full and even coverage for beautiful, perfectly plump lips."

Broadway Nails impress Press-On Manicure
"imPRESS Press-On Manicure by Broadway Nails is the revolutionary way to apply polish! Get a salon-perfect manicure in seconds - simply peel off, press on, and you're done (NO glue needed!). There's no drying, a killer shine and a manicure that lasts up to a week! Available at Walmart."

Montagne Jeunesse Clay Spas
"Join the Revolution and start a new weekly skincare regime with the Clay Spas from Montagne Jeunesse. These natural bamboo fabric masks are infused with clay for a cleansing experience that is better, quicker and easier than ever before."

Overall, I am pretty impressed with the contents of this VoxBox. The snacks were super yummy! The nails are purple which is my favorite colour, and I never say no to new cosmetics to try. I am very intrigued by the NYC Mascara and face mask. The gloss isn't in a colour I normally wear, so I may gift it to someone else. Seeing as a didn't pay anything for this box, the value of the contents is pretty good. I cant wait to see what the next box for Canada holds!

Colours of the Rainbow Tag!

I first saw this tag going around YouTube a few weeks ago, and knew that I wanted to get in on this tag action. No one specifically tagged me, but MissGlamorazzi did say that she tagged anyone watching her video so I'm taking that as I was. :)

I am going to tag a few specific people, however, if you are reading this and want to do this tag go ahead! Leave me you link in the comments, so that I can see your colourful picks!

Gen @ Beautiful Onyx & Mick

Cheryl @ The Creative Me and My McG

Sabina @ Beauty Blogs and More

Helen @ Beauty Delights

Jayne @ Cosmetic Proof

Aleksandra @ Plumpish Beauty

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Cherry Tart

I've always been wary about wearing a red lip. I'm afraid that the colour will bleed and I'll have it all over my face or all over my teeth. This was my first red lip product and it has been love ever since. This lip butter is very pigmented, I only need one layer for adequate colour payoff. It is moisturizing, especially when you put on a few layers, and the colour just intensifies with each swipe. It is a bright and vibrant red that can be worn everyday. Lately, I have been wearing this paired with black eyeliner and mascara, for a minimal, yet classic look.

Covergirl Lash Blast Volume Mascara

This has been my go to mascara since I started wearing makeup, years and years ago. Although I have tried many others, I always seem to go back to this one. The brush separates my lashes and makes it so each lash is coated from root to tip. The formula isn't overly wet so application is easy. After using this I am always left with a perfect fan of lashes.

Cake Beauty Lemon Cupcake Shampoo, Shower Gel, and Bubble Bath

I can't tell you how much I love this shower gel! It is citrusy, and sugary, with a hint of vanilla. It awakens the senses and leaves me feeling clean, and smelling great. It reminds me of Bath & Body Works Shower Gel in Lemon Vanilla. It lathers extremely well and leaves the skin clean, but not dry. I feel moisturized after using this, and rarely need to use extra cream after. The smell lingers on my skin for a little while after which is something I really like in my shower gels. I want to try and find a lotion that smells like this so that I can layer. At first I was kind of skeptical about this product because most lemon shower gels smell like Lemon Pledge to me. But this is amazing and I would recommend it to anyone.

M. Asam Vino Gold Magic Fini

I couldn't really find a green product in my collection other than this one. I received this sample in a past Glymm bag, when they were still in business. I put off using it for the longest time, because it looks so dark and I'm always the palest shade when it comes to foundations. I've been using it for about a month now and only used half the pot. This feels like a primer when it goes on, but melts into your skin like a BB cream. It gives me light, even coverage, that on most days is enough. When I need more coverage I use this as a base and layer foundation on top. I am going to be really sad when this sample is empty. I would be willing to splurge on this product though, that's how much I love it.

Nivea Aqua Effect Refreshing Toner - Normal Skin

This is my Holy Grail toner. I was using Clean&Clear for the longest time, but found it so drying. This toner leaves me skin feeling clean, refreshed, and not dry. It smells really good too. I use this at night after I cleanse my skin, and in the morning to remove any excess oils. I have combination skin, but this toner for normal skin has been working so I am going to be sticking with it for now. I may switch to the one for combination skin in the future, however, I will continue to use Nivea for my toner needs from now on.

Marcelle Essentials Oil Free Eye Make-up Remover Lotion

Another Holy Grail product here! I love love love this stuff! It is so gentle on the eyes so I don't need a separate remover for face and eyes. It removes cream eye shadows, and waterproof mascara like a dream. There is no scent which I like and a little goes a long way. I really like that it says it is oil free and it really is. Most other makeup removers I've used that say oil free leave some sort of residue on my face, but not this one. I don't feel like I need to wash my face again after using this.

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion

I didn't really have a violet or purple product I've really been loving right now. But I have been using this primer everyday, so in the tag it goes. I bought this because it is so hyped up in the beauty community. I can say it is worth the hype. My eyeshadow has never looked better and it stays on all day without fading or creasing. I bought the little sample bottle in case I didn't like it, but next time I go shopping in the USofA I am going to splurge and pick up the full size.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey

I got on the bandwagon with this hyped up product as well. This stain is that "my lips but better" shade for me and I use it almost everyday. The pencil shape allows for easy application, and the twist up bottom eliminates the hassle of having to sharpen it. Honey is a dusty rose, light pink shade, that is mildly glossy. I usually put a gloss on top a few hours later when the initial glossiness is gone and just the stain is left. I will repurchase this stain again and again.


Hopefully you enjoyed reading this tag. I would love to see your picks, so leave a comment to your posts below. Have you tried any of my favourite colourful products? If so, what are your thoughts on them?