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!