New feature alert! This is the first blog post of a new series that I am naming “Five Favourites”. I’ve been tossing around the idea of somehow letting people contribute their own thoughts into my blog, just so that my blog was not only based on the opinion of one person, me. This series of guest blog features involves letting someone pick their five favourite beauty products or items, with no limitations to makeup, as it can include skin care, hair care, anything to do with five things that you use that have become your definite favourites. I may add little notes throughout their thoughts as “Nicole’s Edit” if I want to add something of my own. If you want to contact me about being featured in one of these posts, please contact me either by e-mail, which is listed on the contact page. Onwards to the post!
The first Five Favourites post comes from Natasha! Once deciding on this feature, I asked a few select people if they wanted to contribute and she was the first to quickly get me everything to put up the post. She is one of my best friends that is very used to how much I talk about products and how impulsive I can be when it comes to purchasing them. She recently just started her own lifestyle blog and I can’t wait to see what it develops into over time. Here is a look into her five favourites!
1) L’Oreal True Match Foundation
This is a product that is quite new to me but it was love at first touch. Praise the cosmetic gods that allowed me to FINALLY find a foundation that is fair enough to match my skin tone, isn’t too thick in texture but still provides proper coverage. My skin is pretty good as far as complexion, I don’t have many blemishes but it is a bit uneven in tone. I don’t always wear foundation but when I do I’ve always found it to be too heavy, too warm in colour, and overall just too much so you can imagine my joy when I found this. The downside is the bottle – it’s a screw-off cap and you have to tip the makeup out of the bottle which can get messy and you don’t have as much control over how much comes out. I don’t think that’s enough to keep me from purchasing it though.
2) MAC Plush Lash Mascara
I’ve tried my fair share of mascaras through the years and found a few that I loved. They all went out the window when I came across Mac’s Plush Lash Mascara. It’s easy to apply, never clumpy, and I can decide how thick/long I want my lashes. I can keep it soft and subtle for a day at the office or stack it up for a night out! It’s not waterproof but I think the pros outweigh the cons. Nicole’s edit: I bought this mascara on Natasha’s recommendation and it really is a fantastic mascara that does what it’s supposed to do! The fact that it is not waterproof is a minor setback, so I don’t reach for it on rainy days.
3) Lancôme Artliner Liquid Eyeliner
I’ve always loved liquid eyeliner and this one is at the top of my list. Benefit Cosmetics’ Magic Ink was a very close second but the felt tip on Lancome’s Artliner stole my heart. I have it in “Smoke” but I want it in every colour. It’s smooth going on, easy to control the width of the line, and because of the felt tip, I can get creative if I want to. I read a few reviews that there are a few other brands that are less expensive but just as effective. I don’t have any experience with others but I would be willing to hunt around for another product if it cost me a bit less. For now, I’m more than happy with the product I have!
4) Lipstick Queen Sinner Lipstick in Deep Red
This lipstick was given to me as a gift. I’d been hunting for the perfect red lipstick for a very long time. A lot of them were too pink, or would flake off, or didn’t last long enough, etc. etc. I haven’t tried other shades from Lipstick Queen but I wouldn’t give this one up for anything. Nicole’s edit: I was the person that gifted Natasha this lipstick and I couldn’t be happier that it turned out to be such a great product! I definitely want one for myself now.
5) Tokyo Milk Shea Butter Lotion (Dead Sexy Collection)
I realize this isn’t exactly a “cosmetic” product – but it’s definitely a must-have! I stumbled across Tokyo Milk in the Distillery District in Toronto a few years ago and I’ve been addicted ever since. There are a few scents that I really enjoy (Bulletproof from the Dark collection is another one of my favourites!) but this one is gorgeous! It’s described as “Deep Vanilla, Exotic Wood, White Orchid, and Ebony”. But the actual scent is more than that. It’s deep, sweet but kind of masculine, romantic and intimidating all at the same time. I know those are a lot of words that aren’t usually associated with a SMELL but I’ve had multiple people comment on it and I think it’s a fairly accurate description. I have the hand lotion but there is a whole collection that I would love to have. Though I cannot speak for the rest of the collection, I love Tokyo Milk’s Shea Butter Lotion. It’s so luxurious and soft and actually soaks into my skin. The incredible smell only adds to my addiction! Nicole’s edit: I have smelled this lotion myself and I’ll definitely be hunting it down for myself very soon! It is a heavenly blend of delicious vanilla and a woodsy musk scent that I just love.
Thanks for reading this first guest blog feature in the Five Favourites series! I really enjoy seeing what other people are favouriting and it is always nice to have a second opinion on this blog.