{Beauty} Holiday Makeup Must-Haves

Deborah Lippmann nail polish in 'Red Silk Boxers,' $20 | Nars lip gloss in 'Bleecker,' $26 | Bobbi Brown gel eyeliner in 'Dark Chocolate Ink,' $24 | Laura Mercier Creme Cheek Color, $30 | Dermablend Cover Creme SPF 30, $38

It's no secret that I rarely stray from my daily makeup routine (save for the odd, seasonal lipstick switch-up), but the holidays are the one time of year I actually get excited about makeup. Aside from the products I use on the regular, I could generally take it or leave it where makeup is concerned (what, I really like skincare!). But the way Sephora dangles gift sets in my face and M.A.C. inundates me with flashy, limited edition everything, it's no wonder I can't say no. So aside from some shimmery shadows I'll probably never wear past the new year or yet another illuminator that I really don't need, my holiday must-haves this year are all about creating flawless-looking skin (complete with uber rosy cheeks!) and bright eyes, with festive (and in my case, standard) pops of red thrown in for good measure... Because less is more, right?

These are just a few of the products I'm including in my holiday makeup arsenal, but I'd love to hear what you're obsessing over right now as well! And as a tip from one homegirl to another, if you're looking to try a new skincare range, I would totally recommend Tata Harper; I recently splurged (and believe me, they aren't cheap!) on a few products to help restore my totally neglected (aka- sleep deprived) skin and I'm officially obsessed... Who knew natural skincare could actually be good? xx

{Details} Current Favourites...

        Pretty pink bits, from jewelry & sunglasses, to candles & wedding magazines

 

 This detailed collar on my new dress c/o Boutique Onze

 NARS Sheer Glow foundation, Josie Maran Argan Oil & Clarins Instant Light Lip Perfector

My engagement ring, which I still can't stop starting at

{Beauty} Everyday Makeup

We all have our beauty routines, and when it comes to makeup, I have mine down to a science. I rarely deviate from my 'everyday face' (or whatever you want to call it), which now only takes me about five minutes to do in the morning. The key? Finding products you love and holding on to them for dear life... So with that said, here's a quick rundown of my daily makeup routine:

I've tried many foundations in my day, but my favourite by far is NARS' Sheer Glow Foundation. The formula goes on smooth and covers all my imperfections without looking too intense, and a bottle of the stuff lasts forever (which, at $55 a pop, is definitely a good thing). A recent addition to my cosmetic arsenal is Bare Minerals' Ready SPF 20 Foundation, which is beyond amazing. I don't usually wear powders because I'm not a fan of matte finishes (plus if I'm not careful, I get maaaajor cake-face), but when perfectly applied, this stuff is like a pressed miracle... For serious.

When it comes to mascara, I'm not a fan of shelling out big money for something that will only last me a month or two, so I always opt for CoverGirl's Lashblast Mascara. It works great and is super inexpensive, which is always a plus. The same goes for eyeliner (I switch between Revlon and L'Oreal based on whichever is cheapest at the time), and lipstick I can go either way on. I rarely find a difference between high end lipsticks and drugstore varieties (with certain exceptions of course), and after trying what feels like a million different products, my favourite is definitely CoverGirl's Lip Perfection Lipstick in a basic red (surprise surprise).

Oh, and let's not forget blush! Blush makes everything better, am I right? I love everything from cream to powder varieties, but the best and most natural-looking blush I've ever tried is hands down Benefit's Benetint. And if you don't believe me, I think it's cult following says it all.

Now it's your turn! Tell me lovelies, what are your makeup must haves? xx

Product details: 1. NARS Sheer Glow Foundation; 2. Bare Minerals Ready SPF 20 Foundation; 3. CoverGirl Lashblast Mascara; 4. CoverGirl Lip Perfection Lipstick; 5. Revlon ColorStay Liquid Liner; 6. Benefit Benetint

{Oxblood Week} The Makeup...

Deserted Island Essentials...

If, knock on wood, I should find myself stranded on a lonely deserted island someday, I would pray for an unlimited supply of ice cream, the company of my mister, a magical Internet connection (obvi) and my trusty cosmetics bag... Hey, a girl's got to look her best, right? And if the deserted island Gods would be kind enough to send some toothpaste my way, well, that would be ace. But back to business: we're talking beauty essentials here, people!

For me, nothing beats smooth skin and a defined eye, so you can imagine where my beauty allegiance lies, but a classic red lip and mani are pretty sweet as well... So without further ado, here's what I would hope to have in a Gilligan's Island-type situation:

1. Aveeno Active Naturals sunscreen (gotta practice safe sun!)
2. Sephora Collection Eye Liner
3. MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Powder (no shiny t-zone for this island dweller!)
4. NARS Sheer Glow Foundation
5. CoverGirl LashBlast Mascara (in this case, I'm thinking waterproof...)
6. MAC lipstick in 'Lady Bug'
7. Butter London nail polish in 'Come to Bed Red' (oh baby!)
8. The almighty Kiehl's Lip Balm #1 (it's magical)

What would you wish for if you were stranded on a deserted island? Spill! xx