My Briar Rose

I'm starting out my revival first blog post with some products that I am late to the bandwagon on. Background: I was one of the original testers of the Inhibitif product line back in 2013 when the brand was basically brand new. I think this was right before Shoppers Drug Mart started to carry the line. I would go to their office on Queen St. E in downtown Toronto once a week and they would take some progress photos and film some video Q&As. It was pretty cool and I met the founder of the company during that time. The product worked amazingly well and I was pretty blown away by their whole office space and lab that they had at the time. After that was over I'm not really sure why I never paid close attention to what they were doing because if I did I probably could have saved myself years of trial and error, breakouts, angry skin, and wasted money. Fast forward to last year with the media coverage of the founder and my sisters growing interest in the brand and I finally ma...

This is my evening look from yesterday. I used the Color Plush Eyeshadow in Sapphire Siren. This one is by far my favourite palatte in the whole collection! It's very metallic and looks amazing with my eye colour! I got a ton of compliments on it. I applied the highlight colour on my entire brow bone, the greenish colour on the whole lid, the dark blue colour in the outer corner of my eyes and blended towards the centre, and used the black as the eyeliner for my top lash line. Makeup: Eyeshadow: Maybelline Color Plush Eyeshadow in Sapphire Siren Eyeliner: N.Y.C in black Mascara: L'oreal Double Extend

This is from awhile ago but I have been so busy and then was away for the past few weeks so I am just getting the chance to post now. I got this look using the Legendary Lilac. I used the lightest colour as the brow bone highlighter, the second colour as the lid colour, the third colour as the crease shade and the darkest as the outer corner colour. Makeup: Eyeshadow: Maybelline Eyestudio Colour Plush quad in Legendary Lilac Eyeliner: N.Y.C in black Mascara: L'oreal double extend

Today I used the Carbon Frost Colour Pearls Marble Eye shadow. I used the marble side for my whole lid then the gray side for the outer corner. I think so far this one might be my favourite colour for work. I like the smokey eye and the way the marble side of this shadow shows up and actually looks marbled. Makeup: Eyeshadow: Maybelline Eyestudio Colour Pearls in Carbon Frost Eyeliner: N.Y.C in black Mascara: L'oreal Double Extend

This is the fourth look using the Maybelline Eye Studio collection. This look was done by my sister yesterday. She used the Legendary Lilac quad to create the look. Makeup: Eyeshadow: Maybelline Eye Studio Colour Plush quad in Legendary Lilac

This was my Saturday Eye Studio Look with everything on my eyes from the new collection. The eyeliner I used on my bottom lash line is the very black gel liner. It was very easy to apply and went on really smooth and really nice. It's not at all what I was expecting. I do own gel eyeliner in a different brand and its more of a pain to apply, so I rarely ever use it. I think the very black is a little too dark and harsh for me for everyday, so my sister may get it instead of me. I like more gray shades since I have blue eyes unless I am going out at night and need something more dramatic. The eyeshadow is the sinful sinnamon which I absolutely love. I didn't think it would look great at first because it is a pinkish red colour. I thought it would make me look like I had pink eye, but it goes on like a very natural colour. It looks better on than in the palatte. I love the sparkle in this one and its not too bright that I can't wear it to work every day. Makeup: Eyeliner - Ma...

This was my look 2 on Thursday! I couldn't get blogger to work for me the past few days so today is catch up day! I was also having issues with my camera and the battery died on me so I don't think the macro worked, hence why the pic is blurry and out of focus. I used the irresistibly ivy eye studio quad and love the colour combo! I wore it to work and felt a bit like a light bright though. I know its listed in the neutrals but that green is anything but neutral. I do like the look just not sure how practical it is for work. I guess I can get away with it though because I am younger, and depending on what I wear it may suit the occasion. I did do a photoshoot after that I used this same eye makeup for and it worked out very well. The only thing I find is the sparkles in this line end up falling underneath my eyes and I have sparkle rimmed eyes, but I am in love with how glittery everything in the kit is. Makeup: Eyeliner - N.Y.C in Black Eyeshadow - Maybelline Eye Studio Colou...

Today I used the Maybelline Eye Studio Colour Pearls in Khaki Craze. The rest of my eye makeup was my own since I was headed to work and don't have a ton of time to test out the gel liners in the morning. That will be more of a weekend project when I have th e time to spend on creating some interesting looks and not something toned down for work. I really like the amount of shimmer in this eyeshadow, as well as its staying power. I still have it on now and it looks as great as when I did it this morning. There is a little bit of creasing, but I have naturally oily skin and all eyeshadow by the end of the day has creased, some moreso than others.I can't wait to try more in the collection! Makeup: Eyeliner - N.Y.C in Black Eyeshadow - Maybelline Eye Studio Colour Pearls in Khaki Craze Mascara - L'Oreal Double Extend

Today I received my maybelline eye studio look box from Matchstick!! I am soooo excited and can hardly wait to try out everything in the kit! I have already picked out a few favourites just based on colour alone, and there are a few that aren't bold enough for me but I will keep quiet until I actually try some different looks before saying for sure which are my favourite. I can't wait until the weekend so I can have some fun with this one!!

I was in Shoppers on the weekend and found the new mascara for blue eyes with the full price rebates attached!! They should be in all stores that carry Physician's Formula makeup now so if you have been searching now is the time to head out and grab it!

I found these in stores a few days ago. I personally think its a great idea. What it is, is an empty bamboo compact that you buy refills for and they magnetically lock in place! The compacts are close to $10 though and they are empty, but right now there is a little sticker on them and it is a full price rebate. I am seriously thinking about going and grabbing one while they have the rebate stickers, since its not likely that I would pay $10 for an empty compact and then $14 for the refill. I wouldn't mind paying the $14 for the refills just not sure how I feel about having to buy the compact AND the refills...I guess that might be why they have the rebates out right now. What are your thoughts on this??

I had previously reviewed the two mineral foundations that were included in the 7 piece kit so now here is my update on the rest of the kits contents! Sorry its sooo late after the first post but things have been crazy hectic the last little while! First lets talk about the mineral glow bronzer. It looks very dark in the jar so I was afraid to test it out on a day where I had to do makeup for work or to go out just in case it looked really fake on me. I chose to try it out on a day that I didn't have any plans to go anywhere and didn't have to go to work that way I could wash it off as soon as I was finished if it looked bad. I do think it is slightly dark for people with very fair complexions like mine...it works ok if you blend it really well but then my face doesn't really match the rest of my skin especially in the winter, so right now I am not sure really if I like it or not. I will probably have to wait and try it again in the summer to see if I can get it to better m...

Yesterday I was excited to open the mailbox and find a package from Intelligent Beauty containing my Raw Minerals 7 Piece Discovery Kit. The kit included: two mineral foundations one in Light 1 (picture on the left) and the other in Light 3 (on the right), Mineral Glow Bronzer, Active Veil SPF 18, Foundation Brush, Concealer Brush, and a Retractable Brush. They send you two different shades of foundation so that you can choose which best matches your skin or so you can combine the two so you can make the shade that does match. I already knew upon looking at the two shades that I was the Light 1 but I tried the Light 3 today just to see what it looked like. The light 3 is very orange on me because I am so pale I am for sure the Light 1, so my sister benefits because she has a bit darker skin tone than me and the Light 3 matches her perfectly. The foundation looks great on though. It goes on smooth and a little goes a long way for sure you only need a tiny dab or else you overdo it. I fi...

This lip gloss has won the best beauty award in 2007, but I honestly can't see why. I like the colours available and its nice when you first apply it. It goes on super smooth and nice. It also doesn't glob or end up in the corner of your mouth. I also love the shine and sparkle of it too. The only problem I have is that it doesn't last very long. I have to keep reapplying every half hour because its completely gone from my lips. I don't lick my lips or eat or anything like that and it just seems to disappear, which is disappointing because I love everything about it except it has no staying power. This is the first lip gloss that I have ever went through this fast! It's actually quite sad. I think it retails for about $8 and I doubt I would spend that much money on it. I will just try to compare the colour I have to another brand to try.

I have been using this mascara now for quite awhile after my whole episode with the Maybelline brand. I like this mascara way better then the Maybelline mascara. At least this stuff comes off with a bit of soap and water and no rubbing required so no sore eyes. It also doesn't smudge or run or anything which is great for the really warm weather we are currently getting. I especially love that its so easy to take off at the end of the day so that I don't end up with sore eyes again like with the Maybelline horror story I talked about earlier this year. The only complaint I really have is that the wand is really awkward to use at first. Now I am used to it so it isn't as difficult but I still find it harder to use compared to others I have used in the past. The wand is pretty big so I have to go a bit slower to avoid getting mascara on places other than my eyelashes, and I find it hard to do the left eye mainly because I am right handed and the wand is awkwardly shaped. Also...

Rumour has it that Shoppers Drug Mart has a Physician's Formula Eyeshadow Shimmers with Bonus Mascara on for 10.49 (save 40%). If you are like me and still have the $3 off coupons for Physicians Formula then you can snag it for 7.49 which is a very great bargain for this brand. I plan on going Saturday to see if they have it at our Shoppers and plan to pick up one (or two) depending on what is available.

Just wanted to let everyone know that if you have an avon rep in your area to get a book and check it out. They are offering a try me special price on all their mineral makeup. The eyeliner, eyeshadow and lipstick are going for $3.99 regular $6.99 and I think the mineral foundation is going for $6.99 not sure the regular price, but still an awesome deal. Regular price isn't even that bad of a deal considering what I paid for all of my mineral makeup that I currently own. I am trying to not buy any but I'm not sure how long the will power will last because I really want a certain shade of the eyeshadow and I want the blue mineral eyeliner.

What beauty products could you not live without? If you were told tomorrow that you could only keep three items from your beauty stash what would you choose to keep? This is just a random post just because I'm curious what other people would choose as their must have items. Plus I am looking for brands or products to look at for myself since I need to clean out my makeup bags big time. I am pretty sure I have makeup in there from when I was 13 or 14! I found an electric blue hooker looking eyeshadow about a month ago that I had forgotten about, so I used it just to see what it looked like and I have no idea what I was thinking when I bought it! It was badly blue and bright not at all subtle. Better yet what the heck was my mom thinking when she actually allowed me to buy it when I was 13 haha. I honestly have no idea what three I would really want to keep because I would want to keep all of it, I am such a makeup addict! I guess I would need my maybelline mineral concealer because ...

This mascara retails for around $18.99 but if you go here you can score 3 $5 off coupons to use on your next purchase of the new pulse perfection mascara!

I recieved my awesome package last Monday from Too Faced from the Gwen Stephani Blog Contest I won. I so love the packaging of everything they sent me and the colours look amazing. I can't wait to try it all out. Everything seems so luxurious and it is cause it is pretty pricey stuff compared to what I usually pay. I am hoping it doesn't disappoint because the packaging = love. I just had to share the amazingly awesome slogan they have to let people know they don't test on animals. "We test on celebrities not animals" Any product that uses that has to be worthy of my business! Maybe no one else will see why I like that so much haha I just find it amusing.