BENEFIT COSMETICS . ROLLER LASH MASCARA

At this point I've heard too many good things, and seen too many jaw-dropping photos of curled, lengthened lashes not to purchase and test out the Benefit Roller Lash Mascara ($29) myself. And unless you've been living under a rock, you're probably well aware that this is the latest must have mascara. 

Benefit has always been a wizard when it comes to long, lush lashes. They first got me hooked with BADGal Lash, which I quickly tossed to the side when They're Real came around, and today I forget about every mascara I have previously encountered thanks to the Roller Lash Mascara – except for you, Make Up For Ever Smoky Lash... we can never part ways. Benefit's Roller Lash Mascara was inspired by the curling rollers often used to curl hair, and features their 'Hook and Roll' brush specially designed to grab lashes with the help of strategically placed hooks that guide the lashes upwards to add curl. The formula is quite special as well, featuring a 12-hour setting powder to hold curl in place all day long, as well as inky black pigments, and lash conditioning ingredients provitamin B5 and serine. The end result is perfectly curled, long lashes even without the use of an eyelash curler – and thank god for that, at 6am it feels nearly impossible to curl my lashes without pinching my skin.  Plus the curl truly holds for the entire day, and despite my initial concerns the Roller Lash Mascara still remains easy to remove come bedtime, even when the gentlest cleanser is used. The only thing missing: volume. 

Have you tried Benefit's Roller Lash Mascara?

AM¥     XO

WHAT I PACKED . THE PART¥NEXTDOOR AFTER PART¥

Tonight I'm headed back to Hamilton to celebrate The Juno Awards the only way a rap fiend knows how: partying with the OVO crew at the PARTYNEXTDOOR after party. The only problem... what  the hell to pack!! Since I've spent the majority of the weekend working I haven't been able to plan out my outfit, let alone my makeup for the night, which makes packing a real struggle. My solution: versatile products that will offer me variety when it's time to prep for the night, but won't weigh down my backpack. 

Two products that I knew would be coming home with me regardless of my outfit were the Karora Express Bronzing Mousse and the St. Tropez Luxe Dry Oil. These are must haves when it comes to prepping for a party or night out because I know I'll be showing off a bit of skin, and that skin must be golden – especially for the OVO boys. The Karora Express Bronzing Mousse helps me create a gorgeous base, while the St. Tropez Luxe Dry Oil further deepens my tan and adds a beautiful shimmer to my skin. To prep my face I've brought along my Boscia Luminizing Black Mask, which awakens my skin, helping it boast a luminous glow, even texture and smooth feel – creating the perfect base for my Marc Jacobs Beauty Marvelous Mousse Transformative Oil-Free Foundation. This is my go-to foundation for nights when I want flawless, heavy coverage that won't budge. Another go-to, and truly a packing no-brainer is the Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit. I did a full review of this palette seen here, and I still can't get enough of it. The shades are versatile for a variety of skin tones, and are heavily pigmented yet blend out with ease, making the chiseled look accessible to everyone, even the contour newb. The remainder of my look is completely up in the air until I settle on one of the three outfits I've brought to my parents house with me. And given that fact, I figured I'd bring an eyeshadow palette that offered me a lot of versatility alongside some high-impact colours, in the event that I felt super daring. The palette I speak of is the Smashbox Double Exposure Palette, of course, which includes 14 shadows that magically transform with the addition of water, giving each shade either a more intense, more metallic or sparkling swatch. I'm pretty positive that I'll be sticking with a dark eye and muted lip for the night, but at this point who knows!!

Do you have any suggestions for my look tonight?!?

AM¥     XO

[*]The items featured in this post have been sent to THE PRETT¥ VAIN for purpose of review. All views expressed reflect my own opinion on the product. For additional information please see the Disclaimer.

MAKE UP FOR EVER . STEP 1 SKIN EQUALIZER

This year Make Up For Ever has done a complete overhaul of their primer line-up to release the next generation of primers, the Step 1 Skin Equalizers ($43). Included in this launch are ten specially designed primers to balance skin's texture and tone, each formulated with the Equalizer Complex to triple the power of your foundation. The Equalizer Complex features Hyaluronic Acid to hydrate and firm, Vederine to help skin appear more even, and Acti Tensor 3D, which helps to smooth the skin for long-lasting makeup coverage.

The Step 1 Skin Equalizers have been broken up into two categories: five for texture and five to correct tone. The idea is to mix and match these primers in order to create a skin prepping duo that is perfectly tailored to your texture and tone concerns. Now I don't mean to brag, but my skin texture is rather normal, and therefore I went with the Nourishing Base[*], which moisturizes and provides comfort while extending the wear time of your foundation. It truly does create a flawless base for makeup application, and I've even noticed a decrease in the size of my pores after I apply it. The true skin concern I struggle with is radiance. But thankfully this launch features five radiance-boosting primers, each designed with a specific skin tone in mind. I went with the Radiant Primer in Blue[*], which is best suited for light skin tones, however I've now come to realize that the Radiant Primer in Pink is without a doubt a better fit. That being said I love the fact that I can use the Blue version as a highlighter to accentuate the high points of my face. But I'd truly advise against using this primer for your entire face unless you have the complexion of Evan Rachel Wood or wish to resemble a cold blue corpse. 

I had never previously thought to use multiple primers to achieve a flawless base before, but given the number of skin concerns and skin tones in the world it makes perfect sense to tailor and customize your base.

Do you use multiple primers?

AM¥     XO

[*]The items featured in this post have been sent to THE PRETT¥ VAIN for purpose of review. All views expressed reflect my own opinion on the product. For additional information please see the Disclaimer.

THIRST¥ FOR... SPRING BEAUT¥ WISHLIST

Spring has sprung in Toronto – well sort of. The past two days have been absolutely wonderful weather-wise, but we all know it's bound to get cold again. For now though the smell of spring is in the air, and I've even noticed a few bold Canadians wearing their trench-coats – brrr! But for a beauty fiend like me it's simply caused me to lust for all things spring. Ahem, this wishlist. 

First on the list is the NARS Dual-Intensity Blush in Frenzy ($52), which allows you to amp up the intensity of the colour and finish simply by using a damp brush. To be honest I was really only a fan of this shade and Fervor from the collection – the swatches tell all on Temptalia. Next up is the Marc Jacobs Beauty The Shape Contour And Blush Brush No.15 ($48), seeing as contouring is all the rage for spring. The shape reminds me of the MAC 109 Small Contour Brush, however it appears slightly more dense and precise. And after reading the reviews complimenting the brushes softness I can't wait to feel it myself! Another thing that's all the rage currently is the Benefit Roller Lash Mascara ($29), and you bet I can understand why. Have you seen the reviews? This mascara truly curls and lengthens, giving girls the look of false lashes, leaving me hella jealous. Must. Purchase. 

Since I've only been digging neutrals on my nails recently I've decided that I need the Formula X White Party Set ($27). The four polishes, Dainty (ivory white), Delightful (dove grey), Precious (mint white), Blushing (cotton candy pink) are so fresh and beautiful for spring and fit my newly discovered 'no brights philosophy'. But I can still get a little silly, and the kid in me is dying to own everything from Tony Moly, including this adorable Mini Cherry Lip Balm ($10). He also has a Peach Lip Balm, Panda Brightening Eye Base and Apple Hand Cream – be still my heart. Last on my wishlist: more of the YSL Volupté Tint-In-Oil, specifically in the shades Cherry My Cherrie and Crush Me Orange. The colours are beautiful for spring, and the formulation on these lip products is beyond comfortable. Now if only this weather will stick around so that we can all be in true spring mode.

What's on your wishlist? 

AM¥   XO

TESTING TESTING . DRUGSTORE LIP PRODUCTS

Drugstore lip products have come a long way since the Bonne Bell Lip Smackers & Glosses I used to collect by the dozens as a lil babe. Nowadays, it feels as though I can barely keep up with the new drugstore releases for lips, let alone face, eyes and skincare. But this year there are two stand out lip products that are absolute must haves, hailing from the drugstore: the Rimmel Provocalips ($10) and Annabelle Lipsies ($5).  

The Rimmel Provocalips[*] are a new kissproof lip colour, which in my opinion resemble the Make Up For Ever Aqua Rouge lipsticks in both their formulation and swatch, and boast up to 16 hours of wear. While a lot of the the time claims like this one are simply an exaggeration, the Rimmel Provocalips will do just that – lasting 16 hours without fading or transferring. The product is dual-ended, featuring a long-wear liquid lipstick on one end, and a high-shine gloss on the other. The duo provides an intense colour that boasts a beautiful shine thanks to the gloss, however I often wear the shades sans gloss to acheive a matte finish. 

I've got my hands on the shades Skinny Dipping, Pucker Up and Heart Breaker. Pucker Up, a beautiful baby pink packed with golden shimmer, is without a doubt my favourite shade – most likely due to the fact that I've been dreaming of Spring and envision myself wearing this shade daily. Whereas Skinny Dipping, a light brown, and Heart Breaker, a deep wine red with a hint of brown, will be better suited for my more demure looks. Now if only packaging was slightly more sophisticated – think a clear tube for the gloss. 

THE SWATCHES

L-R // Rimmel Provocalips in Skinny Dipping, Pucker Up & Heart Breaker.

The Annabelle Lipsies[*] are a completely different breed of lip product compared to the Rimmel Provocalips – their goal: hydration with a hint of colour. The lighter shades are perfectly suited for a day at the beach as long as they are layered atop a lip balm with SPF – they add a subtle, glossy finish and are packed with incredibly moisturizing ingredients. The brighter colours provide a surprisingly pigmented swatch, making them a staple in my purse for days of running errands. However, given their junior packaging I'm whether I truly want anyone to see me applying them – yes, I am that much of snob. 

The two shades I've been testing are Lychee and Cherry, which both feature bright, fruity aromas unique to the fruit they are named after – making them the perfect way to welcome Spring. Lychee is a great everyday nude with a subtle golden shimmer that appears thanks to the glossy finish, while Cherry is a bright cherry red that provides a subtle stain as it wears. They, of course, aren't the most long-lasting lip balm I've tested but their twist-up design, and hydrating properties help me look past this small flaw. 

THE SWATCHES

L-R // Annabelle Lipsies in Lychee & Cherry

What's the last lip product you tested from the drugstore?

AM¥     XO

[*]The items featured in this post have been sent to THE PRETT¥ VAIN for purpose of review. All views expressed reflect my own opinion on the product. For additional information please see the Disclaimer.