Friday Five: Bonus Questions, 2

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Friday, July 31, 2015
Bonus questions from Friday Five:
  1. What's on your toilet tank? Nothing, actually, 'cause I have one of those metal racks that goes over and around the toilet tank. But on the rack, I have a box of tissues and some feminine hygiene products.

  2. What's on the dashboard of your car? A Rabbico air freshener in the "Light Squash" scent that I got from Pacific Mall.

  3. What's on top of your fridge? There's nothing directly on my fridge because it's blocked in by cupboards. But in the cupboards above my fridge, I keep extra paper towels, toilet paper rolls, tissue boxes, and baby wipes.

  4. What's on your front porch? An empty flower pot that I use as an ash tray.

  5. What's on your bathroom sink? A bar of Lush Miranda soap in a metal soap dish, and a tube of Shiseido Pureness Deep Cleansing Foam.

  6. How have you personalized your space at work? I don't work in an office so I don't exactly have my own space to personalize... but I do have a drawer, and I keep random shit in there like breath mints, hand creams, extra tampons and pads, and coupons.

  7. What's the most you've spent on one meal out, and was it worth it? The most I've ever spent on a meal with my own money was the tasting menu at Auberge du Pommier. The food was good and the service was excellent, and I did think it was worth it in the end, but I do find it to be a bit overrated in general.

  8. What's the greatest height you've looked down from? I went up the CN Tower when I was a kid and looked down from the glass floor they have on the observation deck. So, 1,122 feet from the ground.

  9. What animal have you seen in the wild that most people see only in books, in other visual media, or in zoos? I'm not exactly outdoorsy so I don't go into woods or forests or anything (I don't go camping or go to cottages), but there are foxes in my neighbourhood...

  10. Among songs in your iTunes (or other media player), how many contain the word "eye" or "eyes," and which is your favourite? I have 34 songs with the word "eye" or "eyes" in it. My favourite would probably be "Diamond Eyes" by Deftones, followed by "Cross Out the Eyes" by Thursday.

MAC Cremesheen Pearl: Lipsticks (Part II)

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Thursday, July 30, 2015

Last Thursday, MAC released a collection called Cremesheen Pearl, which features the return of "Cremesheen + Pearl, the shimmering twist on a MAC classic... that leaves lips luminous and decidedly lacqured." The formula is described as being "infused with pearlized pigments and a moisturizing serum blend" that has "foolproof colour coverage and gleamingly creamy gloss..." The collection includes a total of 15 products, of which ten are new and will be added to the permanent range, and five are re-promotes. Cremesheen Pearl sees the launch of ten "Asian-inspired shades" of lipsticks. Each lipstick comes in regular black packaging, contains 3 grams of product, and retails for $19. These are applicable for the Back to MAC recycling program.

Tokyo Tizzy, Obi Orange, Pretty Boy, Dozen Carnations, and Sweet Sakura

Tokyo Tizzy, Obi Orange, Pretty Boy, Dozen Carnations, and Sweet Sakura

Tokyo Tizzy is a medium muted yellow-toned orange with subtle gold pearlized pigments in a Cremesheen finish. This is a new and permanent shade. It has a soft and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium pigmentation and semi-sheer to semi-opaque buildable colour pay-off. It is lighter than Saigon Summer, less yellow than Tangerine Dream, and lighter and more yellow than Obi Orange.
Obi Orange is a medium muted reddened orange with subtle gold pearlized pigments in a Cremesheen finish. This is a new and permanent shade. It has a soft and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque colour pay-off. It is darker and more red than Saigon Summer, brighter and more orange than See Sheer, and lighter and more muted than Morange.
Pretty Boy is a medium-dark muted coral pink with subtle gold pearlized pigments in a Cremesheen finish. This is a new and permanent shade. It has a soft and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque colour pay-off. It is more muted than Crosswires, more pink than See Sheer, and more muted and more orange than Lady at Play Mineralize Rich.
Dozen Carnations is a medium-dark brightened warm orange-red with subtle gold pearlized pigments in a Cremesheen finish. This is a new and permanent shade. It has a soft and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque colour pay-off. It is slightly warmer than Lady Bug, more orange than Cockney, and lighter and warmer than Sweet Sakura.
Sweet Sakura is a medium-dark brightened cool-toned strawberry red with subtle gold pearlized pigments in a Cremesheen finish. This is a new and permanent shade. It has a soft and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque colour pay-off. It is cooler than Lady Bug, slightly cooler than Cockney, and sheerer and more muted than Everyday Diva Mineralize Rich.

MAC came out with a similar collection to this one three years ago (also named Cremesheen + Pearl) that included Asian-inspired shades that were then added to the permanent range (favourites like Pure Zen, Shanghai Spice, and Sunny Seoul were originally launched in that collection). Consider this the sequel. Ten new shades will be added to the permanent Cremesheen family. The main difference between the Cremesheen Pearl finish and a straight Cremesheen is, of course, the pearlized pigment (not to be confused with a frosted finish) that makes lips look glossier, fuller, and more dimensional. But I also find that these are creamier and smoother than the original Cremesheen lipsticks. The great thing about Cremesheen lipsticks is that they're more pigmented and less shimmery (and, for some, less drying) than MAC's Lustre lipsticks, but a little sheerer and more lightweight than Amplified lipsticks. They're often thought of as MAC's most comfortable finish to wear (in the original lipstick range), and also the most widely flattering range of colours. These shades are great for those who want easy to wear, cheerful pops of colour that aren't too bright or garish.

MAC Cremesheen Pearl: Lipsticks (Part I)

on
Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Last Thursday, MAC released a collection called Cremesheen Pearl, which features the return of "Cremesheen + Pearl, the shimmering twist on a MAC classic... that leaves lips luminous and decidedly lacqured." The formula is described as being "infused with pearlized pigments and a moisturizing serum blend" that has "foolproof colour coverage and gleamingly creamy gloss..." The collection includes a total of 15 products, of which ten are new and will be added to the permanent range, and five are re-promotes. Cremesheen Pearl sees the launch of ten "Asian-inspired shades" of lipsticks. Each lipstick comes in regular black packaging, contains 3 grams of product, and retails for $19. These are applicable for the Back to MAC recycling program.

Pickled Plum, Star Magnolia, Nippon, Koi Coral, and Little Buddha

Pickled Plum, Star Magnolia, Nippon, Koi Coral, and Little Buddha

Pickled Plum is a medium-dark vibrant blue-toned fuchsia with subtle gold pearlized pigments in a Cremesheen finish. This is a new and permanent shade. It has a soft and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque colour pay-off. It is lighter than Lickable, brighter and more pigmented than Milan Mode, and cooler than Lustering.
Star Magnolia is a medium muted cool-toned carnation pink with subtle gold pearlized pigments in a Cremesheen finish. This is a new and permanent shade. It has a soft and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque colour pay-off. It is brighter than Hot Gossip, cooler than Pink Pearl Pop, and brighter and cooler than Speed Dial.
Nippon is a light-medium muted coral pink with subtle gold pearlized pigments in a Cremesheen finish. This is a new and permanent shade. It has a soft and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium pigmentation and semi-sheer to semi-opaque colour pay-off. It is more muted than Lipblossum, brighter and more coral than Giddy, and more pink than Koi Coral.
Koi Coral is a light-medium muted peachy coral with subtle gold pearlized pigments in a Cremesheen finish. This is a new and permanent shade. It has a soft and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium pigmentation and semi-sheer to semi-opaque colour pay-off. It is more muted than Coral Bliss, lighter and more peach than Peach Blossom, more peach than Nippon.
Little Buddha is a medium brightened warm-toned pink with subtle gold pearlized pigments in a Cremesheen finish. This is a new and permanent shade. It has a soft and creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium pigmentation and semi-sheer to semi-opaque colour pay-off. It is more pink than Sunny Seoul, warmer than Pink Pearl Pop, and warmer than Star Magnolia.

MAC came out with a similar collection to this one three years ago (also named Cremesheen + Pearl) that included Asian-inspired shades that were then added to the permanent range (favourites like Pure Zen, Shanghai Spice, and Sunny Seoul were originally launched in that collection). Consider this the sequel. Ten new shades will be added to the permanent Cremesheen family. The main difference between the Cremesheen Pearl finish and a straight Cremesheen is, of course, the pearlized pigment (not to be confused with a frosted finish) that makes lips look glossier, fuller, and more dimensional. But I also find that these are creamier and smoother than the original Cremesheen lipsticks. The great thing about Cremesheen lipsticks is that they're more pigmented and less shimmery (and, for some, less drying) than MAC's Lustre lipsticks, but a little sheerer and more lightweight than Amplified lipsticks. They're often thought of as MAC's most comfortable finish to wear (in the original lipstick range), and also the most widely flattering range of colours. These shades are great for those who want easy to wear, cheerful pops of colour that aren't too bright or garish.

Sunday Video Love: Wake Up Call

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Sunday, July 26, 2015

Guys, I've had this song on repeat for like, the last three days. I listen to a lot of YouTube musicians and though a lot of them have great covers, not many have great originals. So I don't know why it's taken me so long to get into Alex Goot's music (who does both covers and originals brilliantly), but better late than never. His album, Wake Up Call, of which this song is the title track, reminds me so much of Something Corporate (with just a hint of Straylight Run) that I can't help but think I'm back in my teenage angsty emo pop phase. (Whereas it was a guilty pleasure back then, now I have no shame.) Finally, a fun fact: Alex Goot and Elle Fowler (the blonde in this video, and also a YouTuber) are now engaged, just over a year after this video was released.

Clinique Pop Lip Colour + Primer in Beige Pop, Nude Pop, Melon Pop, Wow Pop, and Grape Pop

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Saturday, July 25, 2015

A few months ago, Clinique came out with a new lipstick formula called Pop Lip Colour + Primer, which is described as "a rich, weightless formula that fuses bold, saturated colour with a smoothing primer" that "glides on effortlessly to a modern-velvet finish." Clinique also claims that the "colour stays true" and they "keep lips comfortably moisturized for eight hours." The range consists of a total of 16 shades, of which I bought five. As with all Clinique products, these are allergy tested and fragrance-free. They are packaged in colour-matched square tubes with metallic silver lids that have Clinique's logo engraved onto the side. Each lipstick contains 3.9 grams of product, and retails for $21.

Beige Pop, Nude Pop, Melon Pop, Wow Pop, and Grape Pop

Beige Pop, Nude Pop, Melon Pop, Wow Pop, and Grape Pop

Beige Pop is a light warm peachy-pink beige with a soft sheen in a natural cream finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a soft, creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is more beige than Clinique Nude Pop, similar though more opaque than MAC Pure Zen, more beige than MAC Creme Cup, more beige than Too Faced Taffy, lighter and more beige than Too Faced Nude Beach, similar though shinier than NARS Raquel, warmer than YSL #10 Beige Tribute, and more pink than YSL #6 Rose Bergamasque.
Nude Pop is a light-medium warm pink beige with a soft sheen in a natural cream finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a soft, creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. It is slightly darker and more pink than Clinique Beige Pop, shinier and more beige than MAC Faux, darker and more muted than MAC Creme Cup, more beige than Too Faced Nude Beach, slighter and shinier than NARS Anita, darker and warmer than YSL #10 Beige Tribute, and similar to YSL #6 Rose Bergamasque.
Melon Pop is a light-medium warm muted peachy coral with a soft sheen in a natural cream finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a soft, creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. It is slightly brighter and more peach than Clinique Nude Pop, more muted than MAC Coral Bliss, lighter and brighter than MAC Peach Blossom, more opaque than MAC Revved Up Patentpolish, shinier and more muted than NARS Julie, darker and shinier than ColourPop Button, darker and more coral than Bite Beauty Syrah.
Wow Pop is a medium cool vibrant bubblegum pink with a soft sheen in a natural cream finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a soft, creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is brighter and much more opaque than Clinique Pudgy Peony Chubby Stick, cooler and more opaque than MAC Fearless Patentpolish, darker and brighter than MAC Divine Choice, brighter and cooler than MAC Pink Nouveau, lighter and more muted than MAC Candy Yum-Yum, lighter and more muted than NARS Angela, and warmer and shinier than ColourPop Wifey.
Grape Pop is a medium-dark pinked purple with a soft sheen in a natural cream finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a soft, creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is similar though slightly warmer than MAC Up The Amp, lighter and more muted than MAC Vogue en Violet, sheerer and shinier than MAC Men Love Mystery, slightly lighter and warmer than Bite Beauty Violet, brighter and more pink than NARS Dominique, lighter and more muted than Too Faced Melted Violet, and more purple than NYX Pink Lyric.

Well, it seems like Clinique has really started to step up their make-up game. Though the Pop Lip Colour + Primer range currently only has 16 shades total, it is actually very well-curated with something for everyone, including some very surprising shades that you'd never expect from Clinique. What is truly impressive is the formula, which really does feel lightweight but is also somehow creamy and hydrating, while having amazing pigmentation and great colour pay-off to boot. (Typically, lipsticks that have this type of texture have sheerer pigmentation, and lipsticks that have this type of colour pay-off usually have a thicker texture.)  I also find that my lips look and feel smoother and more hydrated during wear-time, and they don't emphasize lip texture or sink into lip lines or leave that dreaded "white ring" around the inside of the lips. The wear-time never reaches eight hours for me with any of these shades, though; the lighter shades wear an average of about three hours before having to re-apply and the darker/brighter shades wear about five. I would also describe the finish as natural with a soft sheen — not glossy, but definitely not "demi-matte" or "velvet." I would say the finish of these is most similar to Urban Decay's Revolution formula, or MAC's Amplified lipsticks, though the texture definitely feels much lighter and thinner, like YSL's Rouge Pur Coutures.

Clinique Cheek Pop in Pansy Pop, Heather Pop, and Rosy Pop

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Wednesday, July 22, 2015

It's not often that I am interested in Clinique's make-up products, but I think it's safe to say that their Cheek Pop blushes have surpassed everyone's expectations in both texture and execution, and the formula has surprisingly made it into one of my own personal Top 5 favourites. Cheek Pops are described as "vibrant yet natural-looking cheek colour that looks virtually powderless. In a silky smooth, stay-true formula with shades for every skin tone." This past Spring, Clinique finally decided to release some new shades, so being the blush fiend that I am, I ended up picking up six out of the eight. The Cheek Pop Blushes are packaged in clear circular compacts with the Clinique logo on the lid, and a daisy design embossed into the powder. Each blush contains 3.5 grams of product, and retails for $24.

Pansy Pop, Heather Pop, and Rosy Pop

Pansy Pop, Heather Pop, and Rosy Pop

Pansy Pop is a light-medium cool pinked lilac with a luminous satin sheen. This is a permanent shade. It has a lightweight, silky texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is darker and warmer than MAC Full of Joy, lighter and more purple than MAC Peony Petal, darker and more purple than Makeup Geek Secret Admirer, more purple and more muted than NARS Gaiety, and more pink and less frosted than Make Up For Ever I918 Lavender.
Heather Pop is a medium muted neutral-cool rose pink with a luminous satin sheen. This is a permanent shade. It has a lightweight, silky texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is lighter and more muted than Clinique Rosy Pop, warmer than Clinique Pink Pop, less shimmery than MAC Gentle, brighter and more shimmery than MAC Dame, warmer and more muted than NARS Angelika, and warmer and darker than Too Faced Justify My Love.
Rosy Pop is a medium muted neutral-cool watermelon pink with a luminous satin sheen. This is a permanent shade. It has a lightweight, silky texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is more darker and brighter than Clinique Heather Pop, more muted and warmer than Clinique Plum Pop, lighter and much more muted than Clinique Berry Pop, similar though less frosted than MAC Dollymix, lighter and more muted than MAC Whole Lotta Love, and slightly lighter and cooler than Makeup Geek Love Affair.

It's about damn time that Clinique expanded their Cheek Pops range! I don't know how Clinique managed to only have four shades in this range for over a year, but I have waited with bated breath (I might be a bit dramatic here) for them to release more. And they finally delivered with eight gorgeous new shades! All their new shades perform just as beautifully as their four original — super-silky, ultra-smooth, highly pigmented, and easily blendable. (For those who are familiar with MAC's Extra Dimension Blushes, which were limited edition, these are very similar, if not exact, in formulation.) They've added some more everyday, muted shades, and some fun, unique shades to the range, so there is sure to be something for everyone now. You can build them up very easily to create true-to-pan colour, but buff them out effortlessly to create a soft, natural flush. They have a gorgeous satin finish with a soft luminous sheen that leaves skin looking perfectly luminescent without being shiny or shimmery. They don't emphasize skin texture, so they are great for all ages and skin types, too. The quality is beautiful across the board, so while the shade choice is personal preference, you really can't go wrong with this formula. And blush fiends like me will want all of them.

Clinique Cheek Pop in Melon Pop, Nude Pop, and Fig Pop

on
Tuesday, July 21, 2015

It's not often that I am interested in Clinique's make-up products, but I think it's safe to say that their Cheek Pop blushes have surpassed everyone's expectations in both texture and execution, and the formula has surprisingly made it into one of my own personal Top 5 favourites. Cheek Pops are described as "vibrant yet natural-looking cheek colour that looks virtually powderless. In a silky smooth, stay-true formula with shades for every skin tone." This past Spring, Clinique finally decided to release some new shades, so being the blush fiend that I am, I ended up picking up six out of the eight. The Cheek Pop Blushes are packaged in clear circular compacts with the Clinique logo on the lid, and a daisy design embossed into the powder. Each blush contains 3.5 grams of product, and retails for $24.

Melon Pop, Nude Pop, and Fig Pop

Melon Pop, Nude Pop, and Fig Pop

Melon Pop is a light-medium warm pink-coral with a luminous satin sheen. This is a permanent shade. It has a lightweight, silky texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is pinker than Clinique Peach Pop, lighter and pinker than MAC Melba, more peach than MAC Rosy Outlook, more peach and less shimmery than MAC Dainty, more peach and less shimmery than NARS Orgasm, and similar though less matte than Hourglass Diffused Heat.
Nude Pop is a light-medium muted warm peachy brown with a luminous satin sheen. This is a permanent shade. It has a lightweight, silky texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is slightly lighter than MAC Warm Soul, more peach and more shimmery than MAC Prism, lighter and more shimmery than MAC Sincere, less shimmery than NARS Madly, more brown than Hourglass Dim Infusion, and lighter and less shimmery than Becca Wild Honey.
Fig Pop is a medium-dark orange-coral with a luminous satin sheen. This is a permanent shade. It has a lightweight, silky texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is more muted and less reddened than Clinique Ginger Pop, more orange than MAC Make You Mine, darker and more muted than MAC Modern Mandarin, darker and more orange than MAC Peachtwist, more shimmery and more orange than MAC Pinch Me, and brighter and less shimmery than Becca Songbird.

It's about damn time that Clinique expanded their Cheek Pops range! I don't know how Clinique managed to only have four shades in this range for over a year, but I have waited with bated breath (I might be a bit dramatic here) for them to release more. And they finally delivered with eight gorgeous new shades! All their new shades perform just as beautifully as their four original — super-silky, ultra-smooth, highly pigmented, and easily blendable. (For those who are familiar with MAC's Extra Dimension Blushes, which were limited edition, these are very similar, if not exact, in formulation.) They've added some more everyday, muted shades, and some fun, unique shades to the range, so there is sure to be something for everyone now. You can build them up very easily to create true-to-pan colour, but buff them out effortlessly to create a soft, natural flush. They have a gorgeous satin finish with a soft luminous sheen that leaves skin looking perfectly luminescent without being shiny or shimmery. They don't emphasize skin texture, so they are great for all ages and skin types, too. The quality is beautiful across the board, so while the shade choice is personal preference, you really can't go wrong with this formula. And blush fiends like me will want all of them.

Makeup and Beauty Blog: Monday Poll, Vol. 382

on
Monday, July 20, 2015
This week's Monday Poll:
  1. Your latest and greatest discovery? Too Faced's new blushes (I bought three shades in-store a few days ago and just ordered the other three online because I have a serious problem), and macarons from Kerry's Macarons (especially pistachio, black sesame, and salted caramel).


    Too Faced's Love Flush Long-Lasting 16-Hour Blushes


    Kerry's Macarons

  2. Would you ever dye your entire head of hair green? Nah, green's not really my colour. I would, however, consider turquoise.

  3. What's your standby/fallback snack? Right now, it's definitely Smartfood's Creamy Dill Popcorn.


  4. What makes someone beautiful? Self-confidence, kindness, and open-mindedness.

  5. Road trip! You and some friends decide to drive hundreds of miles to a vacation destination. Do you take the direct route (which gets you there faster) or the scenic route? I think it depends on if there's a time crunch involved, and also where we're going. But, generally, the reason I'd pick a road trip is to enjoy the scenery getting to the destination. Otherwise, I'd just take a flight there. 

Sunday Video Love: Drinking in L.A.

on
Sunday, July 19, 2015

Was taking an audio stroll through memory lane via iTunes and re-discovered this gem in my '90s Music playlist. If you grew up in the '90s in Canada, this song was played literally every hour on radio and Muchmusic. I didn't really understand the meaning of the song back then, but despite the non-sensical video, it's actually a lot more poignant than I originally thought: it's about a group of 20-somethings wondering how they wasted so much of their life achieving nothing and trying to figure out their identities as adults in the real world. Who would've thought "Drinking in L.A." would become such an appropriate anthem for the "quarter-life crisis" generation?

Saturday Nine: Bubbly (2007)

on
Saturday, July 18, 2015
This week's Saturday Nine:
  1. Singer Colbie Caillat says this song was inspired by a trip to "the beach and having a wonderful day with a person you like." Have you been to the beach yet this summer? Nope. And I don't intend to, either. Not a big beach person. Not a big summer person, really.

  2. Are you careful about applying sunscreen? Not on my body because I'm covered up pretty much all year round and don't really stay out in the sun (I don't like heat, and I wear black like, 99% of the time), but I'm pretty good about applying sunscreen on my face. I'm using MAC's original Prep + Prime Face Protect SPF 50 as my primer right now, and just picked up Shiseido's Urban Environment Oil-Free UV Protector SPF 42 (ultra-light, matte finish, and smoothes out skin texture — might be my new holy grail sunscreen/primer).

  3. Colbie made her TV debut in a 2009 episode of Saturday Night Live. Are you a big SNL fan? I used to watch it a lot when I was younger (the days of Will Ferrell and Tina Fey), when I actually watched TV and stayed in on Saturday nights. But I haven't watched an episode in a long, long time. Like, over a decade. I'll watch clips of it here and there on YouTube (and usually for a musical performance), but that's pretty much it.

  4. "Bubbly" is often a synonym for champagne. When's the last time you enjoyed a glass of bubbly? I can't remember. I might have had a sip or two a couple New Year's ago, but I don't drink alcohol for the most part.

  5. Colbie sang the National Anthem at the third game of the Red Sox/Cardinals World Series in 2013. How is your favourite baseball team doing so far this season? I don't follow sports at all, let alone baseball. I find it to be one of the most tedious sports to watch. I've been told that it's really interesting once I pay attention to details... but good luck getting me to care first.

  6. In 2005, Ms. Caillat tried out for Season 4 of American Idol but was eliminated very early in the process, before she could even audition for Simon, Paula and Randy. The winner that year was Carrie Underwood. Are you a Carrie Underwood fan? I'm pretty indifferent to her. Her songs are catchy (at least, the ones I've heard) and I can see her appeal, but I won't go out of my way to listen to her or buy her albums.

  7. In 2007, when "Bubbly" was popular, actress Yvonne De Carlo died. She was best known as Lily on The Munsters. If you had to choose (and yes, this Saturday you have to), would you rather hang out with Lily Munster or Morticia Addams? I actually wasn't familiar with The Munsters until I looked it up for this question, but now that I've read about it, I think I'd still rather hang out with Morticia Addams. She's sharp, subtle, and witty.

  8. In 2007, MySpace was faced with a serious challenge from Facebook, and it's obvious which social network won. Did you have a MySpace account? If so, do you still post to it? Yep. No shame. It was the social networking site in the early- to mid-2000s. But I haven't used it in years (since I got Facebook in 2005, incidentally). I don't know if it's been deactivated yet.

  9. Random question: Which have you had longer, your ironing board or your plunger? Probably the ironing board, but I've actually never used the ironing board for actual ironing. I've used it more as a table to fold my clean clothes on. 

MAC Patentpolish Lip Pencil (2015): Kittenish, Patentpink, Spontaneous, Fearless, Hopelessly Devoted, and Sultana

on
Thursday, July 16, 2015

Last Thursday, MAC released a new collection re-introducing their Patentpolish Lip Pencil: "The highly popular MAC Patentpolish Lip Pencil returns as your go-to magic wand for high-impact lips, with a single swipe imbuing the ultimate high-gloss shine." The Patentpolish Lip Pencil is described as a "sleek, all-in-one tool [that] offers the comfort of a balm, the colour and sheen of a gloss, and the precision of a lip pencil. Achieving patently luscious shine is still as seamless as ever — with a twist-up applicator, you'll never have to sharpen. Provides perfectly bright and clean colour upon application." This collection features 18 products, of which 16 are re-promotes and will become permanent, one is new and will become permanent, and one is already permanent. It sees the launch of 14 shades of Patentpolish Lip Pencil (two of which will not be reviewed here). Each Patentpolish Lip Pencil comes in a mechanical crayon barrel, contains 2.3 grams of product, and retails for $24.

Kittenish, Patentpink, Spontaneous, Fearless, Hopelessly Devoted, and Sultana

Kittenish, Patentpink, Spontaneous, Fearless, Hopelessly Devoted, and Sultana

Kittenish is a light-medium muted mauve-pink with a glossy sheen. This is a re-promoted shade from 2014's Patentpolish Lip Pencil collection, and is now permanent. The texture is creamy and balm-like, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque colour pay-off. It is cooler than Lovelorn, warmer than Hot Gossip, and slightly darker than Syrup.
Patentpink is a light cool-toned lilac-pink with a glossy sheen. This is a re-promoted shade from 2014's Patentpolish Lip Pencil collection, and is now permanent. The texture is creamy and balm-like, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium pigmentation and semi-sheer to semi-opaque buildable colour pay-off. It is sheerer and more lilac than Snob, darker and more muted than Saint Germain, and lighter and more lilac than Divine Choice Mineralize Rich.
Spontaneous is a medium-dark reddened plum-pink with champagne shimmer and a glossy sheen. This is a re-promoted shade from 2014's Patentpolish Lip Pencil collection, and is now permanent. The texture is creamy and balm-like, but it goes on somewhat patchy and unevenly. It has low-medium pigmentation and semi-sheer colour pay-off. It is lighter and more muted than Plumful, darker and brighter than Syrup, and pinker than Capricious.
Fearless is a medium-dark brightened cool-toned cotton candy pink with a glossy sheen. This is a re-promoted shade from 2014's Patentpolish Lip Pencil collection, and is now permanent. The texture is creamy and balm-like, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque colour pay-off. It is lighter and more muted than Lickable, brighter and less shimmery than Milan Mode, and less purple than Bold Spring Mineralize Rich.
Hopelessly Devoted is a medium-dark vibrant blue-toned fuchsia pink with a glossy sheen. This is a re-promoted shade from 2014's Patentpolish Lip Pencil collection, and is now permanent. The texture is creamy and balm-like, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque colour pay-off. It is warmer than Lickable, cooler than Lustering, and sheerer and glossier than Viva Glam Miley Cyrus.
Sultana is a dark plummy brown with a glossy sheen. This is a re-promoted shade from 2014's Patentpolish Lip Pencil collection, and is now permanent. The texture is creamy and balm-like, but it goes on somewhat patchy and unevenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque colour pay-off. It is more plum than Desire, sheerer than Dark Side, and more brown than Good To Be Bad Sheen Supreme.

Like Huggable Lipcolour, the Patentpolish Lip Pencils were a total sleeper hit... which means, of course, that MAC has decided to re-release them. And add them to the permanent range. In a nutshell, these are MAC's version of Clinique's Chubby Stick (not really a surprise given that MAC and Clinique have the same mother company). There are some differences, however; in terms of pigmentation, the Patentpolish Lip Pencils lie somewhere between the regular Chubby Stick and Chubby Stick Intense. In general, these have medium pigmentation and semi-opaque colour pay-off. These also have a rounder, flatter tip so it applies more like a lipstick than a true pencil. In terms of texture, however, these feel and look a whole lot like the Huggable Lipcolours — they have a lightweight, almost gel-like texture that feels like they cling on to the lip and have less slip, which helps the colour from bleeding. I also found that these have an almost "blurring" effect, smoothing out the texture of my lips completely so they look almost like glass. I find them to be quite hydrating, and provide immediate and long-term moisture, but because they're non-sticky, the wear-time is shortened to maybe three hours at most. If you missed out on the Huggable Lipcolours, or if you like a jelly finish to your lipsticks, or you're sick of the matte lip trend, or you're a fan of crayon barrel-style lip products... these are worth checking out.

MAC Patentpolish Lip Pencil (2015): Ruby, Pleasant, Go For Girlie, Teen Dream, Revved Up, and Clever

on
Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Last Thursday, MAC released a new collection re-introducing their Patentpolish Lip Pencil: "The highly popular MAC Patentpolish Lip Pencil returns as your go-to magic wand for high-impact lips, with a single swipe imbuing the ultimate high-gloss shine." The Patentpolish Lip Pencil is described as a "sleek, all-in-one tool [that] offers the comfort of a balm, the colour and sheen of a gloss, and the precision of a lip pencil. Achieving patently luscious shine is still as seamless as ever — with a twist-up applicator, you'll never have to sharpen. Provides perfectly bright and clean colour upon application." This collection features 18 products, of which 16 are re-promotes and will become permanent, one is new and will become permanent, and one is already permanent. It sees the launch of 14 shades of Patentpolish Lip Pencil (two of which will not be reviewed here). Each Patentpolish Lip Pencil comes in a mechanical crayon barrel, contains 2.3 grams of product, and retails for $24.

Ruby, Pleasant, Go For Girlie, Teen Dream, Revved Up, and Clever

Ruby, Pleasant, Go For Girlie, Teen Dream, Revved Up, and Clever

Ruby is a medium-dark muted rose-berry in a glossy finish. This is a re-promoted shade from 2014's Sharon & Kelly Osbourne collection, and is now permanent. The texture is creamy and balm-like, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque colour pay-off. It is lighter and more pink than Party Line, darker and brighter than Capricious, and darker and redder than Plumful.
Pleasant is a medium-dark vibrant cool-toned reddened pink with a glossy sheen. This is a re-promoted shade from 2014's Patentpolish Lip Pencil collection, and is now permanent. The texture is creamy and balm-like, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque colour pay-off. It is brighter and cooler than Speak Louder, similar though slightly brighter than Lustering, and warmer than Lickable.
Go For Girlie is a light-medium brightened yellow-toned pink with a glossy sheen. This is a re-promoted shade from 2014's Patentpolish Lip Pencil collection, and is now permanent. The texture is creamy and balm-like, and it goes on smoothly and evenly but has a tendency to emphasize lip texture. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque colour pay-off. It is lighter than Chatterbox, brighter than Speed Dial, and brighter and warmer than Pink Pearl Pop.
Teen Dream is a medium vibrant coral-orange with a glossy sheen. This is a re-promoted shade from 2014's Patentpolish Lip Pencil collection, and is now permanent. The texture is creamy and balm-like, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque colour pay-off. It is darker and brighter than Ravishing, more orange than Crosswires, and more orange than Style Surge Mineralize Rich Lipstick.
Revved Up is a light-medium muted pink-peach with a glossy sheen. This is a re-promoted shade from 2014's Patentpolish Lip Pencil collection, and is now permanent. The texture is creamy and balm-like, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium pigmentation and semi-sheer colour pay-off. It is more peach than Peach Blossom, lighter and less brown than Shanghai Spice, and sheerer than Coral Bliss.
Clever is a medium muted warm pinked brown with a glossy sheen. This is a new and permanent shade. The texture is creamy and balm-like, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque colour pay-off. It is darker than Patisserie, lighter than Viva Glam VI, and slightly darker and more brown than Modesty.

Like Huggable Lipcolour, the Patentpolish Lip Pencils were a total sleeper hit... which means, of course, that MAC has decided to re-release them. And add them to the permanent range. In a nutshell, these are MAC's version of Clinique's Chubby Stick (not really a surprise given that MAC and Clinique have the same mother company). There are some differences, however; in terms of pigmentation, the Patentpolish Lip Pencils lie somewhere between the regular Chubby Stick and Chubby Stick Intense. In general, these have medium pigmentation and semi-opaque colour pay-off. These also have a rounder, flatter tip so it applies more like a lipstick than a true pencil. In terms of texture, however, these feel and look a whole lot like the Huggable Lipcolours — they have a lightweight, almost gel-like texture that feels like they cling on to the lip and have less slip, which helps the colour from bleeding. I also found that these have an almost "blurring" effect, smoothing out the texture of my lips completely so they look almost like glass. I find them to be quite hydrating, and provide immediate and long-term moisture, but because they're non-sticky, the wear-time is shortened to maybe three hours at most. If you missed out on the Huggable Lipcolours, or if you like a jelly finish to your lipsticks, or you're sick of the matte lip trend, or you're a fan of crayon barrel-style lip products... these are worth checking out.

Makeup and Beauty Blog: Monday Poll, Vol. 381

on
Monday, July 13, 2015
This week's Monday Poll:
  1. Denim or sequins? I guess it depends on what it is. I wouldn't mind a top with like, sequin trim or detail, but I don't personally like wearing anything with tons of sequins. I like the glitter game to be on my face. Or nails. So, I guess denim... Or fake denim, because real denim is really uncomfortable to wear.

  2. Have you ever popped a zit… on someone else's body?! Can't say I have. I've always viewed pimple popping to be a solitary activity. A very satisfying one, though.

  3. Wearing high heels on a plane: do or a don't? Definitely a don't. I don't even like to wear high heels outside of a plane.

  4. What are three things on your desk right now? A glass of San Pellegrino Clementina, a bottle of MAC Fix+ Rose, and a tub of Tony Moly Peach Hand Cream.

  5. How do you feel about the return of the fanny pack (otherwise known as "the belt bag")? No. No, no, no.

Becca x Jaclyn Hill Champagne Pop Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed

on
Friday, July 10, 2015

Last week, Becca launched a limited edition shade of their best-selling Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in a shade called Champagne Pop that was made in collaboration with YouTuber and make-up artist, Jaclyn Hill. Champagne Pop is described as Jaclyn's "dream shade of the very best highlighter on the market... This creamy luminizing powder veils the skin in a soft pearlized glow. Light-reflecting pearls beautifully catch the light, allowing your favourite features to pop! Sweep across face or apply to targeted areas including cheekbones, brow bones, and bridge of nose." It is exclusive to Sephora; it was made available online on July 2, and will be available in stores on July 16. Champagne Pop comes in a regular dark brown rubberized mirrored compact, but in a special edition rose gold box featuring Jaclyn Hill's signature. Each compact has 8 grams of product, and retails for $46.

Champagne Pop

Champagne Pop

Moonstone, Champagne Pop, and Opal

Champagne Pop is a light warm peachy champagne with champagne gold micro-shimmer in a pearlized finish. It has a very soft, almost creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is darker and more peach than Becca Moonstone, slightly lighter and warmer than Becca Opal, lighter and warmer than MAC Soft and Gentle, slightly darker and more peach than MAC Lightscapade, darker and more peach than TheBalm Mary Lou-Manizer, warmer and less pink than TheBalm Cindy Lou-Manizer, and more peach than Bobbi Brown Beige Shimmer Brick.

Whether or not you're a fan of Jaclyn Hill, it's undeniable that she's created a gorgeous highlighter shade with Becca. It has everything you'd expect from Becca's Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed formula: an incredibly soft and finely-milled texture that feels almost creamy, high pigmentation with intense colour pay-off, and a stunning pearlized finish. I've included swatches of Moonstone and Opal beside Champagne Pop so you see what the difference is between the three and to see if it's worth chasing down Champagne Pop. For those who find Moonstone to be too light or Opal to be too beige, Champagne Pop will be worth looking at. I recommend this for light to medium-dark skintones (those with very fair skintones may find this too dark to use as a highlighter, and darker skintones may find this too light or stark), and it will work best for those with neutral to warm complexions (those with cooler undertones may find this too golden). The issue for many will actually be acquiring the product — it sold out online in under an hour, and has become Sephora's fastest selling product to date (when a highly recognized beauty brand collaborates with one of the most famous make-up artists on YouTube on one of their best-selling products, the hype surrounding it is unreal). If you were interested in Champagne Pop or were too late in buying it online, it will be made available in-store at all Sephora locations on July 16 (yes, even the stores that don't carry Becca regularly). Again, it will go fast, so get to your local Sephora the moment it opens.

MAC Giambattista Valli: Lipstick in Bianca B, Margherita, Tats, Charlotte, and Eugenie

on
Thursday, July 9, 2015

Today, MAC released their collaboration collection with famed Italian fashion designer, Giambattista Valli, whose collections of ready to wear and haute couture are presented annually during Paris Fashion Week. His collaboration with MAC sees the launch of six new and limited edition products: five lipsticks and one Crystal Glaze Gloss (which will not be reviewed here). The lipsticks are encased in special edition shade-matched tubes with Giambattista Valli's logo on the side, and come in white floral-print boxes. Each lipstick contains 3 grams of product, and retails for $21. Due to its special edition status, these are not applicable for the Back to MAC recycling program.

Bianca B, Margherita, Tats, Charlotte, and Eugenie

Bianca B, Margherita, Tats, Charlotte, and Eugenie

Bianca B, Margherita, Tats, Charlotte, and Eugenie

Bianca B is a pale cool-toned white-pink in a Matte finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a soft, creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is lighter and more white than Saint Germain,  much lighter and more white than Snob, and lighter and more matte than Royal Azalea Sheen Supreme.
Margherita is a medium brightened warm coral-orange in a Matte finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a soft, creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is lighter and more orange than Tropic Tonic, slightly darker and less yellow than Sushi Kiss, and more orange and more matte than Style Surge Mineralize Rich.
Tats is a medium-dark vibrant blue-toned fuchsia pink in a Matte finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a soft, creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is more muted and less blue than Pink Pigeon, lighter and less purple than Flat Out Fabulous, and warmer and and more matte than Girl About Town.
Charlotte is a medium-dark brightened cool-toned crimson red in a Matte finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a soft, creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is darker than Russian Red, less brown than Viva Glam I, and darker and cooler than Ruby Woo.
Eugenie is a dark cool-toned berry wine in a Matte finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a soft, creamy texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is more purple than Diva, more purple than Studded Kiss, and more red than Instigator.

Well, as with any limited edition MAC collection featuring matte lipsticks, these are likely to sell out fast. This collection is available at all MAC retailers, though, so your chances of getting them is higher than if this were a MAC Store-only collection (e.g. Cinderella). All five shades go on smoothly and evenly without tugging, and have a velvet-matte finish. Unlike Retro Mattes (e.g. Ruby Woo, All Fired Up, Flat Out Fabulous, etc.), which are pretty much as matte as you can get, I haven't found any of these to be particularly drying. The only shade which is unforgiving is Bianca B, which is probably the lightest matte lipstick MAC has ever come out with (it's almost white), and I would highly recommend layering it on top of a lip primer or clear lip pencil because it will emphasize lip texture (as all pastel shades will) and pull into lip lines. Since this is a summer launch, I foresee Tats selling out the fastest, but as this is a fairly hyped-up launch to begin with, I would snatch these up ASAP if you're interested in any of them.

Dior Diorskin Nude Tan Tie Dye Edition Blush Harmony in 001 Pink Sunrise and 002 Coral Sunset

on
Tuesday, July 7, 2015

A couple months ago, Dior released their Summer 2015 collection called Tie Dye, which is inspired by — you guessed it — tie dye: "Luminous and vibrant, colours blend together in Tie Dye makeup for summer. Electrified by the rays of the sun, pigments stretch and swirl in captivating colour gradations." It's been a long time since a Dior colour collection has captured my attention, but at the mere sight of these blushes, I knew I had to snatch them up. I got these blushes during the week of the collection launch two months ago, so I realize this review is going up pretty late in the game... but I figured since they're still available for purchase (not necessarily in-store because most locations will have sold out by now, but it is still available online on Dior's website, as well as Hudson's Bay and Nordstrom), it was still worth posting. The Diorskin Nude Tan powders come in round metallic silver mirrored compacts with a cannage pattern embossed on the lid, and also comes with a travel size kabuki brush and a navy velvet pouch. Each blush contains 10 grams of product, and retails for $59.

001 Pink Sunrise

002 Coral Sunset

001 Pink Sunrise and 002 Coral Sunset

001 Pink Sunrise is a mélange of mauve pink, coral pink, peachy beige, and ivory. When blended together, it creates a light-medium muted cool-toned rose pink in a satin finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a soft, silky, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is lighter than MAC Dame, darker than MAC Well Dressed, more muted than Makeup Geek Head Over Heels, darker and less metallic than Becca Gypsy, and lighter than Clinique Heather Pop.
002 Coral Sunset is a mélange of marigold, tangerine, melon coral, and cream. When blended together, it creates a medium brightened peachy orange in a satin finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a soft, silky, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is darker than Peaches, more orange than MAC Melba, lighter than Makeup Geek Summer Fling, less metallic and more orange than Becca Damselfly, and brighter and more orange than Clinique Peach Pop.

I've always been a fan of Dior's Diorskin Nude Tan powders; they're incredibly smooth and finely-milled, with a silky, ultra-blendable application that looks soft, natural, and subtly luminous on the skin. These two blushes are no exception, and both shades perform beautifully. They add just the right amount of colour to the cheeks: Pink Sunrise will brighten up fair to medium complexions, and Coral Sunset will add a sunny glow to medium to tan complexions. The multi-coloured tie dye pattern of the blushes is an adorable touch, and will make these must-haves for LE collectors out there. There are plenty of dupes out there, yes, but there is something about these compacts that are just ultra luxurious to hold. They've got serious weight to them, and the cannage pattern is a really chic touch that brings it to the next level; these are compacts you want to show off in public. If you can get over the hefty price point, these blushes are really, truly gorgeous options, and by far the stars of Dior's summer collection.