The Perfect Liner - Essence Super Last

 

 

Good morning loves. 

Does anyone else think that Essence is an extremely under rated brand? They're so cheap and everything I've tested out thus far has been great! I'm shocked that more people don't talk about them.

The 18HR eyeliner is another gem. Now, it doesn't last nearly eighteen hours but let's be real does any liner truly last that long, I haven't experienced it yet. This retails for about four dollars Canadian and can be purchased at any Shopper's Drug Mart. The applicator is fine tipped and easy to use for precise application (I bent mine out of shape by being careless) The liquid itself is runny but doesn't transfer or smudge on the eyes after applying. It's pigmented and sets throughout the day so you don't have to worry about having racoon eyes within a few hours. As far as liquid liner is concerned this has become my holy grail and you can't go wrong with the price!

What's your holy grail liner?

♥

Bri

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Loreal True Match Super Blendable Foundation

 

Hey loves.

The weather in Alberta is finally starting to warm up and I couldn't be happier!

I don't know about anyone else with dry skin but unfortunately I don't have the budget to be spending 50 plus dollars on foundation and I cannot for the life of me find anything from the drug store that works well with my skin.

While not a complete bust the Loreal True Blend Super Blendable Liquid foundation didn't work as well as I hoped. I read nothing but raving reviews on this before purchasing from those with all different skin types. It's packaged in a glass bottle that looks much smaller than most but is the standard one fluid ounce. I picked up the shade "Porcelain." I like that this has SPF (albeit very small amount).  The foundation is very watery and runny but has a surprisingly good amount of coverage, medium but easily buildable to full. You only need a small dollop to cover the entire face as it does blend out very nicely on the skin. When first applied it looks stunning but throughout the day it does the usual slipping off of the nose and around the chin. It settles slightly into fine lines and although it's only a little it settles into every single one you have. Again, looks lovely from far away but up close you can definitely see your problem areas. Not to mention it's quite expensive for a drug store product running just about $20 CAD. 

Would I buy it again? No probably not.

What's your go to foundation?

♥

Bri

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Rimmel Lasting Finish 25 Hr Breathable Foundation

 

Good morning loves.

I'm forever looking for the perfect foundation and have yet to find it. 

The Rimmel Lasting Finish 25 HR Breathable Foundation was another let down. 

It's medium coverage and to me the word breathable would imply a more dewy finish but I found this to dry down quite matte. I can't speak for the longevity because I have no need to leave my makeup on for 25 hours. Throughout my 8 hour work day however it held up well aside from rubbing off slightly around my nose but I've yet to find a foundation that doesn't.

I appreciate the glass packaging but I found the applicator strange. I've never used a foundation with a doe foot applicator. I actually didn't mind it though it made it easy to dot around the face. Beware though, do your face in sections because this stuff dries fast! Unless you have super powers there is absolutely no way you'll have time to blend this all in if you don't do it in sections. It blends into the skin nicely as long as you do it quick.

If you're looking for something affordable it's an alright option but I wouldn't recommend for those of you with dry skin.

What's your favourite foundation for skin?

♥

Bri

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Blogmas Day 2 - Beauty Gift Guide

Hello loves.

Blogmas day 2 is a beauty gift guide, I've already done a fashion one here.

Let's get to it shall we!

Tom Ford Lipstick - For me, these are too luxuriously priced to just grab on a visit to the shops so I would love to receive one as a gift.

ABH Mini Gloss set - I always love gift sets around Christmas time and these glosses look perfect for the holiday season. 

ABH Brow Duo - This is a great gift as the products are full size and are the same price for two as one normally is.

Fenty Mini Set - These mini sets are great for someone who's been wanting to try a brand but is hesitant to buy a full size product for fear of it not working out.

Lash Set - Lashes are always a great gift!

Stila Eye Glitter Set - Again, a nice way to try out a product without having to pay full price for the full size. 

What's on your Christmas wish list?

♥

Bri

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Who to follow - Instagram #1

Hey guys!

I don't know about you but I love a good "Who to Follow" post as it gives me some new accounts to discover that I might not have on my own. I've done a few blog ones and a Youtube one so why not switch it up and do an Instagram one?

Well first off I'll recommend one my number one favorite

Samantha Ravndahl

 

colorpunch

beccaboo318

 

 milk1422

 

 

 zombaemua

All of the above artists, are extremely talented and I follow each of them for different reasons and they all have varied styles of makeup so hopefully you guys can find something you like.

Who's your favorite IG account?

♥
Bri

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Neutrogena - Eye Makeup Remover

Hey guys.

I know, it's been awhile but I've been busy trying to create Halloween looks over on my Instagram which I would love if you gave a follow - @briannarue

I wear quite heavy eye makeup on the daily so a lone cleanser just doesn't cut it for me. I need an eye makeup remover to help remove the majority of it before going in with my cleanser. This is an oldie but a goldie. As often as I've seen this across the blogging community this is the first time I've thought to pick it up and give it a go. I'm pleasantly surprised with this, it's extremely affordable and works well at getting that tough gunk off the eyes. I had no issues with it stinging or burning my eyes which I've had with some other so called "eye makeup removers" although I don't suffer with sensitive skin either so I can't speak to that. There's really nothing special about this product but it gets the job done effectively which is really what I was looking for.

What do you use for that pesky eye makeup?

♥

Bri

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Maybelline's Colossal

 

 

Hello loves.

The lighting in my bathroom where I normally take my photos was garbage this morning as it was dark and gloomy outside. Would you believe me if I told you it's already snowing in Alberta? No, well it is and I hate every minute of it.

The Maybelline Colossal Mascara used to be my HG. It lengthened and volumized the lashes like no other could for me. With so many other mascaras being released I took a long break but recently picked it up again and well...Maybelline's either changed the formula or it really wasn't as great as I remembered it. Don't get me wrong this still makes the lashes look wonderful but it's not an even an hour before I start noticing tiny black flakes under my eyes and around my nose. It flakes off so horribly and they stick so tightly to the skin that you can't even just brush them off, you have to pick it off which usually ends in chunks of my foundation being removed from my nails. I wish this was as good as I remembered because it really does create a lovely look. Ah well, luckily there are many others out there that perform even better than this. Loreal Lash Paradise is a fantastic one!

What's your favorite mascara?

♥

Bri

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morphe - Copper Spice

 

Hello loves!

Being a Canadian, I despise online shopping due to the outrageous shipping charges. Morphe has always been one of those brands I just couldn't bring myself to order from. Before Christmas my mom and I were in a store called Showcase (selling TV/infomercial items) and low and behold I glanced over and there was a stand full of Morphe products! My lovely mother grabbed me the Copper Spice palette for Christmas and would you believe I'm just getting around to using it now?!

There are 25 shades in mattes and shimmers, the color scheme is a neutral lovers dream.

This is the perfect palette for those who work in an office environment and are looking for something simple and easy to wear. Upon application there is virtually no fall out and the mattes and shimmers are all pigmented and apply like a dream. I had no trouble blending these out, they blended smoothly together with minimal effort. They wore extremely well through my eight hour work day with no creasing. I think this might be the only palette I've used that hasn't creased within 8 hours and that was with a primer underneath. I'm curious to try these out with no primer to see if they work as well.

At $29.99 CAD for twenty five shadows, you can't go wrong. Well, unless you're a color lover...but for us neutral fans you will not be disappointed.

What's your favorite Morphe palette?

♥

Bri

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Covergirl Vitalist Elixir

Good morning loves!

The Healthy Vitalist Elixir Foundation is the newest release from Covergirl.

It claims to be a hydrating formula with buildable coverage. I purchased mine in the lightest shade (605 Ivory) which is still too dark for me and it does oxidize throughout the day on top of that, pale people beware.

I bought this because RawBeautyKristi raved about it and while I do like the finish I wish they would release more shades.

While it claims to be hydrating I'd say it's more of a natural matte finish, it doesn't completely suck the moisture out of your skin but it certainly doesn't leave you with that dewy glow either. It wore well everywhere except my nose. I cannot for the life of me find a foundation that doesn't break up on the nose so if anyone has any recommendations please leave a comment! It sits well on the top of the skin and can be built to full coverage if needed without looking too cakey.

I prefer a more dewy foundation for the summer but would certainly look into purchasing this again in the winter months.

What's your go-to foundation for summer?

♥

Bri

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TOPSHOP Lip Bullets

 

 

{swatches top to bottom: More Than A Woman, Crave, Covet}

Hello again everyone.

 Guess who's back with yet another lip related post? 

 I know, I have a problem.

A lot of the European based blogs I read have mentioned Topshop's beauty section but almost none of us North American's ever talk about it. Why?

They have a fantastic range full of products from nail polishes to highlighters!

 I've been a fan of their lipsticks for a long time but on my last order I decided to see what else they had and found these "lip bullets." 

I purchased "Crave" and "Covet" at the same time with "More Than a Woman" 

Crave and Covet are both incredibly creamy. Crave is more of a nude while Covet is a brighter coral pink. These slip and slide like they're trying to escape the jail cell that is your lips. I rarely reach for these because of that which is too bad because the colors are nice. Another thing I find despite the creamy formula is that they still cling to any dry patches.

More Than a Woman is right up my alley in terms of color. A stunning dark matte berry toned purple.

The matte formula is much better but I'd still choose a matte liquid lip over this on most days.

Not overly drying, great pigment and unlike the cream ones this doesn't cling to dry spots. 

These were fun to try but in all honesty I wouldn't pick up any more. If you've never checked out the Topshop beauty section I highly recommend giving their regular bullet lipsticks a look over!

Have you tried Topshop Beauty?

♥

Bri

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Highlighter Collection

 

 

 

{top to bottom:  Becca Rose Quartz, ColourPop Fanny Pack & Benefit's Watt's Up}

{left to right: 143, Glo Getter, Forever Lit, Daydream, Forever Young & Kitty Kat}

Hello loves.

We all love a good glow and summer is fast approaching! Bring on the sunshine!

I wanted to share my tiny but ever growing highlighter collection because if you ask me summer is the time for an all out glow. I want to look like a highlight goddess.

Let's start from the beginning. The first ever highlight I used was Benefit's Watts Up as it was a mini included in the Bronze of Champions kit. Full review here. *cringes at the old photography*

 This was my favorite highlight for a long time but the more I experiment I find that it's a touch too dark for my pale skin, good thing that this tube is on it's last legs.

 ColourPop Fanny Pack, still one of my favorites. This isn't available anymore. I love a stark white highlight and this one packs a punch. I like to layer Forever Lit from the N.G. glow kit over this to really make it pop but used alone you can make it quite subtle. Review here.

ABH N.G. glow kit. I did a full review on this just a few days ago so I won't go into much detail. My favorite shade of course, shocker is Forever Lit. 

Becca Light Chaser Highlight in Rose Quartz. I am head over heels for this. It's stunning and drop dead gorgeous when reflected in the light. This will probably be the one and only highlight gracing my cheekbones this summer. I picked this up on sale to boot! I've yet to use it on my eyes though but I can only imagine how beautiful it will be.

Okay, so I forgot to photograph one as I didn't even think about it honestly. It's a highlight in an elf contour quad I have. It's a white highlight but unlike Forever Lit and Fanny Pack it's subtle, almost barely there. I'm not a fan and I rarely use it. 

There are so many amazing highlights on the market, I have my eye on a few of the ABH glow kits still and can't wait to get my hands on them.

What's your favorite highlight?

♥

Bri

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*ESQIDO LASHES

 

 

Hello loves. 

Do you ever read a PR blog post and become intrigued by the brand? Well, recently as I was trying to catch up on my blogs (I'm talking years of back logged posts) there was a post on Beauty and The Chic about Esqido Lashes. The presentation of the products was beautiful and the lashes looked to be of incredible quality.

Low and behold a few weeks later they contacted me asking if I'd like to try a pair. Little did they know I'd already been perusing the site wondering which ones I'd like to order! 

I chose the Voila lash style. 

These were much larger than expected! I love a voluminous, glamorous lash and these delivered just that. I won't lie though I had to trim quite a bit off and they still gave me a gloriously full look that I am in love with. The brands packaging while simple is stunning using white and rose gold for that extra touch. Along with a set of lashes they sent a tube of their lash glue. This glue makes lash application so much easier than the traditional tubes you have to squeeze, simply pull out the applicator and brush it along the lash band. Esqido's lashes also have a nice, wide lash band which helps too.

 

Here is my before & after. As you can see, a fairly dramatic difference but one I adore!

Fabulous quality that I hope I can make last for multiple uses. I highly recommend checking Esqido out as I myself will definitely be purchasing more in the future!

What's your favorite lash brand?

*(products were sent to me in return for a review, all opinions are my own) 

♥

Bri

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 ESQIDO mink lashes

ESQIDO eyelash glue

Bedroom Eyes

Well, hello again loves.

We all love a sexy, sultry eye look. The Too Faced Boudoir palette delivers just that.

Soft, blendable colors that can easily take you from day to night. The swatches above do no justice to how these perform on the eyes. The shimmer shades swatched nicely but the mattes on the other hand look rather chalky. I've always found Too Faced to do a matte shade well and was surprised at how they swatched. Albeit, owning this palette forever this is the first and only time I've "swatched" it.

When dipping into the shadows there's a lot of kick up but that doesn't bother me. They apply and blend like a dream. French Tickler being black of course is harder to blend out so be wary of that.

A neutral color scheme with three deeper shades to add depth. This little palette packs a punch and can create a soft daytime look for everyday wear to a sulrty look for a night on the town. My favorite shade is "Satin Sheets" which I believe is included in quite a few other Too Faced palettes.

What's your favorite "mini" Too Faced Palette?

♥

Bri

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ABH Nicole Guerriero - Glow Kit

{swatches left to right: Kitty Kat, Forever Young, Daydream, Forever Lit, Glo Getter, 143}

 Good morning loves!

I hope you're all having an incredible day. I apologize for my lack of posts over the past couple of weeks. I've had a lot of personal matters to deal with as of late and was given some very sad news last night. 

In a bid to try and keep my mind off it I wanted to create a post surrounding this stunning product.

Anastasia Beverly Hills is one of my favorite brands. I've yet to buy a product that I've been disappointed with. Yes, that includes Subculture.

Who doesn't love to glow?

 I don't go a day without highlight, why would you want to? 

This was a collaboration with Youtuber Nicole Guerriero and was limited edition. 

There are six different highlighters in varying tones in huge pans. I can't imagine ever hitting pan on one of these bad boys.

Kitty Kat - a peachy pink 

Forever Young - a peach toned beige

Daydream - Orange

Forever Lit -  Bright cool white

Glo Getter -Gold

143 - A darker gold 

My favorite and most used shade is Forever Lit, it's stunning on my pale complexion and creates a lovely sheen although I do find it a tad harder to blend out than the other shades. 

All six shades are extremely soft which as you know creates some kick up but that doesn't bother me and they create a beautiful metallic finish on the skin. There's a good range of shades for all skin tones in here, so much so that some although I still use them a couple are almost too dark for me. Daydream is quite dark on my skin as well as 143. ABH states that you can use these on your eyes as well which I love to do to add more dimension to a look, it helps me get use out of every shade in the palette instead of only using the highlights suited to my fair skin. It's easy to create a subtle glow with this if you prefer a more toned down lit from within look but builds beautifully for those like me who want to glow so bright that space can see me. The powders are finely milled but still contain particles of shimmer which if not applied carefully can quickly spread around the face making you look more like a disco ball than a glowing goddess. 

I wish you guys were still able to pick this up! There was just no way I could go without mentioning this beauty on my little space on the web. 

What is your favorite highlighter?

♥

Bri

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Instagram Round Up #7

Hello loves!

It has been a while since my last Instagram round up so here I am with another one.

I like these little posts, they show off some stuff that maybe you don't see if you don't follow me on Instagram which you should be @briannarue

Top left to bottom right

Today's makeup, natural outdoor lighting is the best for any photo.

Recent blog post about the elf brow gel. Read here

A Subculture look, very fall-esque.

Teal liner (Not proud of how this turned out, I will be redoing it)

Feeling blue. I've been living for blue shades on the eyes recently.

The whole blue themed look

Drop your instagram below for me to check out!

♥
Bri

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Love of the Week

 

 Good afternoon loves!

I hope you're all having a wonderful day.

I've been obsessed with trying to perfect my brows these days. I'll admit I'm a newbie when it comes to brows and have only just started dabbling in the world of brow products. For the longest time I'd use powder to fill them but I'd never set them. A huge mistake on my part leading to brown smudges above and below my brows, not a good look. Off on a hunt to find a clear gel to set them with I stumbled into a Wal Mart that had a huge selection of elf products.

Elf is a wonderfully affordable brand that I've had good luck with through the years. This brow gel was only two dollars. I couldn't pass up something that cheap especially if the outcome was so bad that it was tossed to the trash at least I didn't spend a fortune right?

There is a brow side and eyelash side. I use both for my brows as I don't see the need for gel in my lashes. There's a lot of product on the spoolie when it's pulled out but I wipe off the excess and brush it through my brows creating the shape I want and it sets them flawlessly for the whole day. For two dollars this in amazing product that does what it says, your brows won't budge all day. Just out of curiosity I might try some in the high end range but after using this I don't see why anyone would spend more than two dollars if you don't have to.

Thank you elf for this perfect brow gel at such an outstanding price.

What's your favorite brow product?

♥

Bri

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Top 5 - Nude Lips

 Hello loves!

As you all know I'm more of a dark lip fan but that doesn't mean I don't own some nudes. In fact I'll be the first to admit that the nude collection is constantly growing. Today I wanted to share with you my current top five, almost all of which are drug store.

Being fair skinned it's hard to find a nude that doesn't make me look like a washed out zombie but I've narrowed it down to my five favorites.

{left to right - Maybelline Peach Buff, Rimmel Kate Moss 40, Rimmel Nude Delight, Tarte Birthday Suit & Rimmel Kate Moss 42}

 Maybelline Peach Buff -  After looking at the swatch, I'm debating whether or not would this would be classified as a pink. Either way, it goes on smooth doesn't dry out the lips and works with a variety of looks.

Rimmel Kate Moss Nude 40 - I'm a huge fan of the Kate Moss range of lipsticks. Aside from the nude range I own almost all the colors. These are affordable, easy to wear and easy to apply. This i a tad too light but looks fantastic mixed with a darker nude. 

Rimmel Moisture Renew in Nude Delight - Usually brown toned nudes don't mesh well my skin tone but I have no issues with this one and again being on the darker side it looks better than lighter nudes which wash me out.

Tarte Birthday Suit - A recent addition to my collection. But fast becoming a firm favorite. It's the perfect combo of a dark lip and a nude at the same time. Not only that but it's matte and I love a matte lip!

Rimmel Kate Moss 42 - This one is the perfect nude color for me, not too pink nor brown. Strikes the perfect balance for my pale pale self.

What's your favorite nude?

♥

Bri

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Hard Candy Primer Mist

Hello loves!

I'm back and am going to try to keep my posts up to at least twice a week for all of you.

 Back at it with another primer review. Lately I've been on a primer kick, trying to find that perfect one. 

The Hard Candy Sheer Envy Hydrating Primer Mist is almost perfection in a bottle. It can be used as either a primer or setting spray. Currently, I've been using it as a primer but you can bet I'll test it out as a setting spray! Updates to come.

I like to use this by spraying the mist on my Real Techniques Sponge and then applying it to the skin. I find that the mist if sprayed directly on the face is too wet for my liking. While I didn't notice any extended wear time I did notice it helped with the foundation separation on my nose which I can't seem to stop no matter what I try (tips would be appreciated) so for that alone it gets some major bonus points. It claims to boost hydration for 12 hours, again I never keep my makeup on for that long so I can't attest to that. It certainly keeps my skin from feeling dry though which I haven't found with other primers and it smells like coconut. This retails for eight dollars CAD and for the price this can do no wrong. It keeps my skin hydrated and helps foundation separation in areas that I've always struggled with. Thank you Hard Candy for the affordable and wonderful product!

What's your favorite primer?

♥

Bri

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Drugstore Diamonds - Loreal Infalliable Shadows

 

{left to right: Endless Choclat, Magnetic Coral, Purple Obsession & Pepsy Coral}

 

Hello loves!

I know we all love our high end & luxury brands but the drug stores really do hold some hidden gems. My newest and most recent discovery being the Loreal Infalliable 24 hr shadows. I know these have been around for a while but Loreal as a brand was never on my radar as I never really saw anything I was interested in. These were on clearance and I was looking for some new things to try so I picked up four of them!

Endless Chocolat - A gorgeous chocolate brown with gold glitter reflect. You can't see the glitter in the swatch but when applied on the eyes it' stunning. I love this color albeit being a tad bit hard to blend out.

Magnetic Coral - A beautiful light coral shade that is gorgeous all over the lid.

Purple Obsession - This isn't a shade of purple I would normally go for but as an impulsive buyer of course I had to get it. Extremely pigmented and blends easily. I love doing a purple eye with this smoked out in the outer corner.

Pepsy Coral - When looking at Pepsy Coral and Magnetic Coral in the containers they look almost identical in color but as you can see in the swatches Pepsy Coral is much darker.

Loreal's Infalliable shadows are incredibly pigmented and three out of the four that I own blended well. Endless Chocolat took a bit of extra effort but it's a darker shade as well so build it slowly.

I'm definitely interested in picking up more of these as I was pleasantly surprised because most of the Loreal products I've tried thus far haven't impressed me.

What Infalliable shade is your favorite?

 

♥

Bri

 

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