Mad For Macy's

Just two quick products I got at Macy's (after hijacking a friend's 15% discount for the first one)...I'll be sure to update after a few days to let you know how these products are going.

1. MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW 30


I've been looking for a really great full-finish concealer for a while now, because I figure that it'll be an essential for looking awake and refreshed after a long night. I've been looking up concealers for a while, and I really didn't want to spend too much, so while many fancier concealers exist, I figured this one would be a nice combination of heavy coverage with a moderate price.


This is actually the first high-end cosmetic item that I've ever purchased, and I'm so glad that I did. It looks a bit light, and I was surprised to be matched to NW 30 (since I'm kind of a golden-tan warm-skinned person, and NW is a bit on the cooler side, but I'm going to try it out and see how it goes. The little pot, by the way, is the most adorable and convenient thing I've ever seen. It's the size of a MAC shadow pot and fits effortlessly into even the smallest of clutches.


2. Lush Dark Angels Cleanser


I suppose buying the MAC concealer got me on a spree, because I decided to get a high-end facial cleanser as well. Thankfully for me, this small container of cleanser only cost around $10 with tax, so it was about as much as a drugstore cleanser. Granted, it wasn't a huge amount, but I'll get into why it's worth the money later. It's garnered pretty good reviews on MakeupAlley for girls with blackheads, which is definitely me. So, since I was at Macy's and hadn't bought much in the way of makeup for the month of August, I decided to try it out.

First of all, I'm not overly concerned with using "all-natural" products on my skin, but it's nice to know that unpronounceable ingredients will be loaded onto my face in the name of staying clean. Lush is a charmingly organic and natural store, where my personal choice of concealer was packaged almost like it came straight out of Whole Foods.


Inside, it looks like ground-up charcoal...which makes sense, as charcoal is one of the main ingredients. It looks a bit odd for a cleanser, but it's more of a scrub. What I do is remove my makeup first, dampen my nose area (which is where I mainly use the cleanser), take a little lump of the cleanser, and massage it into my nose area and around, like a scrub. I leave it there for two or three minutes, and then massage it into my nose as i remove it.


So far I'm liking the products, but in a few weeks I'll have an update post on how they've been working for me, as one can never really tell until two or three weeks have gone by.

Pink Lady

I received this cute little Stila Convertible Color in Lillium in a makeup swap, and...I love it! The little compact is so adorable (it must have come in a travel kit or something) and sweet, and the colour is so natural and pretty. It looked sort of light when I tried it out on my hand, but on my cheeks it looks really subtle. I'm really not a fan of blush, because I feel like it makes me look younger, but if I dab my finger super-lightly into the pan, dab it once on each cheek, and blend it out, there's this really subtle pink flush that looks totally natural and doesn't give off a hint of "made-up." The staying power is pretty good...not unbelievably long-lasting but it does fade away naturally.




I highly recommend! Though, after seeing the full size at Sephora, I don't know how anyone could use up all that product...this little mini size is perfect for blush-scared me!

A Rose By Any Other Name...

I walked into The Body Shop during one of my lunch breaks while working downtown a little while ago and noticed that they were having some pretty spectacular sales, so I nabbed two perfume oils and a body spray...for $8! The perfume oils were $3 each, and the body spray was $2. I also discovered a lovely, summery scent called Cassis Rose.

If I were a high-end perfume, I think I would be Stella McCartney...the scent is just pure roses. This is kind of a more youthful twist on that; it's roses mixed with a more typical fruity scent. Obviously, since it's from The Body Shop, I'm not going to go into undertones or anything, but I will note that this stuff does not have great lasting power at all, even the perfume oils. I'm thinking of getting a little atomizer and bringing the perfume oils with me so I can re-spritz during the day...partly because I want to smell nice and partly because I just generally love the scent.

I'd highly suggest you stop by a Bath and Body Works ASAP...though I think the sales are over, sadly.

Uniquely Magnifique

Remember when I mentioned that I had received a free gift from Lancome and that I would swatch it and do some looks soon? Yeah...it's been sort of muggy lately, so the light hasn't exactly been ideal for picture-taking. I am, however, able to share with you guys my review of Lancome's newest perfume, Magnifique.



Magnifique, Eau de Parfum

Audacious. Passionate. Utterly Magnifique.

The fragrance that celebrates her vibrant femininity, her joie de vivre. Infused with the spicy impertinence of saffron, the warmth of roses, and the smoky embrace of exotic nagarmota wood.

I love Anne Hathaway, and I love Lancome. I do not love this perfume's commercial, as it is decidedly un-captivating, but I will say that I am not completely turned off by this perfume. For me personally, someone who is usually loves light, feminine, fruity or floral scents, it isn't something I'd go and get for myself.

Or maybe I'd get a teensy tiny container, if there is one. Magnifique definitely lives up to its name and campaign, which creates the appearance of a very spicy, strong perfume. I first spritzed it on myself and exclaimed "Whoa!" because it had such a grabbing scent. I wasn't so sure about the roses part, but I definitely smelled the exotic wood/saffron combination. One thing I did adore about this perfume was its staying power; my friends would comment on the perfume a few hours after I had put it on and wandered around in the breezy summer weather. So, if you're looking for something to add an extra kick to your usual scent wardrobe, I would give this a try...but not before sampling!