Products Not Worth The Hype #2: Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation

This was definitely one of the most raved foundations of 2012, which is why I probably ended up purchasing it myself, regardless of the not so wallet friendly price tag. However, after months of owning this foundation I have one thing to say: it's not perfect. By no means am I implying that it's a bad foundation. In fact, I quite like it! However, it has some flaws, which makes me wonder how it got so much hype. It's decent, but not holy grail. I know a lot of people will probably disagree with me on this one, but I'm just letting you know my honest thoughts :).

Type: Full coverage

Finish: Matte 

Wears: 6-9 hours 

Best for: Normal or Combination skin

Price: $55 (Sephora, link here) 

I have only three complaints with this foundation:

1) It looks heavy - I know it's full coverage, but I still expect my foundation to look natural. No matter how much I blend it out, I can still detect it on my skin.

2) Lack of Color Selection- there are only 8 shades, and if you are very fair, I would not recommend this foundation. I have the lightest shade ('Cream Ivory') and it's slightly too dark for my skin. Most of the shades also have a yellow undertone, so not the best selection for those with a pink undertone.

3) Doesn't always blend well - No matter how much I blend, no matter which brush I use, it will always be slightly patchy. The only time it's not patchy is when I use a primer.

I prefer using this foundation when I feel I need more coverage or when I know I'll be having my photo taken. It contains no SPF and does a great job at hiding any imperfections so it's very camera friendly. I enjoy using this foundation a lot, but it's not mind-blowing.

What are your thoughts on the Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation? :)

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Tip of the Week #1

I thought it might be a nice idea to start a weekly mini post called "Tip of the Week", mainly because I realized that there are so many little helpful tricks that I've picked up throughout the years that I want to share. Most of you probably know them, but some people still don't. These will simply be small beauty tips that will make your life a little bit easier :).

This week's tip is: tapping off excess product. So simple, I know, but a lot of people either forget or don't realize that this little gesture will help prevent fall out and excess product on your brushes. This tip applies towards: eyeshadows, blush, and powder. All you have to do is just tap your brush against something and allow the excess product to fall off, leaving you with the correct amount.

For example, I find that I always need to tap my eyeshadow brush when using any of my Urban Decay Naked 1 and 2 shadows, otherwise there will be a lot of fall out and glitter everywhere. Tapping your brush when using powder can also stop you from having that "cakey" look. The same goes for blush; without some tapping, you might end up with clown cheeks!

Exaggerated example of a brush that needs to be tapped

Hope some of you find this helpful! :)

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The Wonders and Uses of Coconut Oil

I know there are probably lots of posts similar to this one, but I just had to help get this information out there! I'm sure we've all heard at least once or twice about how beneficial coconut oil is, but today I'm going to share with you how I use this magical goodness.

Hair: Coconut Oil has proven to be one of the very few oils/treatment that actually gets absorbed by your hair, rather than simply coating it like every other hair product on the market *cough* silicones *cough*. Using conditioners that contain coconut oil is not enough to make a difference in the health of your hair. You really do need to get the real thing if your want to retain soft healthy hair.

All you need to do is scoop some out, rub it between your hands to melt it a little, and apply it to your hair. You can also apply some to your scalp if the skin there is dry and flaking. Personally, I like to do this once or twice a week before bed and then wash it off in the morning with shampoo and conditioner. Your hair is left feeling suuuper soft and not by artificial means! This is a really good way to prevent hair from becoming dry and split.

Skin: Not only is it the best hair mask in the world, it's also great for your skin! If you have any dry patches, then lather some oil onto the affected areas. Coconut is known as a great moisturizer and it also  happens to contain anti-aging properties. You can apply it to your face and anywhere on your body.

Oddly enough, even though it is an oil, rather than plugging up your pores, it actually helps heal and prevent acne! Coconut Oil is well known for having anti-bacterial properties which in turns helps get rid of any pesky spots.

It also works wonders for anyone who suffers from Keratosis Pilaris (small red bumps on your arms, full details here). It can also be used to remove any makeup from your skin. The only downside to using it as a moisturizer is that it doesn't absorb quickly, so definitely something to keep in mind when you use it.

Cooking: Oh and of course, it's main purpose.... Cooking! Great alternative to Olive Oil and provides A LOT of health benefits! A few of them include preventing various heart diseases, boosts your immune system, helps you lose weight, improves digestion, and many more!

So as you can probably tell, this is what I call "Good stuff!" :D. I honestly cannot recommend this affordable holy grail oil enough!

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Products Not Worth the Hype #1: Caudalíe's Beauty Elixir

Hello everybody, long time no see! So sorry that it's been so long since my last post but I have been doing a bit of travelling over the past week, which has kept me rather occupied. However, I hope this makes up for it! I've been wanting to write this kind of post for a while since I happen to find similar blog posts and youtube videos very helpful. This will turn into a series of posts where I shall feature a product that I personally found not be worth the hype.

This week I'm featuring the well known and greatly praised Caudalíe's Beauty Elixir. This famous bottle has been praised by hundreds of bloggers, youtubers, and even Victoria Beckham herself. It promises to smooth features, tighten pores, work as a toner & makeup base, add moisture, refresh your face, and give your skin a burst of radiance. Needless to say, I was intrigued... 

First thing I must mention is the smell. Oh the smell... Words cannot describe how strong and unpleasant it is. I've even had two friends have a whiff and they ended up scrunching up their faces in distaste as well, so I can firmly say it's not just my nose. However, I think this really comes down to personal preferences because I have heard some people really rave about the scent.

When it comes to the uses of the beauty elixir, I did not see any benefits whatsoever for my skin. I found it slightly drying after a spritz, but after an hour or so my skin would become really oily. It just didn't suit my skin type or really do anything for that matter. All I can say is, it might be nice and refreshing to use during the summer when it's really hot, but not to be used if you are trying to achieve improvements for your skin. Another side note is that among the oils listed, it also contains lavender oil and various mint oils, which are known to be natural skin irritants, so definitely something to keep in mind!

It's not a horrible product, but it's definitely not worth all the hype it receives in my opinion.

What are your thoughts on the Caudalíe's Beauty Elixir? :)

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