Hey guys welcome to my blog. This week is my April Favourites, I can't believe how fast this month gone by and I am so glad I am done classes (even though I have to write 2 in June). It's been cold and windy all month so I haven't really gotten into the spring spirit, but I'm sure that May will change that. I have make some new discoveries this month and have quickly become obsessed with them. So without further ado here are my April Favourites!
tl;dr- a summary
Make-up
I bought the L'Oreal True Match Super-Blendable Concealer in C-1-2-3 and I am absolutely loving it, it works really well with the foundation I have been using (L'Oreal True Match Foundation- N1). It blends really easily and it never looks caky on my dry skin. I do find that I have to layer it to get it to cover everything, but for an everyday look one layer is absolutely fine. It lasts all day, and I never feel like it is sliding around my face.
We need to discuss how freaking fantastic the Beauty Blender is, my foundation has never looked better when I use this (damp of course). I can blend my foundation in, in about 1 minute with no effort at all. Your skin just looks so flawless when using this, and I use it to blend in my concealer as well. This has definitely become one of my new obsessions and I regret not getting it sooner.
My last make-up favourite is the Maybelline The Rocket Volum' Express Mascara in the waterproof formula. I love mascara and this one makes getting full lashes so quick and easy. I did have to buy the waterproof version because the regular one smudged throughout the day. This is a great mascara for those who like big lashes but don't want to have to put 3 coats on.
Books
I finished reading the book Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell, now I admit that there are better teen books out there, but this one is still a very cute and intriguing story. It is a typical teen romance novel; two high-school outcasts fall in love, but there is just something about it that made me want to read until the end. If you are looking for an easy read to fill your time then this is a good option.
I just started reading Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn and I am not very far into it, but I can say that it is a very gripping story. The basic premise is that a wife goes missing and her husband is blamed for it. I will update you when I have finished it.
Movie
I just recently saw Captain America: Winter Soldier and it was simply FANTASTIC! I love superhero movies and this one did not disappoint. Chris Evans and Sebastian Stan have fantastic chemistry and are both phenomenal actors. I would highly recommend going out to see this movie.
TV Show
I have be obsessively watching Revenge with my mom, we are both addicted! The story does not move very fast, but it still manages to entertain you for the entire episode. If you are looking for a new show that it not too difficult to follow, then be sure to check it out.
Band
Ooo boy the Arctic Monkeys have quickly become one of my all-time favourite bands, their music is just out of this world. They are indie rock-esque and I promise it's not as obscure as it sounds. Alex Turner is 1) gorgeous, and 2) just an outstanding songwriter. His lyrics are just so perfect, and the rest of the band can just rock their instruments. I am actually going to see them in Toronto in June and I cannot wait! I will do a full post about it then.
Full Reviews
Make-up
I haven't had a chance to try too many new products this month, although the few I have purchased have found their way into my everyday make-up routine.
First up I bought a new concealer (which I must say I am addicted to buying- one day I will find the perfect one... one day), my previous concealer that I loved was the Mac prolong wear in NW15, but unfortunately I found that the colour has oxidized into more orange undertone then when I had first got it, maybe I just had it too long and just need to repurchase it... anyway just something to consider if you are looking into buying it. I may try the NC20 for the summer time and see how that goes. Back to the new concealer, I got the L'Oreal True Match Super-Blendable Concealer in cool-fair/light C-1-2-3. This colour is supposed to work with the colours in their True Match Foundation which I currently love and am the colour N1 soft ivory. I have a neutral skin tone and I find that this works perfectly to even our my base. The concealer is darker than the foundation but once you blend it out it matches perfectly in my opinion. It never looks caky on my dry skin, it is not a matte finish so if you have oily skin you would want to set it with a powder, which I end up doing anyway. It lasts all day, and if you feel the need to add more, the applicator makes it really easy to add a tiny amount exactly where you need it.
My next favourite is the Beauty Blender (I have the Royal colour), I don't know why it took me so long to jump onto this bandwagon but I am a true convert. I have extremely dry skin during the winter and spring and this has just been a godsend. I am beating myself up for not getting it back in November when my flaky skin started to rear it's ugly head. The damp BB just makes it so much easier to apply my liquid foundation, with a brush you have to buff over your skin to blend and that can cause your flaky patches to really standout (sounds gross but it's just one of those things that happen). I don't even know how many times I have had to take off my foundation and reapply it because it just looked so patchy and obvious, but since purchasing the BB I have not had a single issue with applying my base. Even if you have oily skin the beauty blender will be the best thing to ever happen to your make-up routine. It makes applying liquids so easy, and your face looks flawless every time- I even find that I can use less product to get an even coverage. I haven't done too much research into dupes for this product, but I have heard the most about the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge, so if the BB is out of your price range then that might be a good alternative. I decided to invest in this product because I had heard that some other sponges lose their shape after being washed, so I wanted to have a sponge that I knew would last a good 4 months, rather than spending $10 on alternative ones and replacing after a month or so.
A mascara that I have currently been obsessed with is the Maybelline The Rocket Volum' Express Mascara, it is just simply amazing. It gives tons of volume (as the name would suggest) and also length. I have the black colour in the waterproof formula. It goes on so easily, and with one coat your lashes are fuller, and it does not clump at all. The only downside to this product is that the regular formula tends to smudge under the eyes by the end of the day, but if you don't put it on your bottom lashes you should not have that issue. I personally love doing both top and bottom lashes to attempt to make my eyes look bigger, so the waterproof version is perfect for achieving that look.
This month I finished the book Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell, it's quite an easy read as it is teen fiction, but it was quite a cute and heartwarming story. Without going into too much detail; the book is about two teens who are on the outs with their peers, there are of course bumps a long the way but eventually they fall in love. Now I will admit there are better novels out there, but it was a nice time-filler during study breaks.
First up I bought a new concealer (which I must say I am addicted to buying- one day I will find the perfect one... one day), my previous concealer that I loved was the Mac prolong wear in NW15, but unfortunately I found that the colour has oxidized into more orange undertone then when I had first got it, maybe I just had it too long and just need to repurchase it... anyway just something to consider if you are looking into buying it. I may try the NC20 for the summer time and see how that goes. Back to the new concealer, I got the L'Oreal True Match Super-Blendable Concealer in cool-fair/light C-1-2-3. This colour is supposed to work with the colours in their True Match Foundation which I currently love and am the colour N1 soft ivory. I have a neutral skin tone and I find that this works perfectly to even our my base. The concealer is darker than the foundation but once you blend it out it matches perfectly in my opinion. It never looks caky on my dry skin, it is not a matte finish so if you have oily skin you would want to set it with a powder, which I end up doing anyway. It lasts all day, and if you feel the need to add more, the applicator makes it really easy to add a tiny amount exactly where you need it.
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| (ignore the foundation stains...) |
A mascara that I have currently been obsessed with is the Maybelline The Rocket Volum' Express Mascara, it is just simply amazing. It gives tons of volume (as the name would suggest) and also length. I have the black colour in the waterproof formula. It goes on so easily, and with one coat your lashes are fuller, and it does not clump at all. The only downside to this product is that the regular formula tends to smudge under the eyes by the end of the day, but if you don't put it on your bottom lashes you should not have that issue. I personally love doing both top and bottom lashes to attempt to make my eyes look bigger, so the waterproof version is perfect for achieving that look.
Random
Books
This month I finished the book Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell, it's quite an easy read as it is teen fiction, but it was quite a cute and heartwarming story. Without going into too much detail; the book is about two teens who are on the outs with their peers, there are of course bumps a long the way but eventually they fall in love. Now I will admit there are better novels out there, but it was a nice time-filler during study breaks.
A novel I have just started is Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, now I am only about a 1/4 of the way through this, but it is very gripping. The basic premise is that a husband discovers that his wife is missing, and everyone believes that he is guilty. I will have to update you with my final thoughts when I have finished it. (Sorry I didn't have a photo, I lost the cover sleeve).
Movie
We need to take some time to discuss Captain America: The Winter Soldier. It has easily become one of my favourite movies of all time. Even though I loved the first film, the sequel surpassed all my expectations and it predecessor. Can I just say that Sebastian Stan has also become one of my favourite actors? His performance is just outstanding and this movie just solidifies his place in my heart. I would highly recommend this movie is you love superhero movies as much as I do.
TV Show
So my mom and I have become obsessed with the show Revenge, we are currently on the 3rd season. It is a drama but more on the soap-opera side with some action thrown in- it's a hard show to explain. Basically a woman moves into the Hampton's to exact her revenge on those who had a hand in putting her father into jail. It is slow show, but I just can't stop watching it! It is great for something light- you don't have to put too much thought into watching and understanding what is happening. You can find it online or on Netflix- which has also become an addiction of mine.
Arctic Monkeys
I just have no words for how absolutely amazing this band is. I have been listening to them for a couple months now and I am just addicted. They are an English indie/rock band for those who have never heard of them before. There music is very catchy, and just all around brilliant. My favourite songs are No. 1 Party Anthem, Piledriver Waltz (from the Submarine soundtrack), Fluorescent Adolescent, Reckless Serenade, the list could go on. But in summary, give them a try and you are sure to love them. I am actually going to see them in June and I cannot contain my excitement- Alex Turner will be the death of me. I will do a full post all about it closer to the time.
And that's all for this month, I hope you enjoyed reading!
And that's all for this month, I hope you enjoyed reading!
Mackenzie xx
