This Just In: YSL Vinyl Cream Lip Stains + Giveaway!

If you're new to Girl Loves Gloss, you may not know that the Yves Saint Laurent Glossy Stain in #27 is one of my all time holy grail lip products. I fell in love with the long-wearing glossy formula the minute they launched, and since then the brand has had a few versions but none have really 'got me' like the original has, until they launched the Vinyl Cream Lip Stains... Keep reading to see swatches and my review as well as enter to win the giveaway at the end!

MAC Pro Longwear Waterproof Colour Sticks Review + Giveaway

Whenever I see a brand release a twist up shadow stick I get excited because let's face it, the convenience factor is super enticing. Years ago MAC released their Grease Sticks, which I remember having such high hopes for, only to have them turn into a creasing mess. Fast forward several years and brands have caught on to formulations that are crease-resistant and MAC is at it again with the Pro Longwear Waterproof Colour Sticks! I put 9 shades to the test to see if they lived up to their name and claim, so keep reading to see my thoughts, swatches and how you can win one in the hottest colour for summer!

The Epic Birthday Beauty Giveaway 2016

Welp, it's that time of year again: June 10th is my birthday. I am begrudgingly turning another year older (but seriously though, can I just not?) and I figured what better way to celebrate than to giveaway an epically large amount of incredible makeup goodness! Sound good? Yeah I thought so - keep reading to find out all the ways you can enter to win!

The Innovators Series : Hourglass Cosmetics + Giveaway!

I am so excited to launch The Innovators Series to you all today! I've lined up some incredibly innovative and cutting edge brands to feature over the next several months for you all, but am kicking it off with a cosmetic brand that has only been in the game since 2004: Hourglass Cosmetics. Keep reading to find out some of the incredible technologies Hourglass is using in their products as well as find out how you can win one of the brand new Ambient Strobe Light Powders!

The Artistry Series Vol 3 : MAC Cosmetics Interview and GIVEAWAY

Welcome to the 3rd installment of The Artistry Series! This time round I am featuring the ever popular and innovative MAC Cosmetics. MAC has made a name for itself as a trendsetter and boundary pusher over the years and is adored by professionals and consumers alike. Keep reading to learn a bit more about this legendary brand as well as an interview with a senior MAC Pro artist as well as find out what my must haves for the line are. Don't forget to stick around for the giveaway at the end!! 

Clarins Instant Glow Spring 2016 + Giveaway!

When Clarins announcing it's seasonal collections, I know they are going to be full of pretty, wearable shades - that's a given. When Clarins announces they are finally expanding my absolute favourite lip product line, the Instant Light Lip Perfectors with two new shades? Well that's something to get excited about! Today not only do I have the details on the Instant Glow Spring 2016 Collection, but make sure you read to the end for a sweet little giveaway!

Clean Beauty Series | Tata Harper Skincare + Giveaway

When it came to creating the Clean Beauty Series, there was brand that I knew without a shadow of a doubt that I wanted to feature, and that is Tata Harper. Tata created her line with the ideology that skincare should come with real, visible results without synthetic chemicals. Not only is it 100% natural and non toxic, the range is also: Cruelty Free, Gluten Free, GMO free, Filler and artificial fragrance free.  Keep reading to hear about this incredible, luxurious line that is grown and manufactured right from the farm in Vermont and enter to win the giveaway below!

New Year, New Makeup | $250 GIVEAWAY!

The new year got me thinking it had been a few months since I'd done a giveaway, and given the nature of January signifying a fresh start, I figured why not giveaway away a bunch of makeup to give one of you special readers to celebrate!? Keep reading to find out how you can enter to win the $250 Giveaway bundle I've put together for one of you!

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!)

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!

Clean Beauty Series | MV Organic Skincare + GIVEAWAY

I'm so thrilled to be launching the Clean Beauty Series, which is devoted to spotlighting beauty brands all over the globe that create beautiful, high quality products, free of potentially toxic/reactive ingredients such as parabens, petrochemicals, sulfates, petrolatum, phthalates and artificial fragrances.  I'm also super pleased to kick start this series with the truly gorgeous MV Organic Skincare, which has developed a bit of a cult following, and earned a favourite spot amongst the likes of Emma Watson, Rosie Huntington-Whitely, Poppy Delevigne and Maggie Gyllenhaal to name a few! Enjoy reading about this gorgeously refined skincare line, and make sure you stick around for the giveaway below!

The Australian born MV Organic Skincare range was created by Sharon McGlinchey in a bid to create products for those with skin sensitivities such as eczema and rosacea, but still using the highest quality organic ingredients so that skincare could still be an enjoyable experience. 

The website for the brand is jam packed full of incredible information, including a thorough list of ingredients they use (like Organic Rosehip, Camellia, Calendula and Avocado Oils to name a few) and ingredients they don't (things like parabens, petrolatum, alcohol etc) and the brand does not use any synthetic fragrances, which for this sensitive nose is a HUGE plus. 

The products are also housed in aluminum packaging, which protects the delicate and sometimes volatile essential oils from sunlight and keeps the product fresh. This packaging also comes with pump/spray nozzles which means no contamination like you can get with jar packaging. 

So here's my thoughts on the line and products I've tried:

I can see why MV Organic Skincare is becoming a bit of a cult classic - the quality of the products is noticeable on the very first use. The formulations feel luxurious, spa like and a total treat for your skin. It's no doubt to me that these products are worth every penny of their price tag. 

My favourites from the range:

Rose Plus Booster: This is the king of rose oils. It smelts softly of genuine roses, and makes me skin absolutely glowing. I use 2 drops of this at night sandwiched in between my serum and my night cream and in the morning my skin looks balanced, clear and radiant (Rosehip Oil is known for its healing properties and abilities to reduce some of the aging that occurs from UV damage. It works wonderfully to restore balance to hormonal, acne prone, dry and dehydrated skins equally)

Rose Soothing Protective Moisturizer: This is such a lovely and nourishing day cream, I find it very calming and it really soothes my sometimes red and sensitive skin. It also sits beautifully under makeup, and almost acts as a primer. 

Hand Rescue: This might go down in my books as one of the silkiest feeling hand creams I've used and it sinks in super fast leaving a soft satin feel rather than a sticky or greasy feeling to the skin. Given that I'm a trained silversmith who is used to working with and washing her hands many many times a day, I think I have pretty good standing on what constitutes a decent hand cream!

Gentle Cream Cleanser: A good old cream cleanser should be a staple in every skin routine, whether you use it every day, or just when your skin is being a bit reactive or stubborn. This is a nourishing, luxurious feeling cream cleanser that leaves my skin feeling soft, hydrated and smooth - really what more could you want!?

The Giveaway
MV Organic Skincare has kindly sponsored a giveaway for one lucky reader to win the MV Organic Skincare Luxury Travel Bag Bundle worth $250CND!
The set includes: 70ml Rose Soothing Protective Moisturizer 70ml Rose Hydrating Mise 70ml Gentle Cream Cleanser Muslin Cloth Organic Cotton Travel Bag (this bag is awesome!)
The Rules:
You must be 18+ years of age to enter. Open Worldwide. Winner will be contacted before end of day October 5th, and will have 3 business days to respond to the winner email before a redraw. Giveaway runs from September 16th 12am PST - Sept 23rd 11:59pm PST 2015. All entries will be checked for validity! If you already follow on social media networks please ensure you still use the form below to enter!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway


*MV Organic Skincare is very kindly sponsoring this giveaway. The prize will ship directly from them. *PR Samples

Conscious Beauty Series Vol 1 | Eye of Horus Cosmetics + GIVEAWAY

I'm thrilled to announce the Conscious Beauty Series - which will put a spotlight on brands for environmental, humanitarian and ethical, and charitable efforts. To kick this series off I thought I'd shed some light on the Aussie brand Eye of Horus Cosmetics, and one lucky winner will get to try it out for themselves!

Weekend Round Up | Highlights from August 9th - 21st

Life's busy and it can be hard to keep on top of all your favourite beauty blogs, which is why every two weeks I like to round up the highlights in a handy dandy little catch up post for you! Here's what you might have missed out on:

The Artistry Series Volume #1 | Charlotte Tilbury (+ GIVEAWAY)

"Give a woman the right makeup, and she can conquer the world"

-Charlotte Tilbury

I am so excited to share the newest series on Girl Loves Gloss:
The Artistry Series.

Over the next few months I will be featuring brands from all over the world that were created and inspired by makeup artists themselves! Naturally I had to kick things off with the incredible Charlotte Tilbury, who's range has taken beauty counters and makeup lovers by storm since it launched.

Don't forget to stick around till the end of the post for a chance to win a Lip Lustre in Candy Darling and Lip Cheat Lip Pencil in Pillow Talk (one of Charlotte's cult products)!!

GIVEAWAY Alert! Clarins Fall 2015 Pretty Night Palette and Crayon Kohl Liner

As I mentioned yesterday I recently got my hands on some of the new Fall 2015 line from Clarins, and no surprise its totally gorgeous! The Pretty Night Palette has 5 shadows that can easily start as a daytime look, and then amp it up for night in a super convenient handbag friendly size. Along with the collection is the Crayon Kohl in Carbon, which is a smokey black liner that comes with a convenient smudger brush on the other end (not one of those stiff sponges but an actual handy brush!)

Both of these together is the perfect Autumn/Fall look that would work on any eye colour and all you need to add is mascara to complete the look, which is why I am giving away the set to one lucky reader! 

Here's the rules:

You can enter a maximum of 5 times per person for this giveaway, and I will be checking the entries personally to confirm validity. Winner will be contacted within 48 hours of draw and must claim prize within 3 business days or else there will be a redraw.

IF YOU ALREADY FOLLOW MY SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS OR BLOGLOVIN YOU STILL NEED TO ENTER VIA THE FORM BELOW!

- You Must be 18+ older to enter to win

- Giveaway open Worldwide

- Giveaway runs from 12am August 13th to 11:59pm PST August 21st 2015

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good Luck! Follow

This Just In | Bite Beauty Crème Lip Gloss in Opal + GIVEAWAY (worldwide!)

There's a new limited edition gloss in town that not only promises to be silky and nourishing, can be worn on its own or transform any lip colour into an 'alluring, pearlescent lip with high-shine and shimmer'. Bite Beauty has just released their Crème Lip Gloss in Opal*, and it's the perfect handbag edition to add a little 'oomph' to your favourite lip colour. Oh, and guess what? I'm giving one away to one lucky reader!

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. 

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!

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!