This Just In | L'Oreal Brow Stylist Definer

Finding decent brow products at the drugstore has always evaded me. My biggest challenge has been finding something in the 'brunette' range that isn't red tinged or golden in tone. The struggle has been real, which left me always purchasing high end products at 2-3 times the cost in order to get a decent match to my cool toned dark brown hair. I've been so let down, I almost didn't pick up the L'Oreal Brow Stylist Definer when I saw it in a new display the other day, figuring it was just like all the others - but guess what? It's not!

This Just In | 6 New Products I Want to Try

With the end of this year rapidly approaching, many brands are already launching their Spring releases (crazy, I can't even think of Spring yet!). No surprise, there are some exciting new products that I very interested in trying. Here's a little round up of 6 new launches that I'll be keeping my eye on in the next month or two!

Clarins Blogger Advent Calendar

It should be no surprise to readers of GLG that I am a fan of Clarins. Their Instant Light Lip range is holy grail status for me, and I adore the Complexion Illuminating Base. So when Clarins Canada asked me to participate in their Blogger Advent Calendar, I jumped at the chance to rave even more. The Blogger Advent Calendar is featuring different bloggers throughout the month of December focusing on their favourite Clarins product, and my must-have-never-want-to-be-without-product is hands down the Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner. Keep reading to find out why this has a permanent home in my stash.

Mascara Monday | Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara

It's been ages since I did a Mascara Monday post, and even longer probably since it was a good oold drugstore buy. I decided to give another mascara by Essence a go, you may remember I've raved about the budget brand before in this post. This time round I went for the Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara, because anything that claims to mimic false lashes is right up my alley. Here's how I got on...

Retail During the Holidays

Posts here on GLG have been a little slim lately, not for lack of ideas (I have SO many great posts coming, I swear!) but for lack of time. It's that old story of having a day job, and in my case that day job is in retail. If you've ever worked in any sort of service industry or retail (and everyone should be made to work a Christmas in retail once in their life in my humble opinion) then you'll know that familiar dread that comes this time of year. For many of us, the joy of the season is simply squashed a bit by working in retail, and regardless of what you do or don't celebrate there is only so much Christmas music a soul can be forced to listen to. If you don't read the rest of this post, that's fine but I'll leave you with this: Be nice to those who work in retail, hospitality, service industry, etc especially this time of year. You'd be surprised the last time they might have heard a 'Thank You' or a simple 'You too!' when they wished you Happy Holidays (or Merry Christmas, or Happy Hanukkah or whatever the hell else... it's not about that people! It's the thought!) If you have worked in such type of job industry, you might commiserate with me on some of these things... 

The Champagne Shadow All Makeup Lovers Should Have | Stila Kitten Eyeshadow

My love of Stila's Kitten Eyeshadow came about many, many years ago. If you read this post, you might even remember that it was the first purchase I ever made from Sephora. Since then it has become somewhat of a staple in my makeup wardrobe that has stood the test of time - and has gained a bit of a cult classic status for the brand (not surprisingly).

Five More Hyped Up Higher Priced Products Put to the Test

One of my favourite things to do is to try out products that everyone else seems to love; Products that have gained their own following, or have enough hype not to need promotion. I find sometimes we convince ourselves that something is worth its price tag because we are inner-cringing at how much we sent on it in the first place. Other times I find myself saying, "but it gets such amazing reviews from everyone!?" - so here I am to break down five more higher priced beauty products for you all and let you know if they really are worth the hype!

Good Grease | 5 Different Balm Cleansers

Something that's come as a bit of a skincare epiphany to me in the last couple of years is the world of balm cleansers. They seemed terrifying at first, as if I was smearing grease all over my face, but once I felt the real effect of how thoroughly they actually cleanse the skin, I don't know if I could ever not use one in my routine. So here are five different types of balm cleanser that get my approval, and which I reach for when...

Party Pretty | Favourites for the Holiday Season

With the holiday season in full bloom and regardless of what you do and don't celebrate, chances are you might have at least one festive gathering or event to attend to this year. Over the years I've attempted all sorts of looks for said events, and have now got my favourite products and tricks down to a bit of an art. Here are some of my must-haves and must-tries for a gorgeous party pretty look this season.

The 2015 Holiday Gift Guide | $75 and Beyond...

I'm finally rounding up Gift Guide Week with the the ultimate eye candy gifts. I started out the week with Gifts & Stocking Stuffers under $25, followed by my picks for the Under $75 range, and now we're talking about $75 and beyond folks... there are some really droolworthy gifts in here to give (or maybe keep for yourself... you've earned it, I promise you that!)

THE 2015 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE | Under $75

Welcome to Gift Guide Week! All week long I am going to have cherry picked gifting ideas for you that I've personally tried and tested and can vouch for their incredible awesomeness. Todays post features some incredible gift ideas that check in under $75 - If you missed the first installment, the Gift Guide for Under $25 and Stocking Stuffers is here.

Best in Beauty | November 2015 Favourites

 

Another month gone and we are into December... DECEMBER! Wasn't it just Summer, like yesterday? The temperature has finally dropped here in Vancouver, and I've found myself reaching for some warmer, richer tones this month. Keep reading to find out what the best of beauty for November 2015 is...

The 2015 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE | Under $25 & Stocking Stuffers

Welcome to Gift Guide Week! All week long I am going to have cherry picked gifting ideas for you that I've personally tried and tested and can vouch for their incredible awesomeness. Today I am jumping in with the Under $25 range as well as Stocking Stuffers. Whether it's for a secret gift exchange at work, or a token gift for a friend or just an extra to add to an existing present, I've got some great ideas for you!

The Face Oil for People Who Hate the Feel of Oil | NUDE ProGenius Omega Treatment Rescue

One of the first things I hear when I tell people about facial oils is: "You put oil on your face!?!". There's a stigma attached to oils with many connecting oil to breakouts, but what most don't understand is the difference between good oils and bad oils. Mineral oil? Bad (clogs pores, doesn't absorb by the skin, is a cheap filler that has no skin benefits). Rosehip oil? Good (helps reduce ages/sun spots, hydrates and balances the skin). The second thing I hear is: "But I don't like the feel of oil on my face!" and that is where NUDE ProGenius Omega Treatment Rescue Oil fits in friends. It's the oil for people who don't like, or are scared of oils. Let's talk about that...

Laura Mercier Matte to Metal Caviar Eye Colour Set for Holiday 2015

One of the best purchases I made last year was the holiday set of Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Colours - I  did a full review of it here.  As a big fan of the formula and ease of use, I was thrilled to see that for Holiday 2015 there was another set, the Laura Mercier Matte to Metal Collection*, this time with six shades, including two more satin finish versions!

The Problem Solvers Series | Avoiding the Dreaded Cake Face

One of the biggest problems I find with applying makeup, especially foundation, is that it sometimes just doesn't sit very well on my dry skin. Oppositely, when you have oily skin and need to layer your products to ensure lasting power, sometimes things get a little much. I'm talking about cake face people. It can happen when there is too much product, or the skin texture isn't smooth, or purely because it isn't the right product for your skin type, and it's not pretty. Here's my tips for getting that flawless base without the dreaded cake face.

Urban Decay X Gwen Stefani | The Palette

When I heard that Gwen Stefani of No Doubt fame was teaming up with Urban Decay and designing a limited edition eyeshadow palette, I instantly knew I 'needed' it. As a fan from the early days, I've always found Gwen to have bold, unique style, which is a bit of a match made in heaven for Urban Decay as a brand.  Needless to say, I was reasonably excited when the Gwen Stefani Palette showed up this week (or unreasonably so - there might have been a squeak of joy or two!). Keep reading for a breakdown of the shades included in the post below!

IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Color Correcting Full Coverage Cream

I suppose it is time I had this much-hyped, ridiculously long-named product here on Girl Loves Gloss. I'm of course talking about the IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Color Correcting Full Coverage Cream* (seriously, could there be any more words in that name!?). The brand claims that this product combines a full coverage color correcting ("CC") cream with an anti-aging serum, and a broad spectrum physical SPF of 50. Besides these huge claims, the product has a huge following so I knew it was time to put it to the test.

Charlotte Tilbury Does it Again! | Eyes to Mesmerize Eyeshadows

I might be at the point where I wonder if she can do wrong when it comes to the cosmetic world (besides the fact that she openly sleeps with her makeup on!), but the Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerize have knocked it out of the park earning another hit for the makeup marvel. 

I recently got my hands on some of these little pots of self proclaimed 'long lasting easy colour' to put them to the test, and I was not disappointed... 

Sunday Splurges | Tata Harper Redefining Body Balm

With the colder winter months approaching it seems like no betting time to me to treat yourself, or someone special to a luxurious, uber moisturizing body balm. After getting an incredible arm massage from the Tata Harper representative a couple months back with the Tata Harper Redefining Body Balm, I was sold.... or should I say my Grandmother was sold because she very kindly treated me and herself to this amazingly lush balm. I've raved about Tata's products before, and this balm is no exception. Besides the fact that it is free of synthetics, toxins, fillers, artificial fragrances and colours, the brand is also cruelty free. So what is in it that makes it so amazing?

The Artistry Series Vol #2 | Laura Mercier (+ Giveaway!)

"Love Yourself Before You Can Love Someone Else"

-Laura Mercier

I'm thrilled to be bringing you all another volume of The Artistry Series, this time spotlighting the beautiful Laura Mercier. Starting out in a Parisian Art School for drawing and painting, Laura's career jump started in 1985 when she moved to New York to work for Elle Magazine. Then after a photoshoot for Vogue, she was hired on as Madonna's personal makeup artist (that might be when you know you've 'made it' so to speak!)
Celebrity name dropping aside (because Laura never actually had the desire to work with movie stars and pop princesses for her career goal in the beginning, she just aimed to make women feel pretty), I think the brand has to be one of my favourites simply because I know the products are reliably well made and make for effortless prettying up.  Keep reading to see what my must have Laura Mercier products are, as well as stick around to enter the giveaway (open worldwide!)

Revisiting H&M Beauty | The Colour Essence Eye Pencils

I posted a couple weeks back that I had picked up a lipstick from the new H&M beauty range and that it had really surprised me in terms of texture, formula and pigment - you can read the review here. So naturally I had to pop back into H&M to see what else the range had to offer, and after covering both hands and wrists in swatches, and testing almost every darn product in the 700 piece range, I chose to try the Colour Essence Eye Pencils which were a super affordable $7 CND. I have some definite thoughts on these, and the rest of the range, so let's break it down...

MASCARA MONDAY | YSL Volume Effet Faux Cils Mascara

I always really love doing the Mascara Monday post on a luxury brand mascara, because for years I was 110% a drugstore mascara girl and truly felt that something priced at $36 couldn't possibly be better than my $10 favourite. 

Well sometimes that is true, and sometimes it isn't. Today I am putting an absolute cult classic to the test, Yves Saint Laurent Volume Effet Faux Cils Mascara to see if it really is as good as everyone says it is!

Shopping a Sale Savvy | My Picks for the Sephora VIB Rouge 2015 Sale

If you've spent a questionable amount of money at Sephora in the last year than you might have VIB, or even VIB Rouge status. If that's the case then you my lucky friend will get a chance to shop with a 20% discount for the next few days! Now all that choice can be overwhelming, so I've compiled some tips for shopping the sale, as well as my picks for some amazing items to pick up with the awesome discount...

This Just In | Urban Decay's 24/7 Waterline Eye Pencils

Having been a huge fan of Urban Decay's 24/7 Eyeliner Pencils for years now, it's no surprise to me that the brand finally released a new eyeliner that is actually formulated to stay around in waterline. For some this might mean nothing, but if you have watery eyes like me, struggle with allergies or are prone to get product buildup in the inner corners (nothing like gross black eye goop!) than the Urban Decay 24/7 Waterline Eye Pencils  are seriously worth considering. I got ahold of all five shades in the range and put them to the test to see if they really do hold up to their big claims, keep reading to hear my thoughts...

Favourites | October 2015 Best of Beauty

We're a couple days into November now and I feel like the Vancouver weather has suddenly caught on that this is normally the dreary season. The last few weeks have been rainy, cooler in temperature and have wrecked a little havoc with my skin. This of course has led to some incredible skincare bits in my favourites this month, as well as some more Autumnal makeup choices. Keep reading to find out what I kept reaching for this last month...

Sunday Steals | E.L.F Smudge Pot Cream Eyeshadows

Possibly one of the best Sunday Steals going in terms of price, the E.L.F Smudge Pots check in at $4 CND! When I saw these I instantly doubted they would be any good, because most of my run ins with drugstore cream shadows have left greasy, creasing messes. Knowing that E.L.F (that stands for Eyes Lips Face, if you're new to the brand) makes some pretty decent products for an insanely affordable price, I figured it couldn't hurt to pick up a few for trying. So, did they hold up to higher end cream shadows?

Shopping for the Perfect Palette | Five Favourites for Fall and Winter

When it comes to shopping for an eyeshadow palette, I always think it's important to think of three things: Texture, Tone and Uniqueness. If you don't have a drawer full of palettes organized by brand, colour and size like I do (I have a sickness) nor do you plan to, picking out that one special palette that can do it all be a bit tricky. Today's posts has five can't-go-wrong palettes for Fall and Winter, as well as my tips for how to pick out a palette that will fit all your needs!

MAC Strobe Cream | The Original Glow Getter

You've heard me drone on and on about 'getting the glow' this year, because thankfully radiant dewy skin is "in", which is a big plus for a girl like myself who's skin always seems a bit dull. I've raved about many luminizing products recently, but I thought I'd take a walk down memory lane and revisit an old favourite: MAC Strobe Cream*, which was possibly the first product of its kind on the market. 

Clean Beauty Series | REN Skincare

REN Skincare started out 15 years ago in a stand alone shop on Liverpool Street in London by Robert Calcraft and Antony Buck. Since then it's grown into an award winning brand that follows the Clean Beauty Series mantra of created cutting edge products free of parabens, sulphates, mineral oil, petrolatum, synthetic fragrances and dyes, T.E.A, D.E.A and silicones. Oh and did I mention they are 100% against animal testing? Yep, that's a long list of things that sometimes crop up in our skincare folks! 

Today's post will break down the inspiration and ethos of REN, some of my favourites from the line as well as my wish list of products I can wait to try.

Using 100% plant and mineral derived actives, the nice people at REN believe that texture and fragrance should add to the overall experience of using their products, and I would have to agree. It's become no surprise to me that REN Skincare has grown a bit of a cult following around the world.

I've had the pleasure of trying out some of the products from the line (though not nearly as many as I want to try!) and here's what I am loving:

Evercalm Anti-Redness Serum* - I've struggled with reactive skin and jawline redness since I was young and I find this to be super soothing and calming. This is formulated to give instant relief from discomfort and sensitivity and I found it really did just that. I pump of this after a too-hot shower left my previously red splotchy face even toned and hydrated. Apparently, Evercalm is meant to strengthen capillary walls and 'trains' the skin to be less sensitive (which can protect against premature ageing) but that is a claim I wouldn't know the results of for some time.  The texture is milky, almost like a thin lotion, and includes the following ingredients which I've broken down into what the heck they actually do:
Milk Polypeptides -creates signals to your skin to regenerate collagen Beta-Glucan -strong anti-inflammatory agent  -aids reducing redness and sensitivity Antileukine -fights free radical damage Wild Canadian Rumex -reduces hyperpigmentation -protects blood vessels and helps decongest and stop swelling Hyaluronic Acid -boosts skin's moisture content as well as reduces moisture loss

Flash Rinse 1 Minute Facial - Imagine last minute plans pop up and your skin is looking less than stellar. Now enter in the 1 Minute Facial which visibly rejuvenates skin almost instantly. It claims to banish urban grey, reduce fine lines and imperfections as well as tones and firms.  While I don't particularly care for the slightly metallic scent to this product, my skin looks great after using it and the recommended time frame actually fits into my life when I can rarely be reminded to apply a mask. The texture is grainy like a sugar scrub and has the following bio extracts:
Vitamin C -stimulates collagen synthesis and provides radiance Boswellic Acid -relaxes facial tissue to smooth lines Glycogen Magnesium - Boosts radiance and skin energy

Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask* - This is the mask for when you have more time (10-20 minutes) and want to give your skin a serious overhaul once a week or so. It's 6.5% Glycolic Acid removes dead skin cells, reduces fine lines and wrinkles, fights congestion and blackheads and improves skin tone.  I was initially worried about this product after reading slight tingling might occur, but I didn't notice any of it, and my sensitive skin reacted really well to this pumpkin hued mask. It exfoliates the skin using the following ingredients:
Natural Fruit Acids -Papaya, lemon, grape, pineapple and passionfruit encourage cell turnover 

So what's on my list next? Being a rose lover, I'd love to try the Moroccan Rose Range which looks gorgeously lush and hydrating. New to the brand is the Citrus Limonum Hand Wash and Cream, which look divine as well as the good people at REN have created a Shampoo and Conditioner which I would love to try, loving sulphate free haircare! 
What are your favourite REN products? Which ones should I try next?

Problem Solvers Series | Looking Well Rested When You Didn't Get Enough Sleep

If like many, you struggle to get out of bed on a Monday morning, or you've just partied a little too hard on the weekend, there are five simple tips I swear by for faking the look of being bright eyed and bushy tailed. We all get a case of the Monday's every now and then, so how fitting for me to post some of my favourite products for "faking it to you make it"?

H&M Does Beauty... And It's Good!

So in case you've been a bit behind on your beauty blog reading these last couple of weeks, affordable clothing giant H&M has launched a 700 piece beauty range. I got a quickie glance at it the other day and started making mental notes of all the pretties I want to try. While I could have spent all day swatching and perusing, I snached up one lipstick that caught my eye and headed on my merry way. So, did it hold up to the rave reviews I've been hearing?

Four Brands That Do Customizable Eyeshadow Palettes Well

Being the slight control freak I am when it comes to eyeshadow palettes, I often find pre-designed options have shades that might be curated beautifully, but aren't always what I want in terms of wearability. There always seems to be a split of shades I know I'll love, and shadows I know I'll never touch, and it irks the side of me that yearns for colour aesthetic. So naturally I love when I get full control of the shadows I put in a palette, and with so many brands doing customization I thought I talk about four that I think are great value, quality and variety. 

World Wide Beauty Vol 3 | Becca for Australia

I'm thrilled to post the third installment of the World Wide Beauty Series! Featuring Becca Cosmetics, a brand that is becoming a household name all over the globe, but started out down under in Australia.  Keep reading to find out a little more about the brand, and it's goals in the beauty industry, as well as my must have Becca products & current brand wishlist!

Mascara Monday | MAC Upward Lash Mascara

I'll preface this Mascara Monday by saying that I've never been a huge lover of MAC mascaras. Over the years I've found most of them have let me down; Literally they never managed to hold a curl! When I started to hear good things about MAC's Upward Lash Mascara*, and saw the unique looking brush on it and old school MAC mascara packaging, I knew it might be time to give another try to the brand I love so many other products from. 

Problem Solvers Series | How to Prevent Eyeshadow Fallout

Whilst on a family vacation two weeks ago, as my sister in law and I sat together putting on our makeup, she noticed I was using a dark shadow as my eyeliner. She then asked, "But doesn't it fall down all around your eyes? I always seem to make a mess!" and before I knew it, I'd rattled off a handful of ways to prevent the dreaded 'fallout', so I thought I'd share them here as a bit of a beauty hack so to speak.

Glow in a Bottle | Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mist

Tatcha is a brand I've started to hear plenty about in the blogger circuit, namely the Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mist, which has gained a bit of a cult following recently. Up until using it, I assumed it was just another setting spray like so many on the market, but this folks is really something special! 

New Kid on the Block | Stila Stay All Day Contouring Bronzer for Face and Body

Stila's 'Stay All Day' range has been making a name for itself when it comes to longevity for a while note. The Stay All Day Liquid Liner is a favourite amongst many, and the foundation stays beautiful all day. They've now extended the range with the Stila Stay All Day Contouring Bronzer for Face and Body and I was pretty eager to try it out, given the fact that finding a bronzer that has a great tone to it, and sticks around all day seems to be especially difficult for me.

GIVEAWAY ALERT | Bite Beauty Maple Matte Creme Lipstick Trio

Quite some time ago I got my hands on several of the Bite Beauty Maple Matte Creme Lipsticks - a gorgeous velvety smooth, pigmented and hydrating formula lipstick that was exclusive to Canada via Sephora. I did a full review of them with swatches here, and then being the good little cosmetic hoarder I am, I tucked three away until the weather cooled down (at least here anyways) and I knew they wouldn't melt into a puddle in a Canada Post depot, so I could do a giveaway for you all! Since it's no fun to have unique products like this be exclusive to one country, I'll be hosting this giveaway worldwide - take a read below to see how you can enter!

Charlotte Tilbury Luxury Palette in The Glamour Muse

My Charlotte Tilbury collection is growing strong, but one of the first products I was eager to try from the line was the Glamour Muse quad - a gorgeously curated collection of rose gold, purple, taupe and pearl. Charlotte designed these palettes to be a user friendly, effortless way to take eyes from day to evening to disco. After hearing plenty of good things about her Golden Goddess and Dolce Vita Palettes, I was curious to see how something with a bit more pop of colour would perform (purples are notorious difficult pigments to work into shadows). Did it live up to the hype?

The Great Cover Up | Four Different Concealers to Perfect Your Complexion

When it comes to concealers, there are so many options out there, it can be hard to know which one to choose for which purpose. I've picked four of my recent cover-up favourites and broken them down by which use they work best for to help save you a little time they next time you have a pesky blemish, dark circles or pigmentation you want to even out, pronto.

Hype Worthy? | Six Luxury Products Get Put to the Test

I love trying out hyped up 'cult classic' products to see if they really are worth their weight in gold (and priced seemingly so!) as many tout them to be, and it seems you as readers like it when I do as well! I've always been one of those 'exception to the rule' types, and find because of this I look at products with a skeptical eye, which benefits the blogging process of reviewing quite well. So here are six more products that have had plenty said about them on the web, magazines and word of mouth, put to the test by yours truly. Which ones do I think are hypeworthy?

The Best in Beauty for September 2015

Another month gone, and another list of favourite beauty products to share with you all! This month has some really wonderful discoveries and new products, as well as a previous favourite or two that I've fallen back in love with again. Let's get right into it, shall we?

On the Go Makeup Made Easy with Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Stick Foundation

After recently falling in love with the newly revamped Make Up For Ever HD Foundation, I knew the brand had done some great things in terms of formula. So when I heard that the Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Stick Foundation was being launched, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. The convenience of a swipe, blend and go stick just seemed too good to be true, so naturally I had to give it a full try and review for you all... #BeautyBloggerExcuses.