DIY Dark Circles Remover

 

What You Will Need:

- 1 Small handful of fresh parsley

- 2 Tablespoons of plain yogurt

Parsley has natural cooling and hydrating properties which is exactly what we want to help treat dark under eye circles. Using this mixture once a week will result in brighter under eyes overtime. All you need to do is place both ingredients into a food processor until there is a smooth paste formed. Apply generously to you under eyes area and let it sit for 15-20 minutes, rinse off using lukewarm water. Apply a moisturizing eye cream to keep the delicate area extra hydrated. This is a crucial step for fading dark circles and fighting eye wrinkles in the long run.

 

DIY Cellulite and Stretch Marks Treatment

What You Will Need:

- 2 Tablespoons used coffee grounds (decaf won't work as well)
- 4 Teaspoons olive oil

Combine the oil and coffee grounds in a bowl and apply to your desired area. Using upward strokes, massage and exfoliate the mixture on your skin for 2-4 minutes, then rinse of using lukewarm water (the brown-ish tint will fade soon after). Make sure the exfoliated area is completely dry, then apply a good moisturizer. Moisturized skin will help fade stretch marks sooner.

Exfoliate the effected area once daily. A visible difference should take about 2-3 weeks.

DIY Homemade Bronzer

What You Will Need:

- Ground Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Cocoa Powder
- Cornstarch

This DIY bronzer is a great way to add dimension to your face if you prefer to take the natural route or if you don't want to spend money unnecessarily on a bronzer.  There are no measurements to this bronzer because it all depends on your preference and skin color. Simply mix all ingredients, according to your preference, and apply with a bronzer brush. Test and try out different ratios of the ingredients on your skin until you are satisfied with the result.

DIY Edible Face Mask

 What You Will Need:


-2-3 tablespoons Greek Yogurt 
-1 teaspoon Buttermilk
-1 teaspoon Lemon Juice
-1 teaspoon Honey 
-1 Cocoa Powder
-1/2 of a Banana, mashed


If you have dry or damaged skin, reduce or eliminate lemon juice and instead add an equivalent amount of honey. If you have particularly oily skin, use a little more lemon juice and a little less honey. If you have combination skin, use equal amounts of both. -2-3 tablespoons Greek Yogurt -1 teaspoon Buttermilk -1 teaspoon Honey -1 Cocoa Powder -1/2 of a Banana, mashed

Mix all ingredients in a blender or food processor. The mask should be thick enough to not run down your face. Test the mask on a small portion of the skin to test for allergic reactions.

Apply a layer of the mask to your face and allow it to sit for 20-30 minutes. Wash off mask with warm water, followed by a splash of cold water to close your pores. You can follow up with your favorite moisturizer afterwards.

This recipe makes enough product for 3-5 face masks.

DIY Easy Lip Plumper

If you like the look of full, plump lips but don't want to break the bank, this simple DIY lip plumper is just the thing you need! All you will need is a couple of simple ingredients you might find in your home:

- Peppermint oil
- Vaseline (Petroleum jelly) or any lip gloss of your choice

Mix 1 teaspoon of the Vaseline with 1-2 drops of peppermint oil (be careful not to use too much oil or it will burn your lips) and apply on bare lips or on top of lipstick. If you are using a lip gloss, add 1-2 drops of the oil inside the tube and apply to lips for beautiful plump lips. 

Medora Lipsticks Review

Medora Lipsticks (left) shade 261 and (right) shade 561
(top without flash, bottom with flash) 

Today's blog post will be a very unique one since these lipsticks are very unheard of, but definitely one of the best, most pigmented, and inexpensive lipsticks on the market. These lipsticks aren't available in U.S or Canada, I have got mine from Pakistan. Although, there are a few shades available on Amazon (search for "Medora Matte Lipsticks"), they don't offer all the shades. I am only reviewing two for now but I have a few more different shades I will review in the future. There are 20 different shades, including nudes, pinks, red, violet, and berry colors.

These lipsticks go on very smoothly on moisturized lips and last a long time without the need to touch up. They are just as, if not more, pigmented as MAC and other high end lipsticks, but for half the price.

If you would like to order a Medora lipstick in any shade, you can let me know and I can buy and ship it to you. Below are all the lipstick shades, you can leave a comment telling me which number you would like and I'll get back to you with the price and shipping cost.

I'd rate these lipsticks a 9/10. The only con is that they need to increase their shades in order for them to cater to more people.

MAC Matchmaster Foundation SPF 15 Review

MAC Matchmaster Foundation SPF 15 in shade 2.0

Today's review will be on a foundation that isn't talked about much, or maybe just I haven't heard much about, in the beauty industry and that is the MAC Matchmaster SPF 15 Foundation.

Price: $32 CAD. I have found the cheapest place to buy this foundation is: http://www.ebay.ca/sch/i.html?_sacat=0&_from=R40&LH_BIN=1&_udlo&_udhi=45&_nkw=mac%20matchmaster%20foundation&_sop=15 I have narrowed down the results so you can see the cheapest sellers for this foundation. I bought mine over a year ago from The Bay for almost $50 including tax because at the time I was unsure of my shade and didn't want to risk buying it online. I do recommend that you go in store to get matched and then you can buy it online because it is significantly cheaper (I should have thought about that myself before!).

Shades: MAC has 16 shades in this particular foundation that would match pretty much anyone, but keep in mind this foundation, alongside most MAC foundations, has a very yellow undertone therefore it might not be everyone's ideal foundation.

Product & Coverage: I should let you know now that most girls with dry skin will not be a fan of this foundation. It has a matte finish and can cling to dry patches on your skin and make it look even worse. Even though I have dry skin, this foundation doesn't cling to dryness on my skin. It really just depends on how you use it and how it sets on your skin. Always moisturize your skin before applying any foundation, especially if you're using a foundation with a semi to fully matte finish. People with oily skin will most probably like this foundation since it stops oil from coming through and keeps the skin matte. The coverage is medium but definitely build-able to full coverage. I don't feel the need to use much concealer to hide blemishes after using this foundation, which is always a good thing when you're in a rush! Another thing to keep in mind if you're thinking of buying this foundation is that it does have a SPF of 15 which might give you a white cast when taking photos.

Application: using a Real Techniques Buffing Brush is the best way to use this foundation that I have found. It makes the foundation blend seamlessly and quickly. This foundation doesn't give you much time to blend or work in to your skin and sets in a few seconds, hence why the buffing brush is the best way to apply it. Using a beauty blender sponge works well with this foundation but it doesn't give you a full coverage, which is what I usually go for.

This foundation is more of a "love it or hate it" product. The people who love it claim it to be there holy grail foundation and those who don't like it call it the worst foundation they've ever used. You can always ask for a sample at a MAC counter or store and try it out yourself before spending money any on it.

My rating for this foundation would be a 8.5/10.

MAC Pro Longwear Concealer Review

MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NW 25

My first blog will be dedicated to one of the most talked about concealers that is on the market right now. I will start off with some of the basic information about this product and talk about the pros and cons of it.

Price: $19-21 USD ($21-26 CAD) The cheapest place to buy the concealer that I have found would be either www.amazon.com or http://www.maccosmetics.com/product/shaded/157/10181/Products/Face/Concealer/Pro-Longwear-Concealer/index.tmpl (prices for shipping will vary depending on where you live). I bought mine from the MAC Cosmetics store in Scarborough for $26 plus tax.

Shades: there are currently 16 different shades of this concealer that would suit many different skin tones and complexions. Keep in mind that the shade range will depend on where you buy the concealer, some stores and sites might have a limited selection of shades. The MAC website (as linked above) offers all 16 shades of the concealer. Therefore, if you have any problem finding your shade you can order directly from their site.

Skin Type: this concealer would be exceptional for people with oily skin because of its matte finish. It would also be suitable for combination skin, unless you're looking for a hydrating concealer with a dewy or luminous finish. My skin is mainly dry, yet Pro Longwear Concealer doesn't look cakey or patchy at all. Although, if you have extremely dry and flaky skin, this concealer might not work well for you.

Product & coverage: this concealer differs from other concealers I have tried in the past because it has a very light and thin formulation yet the coverage is high and .  If your under eyes aren't very dark and discolored, this concealer would do a good job covering them. For me, this product is more ideal for covering scars and discoloration rather than my under eye circles because my under eyes are extremely dark. Even then, I still use this concealer under my eyes because of its amazing anti-crease properties. I then layer another lighter concealer on top of it to add more coverage and highlight. The MAC Pro Longwear Concealer prevents it from creasing, since otherwise most concealers have a tendency to crease under my eyes and on my eye lids. On my eye lids, this concealer works better as a base and primer than any other shadow primer I've tried, that includes Urban Decay Primer Potion and Too Faced Shadow Insurance.

Application: I have tried various ways to apply this concealer to get the most out of it. Using a Beauty Blender is a great way to apply it if you want it to look as natural as possible and just want a low to medium coverage. Recently, I have started to use the Real Techniques Pointed Foundation Brush to apply the concealer followed by the Buffing Brush to blend it in and it has become my favorite way to apply the concealer because it gives the highest coverage and a natural finish.

Overall, I'd recommend this concealer to anyone that has slight discoloration under the eyes, problems with creasing or acne scarring. It isn't overpriced and nor is it as cheap as a drug store concealer, but it is well worth the money. If it exceeds your budget, you can always try it out at a MAC counter or store and decide for yourself. 

My rating for the MAC Pro Longwear Concealer would be a 8/10.