First Impressions : Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Makeup

Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Makeup

Have you ever stayed in an upscale hotel or driven in a luxury car and felt that from now on you can't settle for anything less than this experience? This is how I feel about the Estée Lauder Double Wear, Stay-In-Place Makeup. I truly believe I have found the Maserati of all foundations! Double Wear exudes glamour and luxury and I desperately need it in my life from now on!

Double Wear is long wearing, 15 hours to be exact, has a fluid texture, provides medium coverage, very lightweight and gives a semi-matte natural finish. This foundation comes in 3 tones (C) cool, (N) neutral, and (W) warm and has over 30 shades to choose from. 

Maha Matar

//Wearing Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Makeup in Ivory Beige. Soft lighting and NO editing//

I was introduced to the Double Wear Makeup on one of my lunch break visits to Nordstrom. I really wasn't shopping for a new foundation, but sometimes god has plans for you and you must accept it ( I'm being a bit dramatic I know). The overly exuberant sales lady insisted I test it out and promised me I would be pleased. I had a hard time saying no, so I reluctantly propped myself onto her mini stool and waited while she matched me to a shade. I convinced her to let me take the lead and I applied the makeup the best way I knew how to apply foundation. I warmed the foundation on the back of my hand in circular motions and applied it to one side of my face with a flat brush. I stepped into the light she had setup beside her counter and was pleasantly surprised at the overall natural finish + semi sheen I saw to my skin after one coat. I liked how silky and soft it felt on my skin and how even my complexion looked. I was impressed but wasn't blown away. I did the other side of my face and told the sales lady, " I would think about it, I like it but I don't love it". Back to office I went with a fresh foundation application. As a coincidence, Ottawa that day hit temperatures of 30 degrees and to my surprise my foundation stayed in place. It didn't separate, oxidize or become patchy. Actually , it looked better 4 hours after the initial application. I was a bit perplexed as I had never experienced this with a foundation. How is it that it looked better now than when I applied it at noon?  I researched this magic of a foundation online and it seems that Double Wear was formulated to provide built in long lasting wear. The longer you wear the foundation, it starts to look better on the skin. My skin looked airbrushed 4 hours after I applied it!I have worn the foundation almost every day  since I first purchased it 3 weeks ago and it hasn't let me down.

Final Impressions: I like how soft it feels on my skin and doesn't dry out my already dry skin.I love the fluid rich texture and I'm very pleased with the variety of shades available. I appreciate how it evens out my complexion and provides great medium coverage. I did have to use concealer on a few areas but this is expected with any medium coverage foundation. At $53 it's very comparable cost-wise with other brand name foundations, but I believe Double Wear is best value for your money because not once did I have to "freshen up" my face while wearing this foundation. So I never used any powder to prolong the life of my foundation. The only setback I have with Double Wear is that it doesn't have a pump to extract the foundation. I don't like having to dig into the foundation to get the product. Overall, I can say I have found my HG of foundations! It works so well on my olive toned skin and gives me that perfect fresh, natural and even complexion that I lust after. I truly enjoy wearing this foundation as it does add a bit of luxe into my life and who doesn't want that!

DISCLAMIER: I bought this product with my own funds. The opinions expressed are my own and I am not affiliated with Estée Lauder

3 Essential Steps To Becoming Spring Ready !

Spring is almost here - so some changes are in order! Not just your wardrobe needs an overhaul but so do your skin, makeup and hair. Let's start by swapping our winter coats and boots for a light spring jacket and rain boots(ankle boots as well!).I've compiled for you an easy 3 step guide that will take you from feeling damp and dreary to feeling beautiful, refreshed and ready for Spring!


PREP SKIN

\\ Clarisonic Mia \\

\\  L'Oreal Paris Moisturizer \\

\\ UltraBland Cleanser \\

\\ Paula's Choice Resist Intensive Repair Cream \\

\\ Paula's Choice Resist Serum \\

\\ Paula's Choice Resist Weekly Retexturing BHA \\

\\ Paula's Choice Resist Toner \\

\\ Cerave Eye Repair Cream \\

Your skin is your biggest organ(yes it's an organ,look it up!) and should be taken care of just as you do your heart. We all know good skin is highly sought after. It all starts within. It's been proven that a well hydrated body emits a natural glow that rivals the best highlighter on the market. For your body to be well hydrated you need to  drink at least 6-8 glasses of water. By consuming water you are flushing toxins out of your system and allowing your glow to come thru. It's not magic, it's science! 

At times, drinking 6-8 glasses of water isn't enough or practical so you need the help of exfoliating products. A cleansing power tool helps to rapidly exfoliate the body to reduce dry patches and leaves skin feeling very smooth.

Cleansing your skin is so important first thing in the morning as well as at night to ensure all the products and environmental toxins are removed from your pores. Choose a cleaner that is right for your skin type.

Using a reliable water based toner after cleansing helps to ensure your skin is receiving a healthy dose of antioxidants for the day.

Weekly exfoliating of the skin is necessary! Since many of us can't make it to the aesthetician on a weekly basis, it's great to rely on a solid BHA exfoliating product that improves skins texture, appearance and gets rid of blackheads. As well a decent BHA product will help with collagen production. 

A serum loaded with antioxidants will help to firm, brighten and hydrate your skin all day.

If dryness around the eyes during allergy season is a factor then adding an eye cream to your Spring prep routine will definitely help. An effective eye cream will hydrate the under eye and reduce puffiness.

There is no excuse for leaving the house without sunscreen. Sunscreen is the #1 defence against ageing skin and skin cancer.

Update Makeup Bag

\\ Clinique Long Lasting Coral Lipstick \\

\\ NYX Wonder Pencil Light \\

\\ Mac Face Bronzer  \\

\\ Mac Soft and Gentle Highlighter \\

\\ Essie Thrill to Kilt Nail Polish \\

M.A.C Powder Blush Fleur Power \\

\\ M.A.C Powder Blush Desert Rose \\

\\ M.A.C Studio Waterweight SPF 30 Foundation \\

\\ NARS Custard Creamy Concealer \\

\\ Maybelline Colossal Mascara \\

\\ Maybelline Color Tatoo Inked In Pink \\

\\ M.A.C Eyeshadow \\

\\ MARC JACOB Daisy Parfume \\

Put away those matte lipsticks and reach for a coral lippie! Spring is the time of new awakenings and rejuvenation so don't hesitate to be inspired and try different colours.

Adding a soft cheerful pastel shade to your lids is not only fun, but will also make them pop. Adding a bright bold colour to your inner and under waterline will tie the look together. If a bright purple in your waterline is not your thing, you can always reach for a nude toned eye pencil to give a bright eyed and awake look!

Feeling like winter took away your colour ? Add a soft bronzer + highlighter to your makeup routine to liven up your colour and give the illusion you just came back from the islands!

Blush is magic! It's an instant "pick me up" and if applied properly  can easily transform your look. During the winter months the plums, golds and nudes were in high demand. This Spring, go after the pinks, purples and corals.

Wearing a lightweight concealer and foundation as a base will help enhance your natural beauty and won't make you look overdone. 

Applying a coat or two of black mascara always pulls the look together. If your feeling adventurous, teal and pink mascara(a light coat obviously) is a big hit this season. 

Pampering your feet and nails is a luxury. Schedule a mani - pedi as soon as you can. Once the sun starts shining you're going to want to wear sandals and open toe heels so it's best to be prepared. If you can't make it to an esthetician, read this article for a DIY mani - pedi at home! When choosing colour go for the pinks, reds and pastels.

When choosing a Springtime scent, ensure that it represents your personality. If you're not a flower lover than don't choose a citrus or fruity scent.If you don't like attention than a bold scent such as musk or amber is most likely not for you! If you're Vegan or a Naturalist, there are many companies that offer natural organic scents. Whatever scent you choose, ensure it represents your style and personality well. A lingering scent is at times how people remember you, so make it fabulous!

Transform Hair

\\ REGIS Tea Tree Shampoo \\

\\ Otto-Keunis Argan Oil Shine Spray \\

\\ Otto-Keunis Intensive Mask \\

\\ L'Oreal TecniArt Volume Mousse\\

We can finally say goodbye to Winter hat hair, frizzy and unmanageable tresses! It's time to pamper your hair. Your hair says a lot about you so ensuring it looks healthy and shiny should be a top priority this Spring. 

At the start of every new season you should trim your ends. This will promote hair growth without breakage and thinning. If your  fearless and ready for a change you may want to try a sexy pixi cut or a cute and very wearable LOB (longer bob).

Using a sulfate and paraben free shampoo and conditioner will help hydrate the hair and clean your scalp. A clean scalp ensures your hair can breath and in turn can grow easily. 

An intensive repair mask should be your best friend this Spring.

A hair mask will help heal the damage from the cold Winter months. Once or twice a week is necessary to bring life and hydration back into your hair.

Styling your hair is always fun, but at times can damage your hair. Constant heat and tugging at the tresses weakens the follicles and over time destroys vital proteins needed for hair repair and growth.

This Spring go "Oh Natural" with your hair!If you have curly or wavy hair, shampoo your tresses, let it air dry and add a bit of volumizing mouse to your roots and ends. If you have naturally straight hair, towel dry the hair and comb out any frizz that may have  developed from the towel. 

If you must add heat to your hair, ensure you keep the hair dryer as far from your hair as possible to reduce damage. Coating your hair with heat styling products beforehand will minimize the damage.

Applying a shine spray to your hair will create a luminous shine and this will give the illusion that you have natural healthy hair. A good quality shine spray will also offer UV,thermal and environmental toxin protection.

If you decide to tackle any or all of these 3 essential steps, leave a comment below and let me know how it goes! I love hearing from you all!

Happy Spring  :)

XOXO

MAHA

MY MAKE UP FOR EVER ESSENTALS!

Make Up For Ever (MUFE)is a PRO makeup line aimed at attracting artists in fields such as cinema, cabaret, TV , fashion and dance, but you don't have to be a professional artist to use and appreciate this iconic brand. Trust me when I say that every make up artist, staring out or a veteran in the industry has a MUFE product in their kit. For my professional kit, I started off buying all MUFE products because I was told, if you wanted to be respected in the industry, you better start working with the right tools right away. Every artist I asked at that time recommended MUFE for their versatile  product options and wide colour ranges in foundations and concealers.I not only picked up a few items for my kit, but I also added many items to my everyday makeup bag. I call these products my essentials because they make makeup application so much easier for me. I've become dependant on them and even though some of the products have been around for a while I still ❤ them.

Can you tell I use these palettes a lot!I think I'm on my 2 palette of each.I use them on almost everyone.I have the dark complexion in my personal makeup bag as well as I am obsessed with the orange for correcting my under eyes.

// 5 Dark Camouflage Cream Concealer Palette//

// 5 Very Light Camouflage Cream Concealer Palette//

The sculpting blush is a fave of mine! The pigmentation is so strong that you only need to lightly dab the tip of your brush in the compact to pick up a good amount of colour. I'm impressed by the colour range in these sculpting blushes. The colours are very soft almost pastel like and would flatter just about any skin tone.

//Sculpting Blush,Matte Raspberry Brown//

I've been using the Glossy Full Gloss since I was first introduced to it 2 years ago. I like the shine it gives off and it doesnt' feel sticky on. I don't say this about a lot of glosses, but this particular one is long wearing. I love to pair nude lipsticks on top of this gloss, it looks really good! Anytime I wear it I get asked "what's that gloss?". I don't know what the technology is behind this gloss, but it's a great product and a little goes a long way so you definitely get you monies worth.

The original HD foundation was a dream to use and very iconic in the beauty industry. When MUFE announced they were reformulating this product I really didn't believe it could get better than the original, but it did! This foundation comes in 40 shades, yes you read that correctly,40! You are bound to find your perfect match with such a wide range. I still like the fluidity of this product. I still blend it out with my damp beauty blender as I like the sheer look on me and I find the beauty blender is great in achieving this. I ONLY use 1 pump and that is enough product to cover your whole face. 2 pumps would be ideal if you want a full coverage look. This foundation dries to a satin finish and definitely feels and looks natural on the face. I use the HD foundation in my personal makeup bag and professional kit. I use it on clients with normal to slightly dry skin. I don't use this on oily or very dry skin as I find it further dries the skin.


The SENS' EYES cleanser is the ONLY product I use to remove waterproof makeup. I don't have to tug at my skin to remove the makeup as this works quickly and efficiently. I dab a bit of the liquid on to a cotton pad and with one swipe my eye and lip makeup is gone!. Again, like so many other MUFE products, a little goes a long way. The bottle I have is only 30ML and it's lasted me about 6 months.

The HD face Primer pictured is my favourite high end primer. I have so many of these tubes in my kit as I use it on everyone ! When I like a product, I LIKE a product :).This HD primer has a lightweight  yet silky texture, almost comparable to Benefits Porefessional face primer. This primer adds a nice glow to dull complexion and I feel on some people it corrects uneven skin tone. Sometimes I love wearing it alone, after moisturizing just because it adds a nice shine. MUFE doesn't produce this specific primer any longer as it's been replaced by STEP 1 SKIN EQUALIZER line. Stay tuned for a dedicated post on the STEP 1 line!

//Glossy Full Lip Gloss//
//Ultra HD Foundation//
//SENS Eyes Cleanser//
// HD MicroPerfecting Face Primer//


I have so many MUFE products on my list to buy and try out including the STEP 1 Primers , HD Face Sculpting kit,PRO Sculpting Duo,and the Ultra HD Concealer! Of course, you will be able to read my full review on these products soon :)

Healthy Pumpkin Spice Latte!

Fall is officially here and you know what that means? Oversized comfy sweaters, warm blankets and of course Pumpkin Spice Latte! We're huge coffee drinkers in my house, so anytime we can add a bit more flavor to our daily cup of Joe makes us super happy. I used to drink the PSL from the pricey coffee shops but I got tired of over-paying for a coffee drink that wasn't exactly healthy for me and didn't fit in with my new vegan lifestyle. That's why I'm so happy to share this ridiculously easy vegan PSL recipe with you all. Now, I'm making my favorite drink in my pj’s and I'm saving some cash!. For non-vegans you can absolutely substitute milk for the non-dairy milk. Make sure to add lots of whipped cream, vegan or not, everyone enjoys a sugar overload :) Enjoy!



Image Via

Ingredients

• 1 cup freshly brewed coffee
• 2 tbs pumpkin puree
• 2 tbs non-dairy milk (I used  almond milk)
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• ¼ tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 2-3 tsp maple syrup
• optional toppings- vegan whipped cream, ground cinnamon

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in small saucepan on stove. Stir until everything is mixed and heat to desired warmth.
2. Transfer to mug and top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon

Recipe from www.colorfulkitchen.com