MAC Pro Longwear Foundation

I know this is kind of a random thing to post about, because the MAC Pro Longwear Foundation has been around for a long time, but we got it in stock at work around a month ago and I fell in love. I ended up getting NW15, which is pretty weird because I'm always a NC. For some reason, this shade seemed more yellow-toned. The foundation retails at MAC for $33, and comes in their full colour range. It claims to wear up to 15 hours and has a "natural" finish.

This is probably my favourite foundation from MAC, and it's quickly getting hush on my list of overall favourite foundations. The finish is truly natural, it makes you look like you have flawless skin without makeup. But, if you have scarring or acne you'll probably want to spot conceal because it isn't full coverage. It's definitely not a matte-finish, but it's also not greasy-looking. You should be fine if you have oily or dry skin, but if you have either to the extreme I would recommend trying it out first.

I was surprised by how light it feels on the skin, generally long-wear foundations are slightly heavier. This really feels like I'm not wearing foundation, it's GREAT. It's also fairly transfer-proof. Obviously if you rub your face on something, it's going to come off. But for normal accidental shoulder-rubs or hugs, you'll be safe!

The biggest claim of all; the wear. I don't know about 15 hours, but I've worn it for 12 hours several times and was amazed. By the end of the too-long day, my face looked almost unchanged from when I first applied my makeup. Despite the bitch-face and a slight shine on my forehead it looked amazing! It also wears really comfortably, which is a big plus for me.

Overall, this is a really, really excellent foundation that I think gets overlooked because the Studio Fix is so popular. I definitely recommend giving it a go!

Have you guys tried this formula? Did you like it?
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NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint

The second I heard that NARS was coming out with a new face product, I started researching. When I found out it would be a matte skin tint with a decent amount of coverage, I started drooling. I literally sat in my car and ordered it on my phone the day it came out. With high praises from Desi, Karen, and many other bloggers I couldn't wait!

The NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint retails for $44, comes in 12 shades, and is available from Soehora as well as the NARS website. It's described as an oil-free skin tint to perfect and protect with a soft-matte finish. Okay so despite rave reviews, I was a little skeptical. It's a matte tinted moisturizer the doesn't feel heavy, yet has medium coverage? Yeah right. Well, it proved me wrong. This stuff is the shit. I don't really know how else to explain how marvelous it is. I picked up the shade Finland, which is light with yellow undertones, and it matches perfectly! Finding foundations light enough without pink undertones is pretty difficult so I was very excited about that. I apply it using a beauty blender and build it up to a medium coverage. Now, when I say medium coverage, I mean it covers up redness and makes my skin look even. It doesn't completely conceal all my freckles and moles, nor does it conceal blemishes. You'll definitely need to spot conceal. But for a natural, every day look that lasts, I'm in love. The packaging is a tall squeeze tube which, surprisingly, feels somewhat luxurious (no clue how they did that). 

As far as wear goes, it can be a little iffy. This is obviously a tinted moisturizer type of product, so it's unlikely that it will wear perfectly for 12 hours. I have normal skin, with a slightly oily t-zone. The longest I wore this product was, in fact, 12 hours to school and work. It didn't look dreadful by the end, but it also didn't look great (what would, really?). For a normal 8-hour day I think it wears beautifully, but be wary if you have very oily skin. 

Overall, this has secured a spot in my "Top Base Products" list, what do you guys think?

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H&M Beauty Peel-off Masks

I've been wanting to try the h&m Beauty Face Masks since the line launched last year. They finally started stocking them in my nearby store so I picked a few up! I ended up with the Charcoal and Volcanic Soil, Dead Sea Minerals, and Coconut Water masks. They come in little pots similar to the Sephora sleeping masks. They contain enough for two or three uses but the packaging makes it kind of annoying. Because it has a peel off lid you have to store them in an airtight bag or they'll dry up. If these companies would use lids you could use them more than once! Although for $3.99 I suppose I can't complain.

The Charcoal is meant to be pore-cleansing and for blemish prone skin. It's grey and a medium consistency. It dried down really quickly and cracked like a typical mud mask but it didn't flake off. I didn't notice too much of a difference in my skin other than it being slightly smoother. Although I don't typically have acne prone skin so that may be why! I next tried the Coconut Water mask which is good for those with try skin as it contains shea and cocoa butter. It definitely has a very strong coconut smell so if you don't like coconut definitely stay away. Also for whatever reason keep this far from your eyes. I didn't really get it too close but my eyes stung a LOT, and I don't have sensitive eyes. When I took the mask off my skin felt soft and smooth, but I'd probably not use it if you're quite sensitive. The Dead Sea Minerals mask is targeted for tired skin and contains bergamot and seaweed. This one is a bright blue and doesn't smell that great if I'm honest. It does disappear once it's on your face. This one left my skin feeling a bit dry so I used a night cream immediately after.

All in all for $3.99 they're not too bad, but I didn't find them all that great for me either. Have you guys tried them yet?
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Tom Ford Nail Lacquer

In case you're new to the blog, I currently work at a Cosmetics Company Outlet. We recently got two of the Tom Ford Nail Lacquers in (swoon) so of course I snatched them up. The shades we got are Black Sugar and Show Me The Pink. The polishes normally retail for $35, but at the outlets are $22.50 so make sure to check if you have one locally. 

Black Sugar is a purply-taupe with red shimmer. This is a really really unique colour, I don't think I've ever seen anything like it. Now, the shimmer doesn't REALLY show up on the nails unless in direct light but the colour is still beautiful. Show Me The Pink is a warm pale pink with silver shimmer. This one would probably be easier to find a dupe of, essie makes some similar colours. The packaging is obviously beautiful, but I was surprised to find that the square cap is actually attatched to the brush. I usually find with square bottles that there is an easier to use handle underneath. The brush itsself is a typical polish brush, similar in shape to OPI but less thick. These polishes are interesting in formula. I thought that they would be creamy and thicker, but they're actually quite sheer. Black Sugar took three thin coats to achieve opacity and Show Me The Pink took four. Black Sugar being a darker colour was definitely easier to work with. I wore Black Sugar for over a week with no chipping and just minimal tip wear. I did use OPI Chip Skip and the Rapid Dry Top Coat. Unfortunately, Show Me The Pink did not look so great on me. If you're a pale princess, beware, it shows up quite orange. If you have a deeper, warmer skin tone I'm sure it would look beautiful on you.

Overall, while expensive, these are beautiful polishes. The formula is nice, but not overly special. I wouldn't say they're a MUST HAVE, especially because of the price, but they are a treat.

Have you ever tried Tom Ford's polishes?
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