L'Oreal Paris Best Bold Eye Beauty Blogger Contest

Hey Chicas!

First off I want to thank my loyal readers, and those who just pop in every once and awhile, I love you all the same!  Promise!!

So, I'm sure that you have all read my previous post this week on the contest that I've entered, if you haven't please please go check it out......Infallible Eye Color - Rich Jewel Tones.

If you'd rather not read but watch and listen, check out my video.  You have two options you can check my  youtube channel out....Rock Jewel Tones on your Eyes video.

Or you can check out the L'Oreal Paris Canada Facebook Page, because I have been chosen as one of the top 5 finalists in the L'Oreal Paris Best Bold Eye Beauty Blogger Contest!!!

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL32BFB186D5AA0D59

My video is now posted on their Facebook Page!  I know its just beyond awesome, I'm so flattered that the judges have chosen my video. :-D

This is where your help really comes in.  Fans can vote and leave comments on the videos that are posted and the winner is determined on the votes and by judges!  So please, please check it out!  Pretty please, with a cherry on top?

The winner will be announced on September 23rd.  I have the chance to win the ultimate prize pack.  I want you guys to be aware of what I could be doing if I do win!

I have an opportunity to work alongside the L'Oreal Paris beauty team to create runway makeup looks for a fashion show at LG Fashion Week Beauty by L'Oreal Paris in October 2011; VIP access to blog backstage at LG Fashion Week (totally taking you guys with me); A one on one makeup-session with L'Oreal Paris Official Makeup Artist for Canada & Artistic Director for LG Fashion Week, Eddie Malter; and (I know there is more!!)  the opportunity to be one of the first to gain insider tips and the latest trends in beauty and makeup for spring 2012 from L'Oreal's top team of experts.

You caught the part where I said LG FASHION WEEK right! Like OMG, OMG, oh my goodness!!

I am just on a cloud right now.  You have no idea how excited I am, and how hard I worked on this video and I'll have to tell you all about the issues I had with getting the pictures correct.  The story is pretty funny, and from the outside looking a little strange, shall I say hehehe.

Thanks so much for your support!  I am soo excited...I'm literally jumping up and down, and screaming like the girly girl that I am!!!

Caitlin xoxo

Infallible Eye Color - Rich Jewel Tones

Hey Chicas!

I have been trying the new L'Oreal Color Infallible eyeshadows for over 2 weeks now!  Let me tell you, when I swatched the colors for the first time with my BF, we both F-R-E-A-K-E-D O-U-T.  The pigment is like cray crazy, and the wear time is beautifully long.  The color choices are great, and definitely on trend for the Fall Winter 2011/2012, which is nice, very nice.

So for those of you that are nosy (jk) and came from YouTube. Thanks for checking it out :-)  So L'Oreal contacted me via email about participating in a contest using the above mentioned shadows.

The goal was to create a bold eyelook, and it could be day time or night, whatever goes!  I was sold, they said that they would send some product for the particpants to use the video.  So I was expecting to see like 1 or 2 shadows in the box when it arrived.

Well the thought was a sadly mistaken on...........I got 9!! 9 flipping full size pots of product at that!

 I was totally taken aback with the product, and the quality, they really are that good.  Now, let get this straight I was not given any other freebies from this beyond the below listed products that were sent.  Everything else that you see in video and listed below was purchased my ME.  Yup little old me, and many items I already.  So yeah that's the deets!  Now lets get on with the makeup!
 
Swatches!

Swatches from left to right: Time Resist White, Hourglass Beige, Forever Pink, Flash Back Silver, Purple Obsession, Burning Black, Permanent Kaki, Unlimited Sky, All Night Blue (all were provided by the company, all other products and shadows were purchased by me)

I loved the colors so much during my testing/trial period of the them, that I had to get the rest of the collection.  There are 11 shadows in total, and I was provided 9, so the last two I convinced myself I just needed to have.

L-R: Endless Chocolate, Eternal Black

So they run about $12 a pop.  Which is really good for the amount of product you get, and the little amount that you need will last you a long while.  You can even feel free to....dare I say....share the makeup with your friends.  The pigment and the shimmer is beyond, usually its one or the other, but both is great.

So the look that I came up with.....

I wanted it to be deep and sultry, and I got inspiration from the center of a peacock feather.  The video below will show you how to get the look, and the products are listed down there too!  You're welcome :-)

Full List of Products:

Palladio Herbal Eyeshadow Primer

Infallible Shadows

Hourglass Beige

Time Resist White

All Night Blue 

Unlimited Sky 

Burning Black

Permanent Kaki 

L'Oreal Liner Intense Felt Tip - Carbon Black 

Black Kohl Eyeliner

L'Oreal Double Extend Mascara in Black

Forever Pink/Hourglass Beige (used as a highlight)

Natural pink blush 

Time Resist White (used to enhance the size of your lips)

L'Oreal Infallible Never Fail Lip Gloss - Modern Mauve

 So seriously try this stuff out, you will love it! Just like I love it!

Caitlin xoxo

Glowy Luminous Skin - the non greasy kind

Hey Chicas,

So this video has taken  be forever to do, and edit, my video editor has been tres touchy!!  

Regardless, this is the step by step process that I go through to get that perfect luminous looking skin, without using any specialized products, except for maybe a little moon glow (by Hard Candy), but I mean a teeny tiny amount of it.

So the video below is a lot slightly longer and has tiny reviews throughout, plus a little more of my personality shows through....let me know if you like it like that or the more professional way of the previous ones.

I personally like this look because it just gives your face a gorgeous luminous glow, almost like you're glowing from the inside, you know the way the young wiper snappers skin looks.

It's a nice neutral natural look, that just emphasis all the good aspects of your features without having to cover it all up!

You see the way the light hits the cheek bones!!  It makes your features more pronounced and totally highlights the high points of your face, in turn making you look more chiseled!

So checkout the video below for all the details on how to get this look!

Complete list of products:

Clean & Clear Day Soft Day Oil Free Moisturizer

Covergirl Nature Lux Foundation

Garnier Nutrisse Anti-Dark Circle Eye Roller
Bed Head Wipe Out Fix Stick - Light
Hard Candy Welcome Matte
Milani Brow Fix It - Light
Milani Sunset Duos - Sunset City

Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired by Carmindy - Ginger

Hard Candy Moon Glow

Too Faced Eyeshadow Primer

Sally Girl Shadow - Gun Metal, Champagne, Taupe, Golden Bronze, Black Brown
NYC - White Eyeliner
Annabelle Smudgeliner - Sapphire

NYC Voluminizing High Defintion Mascara - Black

Sally Hansen Lip Tint - Pomegranate

Caitlin xoxo

What do you have on your desk at work?

Hey Chicas!!

So, I have a really really good excuse that involves a lot of emotional roller coaster ride and a happy happy ending for all involved (for those who matter, anyway :-))

I have it all planned out on how to tell you guys, but I just need time for it to sink in for me.  And if you guys are at all interested in this news.  Did I leave you hanging and wanting more!?... hehe hopefully...

So I was eating my lunch at my desk.......yes I know its totally exciting lifestyle I live at work.  But it got me thinking as to what do you have on your desk in the line of beauty products?

I snapped some pictures of mine....

Oh, can you hold your excitement in!?   If you did wait for it.......there is moorrreee!

There, that's them, in their natural habitat....

And let me tell you that this random collection of whatever with pens and highlighters are just not doing it for me.  I need to invest in some sort of cute bowl, or pencil dish......or something!  They roll around and get lost and being slightly Type A...just slightly....I can't deal with it much longer.

But in case you are wondering what I have I'll give you the run down as to not keep you waiting...hehe

Top - Nivea PearlyShine
Lip Smacker - Kool-Aid Slammin' Strawberry Kiwi
Lip Smacker - Bubble Gum (the one with the lack of labeling)
Bottom - Sally Hansen Miracle Care Lipsaver- Serenity
Right Top - GenTeal Artificial Tears (Contacts + Computer Screens = dry dry itchy eyes)

I like them all except for the Nivea Pearly Shine - it does have a nice shimmer pale pink tone, but it's soo drying, it's not moist in the tube and it takes it all from my lips, and it's not good.  Why is it still on my desk, because, just in case I need it.  Which I won't but you know, just in case.

The Kool-Aid Slammin' Strawberry Kiwi gives a surprisingly nice natural deep pink color, and its moist!  Which is really what you want at work so that your lips have color, and aren't dried out from the central air.

Sadly the Bubble Gum, has now met is maker, yup, I just had to include it as I've had for the longest time it was  a little waxy but it totally sealed in all the moisture on my lips and left a nice sheen on them too! 

Sally Hansen, it the most lipstick like product with it's high impact gloss, and the middle when you squeeze it you get the darker berry tone which is an awesome two in one product!!

The hand cream, is Beautifully Delicious Handlicious Honey & Almond, my feeling s are ugh, whateva... it's not great, isn't not crap, and it smells nice...which is nice to have in the work place with all the other "smells" that are around the office.

So all that being said, have you forgot about my happy ending news, that I'm letting sink in?  No? Well good thing that I reminded you then :)

What's on your desk at work, and what do you keep it in?

Caitlin xoxo

Joe Fresh - Have you heard about the Make-up!

Hey Chicas!

If you haven't....Where the heck have you been!  No but seriously on with the post....

So F-I-N-A-L-L-Y my video decided to work!!!  I'm beyond excited and thankful, like how long can it take...regardless its here to share!  If you want to see the post on the look click ME!

So basically Joe Fresh is sold at Atlantic SuperStore and Loblaws, on the cheap!  I believe that the most expensive item is their brushes at like $20ish dollars (i love their foundation brush I've had it for 2 years now, no shedding!).  So the eyeshadow is $4ish, and the blush $6ish.  Not to bad for the size of the product. 

The packaging I just love!

I don't know why, its just so clean and modern, plus I love that you can see the color without any difficulty at all.  The Pink blush I've had for over 1 year and the packaging is NOT made cheap, nothing has broken and is as good as new.  I just love the clear packaging, they are sellling the color and the product, not the fancy smancy packaging!  The clasps on the products are also very strong and sturdy and it might just be me but I like when you can hear the click of the packaging close, it just makes me feel good...do ya follow!?

The color clockwise from top left is....

Rosetta, Pink, Pebble, Pale Pink, and Ice

The color intensity is wonderful, the products are a little soft, but still very pigmented, and the lasting power is just as good any other powder blush or eyeshadow I've used.  You don't need a whole lot of it on your brush so it will last you a good long time!  Likely longer than its really "good" for :-)  

My first attempt at swatching colors!  So from my thumb to to my pinky the colors are as follows.....

Ice, Rosetta, Pink, Pale Pink, Pebble

They are coming off a little more shimmery then they do in person, but the colors are pretty similar!  I totally didn't need to rub very hard to get the color on my digits.  One swipe around and thats what you see.

They have a good selection of colors, but be warned they generally issue limited edition colors, so if you see something that you like, get it because they don't last too long, and it might be never there again.

Click the video for my wonderful speaking skillz...(yes the "z" is there on purpose)

So hope that you enjoyed it!  Please let me know if you purchase any and what your first impressions are :)

Caitlin xoxo

The things you can do with inexpensive makeup...

Hey Chicas!

So I have been using Joe Fresh from Atlantic Superstore for over 1 year now, and I have never mentioned some of my favorites that I've found.  Thought that you guys might enjoy a take on cheap makeup look that you can pickup when you are getting your groceries on!

 I have a review coming up later this week, my plan was to put the two videos together, but my video editor didn't want to work with me, so its  in two stages it is.  Here is the first installment.

So all the products that were used are:

Palladio Herbal EyeShadow

Joe Fresh - Pale Pink Eyeshadow

Joe Fresh - Ice Eyeshadow

Joe Fresh- Pebble Eyeshadow

Maybelline Lash Line Stiletto Liquid Eyeliner in Black

NYC Volumizing High Definition Mascara in Black

Joe Fresh- Rosetta Blush

Annabelle - Natural Rose Lipliner

Hard Candy MoonGlow

Sally Hansen Moisture Matte Lipcolor - Chiffon

 Hope this post gives you some ideas on items that you can try out from the supermarket!  And stay tuned for the review part, its almost ready.

I promise to discuss the Royal Visit once I have calmed down from all the excitement!

Caitlin xoxo

Oh Canada!!

Hey Chicas!!

Thank god its the long weekend, I totally need this break!  Now only if the weather would cooperate with me, and give me beach weather, all would be perfect!  But I'm not sure if that's going to happen....

Anyway today is Canada's Birthday and I do plan on checking out the fireworks by the waterfront, a tradition that I can always remember, lots of fun!

Canada Day is the perfect day to whip out that red lipstick that you may be a little nervous about wearing other wise!  By favorite red lipstick is not a wallet buster at all.  NYC - Retro Red.  Which you might remember from this past look..

If you want to see how to get this whole look....click here....

It is awesome!  Plus for like 2 bones at Wal-Mart if you wear it only a few times a year, no loss for you!  Plus another bonus is it makes your teeth look really white! 

NYC Retro Red is one of the best reds in my book because of its orange red base, its easier for many skin tones to wear and wear well.  And the lasting power of this red is much better than you would expect.

Come on be brave, show your Canadian pride and wear Red Lips, just try it for one day, I'm sure that you'll be surprised by how much you like it!

Happy Canada Day!

Caitlin xoxo

Eye Makeup Remove Q-Tips

Hey Chicas!

So I was checking out the Dollarama the other day, and I'm sorry but the makeup section always gets me.  Every freakin' time!   It's like its calling to me, "look I'm only $2 please bring me home, Please!", and of course the last please is in a whiny child voice.  And who reallllyyy can say no to that.  TMI, sorry but you must understand the pull that the aisle has on me.

So I managed to get out there only spending a small fortune.  The first item that I want to bring to you guys is the Eye makeup remover swabs....

As you can see the picture on the box is pretty self explanatory.  And for only $2 if it doesn't work, than who cares.

The swabs come in individual wrapped packages....

The individual wrapped is a little annoying, as they are tough to pop out of the plastic, and its a lot of waste of plastic.  Regardless....

So you pop the cotton swab out of the plastic (after some difficulties) and you have what looks like a normal swab.  Expect its not at all. hehe..  The center between the cotton is a hollow plastic tube, this is where the products travels down.

The end that has the blue strip on it, be careful with that one until you're ready!

The basic idea is that end that has the blue strip on it you snap it, or bend it over and it releases the makeup remover to the other end of the swab.  It requires a little more effort than one would think for a q-tip but bend it like Beckham...or, actually just until it snaps.

 Once it snaps that releases the makeup remover product.  It flows down to the other white q-tip end.   With this end you can remove your eye makeup.  But Wait!! do you think you can?????


According to the box.....

For those of you who don't want to squint the words out it states. 

"Keep out of eyes."

So yeah, I'm assuming that it means not IN your eye, and hopefully AROUND your eye is ok.  Since you know its for eye makeup removing :-)


You do get a good amount of product in the Q-Tip, it is pretty easy to use.  My only issue is that the cotton swab end, isn't very cottony, meaning that it can't absorb the makeup that it takes off very well.  It cuts through the makeup really well, but to get that black residue off you need another cotton pad or facecloth to finish the job.


Overall, if you're in a pinch and travelling and don't want to take a whole bunch of crap with you, spending two bucks on some cotton swab makeup remover all in one, will not only save you space, but cash as well.


Caitlin xoxo

Pink Bronzer - Calling all Fair Skinned Beauties, you'll want this!

Hey Chicas!

(Just a little shout out to the lovely ladies I saw at Shoppers at lunch,

I hope you enjoy my blog!)

So spring is coming (supposedly), and then comes summer, and we all want to get that bronzed look, whether it be natural or with products.  The issues that lies with girls that have fair skin, is that sometimes bronzer looks a little off, it's too dark, and if its the right shade there's no pigment, just sparkles.  It's a major pain in the ass to find.

I think that I have found something that will work for most people that are on the fairer side.  Now I do get quite dark in the summer, even though I wear at least 30 spf!  But in the time span of fall - spring, I go back to being pretty fair.  And the bronzers that I loved when I was dark, just make my face look dirty. 

Enter the Pinkish Bronzer (totally not a good name to call it, but the creativity in me is lacking today). 

I picked up this Quo bronzer on clearance at Shoppers before Christmas for like $8.  It was way to expensive for what it was, I thought at full price.  As you can see it has a nice pink/golden bronzer effect.  

Image: Mine!

The pink is key to giving you a nice rosy glow, but still being a bronzer.  I love it!  As you can see there was some brown/bronzer around the leopard spots, but it's received some lovin'.  I was kinda hoping that the brown/bronzer was solid and not just topped off, but oh well! But was nervous to share it with you because, well I got it on clearance, and what's the point talking about something that you guys likely won't be able to find. 

           

Image: Google

 I had thought about it before as Too Faced has its own version (likely came before Quo, but who cares!) but that stuff is pricey, too pricey for me to recommend to you to buy - as I wouldn't pay for it myself.  I was really getting annoyed because this Pinkish Bronzer is awesome on fair skin, just enough warmth but not dirty, and I like to share!

Finally, another version came out, saw it at Shoppers on the weekend, by one of my fav companies.  Annabelle - Leopard Bronzer

Image courtesy of Annabelle Cosmetics

It is awesome! It doesn't have as much pink, which is likely a little less scary for some of you that are envisioning pink bronzer (which it is not, I promise).  I swatched it at the store, and it is really really similar to the effect that the Quo has (more peach, which when I think about it, is better as fair skin tends to be pink), and look at the pictures, its even closer to the Too Faced!  Plus it's a totally doable price. 

The nice golden brown and peach tones really help to give a sunkissed look without being.......well bronzed/dirty (as it can appear on fair skin) looking, no risk of really overapplying the color.

So whether you have been searching for a new bronzer, or missed out on the Quo, or just can't stand to pay out for the Too Faced, Annabelle has you covered. 

I can think of at least 4 friends right off the top of my head that this color of bronzer would be awesome on!

Caitlin xoxo

Hard Candy Review

Hey Chicas!

Over the past few weeks months I have been experimenting with the Hard Candy line that is available from Wal-Mart.  Thought that I would do a review of the products and share them with you....check it out!

Facial Powders:

Welcome Matte (mattifying powder)

Moon Glow (highlighter)

Lipgloss:

Glossaholic - Lush (orange sparkle)

Glossaholic - Tippy (pink sparkle)

Fox in a Box (boxed blush)

Skinny Dipping (orange/tan)

Hot Flash (deep pink)

Spicy and Sweet ( natural pink)

Caitlin xoxo

Makeup Trend - Peachy Orange

Hey Chicas!

Sorry for the delay in posts lately, but the internet has been ridiculous, and not allowing me upload anything!  I think that it has gotten of its touchiness soo hopefully things should be more reliable more.

Regardless, this look is gonna be huge this upcoming spring/summer.  The orange/peach hues were all over the runways so you know that it's gonna trickle down into our everyday looks some how.  The problem with these colors are that it can get a little difficult to figure out how to wear it and not look crazy.

So I hope that I have nailed it for you, and all the products are drugstore brand, so its inexpensive to try it out!

The products used:

Palladio Herbal Eyeshadow Primer

Annabelle - Buff Naked

Annabelle - Metallic Meltdown

Annabelle - Bronzed Idol

Annabelle - So Foxy

L'Oreal Liner Intense - Earthen Rock Brown

Kohl Brown Eyeliner

Aziza - Mascara (dollarama, thumbs up from me)

Hard Candy Fox in a Box - Skinny Dipping

Hard Candy - Moon Glow

Hard Candy Glossaholic - Lush

Wanna see how to get this look....click play!



Caitlin xoxo

Prom/Party Dark Dramatic Sultry Look

Hey Chicas!

I know that many people are planning for prom!  I remember when I was getting ready for prom, it was THE biggest deal.  But back then, we didn't do different colors of eyeshadow, it was just one solid color, no one every did shading, or three tones on the eyes.  So my eyeshadow was just silver, and I do believe that I still have it in my collection, should really evaluate that one!

I thought that I'd do a look that was a throw back to that but soo much cooler.  I really made a conscious effort to keep the products inexpensive and easily available.  The technique isn't hard either!

The inspiration came from an ad in a magazine, cannot remember what the ad was for...perfume....maybe.  Dunno, doesn't matter anyway.

if you know the ad, let me know...I want to give credit

I know that mine is different, but its an "inspiration".  What I really liked was how smokey it was but it was contained on the the lid only...which is different from what we have been seeing...so enjoy!

 

Products used:

Too Faced Shadow Insurance

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil - Milk

ELF Eye Brightening Kit in Drama

Annabelle Smoothliner - Black

Maybelline Lash Line Stiletto - Black

Sally Girl - Gun Metal

LOreal Double Extend Mascara - Black

Hard Candy Fox in a Box Blush - Skinny Dipping

Hard Candy Glossaholic - Lush

ELF Eye Quad - Drama

Wanna get this look?  Click Play!

     

Caitlin xoxo

L'Oreal One Sweep Eyeshadow - Is it?

Hey Chicas!

I'm sure we have all seen the wonderful displays at the the drugstore of this new and wonderful eye palette that will make your makeup routine super easy!  Ummm...about that.  Well I'm talking about L'Oreal One Sweep Eyeshadow in Natural.  This one has mostly all matte shades, and there is another color palette that had similar colors but with shimmer, and that's probably that one that I should have gotten, and not let the "cosmetician" (please like a teenager has any training, let along the others.....off topic) talk me into it...damn!

So at Shoppers it is totally overpriced $13.....too expensive.  Wal Mart is about $9 so better, but still a little pricey for the amount of eyeshadow you get.

Couldn't find the pics I took...errrr...so a video still will have to do!

The shadow is pretty soft....not really pigmented, need about 3 sweeps to get the color.  Blends well, and is easy to maintain and do in a rush.  The applicator is a sponge, and flat.....your eyes are not...duh, but think about it.  Think about the size of the applicator and the size of space on your lid.  Do you have a smaller eye...if yes, then this is the perfect option for you.  My lid is a little larger and the eye shadow doesn't fall exactly where it should, but still totally workable.  The staying power is decent, don't expect to go 15 hours in it though, it will get you through work.

So to get this look, watch the video below....

Products Used:

Estee Lauder Artist Eye Pencil - Soft Smudge Brown

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil - Cottage Cheese

L'Oreal One Sweep Eye Shadow - Natural

L'Oreal Double Extend Mascara

Maybelline Dream Smooth Blush- Peach Satin

Natural Beauty Inspired by Carmindy Ultra Smoothing Lip Tint - Pomegranate

So the bottom line....it's not prefect, but I think if you have smaller eyes (aka space) this will work well for you....but I so suggest looking for one that has some shimmer!

Hope this helps you guys!

Caitlin xoxo