Revlon Lip Butters Review - & Update on Clairsonic Mia (Day 3)

Revlon Lip Butters

I finally found the Revlon Lip Butters that have been talk of the beauty community for quite some time now. They were released back in December of 2011, but they have finally launched in Canada, and I was lucky enough to snag a few while they were on sale! Normally, they retail for about $9.00 at your local drugstore (I got mine from Rexall in #yeg) but they were on special for $6.00. I was furiously testing all the lip butters out to figure out which ones I liked, and narrowed them down to only four!

The thing that I like about these lip butters is that they’re super moisturizing! It’s the perfect compromise between a lip-gloss and a lipstick. They're nicely pigmented, and go on buttery smooth.

Now, with that being said, I have to say that some of the colours in the line are hideous! I was disappointed that the lighter shades were a lot less pigmented than the darker ones, and some colours just didn’t look like they would flatter any skin tone.

Here are the four that I selected, I especially love the reds in this line! A nice glossy red suits me a lot better than a matte shade, so I am definitely planning on rocking these in February closer to Valentines Day! 

I probably won’t buy anymore colours, just because these were the only four that I really liked.. but I have to say you can’t beat the price (its still a lot of cheaper than a MAC lipstick), and the wear and quality is comparable to high-end brands.

Overall, i’m impressed. I have to say that drugstore makeup has come a LONG way in the past few years!

Clairsonic Mia Update – Day 3

Today I decided to experiment to see if the Mia can take off face makeup like it claims to (please remove eye makeup before though, the eye area is too delicate to cleanse with the Mia) I was a little skeptical, especially since most of us wear foundation, concealer, powder, finishing powder, blush, etc. and many other layers of makeup that make it next to impossible to get ALL of it off. I’m happy to report that the Mia proved just how deep cleansing it was (although after, the brush head was FILTHY). I then used my toner after cleansing and noticed that no excess makeup was coming off…. Amazing!!!

I’m continuing to notice a change in my complexion. The few breakouts that I did have prior to purchasing the Mia have diminished really quickly, and my skin has never felt so smooth. Secondly, I noticed that some of the larger pores on my face (around my cheeks and my nose) are starting to look a little smaller. So far, really impressed with the Mia.

We’ll call this my ‘before’ picture...

 I’ll take another picture in about a month to see if we can notice a drastic difference! My skin is far from perfect, but I still feel comfortable enough to share with you scary pictures of me without any makeup on. 

Stay tuned for my next blog post, which should be up in the next few days! I have been really trying to update as much as possible, seeing as in the next couple of months I will be embarking in my final practicum of my degree and don’t know how much time I’ll have to dedicate to blogging!

Twitter: @peachplumpears

Perfect Primers

Hey everyone! So sorry that it has been a while, but after an internet shortage in my building, and a little bit of travelling, I am finally back and ready to get down to business! I have been working on some requested pieces, as well as shooting some videos that I’m still tinkering with. I’m a complete novice to  movie editing, so bear with me if it takes a while for those to show up on my blog!

Anyways, in the spirit of the ever-changing weather (seriously, -40 one week, and then +4 the next?!), I wanted to share with you products that will ensure your makeup stays in place no matter how crazy the weather may be!

First off, why are makeup primers so important? Well, think of your face as a canvas. Would you just glob on paint and hope it stays?! No. You need a primer, to bring out the vibrancy and long-wear of the paint.. or in this case, makeup. Primers should be a staple in your makeup bag to ensure it’s applied flawlessly. Without it, your at the risk of a makeup meltdown.. or worse, a serious case of ‘cake face’.

Yikes!!!!!

Recommended Primers For the Face:

1)   Korres Mattifying Pomegranate Makeup Primer

I got a sample of this from Sephora, and I was instantly in love with it and had to buy a full tube. What I really like about this primer is that it doesn’t leave your skin feeling greasy after. Silicon-based products tend to make your skin feel gross, but this primer is water-based. It minimizes the appearance of pores, and leaves you with a lovely canvas to apply your makeup. And it smells great too! The product comes out like a concealer, in both texture and color but blends seamlessly and invisibly on your skin.

2)   Kat Von D Rehab Priming Elixer

This primer is lovely. The packaging is cute, but I’m not too fond of the applicator. It’s like an old-school stopper, which is very apothecaryesque (yes, I’m making up my own words here, total trendsetter), but seems a little unhygienic to me.  But, this primer makes your face feel amazing! And it smells like cucumbers, and isn’t irritating to the skin at all.  After using this product, my makeup just glides on and really gives my complexion a glow that can’t be achieved without a primer.

Recommended Primers For the Eyes:

1)   Benefit’s Stay Don’t Stray Eye Primer

My favorite of all the eye primers, because it’s gentle on the eye area, yet makes my eye makeup last all day without creasing. Has a great application form, and the bottle lasts you months before you need to repurchase. A little goes a long way with this product!

2) 

Urban Decay Primer Potion Tube

This eye primer is another one of my favorites, because Urban Decay has proven time and time again to be one of best makeup brands for both price and product quality. Comes in a variety of shades, although I like the original one because its matte and the other ones are overloaded with too many sparkles for an everyday application. This tube, just like Stay Don’t Stray will last you months and is something that I’ve repurchased over and over again.

One Primer That Sucks:

Bare Escentuals Prime Time

This is a primer that is loaded with WAY TOO MUCH SILICON. After application, your skin feels smooth, but somewhat suffocated, in a goopy product that I found doesn’t hold all day and my makeup appeared to flake off after a few hours of application. In my opinion, its not worth the price, and the tube is ridiculously small, so you have to repurchase the product over and over again. Maybe it’ll work for you, but it’s just not for me.

I hope that was helpful for you, and that during this uncertain time with our climate, your makeup stays in place all day! Check back in the next couple of days for my next blog post! 

Twitter: @peachplumpears

Quick Tip of the Day - Cleaning Makeup Brushes

Noticing more breakouts then usual? Before changing your skincare line, or blaming hormones, think about your makeup brushes. Have you washed them lately? It’s something that people seldom do, but just imagine all the gunk, sebum, and excess makeup that’s just being caked on your face day after day by using dirty brushes!

You should wash your brushes at least once a week. Investing in a good brush cleanser can make all the difference in the world. I use MAC’s Brush Cleanser because it’s both relatively cheap (about $15), and it’s a large bottle so you don’t go through it too quickly.

Can’t afford liters upon liters of brush cleanser? No problem!  A couple of cheap substitutes for brush cleansers include:

-       Baby shampoo

-       Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Washing your brushes:

1.     Wash only in lukewarm water – not too hot, not too cold.

2.     Don’t ever hold the brush upside down, especially when wet! The moisture from the brush can cause the glue that holds the base of your brush together to fall apart, rendering your brushes useless.

3.     Put about a quarter-size amount of brush cleanser in the palm of your hand and swirl your dirty brush in it. Continue to swirl until the majority of the gunk gets off the brush. Rinse under water until it runs clear.

4.     When brushes are all clean, place in a cup bristle-side down.

5.     Leave brushes overnight to dry. Sometimes this can take a little longer than usual if you have too many brushes in a cup. It can take anywhere between 6 to 12 hours for brushes to completely dry.

Another alternative to drying your brushes is Sigma’s Dry’n Shape System! It’s essentially a brush holder with fibers that dry your wet brushes within 4 to 6 hours. They retail on the website for $29.00 US dollars. This thing is magic, it cuts down drying time and makes sure that your brushes keep their shape! You can find it online at the Sigma store, the link is (http://www.sigmabeauty.com/Dry_n_Shape_System_p/ds01.htm)

Ultimately just remember, you’re spending money on quality makeup brushes, so you have to take good care of them! Make sure their clean, and your skin will thank you!

Until next time my friends, keep washing those brushes. I will see you in my next post! Please tweet me @peachplumpears with any requests that you may have for upcoming blog posts!