MAY FAVOURITES

MAY FAVOURITES

I dont have a ton of favourites this month only because I've been loving these products so much that I've been using them almost everyday! 

Diorskin Forever Compact

Flawless Perfection Fusion Wear Makeup

in shade 030 

SPF 25

I have been loving this setting powder! At first I wasnt sure if it was much different or outstanding in any way than my previous setting powders, but I have really grown to love it. It is a bit dark for me unless I have my self tanner on, so when I'm in between my Fake Bake I use an alternate thats a shade lighter. Gives a beautiful flawless but natural finish to the skin

MAC Cremesheen in Pure Zen

I've been loving this colour alot this month. Its a very natural peachy nude, and its appearing much darker and more pigmented in the photo, its a beautiful natural nude with a touch of colour. LOVE!

YSL Rouge Volupte Shine in shade 15

This is another slightly pgimented nude shade but its more pink than peach. SO great for every day wear with almost any eye look

YSL Babydoll Mascara

This is the closest mascara that has ever come close to competing with my favourite Benefit "They're Real". I get a teeny tiny bit of transfer on my undereye by the end of the day sometimes, but other than that this mascara is amazing! makes my lashes full and separated and long.

MAC Superslick Liquid Eye Liner in Smoky Heir 

This liner is a beautiful deep purple liner and I have been wearing it alot with a peach lip and my next favourite! 

Urban Decay Naked 2 Pallette 

I have used this palette every single day this month except maybe 2 days. I LOVE it! I'm obsessed with the cool tones, the mix of shimmer and matte shades, I love the way these look on my skin tone. This is by far my most favourite out of all the Naked Pallette series! HIGHLY Recommend this for anyone with any skin tone that likes to have a variety of colours but enjoys staying in the natural colour scheme. 

China Glaze in Sun of a Peach 

This is my fave colour for spring & summer! I always love the orange/peach/coral colours for the warmer months, but this colour is what Ive been wearing this month 

10 Pro Tips for Healthy, Shiny Hair!

Is your hair feeling dry and brittle from this winter weather? Well mine is, and here are some tips straight from the salon to help get your hair back in great shape! Whether it be from highlights, a bit too much flat ironing, or just from the weather changes, here are some tips that will absolutely guarantee your tresses to come back to life!

1. PUT DOWN THE BRUSH

When your hair is wet, it is always its most vulnerable, as it can stretch up to 50% of its length! This means we need to take extra care with detangling the hair after washing it. Never use a brush on your wet hair, only a comb! A comb allows the hair to slide through the teeth, where a brush does not, resulting in breakage! brushing wet hair on a daily basis will cause many many unnecessary split ends 

2. PROPER TOWEL DRYING

NEVER rub the towel over your hair to dry it!! I can almost hear my ends snapping off when I think of this!! Squeezing the water out of the hair with the towel is SO much easier on the hair, and way more efficient. It can be a hard habit to break, though.

3.  CUT DOWN ON HIGHLIGHTS

If you get highlights EVERY visit to the salon, consider cutting down to a T-zone, or Half head of foils instead of a full head. You could also leave a slice of your natural hair in between blonde foils every second time to save the same strands from getting over processed. 

4. KEEP COLOUR CHANGES GRADUAL

If you are the type to go from black to red to blonde and back to brown, you know what I'm talking about! Lifting coloured hair to blonde is far more damaging than lifting natural hair colour to blonde. If you are like me, and go darker in the winter, and light in the summer, now is the time to start the lightening process! Extend your all over blonde final result over 2 or more appointments instead of one, and you will be able to keep almost all of your length, and still have that shine and manageability. If we blast the hair to create white blonde the first try, most times the hair is compromised which means frizz, tangles, breakage, and all over dull looking hair.

5. NO HOME COLOUR!!!

Most box haircolour comes with 20 volume developer. This is not always necessary for colouring! You can save your hair so much damage by going to a professional. Box colour is often unpredictable, inconsistant, and high in ammonia and other chemicals. The final result is also nowhere near as shiny, healthy and rich as professional colour. Also! Lightening box colour can be a long and damaging process, as professional haircolour can be removed from the hair MUCH more evenly and gently than drugstore product. Did I mention how much I dislike box colour? :D

6.  SHEILD YOUR LOCKS

When using any type of heat styling tools, always be sure to apply a heat barrier spray beforehand! In my experience using flat iron spray, I have found that when I first start using it, I dont notice the lack of damage right away. But when I run out of the product, or go without for a week or so, I can feel my hair getting dry at the ends, and not styling properly. This is heat damage! Spraying your hair beforehand will save it from lots of dry ends! resulting in much more manageable hair! 

7. WASH & HYDRATE

When shampooing, massage into scalp and hair above the ear, but do not scrub any hair below the ears, simply let the sudsy water run down and cleanse the hair when you rinse. This will prevent unnecessary  friction and over cleansing causing dryness. Do not wash your hair everyday! Depending on what hairtype you have, some people can get away with skipping 2-3 days of washing! Always make sure you are adding a leave in conditioner or beauty oil to your ends during these days because your roots are gaining natural hydration from your scalp, but when washes are prolonged, your ends will continue to get dryer, so dont forget to hydrate!

8. CHANGE UP YOUR STYLE

If you are an every day ponytail wearer, switch up the spot where you put it! Wear a low pony on day one, and day 2 a high pony or a sock bun. This will prevent a ring of damage from the elastic in your hair. I see this ALOT with girls who are always putting their hair in a "messy bun"

9. DONT SLEEP ON WET HAIR

Sleeping on wet hair creates alot of damage to layers, particularly in the back of the head. The fragile wet hair rubs against the pillow and splits and breaks while you sleep! If its a MUST that you sleep on wet hair, try and air dry it as long as possible, and then place in a braid or a loose clip before bed

10. KEEP UP ON CUTS

There is no such thing as a "split end mender" or "split end sealer" All of these products are bogus! Once a hair is split, it is split for good until it either breaks off, or gets cut off. If the hair is cut off just above the split, you can continue to grow it! But if it is not cut off completely, then it will continue to split up the hair shaft. Once you have a fresh cut, the "split end" products can help to PREVENT dry ends from coming back as quickly

Thanks so much for reading!! I hope that some of these tis will help some of you grow your hair, or keep it looking shiny and healthy and the best that it can be! I love answering questions and comments about your hair experiences so please let me hear em! 

Have a great day xoxox 

Caity 

HAIR PRODUCT EMPTIES

15 Hair Product Empties!

I have gone through 15 full bottles of hair care products from shampoo to Hairspray. I always find that when you finish an entire bottle of a product, you have a much better understanding of how it works for your hair. Sometimes once isnt enough! So here are my thoughts on these products that I have finished up. Keep in mind, some of these I have had for quite some time, as I alternate products often. ALSO! For reference on your hair, my reviews are based on my own hair which is dry at the ends due to colour and heat styling damage and it is thick.

Any questions about any of these products please let me know!

xoxo Caity 

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@MAKEUPNSHEARS

Sebastian Penetrait 

Deep strengthening and repair-masque 

This made my hair feel so soft, and had a fresh, clean scent that lingered in the hair. Very good product would definately recommend it to all hair types that are feeling dry. I Would repurchase this product !

Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Mask

I mean, anyone that knows me knows that I will own this product until I physically cannot own it any longer. This is by far the best mask I have ever used, none of these other products can compare to it, and I always am trying to find a product that gives me the same results, and I haven't found one yet. I go through these masks about every 6 - 8 months. It has a very thick consistancy and I use it about once a week. You dont need much!

Kevin Murphy Born. Again.Masque

Thick consistency and a nice natural scent. Did not live up to my moroccanoil expectations and for that reason I will not repurchase.

LOREAL Professional Smooth Fluidity Masque 

This mask was the one that came closest to matching the morroccanoil. Looking online I believe this mask has been discontinued, but Loreal Professional is an amazing product line and I think they are so overlooked and underestimated. This brand has excellent products for all hair types, and they all smell amazing!

This masque really didnt do anything special for my hair. I heard all about how amazing it was, so I purchased it, but it was more like a light conditioner for me. I will not repurchase this.

Redken Blonde Glam --Pure Pearl

This is a deep conditioner for blonde hair, it has a purple hue to it. this bottle is in the old packaging, it has since changed and the scent has changed as well which is the most depressing part! :( I was obsessed with the old scent it reminded me of summertime goodness. The scent now is the same as the rest of the blonde glam series, which is still a beautiful grapefruit scent. This made my hair so soft! Would repurchase

Redken All Soft Heavy Cream

super treatment for dry/brittle hair 

This treatment definately had a thick consistancy, so when on the hair it felt like it was doing great things, but when washed off it felt just like a regular conditioner. The scent of this product was amazing though, so rich and beautiful. I would recommend this as a daily conditioner for someone with thick or curly frizzy hair. I would not repurchase this product only because its average on my hair. 

Loreal Professional Vitamino Color Conditioner

This was too light for my hair, it seems that all regular colour shampoo and conditioners never do enough for my thick dry hair. Would not repurchase

Milk__Shake Active Milk Mask

This smelled like butterscotch  fudge heaven it was amazing, but it did nothing special for my hair. Would not repurchase, but I would purchase a leave in product from this line with the same scent! yum!

BED HEAD Dumb Blonde Shampoo

This shampoo was awesome it smells like candy and cleansed my hair and scalp very well without drying it out. Would repurchase

AG Sterling Silver Shampoo

AMAZING! This is all I used to use for my blonde hair until I got a litre of the J Beverly Hills Blonde shampoo. Highly recommend for blondes, has a very dark purple colour. I used to leave it on the hair for about 20 mins and use it as a toner, which always worked awesome in between colours. Would definately repurchase.

sex

Big Sexy Hair hair Splay & Play Volumizing hairspray

Sticky, stinky heavy hairspray, would not repurchase 

Rusk Being Sexy Hairspray

I Love this spray! It smells great and keeps the hair in place without being sticky. Th spray itself comes out in a fine cloud so it lightly coats the hair. Would absolutely repurchase

Kevin. Murphy Session Spray 

Perfect medium hold, workable spray. I used this for fashion week as my primary hairspray. Would always repurchase.

Loreal Elnett Satin Strong Hold

I love the fine mist, and workable, brushable hold this gives. It smells like granny but it works great. Would repurchase

Green Smokey Eyes!

GREEN SMOKEY EYE

I have been loving wearing all different types of green lately, with either a coral or peach lip, or a nude lip. I am wearing a neutral colour outfit, so I decided on a brighter coral lipcolour. If I was wearing a purple or green top, then I would most likely stick with a nude lip, just so that the look doesn't get overwhelmed with colour. I am wearing my hair in a messy pony, as the neckline on my sweater is quite high and with too much hair, sweater, jewelry around the neck, I felt the makeup would get lost. 

So here is a quick and easy, wearable everyday way to wear colour in your makeup!!

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MAKEUPNSHEARS

I always like feedback, requests, and questions! 

All products I used are below the photos xoxox

PRODUCTS USED

EYES
Cream Base STILA Smudge Pot in Jade  

Highlight NARS Albatross

Lid SMASHBOX Safari

Lid (Lighter shade, in center of eyelid to create a round shape to the eye) SMASHBOX Zoom

Liquid Liner LOREAL Telescopic Waterproof Eyeliner in Black

Brows ANASTASIA Brow Wiz pencil in Ash Blonde

FACE

Primer BENEFIT Porefessional 
Foundation LAURA MERCIER Silk Creme Foundation in Medium Ivory 

Concealer NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Medium 1

Powder NARS Translucent Pressed Light Reflecting Powder

Contour URBAN DECAY Naked Basics Palette in Faint 

Bronzer TARTE Amazonian Clay Bronzer in Park Ave Princess

Blush MAC Honey Jasmine

Highlight NARS Albatross

LIPS 
Base MAC Prep & Prime Lip 

Lipstick MAC Sushi Kiss

Gloss (In outer corners only to give depth) MAC Pro Longwear lipglass in Whoops!

2013 Beauty Favourites Part Two: Hair, Nails, Skincare

Here are my Skincare, Haircare, and Nails Favourites of the year! For some of the products, like cleanser, for instance, I did not inlclude, because I haven't found a favourite really. I will only include products in here that I absolutely LOVE! So here are my most used products of 2013!

INSTAGRAM: MAKEUPNSHEARS

For daily pics! xoxo 

Face Moisturizer (Day and/or Night)

MAC Mineralize Charged Water Moisture Gel

I used this almost all year, I have replaced it with Studio Moisture cream in the winter months, which I haven't loved nearly as much. I wish MAC had a lotion that was in between these two for my winter skincare! I Love the moisture gel because it leaves my skin feeling hydrated and so soft with no residue or heaviness. All of the product absorbs into your skin and leaves a natural finish. Can be used directly before makeup application

   

MAC MINERALIZE CHARGED WATER SKIN HYDRATING MIST 

I spray this directly onto my face right after cleansing, before my moisturizer. I love this especially in the summertime because its so refreshing. I find it calms my skin after using an acne skin cleanser, or something with anti-shine or anti-oil in it since they tend to be drying sometimes. 

MAC FAST RESPONSE EYE CREAM

Omg I have never used an eye cream that makes my skin feel so amazing. This is almost a gel-like cream, that glides on so smoothly and hydrates the eye area. My skin feels like silk unlike any other product that I've used.

CLINIQUE Acne Solutions Spot Treatment Gel 

This stuff works wonders for any breakouts. It stings when first applied, and creates a bit of a coating over the blemish. It appears very shiny, but if you apply a moisturizer or makeup over top, it disappears.  This stuff works SO well !!! Blemishes clear up 1-2 full days sooner than without using it.

LUSH Mint Julips Lip Scrub

This is a bit messy because its loose, but I use it over the sink before I wash my face. It gets all dry skin off the lips, but gentle enough that you can apply lip colour afterwards with no irritation.

THE BODY SHOP COCONUT MILK BODY LOTION

This is always in my bathroom, especially in the summertime for quick moisturizing without putting on thick body butter or something heavy when its hot outside. 

ST. IVES Coconut Milk & Orchid Extract Lotion

This is also a quick, hydrating lotion that absorbs quickly, hydrates the skin and leaves no residue. Awesome for in the morning before putting on your clothes because it dries quickly!

BURT'S BEES Radiance Body Lotion

This is one of the products in my collection that I will always own, and always repurchase. It gives the skin a stunning sheen, it looks so healthy and glowing without appearing shimmery. I think that the smell is a love or hate scent. Personally, I absolutely LOVE the smell of it, I think it smells very clean and fresh!!

FAKE BAKE

60 Minute Self-Tan Liquid 

This tanner is the best I've ever used... and I've used ALOT! lol. Using the mitt, I can apply a full body tan in less than 5 minutes. The liquid absorbs so quickly and evenly. It does have a colour guide, which means you will get instant colour before the tan fully develops, and then when you shower, the color guide will rinse off, and leave behind your new golden tan! It has a green undertone, so there is absolutely NO orange colour, very natural looking!

SHAMPOO

J BEVERLY HILLS Blonde Neutralizing Shampoo

I was fully blonde most of 2013, and now, being ombre, my ends are still blonde! It is a deep purple colour, and when left on the hair over 5 minutes, It acts as a quick toner, to cut brassiness in the hair. This product is also all natural!

CONDITIONER 

KEVIN MURPHY Luxury Rinse

This makes my hair feel so soft and manageable. It leaves no residue and I can still layer my styling products without my hair feeling heavy. Awesome product.

L'OREAL Thermo Repair Milk

This is a light cream that I apply to my hair every few shampoos, as it is supposed to stay in the hair up to 5 shampoos. Using this I notice that my ends do not get as dry as quickly from blowdriers and curling irons as when I'm not using it. Plus it smells amazing 

MOROCCANOIL 

These two products will forever be a part of my collection. I fully believe in, and stand behing these products, as well as recommend them to many of my clients. These products have changed my hair and scalp, and have such a beautiful scent. If you have heard about these, and have not tried them because you werent sure, or the price was high, GO GET THEM! I used the oil treatment in wet and dry hair, every single day, and one bottle lasts me almost a year. The mask I use around once per week, and One 200ml tub will last me almost one year as well. AMAZING 

HAIRSPRAY

Label.M Extreme Hold Hairspray

I LOVE the finish and hold of this spray, it smells SO good and lasts in the hair all day

NAIL COLOURS

OPI Elephantastic pink, Cajun Shrimp, and Charged Up Cherry

CHINA GLAZE 

Sun of a Peach, Flip Flip Fantasy, and Top Coat(super glossy)

Thank you for checking out the rest of my beauty favourites! Any questions, comments, or requests are much appreciated and I would love to try out anything that you are wondering about or would like a review!!

Lots of Love xoxoxo Caity

2013 Beauty Favourites Part One: MAKEUP!

Happy New Years!!

Here are some of my most favourite and most used products of 2013. Some of them I tend to reach for more in the summer, and some more in the cold, winter months. After all of the fails and disappointing products that I have come across this past year, these are the real gems ;) All of these products I will, if I haven't already, repurchase, and all of them I highly recommend! 

FOUNDATION PRIMER

Benefit Porefessional 

I LOVE this primer!!! It blurs large pores and creates a smooth buttery surface for foundation. It sets beautifully and your skin feels like silk. It is not overly mattifying, so for those of you with very oily skin you may need an additional mattifying product. 

EYESHADOW PRIMER

Urban Decay Primer Potion

This is by far the best eyeshadow primer!! I especially love it for when I have a really long day ahead. I can apply this at 8am, and my eyes still look the same 12 hours later. Perfecto!

FOUNDATION

MAC Pro Longwear 

This is in shade NC42, which is my summer colour. The finish of this foundation is flawless without being cakey, and lasts all day. I buff it in with a flat top dual fibre foundation brush. It is a full coverage foundation, but you could sheer it out a bit with some moisturizer.

CONCEALER

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Medium 1

This is my winter shade. I use this for my undereyes as well as covering any blemishes. It leaves a creamy finish, and its full coverage. Comes with a doefoot applicator like a lip gloss so its super easy to apply! 

SETTING POWDER

MAC Studio Finish in NC42 (summer) and C4 (winter)

I Love this powder because it gives an extra bit of coverage, but never looks cakey! It evens out all foundation, concealer, and any liquid highlighter or cream blush that are used underneath 

BLUSH

TARTE OFF THE CUFF BLUSH PALETTE

Okay this is probably my most favourite product of the whole year, and I only got this in November!! Im sorry because it was limited edition and I hope hope hope they come out with this again!!! It is AMAZING! This palette has 4 blush colours, and a bronzer, called "Park Avenue Princess" There is a colour for basically any makeup look that you do, in winter months, as well as summer. You have "Crave" a deep coral pink colour, "Dazzled" a darker dusty rose colour with gold flecks, "Darling" a peach, and "Dollface" a bright pink.  All colours are highly pigmented and last all day on the skin.

MAC Honey Jasmine (Satin)

 I Love this colour its one of my all time favourites, a beautiful true peach colour. I used this alot in the summer, but was a bit too light for my skintone then. I have been wearing my Tarte blush palette so much this winter, but come sprintime, I will be reaching for this colour ALL of the time! I like to wear this colour especially when I do any type of cranberry and peach coloured eyeshadow, or any type of green eyeshadow!

BRONZER

Smashbox Self Adjusting Powder foundation in D1 Dark

I got this shade at winners in the summertime, and it was my perfect bronzing shade! Its made to be an all over powder foundation, so it has incredible lasting power! Love it!! 

CONTOUR 

Smashbox Contour Palette

The shade on the left is a perfect contouring shade, its not too dark, and an ashy tone, which is ideal for creating the shadowed effect. The middle and right shades, I use more as eyeshadows, sometimes the right side as a subtle highlight. 

HIGHLIGHT

NARS Albatross

I love this highlight because it is so versatile it can really be used in any makeup look. Its a creamy white with tiny flecks of gold. Extremely easy to work with and very blendable. 

EYESHADOW PALETTE

Urban Decay Naked Basics

This is a staple in anyones collection, it is all matte colours except for the one highlight, "Venus" (first colour on left).

I also use the colour "faint" often for contouring (left of the black).

MAC PALETTE

This palette I made myself, and I use this the most out of any other shadows I own!

Here are a list of colours from left to right

line 1

1.Shroom - use as highlight

2. Retrospeck - Gold with silver fleck

3. Motif - Peach shimmer with pink sheen 

4. Gleam - Pink shimmer 

5. Honesty- dusty shimmery rose

Line 2 

1.Paradisco - Dark peach with a sheen 

2. Sushi Flower - Matte dark pink 

3. Cranberry - Beautiful red sheen 

4. Swish - Light very shimmery pinky purple

5. Stars n rockets- INCREDIBLE shadow- use on top of white base or black 

Line 3

1.Woodwinked - true golden brown

2. Satin Taupe - neutral brown

3.Sable - red brown

4. Sketch - Dark red purple

5. Nocturnelle- Dark Violet purple

EYELINER

MAC Superslick Liquid Eyeliner in "Defiantly Feline"

This liquid liner is very long wearing, it doesn't budge until you wash it off, the felt tip is so easy to work with. The colour is a dark brown with a bit of a sheen. Gives a bit more natural look to an otherwise very sharp black winged liner. More of an everyday shade

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide on pencil

Love this for my water line, and my tightline. It doesnt smudge on me, and is so creamy and easy to work with. Also it is very very black

MASCARA

Benefit "They're Real" 

I keep trying out other mascaras to find one that is similar, and none even compare. It separates my lashes, gives them volume and length, I never have any transfer onto my under eye throughout the day. This is by far my favourite mascara 

LIP COLOURS

MAC Lipstick in Sushi Kiss

This came out in the all about orange collection, and it is one of my absolute favourite colours. This colour also looks great with a pink or red gloss over top. Ive worn this colour mostly in the summer/ fall, and will wear it again when spring is approaching!

MAC Lipstick in All Fired Up

This colour was part of the Retro Matte collection. It is a beautiful rich dark purple red, and stays on all day. Usually I try to wear a more natural eye and let the bold lip be shown. 

So There are my favourite makeup products for last year! Coming next will be all of my other beauty favourites including Hair products, body products, nail products, Self tanners, and skincare!

Thank you loves, talk soon! 

xoxo Caity