If there is one thing I love about summer it is the fact that I can get away with a lot less makeup. Not only does my skin colour ever so slightly (maybe not this year?), I also sweat way more in the summer so why waste precious foundation and makeup on super hot summer days? Regardless, I like to keep my makeup routine short and sweet so that I can quickly get ready and get on with my day.
I recently attended the FIRST EVER London Drugs #LDBeauty here in Calgary and it was an absolutely amazing evening full of makeup, cocktails, hair products, amazing food and great (new + old) friends! I ended up with a big bag of swag so I’ve been taking my time using each product and finding my favourites. Today’s look is super simple featuring a pink ombre lip. I’ll be blogging my other new favourite products from #LDBeauty soon!
I started by moisturizing my skin with La Roche-Posay’s Rosaliac UV Rich Cream followed by e.l.f. Mineral Infused Face Primer. Seriously, this primer is AMAZING. And for only $8.99 I am obsessed with this product. I’ve found that some primers don’t absorb or lay flat - they ball up along the contours of your face. This primer is perfect though and very comparable to higher-end primers I’ve used in the past.
Since this look’s feature was the lips I also primed my lips with Almay’s Age Essentials Lip Treatment which has been in daily rotation since I received it at #LDBeauty. It has SPF30 and is also said to reduce lines around the mouth. Suddenly, just this year I’m starting to see those pesky lines appear so I’m kinda smearing this stuff on like crazy.
After I was primed up I used my favourite liquid foundation from NYX, Stay Matte But Not Flat in Ivory. Again, such a great product for an excellent price (only $10.99). I’ve been smoothing it on with my fingers all summer which I find offers me better coverage without looking too cakey.
One of my favourite products from #LDBeauty and the one I am most excited to see at London Drugs this fall is the Revolution Ultra Contour Palette. This new (to Canada) makeup brand is known for their epic palettes and this contour palette does not disappoint with eight stunning powders for perfect contouring and highlighting. I did some light contouring with the lightest brown powder in the palette and a swath of the sparkly gold strobe powder above my cheekbones. It is kind of hard to see in the photos as it was such a sunny day but I really love how soft and subtle you can get with these powders. As always, I was using the my favourite brushes from London Drugs - the Real Techniques Core Collection.
Next up I used Revlon’s adorable multi-purpose palette - Eyes, Cheeks + Lips in Berry in Love. Another great price - this palette is only $20 but includes six eye shadows, four lipsticks and a summery pink blush. I used the two soft purple middle eye shadows to create a bit of interest on my eyes. I used my all-time fave liquid liner L’Oreal Lineur Intense in Black and Annabelle’s new SUPERNOVA Mascara that will debut this fall. I used the blush from the Revlon palette - it really is the perfect pink for summer. My only complaint is that the lipsticks in the palette are too close to the blush - especially if you are not using the tiny brush provided.
Finally - the ombre lips! I’ve been dying to try this trend for months but never found the perfect lip colour until I tried Revlon’s Ultra HD Matte Lipcolour in HD Obsession. First I dabbed Maybelline’s Fit Me Concealer in Fair on my lips to create a soft and creamy base. Then starting from the middle of my lips I brushed on the matte lipcolour, getting gradually lighter as I worked my way out. I didn’t fill the colour in up to my upper lip line. Instead I used my Real Techniques Lip Brush to sweep the pink upwards - making sure it didn’t look too uniform. While you can definitely get a lot more dramatic with your ombre lip in the evening, I kept this one pretty sweet and simple for daytime. It was easy to touch-up and if some of it came off while sipping a coffee it didn’t look messy.
Lastly, the neutral metallic nail colour I am sporting is another new favourite. Part of the Sally Hansen Color Therapy Collection, this amazing new formula includes a healthy does of argan oil to keep your nails moisturized and smooth. The colour is Powder Room and it is the perfect pearly coppery pink. I haven’t taken it off since I got it at #LDBeauty.
The photos of me were taken by the talented 10 Cent (aka Lori Andrews)! Book her for your next lifestyle or blog shoot!