Current Game Face

There are some days where I just spend a good hour on my makeup: I take my time blending eyeshadows, placing blush/bronzer/highlighter strategically on my face and carefully lining my lips. Then there are other days I don't wear make up at all and just run outside the house. Hooray for ignorance/confidence/poor time management!

While my full make up routine is extensive, this is my quick game face. It looks like a lot of products for a "quick" routine but trust me, I can have this done in less than ten minutes, maybe even five!

For my base I use my new favourite Kat Von D Lock It Tattoo Foundation (Medium 57): it's full coverage and perfectly matches my tan, neutral-undertoned skin. There's no faff with this product, I use a dense brush to buff it all in and I'm good to go!

Disclaimer: I don't use under-eye concealer. I don't think I'm quite there yet so I find this foundation adequately covers any uneven colour which does shave off a little bit of time off my routine.

Next, I swipe some NARS Blush in Oasis on my cheeks - it's a darker blush that I would say is a mix of brown, purple and pink with a little shimmer. It's definitely not a "natural flush" colour but I do like a bold blush so it's my go-to. Also, NARS blushes last ages. They would wear longer than my previous foundations - my skin would look a mess while my cheeks looked pristine! I then add my ColourPop highlighter in Wisp: this cream/mousse product is a gorgeous champagne gold and adds a subtle shimmer. It's perfect for my tan skin and doesn't look overwhelming during the daytime.

Moving onto eyes, I add some of this Inglot Bronze shadow in the inner corners for a little brightness. Using my current favourite Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper, I line my eyes - I prefer a thicker feline flick even for day-to-day operation and this liner is just so darn great. It's incredibly dark and the brush tip makes it easy to draw the skinniest of lines! My mascara of choice is currently the Rimmel Lash Accelerator Endless which is perfect for longer, non-clumpy lashes.

Last, but certainly not least, I use Kat Von D Studded Lipstick in Lolita for perfectly pink lips. This dusty rose shade is great for Autumn while still looking natural and daytime appropriate! The creamy formula isn't drying on the lips either which is a huge cold-weather bonus!

It's a lot to read but I promise it doesn't take more than ten minutes tops. What are your favourite "everyday" products? Comment below or tweet me @SundayWardrobe!

Makeup: My Five Product Face

Let's be honest, I chose five products because there was some alliteration to it. But being even more honest, I actually use just five products on my face if I'm heading out with friends. Just to clarify, this isn't my everyday makeup because lately I haven't been wearing makeup daily (don't tell the beauty gurus). This also isn't my night-out makeup because that requires a lot more than five products. This is my "I'm seeing people I know so I should probably not look like a slob" makeup - or what would be my everyday makeup.

Foundation - the foundation I've been reaching for as of late is my Tarte Amazonian Clay foundation. It works better for me during the summer months as the clay ensures my skin doesn't get greasy and the darker shade is a pretty great match for my tanned skin. I just buff it in with my Sonia Kashuk brush and my base is done. You can choose to use primer or powder but with this foundation, I find that I don't always need to.

Blush - NARS is one of my favourite blushes because of their shade range and longevity - it's that simple. I add Orgasm to the apples of my cheek for a glow and pop of colour.

Eyeshadow - I'm not always one for eyeshadow but I find that a little silver or gold in the inner corners of my eyes does wonder for brightening my face. It makes me look a little more awake and a little more put together so I add a bronze Inglot shadow there.

Eyeliner - I think that eyeliner is one of two things that makes the biggest difference on your face. A quick top line or feline flick has me looking dressier and as though I made more of an attempt to look nice without being too tedious. The Sephora Collection Dramatic Line is what I've been reaching for lately as it's smudge proof, dark and lasts well.

Lipstick - Lipstick is the second of the two things I mentioned. A bold lip or even a wash of nude seems to enhance all my make up. I find that you can get away with a lot when your lipstick is just right. For my everyday nude (and actually everyday!), I use Buxom or Rimmel.

And there you have it - not too much and not too little. It's an easy process for me and I feel as though it makes a huge difference.

What are your everyday products or favourite products? Comment below or tweet me @SundayWardrobe!

The Eyeliner Edit

When it comes to eyeliners, I tend to gravitate towards drugstore brands (which may be why they're the bane of my existence). I use them frequently and go through them quickly so I can't justify dishing out over $15 each time I need an eyeliner. I go for liquid eyeliners as I generally find they're the darkest, easiest to apply and easiest to wash off so here's the breakdown on my current and past liners:

Sephora Collection Dramatic Line 24HR Felt Eyeliner: I've written a review about it before and while I like how long it lasts and the applicator, the colour leaves more to be desired. It just isn't black enough - though the fact that I line over gold shadows may be a contributor to that fact. I think I would repurchase it again because, as you'll soon read, it's a fairly good liner relative to the others I've come across. The price tag isn't too steep either which is always a plus.

Hard Candy Walk The Line: while this liner hits the nail on the head for colour (it's seriously dark), its applicator is the worst I've come across. It's a flimsy little brush that bends every which way and can leave you with raccoon eyes if you're not gentle. It lasts a fairly long while without smudging or running which is great. For those who don't have the steadiest of hands, I do not recommend this and despite it's lasting power and colour, I won't be repurchasing this product.

Rimmel Scandalize Micro Eyeliner: This was by far the most disappointing for the bunch. The pencil like applicator was very welcome after the Hard Candy liner but the pen dried out within a couple weeks and it wasn't dark at all. Even after going over the line a few times, the colour remained a light black (grey-ish?) which just looked like I was using a drying liner (which I was). I will definitely not be repurchasing this at all.

Almay Liquid Eyeliner: I've been saving the best for last - this is hands down my favourite liner. It's as dark as the Hard Candy liner and has the best applicator - stiff without being hard. It comes in a little pot with the applicator on the cover; this makes it sound like a gel liner but it's very much liquid. It also doesn't travel around much though it's not waterproof and will smudge/wipe off easily. It also doesn't dry out quickly which means you can use it for months on end, depending on how frequently you wear eyeliner. It's becoming very hard to find which is a drawback but I can definitely see why. I will always, always repurchase this product.

What are your favourite eyeliners - drugstore or high end? Why? Leave a comment down below or tweet me @SundayWardrobe!

Cleansers

Following up with my STWW post on using less tissues, I know a lot of people use makeup remover wipes which is not only bad for the environment, but not good for your skin either. Aside from requiring more than one wipe to get the make up off your face, they take up time and don't do a thorough job. So here are some effective make up removers that help your skin and the environment.

The Ultrabland Cleanser by Lush was my very first review on this blog. The cleanser is probably the priciest one of the lot and it's due to the mostly natural ingredients. Ultrabland did a good job of removing make up and keeping the skin hydrated though, in my opinion, the hydration was a little bit much for my oily-combo skin. At first I would just think my skin is unclean before realizing that it was just incredibly moisturized. It's something I would repurchase for its technical performance and the fact that it's all natural but the price tag is too high for me (considering what's coming up next).

The Pond's Cold Cream Cleanser is something I mentioned in my February Favourites. It's a wonder, you rub some on your dry face and wipe off with a washcloth. This leaves your face feeling so moisturized and clean and I can't get enough of it. I tend to use it for when I wear my daily, light makeup as I don't need a heavy duty cleanser - I've used it on heavy make up but it doesn't pack as much punch as my next product.

The Muji Sensitive Skin Cleansing Oil is a surprising find and very quickly became a favourite. I'm on my second bottle already, this stuff is magic! I rub the oil over my dry face and rinse off and it leaves my skin squeaky clean with no traces of make up in site! One complaint is that it is a little drying but it's nothing a moisturizer can't fix. I'm not giving this bad boy up for anything!

What are your favourite non-tissue cleansers? Why do you love them? Comment below or tweet me @SundayWardrobe! 

Review: Neutrogena Shine Control Primer

It's no secret I'm a Neutrogena fan - for a drugstore brand, they're just so good! This past Autumn I picked up the Neutrogena Shine Control Primer from Chicago and I've been in love ever since.

If you're a shiny disco ball after a few hours of wearing foundation like I am, this product is your best friend. This primer claims 8 hour shine control, to extend the wear of make up, a matte finish and it won't over dry. While it definitely gives a matte finish without looking too dry, I would say I started getting a little oily after 6 or 7 hours of wear. 

It doesn't minimize pores or make it easier to apply foundation but it definitely mattifies and keeps your foundation lasting a good long while. This product is perfect for the summer when my skin displays the effects of heat and humidity. Yes, it's definitely a product I'll be repurchasing though I have yet to see it in Canada yet.

Have you tried this product? What is your favourite drugstore Primer? Comment below or tweet me @SundayWardrobe.

February Favourites

Monthly favourites are hard to think of; I want to be entirely honest on this blog and, realistically, I can't have monthly favourites every month. I can't call them favourites after only trying them out for a few weeks because I don't want to recommend things that aren't really that great.

So this month only four products have stood out to me and so I'm keeping it honest, short and sweet.

The first is a product I purchased in the beginning of the month and I've been using frequently and it's the Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pen in Oyster Glow. If you read my post Quick Day to Night Products, this was first on the list. It lasts for a long time, is so easy to apply and is pigmented. I swipe this on the inner corner of my eyes to brighten my face and add some glam.

I picked up the Sonia Kashuk Spoolie Brush and the Synthetic Buffing Brush in the liquidation sale at Target and I've loved them this past month. Previously, I used the free spoolie brushes I'd pick up at Sephora and they worked just fine. Until they broke and I was left with untamed brows. After using this spoolie brush, I can't and won't go back to the free plastic brushes since this makes neat brows so easy. The buffing brush is dense without being hard and applies foundation so quickly and beautifully, making it look almost air brushed and like a second skin.

The last is this Pond's Cold Cream Cleanser which I apply over a dry, made up face and wipe off with a damp face cloth. It's incredibly moisturizing, leaving my skin feeling hydrated and clean. It also is an effective make up remover, removing eye make up very well but not perfectly (I'm not too fussy on this as I don't use waterproof mascara). There is a bit of a rosy scent with it which I like but I can't say everyone will. With the freezing temperatures here in Toronto this moisturizing cleanser is favourite my skin is thanking me for.

Have you tried any of these products? What did you think? What is your monthly favourite? Comment below or tweet me @SundayWardrobe!

Quick Day to Night Products

I've been having days where I run around at work and then have to rush straight to going out with friends. While the latter is enjoyable, I hate not being able to go home, shower and apply my make up  properly as it is a step I enjoy. After months of doing this, I've found 3 easy products that take me from day to night and take less than five minutes to apply.

The first is the Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pen in Oyster Glow; this silky smooth liner is perfect for adding some brightness to the inner corners of my eye. A step I usually do with eye shadow can be quickly done with this pencil for the same result. After I draw on the liner, I smudge it slightly with my fingers to make it seem as though I took the time to use an eye shadow instead.

The second product is probably of more use to all of you who wear just mascara to work and that's eyeliner. While this step takes more time, it definitely adds drama and dresses up any look. In a rush, I wouldn't faff around with a pot of gel liner and a brush and so I opt for my Sephora Collection Dramatic Line 24hr Felt Eyeliner. You can read here for a full review. A quick feline flick does wonders!

The third, easiest and common way to dress up is wear a dark lip. Dark lips are the perfect way to transform your look from work to play and I often reach out for my favourite lip products to achieve a plum-coloured pout. Even if you skip the previous two steps, this step alone is enough to get you from day to night.

What are your favourite day to night products? Anything that's quick and easy to use?

Review: Ultrabland Facial Cleanser

The Ultrabland Facial Cleanser was my first Lush product and the main reason I bought it was because I was tired of using make-up wipes and wanted something a little more environmentally friendly. I read reviews and finally made the plunge and forked over CAD 29.95 for the larger pot of the cream cleanser.

Firstly, I thought the price tag was a bit too steep. I was always a run to Wal-Mart and pick up a Neutrogena face wash kinda girl and I wasn't accustomed to spending 3 hours of work for soap (I price things according to a state-of-the-art method I invented known as "The Number of Hours I Would Have to Work to Afford This". It's supposed to make sure I don't spend too much money on one thing but, clearly, doesn't work).

To use this, you:

1. Take a small dollop and massage it onto your dry, made-up face.
2. Wet a face cloth with warm water and wipe the cleanser off.
3. Look at your face cloth with shock and horror as you realize how much make up you slathered on your face this morning.
4. Realize how moisturized and smooth your skin feels.
5. Smile.

What I love about this cleanser is that it is so moisturizing. It really balanced my skin out and I didn't feel the need to apply moisturizer or oil after using it. It was especially great during the summer because my skin wouldn't be shiny and greasy from the additional moisturizer. I know this quality is what others may not like about this product; when I first used this, I felt like the moisturizing property made my skin feel unclean rather than hydrated. But once you get used to this feeling, it's all good.

I would definitely be buying this product again and I encourage you all to try it out. Let me know what other Lush products I should try out!

*I have combination skin with a slightly oily T-zone all year round  and dry spots around my mouth/chin during the winter.