Everyone should know by now that I love a good luxury makeup product. I have recently delved into substituting drug store alternatives, but I am yet to find a cheaper replacement for eye shadow. Palettes are a great way to try out multiple shades and formulations from your fave brands without shelling out for single pots. Here are my favourite palettes:

My Hobbies: Wedding Hair

In an effort to tell you people more about me I have decided to show you some pictures of my favourite hobby. I really enjoy doing people's hair and have recently started doing wedding parties. If you have any friends or you yourself are getting married. Contact me for rates and information. Happy Viewing!

Beautiful Fridays #3 - Conceal, Don't Feel

If you think by the title this post is about Frozen (Disney's newest cash cow) then I have done my job by tricking you into reading this. Yes I am evil, I know. (I am also obsessed with Frozen, who isn't)

I, like many people, struggle with the dreaded dark circles under my eyes. I have searched and searched for something to help them and to no avail. Today I thought I would share with you the recent concealers I have tried and pros and cons to each.

Maybelline - Dream Lumi Concealer

$7.99 - Most drug stores 

Pros: Even though this is a liquid, I didn't need to set it with a powder and it stayed in place. I have fairly dry skin so that helps, but it had pretty great lasting power on its own. It did for the most part cover my blueness.

Cons: There is hardly any product in that tube, and you have to use a lot more in comparison to other products. I also was not to keen on the amount of highlighter in it. In some light I felt very shiny.

Benefit - The Fake Up Concealer

$29.00 - Sephora

Pros: I really loved this concealer. With my dry skin, I really appreciated the moisturizing feature. The lightest of the three shades also matched my skin quite well. The coverage was better than most and its staying power was about 6 hours with a powder and setting spray.

Cons: This was expensive. Even compared to other high-end makeup brands. I also had to set it and this tended to dry out the rest of my face, which is fine in the summer, but not possible in winter. There is also little amounts of product. I went through this stick in less than 2 months. With the price and amount of product, though it is great, I would not recommend.

Benefit - Boi-ing Concealer

$26.00 - Sephora

Pros: I thought since I had good luck with coverage with the more expensive Benefit concealer, I would give another one ago. This potted concealer was good at lasting and coverage was so-so. I ended up pairing it with the Maybelline one above and it worked pretty nicely. I also didn't have to set it.

Cons: The consistency is somewhat drying, which once again is fine in summer, but I tend to flake in winter and it was not looking very nice. I also thought that application was sometimes difficult. The potted packaging made using a brush imperative. I used my fingers because it smoothed it into my skin better. The coverage was also the wrong tone to cover my blueish circles. If you have the green toned circles, you might have better luck.

Rimmel - Wake Me Up Concealer

$9.99 - Most drug stores

I have honestly just started using this and so far so good, but  I have not been using it long enough to give an honest opinion. I will fill you in at a later date.

As you can see, the struggle is real with my problem. I think next time I will take the multiple recommendations I have received and go with the Benefit Erase Paste. I have been told on multiple occasions that it is a holy grail for under eye circles and blemish coverage. But feel free to leave your recommendations of concealers for me in the comments, and share with your friends.

Beautiful Fridays #1 - Beauty Faves of the Moment

As I told you in my very first post, I am addicted to high-end makeup and beauty products. Fridays will be reserved for this. Today I am telling you my can't live without products that I always seem to steer back to.

Hair Products

Sally Hershberger Keratin Spray

Ulta - $12.99
 (can be found in Canada at Shopper's Drug Mart for the same price)

I put this in my hair after showering and my hair brushes super easily and if I blow dry it, it reduces the fuzziness of my lions mane.

Wet Brush

Amazon - $8.99
(Can be found in most salons for $15)

This brush is a miracle. Period. If you need convincing, go watch this video.

Face Products

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion

Sephora - $32.00

I have scaly gross skin on my forehead and cheeks. I discovered this lotion about 2.5 years ago and I would never change, not even for all the tea in China (and I love tea).

Makeup

Urban Decay Naked Palette

Sephora - $62.00

I am talking the original. I think that all the shades blend great and are all complimentary to each other. How I use this palette is an entire post on its own! (hmmm....good idea)

Benefit Dandelion Powder Box

Sephora - $36.00

This shade is the perfect sun-kissed pink in the summer and in winter gives your cheeks that pink, cold glow.

Lip Products

Nivea Lip Butter

Amazon - $3.99
(can be found in most department stores and drug stores)

Summer hydrating and lasts for a long time. I generally will put it on before doing my makeup and my lips are good for any gloss or lipstick I choose.

MAC Ruby Woo (Retro Matte Collection)

MAC Cosmetics - $18.00

If you are looking for the PERFECT shade of red, look no further. I was so afraid to try a red lip, low and behold, it suits me better than most colors. I also love the matte finish as it drys really well, leaving a great color pay off that lasts. I have also seen it look good on most skin tones, making it very versatile.

Well that is all folks. I am sure there is much more I can rave about, but we will leave that for another day. 

Post in the comments what your favourite beauty product is or if you want a further review of something I mentioned in this post.

If you liked this post, please share it with your friends!