Mascara and eyeliner. Two items that can be either awesome or really bad.
You guys know I absolutely love IT Cosmetics, so whenever I get new items from the brand, I already know I’m going to like them. I’ve tried out a number of their items over the years, but most of the makeup I have from them is years old already (back to before they were owned by L’Oreal). Anyways, they recently sent over the Superhero Liner and Mascara and I was thrilled to give them a try.
The Superhero Liner is a liner pen that features the brand’s unique Heavenly Skin brush hair tip that allows you to do the perfect liner job without the hairs ever fraying. The formula is their Elastic Stretch No-Skip Technology with a Triple Black Pigment Complex, so you can create a deep black line that stays all day with no smudging or budging. The liner also has peptides, collagen, biotin, keratin, and kaolin clay which not only does it perform well, but it also won’t damage the eye area.
Okay, so with eyeliners, very rarely will I say I don’t like an eyeliner. With that being said, it’s either I like it or I don’t. I have eyeliners that are too thick (like markers), smudge or transfer during the day, or are just too faint when applied. Thankfully, this one stays put. IT Cosmetics says it’s waterproof, which when I tried it it really didn’t move much, even after a fitness class, but was easy to remove at the end of the day. The felt tip really makes it easy to create the perfect cat eye and you are left with a deep black line on the lashes that won’t feather or transfer.
Like I said, when it comes to reviewing eyeliners, they either work for me or they don’t and this one worked for me. Is it better than the Smashbox Always On Liquid Liner? I would say it’s incredibly comparable. Same goes with the Kat Von D Tattoo Liner, the Tarte Tartiest Liner, etc.
IT Cosmetics Superhero Liner retails for C$32, which is a few dollars more than the Smashbox liner, but this one does give you those skin benefits, which is definitely a selling point for me. If you are looking for a new liquid liner, then I would check this one out. It works well and does the trick.
Now let’s chat about the mascara. The Superhero Elastic Stretch mascara is billed as skincare for your lashes. This mascara also includes the Elastic Stretch Technology to make your lashes look wider and longer. The formula wraps each lash in a volume-boosting, lengthening, ultra-conditioning coat of support, and gives you dark lashes that are strong and thick. As with all IT Cosmetics products, this mascara also includes some conditioning ingredients, such as lash-lifting polymers, volumizing collagen, strengthening biotin, proteins, and peptides, which leaves you with conditioned lashes.
The brush on this mascara is long and narrow, allowing you to get to the base of your lashes and fully coat them to the tip. The colour is ultra black, so they definitely look darker and more pronounced once applied.
Okay, so here is the thing though. I hate to say it, but I don’t love this mascara… yet. Since it’s still a new bottle, I do find the formula to be a little too wet for my liking, thus weighing down my lashes. I think that once it starts to thicken up and dry out a bit I will like it more. It makes my lashes look nice, but not out-of-this-world, “are those your real lashes?” nice. It does the trick.
This mascara has a high rating on Sephora and it seems that the general consensus on it is that it’s awesome. I’m not saying it’s not, but at this moment in time, it’s okay. I have other mascaras that I prefer more to this one. I’m still going to use it though, since I’m curious to see how well it will perform over time (I have high hopes for this).
IT Cosmetics Superhero Elastic Stretch Mascara retails for C$32, which I think is average for a luxe mascara. I do like how it’s infused with skincare benefits, so it’s conditioning my lashes as I wear it. If you’re on the fence about it, I would recommend giving it a try, IT Cosmetics produces amazing products and just because it was an average product for me, it doesn’t mean that it will perform the same way for you.
Have you tried IT Cosmetics Superhero mascara and liner?
Please note, products supplied by PR. All opinions are my own.
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No time for a pedicure?
I chatted about the Kiss ImPress Press-On Pedicure last week on my travel essentials post, but I had to do a solo post on these since they are just so darn good. If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you’ll know that I absolutely love the Kiss ImPRESS Press-On Manicure, so when I got these in the mail, I was a bit skeptical. With that being since, I’ve only had good experiences with the hand version, I figured I would go into the feet version with an open mind.
The Kiss ImPRESS Press-On Pedicure come in a variety of different styles and are perfect if you’re bad at painting your toes, don’t have time for a proper pedicure, or just want to rock cool nail art. The brand sent me a variety of different kinds and I’ve already gone through two packs and definitely plan on making my way through more. These work the same way as the fingernail ones, in that you get 24 different sizes of nails and you just find the ones that fit your different nail shape. Unlike the manicure ones though, these also have a tab on the ends so it’s easier to apply them since some of them are quite small (like for the pinky toes).
First, clean the nail with the included prep pad, then find the proper sizes for your nails, remove the adhesive backing and press them on. That’s it, super easy. At first glance, I totally didn’t think these would stick on well since the toes are so much smaller than nails, and with wearing shoes and socks so often, I thought the humidity and moisture would loosen the glue. Granted I haven’t really worked out much since I’ve been on vacation for the past week (and before then I was busy with various events), but for the most part, they stayed on better than I thought (including through seven hours at the pool on Sunday). In fact, I wore both the manicure and pedicure ones to Toronto this past weekend and the mani ones came off before the feet ones did.
As for comfort, I thought these would poke my other toes, but again, I couldn’t even feel them. I really can’t remember the last time a product proved me wrong. I was totally hesitant on these when I first got them, but colour me impressed.
Now obviously these won’t replace all the benefits of a pedicure, but if you’re looking for something cute to sport on your toes (not only do they have cool nail art, but some style are glittery and others have cool textures), or just don’t have time to run out to get one (like me), these do the trick. My toes were so gross prior to my vacation and as soon as I popped these on, I couldn’t wait to wear open-toed shoes.
Kiss consistently just nails it with their nails and lashes and these are no different. Summer just started, so pick up a pair and rock them.
How do you feel about press-on toesnails?
Please note, products provided by PR. All opinions are my own.
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Summer!!
Since I’m Canadian, we only tend to get a few months of warm weather every year (although this year we have been pretty fortunate in Winnipeg to get a heat wave early on). So, imagine my excitement when summer rolls around and the hemlines get shorter, the skin darker, and I get to bust out all my favourite summer beauty items!
Not only does the heat mean lots of barbecues, bikes rides, pools and the beach, but it also means the Winnipeg Folk Fest here at Bird’s Hill Provincial Park. I’ve attended the festival for the past few years and although I tend to reserve folk music for daytime hours (it’s the perfect work background music), I love hitting up the festival for the chill vibes, the great tunes, and the opportunity to enjoy music and food in the middle of the park.
Anyways, since summer means a little more skincare saviors and bright beauty essentials, here is my must-have list for these hot months and if you plan on hitting up a festival.
Sephora Collection After-Sun Mask – Watermelon
Ever get a sunburn on your face? Yeah, it totally sucks and your face feels like it’s on fire. Even though you should be packing on the SPF (hey, it happens to even the best of us), if you do get a little too much sun exposure on your cheeks, forehead, chest, etc., then you’ll need to pick up this mask from Sephora Collection.
The Watermelon After-Sun Mask (C$6) is a cooling bio-cellulose mask for the face and chest that helps tame and soothe sun-exposed skin and prolong a nice sun-kissed glow. This is great after a day in the sun as it will help cool sunburned skin and hydrate it if it feels dry. The coolest part about the mask though is definitely the extra part for your decollete, which is an area that is equally – if not more – common to get a burn as well (a lot of foundations I use have SPF in them, but I obviously don’t put those on my chest).
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Sunscreen SPF 50
Speaking of sunburns, prevent them easily with Neutrogena’s new Hydro Boost Water Gel Sunscreen with SPF 50. This new sunscreen has a water-light feel to it, so it won’t feel tacky or greasy on the skin (I honestly hate that feeling). It also has UVA and UVB protection and is infused with hyaluronic acid and glycerin. Not only does it prevent your skin from sun damage, but the water gel formula hydrates dry skin. In addition to all this, it doesn’t leave that usual white cast as it absorbs clear into your skin.
IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream
I have previously reviewed this product but I had to add it to my list since I’ve been pretty much using it non-stop since I got it. This CC cream (C$49), available in seven shades, is a full-coverage, colour-correcting cream with anti-aging skin care and an SPF 50 sunscreen.
Sunscreen benefits aside, I really love how this makes my skin look since it does give you an amazing coverage, which I find to be quite rare for CC and BB creams. After application, your skin is left dewy, covered, and over time, the formula is shown to increase hydration, smooth texture, and enhance brightness. A total win-win! Check out my full review here for more info.
Sephora Collection Ocean Crush Fan Brush Set
Okay, so this is technically a year-round beauty item, but you can never have enough brushes, and when they look this cute and summery, then there is always an excuse to pick these up.
The Sephora Collection Ocean Crush Fan Brush set (C$49, an C$81 value) features five fan-shapes brushes themed in an ocean palette and design. If you loved the Tarte Mermaid brush set, then you’ll love these. This set includes the softest synthetic fibers with ombre purple to turquoise handles. The fibers are a rainbow of purple, blue, and pink bristles.
Brushes include a highlight fan brush, powder fan brush, all-over eye brush, fan concealer brush, and an eye fan brush. Although they are all fan brushes, they actually do give you an awesome range of uses and with the cute design, this set is a must!
Sephora Collection Bronzer Powder
Although bronzers are typically worn year-round as contours, if you want to up your tan game this season, then you’ll definitely have to pick up a bronzer to give you that sunkissed glow.
I have a million bronzers, but lately I’ve been digging the Sephora Collection Bronzer Powder (C$21), which is available in five different shades. This bronzing powder goes on smoothly, leaving you with an instant tanned and radiant complexion. I have the colour Bora Bora, which is a lighter shade and contains a hint of shimmer in it, making it perfect for that faked beach glow. The best part about these are that they go on subtle, meaning that you can customize the amount of colour you want on your skin. Some of my other bronzers have the tendency to go on quite harsh, but that’s not the case with this one. The texture of the powder is incredibly soft and it gives you that “I just spent all day at the pool” look, even though you were at the office for the past seven hours.
Dermablend Glow Creator Highlighter Makeup
Looking for a killer highlight to go with that tan?
The Dermablend Glow Creator Multi-Use Liquid Highlighter is a little jar of magic as it gives you the most unreal highlight. All you need is a small amount from the dropper for a luminous glow that will radiate your skin. The formula is infused with 20 per cent pigmented pearls, leaving you with the most beautiful highlight in either Pearl (rose gold) or Gold. You can use this product by itself (try it on the highs of your cheekbones, the tip of your nose, Cupid’s bow, or inner eye corner) or add it to your foundation or skincare for that glowing-from-within kinda look.
Caudalie Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet
Long day in the sun? Nourish your skin with the Caudalie Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet (C$48), a gel-cream moisturizer that turns into water as soon as it touches your skin. This formula helps to soothe, moisturize, and strengthen skin, toning down redness and replenishing water reserves. Perfect for after-sun or next-morning sun care.
If you are into clean beauty but find it difficult to spot great products, then you’ll want to take a look at this moisturizer as it contains organic grape water, chamomile to help calm your skin, and antioxidant-rich grape seed polyphenols to replenish moisture and soothe, even if you’re sensitive. It also helps with redness and fights things like pollution, stress, and sun damage, all of which can cause wrinkles. If you want the ultimate skin pick me up, keep it in your fridge for a cooling sensation as soon as you apply it.
Summer beauty is so much fun since there are so many items that you can incorporate into your beauty routine. Some should be staples, like sunscreen, while others may be fun stuff that will help get you in the mood for your next beach day or festival trip.
What are your beauty summer essentials?
Please note, products provided by PR. All opinions are my own.
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