January 2013: 15 steps, then a beauty blog

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

On My Face Today - More Dior

Spoiler Alert: you will see most of these products in my January 2013 favourites video since I have enjoyed wearing them so much!

On the skin I have been priming with Sibu Hydrating Serum followed by Murad Essential C Day Moisturizer. I skipped foundation and used Revlon PhotoReady Concealer (in the shade 02 Light) all over - focusing on the inside of my face and blending outwards with a synthetic buffing brush. This concealer is awesome and really works for me now that my skin is more normal/combination in the winter.

I powdered with Chanel Universal Loose Powder.

Under the eyes I used my trusty Armani Master Corrector (#1) and Dior Nude Concealer (Shades #1 and #2 mixed).

Now on to the fun stuff:

This Dior palette from their 2012 holiday collection creates the perfect brown smoky eye. I used the lighter shade all over the lid, the shimmery cool-toned bronze in the centre of the lid and the satin/matte brown in the crease and along the lash lines. The top two creamy products in the palette are an eye primer (the only disappointing product of the bunch) and a brow liner that works really well for me. It also comes with a mini DiorShow New Look mascara. At $40 this really is an awesome little palette. (Link)

I bronzed with my usual Dior Nude bronzer in shade 02, and added Tarte Exposed blush on the apples of my cheeks a bit heavier than I usually do.

To finish off, let me introduce one of my favourite lipsticks ever. I will need to do another blog post solely on it, or maybe just stop slacking and film a new favourite lipsticks video but until then, the shade is called Grace and it's by Hourglass (Link). Texture very similar to Tom Ford lipsticks and the shade is the perfect nude with a hint of peach. If you like YSL Rouge Volupte #1, #2, Tom Ford Blush Nude or MAC Shy Girl... give this a try. It's so good!

What makeup have you been wearing lately?

Monday, January 14, 2013

Today's Makeup - Dior Candide Lipstick

My name is Sandra and I am a lipstick-holic.

*sigh*

It's halfway through the January Spending Diet and I have thought long and hard about using one of my holiday gift cards on one pretty piece of Spring 2013 makeup. The brand of the culprit? Dior.

Dior is probably my favourite makeup brand at the moment. I find myself consistently reaching for their products in my daily routine and I love it. Their Spring 2013 Cherie Bow collection has some gorgeous pink/grey/silver shades and the cutest collector's edition palette. Three limited edition Dior Addict lipsticks were released in the range, and after some persuasion from some fellow makeup enthusiast friends (namely Rachel and Jess) I walked out with #436 "Candide".

It's pigmented (slightly more pigmented than YSL Sheer Candy lipsticks or the Chanel Rouge Coco Shine lipsticks I own, for example) and glossy and the perfect shade of light neutral pink for spring. I added a tiny hint of Laura Mercier lip liner in Potpourri just to add definition to the edge of my lips, but did not fill my lips in with the liner.

The packaging of Dior Addict lipsticks is so pretty and sleek.

Dior Addict Lipstick - 436 Candide (link)

It lasts a good 2 hours on me, which is nice given the glossy formula. These lipsticks are glossy and not drying and the packaging is so beautiful, they are made for reapplying throughout the day. Here's the rest of the makeup I wore:

Face:

Revlon ColorStay Whipped Foundation

Maybelline Age Rewind Brightener

Chanel Fleur De Lotus Blush (was a Nordstrom exclusive, no longer available)

Lancome Powder

Eyes:

Clarins Nude eyeshadow

Burberry Pale Barley eyeshadow

Urban Decay Tease eyeshadow

Urban Decay 24/7 Shadow Pencil in Rehab

Ardell Demi Pixies lashes

Have you started playing with Spring makeup or are you still rocking the Fall/Winter shades?

Sandra

Sunday, January 6, 2013

The January Spending Diet

Ah, January. The month of resolutions, the month of fresh starts, the month of... pretty new Spring makeup collections being released into the wild!!!

I'm writing this post letting you know that I will be on my best behaviour this month and spend some time showing some love to the things I already own. I found myself frantically starting to make SO MANY lists of new things to check out but I had to slow my roll because

a) I'd like to save some money

b) those lipsticks/eyeshadows/whatevers will most likely still be there in a month and if I honestly can't stop thinking about them, I will purchase later

c) I HAVE NO ROOM

d) using products up makes me happy

e) this can apply to clothes as well

A spending "diet" is much needed for me this month.

This means that this month's posts and videos will be geared more towards reviews/favourites/some tutorials/showing you some of my trusty go-to eyeshadow combinations, etc.

Hope you're on board :)

PS:

I've gotten many tweets asking me what outfit/makeup I had on for New Years Eve. I hadn't planned on doing a post with a complete look since I was rather rushed and it was a hectic day but I did manage to take a bathroom mirror photo at my friend's house, so you can get an idea :)

top - Zara (old)

belt - Nicholas (link)

skirt - Herve Leger (link)

bracelets - Tiffany's (beaded silver), Henri Bendel (rose gold), Pandora (silver)

Paired with dark pumps and Essie Smokin' Hot on my nails.

For makeup I wore MAC Constructivist Paint Pot and Club eyeshadow all over the lid, with some Urban Decay Tease in the crease and some Burberry Taupe Brown in the outer corner.

I got made fun of because of my phone case a lot, which cost almost $4 and was from Ebay haha...

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Dior Rosy Glow: Current Everyday Makeup

First of all, I would like to wish you all a very happy new year. Thank you for making 2012 so much more fun and exciting for me by being a part of this wonderful makeup community.

With it now being full-on winter and with my skin actually feeling NORMAL and BALANCED (cue the angels singing - and check out my most recent blog post here on the products I hold responsible for this small miracle haha) I can actually forget about oil control for a split second and use my favourite highlighter EVER... Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Pearl, along with the Dior Rosy Glow blush that I've been obsessing over for the past few weeks.

It's more of a "spring" makeup look now that I think of it but hey... with all the Spring makeup collections being released in the coming weeks, I suppose it's not so out of place after all.

I hope you enjoy the look (I am sporting it in my recent YouTube video as well) and as always let me know what products you have been loving as of late.