Gold Digger: MAC Strobe Cream Golden Elixer

My obsession with being bronzed and glowy is still in full effect and I was excited when I heard that Mac was releasing a new strobe cream that has a golden shimmer to it in there Temperature Rising summer collection. 

Mac does have a permanent strobe cream that is available but it has a pink/pearl shimmer to it that tends to look ashy on tanned or darker skin, and also has a thick lotion like consistency that makes it a little harder to blend. This new strobe elixir has a thinner watery consistency and is more suitable for people that have tanned or darker skin tones because it plays up on the golden attributes of the skin. This elixir may appear a little scary looking at it in the bottle but when applied to the skin it is easily blend-able and  leaves skin with a natural radiance that makes skin look like it has been sun kissed. 

The formula for this strobe cream is light weigh on the skin and a golden- brown warm natural shimmer on the skin. 

I purchased this product at the MAC store and was lucky I got it all together because they have been selling out like hotcakes. The price is bit steep at $40 CAD but contains 40 ml of product so that will last for a very long time since you only need one or two pumps maximum. This product is a great product that can be used in several different ways. 

I participated in the Temperature rising application in store and the artist placed it on my skin and it looked great and lasted for the evening.

It can be mixed into moisturizer, foundation, or can be dabbed directly on the cheekbones. 

When mixed into foundation it is important to powder your t-zone if you have combination or oily skin because it can look greasy potentially.

I like that this bottle has a pump that locks for easy application and allows for mess free application. 

If your interested in this product I say act fast because they are limited edition. This strobe lotion can be purchased at all MAC counters and on MAC's website. 

Exfoliating Queen: Lush Ocean Salt Face and Body Scrub Review

So the summer time is in full swing and I find I have cut back on my makeup purchasing and have focused more and more on skin care. With arms and legs out they must be ready to be exposed! I tend to have some rough patches on the skin and suffer from keratosis pilaris.
Keratosis pilaris are those pesky annoying chicken looking bumps that a lot of people have behind the arms, legs, and even booty. They have a grater like- rough texture and just really bug the hell out of me in honesty.
One of the ways I combat this is with the use of body scrubs to smooth down the skin and remove any dead cells and patches.
For the last few months I had been eyeing and doing some research on Lush's Ocean salt and debating up and down about purchasing the item.
I read such great reviews about it and considered buying the smaller size (120 grams for $21.95 which is small as hell) or purchasing the larger tub (250 grams for $35.95 which is big but pricey as hell). I went back and forth but decided to bite the bullet and purchase the larger tub so I could get a very good use out of it and was told in store about the excellent return policy they have in place.

Lush's Ocean Salt is a scrub that can be used all over the body as well as the face. The ingredients are the true culprit of my decision to go with this product. It is packed with fine sea salt, coarse sea salt, fresh lime juice, avocado butter, coconut fat, lime oil, seaweed absolute, violet leaf, grapefruit infusion, and vodka (yes VODKA).
All these great ingredients are said to soften skin, remove dead skin and dirt, and hydrate.
The lime and vodka are said to have antibacterial effects which are good for blemishes, blocked pores, and blackheads as it states on the lush website.
This product is said to be good for all skin types but if you have sensitive skin I would suggest getting a sample to see if it works well for you.
I really love this product! In truth I felt like it was over hyped but now that I have been using it several times I have noticed the difference in the feel of my legs and arms. I don't use it on my face because I already have a scrub for my face and feel it may be too harsh. The smell is so beautiful and leaves you feeling like you are on vacation in a tropical heaven. I see people claiming a little goes a long way but I guess I may be heavy handed and in love because I am already at the half way mark and imagine I will have to re-up on this item very soon.

I use this scrub by applying it to my body after I have cleansed my skin. I rub it all over my body counter clock wise and concentrate heavily on the rougher areas. I try and let it sit on my skin for a few moments and massage it off the skin and wash it off. So far I use it 2-3 times a week. After my shower I pat my body dry and apply a moisturizing cream and go!
I have been using this product for about a month and really am in awe of how much I see and feel a difference in my skin.  This product is fabulous.
Overall I think this is a holy grail item and I am very glad I bit the bullet on this one. This product is pricey but works very well and has left me as a satisfied customer.
This scrub can be purchased at any Lush store or ordered on the Lush website.

The Key to the Perfect Lip: Lip Liner

If you have been following my blog for a bit you will know that I am a hugeeee lipstick fan and really don't go a day without wearing it. I feel it just adds a pop to the face and some sass to any look.
I am a die hard lipstick fan and with that comes my one tool to achieving a kissable lip look and that my friends is lip liner.
Lip liner is a lip pencil that fills in uneven areas of the lips, defines the lips, and gives lips shape prior to adding lipstick to the lips. It keeps lipstick inside the lip area, prevents lipstick from bleeding outside of the mouth, and provides longevity to lipstick once applied.
There are many different brands of lip liners and different types of lip liners on the market.
Lip liners can be purchased in drug stores, cosmetics stores and department stores. (Yes history class is over)
The reason that lip liners are so crucial for me aside from general uses I have listed is because I have uneven lip colours.
Many woman especially woman of color have this issue and this is the way to combat that issue so that lipsticks blend seamlessly on the skin and look even and pretty.
I try and stick to some colours that go with most lipsticks in my stash. Purple, dark brown, red, dark wine colours  magenta, and fuchsia to name a few. These shades are the ones I keep handy no matter what because they go with everything and either can lighten or darken my lipsticks and make them appear uniform.
I am a die hard fan of Mac lip liners and will review my holy grail liners from them, but they are pretty pricey ($18 CAD a pop) and I needed to find some other liners I could use as well that are much more affordable.
NYX, LA colours, and LA Girl are my go to inexpensive lip liners. They can be purchased at drug stores, online, as well as discount beauty stores globally. They have a great range of colours and actually are pretty good quality. The problem I had with other drug store lip liners where that they where very dry and seemed to just fade right after application.
These brands I find are long lasting (3-6 hours) and don't hurt the wallet at all (ranging from $2-$5 CAD each)
These brands come in a whole array of colours and are worth checking out. Other mentionable brands are Milani, Covergirl, and Jordanna. Keep a look out for these brands in your local drug stores.
Any other brands you think I should check out? Any brands you love?