Favourites | The Best of Beauty for June 2015

June was an insanely busy month around here, so the makeup was all about easy, put together, stay on all day looks that I could do in limited time. We also had a spike in temperature in Vancouver, with record breaking temps in the last few days, so suncare played a super important role. It was a month of reaching for what works and is easy and going with it, so here are the six products that made heavy rotation...

Cult Beauty Products | Worth The Hype?

Some beauty products in the world that have gained a famous, cult like following. You've read about them in magazines, you've seen them used in countless YouTube tutorials, your girlfriends talk about them and maybe even your Mother's had one or two in her makeup bag. But are they really that good, or have they just become so big because of status? I loathe Maybelline Great Lash Mascara, yet it's been voted best mascara in magazines for what seems like decades.
So let's break down some other products I've bought because of their hyped up name and see if they are truly worth the hype...

Inner Beauty | Beating Summer Bloat

As someone who isn't as thin as I would like to be, I know all too well how uncomfortable it can be to fit into summer clothes when the weather is hot and I generally feel 'puffier' than usual. This time of year when the temperatures rise, the last thing you want to feel is bloated, so here are some tips for keeping things feeling good on the inside, and looking good on the outside.

Friday Face | Coral Laced Nude

I'm starting to like this thing where I pick one of my favourite or most worn looks from the last week or two and break it down in a post for you all! This weeks #FridayFace feature is a look based on neutrals with a peek-a-boo of coral on the eyes. Here's how I get this simple nude look with a bit of a twist.

New Favourite | Mac RazzleDazzler Lipstick

I'm perpetually on the hunt for the perfect peach lipstick formula. I don't think I'll ever be satisfied, but rather continue to collect pinky peach and peachy pink (they are different, don't you know) hued lipstick loveliness for the dawn of time. I want them smoothing, not mattifying or cakey, slightly glossy and pigmented enough to cover my dark pigmented lips. Not too much to ask, right?

Some women collect shoes, I prefer to diversify my lipstick collection. 

What's In A Name? | Brands With Memorable and Sometimes Controversial Shade Names

Cosmetic companies have come a long way from giving their products bland boring names or shade numbers, and these days some of them are pretty darn memorable! What was once an industry full of fuddy duddy names has now spawned into some hilarious, cute, raunchy and even potentially inappropriate names. While some brands have been doing this since the dawn of their lines, others are making waves for themselves with rather risque titles, creating mixed reactions .

Current Beauty Wish List Wants

For the month of my birthday, I've bought an embarrassingly small amount of beauty product for a blogger. Great for my wallet, but the wishlist is growing. Here are six products that have piqued my interest this month!

Mascara Monday | Lancôme Hypnôse Drama Mascara

Are you bored of Mascara Mondays yet? Hopefully not because I really love trying out new ones for you all to review here on Girl Loves Gloss. I like to think of myself as a bit of a mascara connoisseur, and it's probably the product that lets me down the most out of all I try. It just makes such an impact in your finished look, don't you know?  This time round I'm road testing a cult classic,  Lancôme Hypnôse Drama and putting it to the test...

The Problem Solver Series | Perking Up Dull, Lifeless Looking Skin

As someone with dry and dehydrated skin, I know the woes of a dull complexion all too well. Sometimes though we lose our glow for other reasons (hormones, illness, age and nutrition) and just need a pick me up in the radiance department. Here are my tried and trues for when that glow from within just ain't happening.

A Haulin' We Will Go | More ColourPop Cosmetics

After my lovely amazing friend bought me some ColourPop goodies earlier this month for my birthday, I knew it was only a matter of time before I placed my own order! I reeled it in and kept it small (oh, the restraint I showed!) but the bits I picked up we're just too pretty not to show off to you all. Prepare for swatch porn...

Revisting Contouring with the NYX Hightlight & Contour Pro Palette

So I did that thing. You know the one where I said I wouldn't spend my money on another trendy contouring palette because they generally had way more than what the average non-makeup artist needs. Then I went and bought myself the NYX Highlight & Contour Pro Palette. #sorrynotsorry
It happens, and at $28 CND it would be silly not to buy it. Right? Thought So...

LAST CALL | Enter To Win Over $150 of Beauty Products!

Just a heads up - today is the last day you can enter my big Birthday Giveaway!

Please head on over to this post now if you haven't already entered!

Contest is open worldwide. Must be 18+ over. 

Please see giveaway post for entry rules and regulations. 

What's In My Z Palettes

The other day one of my instagram followers asked me for my recommendation on a eyeshadow palette that was neutrals with some fun pops of colour. I explained that my favourites where the loose shadows I had collected into some the small Z Palettes for easy travel. So I got to thinking, it might be interesting to do a post about which shadow make the grade.

Mascara Monday | L'Oreal Voluminous Miss Manga Rock Waterproof Mascara

As you've all guessed by now I've been on a bit of a mascara binge lately. There are so many new formulas and revamps of previously released formulas on the market right now, I just couldn't help myself! This time round I decided to try a new version of a mascara I previously blogged about and hated, L'Oreal Miss Manga.

Weekend Round Up | Highlights From June 1st-12th

There's been plenty to write about this month so far. For starters, it was my birthday (not exciting) so I decided to host a giveaway with $150+ worth of makeup (exciting)! I've noticed quite a few new readers recently so here's a recap of the last two weeks with the highlights you might have missed, including how to enter the giveaway!

Beauty Products So Good I 'Hit Pan'

Ah the sweet satisfaction followed by the panicked 'I have to buy a backup!' sentiment of "Hitting Pan". In the beauty world this term is a status - the product was good enough that the end is in sight (usually in the form of the literal metal pan a product is pressed into). Now if you're anything like me and have an out of control makeup addiction, you will not see this nearly as often making it special when you actually do begin to use up something. Here are five products that were so good I 'hit pan' on them.

The Problem Solver Series | Dealing With Tired, Puffy Eyes in 5 Simple Steps

So yesterday was my birthday, and you know how birthdays can go: chocolate or cake for breakfast, a drink or ten with dinner, and plenty of time spent staring at your phone seeing which of your friends and family members knew it was your birthday thanks to facebook. No? Is that just me?

Either way, a day after any sort of festivity might leave you will tired, puffy eyes and here's how I combat the dreaded gold ball eyes. 

Over $150 Worth of Makeup GIVEAWAY | Happy Birthday to Me!

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. 

*UPDATE - the 1st winner never replied to their email, so we've drawn a new winner using Random.org!

THE WINNER IS Stephanie Stevenson!

Stephanie, please check your inbox, you have 3 business days to claim your prize!

Yep, you heard right - today is my Birthday! Another year older (Im still telling people I'm 28 though, 'k?) and I thought what better way to celebrate then to give a little something back to all of you who have been reading GirlLovesGloss for the better part of 2 years. I've loved makeup since I was young (and even did a stint in freelance makeup artistry when I was young) and blogging has been an amazing outlet for me to talk about my passion some more. I love photographing collections of products, writing reviews and trialling new products for you all and hope my readership will continue to grow here!

Mascara Monday | CoverGirl The Super Sizer Waterproof Mascara

We're back with another #MascaraMonday around these parts- you know I just can't stop trying new ones! When I saw the new CoverGirl Super Sizer Mascara in my local drugstore I knew I needed to try it because of the funky brush alone. I've always had pretty decent luck with CoverGirl mascaras in general, so I snatched up the waterproof version and gave it a go. Here are my thoughts:

Sunday Steals | Rose Gold Goodnes With ColourPop Eyeshadow in La La

I knew the minute I tried Colourpop Cosmetics that something would end up in my Sunday Steals feature. I mean, the shadows are $5 a pop - seriously! And before you ask, the pigmentation is amazing. I was originally gifted four shadows from a friend (see the full review here of the shadows, blushes and lippie stix) and then turned right around and placed an order myself. I am (not so) patiently waiting for those to arrive. I can say though that the shade 'La La' single handedly had me wanting more; A gorgeous coppery rose gold that packs a serious punch.

The Friday Face | Peach Monochrome

Occassionaly I like my makeup so much I take a picture of myself and post it on the internet. I find it kind of terrifying, honestly. 

Recently I've been really digging the whole monochrome look, namely with shades of soft peach, and apparently others are too, because it seems to be the look I get most complimented on! So here's a breakdown of my current favourite peach hued cosmetics for how I got this look:

Fighting Adult and Hormonal Acne and Breakouts | What's Worked For Me

Well I can honestly say I never thought I'd be writing this post if you'd asked me a couple years ago. While many people suffer some form of acne or tragic breakouts in their teenage years, I was the kid who just had really good skin. It didn't matter what I put on it, or what I ate, or even what time of the month it was. Pimples, zits, breakouts, blemishes, spots - whatever you want to refer to them as : I never had them. 

So imagine my surprise when I hit 30 and suddenly me skin decided it hated me? I had no clue what to use or change in my routine. Lots of trial and error later, and I've come up with some products that have really helped me get a handle on the situation.

Favourites | The Best in Beauty for May 2015

Yeah, yeah, you know what time it is... the end of the month, thus equalling this post where I collect all my favourite beauty bits from the last month and share them with you all. Coincidentally this is also my favourite time of the month for all the other beauty blogs that post their favourites. Because shopping.