January Haul 2016 (Makeup)

Hey lovelies! I'm bringing to you my first haul of 2016! Wow, this month just flew by! I feel like it was yesterday that it just turned 2016! I hope you guys all had an amazing month! I was just busy, like usual with work and school! I'm running out of storage for my makeup, so  I have to keep it in a bag. Like, it's getting ridiculous! I want to buy storage for it, but I know I won't be living with my parents forever. So, I'm like do I buy something for temporary or something I'll use forever. So ya and also, you guys know I'll be freelancing soon. I been spending a lot of money on that! I'm still missing a bit of furniture, however, my kit is almost done! If you guys want me to talk about it, I definitely will! So ya, let's just get into this haul now!

A few new products in my haul!

I'll start off with my purchase from Beautylish! This was my first time purchasing from Beautylish. They're an online store that sells a lot of the highend and famous brands such as Jeffree Star, Natasha Denona, Morphe, Wayne Goss, Ardency Inn and so on! Also to my Canadian viewers, they offer free shipping when you spend $35USD and more! Which is amazing, because all these brands, Jeffree Star, Morphe, Anastsia Beverly Hills and so on, charge for shipping! It's a great way to save money! Also, their shipping is pretty fast! I ordered during the holidays and I got my order less than 2 weeks (like 12 days!). Their customer service is also amazing! They're so kind and really value your business with them! You get a postcard with your purchase that thanks you for ordering from them! The packaging is also so stunning! They also send you a text to make sure that you received your order! Honestly, you can't go wrong with them! Anyways, so I purchased 2 of the Jeffree Star Velour Lip Scrubs! I got them in Spearmint and Mojito. Honestly, these flavors are just so creative and the packaging is so pretty! Who knew lip scrubs would be so interesting and cute? I've tried both of them on and I love them both! I'll be posting a review on these, so I'm not going in depth with these for now! Next, I purchased 2 Lit Cosmetics Glitters. I got the shades Rich & Famous and Vegas. I've only tried Vegas on and I'm obsessed! I never used to like glitter, but honestly, now I'm all about that glitter life! Vegas is a gold base with multi colored holographic glitter! It's very opaque and I love it! Rich & Famous is a medium brown base with multi colored holographic glitter! I'm not a fan of the packaging, I find it gets messy really quickly, but other than that, love these!

My Beautylish products!

Next, I've placed 2 orders online at Sephora. I also went to my local Sephora quick quick. I purchased the Urban Decay Vice 4 Palette. The reason that I bought this is because it was only $38CAD I believe. On top of it, on boxing day, Sephora had 20% off on sales items. So, this was just too good to pass up on! I still didn't play with this palette, but I thought I needed color in my life, especially since I'll be freelancing soon! Next, I purchased the Tarte Tartiest Lip Crayon in Latergram. I originally wanted to purchase the lip paints, but the shades that I wanted were sold out at my local Sephora. Latergram is just your typical mauvey nude. I still haven't tried it on, but the formula seems really smooth, so I can't wait to play with this! Next, I purchased the Sephora Bright Future Gel Serum Concealer in Pecan Pie. This shade is a bit dark. I bought it mostly to conceal my imperfections. I bought the Urban Decay Naked Skin concealer last month, which was too light for me, so I figured I can mix them both. So far, I really do like this concealer on it's own and with the Urban Decay concealer!

What's a haul without Sephora products?!

Next, I purchased the Dior Glowing Gardens Illuminating Powder in the shade 002 Glowing Nude. Holyyyyy, this has the word perfection written all over it! I've always wanted to try Dior's illuminating powders, because people rave about them, but I could never justify the price! This year, I decided to give it a go and I'm so happy that I did! Glowing Nude is a light-medium gold with slightly peachy undertones to it. It's absolutely stunning and I see this shade working for several skin tones! The formula is also really nice! I'm thinking of writing a review on it, so let me know if you guys are interested! Lastly from Sephora, I purchased the Sephora Express Cleansing Wipes. I think this is the 4th time that I purchased these wipes. They're a lot cheaper than the other brands, which is why I always gravitate towards these! However, there's nothing omg about these wipes! I just bought them for my kit!

That Dior highlighter tho!! 

Next, I placed a order on the Nyx website! They finally ship to Canada, so I got really excited and had to place a order! However, a lot of their stuff is sold out! So, I only got a portion of the things that I wanted. I purchased 3 lip liners. I got the shades Nude Pink (medium nude pink), Pinky (bright fushia) and Soft Brown (medium warm nude). I really like the formula of these lip liners! Like for $5, you can't go wrong! I'm trying to get the basic lip liner colors for my kit and these were the ones that I was missing! I wanted to pick up more shades, but a lot of them were sold out! Next, I purchased the new Nyx Lingerie liquid lipstick in the shade Push-Up. I only purchased this shade, because all the other shades were sold out and I really wanted to try the formula! Push-Up is a beautiful light-medium pinky nude! I thought this would be the perfect shade for any makeup look! I really do like it and I plan on getting the other shades! Here is a review on this liquid lipstick http://makeupcheckbydivya.blogspot.ca/2016/01/nyx-lingerie-liquid-lipstick-in-push-up.html. Next, I purchased the Soft Matte Lip Cream in the shade Dubai. I'll be honest, I just bought this because it was called Dubai. I'm obsessed with Dubai and I would love to live there, so ya, that's my reason to buying this (wasn't necessary). Dubai is a part of the new shades that Nyx released this year! It's a nice medium chocolate brown! I still haven't tried this shade on, but I already own a lot of the Soft Matte Lip Creams and I absolutely love them! Lastly from Nyx, I purchased the Pro Lip Cream Palette in The Nudes. I believe this is also new. It looks exactly like the MAC lip cream palettes! They come in several shades. I decided to stick with the nude one, since my Bobbi Brown Lip Palette didn't have any true nudes. I felt like this palette was perfect for my kit, so I wanted to give it a go. I still haven't played with this yet, but I definitely will soon! So, if you want a review on this, let me know!

Lip products from Nyx! 

I also took a peek in the cosmetic department at Maxi. I was originally looking for Milani products, but I couldn't find what I was looking for. However, I came across these Annabelle Glitterama Liquid Eyeliners. I've been looking for the Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliners, but I couldn't find the shades that I want! So, I figured I'd give these a go. I purchased the shades Solar Flare (gold glitter) and Plutonium (silver glitter). These are the same concepts as the Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliners. I wanted these, so that I can create Tamanna's famous double wing look! However, these are not as pigmented as the Urban Decay ones! The wand also doesn't pick up a lot of product, so you have to keep digging for it! I'm still going to give it another go, but so far, I'm not impressed!

You can never have enough glitter! 

Next, I purchased from the Bay's website. I got 2 products that I been wanting for a really long time! I actually had no idea that the Bay carried these, until I was just browsing on their website! The first product I purchased is the Nars Light Reflecting Pressed Setting Powder in Crystal. I've been patiently waiting for Sephora to restock this and they never did. So, I was really happy when I saw this on the Bay's website! I've heard nothing but good things about it, so I definitely can't wait to try this!

Nars Light Reflecting Pressed Setting Powder in Crystal

I also purchased the Becca Afterglow Palette. I believed this was a Ulta exclusive, so I was really happy that the Bay carried this (Ulta doesn't ship to Canada or internationally)! I really wanted this palette, because I love the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfectors and I've always wanted to try their blushes! The packaging on this is gorgeous, but I'm going to be honest, this is a lot smaller than I thought it would be! The sizes of the pans are not that big, they're like eyeshadow sizes. So, I'm pretty disappointed about that. However, I don't regret getting this palette. It's super handy and I really like the shades in this palette! It comes with 3 highlighters and 2 blushes. The highlighters are Moonstone, Rose Gold and Topaz. I already have Moonstone in the full size that I absolutely love and I've been eyeing Rose Gold for awhile! The blushes are Wild Honey and Flowerchild. These are the popular blush shades that everyone raves about, so I'm excited to wear these! I think the Bay only has a few palettes left now (online only), so be sure to purchase this palette ASAP!

Becca Afterglow Palette

Next, I finally received my order from Gerard Cosmetics! I placed this order on Boxing Day and I only received it last week or something. They have a lot of good deals going on, so I highly recommend that you check their sales section! If the Canadian Dollar wasn't so low, I would have definitely picked up more goodies! I purchased 2 of the star powders (highlighters)! I've been dying to try these! I've heard nothing, but good things about them! I got the shades Audrey (warm champagne gold) and Marilyn (light gold). I still haven't used these, but I have a good feeling about them. I honestly have a highlighter problem! Next, I purchased 2 of the Hydra Matte Liquid Lipsticks. I got the shades Iced Mocha (a light-medium coffee brown) and Cher (warm rose with purple undertones). I still haven't tried these out yet, but again, I've heard really good things about them! So, we'll see how that goes. Next, since I spent more than $50USD, I got a free lipstick with my order (amazing right?)! I decided to get the shade Underground (cool grey with a hint of pink). My lipstick actually came damaged, so I'm kind of upset, but since it was free, I kind of let it go. I can still use it and that's what matters. I haven't tried it on yet, but I already own their lipsticks and I really do like their formula!

Love Gerard Cosmetics 

I also made a quick trip to MAC. I  bought 3 foundations for my kit. I purchased 2 Pro Longwear  foundations in the shades NW15 and NW18. I also purchased the Face and Body foundation in N1. I actually have a bride in March and she has fair skin, so I decided to add some light foundations to my kit. I only had one light foundation before and it had pink undertones, so I was like just to be safe! If you been following my blog, then you know I don't really use MAC foundations. The Pro Longwear broke me out when I was little (aka 17), so I never really went back to it, but I know this is a staple foundation for makeup artists. They also cover almost every shade range, so it's definitely a good option. I actually love how it wears and looks. I've never tried the Face and Body foundation, but I heard great things about it. It has a light-medium coverage, so it definitely gives you a break from the full coverage that you get from the Pro Longwear.

Just some foundations for my kit!

Lastly, I made a trip to Walmart. I actually went to pick up the L'Oréal Infallible foundations for my kit, but they didn't have the shades that I wanted. However, I came across the L'Oréal True Match Lumi Cushion foundation! I actually picked it up at Pharmaprix a few days before. I got the shade N5.5, however it was too light for me. Pharmaprix had no testers and so, I had to guess my shade. I was comparing the shades to the other True Match foundations, but it just didn't go well. I spent no jokes 20 minutes trying to find my shade. I even started checking swatches online, but ya. On top of it, I spent $25CAD on it and lost the receipt. At Walmart, it was $20CAD. They also didn't have testers. I did play with the foundation that I purchased and I really liked the results of it! So, I just went for it and purchased the shade W5.5, which was the darkest shade. It suits me perfectly! So, I'm happy! However, if you're darker than me, they don't have anything for you. I find the shade range could have been better. They have a lot of shades for people with light-medium skin and not much for people that are darker. By the way, I have medium skin (I fall mainly in between medium to tan, but more on the medium side, if that makes sense). So ya, that's my story for the cushion foundations from L'Oréal! I'm writing a review on these new foundations, so stay tuned for that! Lastly, I purchased the Kiss eyelashes. This came with 5 pairs of eyelashes for $12CAD (around that price point). It also came with a mini applicator. I thought these would be perfect for my kit. The eyelashes aren't too thick or long, so it's perfect for people that want a natural look! 

Drugstore goodies

Alright, so that's it for the products that I purchased! Now, I'm just going to show you a few things that I got for Christmas. This was from my secret Santa, so it should have been in my December Haul. However, my friends and I did our Christmas party after I posted my December Haul so ya! I got the Make Up For Ever Glitters in shade 1. This is the perfect true gold glitter. It reflects gold, unlike my Lit Cosmetics one. I'm not a fan of this packaging either, it's very messy (worst than Lit Cosmetics). However, it's gorgeous and I can't wait to create looks with it! Next, I got 2 Sephora Pomegranate Eye Masks and 2 Green Tea  Eye Masks. I also got the Pearl Sleeping Mask and the Ginseng Sleeping Mask. I absolutely love these masks! I mentioned them in my 2015 Favorites! I absolutely loved my gifts!

That concludes my first haul of 2016! I know that was a lot of stuff! I just want to finish building my kit, which is why I got a lot of things. I want to be able to have a lot of options and not stress about buying products once I start freelancing. I'm just missing a few foundation shades, but I'm just going to buy them as I need them. I pay full price at Mac, since I don't have my Pro Discount card, so ya. I'm going to try to get all my reviews up in February! However, I have a feeling February is going to be super busy. I'm making my public announcement next week about freelancing. I'm super excited and super nervous at the same time, but honestly, if you're passionate about something, go for it! The reason I'm saying this is because I know I have viewers that are interested in makeup, but scared to make that first step. I was the same! However, once I started blogging, honestly it just became my "happy zone". I just get so excited to talk about what I love! I may not be the best blogger out there, but honestly, it doesn't even matter. Ya blogging takes up a lot of time, but honestly, it doesn't even bother me! Even with freelancing, like guys, I been working on it for almost a year! I always did peoples makeup, but I was never serious about it. I also never had the confidence to start it, but look where I am now. Like, all it takes is the first step! It's worth giving it a try, then to be thinking about it all your life! Like, I don't know how the whole freelancing thing is going to go, but it's worth a shot! I know this was completely off topic, I just want to motivate those of you that always doubted yourself. I always doubted myself before and that's why I never started all this earlier. I just want you guys to start following your dreams and start setting goals! It's going to turn your life around, trust me! :) Anyways, I think this post is getting way too long! If you read all this, thank you so much and if you have any questions, feel free to email me! Hope you all have an amazing week! xoxo

Nyx: Lingerie Liquid Lipstick in Push-Up Review

Hey guys, I decided to do a review on the new Nyx Lingerie liquid lipstick. First of all, how creative is Nyx with the whole lingerie theme?! Second of all, I'm so happy that a company decided to release a line dedicated to nude shades! I definitely think that companies were lacking when it came to nude shades! Like yes, every company had that one nude shade in their collection, but that nude wouldn't suit just any skin tone! I find when you're medium to dark, not all nudes look flattering on you! So, it's amazing how Nyx has 12 shades to choose from! You have a wide selection of your basic nudes, peachy nudes, pinky nudes, your chocolate brown and they even a mahogany red. No matter what your skin tone is, you'll definitely find a shade that you'll like! I wanted to get most of them, but it's currently all sold out! So, that's a little upsetting and I really do hope they restock soon! That's why I'm just reviewing the shade Push-Up!

New Nyx Lingerie Liquid Lipstick in Push-Up

The packaging of this liquid lipstick is simple and basic. It's nothing too fancy! I do love the doe foot applicator! It's nice and slim. It's perfect to shape your lips with and it picks up the right amount of product! I wish Nyx used this doe foot applicator for their soft matte lip creams and concealers! It comes with 4ml of product and they're $9CAD each. They're available at any drugstore that sells Nyx or online at Nyx. As mentioned, they're sold out online, so make sure you sign up for the notification, so that you don't miss out on them next time!

This doe foot applicator is amazing!

So, let's talk about the shade. Push-Up is a beautiful pinky nude. It's more on the light-medium side. I actually really like the way that it looks on me. I find this is a perfect pinky nude for light to medium skin tones! If you're tan or dark, this may be too light for you. However, you can always pair it with a lip liner or mix it in with a darker liquid lipstick! I find this shade was a bit off on the Nyx website, so be sure to check reviews and swatches before ordering!

Push-Up

Swatch of Push-Up on my skin

Let's talk about the formula! The texture of this liquid lipstick is not too thick or too thin, it's in between a cream and liquid. It's actually super comfortable and it feels like you have nothing on your lips! It's also not drying and it dries within 30-40 seconds. It dries to a velvet finish! I find one coat is more than enough, but a second coat is also nice, if you want it to be a bit more opaque. However, I don't recommend a third coat, because it's going to start to get clumpy and it'll look ashy on your lips! Even when you want to add a second coat, wait for it to dry completely or else it'll be clumpy! This liquid lipstick doesn't budge or transfer once it's dry! It's super long wearing! Even when you eat, it doesn't fade away completely and it only needs a minimal touch up! I find it can  last you 4 hours if you don't eat! The formula is really nice, but my only problem with it, is that it falls into your lines. It kind of magnifies your lip lines, which isn't attractive. It makes your lips seem dry, even if they're not. So, I highly recommend that you use a lip primer! The other thing that I don't like is that it's also really tough to get this liquid lipstick off! I have to like scrub at it, which is a bit annoying. Other than that, I really do like the formula and result of this liquid lipstick!

What it looks like on without flash

What it looks like on with flash (sorry that my hair is crazy #badhairday)

Overall, I love this liquid lipstick! I'm obsessed with this liquid lipstick line! Nyx did an amazing job! They just have a few things that they need to fix with the formula. I don't think I've ever liked a drugstore liquid lipstick as much as this one. So, it's worth giving it a go! I'm going to be purchasing the other shades as soon as they're in stock, so if you guys want me to do lip swatches, then let me know! My January Haul should be up soon! I have tons of products to share with you guys, so be on a look out for that! Hope you all have an amazing week!

Baking with Ben Nye's Banana Powder

Hey guys! So, today's post is going to be about Baking with Ben Nye's Banana Powder. I only got this product in November, so I'm late on the band wagon! I only started using it more and more this month. So, before I get to the baking part, I'm just going to give you guys a mini review and my thoughts on this product. Then, I'll discuss about baking with this product!

Ben Nye's Banana Powder

So, my thoughts on this product. Overall, it's a really nice setting powder! It's a nice thick powder with a banana tint to it. I know Ben Nye also sells the powder in other shades! I like to set my makeup with it daily and it keeps my makeup in place all day! It also blends really nicely and it's super smooth! It doesn't cause flashback, which is key and it doesn't emphasize or clog your pores. It doesn't leave your face feeling dry or anything! However, if you pack on a ton of product, it'll just look super powdery, which is not what you want! It can also dry up your skin and cause flashback! So, go light handed with it and slowly pack it on! It's a lot cheaper than the Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder. So, if you're on a budget, I'd definitely would check out Ben Nye! The only problem is that you have to go to a pro makeup store to purchase this powder! In Montreal, only one place sold this product that I know of, so you're going to have to do your research!

Up close

Now let's get to the baking part. I'm not going to list the steps for baking again, because it's already on my blog. If you missed it, here's the link http://makeupcheckbydivya.blogspot.ca/2015/08/the-baking-technique.html. As mentioned, because this powder is thick, you don't need to layer it on like the Laura Mercier powder! In the beginning, I put on 3 layers and the problem with that is that it made my skin dry and patchy! Like you couldn't see it in pictures, but up close, my skin looked dead! So, be careful! I find it's best to just layer it once or twice and that's it! The other thing is that, since the powder is tinted, it leaves a yellow finish. It's not a big deal, because I have warm undertones, so I use something that's warm and yellow to highlight with anyways. But, let's say you have neutral undertones, you may not want your undereye area to appear yellow. Whereas, the Laura Mercier one, doesn't leave the vanilla tint behind, it's absolutely translucent. Other than that, that's all I noticed with this product! It's pretty nice to bake with! As mentioned, since it's not expensive, it let's you bake everyday without feeling guilty!

It has a thick texture

That was a light swatch! 

Ben Nye Banana Powder on top and Laura Mercier Translucent on the bottom! You can see the comparison! The Banana Powder is a lot thicker than the LM powder!

I know the question I'm going to get is "Do I prefer the Laura Mercier setting powder or the Ben Nye?". In terms of baking, I prefer the results with my Laura Mercier powder! However, to set my face regularly, I would say they're both equally amazing! If you guys want to splurge, what I recommend is buying the Ben Nye powder for a daily use and the Laura Mercier powder for occasions! That way you're good for the year and your makeup can be fleeking all day every day!

Best of Beauty 2015

Hey guys! So, I decided to share with you guys my new favorite makeup products from 2015. I tried my best to keep up with the new and trending products, but a girl just has bills to pay. I couldn't afford every new product that came out, it was impossible. So, I basically purchased the products that I really wanted and that I heard great things about. I also purchased things that I was missing in my collection and kit. Overall, I liked a lot of the products that I purchased! I got great use out of them and I reviewed a bunch of things, so feel free to check out my previous posts! This list was hard to make! I decided I'll make a separate post about my "Holy Grail" products, because I just want to focus on what I purchased in 2015. I know a lot of beauty gurus do a yearly update on their holy grail and I was thinking about doing that, but I don't want to be too repetitive on my blog. I'm picky with makeup, so my holy grail doesn't change much. I did monthly hauls and some products I never even mentioned after the hauls, so I'm sure you guys have been thinking if it worked out or not. However, if one of my new products is a holy grail, I'll definitely mention that! So ya, this post is a mixture of new products released in 2015 and older products that I never purchased! Some things are limited edition (sorry) and some are permanent products! Hope you guys enjoy this post and sorry if it's long! I just found so amazing products! Just to let you know, nothing is in order! I just went with the flow!

A glimpse of my favorite products from 2015! 

Face Products:

-MAC Extra Dimension Skinfinishes in Oh, Darling and Shaft of Gold
These are EVERYTHING! They were a part of the MAC Holiday Collection, so I'm sorry, they were limited edition! I've been using these highlighters non stop ever since I got them! They're just so stunning! They're super pigmented! They blend like a dream and they're long wearing! Oh, Darling is a true gold (definitely a holy grail product), whereas Shaft of Gold is a light medium bronze with peachy undertones.  I do like Oh, Darling more than Shaft of Gold, but Shaft of Gold gives me a change from my gold highlighters! If you want, I wrote a review on these highlighters and I even have dupes or similar highlighters, so check it out http://makeupcheckbydivya.blogspot.ca/2015/10/mac-magic-of-night-highlighter-in-oh.html .

-LA Girl Pro Concealers
These are a must! I've been using them to liquid contour and highlight. They come in so many shades! The coverage is medium, but you can definitely build it up! I love the applicator, it makes it easy to contour and highlight. The packaging isn't bulky, so it's perfect for travelling and makeup artists! They're pigmented and blend out really nicely! They're also long wearing and they're really cheap! You can't go wrong with these! I've been using them throughout the year and it's definitely a must have!

-Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Champagne Pop
This is another highlighter that I can't live without! Champagne Pop is a gorgeous pale gold with peachy undertones! It compliments any skin tone! It's long wearing and super pigmented! It also blends out really nicely! Before I purchased the MAC holiday collection highlighters, I've been using this highlighter! Like, Becca makes one of the best highlighters, so if you haven't purchased one, get one asap! It's now a permanent shade! I wrote a mini review on it, if you're interested http://makeupcheckbydivya.blogspot.ca/2015/08/becca-x-jaclyn-hill-shimmering-skin.html

-Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder
This is definitely a holy grail! I legit can't get over how well this powder works! It's perfect for baking and setting your makeup! The powder is so smooth! When I dust this on, my makeup doesn't move at all, even in the summer! It's so finely mild and I love how it has a vanilla tint to it! If you guys aren't aware of baking, then read my post on it! http://makeupcheckbydivya.blogspot.ca/2015/08/the-baking-technique.html . I even talk about this setting powder on there!

-Maybelline Fit Me Concealer
My search for a good concealer is finally over! This concealer is everything and it's not expensive! I love the consistency of this concealer! It's so creamy and blends really nicely! It's medium coverage, but you can definitely build it up! The one thing that I love about it, is that it doesn't settle into my fine lines! That was my issue with most concealers that I've tried! So, it's such a relief that I found this concealer! It also doesn't crease that fast (but you should always set it with powder!). This is also a part of my holy grail!

-L'Oreal Infallible Pro Matte Foundation
This is yet another holy grail! I've been obsessing over this foundation! It's so long wearing! It has the perfect coverage(medium, but you can build it up) and it's so light weight! It doesn't look cakey and has a matte finish (but not completely). It's also so affordable! Like, I can go on and on about this foundation you guys! This is another product that I reviewed on my blog http://makeupcheckbydivya.blogspot.ca/2015/06/loreal-infallible-pro-matte-foundation.html

-Hourglass Ambient Lightning Palette
I can't believe I only purchased this product this year. I've been clearly missing out! This palette has such beautiful subtle highlighters! There's something for every skin tone! It leaves a natural highlight, which is perfect for brides or for anyone that wants to look like they're glowing within! They blend really nicely and they're super long wearing! This is also a part of my holy grail! I love to use this daily! If you been hesitating just like me, honestly, GO FOR IT! You won't regret it!

-Laura Mercier Face Illuminator in Indiscretion
I know most of my favorite face products are highlighters, but I went ham on highlighters this year! This is yet another beautiful highlighter! This is a beautiful gold shimmered rose gold highlighter! It's pigmented and blends out really nicely. It's also long wearing! It has shimmer to it, but it doesn't look like too much is going on! It's also another highlighter that would suit any skin tone! I don't know why I never reviewed this highlighter on my blog, but it is one of my favorites! It was my go to highlighter during the summer!

-Kat Von D Shade and Light Contour Palette
Kat Von D took me to a whole new world. This contour palette is everything!!! I've been using it almost every time that I do my makeup! I love the shades in this palette! There's something for every skin tone, which makes it heaven for a makeup artist! The powders are all buttery smooth and blend like a dream! They're super long wearing! You also get a lot of product for the price! Like, this is also a part of my holy grail!

-Benefit's Real Cheeky Party Palette
This palette is such a steal! For $50CAD, you get a ton of gorgeous products! You have the Hoola bronzer, blushes, highlighters and a mini They're Real Mascara. Every product in this palette is just gorgeous. Like, if you been wanting to try Benefit face products, you'll love this! Everything is super long wearing! It's also super pigmented and everything blends out so nicely! I use this palette on a daily basis!

-MUFE Pro Sculpting Duo in Gold (#2)
I purchased this because everyone was like this highlighter is a dupe for Whisper of Guilt and we all know WOG is raved about by everyone! I did end up loving this highlighter! It's super metallic, so it's a intense highlighter, which I love! It's more of a light medium  gold. It's super pigmented and blends really nicely. It's also long wearing. I used the highlighter all summer and I'm obsessed! It also comes with a bronzer. Originally, I didn't like it, because it swatched a bit orange on my hand. But, I started slowly using it and it blends really nicely! I just don't use a lot of product, because I'm scared that I'll look orange. The formula of the bronzer is also really nice! Overall, this is an amazing compact!

A few Face Products that I mentioned

Eye Products:

-Tartelette by Tarte
I've never been super obsessed with an eyeshadow palette until I purchased this one! It's such a beautiful matte eyeshadow palette! There's a beautiful mixture of neutrals, mauves and purples! I love this as an everyday eyeshadow palette. When I'm going out, I love to use this palette for my crease and transition shades! I literally get so much use out of it and I always reach for this eyeshadow palette every time I do my makeup (no jokes). The quality of the eyeshadows are also amazing! They're super pigmented and blends really nicely. The eyeshadows also work well with each other and they're super long wearing! This is another holy grail product!

-Kat Von D Metal Crush Eyeshadow in Synergy
This is a eyeshadow that I wanted to talk about on my blog, but I just got so busy, that I kind of forgot (sorry!). However, Kat Von D killed it with the formula! It's basically a pressed pigment. It's super smooth and pigmented (like very pigmented!)! There's almost no fallout and it blends like a dream! It's also long wearing! Synergy is a medium bronze. It's metallic, so it looks absolutely gorgeous on the lid! They're also huge, so you'll like never hit pan! I definitely think that Kat Von D should add more shades to the line, because these are just amazing!

-MUFE Artist Shadows Palette #1
MUFE has one of the best eyeshadow formulas in the market! When this palette was released in the beginning of the year, I couldn't miss out on it! The eyeshadows in this palette are all buttery smooth and super pigmented. They blend really nicely and they're super long wearing. I've used this palette so much, but since you use very little product, it looks like I barely touched it! They have 2 other shades now, but I stuck to the neutral palette! I also posted a full review on this http://makeupcheckbydivya.blogspot.ca/2015/05/make-up-for-ever-artist-palette-volume.html

-L'Oréal La Couleur Infallible Eyeshadow in Goldmine
If you guys want a pressed gold pigment, this is definitely the one! It's been my go to for the past few months! It's super pigmented and smooth! It's not patchy at all! There's a bit of fallout to it, but if you wet your brush with MAC Fix Plus, then there's no fallout and it appears even more opaque! It blends really well with other eyeshadows and it's super long wearing! The shade Goldmine is a pure yellow gold! It's not too yellow and it's not too pale, so it compliments every skin tone! In general, the L'Oréal pressed pigments are amazing, so give them a go! I know I'll be getting more colors for sure!

-Kat Von D Shade and Light Eye Palette
I've already mentioned this palette a few times on my blog, but yes I'm obsessed with it! It's another matte palette with gorgeous shades! It has your neutrals and smokey eye colors! The eyeshadows are all pigmented and blend nicely! They wear pretty long. The top 2 shades (the slightly yellow one and the peachy one) work really well as highlighting powders! Even the light taupe shade, I've contoured with it lightly and it also worked well! You honestly can't go wrong with this palette!

-Anastasia Beverly Hills Shadow Couture Palette
I love ABH palettes! They're so affordable and they come with such beautiful shades! I know ABH released a few palettes this year, but I personally love the Shadow Couture Palette the most! The colors are gorgeous in this palette! You have your neutrals and pop out colors! The colors all work well with one another! The eyeshadows are pigmented and have minimal fallout. They also blend out nicely and they're pretty long wearing! It has a mixture of mattes, shimmers and satins! I find this is a good palette to have! It's different, but super wearable.

-House of Lashes: Iconic lashes
I love these for a  full glam look! They're full and long! If you're not used to lashes, they may seem a bit too dramatic, but I find they put the look together! The band is a bit thick, so I keep the makeup simple, since I have hooded eyes and the band is more than half of my lid space. I love the criss-cross pattern, it makes them look bold! These are my favorite pair from House of Lashes! You don't need to put mascara on these!

-Morphe 35T eyeshadow Palette
I swear Morphe legit has amazing products for such good prices! This palette is definitely a must have! You have a mixture of neutrals, taupes, mauves, golds and purples! The eyeshadows are so pigmented and blend out really nicely! They're also long wearing and have no fallout! You can create infinite looks with this palette! You have 35 eyeshadows! There's a mixture of mattes, shimmers, duochromes and satins! I featured it in my All Time Favorite Eyeshadow Palettes, if you guys want a to read short review on this palette http://makeupcheckbydivya.blogspot.ca/2015/11/my-top-5-favorite-eyeshadow-palettes.html

-Bobbi Brown Long Wear Gel Liner in Black
This is the best gel liner I've ever used! I even like it better than the Inglot one, because it doesn't dry up as quickly! I honestly LOVE the formula of this! It's super pigmented and smooth! It's super long wearing, like I can go a full day without having it smudge or budge! It's truly that amazing! It's also not a pain to take it off! It's expensive, but I find it's worth the price! This is definitely a part of my holy grail!

-MAC Pigments 
If you been reading my monthly hauls, then you know I've been obsessing over MAC pigments! I got a bunch of the travel size pigments! I never used to like them before, but now I'm obsessed! I love how MAC has a large variety of shades! There's something for everyone! I love the way they wear and I love how opaque they are! They're also super long wearing! I've been obsessed with the colors Melon and Reflects Gold (not sure if that one is limited edition or not).

-Clinique Superfine Liner for Brows
I love this! It's a dupe for ABH's Brow Wiz! The only thing it's missing is a spooly! It's really pigmented, so you only need a tiny bit of product! It's also really long wearing and it doesn't budge. It's very convinent and it's cheaper than the Brow Wiz! The only downfall of this product is that there aren't many shades in the line, but they have the universal shades. I really think Clinique should expand in the shade range, because it's a great product! It's also a lot cheaper than the ABH Brow Wiz!

-Carli Bybel Palette by Bh Cosmetics
Guys, this palette is a must have! I love the shades in this palette! There's something for any and every skin tone! The formula is also really nice! Both eyeshadows and highlighters are super pigmented! They blend like a dream and they're pretty long wearing! The eyeshadows just have a bit of fallout, which can be annoying, but again, just spray MAC Fix Plus on your brush! This palette is also so affordable, like you can't go wrong with it! Here's a mini review on it http://makeupcheckbydivya.blogspot.ca/2015/12/bh-cosmetics-carli-bybel-palette-hot-or.html

-Morphe Lashes in WSP and #217
These have to be my favorite lashes of all time! I never used to like fake lashes, until I purchased these! They're both so natural! They just put the whole look together; whether it's a full glam or a everyday natural look! I also love how the band is thin on these lashes! You honestly don't even need to apply mascara on these! I highly recommend both these lashes! The WSP are long, but they criss cross! They're full, but they're not too much! The #217 are just long and thin, but they look so natural! You can put mascara on them if you want, but it's not necessary. I just put a bit of mascara on them and I've been reusing them since October!

-Huda Beauty Lashes in Scarlett
These lashes are so gorgeous! They're the perfect full glam lashes! They're long and have a lot of volume to them! I'm not used to big lashes like these, but honestly, they just open up my eyes! They have a thick band, which is annoying, but hey at least my eyelashes are on fleek! I did have to trim a bit off! You also don't need to put mascara on these! I feel like you can definitely reuse these at least 20 times! They're super good quality!

-Makeup Geek eyeshadows
I can't believe I only tried these eyeshadows this year! They're all amazing! I use them religiously, whether it's on myself or my clients! They have a ton of formulas now! My favorite has to be the mattes and the foiled eyeshadows! They also came out with the new duochrome eyeshadows that I haven't tried, but I'll definitely be getting them soon! The formula of all their eyeshadows are super pigmented and smooth! They blend out really nicely and have no fallout to them! They're also super long wearing! They have a wide shade range, so there's something for any event or time! They're also super affordable (between $6-$10USD)! If you love to customize eyeshadow palettes, then Makeup Geek is your best bet! I got a medium Z Palette, but honestly, I need the huge one, because I just want them all!

A few of my favorite Eye Products

Lip Products

-Bobbi Brown University Lip Palette
So, this is my first lip palette and let me say that I'm obsessed! It's so convenient! I love the shade selection of this palette! There's a variety of different colors and there's something for every skin tone! I also love the formula of these lipsticks! They're buttery smooth and they last longer than most lipsticks! I did a mini review on it, if you guys are interested http://makeupcheckbydivya.blogspot.ca/2015/12/bobbi-brown-university-lip-palette-hot.html

 -MAC lip liner in Stripdown and Soar
Who doesn't love MAC lip liners? I slowly started collecting MAC's lip liners! So far, my 2 favorite are Stripdown and Soar. Stripdown is the perfect medium brown! It's the perfect base for a nude lipstick! I have a few nudes that are too light for my skin, but as soon as I put Stripdown under them, the lipsticks just look gorgeous! Soar is that perfect mauvey/pinky nude! It's honestly stunning! I've been really into mauves lately. I love to shade my whole lip with this color and then, add a light pink in the center for a ombre lip! If you have a light pink that you find is too bright, this shade will definitely tone it down! Both these lip liners also look gorgeous without lipstick or lip gloss! I've worn them so many times on their own!

-MAC lipsticks in Stone, Whirl and Smoked Purple
I'm obsessed with MAC lipsticks, I legit just want to get every color that they have! Like, you think they have enough shades to choose from, but every year, they just keep on adding to their line! These 3 shades really stood out to me in 2015! Stone and Whirl are both new shades! Smoked Purple, I believe was around for a few years or it could have been new! Stone is the perfect taupe brown with greyish undertones. It's a bold color, but super wearable! I've been loving the taupe and grey lipstick shades this year! Whirl is a warm medium rosy brown. Again, it's a super gorgeous shade! It's more of a everyday color! Lastly, Smoked Purple is a deep eggplant. I've been into deep purple lipstick lately, so of course, I'm obsessed with this shade! It's the perfect Fall shade and I've got great use out of it!

-Lancome Le Lipstique in Natural Mauve
If you're looking for a long wearing lip liner, then the Lancome Le Lipstique is exactly what you're looking for! It's very pigmented and it's super creamy! It also doesn't dry out your lips! It doesn't completely disappear when you eat or drink! Natural Mauve is the perfect mauvey nude. It's more of a cool tone, but it looks flattering on almost any skin tone! I've been wearing this on it's own, but it also looks stunning with any nude or mauve lipstick or lip gloss! It also comes with a mini brush on the other end, which is so useful! I definitely want to get more shades!

-Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks
This was my first year trying Kat Von D's liquid lipsticks and let me say, I'm obsessed! They're super pigmented and long wearing! They don't dry up your lips! They also don't budge once they're on! They're just amazing! Kat Von D also added new shades this year to the line! They're all gorgeous! My favorite shades are Lolita (mauvey nude) and Damned (a blackened cherry). For sure, I'll be picking up more shades in 2016!

-Jeffree Star Velour Liquid Lipsticks
I just had to mention these as well! Jeffree Star's makeup line is still fairly new, but he makes some of the best products! Especially the liquid lipsticks! No one can compare to his formula! They're super pigmented and come in very unique shades! They also don't budge and they don't dry out your lips! They're also super long wearing! Whether you eat or drink, your liquid lipstick is going nowhere! It can actually last the full day! The fact that it's so long wearing is exactly why I love his liquid lipsticks so much! The packaging is also very pretty and unique! I just love how Jeffree Star thinks outside of the box and I can't wait to see more products added to his line! If you haven't tried them, you're missing out on life!

A few of the Lip Products that I've been obsessing over!

Skincare Proucts

-Laneige Water Bank Gel Cream
If you have dry skin, then this is a must have! This gel cream leaves your face hydrated throughout the day! It also doesn't make your skin greasy! It has a nice texture to it and leaves your skin looking healthy! I get really dry during fall and winter, so this stuff has been saving me! Here's a review on it http://makeupcheckbydivya.blogspot.ca/2015/09/laneige-water-bank-gel-cream-review.html.

-Sephora Masks
I've been obsessed with Sephora's new masks! They came out with the Sleeping Mask, the Eye Mask and the Face Mask. I've tried all 3 of them and I absolutely love them! They come with a lot of different masks with different effects! I've tried the Pearl, Green Tea, Rose and Ginseng ones, which I absolutely loved! They're only one time use, besides the Sleeping Masks, but you do see instant results! My skin just feels so hydrated and refresheed when I use any of these masks! They start at $5CAD, so I highly recommend that you guys look into it!

-L'Occitane Nourishing Shea Butter
Another product that's been helping me through this dry weather! I absolutely love this body cream! It's so moisturizing and keeps my skin healthy! My skin just feels so hydrated and nourished after I use this! It also doesn't feel greasy, which is something that I love about this product! I also love the smell of this! It's not overpowering at all! It's a bit pricey, but you get a ton of product! If this dry weather is making you flaky, give this a go! You won't regret it!

My favorite Skincare Products of the year

Makeup Brushes

-Younique Cream Shadow Brush
I've been loving this brush! I love to use this to apply eyeshadow on the lid! I use it for pigments, cream eyeshadows and regular eyeshadows! It's synthetic, so it picks up the product perfectly! I also love the shape of it and the bristles are cut in a unique way. I use the "press and slide" method to apply my lid colors and this works perfectly for it! It's just been a go to brush for me this year!

-Morphe M427 Brush
I love this brush for foundation! It's game changing! I love to use this brush to stipple in the foundation into my skin. The bristles are soft and I haven't had any shedding with this brush! I also like  how it's not too dense, so you can even use it  to dust on powder! It's also not too expensive! I just love this brush and I highly recommend it!

-Angel Merino Brush Set by Morphe 
This brush set is life! The brush selection is absolutely amazing! So, whether you're a beginner or a pro at makeup, there's something for everyone! The quality of the brushes are amazing! There's absolutely no shedding and they all work really well! The face brushes are so soft! There's a lot of MAC dupes in this set and it was super affordable! The packaging of these brushes are also to die for! It comes with a brush roll, so it's convenient to travel with them! If you guys manage to come across this, don't hesitate to buy it!

Brushes of the year! My Angel Merino brushes were dirty, so I didn't include all of them!

ColourPop Products
I decided to give ColourPop it's own heading, because I love all their products! By all, I mean their eyeshadows, lipsticks, lip liners and highlighters! They're super affordable ($5USD-$8USD), like no one can beat their prices! I also love their formula! Whatever the product may be, the pigmentation and blendability is amazing! They're pretty long wearing! Everything is also super smooth and glides on like butter! The shade selection is to die for! There's just so much to choose from! They came out with new liquid lipsticks, eye liners and gel liners that I still haven't tried! If I could, I'd buy every product that ColourPop has!

A few ColourPop products from my collection!

Other Beauty Products

-Makeup Eraser
This product is a must have! It gets rid of all your makeup, even waterproof mascara! It also gets rid of lash glue, which I always have a hard time getting rid of! The only thing is, for lash glue, you have to scrub a little harder and if your skin is sensitive, it'll turn red. Other than that, I have no complaints about it! It's so handy and you'll save a ton of makeup wipes! It's just annoying to wash it after every use, but it's not a big deal! Here's a quick review on it http://makeupcheckbydivya.blogspot.ca/2015/05/makeup-eraser-original-makeup-eraser.html

-MAC Fix Plus in Cucumber
MAC came out with scented Fix Plus this year, which I thought was a brilliant idea! They came out with I believe 5 or 6 scents, but I managed to only get the Cucumber one sadly! I spray my face before makeup application with Fix Plus and the Cucumber scent just makes my face feel so refreshed and cool! I just think it makes the makeup application even more fun, especially because I love cucumbers! It's too bad that it was limited edition, because I really wanted to stock up on Fix Plus. If you guys are curious, I use Fix Plus to hydrate my face before makeup application and I spray it on my brush for the eyeshadow to be even more opaque! Occasionally, I use it after I apply my makeup for a dewy finish! Sometimes when I have no makeup on, I use it to give my face a slightly radiant healthy glow. It's super versatile and it's definitely a holy grail!



Alright, so we're finally done with this post! You guys, it took me forever to write this, so hopefully you guys liked it! I'll try to post my Holy Grail soon! I'm also going to do a holy grail for skincare and hair products, that's why I didn't mention too much about that! If you guys have any questions, please feel free to contact me! I hope everyone is having a great week and Happy New Year to my new viewers! xoxox

Priming your Eyes

Hey guys! First things first, Happy New Year! I wish you all nothing, but the best! This is my first post of 2016! I've been getting a lot of questions about eyeshadow primers lately, so I decided to write about it. I know a lot of people don't believe in primers, but they really do make a huge difference! A essential step to makeup is applying primers guys! It's super important and it will help your makeup stay on longer! I want to get around to face primers in the future, but today I'll just focus on priming your eyes! So, I'll list a step to step routine that I do every time I apply eyeshadow! Whether I'm doing a simple eye look or a dramatic one, this routine doesn't change!

All about priming eyes!

1) Apply a eyeshadow primer in dabbing motion
So, when I first prime my naked face, I love to also prime my eyes right away. I've been using the Too Faced Shadow Insurance for years and I absolutely love it! It has a cream like texture that blends really easily into the skin! Make sure to shake it before you use it! I like to dab the primer with my fingers, I find it's the best method! You also want to cover the whole lid and crease! Bring it up to your eyebrows! Then, I like to let it sit for a few minutes (roughly 3-5 minutes), so that the product can absorb into my skin! You also don't need to apply a lot of product! You just need a tiny bit to cover your whole eye!

-Why don't you apply the primer on top of your foundation?
Because, some primers like the Too Faced Shadow Insurance contains oil! Oil will make your foundation slip and slide! So, it's best to apply it under your foundation and then let it sit! Even liquid or cream primers will do the same, so to be safe, always apply it before your foundation!

-Why dab?
Because, dabbing the product will help push the product into your skin! It won't just sit on the surface!

-Which eyeshadow primers do I recommend?
As mentioned, I love the Too Faced Shadow Insurance! I know a lot of people find it oily and greasy, but again, that's why you apply it under your foundation! Recently, I purchased the Nars Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base and it's ok. It's really expensive, but it gets the work done! I'm just not overly crazy about it, because of the price and it doesn't come with that much product, so ya! I've also used the Urban Decay Primer Potion (the Original) and I really like it! It comes with a lot of product and it's $24CAD like the Too Faced one.

Love this primer!

2)Apply Foundation (optional)
Once I let the primer sit, I apply foundation over it next. This step is optional, because you don't necessarily need to do this. I do it, because it's a habit. Before, I used to do only simple looks, so I used my foundation as a base, but now I apply a eyeshadow as a base. I just put this step in here, so that you guys know that you can apply foundation if you want!



3)Apply MAC Paint Pot
This is an important step, because MAC Paint Pots make all the difference in the world! Ever since I've been using it with my eyeshadow primer, my eyeshadows legit last throughout the day! We're talking about 16+ hours! It's a thick dry texture that works as a base for your eyeshadows! It neutralizes any veins or any pigmentation that you have! They also come in different colors, so there's something for every skin tone! I use Soft Ochre on my clients and myself (it has a yellow base). It is light for people with darker skin tones, but I find it helps brighten and open up the eye area. Plus, I apply a bunch of eyeshadows anyways, so you won't even see it! Again, this will help the eyeshadows wear a lot longer, so it's definitely a must have! It comes with a ton of product and you need the smallest amount! Make sure you don't use a lot of product or else it will crease! I like to dab this with my fingers (best method in my opinion!).

-Is this really a must have?
Yes, because of the dry base, it'll help your eyeshadows stay in place all day!

-Do I really need both the primer and MAC Paint Pot?
In my opinion yes! The primer itself is meant to prevent creasing and having the eyeshadows fade away! The MAC Paint Pot is more of a base for you to apply your eyeshadows over! It's also dry, so if you have a oily or greasy texture primer, it'll mattify the whole eye area!

-What is a universal shade for the MAC Paint Pot?
-Soft Ochre (yellow base) and Painterly (pink base). I prefer Soft Ochre, because of my skin tone and I find it suits a lot more skin tones! Painterly is also really nice, but I find it's more for people with fair or light skin!

-Can I just use the MAC Paint Pot to prime my eyes?
You can, but like I said it acts more of a base, so it'll help your eyeshadows stand out and stay in place. It works really well on it's own, but it's best to pair it with a primer just incase, especially if you're going to have your makeup on for the whole day!

MAC Paint Pot in Soft Ochre. Holy grail!

4)Set it with translucent powder or a neutral eyeshadow
The reason I recommend that you guys set it with powder is because I find the eyeshadows blend a lot better! I find when I go straight into blending eyeshadows over the paint pot, it doesn't blend as nicely and it requires you to blend a bit longer. Once you set it with powder or eyeshadow, it blends a lot better and you don't have to keep going in with your brush! Again, this step can be optional, but it'll save you a bit of blending time!



5)You can start applying your eyeshadows now!
Basically, that's it for priming! Now, you guys can start your eye makeup! It seems like there's a lot of steps, but it's fast steps!



Basically, that's how I prime my eyes before eyeshadow application! It may seem like a lot of steps and products, but it hasn't let me down! My eye makeup always looks fresh, even if I had it on for the full day. I hope I answered a lot of your questions and hopefully it works out for you!