RealTechniques Sponge First Impression.

"Foundation should unify tone, but it shouldn't take away from the individuality of the skin." -François Nars

I've been wanting to try the beauty blender for ages now but can't bring myself to spend $20+ shipping and handling and taxes just for a sponge! Our local drugstore finally got the Real Techniques miracle complexion sponge in stock and I snatched one up!

Upon first glance the sponge was nothing special what so ever. I was so afraid that I had wasted $10.99! Once I wet the sponge it became really soft and bouncy. It felt like a cloud when I was using it to pat my foundation into my skin.

I love the finish of the foundation on my skin from using the sponge! It left a natural look to my skin without any streaks or cakiness. 

Upon first impression I would highly rate this sponge! It blended my foundation beautifully, left a natural finish and provided great coverage. I would recommend this sponge to everyone and anyone!

All the Colours of the Rainbow | e.l.f Palette Review

"When I die press my ashes into a smoky eyeshadow palette." 

If you've been following my blog for any length of time, you'll know that my ride or die eyeshadow has always been the Smashbox Full Exposure palette. It was the first palette I ever bought and I used it (conservatively) 90% of the time over the last three years. 

About a week before Christmas I was walking through Wal-Mart when I spotted this e.l.f. palette and immediately had to have it. It was only $19.99 for 64 amazing shades. I had heard so many positive things about e.l.f. as a brand that there wasn't a doubt in my mind that I would be going home with a new palette. 

This has become my new go-to palette, sorry Smashbox. 

I'm obsessed with the shade selection to start- there is every colour I could ever want and then some. Beyond that I love how many options there are when it comes to shimmer vs. matte. 

The colour payoff is pretty good for such a modestly priced eyeshadow palette. The shimmers tend to be more pigmented than the mattes but both are easily build able. Fallout definitely occurs with the majority of the colours in this palette (tapping off the brush helps significantly) so I would recommend waiting to do face makeup until your eyes are finished. 

The rose gold shade (with the deep indent in it) is probably my favourite out of the whole palette. It does a great job of making my blue eyes look extra blue!

If you can get your hands on this palette I would highly recommend it! It's a drugstore standout for sure. If you have any other drugstore palettes to recommend please do let me know!

Her Face for Less | Edit: Anna Saccone

I love watching makeup tutorials on YouTube and using them for inspiration in my own makeup routine. I've decided that I am going to practice a spending ban for the month of November, buying only things I need. The problem with this is that when I watch the makeup looks and see the products they use I tend to want to buy them straight away! For the month of November I've decided to try something new and recreate the makeup looks I love using only drugstore products I already own! 

For the first post in this 'her face for less' series I chose Anna Saccone's newest everyday makeup tutorial. I love this look, I think it's super pretty and simple while still being shimmery and glowing.

I'm pretty sure these are going to be the products I use for the majority of these makeup looks as they are my favourite products from my makeup collection. 

1. Foundation: Maybelline Fit Me Matte & Poreless in 120 Natural Ivory

2. Concealer: Rimmel Wake Me Up in 125 Very Fair

3. Powder: NYX Stay Matte but Not Flat in 02 Nude 

4. Bronzer: Revlon Bronzer in 012 Bronzilla

5. Blush: Revlon Powder Blush in 003 Mauvelous 

6. Brows: e.l.f. Gel & Powder Eyebrow Kit in Medium

7. Eyeshadow: Smashbox Full Exposure Palette; S4 inner corner and under brow bone, S5 all over lid, M1 in crease and lower lash line, M7 tight line and 1/3 lower lash line 

8. Eyeliner: NYX Super Skinny Eye Marker in Carbon Black (used scotch tape to create precise line)

9. Lips: NYX retractable lip liner in 10 Nude with 06 Nude Pink over top 

10. Mascara: Covergirl LashBlast Volume Waterproof in Very Black 

  I'm really happy with the finished look! I think it's one that I would wear on a regular basis. 

Anna's Products

Bare Minerals Concealer in Summer Bisque (Kit: $49)

Bare Minerals Original Foundation in Medium Beige (Kit: $49)

Bare Minerals Miracle Veil (Kit: $49)

Bare Minerals Bronzer Warmth ($21)

Laura Geller Bronze & Brighten in Fair($33)

Benefit Browzings in Medium ($42)
Charlotte Tilbury The Golden Goddess Eyeshadow Palette ($64)
YSL Shocking Eyeliner in Black ($39)
Makeup Forever Waterproof Eye Pencil ($25)
YSL Luxurious Mascara for False Lash Effect ($37)
Bobbi Brown Lip Liner in Cocoa ($25)
Mac Lipstick in Blankety ($21)
total: $356

My Products
Maybelline Fit Me Matte & Poreless Foundation in 112 ($8)
Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer in 125 Very Fair ($8.50) 
NYX Stay Matte but Not Flat in Nude ($9.50)
Revlon Bronzer in 012 Bronzilla ($9)
Revlon Blush in 003 Mauvelous ($9)
e.l.f Gel & Powder Eyebrow Kit in Medium ($3)
Smashbox Full Exposure Palette ($62)
NYX Super Skinny Eye Marker in Carbon Black ($9.50)
NYX Retractable Lip Liner in 10 Nude ($5)
NYX Retractable Lip Liner in 06 Nude Pink ($5)
CoverGirl LashBlast Volume in Very Black ($9)
total: $137.50

Saving $218.50 for this look, I mean I can't complain what so ever! I definitely could have used a L'Oreal or Maybelline nudes palette to make this look even cheaper, but alas I'm still very obsessed with my Smashbox palette haha. 

I hope you enjoyed this post! Let me know in a comment if there's another look you'd like me to recreate for less!

Thanks for reading & stay beautiful*

Back to Beauty | October Beauty Favs!

Beneath the makeup and behind the smile I am just a girl who wishes for the World 
-Marilyn Monroe 

A one month hiatus from this blog was far too long, but much needed. I was (obviously) in a really bad place toward the end of September and I needed the time to myself to press pause and reset. 

During that time I got back into makeup, hair & all things beauty which is a joy of mine that I had forgotten. Making the time to do my hair and makeup in the morning has become my norm again. I find it calming, enjoyable, fun, and it helps me to feel a little more confident in my own skin stepping out in to the world. 

Since taking this hiatus from beauty, I have jumped in head first and have some lovely products to share with you all today! 

Starting with skin care, I've been really enjoying the Garnier Pure Active 3in1 face wash. I use it every morning and the scent really wakes me up. I tend to shy away from products containing salicylic acid despite my acne prone skin because I find it to be really drying. However, this face wash also includes eucalyptus oil and aloe vera which make it a really hydrating and effective cleanser. Not to mention it's super affordable!

I'm not sure if deodorant really fits into a beauty product but I'm going to include it anyways! The Lady Speed Stick Unstoppable deodorant in the scent Charismatic smells absolutely amazing to start! It also keeps my underarms sweat free all day keeping me from having wet patches under my arms. What I like most about this deodorant is that it has aloe vera in it which keeps my underarms from being irritated or dry. 

Please ignore the slight chip on the tip of my index finger. I've actually been wearing this Sally Hansen Miracle Gel polish on my nails for eight days in a row now and that's the only chip I have! I think that speaks for itself on why I've been loving this polish. The whole line is fantastic but this shade, Wine Stock, has been my go to recently. Make sure you buy the top coat and use it together with the colour coat or else the polish doesn't really work how it's supposed to! The top coat is what makes the real difference. 

Anytime I've worn foundation in the past two months it has been the Maybelline Fit Me Matte and Poreless foundation. I've recently had to drop a shade from 120 to 112 as my tan slowly disappears (tear). I love this foundation! It's super affordable, covers well, lasts for ages, and doesn't break me out. It's a winner all around in my books! This is a great foundation and I'd recommend it to anyone who has normal, combination, or oily skin (may want to avoid if your skin is quite dry). There is a wide selection of shades for lighter skin tones, some with pink undertones, some with more yellow undertones, and some with neutral undertones. If you are a darker skinned person looking to use this foundation, however, you may find the shade selection to be seriously lacking.

I've been really enjoying using different lip colours to change up my everyday makeup look lately. My choice is the NYX mechanical lip liner; not just to line my lips but as an overall colour! I think they're so smooth and buttery and glide onto the lip like an absolute dream. They last all day and don't smudge or wear away while I'm eating or drinking. The five above have been my favourite shades coming into fall; 12 Dark Red, 06 Nude Pink, 02 Nectar, 08 Sand Beige, and 10 Nude. I'm sure now that November is here and continuing on into December, I will be reaching more toward the darker colours and berry tones. 

I've always stuck by my eyebrow pencils and tended to shy away from waxes as it seemed so daunting! However, I am obsessed with the e.l.f. Gel & Powder Eyebrow Kit. I got mine in the shade medium. I also picked up the dual ended brow brush. This has become my new favourite method of filling in my brows! I think it looks so natural and the colour match is perfect for my hair colour. I start by using the spoolie end of the brush to comb out my brows. I then used the angled end of the brush with the gel to shape and fill my brows, followed by the lighter powder to set the gel using the fluffy end of the brush the duo came with. This product has been a game changer!

I've been on the hunt for a good drugstore liquid eyeliner for ages. I've tried endless products by many brands and all were falling short of my expectations. In a liquid eyeliner I look for it to be a deep, opaque black, easy to use, not irritating to my eyes, waterproof, and precise. All of my boxes were finally ticked by the NYX Super Skinny Eye Marker in Carbon Black. I have fallen in love with this eyeliner pen!

Which brings me to my next favourite; winged liner! If you want a tutorial on this look do let me know as it's been my everyday makeup for about a month now!

Thanks as always for reading & thank you even MORE for being so patient with me and my lack of blog posts. Hopefully I will be able to stick with once per week. 

What beauty products have you been loving this month? Do let me know in a comment!

40 Beauty Questions! | Tag

Skin Care

How many times do you wash your face daily?

Two- once in the morning and once at night!

What skin type do you have?

It's typically normal, oily in the summer and is constantly dehydrated.

What is your current facial wash?

Clinique bar soap in extra mild.

Do you exfoliate?

I do!

What brand do you use?

I use a Konjac sponge- highly recommend it for sensitive skin sisters like myself.

What moisturizer do you use?

Clinique Dramatically Different moisturizing gel.

Do you have freckles?

I do!

Do you use eye cream?

I don't! Been looking into it though.

Do you or did you have acne prone skin?

Unfortunately I do.

Did you ever have to use Pro-Activ?

I did back in high school, I DON'T recommend it.

Make-Up

What foundation do you use?

NYX stay matte but not flat powder foundation.

How about concealer?

Rimmel Wake Me Up.

Do you know your undertone colour?

I do, I tend to have more pink undertones.

What do you think of fake eyelashes?

I don't personally wear them, but I love the way they look! One day maybe I'll master them haha.

Did you know that you're supposed to change your mascara every three months?

I did know this! Do I do it? Probably not.

What brand of mascara do you use?

My trusty Covergirl lashblast!

Sephora or Mac?

Sephora!

Do you have a Mac pro-card?

Nope.

What makeup tools do you use in makeup application?

Mainly just brushes and fingers.

Do you use a makeup base/primer for the eyes?

Nope.

For the face?

Nope.

What is your favourite eyeshadow (colour or shade)?

The bronze shimmer shade in the Smashbox Full Exposure palette. 

Do you use pencil or liquid eyeliner?

Liquid.

How often do you poke your eyes with an eyeliner pencil?

Never haha, I don't use a pencil.

What do you think of pigment eyeshadows?

I don't personally use them so I can't say.

Do you use mineral makeup?

I don't.

What is your favourite lipstick?

I don't wear anything on my lips but chapstick...whoops haha.

How about lip gloss?

^ See previous answer. ^

What is your favourite blush to use?

Revlon in the colour Ooh! Baby pink.

Do you buy your makeup on ebay?

No haha.

Do you like drugstore makeup?

LOVE!

Do you go to CCOs?

Going to say no since I don't even know that that is haha.

Did you ever consider taking makeup classes?

I was thinking for quite some time that I wanted to be an aesthetician actually!

Are you clumsy in putting on makeup?

I can be haha.

Name a makeup crime that you hate?

 I think probably just when people have a foundation line around the edge of their face.

Do you like colourful shades of makeup or neutral shades?

I'm for sure a neutrals girl.

Which celebrity always has great makeup?

Emma Watson, Lily Collins, and Kristen Stewart.

If you could leave the house using just ONE makeup item, what would you use?

Mascara!

Could you ever leave the house without any makeup on?

Yes, I do that quite often actually.

Do you think you look good even without any makeup on?

Of course I think I look better with makeup on, but I'm still confident in my naked skin.

In your opinion what is the BEST makeup line?

Hands down Revlon.

What do you think of makeup?
I think it's a wonderful way of expressing yourself. I think everyone should be allowed to wear makeup if they want to without judgement. I also think there's no such thing as 'too much' or 'not enough'- wear what you want and rock it!

If you're reading this, I tag YOU! If you do this tag let me know so I can check it out!

Thanks for reading & check back again to see what KatieDidd, xo

Makeup Battle: e.l.f. vs. Revlon | Liquid Eyeliner

As wedding season comes around again, I find myself going hunting for all things makeup. I'm not one to wear makeup everyday, however I enjoy getting dolled up for events and nights out with friends!

The first makeup item that I went on the hunt for was a good liquid eyeliner. I went to the drugstore and picked up two that appealed to me. 

Here is the battle of the eyeliners: e.l.f. vs. Revlon.

Product:

Revlon Colorstay Liquid Eye Pen in 001 blackest black

"Glides on smoothly and wears for up to 16 hours. Easier to apply than traditional liquid liners. Flow-through pen provides controlled application. Ophthalmologist tested. For optimal results, store product horizontally" - back of packaging

Cost:

 $ 11.79

Ingredients:

Water, Acrylates Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Lignosulfonate, Sodium Laureth-11 Carboxylate, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Polysorbate 80, Alcohol Denat., Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Laureth-12 Sulfate, EDTA, Diazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben; may contain Black 2, Red 40

Product:

e.l.f. Precision Liquid Eyeliner in black

"The long-lasting formula and pigment rich colour glides on smoothly for defined and precise lines" - back of packaging

Cost: 

$4.19 + tax

Ingredients:

Water, Acrylates Copolymer, Propylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Butylparaben; may contain DC black 2, iron oxides

 The Revlon applicator is definitely easy to use; the product goes where you want it thanks to the pointed pen tip applicator. You can apply in a thin line with a light hand or use a little more pressure to get a thicker line.

I found the felt tip did tug a little bit on my skin and getting a very thin line isn't super easy to do.

 The e.l.f. applicator is a tube and wand as opposed to felt tip. It's still easy to get a thin, precise line as the brush is thin and well made. It's also very build-able if you want a thicker line or a flick. 

 The swatches are really the deciding factor for me. The e.l.f. eyeliner is above and the Revlon below on my hand in this photograph. 

As you can see the Revlon line is thicker and not really a true black. The e.l.f. is a thinner and more defined line. The pigmentation is amazing- super black!

In my opinion, the e.l.f. liquid eyeliner is the obvious winner here. From the price to the pigmentation, Revlon has been clearly outdone in this category. I can't wait to try more e.l.f. products now!

Stay tuned for a full review of the e.l.f. eyeliner!

If you have any other makeup/brand battles that you'd like to see do let me know in a comment!

Thanks for reading & check back again to see what KatieDidd, xo

Wake Up With Me: School Day Edition | Morning Routine

Am I the only one who was actually excited to go back to school?? Probably haha. Now that I'm in a program I love, on track to a career I would be happy doing for my whole life, I actually enjoy school and look forward to going.

That being said, I'm not so much a fan of having to wake up early again after such a relaxing winter break! Getting back into the swing of things has been hard (many naps have been had this past week haha) but I've established a new morning routine that has been working for me and I'm excited to share it with you all today!

My alarm is set in the mornings for 6:45am so I can be ready to leave by 8:00am for school. I always spend that first fifteen minutes, from 6:45-7:00am stretching, chugging a big glass of water, and making a tea. These three tasks help to wake me up in the morning so I can truly begin my morning routine!

7:00am: morning yoga!
I'm not sure what sort of workouts I do in my sleep, but I always wake up quite tight and sore throughout my neck shoulders (my chiropractor tells me it's stress but I tend to disagree, probably because I'm in denial haha). Doing yoga first thing in the morning helps to loosen up my body and set my mind on the right track to take on the day.

7:15am: bathroom stuff- wash face, brush teeth etc.

Once my workout is done I head to the bathroom to wash my face and brush my teeth. I need to do this before breakfast for some reason... like I just HAVE to. I feel so gross until my face is washed and my teeth are brushed! To wash my face I use the Clinique bar soap in extra mild. I then follow up with the Clinique daily moisturizing gel. To brush my teeth, I use Crest Pro-Health whitening toothpaste- love how minty fresh it is!

7:30am: hair and makeup

Now that it's winter, my hair has to be done because throwing it up in a bun doesn't work with wearing a hat (Canadian problems!). I've been using my NUME tools to curl my hair almost everyday. If you're interested in NUME, check out my full review post and my everyday hair routine video! 

When it comes to make up I keep it super simple- some days I don't wear anything but mascara. However most days I'll use Rimmel wake me up concealer under my eyes and on spots, NYX stay matte but not flat powder foundation so I'm not shiny and a little blush from Revlon in ooh baby pink- that's the face done! I then use the blush as an eye shadow for a really pretty wash of shimmery pink followed up by the L'Oreal highlighter in my inner corner and under my brow bone. I fill in my brows with the Revlon brow fantasy pencil in brunette, curl my lashes and apply generous amounts of Covergirl lash blast, and finish off with Maybelline baby lips chapstick. Simple, natural, and quick!

7:35am: get dressed

I usually pick out an outfit the night before in an attempt to streamline this process... putting an outfit together is not easy for me. My lack of fashion sense rears it's ugly head in the mornings so I make sure I either have an outfit already picked or all the pieces clean for a go-to outfit that I know looks good.

7:38am: make and eat breakfast, catch up on e-mails

If you've been following this blog for any length of time then seeing this bowl of cereal for breakfast will be a shocker- where's the oatmeal!? Lately I've been eating cereal in the morning because 1. it's so much quicker 2. it fills me up so much more! My class schedule doesn't allow me to eat lunch until about 1:00pm on most days so I have to fuel myself up enough to last over five hours on one meal! Oatmeal just doesn't fit the bill for me on a school day anymore. Instead I will divide my bowl in thirds- one third full of Post Shredded Wheat cereal, one third of Quaker Oatmeal Squares cereal, and one third of GM Multi-Grain Cheerios. I sprinkle on some cinnamon and pour in a generous amount of 2% milk. It's delicious, nutritious, and really filling!

7:55am: gather all my things together

I grab my camera bag, my backpack (laptop, agenda, etc), lunch bag and all my winter clothes to get dressed and ready. It takes a good five minutes to suit up for these frigid Canadian winter mornings!

8:00am: head out the door!

Once I finally manage to sufficiently bundle up, I'm ready to head to the bus stop and make my way to class! My morning routine really is quite streamlined- no frills, no social media- and efficient. I get everything I need to accomplish done in only an hour! This allows me to maximize my sleep time as any college student knows just how precious those extra minutes can be!

Do you have a morning routine? What is one thing you do every morning that sets your day off on the right foot?

Thanks for reading & check back to see what KatieDidd, xo