Favourite Makeup Brushes for Face Makeup

September 4, 2015September 3, 2015 / thecorkedreader89 / Leave a comment

Hi guys! Today I wanted to talk about the makeup brushes that I have been loving for my face makeup. Just like my eye makeup brushes, all of these brushes are very reasonably priced and work well.

Real Techniques

The Real Techniques Stippling Brush is what I use to apply my foundation. It blends everything in flawlessly and leaves you with great coverage. I also use this brush to blend in my concealer.

The Real Techiques Setting Brush is what I use to set my under eye concealer. The small tip of the brush is the perfect size for under the eye. It is also soft and fluffy which is perfect to use on the most delicate area of your face.

Sonia Kashuk

This Sonia Kashuk Powder Brush came in a set so I don’t know the specific name of this brush. I use it to apply powder all over my face to set my foundation in place. At the moment this is the only powder brush I own. It does the trick but there really isn’t anything special about this brush so any powder brush would do. I’m looking to replace this brush with the Morphe G0 (that is a zero) Brush.

Quo

This Quo Fan Brush is another that came in a set. I use it both to apply highlighting powder on the tops of my cheekbones, as well as to blend my blush (and other powders) in and remove the excess. Again, I feel like any fan brush would work fine. I don’t use the rest of the brushes from this set so I would recommend finding a stand-alone fan brush rather than purchasing the set for this one.

Morphe

The Morphe G8 Brush is what I use to apply my blush. I love the pointed end of the brush as it allows for precise application. It is soft so it makes blending your blush in really easy. This brush could also be used to apply powder to your face to set your foundation. The Morphe Gun Metal Collection is wonderful, they are inexpensive, look great and are so soft.

The Morphe G3 Brush is what I use to contour my cheeks. It is the perfect size to fit in the hollow of your cheek to create a soft and precise contour. This brush is very dense, but also soft to the touch. I like the shape of the brush because it is like a flattened dome. It isn’t thin like most contour brushes so you don’t end up with harsh lines. I personally like a subtle contour on myself. This brush is also from the Gun Metal Collection.

So between this post and my previous post about my eye makeup brushes, those are all of the makeup brushes that I regularly use. I do have more brushes in mind that I would like to add to my collection so I do plan on writing an update if my regular rotation changes significantly.

What are your favourite face makeup brushes? Leave me your recommendations in the comments below!

xoxo,

Robyn

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Wednesday Wishes

September 2, 2015September 1, 2015 / thecorkedreader89 / Leave a comment

Hi guys! Today I thought I would share with you some products that I am currently wishing would become part of my collection.

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Champagne Pop
A beautiful highlight created by the stunning Jaclyn Hill. It`s taken awhile to decide if this would work with my fair skin, and I have come to the conclusion that it will. It gives the face such a uniquely peachy glow.
Colourpop Lippie Stix in Grunge
The newly launched 90`s collection has me all kinds of intrigued as a 90`s kid myself.This plum based brown shade looks so perfect for fall.
Makeup Forever Step 1 Skin Equalizer in the Mattifying Primer Formula
I normally have oily skin so anything that promises to be mattifying always has me intrigued. Plus this comes in a travel size which reduces the cost when trying out a new product.
Too Faced Born This Way Foundation
I’ve been dying to try this foundation ever since I saw so many positive reviews on YouTube. However, buying foundation online scares me a bit. I’m going to wait until I can actually get to a Sephora so I can properly colour match it.
Urban Decay Matte Revolution Lipstick in 1993
Another 90’s inspired brown? Yes. I’m digging this trend for fall and this formula also looks promising. I love the regular Urban Decay Revolution Lipsticks and I’m hopeful that their new matte line delivers the same results.
Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Ayesha
After trying the Colourpop Ultra Matte formula, I would like to try Kat Von D’s liquid lipsticks next. I love lavender lipsticks and this one looks gorgeous.
Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadow in Cosmic
This metallic white eye shadow has had me intrigued since Urban Decay layered it over a purple base on their Tumblr account. It is absolutely stunning and looks like it can change any look since it has a colour shift. Urban Decay eye shadows also happen to be another favourite formula of mine.

So that is part of my current beauty wish list… What products are you wishing for? Let me know in the comments below!

xoxo,

Robyn

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Today’s Makeup featuring Colourpop’s Ultra Matte Lip in Kapow

August 29, 2015August 29, 2015 / thecorkedreader89 / 7 Comments

Hi guys! Today’s post is a quick one just to show you what I’m wearing on my face today. I decided to plan the look around Colourpop’s Ultra Matte Lip in Kapow since it is so bold and unlike anything I have ever worn before. It is completely and 100% outside of my comfort zone. I figured it would be safest to try it on the weekend in case this experiment went horribly wrong. I decided to pair very minimal makeup with Kapow to keep everything balanced. I’m happy with how it turned out! It’s a lot darker than anything I would usually wear, but I don’t think that is a bad thing.

Products Used:
Foundation: L’Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation in Classic Ivory
Concealer: Maybelline SuperStay Better Skin Concealer in Ivory
Powder: Anastasia Beverly Hills Banana Powder (undereye) and MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light (all over face)
Blush: Too Faced Sweethearts Perfect Flush Blush in Candy Glow
Highlight: The Balm’s Mary Lou-Manizer
Eyes: Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion. Urban Decay Naked – Naked (Crease/transition shade), Buck (Crease and smudged under eye), Virgin (All over lid) L’Oreal Miss Manga Mascara in Black Brown (lashes).
Brows: L’Oreal Brow Stylist Plumper in Light to Medium
Lips: Colourpop Ultra Matte Lip in Kapow

Have any of you tried a look completely out of your comfort zone? Let me know in the comments below!

xoxo,

Robyn

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Colourpop Haul!

August 28, 2015August 28, 2015 / thecorkedreader89 / 4 Comments

Hi guys! This week I received the goodies that I ordered from Colourpop! If you haven’t heard of Colourpop you should run, not walk, to their website! They are a Los Angeles based cosmetics company that is 100% cruelty free. Their products are very inexpensive and are of great quality! How often can you find a pigmented, beautiful lipstick for $5 that could compete with a $40 one? Not that often, that’s for sure! They recently explained on their blog that by having low prices, their customers have the freedom to experiment and try colours outside of their comfort zone without breaking the bank. I think that is such a great idea! Go check them out, you won’t be disappointed. If you sign up for their email newsletter you receive a $5 off coupon code (that is a free lippie stix, lippie pencil or eye shadow!!). The coupon code do expire so don’t sign up until you know you are going to use it!

Now onto the products that I purchased…

Bumble (Ultra Matte Lip): This is a beautiful terracotta matte liquid lipstick. It applied very nicely and dried quickly to a completely matte finish. It did feel a little bit drying but it was not uncomfortable. I put it on around 7:30 am yesterday, and it still looked perfect when I took it off at 4:00 pm. The only reason I took it off was because I was going to the gym, otherwise I would have kept rocking it. It somehow survived breakfast, lunch, tea and the several bottles of water I consume a day.

Kapow (Ultra Matte Lip): This is a colour that I would not normally wear so I thought I would live a little and try it. I have not worn it yet though. When I swatched them on my arm it took two different make up removers and scrubbing my arm to remove it. I decided to save this for the weekend in case the colour doesn’t suit me.

Quick Tip: Put a clear lip balm on while you do your make up (after foundation) and let it soak into your lips. Just before you apply the Ultra Matte Lip in your shade of choice, blot the balm off on a tissue. This will help hydrate your lips before using this since they can feel a bit drying. I do this every time I do my make up, but it helps the most with this kind of formula.

Tootsi (Lippie Stix): This is a matte finish lippie stix. It is a grey, cool-toned, nude. I have been wanting this one since they first posted it on instagram and I am so happy to finally call it mine. I don’t have anything else like this in my collection. It is a comfortable matte and wears for a reasonable amount of time. It isn’t as matte and long-wearing as the Ultra Matte line, but it is a completely different formula. When it started to fade, it did so evenly.

Fern (Lippie Stix): This lippie stix is in their cream finish. It is a stunning violet, cool-toned shade. I wore this one today and it applied like a dream. It was pigmented and creamy. I could have gotten away with one coat, but I decided to blot and add another to help it last longer. When it faded away it left a nice magenta stain on my lips.

Frida (Lippie Stix): This is a satin finished lippie stix which was done in collaboration with Coffee Break with Dani! It is a warm-toned pinky nude shade. I haven’t worn this one yet (this order only came in on Wednesday!) but I am excited to try it this weekend. It is a beautiful shade that looks like it can be warn with anything. When swatching it on my arm it was pigmented and creamy. Hopefully it works with my skin tone!

Have you guys tried Colourpop, if so which products do you love and recommend? If you haven’t and you checked out their website, what are you dying to try? Let me know in the comments below!

Happy Friday!!

xoxo,

Robyn

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Favourite Brushes for Eye Makeup

August 26, 2015August 25, 2015 / thecorkedreader89 / 4 Comments

Hi guys! Today I wanted to talk to you about my current favourite eye makeup brushes that I own! These are the brushes that I use on a daily basis. They all work well and are also reasonably priced which is an added bonus!

Real Techniques

These brushes came in a kit of eye brushes together. There are two other brushes in the set (a brow brush and an eyeliner brush) but these are the three that I use.

The Real Techniques Accent Brush is a very tiny brush which makes it easy to smudge shadow under your eye.

The Real Techniques Base Shadow Brush gives a nice wash of colour to your lid. It is fluffy so if you are using different colours they blend effortlessly together.

The Real Techniques Deluxe Crease Brush is the perfect size for blending eye shadow into your crease. When I first got the Kat Von D Monarch palette, the pigmentation of the shadows intimidated me and I struggled to make them work without looking like a clown. This brush and the previous brush changed that. They are honestly fool-proof and perfect for beginners.

Morphe

The Morphe M503 is great for blending. I did find it a bit stiff and scratchy when I first purchased it. Washing it and using a tiny bit of conditioner fixed that. It is small which makes it great for precision blending and application of eye shadow. I mainly use it for blending though.

The Morphe E14 is a dense oval shadow brush. The density makes it wonderful for packing on eye shadow, but it is also very soft to the touch. The quality of the Elite Collection from Morphe is amazing. I definitely plan on getting my hands on more of the brushes from this collection. The Gun Metal Collection from Morphe is also incredible. I don’t have any eye brushes from it, but I will be talking about it when I post my favourite make up brushes for my face.

Sigma

The Sigma E30 is a small pencil brush which also works well for applying eye shadow under your eye. The pointed tip and the density of the bristles make for precise application. I also use this brush on my lid when I want to add a small, precise amount of shadow to the outer edge. This brush would also work well for highlighting the inner corner of your eye.

Oh, the beloved Sigma E40 Tapered Blending Brush… How could this brush not make the list? After seeing this brush pop up so often on YouTube, I knew I had to give it a try. I was not disappointed. This brush blends eye shadow beautifully into your crease. It creates a soft, blended wash of colour. I also use it for my transition shade when I use one. Once I got this brush I do not reach for the Real Techniques Deluxe Crease Brush nearly as often, but they do both work well.

So there you have it… these are the eye shadow brushes that I am currently loving and use the most while putting on my make up!

What brushes do you recommend for eye make up? I’m always on the look out for more brushes to try out! Let me know in the comments below!

xoxo,

Robyn

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Urban Decay Naked Smoky Palette

August 22, 2015August 22, 2015 / thecorkedreader89 / 4 Comments

Hi guys! Well I certainly did a happy dance when I heard the post drop off my latest Sephora order. I heard the vehicle pull up and actually squealed as I ran towards the door. I finally got my hands on the Urban Decay Naked Smoky palette.

Let’s take a second to admire the palette in all of its glory…

Here is a smoky, dramatic but wearable look that I did using the palette:

Products Used:
Foundation: L’Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation in Classic Ivory
Concealer: Maybelline SuperStay Better Skin Concealer in Ivory
Powder: Anastasia Beverly Hills Banana Powder (undereye) and MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light (all over face)
Blush: Too Faced Sweethearts Perfect Flush Blush in Candy Glow
Highlight: The Balm’s Mary Lou-Manizer
Eyes: Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion. Urban Decay Naked Smoky Palette – Combust (Crease/transition shade), Slanted (All over lid and smudged undereye) and Smolder (Outer edge/to deepen crease). Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper (eyeliner) Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara (lashes).
Brows: Milani Easybrow Automatic Pencil in Taupe and L’Oreal Brow Stylist Plumper in Light to Medium
Lips: Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Obsessed

I’ve tried a few different looks with the Smoky palette so far and I’ve been very impressed. The eye shadows are pigmented and versatile. You can create both softer and dramatic looks with the palette. The only shade I had trouble swatching was Thirteen but that has more to do with my fair skin.

Since I ordered the Smoky palette while Sephora was their VIB Appreciation week, I also got a goodie bag which lots of amazing samples inside! I haven’t tried them all yet but so far I’m loving the Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper (a product I had been dying to try). I’ve already tried Benefit’s Porefessional and Makeup Forever’s Smoky Extravagant Mascara so those automatically get a thumbs up!

Did you purchase anything during VIB Appreciation week at Sephora? Let me know in the comments below!

xoxo,

Robyn

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Top 5: Lipsticks

August 21, 2015August 20, 2015 / thecorkedreader89 / 5 Comments

Hi guys! Today I wanted to share with you my top five lipsticks in no particular order. Lipstick is one of my favourite parts of my makeup routine. I love how much it can dramatically change your look.

Without further ado, here are my top five:

Fiend, Urban Decay
Described as a muted rose, I love this colour because it is a fairly neutral colour that you can pair with almost any look. This is one of my go-to lippies that never fails. It is opaque and effortless to apply. This lipstick has a creamy and somewhat shiny finish.

Up the Amp, MAC Cosmetics
Described as a lavender violet, this shade is one of my favourites because of how unique it is. As you will learn over time, purple is my all-time favourite colour. This lipstick is a beautiful, very wearable purple/pink shade. The amplified finish means it is very pigmented and long-wearing. It is creamy and does not dry out your lips.

Turn On, Urban Decay
Described as a rosy pink, this shade is special as it was my first Urban Decay lipstick. It is a beautiful pink shade. Just like Fiend, it is opaque, effortless and has a creamy/shiny finish. Urban Decay Revolution Lipsticks rank highly in my collection for this reason.

Annita, NARS
Described as antique rose (is anyone else noticing a rosy trend here?), this lipstick again is a very wearable neutral shade and another one of my go-to lippies. The NARS Audacious Lipsticks are a cut above the rest. They are very pricy, but very much worth it if you are in the market for a opaque, soft and luxurious feeling lipstick. They dry to a matte finish and have an amazing staying power on the lips. You don’t end up using much product when you use them due to the opacity and the minimal (if any) touch up throughout the day.

Lumiere, Colourpop
Described as a dusty mauve pink, this lipstick is a favourite because of how versatile it is. This lippie stick is a collaboration between Colourpop and the talented KathleenLights from YouTube. She describes it better than I can, so I’m including an excerpt from Colourpop’s website: “I wanted a color that both bold and shy people could wear. It’s not a nude..it would look great on EVERYONE!” Lumiere has a matte finish but does not feel uncomfortable to wear. Colourpop lippie stix are also amazing because of their super affordable price.

Honourable Mentions: Embrace Me, MAC, Angela, NARS and Brills, Colourpop

All of the products that I have mentioned have significant staying power. They all fade fairly evenly and still look good throughout the morning. I do typically add a coat after lunch before going back to work. As I play with swatching these and then remove them from my arm with a makeup removing wipe, they have left stains, just further demonstrating how long they last.

What are your favourite lipsticks? Let me know in the comments below!

xoxo,

Robyn

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Soft & Feminine

August 19, 2015August 22, 2015 / thecorkedreader89 / 1 Comment

Hi guys! Today I’m going to show you a look that I wore last weekend to a Bridal Shower. I used the Urban Decay Naked 3 palette to create a soft and feminine pink look. The end result was very simple and would pair well with any outfit, which was perfect because at the time I had no idea what I was going to wear!

Let’s get into it!

Products Used:
Foundation: L’Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation in Classic Ivory
Concealer: Maybelline SuperStay Better Skin Concealer in Ivory
Powder: Anastasia Beverly Hills Banana Powder (undereye) and MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light (all over face)
Blush: Too Faced Sweethearts Perfect Flush Blush in Candy Glow
Bronzer/Contour: Anastasia Beverly Hills Java and Fawn
Highlight: The Balm’s Mary Lou-Manizer
Eyes: Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion. Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette – Limit (Crease), Buzz (Center half of lid) and Darkside (Outer half of lid). Makeup Geek Foiled Eyeshadow in Whimsical (small amount in the centre of the lid). Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Demolition (water line). Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara (lashes).
Brows: Milani Easybrow Automatic Pencil in Taupe
Lips: MAC lipstick in Chatterbox

This look was perfect for an afternoon of celebrating my friend’s upcoming wedding! I tend to stick to the first half of the Naked 3 palette when I use it, the pink shades are just so pretty and shiny. The Too Faced Sweethearts Perfect Flush Blush in Candy Glow added a perfect hint of colour to my cheeks, while the MAC lipstick in Chatterbox kept the pink theme going strong!

What is your favourite soft and feminine make up look? Let me know in the comments below!

xoxo,

Robyn

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Everyday Makeup Routine

August 15, 2015August 19, 2015 / thecorkedreader89 / 7 Comments

Hi guys! Today I’m going to show you guys my every day makeup routine. I went to a family BBQ last night and I wanted to do something basic on my eyes and do a bright lip. I generally change up my makeup on a daily basis, but this is a look I find myself frequently going back to. It’s so versatile and you can pair it with virtually any lipstick.

Let’s get into it!

Products Used:
Primer: Benefit’s Porefessional (not pictured)
Foundation: L’Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation in Classic Ivory (a current favourite for my oily skin)
Concealer: Maybelline SuperStay Better Skin Concealer in Ivory
Powder: Anastasia Beverly Hills Banana Powder (undereye) and MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light (all over face)
Blush: Urban Decay Afterglow 8-Hour Powder Blush in Fetish
Bronzer/Contour: Anastasia Beverly Hills Java and Fawn
Highlight: The Balm’s Mary Lou-Manizer
Eyes: Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion. Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette – Tease (Crease), Bootycall (Center half of lid) and Busted (Outer half of lid and under eye). Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Demolition (water line). Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara (lashes).
Brows: Milani Easybrow Automatic Pencil in Taupe
Lips: Nars Audacious Lipstick in Angela

Here is the finished product:

This look really was perfect for the BBQ. It is simple but summery enough to compliment the warm sunny weather. It was a great time, it really is nice getting the whole family together!

I own all of the Naked palettes (Smoky Palette is on it’s way from Sephora’s website!) and I really do love them all, but I find the Naked 2 palette is the one that I reach for the most. I use the Naked 1 palette if I am going for a no-makeup look, the Naked 2 palette for my everyday basic routine and the Naked 3 palette when I want to do a soft and feminine pink look.

What is your every day makeup routine? Tell me in the comments below!

xoxo

Robyn

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Welcome + Makeup Geek Foiled Shadows

August 13, 2015August 16, 2015 / thecorkedreader89 / 9 Comments

Welcome to my blog!

My name is Robyn and I am a make up addict/hoarder/enthusiast. I live at the head of Lake Superior in Thunder Bay, Ontario. While it is a beautiful city to live in, our small population doesn’t attract stores like Sephora which makes shopping for makeup a bit difficult. Most of my beauty hauls are from shopping online unless I am travelling.

Please join me as I review beauty products, share my favourites, show tutorials and more!

To get things started I wanted to talk about the widely popular Makeup Geek Foiled Shadows. I purchased the more recently launched shadows and I am beyond impressed. They definitely live up to the hype they have been receiving on YouTube. I was torn between ordering the original launch vs. the newer launch. Since it is summer time I thought I would go for the brighter new ones. Also, they currently have a deal where you can buy the Expansion Set (10 pans) for $89. Considering they cost $9.99 individually you end up saving $10.00 this way.

The box they arrived in was affixed with a sticker that has the Makeup Geek logo on it. A small detail like this really sets them apart from other packages I have received.