Crushin' on Blush

I am such a sucker for blush.


I have always been mad into it. During my entire childhood I was heavily involved in the dance/figure skating/cheerleading community and I looked forward to any type of competition or performance that included the plastering of bright pink or even red blush across my cheeks. I felt crazy glamorous (and looked ridiculous, I'm sure). It was around when I was 14 years old that I started experimenting with more "wearable" colours and discovered how much more "put together" I looked whilst wearing it. The love affair continues to this day, and I was especially pumped to get these next two things in my hot little hands last week.

Tarteist Blush Palette

This should come as no surprise to anyone. Imma talk about TARTE. When I saw their limited edition Tarteist blush palette launch online I knew it must be mine. Then, I made the unfortunate mistake of "waiting for a good Beauty Deal" on Sephora.com instead of ordering it right then and there. I'm sure you can guess what happened next. SOLD OUT IMMEDIATELY. I cursed at the skies and then vowed never to make that mistake again, which is something that occurs oh probably about twice a month. Annnyways.... I was at the mall last week and I decided to just "stop in at Sephora and just see if they had it. They totally did. I think there was two left and I couldn't grab one fast enough. Palettes are numero uno in my heart as it is, and to have one that is just so nice and completely usable is just everything I could possibly ask for. I'm obsessed.

Benefit Cheekathon palette

My relationship with Benefit cosmetics is rocky at best. I've never been a fan. To me, their packaging looks tacky/cheap and I'm not really a fan of their makeup. I've tried just about everything they have over the years and nothing has thrilled me to endless excitement. I'm just not a fan. What I am a fan of? GOOD DEALS. From the moment it was announced as their Summer limited edition release I was consumed with excitement about it. In this clever palette you will find five full sized blushes. For the price of two. FIVE. FULL. SIZED. BLUSHES. To say I was looking forward to buying it would be a complete understatement. I stalked Instagram daily, finding obscure photos leaked from Great Britain and hassled my co-workers daily on "if they knew when we were getting it in". For the 500th time Bri, WE DON'T KNOW. As soon as it came in, it was treated like a National Holiday. My friend Amanda called me breathlessly informing me of its arrival. I think I screamed when I answered my phone. It's just really good. Such a good deal. Full sized Hoola bronzer (perfect for contour), Dandelion (great highlighter), Rockateur (funky shimmery rose-gold), Dallas (a beautiful plum and my personal favourite) and Coralista (a pinky coral). I'm just pumped about it. So good. They are hard to find because of how good of a deal they are plus they are limited edition. I wish you luck on your search.



Have a great week everyone!

Appreciation

As I write this post, I am lounging on my deck in my backyard at my new patio table set. The weather is beautiful, even at 9pm, and I have my Spotify playlist going as well as a  glass of wine.


Heavenly.


This is such a zen moment for me. I feel completely at peace, doing what I love and in such a tranquil setting. Just thought I'd share with y'all that this post is a-comin' from such a content place.

Well, if y'all thought that I wasn't going to address the fact that the biggest television show EVER and my personal all-time favourite has begun.... you're sadly mistaken. Yes, Game of Thrones is BACK. And better than ever. Every episode has been devoured with such intensity by myself and my friends who watch it. Rampant discussions have been dominating the text conversations especially between my friend Michele and I. I just Can't.Get.Enough. I'm relieved to report that my girl Sansa is still alive. But I dare not say that too loudly or too often. It seems as though once you take a liking to a certain character, it's fate is almost surely sealed. What a stressful TV show. But absolutely incredible.



I also thought I'd update you on Rut-Gate. (See Retail Therapy post for more deets on this.) It continues to press on, but today I am focusing on finding things I appreciate, even when it may be more difficult to. The Smashbox Double Exposure palette is something that I have rediscovered and have rekindled my appreciation for it. It's seriously a very underrated palette containing shades of eyeshadows suitable for anyone and any look. Half of it is darker more sultry eyeshadow colours while the other half is lovely shades of neutral brown tones. It also contains a mixture of matte and shimmer textures, which is really handy. There is an eyeshadow or two for everyone in here and the price is quite incredible. $45 for this full sized palette also containing a double ended eyeshadow brush and a deluxe sample of their Full Exposure mascara. You just can't beat that.

Smashbox Double Exposure eyeshadow palette

A well-deserved shoutout also belongs to the NYX Intense Butter Gloss in Tres Leches. Without fail, every time I wear someone asks me about it or where they can purchase one for themselves. EVERY SINGLE TIME Y'ALL. By far it is my favourite lipgloss to wear currently. The colour is a nude-brown-pink, the texture is not sticky whatsoever (a huge plus in my book) and the taste/smell is kind of.... chocolatey? It is so good. Just the best. And again, I just feel like I have to repeat that EVERY SINGLE TIME SOMEONE ASKS ME WHAT LIPGLOSS I AM WEARING. Like, I'm not kidding guys. Every time. Which kind of makes me feel like a celebrity. Which is pretty awesome.

NYX Intense Butter Gloss in Tres Leches

Today we'll be ending this post on a sobering note. My province is currently in a state of emergency due to multiple wildfires burning out of control, the largest one devastating Fort McMurray currently. This city has a special place in my heart due to the industry that I have worked in for several years and I have a close connection to it. This post was originally ready to go yesterday, but out of respect for the brave people both fighting the fire in Fort McMurray and the residents devastated by it I didn't feel right in posting it. I've been consumed with concern for the past few days and all I want to do is help. If you would like to help, you can visit www.ymmfire.ca or text REDCROSS to 30333 to make a $5 donation. The city of Fort McMurray and all it's residents are in my thoughts and in my heart.

Retail Therapy

I decided to take some time away from googling "Becky with the good hair" and talk about something that I've been dealing with for the past week or so. It's super unlike me and super embarrassing, but I am notorious for being super up front about embarrassing things.


I'm in a makeup rut.


That's right. This girl, the girl who works herself up into near-orgasm over eyeliner and knows more about the history of Makeup Forever than who the government of Canada is is in a self-proclaimed makeup rut. Maybe it's just because I've been tired lately, maybe it's because I haven't had any free time lately, or maybe it's because I've been wallowing in depression ever since LEMONADE, but I have had zero interest in doing my makeup. I don't like anything I have, I don't like any look I create and I don't like the fact that Solange Knowles has yet to make a statement about the elevator fight having a link to a certain female person, perhaps named a shortened version of Rebecca and perhaps in possession of a healthy mane of hair. I've just not been into it lately. I feel as though I need to change it up. Like, all up. Suddenly, I have been overtaken by a strong urge to get all new stuff. I want to go shopping for ERRTHANG. Especially eyeshadow. I have been in a serious eyeshadow rut. I'm "over" (how very basic white girl of me) my everyday eyeshadows. I need, well, want, some new things. Let's discuss, shall we?


 I feel as though I need to hit up the Big 3. Shoppers, Sephora and MAC. Shoppers is easy because I'm there at least twice a week. I have my eye on the new Smashbox blush palettes. The Berry one is gorgeous and it shall be mine. I also think I need one of the new Juicy Shakers from Lancome. They are the coolest. Basically, they are a tinted lip oil. Don't be scared by the colours when you first see them. I know when I did, I was thinking one thing and one thing only. TACKY much? Not the case whatsoever. They go on SUPER sheer, with just a hint of colour. And boy do they feel incredible on the lips. They also smell and taste pretty good too. Which is always a plus.

Lancome Juicy Shakers

Smashbox LA Lights blush palettes

I need to go visit Tarte at Sephora soon. I feel as though I haven't combed through their Rainforest of the Sea collection as much as I should. I'm also toying with the idea of grabbing their Tarteist eyeliner. Not gonna lie, the applicator freaks me out a little. It just looks super complicated. But I have heard and seen some great reviews of it. We'll see. I also want to check out the Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche new lipsticks. Another thing I have heard some amazing reviews on. However, I just feel like I have enough new lipsticks to try right now and I should direct my shopping energy towards something else, such as eyeshadows. You guys, I am in such an eyeshadow rut. I think that's the thing I am most just not into right now. I even tried to shake myself out of it and used a beautiful Dior cream shadow that I kind of forgot about, but whenever I bust it out it always makes me happy. When I was washing my hands at work today, I was glumly checking out my makeup in the mirror. As I saw my eyeshadow, I literally said out loud "Girl bye". I need to snap out of this! I truly believe that it has something to do with how busy I have been. I need to slow down and enjoy the lipgloss, honey.

Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipsticks

Tarteist eyeliner

Lastly I feel like a trip to MAC needs to be in my future. I'll go check out the new stuff, see if there is anything to be bothered about, and then start swatching. It's truly my happy place. I can be in there forever, just looking at everything and chatting with the girls. And that is the one place that my kid NEVER gives me grief about going to. (It has every bit to do with him getting Cinnzeo after patiently waiting for me to browse.)

Stay tuned y'all. I'm planning on some of this coming to fruition soon. I just need to do what makes me happy, ya know? Getting makeup. Getting makeup always gets me in a good mood.