One of the most popular things I have found people have been searching for when they come across my blog is the Sephora Color Anthology Palette, which came out in time for the 2013 holiday season.  I did a review and tutorial using the palette last month but I thought I would create another look, this time with more fun colours.

The Sephora Color Anthology palette (C$42) is a portfolio of 70 eyeshadows that vary from fun, bright colours to wearable neutrals.  This is a great palette for those who are just beginning their collections and who have a pretty eclectic one already.  Not going to lie, I didn’t have high hopes for this, but I was pleasantly surprised on how pigmented and blendable these shades are.

I did create a wood fairy look using the green shades at Halloween time, and then a neutral look in December, but I wanted to do something that utilized the blues in this set because there are quite a few of them.  Of course, you don’t need this particular palette to recreate this, you can use any blue shadows.

1. First lay down an eyeshadow base.  You can use an eyeshadow primer or a cream eyeshadow like Rimmel London ScandalEyes Eyeshadow Stick in Tempting Turquoise and then blend it out.

2. With an aqua colour, apply this along your eyelid.

3. With an aquamarine/teal colour (the one I used was below the lid colour), apply this in your crease using a blending brush.

4. With a dark blue colour, blend this into the outer edges, darkening it up.

5. To highlight, use a light blue colour and dab this into your inner eye corner (the shade I used was just left of the lid colour).

6. For the lower lash line, apply the second colour you used (the first colour you put in your crease) and line your lower lash line with it.  Then, grabbing that dark blue colour you used to darken the crease, apply this on the outer corner of your lower lash line.

7. Line your upper lash line with a black pencil liner, slightly winging it out and then apply a couple coats of mascara.

8.  To finish the eye area, fill in your brows and then using a cream colour, pop this along your brow bone.

And that’s the final look!  For the face, I used Covergirl Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 foundation, IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye concealer, Make Up For Ever Pro Finish Powder, Covergirl Clean Bronzer in Spices to contour, NARS blush in Madly, and Marc Jacobs Beauty LOVEMARC Lip Gel in Strange Magic.

I hope you enjoyed this blue look and although it’s a bit out of my comfort zone to wear as an everyday look (especially on a Monday), this one is gorge to rock on a Friday or Saturday night.

Do you have Sephora’s Color Anthology palette?  What are your favourite shades?

Also, don’t forget to enter my Sally Hansen giveaway, ends Wednesday!!

Like what you read? Check out these related posts:

• The showstopper: Marc Jacobs Beauty Showstopper Set
• Deck the halls! Eos Smooth Sphere lip balm holiday pack
• Get glam! Glam Glow Mud Masks
• Raindrops on roses… Too Faced A Few of my Favourite Things set

A new year means a full 365 days worth of beauty products!

I have tried many products, from makeup to hair to nail polish over the course of 2013 and although I loved a lot of them, there were a few that stood out to me as being phenomenal and holy grail, cult-worthy, can’t-live-without-them products.  It was hard to pick just 13, but here are my top picks from 2013.

Pantene Pro-V Silky Moisture Whip

This Cool Whip-esque product leaves hair moisturized for 48 hours and helps protect against heat damage and regulate hair’s moisture.  As a result, hair is left silky smooth and soft to the touch.  I love applying this to my hair while it’s damp after a shower for some serious soft locks and shine.

DiorSkin Nude BB Creme

Although it’s pretty pricey (read: extremely pricey, C$50), this BB creme packs some serious punch. Although I haven’t gotten much wear out of it in the winter months, this stuff was my go-to face makeup for the summer.  Not only does it leave you with a beautiful finish, it comes packed with SPF 10 and moisturizes, smooths, corrects, and protects skin.

Shu Uemura Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil

The ultimate makeup remover, this cleansing oil removes makeup and contains eight exquisite oils for some serious skin benefits.  Apply a few drops to your dry face and then add water and see all your makeup melt off (including the waterproof kind!). Skin feels soft, conditioned, hydrated, and best of all, gives you that special glow.  Shu’s cleansing oils are pretty pricey (C$90/450 ml), but they are oh so worth it.

Marc Jacobs Beauty LOVEMARC Lip Gel in Strange Magic

The perfect nude pink, this moisturizing lipstick (with a hint of shine) is super flattering and gives you the sexiest smile.  I have a ton of lipsticks, but this one has definitely been my most reached-for since I picked it up in August.

Marc Jacobs Beauty Magic Marc’er Precision Pen in Blacquer

Just when I thought I found my holy grail eyeliner (Lancome Art Liner), I tried out this bad boy and I fell in love.  This pen-like liner delivers the blackest line and doesn’t budge.  Depending on how hard you press, you can lay it on thick or thin, perfect for that flirty cat eye.

NYC Big Bold Gloss in Big City Blush

I’m not a gloss fan at all, but when I received this in my Influenster Maple VoxBox I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved this.  Billed as a plumping gloss, the formula doesn’t leave your lips sticky (why I never wear gloss), and has a hint of mint to give you those Angelina bee-stung lips.  The colour also delivers a gorgeous pink shade. Layer it over another shade or wear it by itself, this gloss packs a serious punch.

MAC 217 Blending Brush

If you had to buy just one brush for your collection, invest in this one.  Although MAC brushes aren’t budget-friendly, 217 is worth the extra cash for getting the right amount of colour in the crease.  You can also use this as an all-over eyeshadow brush as well.  Worth the investment.

Beauty Blender

Another stellar application product is the Beauty Blender.  This little pink (or black!) sponge doubles its size once wet and applies foundation like a dream.  Dab the product into your skin for a flawless application and long-wearing coverage.  There are many dupes out there, but I haven’t tried anything close to what the real thing does for my skin.

Clarisonic Mia

A hefty investment, but the Clarisonic Mia First (the entry level version of the Clarisonic) packs just enough punch to leave your skin looking amazing.  I use my Clarisonic with the Philosophy Purity Cleanser (or sometimes the Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil) to remove every last bit of makeup.  A must for any beauty fanatic!

Yves Rocher Volume Vertige mascara

I’ve tried a lot of mascaras, but rarely do I mistake my real lashes for falsies.  This mascara has a reservoir in the middle so it maximizes and intensifies the volume of your lashes.  Lots of mascaras claim to do this, but few deliver.  This one?  It delivers tenfold.

Benefit Rockateur Blush

All I had to hear were the words “rose gold” and I was sold.  Benefit’s Rockateur is for those girls who don’t blush easy.  I love applying this product with the included brush for the right amount of colour that looks perfect on fair-skinned gals like me.  A must!

Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy Perfume

I picked up this scent in the summer of 2012 and has been my go-to since then.  Although it’s more summery, I still like to sport it in these winter months when I want to dream that the weather is warmer and the clothes are smaller. For those who haven’t smelled it, this sweet perfume has notes of wild berries and juicy mandarin, tickled with honeysuckle, gardenia, and jasmine. Let’s not forget the amber, caramel, vanilla, sandalwood, and praline.  I have never finished a fragrance before, but I have a feeling this will be my first.

Deborah Lippmann Today Was a Fairytale nail lacquer

The perfect silver glitter, Today Was a Fairytale is the perfect polish for the right amount of shine. Unlike other glitter polishes, this one is opaque after two coats. It’s pricey at $22 a pop, but this is one that everyone must have in their collection.  The only downside?  It doesn’t last long on my nails, but the gorgeous finish more than makes up for it.

Phew! It was hard choosing just 13 products when I can think of a handful of others that I couldn’t imagine my year without (okay, that may be a bold statement).  What were your top 13 of 2013?  Any on my list that made yours?

Like what you read? Check out these related posts:

• The showstopper: Marc Jacobs Beauty Showstopper Set
• Deck the halls! Eos Smooth Sphere lip balm holiday pack
• Get glam! Glam Glow Mud Masks
• Raindrops on roses… Too Faced A Few of my Favourite Things set

Well my friends, it’s officially awards season!

The People’s Choice Awards are usually the first award’s show to start off the year and I love them because they are voted by the people, AKA you and me!  You don’t have all the politics of say, The Academy Awards (although that is my favourite awards show to watch… other than maybe the VMAs).

Anyways, a week back I posted a hair and makeup tutorial showing off my red carpet look and I previewed a giveaway I was holding with P&G!  Well, my friends, tonight is the night!  Make sure you follow me on Twitter (@ShaynaWiwierski) and tweet me your favourite look from the tonight’s red carpet using the hashtags #BeautyUnited and #RedCarpetGlam. Who is Joan Rivers going to queen the best dressed on this week’s Fashion Police? Whose dress did you love the most?

Contest starts at 7 p.m. CST (don’t worry, I’ll remind you!), and I’ll choose the winner on January 9.  Giveaway is only open to Canadian residents, but if you are international, feel free to join in the fun anyways!  You also must be a follow of mine so I can DM you if you are the winner.

On to the fun part, here’s what you can win!

• Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream Moisturizer
• Olay Fresh Effects Long Live Moisture Satin Finish Lotion
• Crest 3D White 1-Hour Express Strip (one strip, not the whole pack)
• Covergirl Clean Glow Bronzer in Spices
• Covergirl Lash Blast Clump Crusher mascara
• Vidal Sassoon Flexible Hold Hairspray
• Vidal Sassoon Repair Heat Protectant and Shine Spray
• Covergirl Lipstick in 305 Hot Passion
• Covergirl Lip Perfection Lip Liner in 215 Passion
• $25 Aldo Gift Card

Make sure you hit your Twitter accounts tonight, you won’t want to miss this giveaway!  Seriously, it’s a good one…

Also, if you don’t win, don’t fret!  I have my Sally Hansen giveaway going on until January 15.

Good luck!

Disclosure: I am a #BeautyUnited blogger. As part of my affiliation with this group I receive products and special access to P&G events. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Like what you read? Check out these related posts:

• From BB to CC: Olay Total Effects CC Cream
• Snaps from Toronto part 2
• A trip to Toronto with P&G Beauty United
• Get whipped! Covergirl Clean Whipped Foundation