I think it's safe to say that I love the glowy finish to my makeup. Even when I want to stay basic, I like to use a highlight. I definitely find it makes me look and feel more awake. Just a little bit of glow makes an entire makeup look feel refreshed and vibrant. 

So after saying all this, it's only natural that I discuss some some of my favourite highlight and contour palettes.

This palette is what got me hooked on highlighters. The middle shade is absolutely beautiful and when you combine all three, you end up getting the most beautiful bronzed glow. As is clearly evident, I've used this palette to bits. So while it's been a little more then a year since I've had it, I don't see it leaving me anytime soon. 

This is the newest member of my collection and while it is only a sample, I'm tempted to go out and purchase the full sized version. This gives a beautiful finish without seeming too much. I like to use this one when I'm going for the "no makeup" makeup look. It gives a very natural finish that defines the cheekbones but doesn't overpower them.

This product needs no explanation. I have yet to find someone that doesn't like it... This palette is what got me really intrigued by Charlotte Tilbury (her products aren't easily accessible here in Canada). This duo was definitely used A LOT this summer and, these days, I tend to reach for it on nights out. It's one of the most pigmented palettes I own so it works really well when I want to go for a more defined look. 

The BeccaXJaclyn Hill highlight is perfect because it has a gorgeous rose gold undertone. This one, as well, is extremely pigmented, so it isn't one that I'll grab for everyday but it definitely fits the bill when I want to have a little more fun with my makeup.  

I think I've learnt the most about contour and highlight from this palette. I know that's probably silly to say but there is a reason why Kevyn Aucoin is the master of the contour. My favourite shades have been "Brighten" (top left), and "Sculpt (bottom right). The "Celestial Powder" is also gorgeous but it is very similar to the middle shade of the Hourglass palette. 

The final highlight I've really enjoyed using is "Meringue" from my Laura Mercier palette. I didn't think much of it when purchasing the palette- thought I'd just use the eyeshadows. However, I have realized that the highlight shade is amazing. Whenever I use the palette for my eyes, I end up sticking with the highlight because it just works really well. I like that it has some pink undertones, which means I can get away with not using a blush. It's not a heavy shade but if you're just going with a simple look that day, I think its a perfect addition. 

Well there you have it! My favourite highlight shades in my collection <3 If you've stuck until the very end, thank you.. I appreciate it :) 

I hope you have a gorgeous week!

Emilia

xx

Welcome back to another #MiaXmasPrep post all about a gorgeous pink holiday lip. I thought I'd create a look that would work super well for a Christmas Day dinner. :)

It's not very often that I wear a "bright" pink lip but as I was figuring out this entire look, I realized that it would be the perfect finishing touch. The main focus on this entire look is the eyes, so I'll go into more depth about that.  I hope you enjoy the look!<3

 We all know I like a clean base, so I started with my favourite products. I went in with a primer and then before applying my foundation, I used Benefit's brightening camouflage. I'm prone to strong under-eye dar circle and it is finals, so I decided to add an extra step with the heavy duty stuff. Next, I opted for a matte foundation because I wanted to concentrate on specific areas for any shimmer later on. Finally I used my standard concealer for blemishes and an under-eye brightener to layer over that first under-eye product. 

 I applied my very loved eyeshadow primer and then did my eyebrows so that it had some time to dry. Today, I used a combination of two MAC shades, "omega" and "wedge" for my eyebrows and they gave a really nice natural finish while still filling in the areas where the hairs are a little sparse. 

For this look I opted for one of my favourites, the Too Faced Natural Eyes palette. All over the lid, I applied "Heaven" and then right in the middle used "Push Up". I then used "Cashmere Bunny" in the crease to create more depth. Towards the outer corner of the eye, I went for a mix of "Erotica" and "Sexspresso". If you decide to recreate this look, remember to blend everything as you go along;) In the inner corners of my eyes I then went in and applied some "Silk Teddy". I also used that on the inside lower lash line and then towards the outer ends of that lash line, I used "Erotica". 

 Like I said at the start, bright pink isn't a lip shade I'd normally go for, especially in the winter, but I thought this one would pull the entire look together. Because it's in stick form, the colour is very easy to manipulate. I dabbed it on my lips so that I wasn't making it too matte but rather creating a nice sheer finish. It's quite an old rose pink shade which I think works perfectly for the holidays. 

So there you have it. A neutral, shimmery eye and pink lip ready for the holidays (or any other time, really)

:)

I hope you're all having a wonderful week and wishing luck to all those currently studying for finals <3

Emilia

xx

Today's makeup look is all about perfecting the base and having a bold lip. What I mean by this is keeping the eyes relatively clean and making sure the rest of the fact was nicely done; emphasizing the brows and cheeks. I hope you enjoy the look! :)

Everything starts with the base; making sure my skin was even and smooth. So after applying my moisturizer I then went with:

L'oreal Magic Perfecting Base Primer: This is one of the best primers I've tried. While there have been some that do just as good of a job as this one, L'oreal's price point is perfect compared to using something higher end. It doesn't make my face oilier then it already is and doesn't make me break out either. Also, I have noticed that if I'm wearing makeup all day, it's worth it to apply this first since it does actually help my makeup last longer

Benefit Erase Paste: I use this for my under eye dark circles. I find it works really well. I apply it just under my eye to cancel out the dark features. I can't quite compare it to it's other competitors (at it's price point) because I've only used drug store alternatives. However, compared to those it works much better.

Too Faced Shadow Insurance: This is an eye primer and it works really well. I would definitely recommend this one. It hasn't irritated my eyes and my eye shadows have lasted all day with this compared to others. 

See you soon!

Emilia

xx

BECCAxJaclyn Hill Shimmering Skin Perfector (Champagne Pop): Yes, it's been talked about all over the beauty blog and Youtube world but I just couldn't say no. I was surprised that it was still available on the website and I knew I would have regretted it if I didn't put it into my basket. I've been using it for a few days and I've noticed a difference compared to the other highlights I have. I've always found that the ones I own don't show on my skin as much as I want them too. This was is actually noticeable when I apply it on my cheekbones. So far, I've really enjoyed using it.

Charlotte Tilbury Film Star Bronze&Glow: These nest few products are all from Charlotte Tilbury and I got this palette in the shade light/medium. I also posted a picture on Instagram this weekend and mentioned that they would be present in an upcoming post. Well here they are. I've already opened this palette and I absolutely love it. The powders are so fine but they give such pigment that I already know I'm going to get so much use out of them. 

Charlotte Tilbury Lipstick in Night Crimson: I haven't tried this one on my lips yet but I've been told that her lipsticks are very moisturizing. It's a gorgeous deep purple/burgundy hue that is my absolute favourite during the colder months.

Charlotte Tilbury Colour Chameleon in Amethyst Aphrodisiac: This eyeshadow pencil is actually targeted to people with green eyes (mine are brown) but I love wearing purple when I'm going for a more extravagant evening look. Again it'll work really well in the fall and I could definitely create a vibrant and gorgeous purple smokey eye.

M.A.C Studio Fix Fluid Foundation (NC25): I've recently broken out a little and believe it or not this foundation has helped the most in the past cover the acne without making it spread. I know most people with acne-prone sking have issues with M.A.C foundation but I've never had that problem and when I want a little more coverage, I find this one works really well. 

Those were my recent make up purchases. I will definitely give more of an update on the products once I've used them a few more times. Maybe reviews will be written if I really love them or ended up really not liking some of the them. 

I hope you have a lovely day and I'll see you back on Friday when my next post comes out:)

Emilia

xx