Brand Overview: Laura Mercier

Laura Mercier is a brand that I have a love-and-hate relationship with. I love the brand because they make some of my all-time holy grail makeup products, but I also hate it because I can't seem to get on with some of their products that so many people rave about. I find that their products are either a hit or a miss for me.

I guess I'll start off by talking about my favorite products from Laura Mercier. If you've been following me for a while, then you'll know that the Laura Mercier Mineral Powder is my absolute favorite powder of all time. It gives buildable coverage and yet manages to look incredibly natural on the skin. Sometimes when my foundation is looking cakey, I put this on and everything just blends together and looks like skin. It is seriously the best powder I've ever found.

Another favorite of mine is the Secret Brightening Powder, which is a setting powder for the undereye area. I have super dry undereye area and I find that regular powder just dries it out even more and always makes it look super cakey. This powder sets my undereye area without making it look dry or cakey, and never settles into my fine lines. It has micro light-reflecting pigments in there to really help to brighten and illuminate the undereye area to make you look more radiant and awake.

Another favorite from Laura Mercier that I actually got after I took this photo is the Second Skin Cheek Color in Lush Nectarine. I have a lot of peachy coral blushes, but this one is definitely one of my favorites. The texture is velvety soft, and it blends seamlessly into the skin and just makes you look like you have a flush from within.

Laura Mercier Cavier Sticks are great to have if you like easy, fuss-free makeup. They're super easy to just sweep on your lids in the morning, and makes your eye makeup look amazing without having to put too much effort into your eye makeup routine. These are super pigmented, easy to blend, and last well on the lids.

Now time to talk about some un-favorites. The Laura Mercier Smooth Focus Pressed Setting Powder claims to control shine and keep the skin matte throughout the day, however it did not keep me matte at all. After the first two hours, my face started to look oily, and I really don't see the point of using this because it's translucent so it doesn't provide any coverage, and it does set my makeup but there are definitely better and cheaper setting powders out there that do the job just as well as this.

The Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer and Foundation Primer are probably two of their most well-know products and I know that a lot of people love them, but I was pretty disappointed in them. I can see the tinted moisturizer being great for people with dry skin and for people who already have great skin, but for me this didn't provide any coverage at all, and usually starts to slide off my face mid-day even when I use a primer and a setting spray. The primer is pretty average; it makes my makeup last longer but that's about it, it doesn't hide my pores and isn't as smoothing as some of my other primers.

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Current Skincare Favs #3

Michael Todd has been my favorite skincare brand for quite some time now as they use organic ingredients for their skincare products, which I find to be less irritating on the skin and cause less inflammation. I've been using their skincare products for over a year now, and there has not been anything that I don't love from them.

Toner is an essential part of my routine, and lately I've been using the Cranberry Toner, which is packed with antioxidants that help to heal the skin, while the tea tree oil in it helps to fight bacteria and promotes clear skin. This helps to balance my skin pH without making my skin feel dry or stripped of its moisture.

Another product that I've been loving from Michael Todd is the Honey and Oat Cleanser, which is a gentle deep pore-cleansing cleanser that effectively removes any makeup and impurities from the face. This is a sulphate-free cleanser, and the honey in it helps to put back moisture in my skin so my face always feels clean and balanced after I use this.

A repurchase for me is the Avocado and Mango mask, which is my favorite mask to use to put back moisture into my skin while also chemically exfoliating my skin to help to fade any acne scars. It contains mango butter which is rich in vitamin C to help to nourish the skin, as well as salicylic acid which gets deep down into the pores to unclog them and remove any dead skin cells. This makes my skin feel super soft and look visibly more radiant after I use it.

Another product that I've been using to help to fade my acne scars is the Jurlique Purely Bright Mist. Jurlique is a brand that I've heard a lot of great things from over the years, and they also use a lot of natural and plant-based ingredients in their skincare products. I've been using this in the morning as an extra step after I've cleansed and toned, and I've noticed that it really helps to calm down any redness in my skin as well as provide a bit of extra moisture for my skin. I also like to spray this anytime throughout the day when my skin is looking a little dull or dehydrated.

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Some New Hair Products...

I recently got a haircut and now that my hair is relatively short I find that I need to style it differently compared to when I had long hair. So I've been picking a few things from here and there, and somehow this has become quite a big collection of new hair products.

I picked up the Pureology Hydrate Shampoo because I've always heard good things about this line. I thought this would be good to use in the winter time since my hair always gets super dry and brittle during the colder months. This is sulphate-free, which is the main thing I look for in shampoos since sulphates can be really harsh and drying for your hair. I'm absolutely in love with this shampoo as I find that it lathers up quite nicely, which is something that a lot sulphate-free shampoos don't do and I would always end up having to use a ton of products to clean to my entire scalp. This makes my hair feel super clean and soft after I use it, and you only need a little bit to cover your whole scalp.

I also got the Bumble & Bumble Semi Sumo, and this is like a do-it-all pomade that adds a bit of texture and volume, controls frizz and adds shine to the hair. This is quite expensive, but I have to say that I like this quite a lot as I find that this helps to define my hair without making my hair crunchy, and it's also great at adding shine to my dull-looking hair.

I got the Alterna CC Cream as a sample from sephora, and I've been keeping it in my handbag to touch up on my hair throughout the day when my hair is looking a little dry or frizzy. It's a leave-in cream that claims to do 10 different things for your hair such as heat production, UV protection, smoothness, shine, anti-breakage, ect.. It really helps to hydrate my hair and keeps it looking shiny throughout the day, and it's great for people who don't want to use a lot of hair products that might weigh their hair down.

I got a small-size of the Ojon Rare Blend Oil as I find that oils like this last forever and I always get tired of using the same product before I even use it up. This has really helped to repair my hair and make it look more healthy and glossy. I also use this as a heat-protectant and leave-in before I blow-dry or straighten my hair to give my hair a little extra protection.

KMS Hair Play Makeover Spray acts as a dry shampoo and volumizing spray in one to give you that voluminous and textured just-got-out-of-bed hair. I've been using it every morning to give my hair a bit of extra oomph, and I find that it works really great to absorb any excess oil from my hair and keeps my hair voluminous throughout the day.

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Current Favorites #9

I recently got the Guerlain Terrocota Bronzing Powder as a birthday present to myself and I've using it nonstop. This is a luxury item so it's not something that everyone needs, but it is nice to have if you have the money to splurge on a high-end bronzer. It is incredibly natural looking on the face, probably one of the most natural looking bronzers I own, and blends seamlessly into my skin.

My go-to lipstick recently has been the Dior Addict Extreme Lipstick in Riviera, which is a gorgeous orangey red color. It is one of those lipsticks that goes on quite sheer to give you a natural tint, but you can also build it up to a quite bold color. It feels super creamy and moisturizing on the lips and reminds me a little bit of the the Revlon Lip Butters, except that this feels more comfortable on the lips and lasts longer.

I recently found these Smashbox eyeshadows in my local Winners for super cheap, so I quickly grabbed them because I've always wanted to try out some Smashbox eyeshadows. The single I have is in the color Minx, which is the most unique taupe color I've ever seen. It has both a purply tone and a bronzy tone depending on the light that you're looking at it under. It has definitely been my favorite crease color as of late.

The trio I have is in the color Screen Shot, which is the perfect combination of eyeshadows to create a neutral everyday look. It consists of a matte light brown color, a bronzy gold color, and a dark brown with goldern shimmers. These are super pigmented and easy to blend, and I really have nothing bad to say about them. I'm definitely interested in trying out more Smashbox makeup in the future!

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Lush Goodies

I recently popped into Lush with no intention of getting anything, but somehow I managed to walk out with these two things in my bag. Story of my life.

If you've been reading my blog for a while then you'll probably know that I'm a mask junkie, and I literally have a drawer full of just face masks. I've heard a lot of great things about the Mask of Magnaminty for a while, and it's supposed to be great for people with oily/combination and acne prone skin. It contains china clay which helps to draw out the impurities from your pores as well as pieces of aduki beans to gently exfoliate the skin. It is very deep cleansing yet it doesn't leave my skin feeling dry because it has honey in it as well to calm and soothe the skin. Apparently you can also use this on your back if you have acne there. It has definitely made it into my top face masks and what makes me love it even more is the fact that it literally looks and smells like mint chocolate chips ice cream! I just want to lick it off when I put it on my face!

The Big Shampoo is a clarifying shampoo made with sea salts that is supposed to get rid of any product buildups in your hair and give your hair massive volume. I love the concept of clarifying shampoos and I already loved the Bumble & Bumble Sunday Shampoo, so I decided to give this a go. It makes my hair feel so clean and soft, and my hair looks super shiny and voluminous after I use this! You need the tiniest bit and it foams up once you work it into your hair, so I can see this tub lasting me quite a while. It is definitely one of my all-time favorite shampoos and no wonder it's a best seller!

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Supplements for Healthy Skin, Hair & Nails

It took me quite a longtime to put this post together because it is a topic that I'm quite passionate about, so here it is. A disclaimer that I have to make is that I'm in no way an expert in supplements and all the information that I'll be sharing are just what I've found out throughout my own research throughout the years and the products I'll be talking about are what have worked for me.

Although skincare and makeup or any type of beauty products make a difference to the way your skin or hair look, I feel like supplements can make the biggest difference over a long term. As cliche as it sounds, I have to go with the phrase "you are what you eat" because if you eat healthily and you put good stuff into your system it's definitely going to show on your skin and hair. Since I'm not the healthiest eater I have to cheat this by taking supplements. I've definitely noticed that my skin looks clearer with less breakouts and just overall more radiant when I take supplements consistently.Unlike skincare or makeup that works differently for different skin types, supplements generally work for anyone withe any skin types.

The Amazing Grass Green Superfood is a nutritious powder that contains all the vitamins, minerals and nutrients that your body needs in a day. I often take this first thing in the morning as I find that it really helps to flush out the toxins from my system and make me feel full and energetic throughout the whole day. This is what I swear by to keep my skin clear and radiant, and it's also great for my body because it gives my body the nutrients that it needs since I'm not the healthiest eater.

EmergenC is another drink powder that is packed with vitamin C and electrolytes to keep you hydrated and your immune system strong when you're sick. Every time I get a cold or I feel like I might get sick I start drinking this, and it seriously makes me feel ten times better the very next day. When you get sick your skin often looks dry and dull, but when I drink this it keeps my skin looking hydrated and radiant.

Hydraluronic Acid and Collagen are two ingredients that are naturally found in your body and are the building blocks of your hair, skin and nails. I find that these are very helpful to take in the colder months because they really help to keep my skin moisturized and plump, as well as keep my skin from getting any dry patches. I also notice that my hair and nails look shinier and grow faster when I take these two.

Evening Primrose Oil is also said to be very good for the skin because it contains fatty acids which help to keep the skin hydrated and prevents any dry patches from forming. It's also supposed to help with acne as well as increasing the blood circulation to the skin to keep it toned and bright.

Acai Juice is not only super yummy to drink but is also pack full of antioxidants that help to reduce inflammation in the body as well as riding the body of any toxins, which essentially leads to clearer, more radiant skin. You can obviously substitute this with eating more fruits and vegetables, especially blueberries and cherries. Tart cherry juice is another delicious and healthy option that gives you a great amount of antioxidants.


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Brand Overview: Antipodes

I've been slowly transitioning my skincare routine to the more natural side and Antipodes is a New Zealand brand I discovered that makes organic and natural skincare products.

The Antipodes Manuka Honey Mask is probably their most well-known product and is what made me fell in love with the brand in the first place. Manuka honey is an antibacterial ingredient that helps to fight acne while still being nourishing for the skin. I find that a lot of acne-fighting and detox masks tend to dry out the skin; this one doesn't do that at all and is super gentle on the skin. Sometimes I get the under-the-skin pimples that are super painful and takes forever to go away, and this really helps to soothe my breakouts and reduce the redness while also giving my skin intense hydration. My face always feels super soft like a baby's bottoms after using this!

Antipodes Juliet Skin Brightening Gel Cleanser is what I've been using as my morning cleanser. What I look for in a morning cleanser is something that's gentle yet effective and won't dry my skin out, and this does just that. It contains the same acne-fighting manuka honey as the mask, as well as superfruit extracts that help to exfoliate the skin to reveal a brightener complexion. Definitely another favorite from Antipodes!

I recently ran out of my Caudalie Beauty Elixir and was looking for something cheaper to replace it, which is why I picked up the Antipodes Resurrect Facial Toner. It's a refreshing and hydrating toner that instantly awakens my skin and perks up my dull-looking complexion; great for mornings where you skin just looks tired and lack-lustre.

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Outfit of the Day #3

I love mixing feminie and edgy pieces together and this outfit is a great example of it. The pastel speckled sweater and the mint colored chiffon skirt make a quite feminine outfit. To make the outfit more edgy and street chic I added a rosegold spiked necklace and some rosegold sperry to pull everything together. Since I already have a lot of colors going on in this outfit, I thought the rosegold pieces coordinate quite nicely with each other without being too flashy. The floral velvet bag adds a nice vintage vibe to the whole outfit.

Sweater: H & M

Skirt: Romwe

Bag: Urban Outfitters

Shoes: Sperry

Necklace: Urban Outfitters

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Current Favorites #8

I've been obsessed with these NCLA nail wraps as they're so easy to use and they literally last for weeks on my nails. I got the floral ones first and I loved them so much that I picked up these limited edition ones. If you suck at doing nail arts or just don't have the patience to do them, then these are perfect for you as they have all sorts of patterns and colors! I've been wearing them as accent nails and I think that they give my nails a great pop of color for the summer time.

I can't believe that it took me so long to discover MAC All That Glitters as it's one of their best-selling eyeshadows. It's the perfect bronzy champagne color and if you love neutral shimmery shadows then this is a must-have for you. I've wearing this all over my lids with winged liners and it just looks super put-together without too much fuss.

I've been looking for a great summertime concealer that's sweat-proof and long-lasting for a long time, and a lot of Asian bloggers have recommended the Canmake Cover Stretch Concealer. It is seriously the longest-lasting concealer I've found, and it provides medium to full coverage while still looking natural. I have super oily skin and this literally doesn't budge until I go take my makeup off at the end of the day.

I got a BareMinerals Ready Foundation sample from Sephora, and I didn't have too high of an expectation when I tried it as I already found my holy grail powder which is the Laura Mercier mineral powder. This surprisingly gave my face a very similar finish to the Laura Mercier mineral powder. The coverage is bulidable and looks incredibly natural; no matter how many layers you put on your makeup never cakes up, and it just looks like a second skin.


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