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.

When life gives you lemons...

Okay ladies now let's get in formation.


For those of you who live under a rock, the biggest star of our time BEYONCE released her newest visual album this past weekend. As I write this, I am patiently waiting for LEMONADE to download from iTunes. Then the rest of my night will be dedicated to sobbing hysterically whilst googling "Jay-Z Siberia Kidnapping Jail Time Estimate" as I watch it, hiding underneath multiple blankets and deleting Jay-Z songs off my computer. Ugh. I can't even go there right now. It's too fresh, too soon. I barely slept last night because I was so worried about Jay-Z and Beyonce's relationship. Yeah, CUZ I KNOW THEM. My delusion has reached new heights. Anyways... let's talk about something a little more BRIGHTER. And HAPPIER. And MAKEUP-IER.



I have been feeling a LOT happier in general lately. A lot like the old Bri of more than a year ago. Everything in my life has just been comin' together. I've never treasured my friendships more, my relationship with my kid has never been better or more close, and I have been loving life. So..... I decided to pull a Tom Haverford and "Treat Yo-self". I did a little damage on Sephora.com and ordered a few lip products that I will share with y'all today!

TooFaced Melted Matte liquid lipstick in Child Star

TooFaced Melted Matte liquid lipstick in Sell Out

TooFaced Melted Matte liquid lipstick in Cool Girl

TooFaced Melted Matte liquid lipstick in Drop Dead Red

This was a no-brainer. I told you guys I was quite intrigued by the new TooFaced Melted Matte liquid lipsticks. Naturally, after trying literally ZERO of them in person, I ordered four shades off the website. I feel like I'm gonna like them. Three colours are slightly varying nude tones and then I sprung for a deep burgundy that I feel will look HAWT. Stay tuned. These were purely just a "You deserve it girl. Treat yo-self" moment.

Gwen Stefani for Urban Decay lipstick in Wonderland

Gwen Stefani for Urban Decay lipstick in Firebird

Gwen Stefani for Urban Decay lipliner in 714

Upon perusing the sale portion of Sephora.com, I was stunned to see the Gwen Stefani lipsticks and lipliners listed for half price. I was also stunned that smoke wasn't rising off of my laptop keyboard as I set landspeed records for cart-to-checkout time. In all fairness, I was quite tame. I only selected two lipsticks I didn't already have and a lipliner. All at HALF OFF THE REGULAR PRICE. I felt like I was being played. Her collection only came out in December. Maybe that means NEW STUFF! Here's hoping.



If anyone has any suggestions for anything I absolutely need to have or try, feel free to send me and email. Link is at the top of the blog in the "About Me" section. I feel very open to suggestion right now, and I feel very open to change. Maybe it's because I am feeling so happy and free as of late.


Or maybe it's because I need a fresh start after this Beyonce/Jay-Z saga.

Selfies 'n Stila

You know when you do your makeup for the day and everything just works? Your foundation is on point, your eyeshadow is on point, your lipstick is on point and you are just feelin' it? Those days are just the best. You walk around totally feeling like Beyonce, hair flip and all, and you seriously feel like the world is your oyster. Well, I had one of those days last week and I just felt the need to document it. Now I need to clarify something right off the hop. I am NOT a selfie girl. Rarely do I take pictures of myself, much less post them on social media. A friend of mine actually told me the other day that she needs to keep checking my Facebook account to see if it's still there because my activity is so rare. But one day recently, I could not resist to whip out the old SnapChat and take a selfie. (I should add it was taken in my car parked in the driveway before I left my house, my neighbours pointing and laughing at me the entire time.)

The infamous once-a-year Selfie

I wanted to quickly talk about the makeup I was wearing, as I was obsessed with it. My foundation will always be the same, the OG Lancome 24 hour Teint Idole along with my powder foundation, the Lancome Dual Finish. I finished it off with my MAC Studioblend powder to set it. The above products do not ever change. But what was different, was using my Beauty Blender to apply another round of foundation and giving myself a slight contour using the Marc Jacobs contouring powder and the Becca highlighting powder. It made such a difference and I loved it. My blush was the MAC mineralize blush in Gentle and my brows were filled in with my Anastasia DipBrow of course. The eyeshadow was done using a few shades from the Smashbox Double Exposure eyeshadow palette, my liquid liner was the Clarins 3Dot and my pencil liner was the Urban Decay Waterline eyeliner. But I have to say, what pulled the look so together was my lips.

Stila Liquid Lipstick in Baci

A few months ago I purchased a new Stila Liquid Lipstick in the shade Baci. Into a drawer it went, as I was all about my newfound Patina. The colours looked so similar in the packaging that I wasn't too bothered about opening up Baci and trying it. Until, one day last week, I decided to just give it a shot. THANK GOD. It is perhaps the greatest shade of lipstick ever created. Way better than Patina. It is a slightly lighter, ever so slightly more mauve than Patina and super super flattering. I am completely obsessed. I saw my friend Abigail that day and the first thing she said to me was "What lipstick are you wearing, it looks really good". Okay, for those of you who don't know her, Abigail's makeup always looks like she spent 8 hours getting it professionally applied. It always looks amazing. So for her to ask me that.... I was PUMPED. I knew it must've looked GOOD.


I can't urge everyone enough to try this gem. This liquid lipstick stayed on all day. I never reapplied it ONCE. And I was drinking a lot of water and talking A LOT. It never budged. This is definitely something I will ALWAYS have in my makeup collection.


I'm already having Hoarding Sweats about it.

April Favourites

I realize April is not yet over but I was just too excited to wait to talk about this month's Favourites. I don't know if it's because I have changed up my makeup routine slightly and given myself more time to get ready, but I have been really enjoying my makeup this month. Or maybe it's because I feel more at peace than I have been in about a year. Regardless, I have quite a few Favourites to share with y'all this month. Let's get into it!

Cinema Secrets Makeup Brush Cleaner

The first thing I want to talk about is the Cinema Secrets makeup brush cleaner. Dedicating an entire post to this magical stuff is something I will definitely be doing. I actually bought it because I heard about it from one of my YouTube girls and was definitely looking for a makeup brush cleaner that was quick and easy to use. For years I always used baby shampoo to clean my brushes. It was fine, but it took forever. Also, you had to factor in drying time, so I would have to time my cleaning just right so that my brushes were ready for use the next morning. The Cinema Secrets cleaner is pure magic. First off, it smells exactly like the Vanilla Cupcake candle from Bath and Body Works. I could pretty much huff that shit. So so so good. There is no rinsing whatsoever. All you do it pour some into a bowl, dip your brush bristles in about halfway, and literally watch the makeup come off. Then, I like to have an old tea towel nearby and then I just wipe the brush bristles off and voila, it is done. Plus, it dries instantly. So there's no waiting period to use your brushes. This is amazing for girls that don't have a lot of makeup brushes. For example, if someone only had one eyeshadow brush but preferred to use different eyeshadow colours. She could use one, clean the brush, and within minutes be applying a completely different colour with zero problems. I am so obsessed with it. It is only available online at Sephora.com. NOT in stores. Highly, highly recommended.

Tarte Powder Foundation Brush

My beautiful wonderful Tarte powder foundation brush. For about a year I was solely using the Dior powder foundation brush and I loved it so much. I thought that was it, I had found the perfect brush for all my powder foundation needs. I even repurchased it in October because it needed to be replaced I was using it so much. When I went to visit my family at Christmas, I just brought my new-at-the-time Tarte makeup brush set from their Holiday collection. I wanted to pare down my makeup bag as much as humanly possible to leave more room in my suitcases for shopping. Well, upon first use of this incredible Tarte powder foundation brush, I was completely in love. I have used it every single day since, and my makeup has never looked so good. It seriously makes your makeup look like it was airbrushed. Sorry, Dior, there's a new sheriff in town.

Beauty Blender

Keeping with the foundation trend, I have busted out the Beauty Blender this month and I have to say, it makes a huge difference with your foundation. I will admit, a few times I have caught myself literally staring at my makeup in any random mirror within close proximity. Maybe staring isn't the right word, more like ADMIRING. It adds on a few minutes to your regular foundation routine but boy, is it worth it. Your makeup looks airbrushed. I like to apply my foundation with my Urban Decay Optical Blurring brush as I normally would, and then I apply another light layer with my Beauty Blender. For someone like myself who needs their makeup to last a very long time during the day, this makes the difference. Next time I visit Murale, I think I may just pick up a Mini Beauty Blender for my undereye concealer. I'm sure it will make a huge difference as well.

Anastasia DipBrow Pomade and Brush

I have been loving my Anastasia DipBrow pomade and matching eyebrow brush. I am so excited to do my brows every day because this is such a dream product to work with. I get compliments and/or questions about my eyebrows constantly ever since I started using this. Even my friend Maegen loved my eyebrows so much she made us take a trip to Sephora so she could get a DipBrow for herself. She also started following Anastasia Beverly Hills on Instagram and regularly updates me on the latest mini brow tutorial they post. I'm so obsessed with it and use so much of it I actually had to repurchase another one just last week during the VIB Rouge sale.

Clarins Be Long mascara

Ahh, the Clarins Be Long mascara. Last fall I received a deluxe sample size of it to try. Well, I literally have about a million mascaras on tap waiting for me to use. I keep a little basket in the drawer of my vanity full of mascara minis. So, into the basket it went and stayed. About a month ago I needed a new mascara. I decided to give Clarins a try with no particular reason for that choice in mind. Thank God I did. It quickly became the BEST mascara I have used in a long time. It doesn't flake, it gives you amazing volume, length and separation and your lashes don't feel like you are wearing mascara whatsoever. I quickly became obsessed. I would tell anyone who would listen to my crazy rantings about it. My friend Amanda deserves all the credit for this Favourite as she was the one who loved it first and regularly urged me to try it. I am forever in your debt Amanda.

Good old Spotify. In our house we have music playing every minute of the day. I was late to the Spotify party and only downloaded it last winter. I am now a religious devotee of the music playing program. I have my favourite playlists playing all day long when I'm home. It's so handy as well to have on the old iPad as my kid and I spend a lot of time outside in our yard now that the weather is so nice. It can come everywhere in our yard with us. Obsessed.

Sex and The City is an OG favourite show of mine dating years and years back. I recently started watching it from the beginning again as I have all the seasons on DVD. It seems timeless, as girl problems dating 16 years ago are still the same girl problems my friends and I experience and discuss today. I've been loving it.




That's it for my April Favourites. I'm already looking forward to discovering more cool stuff to share with you next month for Favourites! I guess that means I'll have to go shopping.....

Linking up with Oh My Heartsie Girl Friday Features Linky Party for the first time!

She works hard for the money

I was inspired by my post from yesterday to talk about one of my favourite things: Value sets. Basically, as I was typing up my feelings on those gosh-darned mascara sampler sets, I was working myself up into a frenzy. A frenzy of emotion that could best be described as... Giddy. Euphoric. Crazed if you will. I felt as though I did not convey my feelings enough. They are seriously THE BEST THING EVER INVENTED EVER. It was then, as I sat wiping away tears of happiness and excitement after I had completed my thoughts on the fricken things, that I started to realize there were so many GOOD sets out there that needed to be discussed. I have always been a huge fan of value sets. Smashbox was probably my first memory of being hooked on makeup value sets. For a few years they used to make these limited edition "sets" usually containing an eyeshadow palette, a brush or two, eyeliner, mascara and a lipgloss. I remember being 20 years old and traipsing to Shoppers Drug Mart to "spend my points" on every new one they came out with. If my memory serves me correctly, they were usually around the $65 mark, with the total cost of each individual product being significantly higher than that. It's just a thrilling feeling, to be able to get so much more for what you spend. It's also a great way to try products you normally wouldn't. I decided to showcase a few of the value sets I have acquired in my possession recently-ish that I am super pumped about.

Smashbox limited edition lip palette

Why not get it rollin' with some good old Smashbox? Around Christmas-time of last year they came out with this wonderful number for their 25 year company anniversary. Expecting a run-of-the-mill eyeshadow palette or a little value set, I was thrilled to discover this is what they designed! I've been saying for the entirety of 2015 that SOMEONE needed to design a lip palette, as lip trends dominated the makeup world last year. Why not make a cool lipstick palette like so many eyeshadow ones that had come before? Well, SOMEONE was listening to my insane rantings because Smashbox premiered this lovely limited edition stroke of genius. It's absolutely perfect for the makeup artist that lies within, as you can create your own shades by custom blending whichever ones suit your fancy that particular day OR wearing each one individually. It was love at first sight upon our first encounter. As this is limited edition, it is no longer available. (Sorry.....)

Bite Beauty Lip Discovery Set

Continuing on with the lip trend, Bite Beauty was a brand that I completely fell in love with last year. I mentioned it in my VIB Sale 2015 post, and everything that I have tried from this Canadian WOMAN owned brand is absolute perfection. It is solely a lip product line, and boy do they do it well. Their lipsticks and lip pencils are incredible. So around November of last year when the infamous VIB Rouge 20% off sale kicked off into high gear, this was probably the first product that landed in my Sephora online "cart". Everything in this set is full-sized. That's right, full-sized lipstick, primer, gloss, pencil, scrub, lipstick remover wipes and pigment stick. The price? $59, which is what not even TWO of those products in the value set were worth. And that's not including my 20% off. I still can't talk about it without feeling light-headed.

Sephora Favourites Brow Kit

This next item is probably the one I was most excited about. I'm still waiting for Ashton Kutcher to come flying out from behind the couch and start screaming "HAHAHA YOU'VE BEEN PUNKED NOW PAY UP YOU PSYCHOPATH". During the very same VIB Rouge sale from November, the Sephora Favourites Brow kit came into my possession. I'm still waiting to be told, "Sorry, we charged you the wrong price and now you owe us, Honey". In this totally amazing value set, you will find 7 incredible items perfect for all things brows. My eyebrows are my life, and I am always looking for that next big thing that will be my can't-live-without-it lifechanger product. So when I stumbled upon this wonderful kit, I was filled with excitement. Everything in it is full-sized. That's right, ERRTHANG. You get the new Smashbox Brow Tech Gloss Stick, the Anastasia Brow Whiz, the Kat Von D Tattoo Brow, the Anastasia Brow Gel, the Benefit High Brow, a pair of Sephora tweezers and a matching mirror. It was $48. The Benefit High Brow alone is $36. The BEST part? YOU CAN PICK YOUR SHADE. Obvs, I got the Medium/Dark one. I seriously want to include this kit in my will, THAT'S how much I love it. Incredible value. Just.... SO. GOOD.

Tarte Holiday 2015 collection (highlighting brush not pictured)

Tarte. Oh Tarte. Like Beyonce, as time goes on you just keep getting better.  These next two pretties were again purchased during that very same sale in November. First off, the brush kit is just too amazing to even begin to comprehend. Five perfect full-sized Tarte brushes embossed in a glamourous gold colour and housed in the cutest case in the world. I use the powder brush everyday since I got it. The other set I chose is pretty amazing as well. 24 eyeshadows, a deluxe sample size mascara, and a removable travel palette containing a blush, bronzer, highlighter and 6 more eyeshadows also housed in the same ornate sequined case. I went to visit my family at Christmas-time and I chose to bring this to fulfill my eyeshadow/blush/bronzer needs as to not take up so much luggage space with makeup and I was happy with the decision. I was able to use the same palette and create several different looks for both day-time and evening wear. Sets like these Tarte ones are the reason why I get so ravenously excitable when they're launched. Beautiful and a bang for your buck. A perfect situation if you ask me.

I also wanted to include a picture of the 2016 Sephora LashStash I talked about yesterday. Again, it's just the best idea ever. If you were interested, I do not believe they are available online yet, just in store.


Wishing everyone a fabulous eyebrows-on-fleek week ahead!