Makeup Forever Ultra HD Soft Light 30 Golden Champagne
Make Up For Ever almost always hits it out of the park with their launches. They're a brand I've come to absolutely love over the past few years. Today we're chatting about the Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Soft Light Liquid Highlighter.
Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Soft Light Liquid Highlighter
I recently attended a Make Up For Ever Masterclass where they launched this product and at first, I was unsure. It looked almost matte and unimpressive but my thoughts have completely changed, I'm obsessed! The finish is so incredibly natural, but glowy and impactful. I've had issues with textured skin lately and this does the perfect job creating a glow without highlighting (no pun intended) any issues on my skin. It plays beautifully both on top of foundation or powder, and even if you don't add a powder highlight on top it's still a "lit from within" glow. I've been wearing the Make Up For Ever Soft Light in Golden Champagne which is a great match.
Make Up For Ever Soft Light Highlighter
The Make Up For Ever Soft Light Highlighters retail for $36 CAD and contain .4oz of product which will probably last you a lifetime. It comes in 4 shades and in my opinion there should be something for everyone. I think it could also be great for days you want to skip foundation, the dot applicator makes it easy to apply and you can blend with your fingers. Swatches DO NOT do this justice, you need to put it on your face to truly appreciate.
Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Soft Light Swatches 30 Golden Champagne
Overall, I highly recommend the Make Up For Ever Soft Light Highlighter. If you're in the market for a highlighter for textured skin or just want to look like you drink 15 litres of water a day and have monthly facials - this is for you! *This product was provided for my review, all opinions are my own. Links are affiliate.
WIN: Single eyeshadows in: Wait for It, Top Notch, Team Captain, 143 and Going Steady Blush: Main Chick Bronzer: Rodeo Drive Highlighter: Boy Next Door
Kristin Ess is available in Canada! Not gonna lie, I wasn't familiar with the brand until well.ca reached out about it. (Use the code "samanthajaneyt" for $10 your well.ca order.) However, I'm so glad they did. Not to ruin the surprise, but I'm really into it. Right off the bat, the packaging is so gorgeous, minimal and clean but great colors that are so pleasing. But how does it work on my curly, dry and sometimes unmanageable hair ..
Kristin Ess Cleansing Conditioner
Kristin Ess Cleansing Conditioner $17.99 CAD - Co-washes, or cleansing conditioners have become a huge part of my hair routine over the past year or so. I try not to shampoo too much so this is the kind of thing I reach for in between washes. It leaves my hair feeling clean and moisturized, but I'm still able to detangle. It is a "low sudsing co-wash" so keep that in mind, you won't get a big lather but that doesn't mean it's not effective.
Kristin Ess Leave-in Conditioner
Kristin Ess Weightless Shine Leave-in Conditioner $12.97 CAD - This leave-in is recommended for all hair types which left me skeptical at first. My hair needs a lot of moisture to ensure my curls aren't left dry and frizzy when I go to style them. I was pleasantly surprised by this, it's definitely super light so it isn't something I would use all the time but I did like it for sure. My only real fault with this is the spray, I don't love sprays for leave-ins. Especially because this is not recommend to use on dry hair. If I could use it on dry second day hair then perfect, but right out the shower spraying a leave-in in is not my favorite.
Kristin Ess Hair Water
Kristin Ess Hair Water $12.97 CAD - Speaking of sprays I was skeptical about, the "Hair Water" perplexed me but I ended up loving it! I use this on the regular now, so I'm super glad it's just $12.97! Mastering my second and potentially third day curls is something I hope to do this year as I continue to figure out my curls. My process is using just some plain water and spraying that on my hair, followed by the Hair Water, some leave in and then a curl definer and my curls looked almost good as new. This is something that is just so versatile, it's the really fine mist that makes all the difference.
Kristin Ess Curl Defining Cream
Kristin Ess Curl Defining Cream $17.97 CAD- I've been dabbling in mousses for curly hair lately but in general curl defining creams are my favorite for my hair. They just glide nicely, don't weigh the hair down and feel like they still add moisture. So far so good with this one, I haven't had as much time with this as I have some of the other products but so far I think it adds a nice balance of both hold and moisture without making my hair crunchy.
Kristin Ess Moisture Mask
Kristin Ess Moisture Mask $17.97 CAD - I've been trying to mask every sunday, I'm not very good at that so I've only tried this mask twice but I will continue to try. Coconut oil and shea are pretty high up on the ingredient list for this mask and I can definitely feel the moisture when I used it. Overall, I highly recommend hoping on well.ca and trying the line! I can't speak for other hair types but curly hair gals .. do it! The price right, as is the packaging, let's not pretend that isn't at least a little important or a great bonus. Oh, if you do buy this line the copy on that back is fabulous. I love the casual talk. *These products were sent for my review, all opinions are my own. Links are affiliate.
Sephora Collection, underrated in my opinion. Everything they release has a huge shade range and is on the affordable side especially when you compare it to other items inside Sephora. I was so so excited when I saw the Sephora Lip Stories launch!
Sephora Lip Stories Lipstick
The Sephora Lip Stories Lipstick retail for $10 CAD. Yah, you heard me .. TEN DOLLARS CANADIAN. There's also 40 different shades and 3 finishes, matte, metallic and satin. So, I'm impressed.
Lip Story Lipsticks Sephora Collection
In addition to an amazing shade range and price, the packaging is so cute. I will say it isn't the most sturdy or luxurious but, it's incredibly unique. Each lipstick features a different design, somehow related to the shade name. I think these lipsticks are so incredibly giftable because of this packaging, you can really hone in on something that someone in your life loves and give them a lipstick that matches!
Sephora Lip Stories Lipstick Swatches
Highly recommend these lipsticks! The formula is comfortable, good wear time and the metallic isn't chunky. Throw one in your cart to reach a free shipping total or even better, the Sephora VIB Sale 2018 approaches and you'll spend even less on them. *These lipsticks were sent for my review, all opinions are my own. Links are affiliate.
The latest from Dior is the Diorskin Forever Undercover Foundation which is described as a " 24-hour, full coverage, water-based foundation". If you'd like to see full review of how this held up on my oily skin head to my YouTube Channel to see my Dior Undercover Foundation Review.
Dior Undercover Foundation Review
The Dior Forever Undercover Foundation retails for $64 CAD at Sephora. It contains 1.3 fl oz, which is larger than the average size of foundation, yay! It comes in 24 shades which I really appreciate, from what I can tell it seems to range from light to deep in an actual range of skin tones.
Dior Undercover Foundation 40 and 44
Dior Undercover Foundation 40 Honey Beige Dior Undercover Foundation 44 Dark Almond Diorskin Forever Undercover Foundation is formulated for all skin types, with a matte finish and full coverage. I can't attest to the all skin types thing, but it is definitely matte (not cakey, it also says natural matte on the Sephora site) which some crazy high coverage! I was blown away when I tried this first, such little product gave me so much coverage.
Dior Undercover Foundation Swatches vs Dior Forever
I've been dealing with a lot of breakouts and more textured skin lately and a lot of the foundations I liked are not working out but this has been a delight. It glides over the skin and almost smooths the look of it while adding so much coverage so you don't need to pile on product. It feels so comfortable on the skin, super long wearing without too much oil breakthrough. I'm at NC42 at MAC if you're looking to match your shade. Be careful when you do, as you can see 40 is darker than 44, the numbers dictate the undertones.
*This product was seent for my review, all opinions are my own. Links are affiliate.
Dior is throwing their hat in the holographic makeup ring, but in a super classy high end way. This Diorskin Nude Air Luminizer as a part of the Dior Spring 2018 Makeup Collection. See the Dior Holo Gold Highlighter in action in a recent Get Ready with Me on my YouTube Channel. IT'S SO PRETTY, LOOK AT IT.
Diorskin Nude Air Luminizer Holo Gold
The Dior Holo Highlighter is described as a "Highly concentrated in holographic pearlescent pigments, the lightweight texture of this powder blends seamlessly with your skin, bathing it in shimmering shades of light. It comes with an embossed pattern made to evoke the delicate tulle of a couture dress. Applied in gentle touches, it highlights areas of the face to catch and reflect light."
Dior Spring 2018 Highlighter
The Dior Holo Gold Highlighter retails for $75 CAD on Nordstrom and comes in Holo Gold and Holo Pink. I have the shade Holo Gold, and I haven't seen the pink in person but the gold shade has some hints of pink, I'm guessing that's the holo part of it!
Dior Holo Gold Swatch
I really like this highlighter, I think this is my favourite shade of the Dior Nudeskin Luminizers! I don't see a ton of actual holo in the finish on the skin but that doesn't bother me in the least, it's a beautiful glow that isn't glittery. I've had some texture on my skin lately and this didn't enhance it too much, you can use a more dense brush for a more intense glow.
Dior Nude Air Luminizer Holo Gold
*This product was sent for my review, all opinions are my own. Links are affiliate.
Dior Spring 2018 has arrived! I always get so so excited about Dior collections, they have been launching some amazing things since I've begun to dabble in their products over the past 2 years. These products were sent for my review, and I was very glad to add them into my collection. I specifically want to talk about the Dior 5 Couleurs Eyeshadow Palette in Thrill.
Dior 5 Couleurs Glow Addict Thrill Eyeshadow
The Dior Thrill Eyeshadow Palette is described as "A captivating burgundy, a pearly pink, a luminous nude, a champagne ivory, and an electric pink." These shades seems super interesting coming from Dior, that pink?! This palette retails for $68 USD and is limited edition, so it you want it, grab it!
Dior Spring 2018 Makeup 887 Thrill
Dior Spring 2018 Eyeshadow Palette
So far I'm really happy with this palette, the shadows are dense, a kind of gelee so you may need to reach for a more dense brush but the pigmentation is buildable, smooth and blendable. I would personally need to bring in another shade to fully make this palette work for me, I can't operate without a warm brown transition shade.
Dior Thrill Eyeshadow Palette Swatches
Dior Spring 2018 Thrill Eyeshadow Palette
*This product was sent for my review, all opinions are my own.
I cannot resist Anastasia Eyeshadow Palette releases and the ABH Soft Glam Palette was no different. This palette was created by Norvina, Anastasia's daughter and inspired by Anastasia herself and the types shades she reached for daily. I'd call this the ... older but still super relevant and cool sister of the Modern Renaissance. I'll be doing a full review on my YouTube Channel but you can see the ABH Soft Glam in action in a recent Get Ready with Me.
Anastasia Soft Glam Palette Review
The Anastasia Soft Glam Palette retails for $55 CAD at Sephora. It contains 14 shades, in ultra-matte, duo-chrome and metallics. There are a few repeat shades from previous palettes, which doesn't bother me. The palette itself has the typical soft touch, velvet-y outside in a beige-mustard. I have mixed emotions about this packaging, it looks great, feels great, but gets so dirty.
ABH Soft Glam Palette Review
Most importantly, I love this palette! I think if you felt the Modern Renaissance was a little too orange/red but you wanted something warm this is a great option. I love both palettes, don't make me choose! One thing I like about this palette over the Modern Renaissance is the shimmers/metallics, they are much more impactful in the Soft Glam.
Anastasia Soft Glam Swatches
This could be a good everyday palette, but you can also take it really deep and dramatic. It seems like it would be good for the majority of skin tones. The only shade that was a dud for me was Orange Soda, which sucks because I've eyed that shade in other ABH palettes and thought it was so pretty, it just didn't show up on my skin.
ABH Soft Glam Swatches
I highly recommend this palette if you were eyeing it, you can go so many directions with the shades and finishes. I had no issues with blendability, a little fall-out and it wore nicely all day (I always wear a primer). Now, here's some more pics of my cat Roux and this palette, couldn't help myself!