April Favourites

Hey Everyone, 

Wow, I honestly can not believe it is already May (I know, I know, such a cliched thing to say). It seems like 2012 is flying by way too fast, and doomsday is almost here (I kid, I don't believe in that stuff...I don't think). Unfortunately, April wasn't a very exciting month for me in terms of beauty products (personally, it was a great month), and I, therefore, don't have many new favourites to show. With that said, there were a few items I fell in love with (or 're-fell in love with'), and so of course, I wanted to share them with you. Here are my April favourites:

Mac Cosmetics Powder Blush in 'Immortal Flower': 

I was lucky enough to be one of the few people that was actually able to get their hands on 'Immortal Flower', a gorgeous light pinky-peach blush from MAC's recent 'Tres Cheek' collection. I have been using this blush almost every day this month, and find that it looks great with any eye or lip look. This blush is somewhat sheer (which is nice for daytime), but can definitely be built up for a more dramatic and colourful look. I absolutely love this colour, and can see it being a monthly favourite throughout the rest of spring and summer. 

MAC Cosmetics Cream Colour Base in 'Pearl':

For someone who hates glittery highlighters, I sure do have a lot of them. With an uneven skintone, and my fair share of acne, I find that most highlighters draw attention to my flawed skin. It is for this reason, that I am once again loving MAC's cream colour base in 'Pearl'. This cream highlighter contains no glitter, shimmer, etc., and instead smoothes nicely on the cheekbones for a gorgeous, and very natural, glow. If you like the look of dewy skin, I would highly recommend any of MAC's Cream Colour Bases. 

Benefit 'They're Real!' Mascara:

After months of reading rave reviews about Benefit's 'They're Real!' mascara, I finally gave in and bought it. At first, I wasn't all that impressed, but as I used it more and more (and the formula started to dry out a little), I really started to like it. Not only does this mascara lengthen my lashes, it also helps separate them for a 'false lash effect'. If you are looking for length, I would highly recommend this mascara. If on the other hand, you are looking for volume or fullness, I would choose something else, as I, personally didn't find this mascara to help with either. 

MAC Fluidline in 'Black Track':

I'm not much of an eyeliner girl (I prefer my lash line bare), so I didn't pay much attention to MAC's Fluidline gel liners until taking my second makeup artistry class a few months ago. Not only does this liner apply super smoothly, it lasts all day and has very minimal smudging. I am slowly getting better at creating a winged liner effect (I'm better on others than I am on myself), and would like to pick up some of the other Fluidline colours. If you have any recommendations, be sure to let me know in the comment section below. 

Sigma E05 Eyeliner Brush:

Starting to use gel liner on a more regular basis has led me to search for the perfect eyeliner brush. While I have tried several brushes, my favourite by far is the Sigma E05. This small angled eyeliner brush is a miracle worker as it somehow allows my hand to create a fairly smooth and solid line (trust me, it's a miracle). I really like all of the Sigma brushes, but if you could only get one, I would definitely suggest picking up the E05. 

B. Kamins Bio-Maple Lip Balm:

I received a sample size of this lip balm a couple of months ago and immediately fell in love. Not only is this lip balm super moisturizing, it feels amazing on the lips (very creamy, but not at all greasy), and makes my lips appear somewhat plumper. I would definitely like to buy a full sized tube but, unfortunately have no idea where I can buy B. Kamins products. If anyone knows, be sure to let me know in the comment section below. 

The Beauty Blender:

If I had to recommend one 'tool' for any makeup newbie (or oldie) to invest in, I would, without a doubt, recommend The Beauty Blender.  This small pink sponge (which expands when wet) helps press makeup (foundation, blush, etc.) into the skin for a smooth, airbrushed finish. Personally, if I don't use my beauty blender, I notice that my foundation tends to look very cakey and uneven. The Beauty Blender is somewhat expensive ($19.99 USD per sponge) but, if properly taken care of, will last a very long time. 

Immortal Flower Blush, Pearl Cream Colour Base

Have you tried any of the products mentioned above? What were your favourite products for the month of April? Be sure to let me know in the comment section below. 

xx

Alicia