Apocalips Now: Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquer

 Wandering around the drug store last night, I came across something I'd been waiting for for MONTHS: the Rimmel Apocalips lip lacquers. At $9.99 a pop I wasn't sure if I should go too too crazy over them, but I decided to put down a couple of things I had picked out so that I could get two. I picked up Apocaliptic and Big Bang. Both are very fun, vibrant colours. I already had one of these (in the shade Nova), so I knew I would love the new colours.

                                                               

 The formula is great. They are glossy without being sticky, and are fairly long wearing for something that is more of a gloss than a lipstick. The selection for colours isn't fantastic, but its not horrible either. And the packaging is fantastic. So beautiful to look at with a little bit of an edgy design on the lid. I also love that you can see the shade through the tube. The doe foot applicator is perfect for the fomula, and has a dip in the centre that allows more product to come out.  I'm hoping that new shades will be released soon. One thing's for sure: my lip product collection is going to be growing. :)

 Like most products, not everything is sunshine and rainbows. This is not a lip product that sets and dries, which can make it very easy to smudge, and will ned to be reapplied after eating. The brighter ones definitely show when they smudge, but they're so beautiful that I can cope with carrying it in my purse.

xoxo

Jordan

Edit: I have picked up another shade this evening at Wal Mart (where they retail for $7.98 - $2.01 cheaper than at Shoppers) in the shade Phenomenon, which is a very nude colour.

What's Your Skin Type?

For oily skin. For sensitive skin. For dry skin. What does all of this mean? It's actually not as complicated as I used to think it was.

 Determining your skin type is best done first thing in the morning, before you wash your face or brush your teeth. Your natural level of oils is most obvious to see and feel at this time because you have not applied product or removed oil in around eight or so hours. Note the areas that are shinier or flaky, but also feel your skin. Just because there's not a lot of shine doesn't mean there's no oil there, and skin may not look all that dry, but feeling it may have you reaching for your moisturizer.

 You may also not have the same type of skin on your entire face. This is where the term "combination" comes from. Just remember that whatever your skin type, it is important to take proper care of it - this includes an SPF to protect it from the sun.

Normal Skin

 Normal skin is even and smooth, and has no areas that are overly oily, nor are they dry or flaky. Everyone is affected by hormones, though, so sometimes there will be the odd breakout, but acne is not a problem for these blessed few.

Although this skin may seem like it doesn't require much maintainence, you should still maintian a regular skincare routine, since not taking proper care of your skin can lead to signs of aging, and wrinkles. This skin type can also change throughout the year (ie: Oily in the summer, and dry in the winter), so if you have this skin type, you may need to adapt your routine.

Oily Skin

 This is predominately my skin type (although, I think my skin is a bit confused). This skin type is prone to breakouts (yay!), and is characterized by a shiny T-zone.

The biggest mistake people make with this skin type is stripping it of all oil. What this does is prompts the skin to creat even more oil, in larger quantities to compensate for the oils lost.

Use a cleanser both morning and night, and follow cleansing with an alcohol-free toner. Moisturize all over with a lightweight, oil free moisturizer. Exfoliate up to three times a week (every other day or so, but not every day). Use an exfoliator that is granular (I use the St. Ives apricot scrub), and focus on the areas of your skin that are the oiliest. It is also helpful to use a mask that is clay based once a week or so.

 Use foundation that is water based, and don't be tempted to use a powder foundation, as they will get patchy on oily skin.

 Believe it or not having oily skin can be advanatageous. Oily skin doesn't age as fast as other skin types, and since it has more elasticity it will not sag or wrinkle as easily. This could be why I still get carded a lot.

Dry Skin

 If you have dry skin, you may find that it feels tight. Dry skin tends to have closed off pores, and therefore is not prone to blackheads. Dry skin has a tendency to form fine wrinkles, and to be flaky and red. On darker skin tone it can look ashy or dull. This skin type is not the same as dehydrated skin (keep reading for that), as dry skin lacks oil, where dehydrated skin lacks moisture.

 You want to use a creamy cleanser if this is your skin type, and massage it into the skin. In the morning you need a rich moisturizer to keep your skin from looking dry throughout the day, and a night cream or oil at night. Avoid washing your face too often, as this will dry it out. It is also important to exfoliate once a week to remove dead skin cells that prevent moisture from getting into your skin. You want to use a cream based exfoliator.

 Look  for a moisturizing foundation. Companies are pretty good about letting you know what skin type they made a particular formula for, but if you're ever confused ask for help. Sometimes it can take some trial and error to find what works for you, so never be afraid to ask for a sample to take home before you commit. Tinted moisturizers are also great if you don't need a lot of coverage. You can also add a little bit of moisturizer to your foundation if you purchase one that you find too drying. Avoid powder foundations. If you have a bit of oil in our T-zone, dust a bit of translucent powder over the area, but use a light hand, and avoid powder puffs. Select a cream blush instead of powder.

Sensitive Skin

 You may notice your skin feels thin, and reacts quickly to temperature. Sensitive skin is also prone to redness, and is usally dry and suffers a lot from allergic reactions.

 The most important thing to do when using product on your face is to do a patch test behind your ear. Monitor the area over a 24-hour period to see how your skin reacts (this is always on the hair dye box as well haha). Ask for samples so you don't have to spend a lot of money on something that you react to.

 Skincare products should be mild, and not contain any allergens (you will eventually figure out what you react to if you pay attention to ingredients). Look for products containing calming ingredients, like lavender or chamomile. Avoid using hot water, as it is very harsh, and instead use water that is lukewarm. You also want to avoid rubbing your face, since that can be irritating. When you exfoliate use something gentle and avoid granular ones.

Dehydrated Skin

 What exactly is the difference between dry and dehydrated skin? As noted above dry skin is lacking in oil production. Dehydrated skin on the other hand is lacking moisture...oil is not the problem, water is. This is a common issue in the winter, when there is less moisture in the air. You will notice your skin is unusually dull or ashen.  


 When your skin is dehydrated, moisturizing is very important. If your skin is prone to becoming oily look for oil free formulas. You can mix this into liquid foundations to make them more hydrating. If you mix it into your foundation, then you run the risk of it being absorbed by the foundation instead of your skin. To avoid this you can moisturize your skin, then apply primer to create a barrier between the moisturizer and the foundation.

 Select a cleanser that is gentle, as dehydrated skin is often a result of the skin being stripped of it`s moisture by a harsh cleanser. Selecting a moisturizer can be tricky. Sometimes oil-free can not be hydrating enough, and formulas for dry skin can make you look greasy after some time passes. You can easily remedy this by blotting with the paper blotters. This way you get enough moisture that your skin doesn`t look flaky once your make up sets, but it won`t look greasy because the oils have been blotted out.

Combination Skin

 If you have more than one of the above skin types in any given area of your face or neck, then you are classified as combination. Oily/dehydrated, dry/sensitive, etc. The most common combination skin is oily on the nose, forehead, and chin ("t-zone"), and dry on the cheeks and near the mouth.

 When treating this skin it's a good idea to identify which type is predominant, and treat that. You can also look for items designed to treat combination skin, since isolating the different types and treating them separately can be really time consuming, and will cost more in product. Personally, I think if you do feel the need to treat separately, buy two moisturizers - a heavier one for the drier areas, and a lighter one with less oil for the oily areas.

 If your oil is concentrated in the t-zone you can use blotting papers or a light powder to control the shine, just remember to avoid doing this on any areas that are drier. If the dryness is mostly on your cheeks go for a powder blush. If you feel the need to use two different types of foundation I recommend going to a make-up counter where an artist can help you determine which products to get, and in which shades.


   No matter what skin type you have it is possible to achieve a beautiful look and a flawless finish, It can seem like a lot of work to establish a skin care routine, but once you figure out what does and doesn't work for you it's a lot easier, and there are people out there to help you out if you know where to look. Don't be shy about asking for samples and recommendations. Nearly everyone has something about their skin they'd like to change, but if you learn to work with it instead of fighting against it you will find that it's not as bad as you once thought.

xoxo
Jordan

IMO: Revlon Colorstay Ultimate Suede Lipstick

       Hey all! Welcome back to my ramblings! Every month on the tenth the Canadian government deposits around $23 into my bank account. My first thought was "Yes! I can pick up that lipstick I've been wanting to try!" I live an exciting life.

       Because the tenth was a Sunday I got my money on Friday. So I headed out to Wal Mart on Saturday to pick up the lipstick.

       Let me just start off by saying I. Love. Revlon. When I was eighteen they came out with the first Just Bitten stain and I used it religiously. They had come out with it along with some other special products that I picked up, that I liked, but not like my lip stain. When it was gone I went to pick it up again, but they were not selling it anymore.

       On Saturday I went to get my new lipstick. I specifically wanted a coral/more orangey shade than I usually go for. I chose the new Colorstay Ultimate Suede Lipstick. I had seen a display of them previously, and the colour selection is just stunning, and I hadn't seen or read anything about it on the internets. I like to live dangerously.

       The colour of this is gorgeous! I fell in love with it as soon as I swatched it on my hand. It's an absolutely lovely coral colour with flecks of gold in it. It is exactly the colour I had in mind. 

       The packaging is also very nice to look at. I would prefer if it were more the regular height and width of a lipstick, but that's just a storage thing for me. 

       I haven't seen this advertised, so I had to go onto the Revlon website to see what they have to say about this product (not the easiest site to navigate, but it wasn't overly difficult to figure out).

"Is your lipstick giving you both moisture and wear? This velvety soft formula with moisturizing shea butter and aloe is food proof and doesn’t quit. 20 shades. Apply once and go."

Revlon boasts the following features for this product:

• Instant moisture
• All-day colour
• Shea butter and aloe
• Food-proof wear
• Soft suede finish
• Availabile in 20 shades.

In My Opinion:

       IMO, this is a stunning colour both in the tube and on my lips. Revlon was spot on with the shade selection, because I want every single one of those colours. There is a bright fuschia one that is calling my name. And it does have a matte-ish, suede feeling to it.

       I did, however, find this to feel quite drying, which I did not like at all. I had this down to the fact that I usually enjoy glossy lip products, but upon wearing it non stop for two days, I think it's just a dry lipstick. Another thing I noticed when wearing it alone is that the pigment tends to gravitate toward the inner, centre part of my lips - especially on the bottom lip.It also leaves a bit on the outline of my lips as well, making it look like I applied coral liner and nothing else. 

       It is also not even a little bit food-proof. This got all over my coffee cup when I got my coffee this morning. I never buy into the food-proof thing because I have yet to find one that actually is food proof, so this was not a big surprise to me at all. I expected that. 

       Having been a little underwhelmed I went on a mission to find a way to love this lipstick, and I think I may have succeeded. Yay! When I reapplied the lipstick after I had my coffee I put a gloss over it. I went with something that has little pigment to allow the colour to show through. I added the Gosh Light'n Shine lip glaze in the colour 03 (available at Shoppers Drug Mart). The result was absolutely gorgeous. It intensified the colour I fell in love with at the store, and took away the dry feeling. 

       Overall this is an okay product. The only thing that would prompt me to repurchase is the colour (which I'm fairly confident I could go into MAC or Sephora and find a shade for which this is a dupe). Everything else about it was not all that impressive.

       If you have a product you would like to know more about please let me know...I just might have it (likely), and if I don't I will make an effort to get my hands on it so I can let you know what I think!

xoxo

Jordan

The Tiniest of Drugstore Hauls

Recently I've gotten a couple of new drugstore products. They are products that have been getting really good reviews, and were selling at quite a good price.

1. Maybelline The Rocket Volum' Mascara. This is something I've been wanting, but I already have 2 mascaras, and my mum bought me a new Rimmel one in London. I was at Shoppers looking for a different product, and this was on sale for $5.99 from $10.99, so my Nan bought it for me, since I'm not supposed to be spending a lot of money. I grabbed the first one I saw and we then moved on to look at the other product I got.

When I got home I realised I got Brown Black. Normally I only wear black mascara (the blacker the better), but I decided to keep it and give it a try. So far I'm really liking the formula. I got the waterproof one to prevent smudging, and it has worked pretty well, but we'll see how well it holds up when I'm working.

2. The reason we had gone into Shoppers in the first place is to take a look  at the new Colour Tattoos. I ended up with Inked in Pink. I really wanted to get another shade, but Shoppers is pretty pricey if the item isn't on sale. It was $9.99...today I saw it at Wal Mart for $6.99, which is a little frustrating.

The colour was gorgeous, so I was super excited to get it home. I've used it once, and the staying power was awesome. Once again I wore it on a lazy day off, and am hoping to put it to the test tomorrow when I'm working, so I'll withhold my final verdict until then.

That's all I got over the weekend. It wasn't a whole lot, but so far I'm happy with it. :) Happy Monday!
xoxo
Jordan

January Beauty Favourites!

It seems kind of weird for me to do a favourites post for my first ever post, but seeing as it's the last day of January, and I've got a fair amount of new things I've tried out since Christmas, I figured why not? I also don't really have much to talk about regarding my real life that would remotely interest anyone. This is a littttle picture heavy, as I've featured an image for each product I talk about...it'll make it easier to go out and buy if you know what it looks like, yeah?

The first product I got from my dad for Christmas. I did request this, he did not pick it out on his own. He did, however, go shopping at Sephora. Good job, dad. It is the Too Faced Sweet Indulgence palette. The only thing I've ever owned from them is the shadow insurance, but I've been really pleased with the contents of this tin. I originally wanted the Tarte Carried Away Collector's set, but it was sold out, and this was my second choice.

The set features 16 gorgeous eyeshadows, 2 blushes, 2 bronzers, 1 highlight, 1 full-size tube of Shadow Insurance, 1 double-ended brush, and 3 "look cards". Only two of the shadows are matte, but honestly that doesn't bother me too much. I like a little bit of shimmer, and I find that in general (not just the shadows in this palette) the velvet finish ones go on a lot smoother, and blend a lot better.

The next favourite this month was just recently released in Canada. I've heard good things on YouTube about this foundation, particularly from Tanya Burr (who I think is brilliant). I saw it at Shoppers Drug Mart one day and was so excited. My mum is actually in London now, and this had been on my wish list before it came out here.

I have combination skin, so I have a lot of trouble finding foundation that I like. This leaves a nice, naturally dewy finish without making me feel like I look oily. I also love the fact that the coverage is buildable, so I can build it up if I feel like I'm having a bad skin day, but if I'm feeling particularly good about my skin I can leave it light. The lightest shade is a tiny bit dark for me, but I'm able to blend it out into my neck quite well. This is my new favourite foundation...like, ever. I love it. Thanks Tanya! Now I just need to get some of the concealer and try that out. Something tells me I'll love it just as much!

A lipstick I've been loving lately is by Essence, which I think might be the cheapest brand I've seen in a long time (I think it's actually cheaper than Wet 'n Wild). It was $2.49, and won an Allure magazine Best of beauty award. It's a gorgeous opaque pink-y mauve colour, and glides on really well. The pink-y colouring makes it a really good neutral/nude that doesn't blank out my natural lip colour. There is a little bit of a waxy taste to it, but it's not bad, and can easily be covered up if you apply a gloss over it. The colour is absolutely gorgeous, so it's easy for me to overlook.

Another listick I've been coveting is quite a bit bolder than the Creamy Nude one. It's the Cover Girl Lip Perfection in Hot Passion/Hot (the number is 305, but mine says Hot Passion, and the website just calls it Hot...I had to look up what the line was called). I first heard of this from Ingrid (MissGlamorazzi on YouTube). When she showed it I knew I HAD to find it. It was sold out, and I lost hope. Then of course once I was no longer actively seeking it out ONE popped up in a Wal Mart, so I snatched it up.

Recently Fleur of FleurDeForce (yes, I watch A LOT of YouTube videos) featured this in a disappointing products video, and I totally get why. This does stain. I find that if I've treated my lips the night before, and apply a liner underneath this hasn't been a huge problem for me, but when I first got it I didn't have a red liner, and it was a huge issue. Now I find that my liner (I use Red Blush (08) by Essence...I believe it is $1.49 at Shoppers) creates a barrier and I can get it off relatively easily before bed. If you do find it staining, I used the Lush lip scrub to get it off (I like Sweet Lips, which is the Chocolatey one).

Keeping with the lip theme, I've been loving the Liplicious glosses from Bath and Body Works. this one came as part of a gift set for Christmas, and is actually not my absolute favourite, but the packaging on the other one has been destroyed by my using it so much. This one is excellent, however. It smells amazing, and if you get some on the inside of your mouth, it actually taste almost as good as it smells.

The only thing I'm not a huge huge fan of is the glitter. On a day-to-day basis I prefer a straight up gloss as opposed to a glitter gloss, but this is very pretty. It goes on pretty clear, and the shimmer is not overbearing to look at. I love the strawberry taste/smell as well. It's delicious...or should I say liplicious? My other one is cherry, and also goes one clear. I love them!

Mascara is something I love using. I love a little bit of drama (or sometimes maybe a lot) for my eyes, and long, voluminous lashes definitely helps in that department. I do have oily eyelids, so I prefer a waterproof formula to help avoid panda eyes, but I cannot hep but love Rimmel's Extra Wow Lash.

My lashes look AMAZING when I use this. They are already quite long, but this gives them that extra wow factor. They look so full, and there are minimal clumps (I barely ever get clumping with this product). I use black mascara all of the time. I can't stand the way brown mascara looks on my eyes. This product is so black. I loved it so much I bought two. The last Rimmel mascara I loved this much got discontinued before I got a chance to buy another tube...I was not getting burned like that again.

Because my eyes are oily I need to always have a waterproof mascara on hand for when I need it to last, and am not able to monitor for panda eyes...this is typically any work situation and in the summer when I'm outdoors far more often. My current favourite is also by Rimmel. The Max Volume Flash Waterproof formula is great.

This product has never smudged on me, and I do not have to spend an hour every night getting it off. It is very black, which I love, and is affordable. At this point I'd choose it over a high end mascara, because it's just as good, and is much more affordable. As much as I'd love to be frivolous with my money, I can't do that. My lashes don't need a whole lot of help, though, so maybe that's why I don't notice much of a difference in the high end and the drug store. I am a huge drug store product junkie, though. Once you learn how to use the products properly, I truly believe you can achieve the same results regardless of brand. Which brings me to my next drug store love...

Brow gel. I've never really used brow gel, to be honest. I wasn't huge on filling and taming my brows until a couple of years ago. I volunteered to model in a fashion show (INCREDIBLE...if anyone reads this and wants to know more about it, let me know) and the make up artist filled my brows in. What. A. Difference. It was incredible how different I looked and felt. Now I'm totally loving it, and it's the first thing I do after foundation.

Surprise! More Essence! It's just so affordable! Having been on a student budget for quite a while I'm used to hunting for good products at a low price. This is a recent find that I picked up purely because of the price. I want to say it was $2.49, but it could have been $2.99 or $3.49...I just remember that it is super cheap. It works really well to set my brows and make them look more natural after I've filled them. Like all clear brow gels it does get some of the pigment in it and start to look yucky (you can see this a bit in the centre of the tube in the pictures), but wow do I love this. Since it's clear it's pretty much fool-proof. It's so easy to use, and if your brows tend to get unruly it makes a world of difference. I can't believe I went as long as I did without using it.

If I'm having a lazy make up day I will use only two products on my eyes: mascara, which I've already talked about, and eyeliner. I used to be married to black eyeliner. Honestly I thought other colours looked stupid on me. Thank God I've let go of that conviction. Black will always be my first love and go-to, however.

Oh, hey, Essence! I know it's a lot of one product. I swear Essence doesn't even know I exist. This little piece of awesome was $2.49, which is a bit more than their regular line of eyeliners. That being said, this has got to be THE smoothest eyeliner ever! One swipe and it's on solid. It's also glossy, which I thought was super cool. It kind of has a wet look to it. It's great for my waterline because I don't have to go over it more than once, so there's no irritation from that. I cannot say enough for this liner, and they're practically giving it away! The swatch in the image is one swipe of the pencil. Also, the redness on my hand is a stain from the CG red lipstick mentioned above, not from the liner.

I love my black liner, but I'm also a fan of copper/bronze/any metallic brown. It's great for a neutral look for work, and I love the metallic effect. My favourite pencil in this category is by Gosh.

This is the Velvet Touch eye pencil in Copper Girl (010). This colour looks great on, and is versatile. It would look great on someone with a darker skin tone, but I love it on myself as well, and I'm quite pale (especially since it's January, and I live in Canada). Like the Essence pencil this glides on very nicely, and has great colour payoff. These are the two big things I look for in a liner, since I don't want to have to be going over that part of my eye over and over again, because it will get irritated. I will definitely be looking at other colours from this brand. Gosh can be found at Shoppers Drug Mart with their high end cosmetics.

This next product I have to admit to being quite lazy with. When I remember to actually use it I love foundation primer. My foundation applies more evenly and lasts a lot longer. Nine times out of ten I'll be halfway through applying my foundation and go "Oh, shit, I forgot to prime!" For some people this is not a big deal, but since my skin can get pretty oily, this is not good for the staying power of my foundation. This one from Avon is very nice...it's from the Magix line, and I think it's called skin mattefier, or something along those lines. It takes next to nothing to cover my whole face. I've used it a fair bit, and it still looks brand new!

This was around $4.99, so I thought I'd try it out and I love it. I've had primers that have felt oily, and others that made me feel as if I was wearing ten pounds of make up before I'd even got my foundation on. Not cool. This feels so light, and the mattifying formula helps keep my face from looking oily. It works really well with the Wake Me Up foundation above. The mattifier stops the foundation from looking too dewy. It comes with a little sponge in the bottom compartment, but I don't like to use it if I can avoid it. They gather too much dirt for my liking. I've been using a foundation brush to apply it, and it's been working out quite well for me.

Before I wash my face each night before bed I like to remove as much make up as possible. It just makes washing my face that much easier. I've tried a few brands of wipes and right now my favourite is the Ponds cleansing and exfoliating towelettes with citrus and cucumber scent.

These smell seriously good. I also use one in the morning because the scent is so refreshing ans really helps me to wake up. One side of these is bumpy, to exfoliate the skin. I use this side first because I find it removes the bulk of my make up. I then use the smooth side all over to get anything I may have missed before I got and wash my face properly. These are about $4.97 at Wal Mart, but you can also get a double pack (60 towelettes total) for $6.47, so I'll usually go for the double pack. I'm not overly picky about which wipes I use, to be honest, since I do wash my face properly after I use it, so a huge factor in choosing these ones was price, and the fact that they smell soooo good.

Omigoodness, we've reached the last product! It has taken me so long to make this post that I wasn't sure if I'd get here. This last one is a fragrance. I got it for Christmas from my brother's girlfriend, and I LOVE it.

Enchanted Wonderstruck by Taylor Swift. I love Taylor Swift, and this perfume is amazing! It smells very nice on me, and is the perfect winter scent for me. The bottle is handbag-sized, so I can take it every where with me, and came with a refill. It twists to open as well, so there's no fumbling with lids...I can use it one-handed. I don't typically apply my perfume out of the house, but if ever there was a need, this has me covered!

We've reached the end of the post! Yay! If you've read the whole thing thanks for sticking with it, and good for you! If you liked what you saw please let me know so I can keep up my ramblings for you!
Jordan
xoxo <3