My Holy Grail (HG) Items

Hello ladies :)

So, I am constantly being asked what my favourite items are. Whether it be skincare, makeup, lotions, anthing at all, I get it asked! Therefore, I'm posting this to shed some light and hopefully explain why I love these products, and why they work so well for me. Hopefully, they can help someone out there too :)

*P.S: These are just my opinions!

1. Shu Uemura- Cleansing Oils


















I'm already on my 6th bottle of this stuff. Have been using it for well over a year now, and I've been seeing a lot of improvements on my skin! This has definetely helped keep it clear, since I don't have to worry about my makeup still being on my skin, even after I cleanse it. I simply use 2 pumps of this, rub it around my entire face (and eyes-this stuff even removes stubborn eye makeup), add some water, rub some more and wash it off. Then I follow up with my cleanser.


2. Obagi- Cleanziderm





















I was recommended to use this, thanks in part to my dermatologist. I now thank her everytime and wish I had listened to her months prior to purchasing this. To be perfectly honest, I was mainly turned off at the $125 price tag for this system. But after using it religiously for the past 6 months, my skin has changed so much, and I hardly break out anymore. Actually, I don't. All thanks to THIS amazing kit, which doesn't dry my skin up like Proactiv did!!


3. Christian Dior- Diorshow Mascara
















Being a mascara addict myself, I have tried NEARLY every mascara on the market right now. I am always on the lookout for the best thing out there. And I've been using this mascara since it first came out, several years ago. So, has any mascara beaten Diorshow?

Quiet simply put: no.


4. Oil of Olay- Complete All Day Moisture Lotion


















I've been using this for about 4 years now. This is the best daytime lotion/sunscreen that I have come across that doesn't break out my sensitive skin. It is lightweight, moisturizing, and doesn't make me look shiny or greasy after application. I am on my 4th bottle now, and will continue to purchase it in the future for sure.


5. Lise Watier- Portfolio Concealers











I recently purchased this concealer, and I really really like it!! Please read my review on this product in my previous posts :)

6. Smith's Rosebud Salve (Minted Rose)
















This stuff is amazing ....and cheap. I got one (.8 Oz.) for $8. It has lasted me for about 8 months, and I've just recently hit pan on it. I use it every night, and wake up to nice, smooth lips. This is especially important for the dry winter months, when my lips are super dry, this stuff works right away to heal and protect them from further damage. I swear by this stuff!! It has a nice minty smell to it as well :) which I like. A lot :)

7. Jill Stuart Eyelash Curler
















I got this when it was on sale...I think for about $20?? But anyways, I've used a lot of eyelash curlers in my days, and this is the best out of them all (I have yet to use the famous Shu Uemura one...so we will see!!). This curles and defines my lashes so well, without making them look crazy. The end result is natural, and I am in love with this!! The fact that is has a 'diamond' jewellery dangling from it makes it super cute!! It's such a cute curler to have, and whip out in public :)

8. Nars- Orgasm Blush













I know, what a cliche! Who doesn't love this blush?! I know a few people say this comes out either more pink, or more coral on their skintone. For me, it comes out more coral, with gold shimmer in it. But not annoying glitter that makes you look like you sprinkled sparkles on your cheeks (think discoball). This blush makes me look more awake and fresh, and it looks very youthful. It doesn't look overdone, but you can overdue it easily (which I have...). Overall, this is the blush I tend to use when I'm in a hurry and can't decide what blusher to use. It goes with nearly every look I do (mostly natural ones). I highly recommend you try this on at the NARS counter before purchasing though :)

9. Aspirin Pills (non-coated)







Ok, who puts pills as one of their HG items, really? Well, if you have used a aspirin mask before, then you know the amazing things it can do to problematic skin. (please read my review on it in this blog). This stuff really works, keeps my skin clear and glowing, and its super cheap!! Who doesn't like that in this day's economy? :)

10. MAC 187 Brush













So, this came out to $50 CND. I was a bit disappointed with its price when I initially bought it. I had heard a lot of great things about this brush. To be perfectly honest, I just bought it because it felt so soft when the MAC makeup artist used this on me. She said some people buy it for applying blush (esp. those, like me, who tend to overdo blushers...).

What I love about this brush is that it is so versatile. You can apply loose/pressed powder with this. I mostly use it to apply my liquid/cream/BB cream foundations, or a sheer wash of pressed powder. I think that applying those with your fingers is sorta unhygienic (even if they are clean!). The application is flawless; this brush makes the product go on so nicely and evenly; i simply dab the product onto my skin (like pixels) then I move the brush in a circular motion until all the product is blended onto my skin. The end result is so natural and flawless; it doesn't even look like you have foundation on. I absolutely love this brush, and I can't imagine using the traditional foundation brush, sponges, or my fingers for foundation application. Once you use this brush, you will not go back!! haha.

And yes, it is so worth the price!! Trust me!! If you take good care of it, this should last you for decades.

11. Pür Minerals 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Foundation in Light
















They say, if it isn't broke, don't fix it, right? Well, since I am always on the lookout for the best foundation out there, I am always looking for something that will work better than this foundation. And to be honest, I can't find that one item. This foundation is simply amazing (check out my review on it!). I don't even know why I keep wasting my money on new foundations; this stuff is truly amazing. I LOVE IT!!!!

Shiseido • Majolica Majorca Lash Enamel Glamour NEO mascara

I brought this since I wanted to try something new, other than the usual Dior Show [which I always use]. Needless to say, the brush is like a comb, and sometimes it does clump my lashes, so I usually end up going over it with my lash/brow comb [which is time consuming. The mascara is waterproof, which makes it a little harder to take off, thus I spend more time on removing it with my Shu Uemura cleansing oil.

Overall, I will probably not repurchase this, since I did not like the effect it gave my lashes. They were longer, but the look was more natural, but I prefer more of a dramatic look [as I get with my Dior Show mascara].

Shiseido • Majolica Majorca Automatic Eye Liner

Firstly, I think this liner is by far the best I have ever used. This one overtook my current liquid liner, which was the Shiseido one. The Majolica liner gives a really nice black color, which is dramatic, and gorgeous. It is much more blacker than the Shiseido one [or anyone that I have tried, for that matter]. It has a good consistency, but can be a little runny in the beginning, which is why it is recommended that you do not turn the twist at the top more than 2 times, or else it will let out a lot of the liner.

Overall, I plan on purchasing more of these. I currently use BLK999, which is the blackest shade they have. They have excellent staying power too.

You can can these for a very cheap price at www.adambeauty.com [for around $7US each; don't buy them at other places, which may charge up to $20 for one [which is what happened to me :( ]

HIGHLY recommended.

Shiseido • Maquillage Double Liner

This is a liner from Shiseido's Japanese line, Maquillage. It comes in several colors, and you can chose 2 from which you may put on the pen that they sell, or just have one, which is what I have in my case. The color comes out when you twist the top, and you don't have to worry about sharpening it.
I brought this off of adambeauty, and needless to say, I was expecting more, since I am a huge Maquillage fan myself. The pencil, so to speak, is very dry, and took a while for me to draw a nice line along my upper lash line. The color, I got black, was very faded, and not as dramatic as I would have liked it to be. I am glad that I did not order 2 different cartilages, since I am not happy about the one I have. It hurts my eyes when I apply it, and takes forever to get it to do what I want it to do: draw a basic fine line.
It also comes with no cap, which means that it sits on my counter, and I wonder about all the germs that it is collecting! Yuk!
Overall, I don't recommend anyone getting these. They are a major disappointment from the Maquillage line; which do have awesome products, don't get me wrong!
If you are looking for a great liner, try the Majolica Majorca liquid liner, which is also sold at adambeauty for dirt cheap.
Hope this helps! :)

This is my favorite everyday base to use. Since I don't like to wear eye shadows on a regular basis, this is perfect for a natural look. It conceals the darkness that I have on my lids, and I top it off with MAC's Brule eyeshadow which sets it. I even use MAC's Phloof! eyeshadow sometimes, if I want to look more "awake".
I highly recommend this for anyone who wants to try out a Paint Pot, but doesn't know which one to use. These things are like butter! So easy to spread, and they last all day and don't crease.
I plan on getting more shades in the future for sure! And they're not that expensive :)

My MAC brush collection

In order, from left to right: 190, 189, 116, 187, 224, 227, 219, 217, 252, 194, 209

And in my opinion, they are all worth the money. These brushes have amazing quality to them, and I would highly recommend them to anyone. Don't waste your money on cheap brushes that fall apart after a few months. These will last for years!

Kanebo • KATE Glam Trick Eyes

I bought these shades in BK-1 (absolutely LOVE this one) and BR-2; a little too brownish for me; gave it away to my mom :) Anywho, I was surprised at the quality of these shadows, keeping in mind that these are a Japanese drugstore brand. Needless to say, I wish the drugstore brands in North America were as great!! The shades are absolutely gorgeous and shimmery. You can wear the colors for the daytime, and intensify the look with the darkest shade that comes with each of the palettes. They come in various colors, and I will definitely order more in the future!! And on a final note, even the brush that comes with it is great! Soft sponge applicator on one side, and a soft small brush on the other. I use them sometimes when I'm too lazy to find the proper MAC brush for the colors :P