Cute Makeup Tips

Makeup Junkie decided to put a couple of CoverGirl products to the test by doing complete makeup looks. Check out our must haves and our can-do-without products!

Must Haves:

Cover Girl TruBlend Liquid Makeup

I really liked this foundation. I found that it blended well into my skin. It’s lightweight and gives pretty good coverage without the cakey feel or look. All I needed was one pump to even out my skin tone. One thing I should mention is that it’s fast drying so you have to work quickly when applying. If you’re someone who likes the matte look then this is a great foundation for you.


Cover Girl & Olay Simply Ageless Sculpting Blush

I love love loved this cream blush! I would definitely recommend this product. It goes on smoothly and it blends nicely into the skin. It’s great especially if you like that glowy dewy look. Colors I tried were Rich Cinnamon which is on the peachy side and Lush Berry which is more on the reddish pink side. This is a definite must have!




Cover Girl Eye Enhancers 4-Kit Shadows in Crystal Waters

These colors are amazing! The pigmentation was great and even greater when I applied the Cover Girl TruConceal as a base to my eyelid. The texture is like satin and very smooth, making blending effortless. This is great for a blue/green smokey eye. I used this palette to do a night look and I loved how it looked on my eyes. It’s also not to shimmery which I like. Beautiful colors!

Cover Girl Eye Enhancers 3-Kit Shadows in Café Au Lait

Again, satin texture and smooth application. I’d have to admit the color payoff wasn’t as great as I expected but it was buildable. This is a great everyday palette for those who like the natural/neutral look. It has subtle shimmer and gave me a glistening eye every time the sun touched my face.

Can-Do-Withouts:
Cover Girl Continuous Color Lipstick

This lipstick has a very moisturizing texture. However, I’d have to disagree that the color is lasting. After only an hour or wear, my lipstick had already came off and it left a pink stain. I tried this lipstick in Classic Red but I found that the color was more on the dark pink side and I felt that the color wasn’t suited to my skin tone. If you have dry lips like me, then this is great for you but if you want lasting color I’d apply lip a lip liner first.


Cover Girl TruConceal Concealer

This is probably not my favorite concealer. It had a thin but creamy consistency, however, it failed to cover up my dark under eye circles. Although, I did find that it was a good as a base for my eye shadows. It was also good for spot concealing and covering up any blemishes, but I can do without this concealer.

Cover Girl TruBlend Pressed Powder

Initially I found that the product was a bit on the heavy side no matter how much or how little powder I put on the powder puff. So I decided to try a powder brush instead of the puff and the product ended up crumbling and making a huge mess. Instead I placed the product on my face with the sponge and because it still looked heavy I ended up using a duo fiber stippling brush to blend it into my skin. The results were flawless, however, I wish I could have skipped all those steps and just used the sponge it came with.

Cover Girl Brow & Eye makers Pencil

I’m a fan of eye shadow when it comes to filling in the eyebrows, and when I tried these I realized even more why I prefer eye shadows to pencils. I found the pencils to be a little too stiff when applying on my eyebrows. I had to press really hard and even then I didn't get enough colour.

www.covergirl.ca

by Donna Marie

I'm flying to BC next Tuesday (my first trip on a plane since before I was prego!) and I'm VERY excited! We'll be visiting my mother-in-law in what's referred to as the beautiful "Sunshine Coast". There will be lots to do including kayaking, canoing, hiking, and mountain biking. For the most part, I'd probably say I'm 85 % city girl and 15 %
outdoor-camping-roughing-it kind of girl. I much rather prefer stilettos over hiking boots and consider going without mascara as "roughing it". Sounds high maintenance, but I'm really not - I swear! I just like to look put-together in every situation. And although canoing is not my first choice of fun, I'm very open to new experiences.

As a child, my family wasn't really the camping type. The last time I did anything camping related, I was in grade school. Don't get me wrong - we won't be sleeping in tents or anything but in a beautifully renovated home just off the water. But cute flats or wedge sandals just won't cut it. Since I'm fairly new to the whole kayaking-hiking-canoing thing, I'm a little unsure if wearing makeup is a faux pas. This is my question to you - would you wear makeup while doing outdoor activities?

Here are the products I'm thinking about rockin' while canoing along the coast:

CoverGirl LashBlast Volume Blasting Water-proof Mascara in Very Black: After rave reviews of the original formula, I was very bummed that my lashes went limp instead of lush and full. But I decided to give the water-proof version a try on recommendation of Arianne (thanks girl!). Well, I think my lashes have found a new love! I was fully committed to L'Oreal's Voluminous Waterproof mascara but I have moved on. I LOVE the results my lashes get - voluminous, super-long, lush non-smearing lashes! Mascara always manages to make you look polished without over-doing it with lots of shadow.

Tarte Cheek Stain in Tipsy and Flush: I know I'll probably get a natural flush from all the physical activity but a little help doesn't hurt right? I love Tarte's cheek stains because they give you a natural flush and stay put. Tipsy is a nice sheer coral-peach and Flush is a sheer berry. I like to have choices so I'll bring both. :)

Juice Beauty Lip Trio: SPF 15 Tinted Lip Moisturizers: I think when you're working out it's important to not look done up. These tinted lip balms are the perfect choice especially for outdoor activities. These lippies give you sun protection, moisture, and a natural tint of colour that goes on like a lip stain. My favourite is Delightful, a deep berry shade that makes your lips looks like you've been getting some serious snogging action.

So, would it be too much to also add a bit of YSL Touche Eclat Radiant Touch under the eyes, Cargo's blu_ray High Definition Mattifier for an even complexion without adding foundation and to double as a mattifier, and my Benefit Hoola Bronzer for a matte sun-kissed glow? I would love to hear what you think and if there's anything else you'd recommend please let me know!

I'm curious to know, have you tried any homemade beauty recipes?

This is the final installment of the three part beauty trilogy about my quest to bring only one medium sized makeup bag full of product with me on a five week trip away from home (and away from my makeup stash!) The quest was not an easy one, but I managed to slay my indecisiveness and select my makeup must-haves for the next five weeks. You already know my picks for eyes and lips, here are my necessities for the face.

1 Blush and 1 Bronzer Mascaraholic picks: Cargo Bronzer in Medium ($26 CAD) and Cargo Blush in The Big Easy ($26 CAD) The idea of using the same colour blush everyday will be a hard one to get accustomed to, but I only have so much space! The Big Easy is a flattering peachy pink that gives you the right amount of glow and Cargo's famed Bronzer in Medium provides a sun-kissed look without being muddy or orange like most bronzers. Hate shimmer? Cargo offers a matte version that looks just as great!

Foundation, Concealers & Face Powders Mascaraholic picks: Everyday Minerals Foundation ($12 US), Everyday Minerals Mint Concealer ($8 US) & MUFE High Definition Microfinish Powder ($32 CAD) Everyday Minerals Intensive Foundation in Light Neutral is my perfect summer foundation. Liquid foundations either melt off or clog my pores in the summer and Bare Escentuals Mineral Makeup was way too shiny and made me itchy. Everyday Minerals provides me with great coverage, lasts pretty well on my oily summer skin and best of all, doesn't break me out! Plus, mineral makeup has built-in sun protection because the titanium dioxide defends skin against harmful UVA and UVB rays. Still, that's no excuse to skip your daily sunscreen, especially if you're going to be out in the sun all day! The Mint concealer, worn under the foundation, masks the redness on my nose and cheeks without making me look like a martian. MUFE's Microfinish Powder keeps shine at bay and provides a lovely, soft focus finish!

Primers & Etc. Mascaraholic picks: Urban Decay Primer Potion ($18 CAD), Tarte Clean Slate ($38 CAD) and Korres Watermelon Sunscreen Face Cream SPF 30 ($40 CAD) Does the eyeshadow you apply every morning fall victim to oily lids and crease like no tomorrow within an hour? Then you and I have something in common, my friend. Urban Decay Primer Potion saved my eyes from looking like an oily, gross mess! It keeps my eyeshadow from creasing, makes the colours more vibrant and helps eyeshadow last all day! Tarte Clean Slate does the same thing for my face (almost). The clear primer smooths out my skin and makes my pores less noticeable, plus it helps with mattifying and making my mineral makeup last longer. And the most important product of all, sunscreen. I wear it religiously and refuse to leave the house without it. I tried a sample of Korres' sunscreen in Sephora's Sun Safety kit last year and loved it so much that I bought a full size tube. It doesn't make me too shiny and it doesn't break me out. Smells great too! (If you don't want to spend $40 on the sunscreen, I just noticed that the Summer Essentials Kit has a full size sunscreen plus a cooling gel and body scrub for $28.21 CAD! Seems like a way better deal, huh?)

Now that I've shared my picks for eyes, lips and face, what do you think? Am I overdoing it? Am I underdoing it?

In my last post, I detailed how hard it can be for a makeup junkie to pack for a long trip away from her stash. My goal was to pick what I consider to be absolute necessities for a five week trip and have them all fit in a medium sized makeup bag. I already shared my picks for eye makeup, now on to the lips!

3 Lipglosses: Sheer, Nude and Tangerine
Mascaraholic picks: MAC Pink Grapefruit (Limited Edition!, $16.50 CAD), MAC Tendertone in Tread Gently (Limited Edition!, $17.50 CAD) and Nars Lip Lacquer in Chelsea Girls ($28 CAD)
Orange lips are one of the hottest trends for this summer. Full on orange may not be for everyone, but have no fear! MAC's gorgeous Pink Grapefruit Lipglass from the Neo Sci-Fi collection is a shimmery sheer tangerine that is perfect day or night. It may be hard to track down but it's definitely worth the hunt (note to Canadian readers: Pink Grapefruit is still available at maccosmetics.com). MAC's Tendertones are love. They're glossy, make your lips feel soft and luscious and have an SPF of 12! Tread Gently is a bright, shimmery light lime in the pot but on lips it's sheer with golden shimmers. It looks great alone or on top of another colour. I keep it on me with a retractable lip brush so I can reapply throughout the day. Chelsea Girls is a nude beige gloss that can be layered for intensity. It's one of those products that I frequently fall in love with all over again every time I use it. Pat on a light layer to wear during the day or layer on for a pretty nude lip!

4 Lipsticks: Pinks, Rose and Nude
Mascaraholic picks: MAC Slimshine in Gentle Simmer ($17.50 CAD), MAC Lipstick in Jubilee ($16.50 CAD), MAC Lipstick in Party Mate ($16.50 CAD) and Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dolce Vita ($30 CAD).
Gentle Simmer is a perfect everyday sheer pink and I love Jubilee as a nude that's not too beige and not too pink. It looks great with a smokey eye. Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencils are my latest obsession, I love a matte lip but I hate how drying most matte formulas can be. Not the Nars Velvet Mattes! Dolce Vita is a lovely dusty rose that seems to flatter everyone who tries it! Finally, Party Mate, from MAC's Naughty Nauticals collection is a fun, bright shimmery pink that I'll be saving for nights out.

1 Lipliner: Clear
Mascaraholic picks: DuWop Reverse Lipliner ($21 CAD)
I'm not a big fan of coloured lipliner, but I love clear lipliner, especially when wearing gloss. I find that it helps the gloss stay on much longer and of course, keeps it from migrating outside the lip line, all without having to worry if the colour matches or not.

What are your vacation necessities? Which products would you bring along? What would you leave at home?

There comes a point in every makeup junkie's life where they have to spend some time away from their beauty arsenal. Packing for a vacation or an extended trip away from home is never an easy task. Most women have a hard time deciding what clothes to bring. Me? I can't decide which products to bring! Next week, I'll be hopping on a plane and flying away to study in another glorious part of Canada for five whole weeks. Picking out a handful of products for a one or two week trip, while difficult, is manageable. But how am I supposed to know what I'll be in the mood for three weeks from now? Four weeks from now? Looking through my stash, I'm met with a plethora of options, with each lipstick, shadow and blush screaming "Take me! Take me with you!" and while I hate for any of my makeup products to feel unloved and ignored, taking them all with me simply isn't possible (unless my airline changes their policy to allow three checked suitcases).

My challenge? Fitting everything I need into one, medium sized makeup bag. There are numerous things I need to take into account - I'll need to have appropriate colours for both day and night-time looks, items must be summer-friendly and be able to stand up to hot, humid weather (products with SPF are plus) and lastly, I want to incorporate some fun, summer trends into my everyday look. I went deep into my beauty closet and after an hour of deliberation, I emerged with my final choices for my trip. I only picked what I considered to be absolute necessities (and every makeup junkie has quite a few!)

This adventure in beauty will be a trilogy. Up first are my picks for eye makeup. Coming soon to this very blog will be the lip products followed by cheek and face products that made the cut.

2 Eyeshadow Palettes: Colours and Neutrals
Mascaraholic picks: Urban Decay Deluxe Shadow Box ($43 CAD) and MAC Eyeshadows in Ricepaper, Goldmine, Woodwinked and Mulch ($16.50 CAD each)
The Urban Decay palette is chock full of beautiful, pigmented colours. If you bring an eyeliner brush, the brighter shades double as eyeliner which is perfect for giving a neutral eye a pop of colour. The MAC shadows (which I keep in a quad) work together to make a beautiful gold or bronze neutral eye. Increase the intensity of Mulch in the crease and outer corner of the eyes for a smokey eye that you can wear in the evening. Ricepaper and Scratch (from the Urban Decay Palette) look great on the inner corners of the eye, especially on mornings after a late night of studying (or partying).

3 Eyeliners: Black and Peachy-Nude
Mascaraholic picks: Stila Smudge Pot in Black ($25 CAD), MUFE Aqua Eyes in Mat Black 0L ($18.50 CAD) and Tarte Rest Assured Brightening Wand ($25 CAD)
I love colourful eyeliner as much as the next beauty junkie, but on this trip, my Urban Decay palette has me covered. I use the Smudge Pot, which is a gel liner similar to MAC's Fluidliners to line my eyes and MUFE's Aqua Eyes is the only liner I have encountered that stays put on my lower and upper waterline. Tarte's Brightening Wand is my secret to looking wide awake at early morning lectures. On one end is a peachy nude eyeliner that looks much more natural than white eyeliner for lining your lower waterline. The other end holds a creamy pink highlighter for dabbing on the inner corner of your eyes. I prefer to use it on my cheeks for a well-rested glow.

1 Mascara: Black
Mascaraholic picks: Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes! ($26 CAD)
I cannot rave enough about this mascara. It provides me with lush, thick, glossy lashes and it never clumps or flakes. Last year, Tarte had a waterproof version of this and I really wish I bought more than one tube because it was fantastic and perfect for the summer. However, the original is still fabulous. I tend to alternate between two to three mascaras at any given time (after all, I am a mascaraholic) and Light, Camera, Lashes is the sole mascara that I always have in rotation. That's how much I love it.

What are your vacation necessities? Would you bring more eye products? Less?