13 Favorites of 2013!!!

Hi There Friends,

I am shocked that 2013 is over! It was a bit of a roller coaster year for me with highlights of graduating from graduate school, going on my first real vacation as an adult, got a grownup job with A LOT of responsibility and I got a new car (because I crashed the other one). Below are my favourite products of 2013. Most of them I would not want to live without and have repurchased.

Moroccan Oil Luminous Hairspray (travel sized can) $9 at Chatters

I was introduced to this product following a frantic call to my hairdresser and bestie after an attempt to duplicate a Nicole Guerriero hairstyle from Youtube. She suggested it for its shine and flexible but sturdy hold. I decided to buy a small can because I have another GIANT can that makes my hair so helmet hard that I could probably play for the Stamps and not receive a head injury (I kid, I kid). I also do not wear a lot of hairspray in general so I didn't want a big can to have to use up if I hated it. Anyways... the hairspray is fabulous and held my style from mid afternoon into the wee hours of the morning (I was at a wedding). 

Here's the link for the hairstyle I was attempting because I know you are interested: 

Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat $9 (or around there) at Sally's Beauty Supply

I love this top coat! It is a quick dry formula and makes my polish last longer.  The quick dry is key here because my attention span does not allow for me to sit  quietly for an hour while my nails dry. This is my third bottle of this stuff. The only draw back is once you are halfway through the bottle it turns into a glue like consistency and you can't use it. To fix this I drop in some nail polish thinner and it is good to go again!

From L to R: Benefit They're Real Mascara $29 at Shopper's Drugmart, Maybelline Great Lash Clear Mascara $7.59 at Well.ca, Maybelline Colour Tattoo 24 Hour Cream Gel Shadow $8.99 at Well.ca

I picked up Benefit's They're Real Mascara after EVERYONE on youtube was raving about it. I didn't care for the price tag and didn't really like it at first. It has really grown on me and now it is my go to mascara for when I'm feeling dramatic (which is always).

I stumbled upon Maybelline's Great Lash after being disappointed by the high cost of eyebrow gels in Sephora. I started using it to keep my brows in place and it works like a charm!  It is also VERY affordable. I like that the brush is straight because it is easy to work with.  I've used clear mascaras with curved brushes and I end up making a much bigger mess than I intended.

I picked up the Maybelline Colour Tattoo 24 Hour Cream Gel Shadow (that is a mouthful!) after I ran out of my beloved MAC paintpot. Superstore was having a massive sale on these puppies so I picked up all the colours that interested me. I recommend keeping an eye for sales and picking them up them. I reach for this one the most and have hit pan on it.   It also compliments all of my crazy colour eyeshadow colours when I'm feeling "creative".

Back to Front: Urban Decay The Great and Powerful Oz Palette in Glinda (Limited Edition) around $45 CAN on ebay.ca, Stila All Day Waterproof Liquid Liner in Carbon Black $26 at Shopper's Drugmart, NYX Eye/Eyebrow Pencil in 915 Taupe $7.99 (approx) at Rexall.

 It should come at no surprise that I am a sucker for all things OZ. I named my blog Ruby Glitter makeup after Dorothy's beloved shoes.  I was so excited when I found out UD was releasing these pallets and forced my roomate to drive me to multiple Sephoras to find it.  This pallet works for my skin tone and most of the colours are very wearable everyday so I get a lot of use out of it. I also REALLY REALLY love the packaging. It's very whimsical. 

Top to Bottom: Laura Mercier Shimmer Bloc in Golden Mosaic $49 at Sephora,  LORAC Perfectly Lit Oil-Free Luminizer $32 at lorac.com.  

I picked up both of these mini's in a sample box from sephora that contained luminizers, bronzers and blushes. I like to do that so I can try out many different products without committing to a full size.  The Laura Mercier Shimmer Bloc to contour and bronze my face. I also have used it as eyeshadow. It's very versatile and multipurpose. 

I am absolutely OBSESSED with the LORAC Perfectly Lit Oil-Free Luminizer and get compliments almost every time I wear it. Also- it does not leave me looking like a 16 year old discoball which is important because I am a grown up now (or so they tell me).  I don't know what is happening with LORAC because the brand is not carried in any of the local Sephoras.  I will be ordering this online at some point (hopefully with the LORAC pro pallet as well). 

Top to Bottom: MAC Powder Blush in Well Dressed $21 (US, I couldn't find the Canadian price), Vaseline Lip Therapy in Cherry $1 at Field's (a discount bargain store). 

I have been longing to pick up MAC's Well Dresses for several years now. It is a pretty pink blush that is buildable but prevents me from looking like a circus clown (I generally go in that direction).  I highly recommend this blush for people who don't want to fuss with thousands of blushes and simply want something that will always look good. 

I picked up this Vaseline Lip Therapy while working in Ft. Smith, NWT. It was crazy on sale at the Field's Store so I bought a couple. I was probably going through beauty product purchase withdrawal at the time. This is one of the few lip balms out there that does not create a crazy dependency cycle of hydrating then drying (I'm looking at you EOS lip balms!).  These lip balms last FOREVER and have a pleasant taste without colour. 

L to R: Peter Thomas Roth Glycolic Acid 10 percent Hydrating Gel $55 at Sephora, Andalou Naturals Beta Hydroxy Complex Recovery Cream $24.95 at andalou.com

I love this Peter Thomas Roth product! This is my third time purchasing it.  I notice a big difference in my skin when I use it.  It also appears to help clear up my skin which is important. My skin looks fresher and clearer too! Highly recommend this one!

The Andalou cream is a new favourite but definitely earned it's spot on this list! It is an overnight hydrating AND clearing cream. In my opinion this cream defies the laws of science. When I wake up in the morning after using this cream the acne scars and hyper pigmentation have faded and the inflammation is noticeably reduced. For a while I had brutal cystic acne on my jaw line and this cream managed to shrink it. It is also not harsh and does not leave your skin flaking off. I will obviously repurchase this one. The only down side is it smells strongly of oranges which made me very hungry for mandarins at bedtime. I guess I can live with that!

L to R: Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micelle Solution $39 at Shopper's Drugmart (on sale), Queen Helen Mint Julep Masque under $10 at Salley's Beauty Supply

I love bioderma! Especially the LARGE bottle with the convenient pump. I am a notorious heavy handed pourer (don't ask me to make your drinks) so the pump helps me save a A LOT of product spillage. The only problem is the giant bottle of bioderma is very difficult to find. When I do find it I usually stock up on two bottles so I don't need to worry about it. I use this product on my eyes and face to begin the makeup removal process. The only problem with Bioderma is it doesn't do a good job removing high quality and waterproof mascaras which means I have to have an elaborate mascara removing process to get everything off. Am I the only one who has this experience? Nobody seems to be talking about it.

I have had this tub of Queen Helen's for an eternity. That explains why it looks so busted up. It is only a halfway done too! I'm not concerned about bacteria because I always use a q-tip. My advice to you is do not buy the giant tub of this product. You won't need it all. The smaller jars are also inexpensive and you can always repurchase as needed. I use this mask as both a spot treatment and mask. It has that classic green mask look and reduces the appearance of my pores. It draws out the impurities in the skin (I have lots of those!) and makes your face look and feel refreshed.

And there you have it! All of my 2013 favourites! Apparently I can't count because there are actually 16 favourities. Guess I got carried away! I am very excited and optimistic for 2014 and hope you are too! 

... And Remember You're Beautiful!

XO

Note: All pictures are my own unless otherwise specified.
Another Note: Prices are approximations and may change depending on the store and sales :)

2014 Beauty Resolutions

I can't believe it is 2014 already! I rang in the new year with a bang last night and have spent the day relaxing. New Years Resolutions seem to be a divisive topic. I religiously make resolutions that I always forget about and break. One of my best friends thinks New Years Resolutions are ridiculous and she will make changes in her life as they need to happen. In the spirit of a New Year and fresh starts here are my beauty resolutions! 

Wash my face before falling asleep

I can fall asleep anytime, anywhere which means that I frequently fall asleep with makeup on.  When I do this my face typically revolts and giant mountainous zits crop up on my face. I am not looking for perfection but I would like to get into more of a routine.

Wash makeup brushes more often

Sadly, I do not do this enough which leads to a lot of bacteria spreading all over my face.  Germs aside, I think dirty brushes do not show the true colours of products which can lead to a colourful mess all over your face. 

Drink more water

I do not drink enough water which is likely not helping my skin.  I notice a big difference in my skin when I am drinking water and when I am dehydrated. 

No new makeup purchases for 3 months

My friends regularly make fun of me for the amount of makeup I have amassed. There is nothing that I will be running out of in the next three months and I am planning on putting a dent in my stash. This means that I will not be blogging about hauls, and hopefully be talking about products I have used up. (There will be an upcoming haul from Hautelook. I haven't received the package in the mail yet).

Blog More

I really have been sucking at blogging regularly and know very little about maintaining a blog. This year I hope to expand my readership, blog more regularly and develop my style as a writer. 

Best of Luck in 2014!

HAUL: Sephora

I went into Sephora to repurchase a serum that helps to clear my skin and disaster struck.  I ended up getting many things all skin related likely because I have been self conscious of my ridiculous acne that started cropping up three months ago.  Anyways here is what I picked up:

 I repurchased the beauty blender because it works. I am no makeup artist by any stretch of the imagination and this magic egg sponge makes me look more flawless and less streaky.  These sponges are annoyingly expensive but I don't think you can put a price on having your face blend into your neck. Sadly, I am guilty of being "that girl" with a demarcation line on her jaw. 

This Peter Thomas Roth gel is a repurchase and surely will not be the last bottle I buy. This gel is 10% glycolic acid. I noticed a slight change in my lines and do believe this product is anti-aging. The real reason why I repurchased this gel is I noticed a difference in the clarity of my skin. It also was not drying which is important for where I live. Check it out here  

When I woke up this morning my cystic acne was particularly inflamed. I decided to stop using all products that contain silicones. In my mind I am certain it is silicone that is breaking my skin out. My roommate believes it is stress. It's probably both.  I have tried many different primers and all of them break me out with the exception of Laura Geller's Spackle. Since I am out of Spackle, I decided to try a small bottle of Sephora silicone free primer.  Hopefully it is kind to my skin. Click here for more info.

 I am very hopeful for this product. I really want to like it. I hope it is kind to my skin. All of my other foundations and BB creams have the dreaded "dimethicone"as an ingredient. At this point my "allergy" to this ingredient is just a hypothesis. I decided to try this Tarte foundation because it is also silicone free.  It had fairly good reviews so I am optimistic Click here for more info.

This a sample of the cleansing wipe the lady at the till popped in my bag. If you saw my skin you would understand why she selected it for me. Personally, I'm not a fan of wipes because they don't clean my skin deep enough. If I am going to use a wipe it needs to be gentle enough to use on my eyes.  I'm pretty sure that these wipes will turn my eyes bloodshot red with their clarifying ingredients! I'll test it out but I don't think these wipes are worth the cost. Clearly I'd rather buy more eyeshadow.

My downfall is that I am incredibly impatient and want my skin to be better NOW! I am trying to resist the urge to change all of my products at once so I can figure out which product helps or hinders my skin. I'll be sure to keep you in the loop with how my skin is progressing.

PERFUME PASSION: Kate Spade's Twirl

I am a bit of a sucker for beautiful packaging and floral scents.  I am trying to not get too attached to Kate Spade's "Twirl" because I just found out that it is discontinued. So typical. I am a sucker for all things discontinued! Anyways... according to Sephora:

"Twirl's fruity top notes sparkle with pink watermelon, blackberry, and red currant. Heart notes of fresh flowers take the next dance, including orange blossom, jasmine, and magnolia. The fragrance dries down to a base of luminous musks and a touch of a French macaroon-straight from the patisserie, of course. The flacon is round with gold dots, it's like a disco ball in a bottle filled with champagne.”

Please excuse my artistic liberties with this picture...

Now if that doesn’t sound like fun I don’t know what does.  The bottle displays Kate’s signature gold dots adding a touch of whismy.  It is a youthful scent with a more mature twist. What I’m trying to say is it isn’t a cotton candy in your face kind of scent, but a pretty, preppy scent.  I must confess that I do not like the scent enough to use it exclusively, but I do reach for it often in my rotation of fragrances.

I am a bit crushed that this scent has been discontinued.  A quick google search tells me that you can pick up this scent on ebay. I enjoy wearing it but not enough that I am going to run out and get a backup. At least there are a million other scents I’m dying to try. I think I’ll be just fine. 

November Favorites

Hi Friends! Calgary has been hit by a blizzard so I am hiding from the snow to write this blog.  At least blogging is more productive than a massive gossip girl marathon. I'm fairly certain that I have not matured past 15 years old.  I wanted to incorporate monthly favorites into this blog because it provides a snapshot of what people are loving.  I was hoping that my selections would echo the fall, but that didn't happen. I have an eclectic mix between drugstore and high end (Sephora... I'm not thaaat ballin'). Many of these products will get repurchased and I'm sure will make a re-occurance on the blog. Some of these products will not be repurchased in the interest of branching out and trying something new. 

Hard Candy Blush in Pin Up about $7 at Walmart

I didn't want to fall in love with this one but it happened. In a happy coincidence where I forgot my Lorac Spotlight in my gym bag in my car and had to resort to good olde' Pin Up to luminize my face.  Pin Up provides a rose gold type shimmer without glitter.  Also there is so much product here! A whopping 8g! I'm fairly certain I'll have this guy until I retire. Or not. That would be gross. 

MAC blush in Well Dressed $25 at  maccosmetics.com

I have longed for this blush FOREVER. I bought it in the summer but find it looks better when my skin is a bit paler.  Well Dressed is also perfect for people who are heavy handed like me. Most days end up looking like a circus clown. I don't find this blush very buildable... and for me that is a very good thing!

Rimmel London Stay Matte Powder in Creamy Natural $7.99 at Well.ca

This powder is really nice for a drugstore brand. I picked this up to have in my gym bag back when I went to the gym before work.  It does the job, smells like drug store powder, and is exactly what you would expect. The jury is out whether or not this powder if breaking me out. If that is the culprit then I will be sadly disappointed!

Revlon's Age Defying Concealer in Light... not sure how much I paid for this puppy

This concealer does not seem to crease! Kind of magic for a drugstore concealer. Also- apparently this concealer has anti-aging and moisturizing properties which is great because I am aging... by the minute and so are YOU! If it's on sale I suggest you pick it up.

Stila Kitten $23 at Sephora

Everyone raves about this shadow and with very good reason! Kitten is a bright peachy pink champagne shimmer shadow. I challenge you to say that three times fast! (Admit you totally just tried to do it). If used with a good shadow base it will last all day. Without a base it will flake off throughout the day. I use this shadow all over the eye and it is easy to work with. I am convinced that it could be used as a luminizer as well. Challenge accepted! I'll try it out tomorrow. Stay Tuned.

Bausch and Lomb Redness Eyedrops $4.65 at Well.ca

I live in Alberta, the land of evaporating moisture. I also have allergies in addition to working fairly hard and staying up late. This means that my eyes resemble either a new born vampire or pothead. As you can imagine it's not a good look on me. Therefore I have an elaborate routine that involves trying to  add moisture back to my eyes.  Part of my routine is using these drops to relieve the redness. These work really well!

Tarte Lights, Cameras, Splashes! $25 at Sephora

I bought this before my post-grad trip to Mexico in May. I wanted a water proof mascara that was not harsh on my eyes. This mascara is amazing the staying power is incredible. It literally lasts for days and is very difficult to remove.  Still, I have love for this mascara as it has not let me down through nights out, tears, swimming, and camping.

Maybelline Great Lash in Clear $7.49 at Well.ca

This mascara makes for a great brow gel. It keeps my brows in place all day. It is simple, inexpensive and effective.

Aveeno Clear Complexion $27.99 at Well.ca (Guaranteed I did not pay that much... seems a bit extreme)

I bought this when my skin first started breaking out. In the past I have been obsessed with another Aveno moisturizer, positively radiant. I prefer positively radiant because it is more moisturizing and gives my skin a healthy, dewy appearance. This product is moisturizing and contains Salicylic Acid an acne fighting ingredient that my skin responds to. It seems to be doing the trick and a reach for it everyday hence reaching favourite status. Also- do not pay $27.99 for this product. It goes on sale regularly sometimes as low as $19.99.

Rosebud Perfume Co. in Mocha Rose $7.50 at Sephora

Since my first tin of Rosebud salve I have been obsessed! I really love the tube form. It is genius because your fingers do not get all gooey from dipping into the jar and is way more hygienic.  Moka Rose is a mythical flavor that I never see at Sephora.  It is perfect to put on your lips while getting ready in the morning. The coffee flavor really helps to wake me up!

And there you have it! My November Favorites in all their glory! Comment below about your favorites of the moment. I'm always looking for new things to try :) Stay tuned for next month when I reveal my Favorites of 2013!

HAUL: Planet Organic

My skin has been freaking out lately. It has not been this bad since I was a teenager.  I have tried many different things to get my skin under control with no luck.  I have been thinking about using more natural products lately and a friend recommended that I go to Planet Organic to test out more natural products.  Hopefully some of these products clear up my skin.

This tea is a repurchase and will not be the last! It is a cleansing tea but it is very gentle and geared towards clearing the skin.  It also tastes good and is very refreshing!  At 6.95 for 20 tea bags I think it is a low cost and effective solution to my acne ridden skin.  I have some at home so I will likely bring this into the office to join the rest of my epic tea collection! Click here for more info!

This product was an impulse buy. It was on sale for $19.99 and is a night time "Recovery Cream".  It is supposed to clear my skin while I sleep and be hydrating.  I am hopeful but must admit that I was open to trying out this product because Planet Organic has a 14 day 100% money back return policy.  Must not loose the receipt though!

One of my best friends is a hair dresser and has spoiled me with salon hair products for years thus I have come to expect a certain kind of performance from my hair care routine. This was problematic when I decided I wanted to use more natural products as most of them make my hair a frizzy disaster! Until Giovanni entered my life. Everything I have tried has improved my hair. Sadly, Planet Organic has greatly reduced the Giovanni stock they carry in their Varsity store.  In the future I will be ordering from Well.ca. I am leerly of ordering products during the Winter because I am concerned about the product freezing in the mail and the quality being altered. This shampoo is supposed to be very hydrating which is perfect for the upcoming winter months in Calgary. 

HAUL: Bath and Body Works

I don't know what it is but I seem to have an compulsion to match my "scents" with the season. One of my favourite "scents seasons" is Christmas/Holiday collections. Bath and Body Works are pretty innovative in capturing scents that are reminiscent of holidays gone by.  The connection between scent and memory has been well documented and I'm sure all of us have caught a wiff of something and been transported back into time.  Today I went into Bath and Body Works to buy one Christmas hand soap and one Christmas hand santizier. I was determined to be fiscally responsible! I also don't like to use soaps past their respective seasons (DIVA!).  With these two thoughts at odds I bet you can predict what happened next. The dreaded 2/$25 BBW candle sale. 

My beloved Mahogany Teakwood candle was shockingly in stock! You know I had to pick up two!  I have loved this scent for a long time mostly because it smells fresh. Many people say that it smells like an Abercromie store, since I don't spend a lot of time in there I can't verify whether or not that is accurate. 

I also picked up two delightful sweet scents: Red Velvet, and Mint Chocolate.   Both are packaged beautifully and smell amazing. The mint chocolate transports me back to summertime with mint chocolate chip ice cream or Christmas at my grandmother's farm eating after eight mints.  

The red velvet smells like that classic cupcake scent with just a hint of chocolate. I love red velvet because it reminds me of the ruby slippers in the Wizard of Oz. Oh yeah, I also like cake. Obviously. 

I also purchased a bunch of hand sanitizers mostly because they are great at cleaning on the go (especially during cold season in Calgary).  I caved and picked up 3 hand soaps (remember I went into the store for 1).  I will be spending the holidays with Twisted Peppermint, Snow Kissed Mint, and Fresh Balsam.


Click here if you want some delicious Christmas Scents!