Tag: makeup

Back in the fall, there were all sorts of products from the Back to School Beauty Bundle highlighted. The set included fourteen different items, including makeup, perfume, and skin care. Some products have already been reviewed on the creation of beauty is art. and some reviews are still outstanding. It is time to focus on another sample from the set….the 24-Hr Brow Setter from Benefit. There is something very nostalgic to me about Benefit. During my earliest years as a makeup enthusiast, it was the Benefit section of Sephora that thrilled me most. I loved the cheek tints, the themed sets, and the blushes. Over the years, the brand seems to be a little less innovative and colourful, but there are still some fantastic staple products. These days, Benefit is mostly known for their mascaras and eyebrow products (my personal favourite brow product from the brand is the Goof Proof Brow Pencil). Ready to find out how this clear brow gel performs? Keep reading for all of the details.

According to the brand, the 24-Hr Brow Setter from Benefit is a clear gel that “easily shapes and tames brows, locking in your look for up to 24 hours.” It contains Provitamin B5 to make the eyebrows look polished and defined as well as Polymers to sculpt the brow hairs. This is described as a flake free formula that is easy to apply and quick to dry. It is also has less than one percent synthetic fragrance. This is an eyebrow product that I have heard great things about over the years.

So…does it work?? Yes. The 24-Hr Brow Setter works as described, with a easy to use wand and a clear formula. It doesn’t have a strong scent and it keeps eyebrow hairs locked in place. (Sometimes, I have one or two eyebrows hairs that like to do their own thing. This is a nice product to have on those days.) That being said, it is important to remember that a little product goes a long way. When I applied a little too much on one of my eyebrows, there was a bit of flaking that occurred later in the day. Using less product still keeps my eyebrows in place – and there is no flakiness to worry about. Though this product worked well, I don’t know that I would purchase a full sized version. There are other eyebrow gels that perform similarly for a whole lot less than the $36 CDN that Benefit charges for the 7 mL version. At least now I have been able to put it to the test.

Have you tried the 24-Hr Brow Setter from Benefit? What eyebrow products do you like best?

When it comes to the iconic lip kits from Kylie Cosmetics, I have certainly been spoiled lately. In my Easter basket this year, there was the shade Angel (along with holiday chocolate and some other goodies). This is the kind of warm neutral colour that the brand is known for. Ready to take a closer look? Here is a review of the Kylie Cosmetics Lip Kit in the shade Angel.

All of the Kylie Cosmetics Lip Kits come with a lip liner and matte liquid lipstick. That means the lip look that is created has excellent longevity. According to the brand, the products included in this set are highly pigmented formulas that are both cruelty free and vegan. Based on my experience with the Kylie Cosmetics lip liners and and matte liquid lipsticks, these definitely deliver on the colour. The products are nicely pigmented and last well. There is a creamy consistency during application, but neither the lip liner or the matte liquid lipstick transfer. Sometimes, the lip liner is something that I wear alone and other times, it is the full lip kit look. I love that the formula, the longevity, and the shades that are available. There are many different colours available in this line, but a lot of them tend to be somewhat neutral and warm. The shade Angel certainly falls into that category. It is a beautiful warm neutral that pairs well with many different makeup looks.

As you can see from the makeup look above, this is a nice neutral to add onto any creation. This particular look was something that was just for fun at home. Nothing crazy, overly colourful, or over the top. The addition of the lip liner and matte liquid lipstick elevated the look and made me feel extra special. When it comes to Kylie Cosmetics products, the lip kits will likely always be favourites of mine. The colours are so easy to wear, the products are comfortable, and the longevity is impressive.

What do you think of this Kylie Cosmetics Lip Kit? What lip products have you been loving lately?

Preparation is key, especially when it comes to increasing the longevity of a makeup look. The right skin care products and primers can make all the difference. With certain products on hand, makeup application can become easier and products will stay put throughout the day. After hearing rave reviews about the Power Grip Primer from elf, it seemed like time to put this much buzzed about item to the test. There are a few versions of the Power Grip Primer available, but I decided on the Power Grip Primer + 4% Niacinamide. Ready for a review of this popular makeup primer? Keep reading for all the details.

According to the brand, the Power Grip Primer + 4% Niacinamide is “a sticky gel-based face primer enriched with 4% niacinamide to help even out skin tone and brighten while gripping makeup.” The sticky texture is supposed to help makeup grip longer and extend the wear time. It also states that it gives the skin a dewy and glowing finish and is suitable for all skin types. There are many four and five star reviews for this product…but there are also some less than stellar reviews.

My opinion? The Power Grip Primer + 4% Niacinamide is not my favourite primer. The first few times that I tried it, my face makeup seemed to wear like it would without a primer. After reading some different tips and tricks on beauty subreddits, there were suggestions to warm the product on your hands before patting in onto the face. (On the elf website, is says to “apply makeup primer evenly to face before makeup, using your fingertips to pat into the skin. The warmth of your fingers will help the product melt into the skin for even application.”) Simply using your fingers to apply the product is not enough and it really does require that extra step of warming the product on your hands. Despite that extra step, this primer still did not make a notable difference in the longevity of my makeup look and it certainly was not better than some of the other primers that I have put to the test. I think the most off-putting thing about this primer is the stickiness. It really feels like putting a bunch of glue all over your face. It is unpleasant, to say the least. Perhaps the unpleasantness of application (both in the feel of the actual product and the application process itself) would be worth it if there was a noticeable difference in the way my makeup wears throughout the day. Sadly, it does not seem like the Power Grip Primer + 4% Niacinamide from elf is ideal for me.

Have you tried the Power Grip Primer? What makeup primer do you use on a regular basis?

Spring is well underway, but this eyeshadow palette is taking me all the way back to Valentine’s Day. Not only was this a Valentine’s Day gift from my mom, but it is loved themed. The Love at 1st Sight Eyeshadow Palette is downright adorable – and so well themed. Ready to take a closer look? Here is everything you need to know about this love inspired product.

The Love at 1st Sight Eyeshadow Palette from FMG has a really fun love theme. The eyeshadow palette design is adorable and features a Polaroid style collage on the front. There are pictures of heart shaped cakes, flowers, a spa day, animals, high heels, and nature. It is so sweet and nostalgic. On the inside, there are nine eyeshadow shades. According to the brand, these are “buildable matter and shimmer shadows, featuring warm, delicate, and vivid hues,” to create depth and dimension. The eyeshadows do not have parabens, phthalates, talc, or fragrance. The latter is especially important for those with sensitivities to fragrances. The actual packaging is simple but effective. In addition, the size of the palette is compact, making this a good eyeshadow palette for travel. The only downside with the packaging is that there are no eyeshadow names. This is a personal preference, but when there is a themed eyeshadow palette, it is always preferable to see the theme tied in with some eyeshadow names. It just makes the whole thing feel more thoughtful and creative. It is just a missed opportunity!

As for the colour story of the Love at 1st Sight Eyeshadow Palette, there is a lot to love. (Pun intended.) the middle row of eyeshadows are gorgeous warm mattes. These are nicely pigmented and blend well. Then there are all sorts of shimmery shadows to compliment those mattes. I like that this eyeshadow palette has pinks, burgundies, and warm metallics. Though the shimmery purple is a standout shadow, my absolutely favourite is that warm rust coloured matte. It is such a great colour and it pairs well with the gold and champagne shimmers included in the palette. Those are the colours that I focused on in the makeup look shown above. The matte rust coloured shade was applied all over the lid, the glittery gold was applied in the center, and the champagne colour was applied in the inner corner and underneath the brows. To mix it things up a little bit, the matte burgundy shade was applied along the lower lash line for a smokey eye look that still incorporated lots of colour. The Love at 1st Sight Eyeshadow Palette is cute, has a nice colour story, and performs well. It has been fun to put to use.

What do you think of this love themed eyeshadow palette? What products have you been using lately?

Spring is in the air. Well…sort of. The weather has been a bit all over the place. Snow one day, rain the next, and a bit of sunshine scattered throughout. Despite the inconsistent weather conditions, the calendar claims the spring season is underway, so some of my more recent makeup looks have been seasonally inspired. I often associate springtime with soft pastel colours. That is the reason the Rosy Pinks and Golden Nudes Eyeshadow Palette from Nicole Miller has come in handy lately. It was gifted to me by a loved one around Valentine’s Day, but the butterfly design on the front and the assortment of pastel colours inside let me know that this product should be put to the test once the spring season arrived. Now that time has finally come. Keep reading for a look inside and a full review of the Rosy Pinks and Golden Nudes Eyeshadow Palette.

Truth be told, this is not a brand that I am familiar with, though I have seen some of their beauty products on shelves from time to time. When it comes to Nicole Miller, I was not quite sure what to expect from the quality of the actual eyeshadows or anything else for that matter. This eyeshadow palette comes in a metal tin with a raised butterfly design on the front and a description of the eyeshadow palette on the back. According to the brand, “this impeccable color palette is designed to flatter every skin tone.” The eyeshadows are cruelty free and vegan and there are twenty four shadows in total. When it comes to the packaging, there are some pros and cons. The pros? The cute butterfly design, the tin packaging, and the inclusion of a double-ended brush. The cons? The cheap plastic material inside and the fact that there are no eyeshadow names or even numbers.

As for the colour story, this is a really lovely spring eyeshadow palette. There are matte and shimmer shades to choose from with soft neutrals, pastels, and berry colours. I love the soft golds, the lilac, the soft rose colours, and the beautiful peach shades. All excellent choices for the spring season. When it comes to the actual performance of these eyeshadows, these are what I would consider to be medium. The pigmentation level is not intense, but the eyeshadows still deliver a nice amount of colour. This would be a great palette for beginners or those who prefer softer makeup looks. There are some eyeshadows that are bolder than others, but all in all, the pigmentation level is medium. Though there are a lot of really pretty colours, my favourites are the shimmery neutrals and the berry colours. All that said, there was one eyeshadow that really stood out.

For the spring inspired makeup look above, it was essential to highlight that soft lilac colour. When I first took a look at this palette, that was the most exciting eyeshadow shade to me. I wanted to know if the colour would actually look like a soft lilac colour or not.Thankfully, the lilac eyeshadow performed really well. It was applied to the inner portion of the eyelid and then some of the berry coloured eyeshadows were added to the outer portion and through the crease. It was all blended out with a matte peach shade. The peach colour was carried through the rest of the makeup look with a warm peach blush and lipstick. It was fun to put the Rosy Pinks and Golden Nudes Eyeshadow Palette from Nicole Miller to use to create this spring inspired makeup look. The quality was decent and the colour story was enjoyable. I like that there are a lot of eyeshadows to work with as well. All in all, the palette is a nice way to infuse a little springtime sunshine into my days.

How have you been enjoying the spring season so far? What do you think of this eyeshadow palette?

A lot has changed in the last several months. There have been tariffs and outright threats to the country that I live in thanks to certain politicians across the border. It has changed some things for me. Though there are fair few beauty products that I have purchased already (and will be reviewing over the next little while here on the creation of beauty is art.) my future purchases are likely to look a little bit different. Or slow down altogether. With the Buy Canadian movement underway as a response to the threats made, it seemed like an appropriate time to highlight some products from a Canadian brand: Quo Beauty.

Blush Balm in Gumdrop. The first Quo Beauty product is the Blush Balm in the shade Gumdrop. There are a few different colour options on the website (take a look at the full line of blush colours here) but I liked Gumdrop because it is bright and bold, but has a wearable dusty rose kind of finish. According to the brand, this creamy blush has a lightweight and buildable formula. It is “infused with nourishing ingredients that help condition your skin” and it provides the “perfect flush of colour.” Though most of the blushes in my makeup collection are powders, it is nice to have a cream or liquid option every now and then. These formulas tend to look nice and glowy on the skin. The Blush Balm is super easy to use (thanks to the rounded shape and sturdy applicator), the formula is creamy, easy to blend, and has lots of colour. I love that this blush can be more intense or understated, depending on personal preferences and mood. Generally speaking, my preference is to be a little heavy handed with blush. With this balm, it is possible to enjoy lots of colour payoff without the product looking heavy on the skin.

Stacked Eyeshadow in Purple Passion. In recent years, I have seen different stacked eyeshadows available at Sephora and other stores. I always thought the stacks were cute, but never added one to my shopping cart. I finally took the plunge with the Stacked Eyeshadow from Quo Beauty. This is a small little stack and each layer opens to reveal a different eyeshadow. This is a neat way to essentially have multiple “singles.” This stacked eyeshadow set comes with two matte and two shimmer eyeshadows. The first shimmer is a soft lilac, then there is a gorgeous matte purple, a cool toned matte brown, and then a shimmery metallic. I love the colour story and the variety of finishes. I also really like the fact that this stacked eyeshadow is compact and sturdy. This would be a good beauty item for travel or to store in a purse. Though all of the shadows perform really well, my favourites are the two purple colours. Both the matte and shimmer are stunning! This has been a fun addition.

pH Adjusting Lip Oil in Confetti. The last item is a pH adjusting lip oil. Since I have really enjoyed the pH adjusting products from brands like Winky Lux and have been obsessed with the lip oils from ColourPop, it seemed like a good opportunity to test out a product that offered both the lip oil formula with the pH adjusting colour. Though this is a small lip oil (1 mL of product) it is a nice way to test out the formula. This lip oil feels comfortable, is not sticky, and is moisturizing. It turned my lips a light pink colour that I quite liked. The confetti inspired packaging was also a win. I like that there are cute little sprinkles on the outer packaging. The pH Adjusting Lip Oil is small enough that it can be thrown into my purse and re-applied when I am out and about. It performs well, is comfortable, and provides a nice amount of colour to the lips. All in all, this lip oil was a winner.

It has been fun to test out a few Quo Beauty products and become more familiar with the line. The blush, stacked eyeshadows, and lip oil all worked well and delivered lots of colour. I look forward to testing more products from the brand in the future.

Have you tried anything from Quo Beauty? What makeup products have you put to the test lately?

When life feels dark and gloomy…colour is a must. As mentioned in previous posts, there have been some health issues with a loved one recently and my life has been upside down ever since. I am worn thin. It feels like I am losing little bits and pieces of myself. Thank goodness there is makeup to infuse colour, hope, and joy into my days. A little while back, the Ultimate Neons Shadow Palette from Revolution caught my eye. I instantly liked the combination of colours. The Pretty Pink palette reminded me of a Lizzie McGuire episode in the best possible way. It felt nostalgic and fun. Colourful and creative. With life seeming so unpredictable lately, nostalgia is in high demand. No wonder this is the eyeshadow palette that I have been reaching for lately. Find out how the Ultimate Neons Shadow Palette from Revolution performs and check out a recent makeup look.

There were several different products in the Artistic Collection from Revolution, including two different eyeshadow palettes. In addition to Pretty Pink (shown above) there was Green Haze. The latter focused more greens and yellows. It was intriguing, but the Pretty Pink Shadow Palette had a lot more variety. I like that this particular palette has pinks, red, orange, blue, and green eyeshadows to choose from. It is colourful, vibrant, and a little unexpected. According to the brand, “this super cute reflective pink component includes three pigmented bright mattes and six shimmers. Perfect for making a statement.” Something that I like about the Artistic Collection from Revolution is the idea that makeup has no rules. The focus is on self expression and showing your true self. I completely agree with that viewpoint. Makeup can be used a lot of different ways and for a lot of different reasons…but I like it best when makeup is used as a form of self expression. It can be a wonderful creative outlet.

There is a lot to love about the Ultimate Neons palette. The Pretty Pink Shadow Palette has cute (and nostalgic) reflective pink packaging and a clear cover. There are pink eyeshadows in matte and shimmer versions and some unexpected colours as well, like the orange, blues, and green. I like the variety of colours and finishes, the compact size, and the nostalgic quality this eyeshadow palette has. Some of the shadows have a flower design printed in them, which is a fun detail. However, it is a disappointment that there are no eyeshadow names. On the back of the palette, the shadows are numbered, but it was a missed opportunity to better establish the theme. As for the quality of the eyeshadows, it is a bit mixed. Some of the shadows (like the orange, pink, and light blue shadows) are really nicely pigmented. Others are so-so. For example, the green eyeshadow needs to be built up a fair bit as does the darker blue eyeshadow. When a palette is called the Ultimate Neons, every single eyeshadow should be bright and bold! All that said, there is a lot to enjoy about this colourful eyeshadow palette.

Since pink eyeshadow looks are some of my favourites…I wanted to highlight some of the other colours in this Ultimate Neons palette. The light blue eyeshadow was applied all over the lid and then a bit of the darker blue shadow was added to the outer corner. The champagne colour was used on the inner portion of the lid for a bit of contrast and then some of the orange eyeshadow to blend it out. This neon palette from Revolution has been adding some much needed colour into my world lately.

Do you like colourful eyeshadow palettes? What do you think of the Ultimate Neons?