Dior Addict Lacquer Plump ~ My Latest Obsession

After 2 years of wearing almost exclusively matte lips, I'm happy to say I've moved on. I never thought I would see the day that I was excited for glossy lips, but here I am. Even more shocking is that I've basically only been wearing the new Dior Addict Lacquer Plump - specifically 868 J'adior.

I have commitment issues when it comes to makeup, so when I wear the same brand, product and shade for more than a day, you know it's gotta be good great!

"It's a fascinating formula innovation. We have succeeded in pushing the limits of shine and extreme colour in various effects with a comforting lip care formula and an ultra fluid texture that you forget is there. Thanks to a lightweight texture, exactly the right quantity is intuitively applied to the lips in one sweep." 

-Peter Philips

Dior Addict Lacquer Plump is a lacquered lip ink that not only colours the lips with long wearing colour, it plumps the lips too. This miracle in a tube (my term) shapes, smooths, plumps and adds dimensional colour all while caring for my lips. Now you see why I call it a miracle! Plus it's available in 16 shades ranging from classics to neons and glitters.

Before I get into the nitty gritty, I have to fangirl over the packaging a bit. The tube is traditional Dior but the labelling is truly stunning.

"The packaging was designed to give place of pride to colour with a Dior signature that emphasizes each of the sparkling shades."

- Peter Philips

Luxe packaging aside, the formula is where it's at. If you're anything like me, when you hear glossy you automatically think sticky. That is my biggest qualm with glossy lips and I'm so happy that there is no stickiness to Dior Addict Lacquer Plump. Literally none. They have such a unique feel to them that reminds me of vinyl - smooth and surprisingly comfortable. I can feel it on my lips, but not in a bad way. I actually really like the feel of these.

According to Dior, 24 hours after application, lip hydration levels climb by 78% thanks to an oil and water emulsion that's infused with hibiscus extract and hyaluronic acid.

The plumping effect is noticeable immediately. The lines in my lips are filled and they look deliciously full - something I desperately need. I have noticed that these can bleed a bit, although it's not consistent, so I think it has more to do with what other products I'm wearing.

I've basically just started lining my lips with the bolder shades, just in case. Wear time is quite impressive (4-6 hours) and the transfer is minimal. They also leave behind a stain that I really like.

If I'm being honest the glitter shades of Lacquer Plump, although gorgeous, don't perform quite as well. They're not uncomfortable, but I can definitely feel the glitter. And they fade kind of weird and patchy. If I eat or drink, I'm going to need to reapply. After a few hours I need to reapply. A pain in the ass but worth it because they are really pretty.

You can find Dior Addict Lacquer Plump at Sephora, sephora.ca , Hudson's Bay, thebay.com and Dior counters nationwide.

*pr samples were generously provided for editorial consideration. As always, all opinions are my own.

Diorskin Forever Undercover Foundation ~ Review + Swatches

Hello beauties! Today I'm talking about foundation and Dior, specifically the new Diorskin Forever Undercover Foundation. Before I get into my thoughts, let's take a look at the facts and the claims.

First up, the facts! Diorskin Forever Undercover ($64) is a water based formula that contains the highest level of pigments in the entire range; nearly twice that of the original fluid foundation. To avoid a mask like effect, the pigments are given a specific coating (plant based) to merge with the skin, providing an imperceptible finish.

And now the claims. Diorskin Forever Undercover is said to be an ultra-high coverage foundation that looks natural and wears for 24hrs of extreme correction.

First of all, the finish. In a word, heavenly! I can't get over how this foundation balances full coverage with a natural finish. It's matte yet somehow radiant, and my skin looks perfect. Literally perfect. And the best part is that it's completely undetectable (so long as you find a shade match).

I love how Diorskin Forever Undercover doesn't set right away; you have ample time to blend and adjust your coverage. To achieve a higher level of coverage, Peter Philips recommends applying with a foundation brush. 

As far as wear time, I will say that it's long wearing, but not 24hr wearing (at least not for me). I've tried it with primer, on its own, set with powder plus setting spray and I can't get longer than 8 hours out of it. I will say that it fades gracefully and evenly.

All in all I really like this foundation but...

The shade range (although better) is still very lacking. There are 24 shades that are mostly neutral toned. So those who are very fair or deep will likely have a hard time finding a match, as will anyone with a very warm or cool undertone.

In order for me to wear this foundation in the winter, I need to mix it. Even then, it's not perfect. I'm pretty pale with a yellow undertone. I tried Shade 015 Tender Beige as it was the lightest, most warm toned neutral shade, but it was still too pink. The lightest yellow based shade is 021 Linen and that's too dark for me right now. 023 Peach is too orange. Everything in between is too neutral or pink. In order for me to make this foundation work, I mix shade 015 with a touch of 021, add a couple drops of MAKE UP FOR EVER Chromatic Mix in 02 (review on those here). 

The good news is that shade 21 will definitely work once I get my faux tan on 😉

Do I recommend this foundation? Hells ya if you can find a match! The finish is one of the best I've ever tried. I seriously hope that they add some more shades/undertones to the range.

You can find Diorskin Forever Undercover in-store and online at sephora.com

*pr samples were generously provided for editorial consideration. As always, all opinions are my own.

Kat Von D Studded Kiss Crème Lipstick ~ Review + Swatches

Hey beauties! Today I'm sharing a short (and sweet!) post about the Kat Von D Studded Kiss Crème Lipstick I received complimentary to review. If you follow me on social (if not, let's be friends) you likely saw that I received Influenster's Kat Von D Beauty Voxbox. I was gifted the shade Misfit and I seriously love it!

"Studded Kiss Crème Lipstick features a high-chroma content for pure, vivid color in a revolutionary new base formula that’s crystal clear, super-soft, and virtually weightless. Made with smooth, spherical pigments and lip-nourishing ingredients, it’s never been easier to coat your lips in creamy, comfortable color." /source/ 

For the most part my lipstick collection consists of liquid lipsticks, however I do own one of the original Kat Von D Studded Kiss lipsticks. In short, the new version is definitely an improvement. I found the old formula to tug upon application and it felt pretty drying. I'm happy to say that the new formula is much creamier, smoother and still long wearing.

There are a whopping 40 shades to choose from and I received the shade Misfit. On the Sephora website it's described as a true scarlet, but in person I would have to say it's more of a warm, rust shade. A little brown, but still very much a red. The finish is somewhere between satin and matte - more matte in my opinion.

As far as wear goes, I can get a solid 6 hours out of it. It does transfer but it's minimal and as long as I don't eat anything oily I'm good. For a bullet lipstick it wears very well.

All in all I'm quite happy with this lipstick and am planning on picking up a few more. OG Lolita, I'm coming for you 😉

You can find these lipsticks in-store and online at sephora.com

*I received this lipstick complimentary from Influenster. All opinions are my own.

Incoming! Dior Rouge Liquid & Double Rouge ~ Review + Swatches

Peter Philips (Creative and Image Director for Dior Makeup) has revamped Dior's Iconic Dior Rouge lipstick in a big huge way and it's everything you've dreamed of and more! Meet Dior Rouge Liquid Lipstain and Dior Double Rouge 😍

"Laced with featherweight pigments that produce intense, vibrant colour that lasts up to 12 hours. Dior's first liquid lipstick is the next generation of liquid lipstick. A combination of wax, moisturizing oils, and setting agents make for a seamless, second-skin finish in one swipe."

Dior Rouge Liquid Lipstain ($43 CAD) is available in 29 shades (3 of which are Sephora exclusives) and three finishes (Rock Matte, Pop Satin and Electric Metal). Each shade boasts high impact colour, staying power and comfort. Optimum pigment dispersion reinforces colour intensity and each finish is formulated as follows:

- Matte effect: 2 to 7% pigments

- Satin effect: 1 to 3% pigments + 4 to 7% iridescence

- Metallic effect: 17 to 20% iridescence

When it comes to luxury packaging, Dior takes the cake. The sleek, navy tube has a vertical window that allows you to quickly view the shade as well as product usage. The wand is comfortable to hold and the doe foot applicator is by far the best I've ever used. There's a bowl shaped reservoir that holds just the right amount of lipstick and the tapered doe foot shape allows for precision lining and filling of the lips.

I have three shades (one from each finish category) and they are all very similar in formulation. They're definitely liquid lipstick, not a lipstain as the name suggests. It's important to note that they don't dry down completely which means that they will transfer. Having said that, they can hold their own when it comes to drinking and light snacking.

375 Spicy Metal is a stunning pink lipstick with a high-shine, metallic finish. It feels light on my lips and wears similar to a satin lipstick. Out of the three finishes I've tried, this one is the most pigmented, opaque and dries down the most (aka less transfer).

427 Delicate Satin is a light, peachy brown lipstick with a beautiful satin finish. It's incredibly comfortable to wear and gives off that 'my lips but better look'. From first application to end of the evening, this lipstick feels (and looks!) great.

424 Hypnotic Matte is a light, beige-brown nude with a pink undertone. It applies evenly, opaque and doesn't crack on my lips. It feels hydrating initially, but after extended wear it starts to feel a bit dry. Having said that, I don't feel the need to bathe in lip balm after wearing it.

Dior's Double Rouge ($43 CAD) is a dual-textured lipstick that has a highly pigmented matte outer ring with a metallic core. The concept is that the matte and metallic lipstick combine upon application to create a subtle ombré effect and an optical illusion of volume. It took up to 16 attempts to find the perfect balance for certain shades and 4 months to adjust the formula and perfect each stick.

Peter Philips created 4 colour families: fun and sophisticated reds, cheerful corals, electric purple pinks, and nudes. It's important to note that Double Rouge will not be available at Sephora.

Double Rouge is enclosed in the traditional Dior bullet packaging which is absolutely gorgeous. I was expecting these lipsticks to have a stark contrast when applied but thankfully they don't - the ombré effect is quite subtle and pretty. If you don't align the matte outer ring with the edges of your lips you won't get the ombré effect. Both of the shades I have feel very luxurious and comfortable on my lips.

429 Coup de Chic has a matte, rosy-nude outer ring with a soft pink mettalic inner core. When applied, the two combine to create a pinkish nude shade with a pearlescent finish. This shade is very light and feminine - I love it!

590 Dressed to Kill has a deep, matte burgundy outer ring with a champagne hued metallic core. When applied, the two combine to create a stunning wine red shade with a satin finish. I did find that when I tried to accentuate the ombré effect my lips looked a bit patchy as you can see in the photo. I had much better results when I forgo trying to ombré and just blended the two shades together.

You can find Dior's Double Rouge at Hudson's Bay, Beauty BOUTIQUE and Nordstrom or online at thebay.com and beautyBOUTIQUE.ca


You can find Dior's Rouge Liquid at Sephora, Hudson's Bay, Beauty BOUTIQUE and Nordstrom. Also available online at thebay.com, beautyBOUTIQUE.ca and sephora.com




*Press samples were generously provided for editorial consideration. All opinions are my own.

MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua XL Color Paint Shadow & Aqua XL Ink Eyeliner ~ Review + Swatches

MAKE UP FOR EVER has recently expanded their Aqua XL line with some super fun and extremely colourful eye makeup; Aqua XL Color Paint Shadow and Aqua XL Ink Eye Liner.

"Aqua XL Color Paint Shadow offers the ease of a powder in a cream texture. It glides on seamlessly, and it’s flexible texture makes it easy to blend and layer for perfectly vibrant color that’s waterproof, smudge-proof, and crease-resistant. Enriched with mango butter, this nourishing formula hydrates skin, leaving lids comfortable throughout the day. It’s available in an array of ultra-pigmented creamy shades—from neutral to bright tones, including matte, lustrous, and iridescent finishes." /source/ 

MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua XL Color Paint Shadow (4.8 ml, $31) is every bit as unique, fun and colourful as it sounds! It's available in 20 shades and finishes (12 mattes, 4 satins and 4 shimmers). The Aqua XL Color Paint can be worn alone or mixed together to create custom shades. The possibilities with this shadow are truly endless!

Aqua XL Color Paint Shadow is housed in a squeezable tube. You can use it directly from the tube or squeeze it into a palette for mixing. It's very pigmented, creamy and applies to the eyes with ease. This eye shadow blends extremely well without losing its pigment, which was really surprising. Not only is it blendable, it's buildable as well. You can build it up or tone it down to suit your needs.

I have the shade M-40, which is a matte yellow. The shade is gorgeous and it can be worn subtly or boldy. I love to wear it on my lids, through my crease and up to my brow bone. I found it super easy to blend and layer.  I use a standard eyeshadow brush for my lid and a blending brush to pull it into and above my crease. It sets fast and lasts all day without primer.

"Aqua XL Ink Liner stays put until you take it off. With an ultra-fine, felt tip applicator, this waterproof formula delivers the best in liquid liner wear. It's long-lasting formula ensures highly pigmented color that wont smudge, transfer or fade. Edge or accent your lids from corner to corner and beyond with this easy, perfectly designed applicator. It’s available in an array of shades, including matte, lustrous, diamond, and metallic finishes." /source/ 

The Aqua XL Ink Eye Liner (1.7 ml, $30) is available in 15 shades and finishes (7 mattes, 1 mettalic, 5 satins and 2 shimmers). The formula boasts 24hrs of waterproof wear, high pigmented colour and ultra-fine precision.

I have the shade D-60 Diamond brown (shimmer finish). The shade is a beautiful, dark brown and it has a shimmering finish. The shimmer isn't very intense; it won't stand out against a shimmery eye shadow. The felt tip is very precise and easy to use. As someone who can't do a wing to save my life, I appreciate how user friendly it is. I do find that it dries quickly so you need to work fast. The one thing that I'm not crazy about, is that if I get it on my lashes they get stuck together and crunchy. It's best to stay away from the ends of your lashes with this stuff. It wears for a long time and is very easy to remove at the end of the day. I will be reaching for this eye liner often.

You can find these and other MAKE UP FOR EVER products at Sephora and sephora.com

Have you tried MAKE UP FOR EVER's new Aqua XL products? What shades are calling your name? Lets chat in the comment section below 👇

*This post features press samples sent to me for editorial consideration, but all opinions are my own!