Rowena Francis

July Empties

Published on July 25, 2018 by Rowena Francis1 Comment

I normally want to wait for these types of posts until the beginning of the month and then I can share all of my favourites.

However.

July has been one of those months that I’m scraping the bottom of the barrel on a few makeup staples. So, I thought writing this out might help me decide how, when and if I’m repurchasing or not.

I will probably do a favourites blog in a few weeks because there’s already a handful of products that I discovered in July!

Tarte Shape Tape
Light-Medium

Everyone talks about how Tarte Shape Tape is their holy grail – and it definitely has been a tried-and-true staple in my makeup routine. It is full-coverage and is perfect for those under-eye dramas that present themselves after a few nights of no sleep or crying till the cows come home…or every. day. life. It’s not greasy, doesn’t crease and lasts all day. I simply love it.

The cons? I can’t buy it at a physical store in Canada, which makes swatching the product an out-of-country, $$ exchange, kilometers to miles kind of an ordeal. Also, I can tell there is still product at the bottom of the tube, but the wand can’t reach it.

Ok, down to the nitty-gritty. Would I repurchase it? Yes and no. I am going to try Too Faced Born This Way Multi-Use Sculpting Concealer and if it gives me the same results, I’ll probably switch. You know, because Canada.

Too Faced Born This Way Foundation
Natural Beige

One hundred percent. This is 100% my favourite all-time foundation. I talk about it all the time. I just don’t know another foundation that gives me results like this one. It blends easily and creates a flawless finish that lasts forever. for ever. I can go swimming with this, bask in the sunshine and it is still in tact after all that (obviously as long as I don’t wipe it away with a towel or something). One of the things I love about it is that I don’t even need a lot of product (I don’t even use a full pump) to achieve maximum results.

The cons? I don’t have this on tap at my full disposal. That’s it.

Back to the nitty-gritty. Would I repurchase? Yes. A thousand times, yes. And then again for good measure.

Annabelle Lip Liner
Buff

I don’t know if this technically is an empty, but it’s almost to the point where I can’t sharpen it anymore, so I’m going with calling it an empty. This is my favourite lip liner for a few reasons. First, it’s a great nude. It matches my natural lips so I can line them with it regardless of the colour lipstick I use. Also, it has lasted me a long time – I’m guessing longer than a year or two.

Would I repurchase? Yep. As a matter of fact, I’m heading out to the drug store and might just pick up another today…

Alright, so there weren’t that many empties, but they’re kind of a big deal because if I repurchase them, I’d be spending over $100 Canadian. That’s a pretty penny. Comment below if you think I should drop that like it’s pocket change (it is, isn’t it?).

How Do You Handle Tough Times?

Published on July 21, 2018July 21, 2018 by Rowena FrancisLeave a comment

Life doesn’t always go the way we think it should. Sometimes it even feels like the twilight zone.

Handling the hiccups and the poop that tries to bury you can be downright overwhelming at times.

I am so grateful for my faith in God because I know He is faithful and will see me through any circumstance – no matter how intense it is.

Today I posted a little heart to heart – hopefully it helps even one person who watches.

Recreating Makeup Looks Challenge

Published on July 18, 2018July 17, 2018 by Rowena FrancisLeave a comment

My friend, Sarah and I thought it would be fun to film a video where we picked a picture for each other to recreate on camera.

I’m not going to lie, I wasn’t sure how it would turn out because I’m still fairly basic when it comes to doing my makeup.

However!!

We had the best time filming this. I mean, my camera turned off in the middle of filming more times than I can count. My camera battery died not just once, but twice. My dog kept trying to get our attention (mostly because he loves Sarah and he thinks he’s the next best thing). All in all, we laughed and worked with the products we had to recreate the looks we chose, and it worked.

We originally set a timer for 30 minutes, but as you will see in the video, we just silenced the timer and went on with the video. I’m fairly certain I have about 2 full hours of footage.

Then, at the end, we decided it would be so much fun to do a Disney Villain makeup challenge. We may or may not have filmed one. Comment below if you think we should do this!

So, before I post our challenge video, I’ll say that friends last a lifetime. Cherish those friends who are faithful and stand by your side – they are truly valuable.

6 Month Blogiversary

Published on July 14, 2018July 14, 2018 by Rowena Francis4 Comments

This week marks 6 months that I’ve been blogging. I had no idea what I was doing when I started (maybe I still don’t), but I feel like this has been good for me for a few reasons.

First, all of my life I have done things because either someone told me to, I was obligated to or it was just plain right. None of those are bad things, but I think it’s important to have a hobby or something that you do just because you simply enjoy it. That realization came to me when we had a mediator come into work and he asked me what I did on my spare time for fun. I sat there, unable to state any clear thing that I did simply for enjoyment.

After that wake-up call, I started to think about things that I enjoyed when I was younger – beauty, traveling, writing and laughing. That’s when I decided I would start a blog.

Second, I’m going to throw out the word endurance. I have this vivid childhood memory of my swim instructor telling me that I had great skills, but had to work on my endurance. I never knew that would stick with me until I realized that quitting things used to come easy to me. Now, any time I want to quit doing something, I run that phrase through my head and I evaluate if it’s my emotions talking or true logic. That swim instructor told me that after I failed the class by refusing to swim across the length of the pool. I literally swam to the middle of the pool and decided I couldn’t do it, so I stayed there for like 5 minutes treading water, pleading with him to not make me swim to the other side. Logic fail.

Third, I have become the most comfortable in my own skin since starting this. That kind of sounds strange, but confidence is something that so many people struggle with. When you put yourself out there, you run the risk of judgement from the peanut gallery. If you don’t want to be discouraged by negative comments, knowing why you are doing what you are doing is well worth it. It doesn’t totally take away the disappointment, but it does help you to push through and continue on. One of the things I say all the time, in anything you do – know your why.

Fourth, I feel like I’ve been able to connect to people who I would never have met if I wasn’t doing this. The internet is an amazing tool for connecting with people who you may never meet in everyday life. I’m grateful for these new connections and friends that I’ve made since starting my blog.

There are so many more reasons that I’m grateful for my blog and the blogging community, but these four are more than enough for me to keep going.

Thank you to all of you who enrich my life ❤

June Favourites

Published on July 11, 2018 by Rowena Francis2 Comments

June has already flown by and we are well into July for that matter.

You guys know I’ve been starting up my YouTube channel and the very first thing I filmed and edited was a June Favourites video. The thing is, I have learned a thing or two with editing. Also, I’m pretty sure I forgot some products.

So, today you are getting the June Favourites in a full-out blog post.

Annabelle Skinny Brow Liner
Universal Dark
$8.95 CDN

Ugh, I wish that I knew how to do my brows like the pros, but I’m just not there yet. Part of my problem is that I have yet to figure out what colour I should use – blondes are too light and taupe looks so strange. The only colour that seems to match my eyebrows is this Annabelle liner. I’m just hoping that it doesn’t look too dark against my bleach blonde locks. Anyhow, this liner is great! I’m not even sure I can tell a difference between this one and the Anastasia Brow Wiz – it’s that good!

Tarte Mermaid Skin Hyaluronic H2O Serum
$55 CDN

I really wanted to try this, but I didn’t want to splurge on it if I didn’t love it. So, when I saw the coupon code on Sephora for a free trial size with purchase, I jumped right on it. You guys know I love hyaluronic acid, so it’s almost a no-brainer that I would love this. I use it after I wash my face at night, after a shower, and also underneath my primer/makeup. The only thing I’m not fond of is that it goes tacky for about 3 seconds before it absorbs into the skin.

Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser
$11.99 CDN

I actually picked this up closer to the end of the month, but I loved it enough to add it to my favourites immediately. I don’t use this on my whole face, just where I have more visible pores – right around the nose and slightly onto the cheeks. It doesn’t feel heavy or pore-clogging, but it absolutely smooths the pores.

Hard Candy Highlighter Trio
Cruisin the Coast
$9.00 CDN

I don’t know why, but I struggle a bit with finding a highlighter that gives a good glow without adding a huge neon sign that says ‘wrinkles and texture party here.’ I know, that is part of highlighter, but a girl still likes a bit of a glow. Needless to say, this highlighter trio hits me perfectly.

Hard Candy Glow Setting Spray
$6.00 CDN

I’m pretty sure this can be classified as a dupe for UD All Nighter setting spray. I’ve been using Urban Decay everyday for a while, but a few months ago my skin started getting so dry that it couldn’t handle that spray. My skin got so dry that it hurt, but I still wanted to set my makeup. I happened to run across this Hard Candy one and couldn’t pass it up for $6. It sets my makeup beautifully and adds a slight glow to my skin. It also makes my makeup last throughout the whole work day. You seriously can’t go wrong with this.

Foreo LUNA Fofo
$120 CDN

This was a product that came in my FabFitFun box (this was actually worth more than I even paid for my whole box!). I always wanted to try out these types of products, but the money. Always the money. I just don’t want to waste my money on something I won’t use or don’t like. I tried this out right away and I love it! It measures the hydration of your skin, sends it to an app on your phone and then walks you through a timed face wash routine. So great. Ok, I’ve lived without it for this long, so it’s possible, but now that I have it, I think it’s the greatest thing since sliced bread! Bonus, it’s a great (and fun) way to teach young ones how to properly wash their face.

Have you tried any of these products? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

**The FabFitFun link is an affiliate link, which means I received a small commission if you purchase through my link (no cost to you). All opinions are my own, honest thoughts.**

Fitness Goals

Published on July 7, 2018 by Rowena FrancisLeave a comment

Ok kids, this is it.

I’m bringing back my gym game.

Over the last 6 months I’ve kind of slowly stopped hanging out at the gym. Although it hasn’t stopped me from being obsessed with everything fitness related during that time.

It took me a while to realize why I let the gym slip, but I recently figured out that when my routine changes, I feel lost and I almost feel like I forget how to do everything. When my gym buddies (aka my sisters) moved away, I felt lost and I struggled to go to the gym without them.

Strange, I know.

So, to get back on track, I’m going to put my fitness goals for 2018 out there for all to see. Then, I will do it. Period. The end. No excuses, just dedication.

All. By. Myself. <insert sappy song here>

Goal #1
Tone & Sculpt Abs & Glutes

This will be fun for 2 reasons…

#1 – I have no feeling in my abdominal region.
#2 – My glutes act like they don’t have a leg to stand on.

Having no feeling in my abs causes any core workout difficult to execute, but it also makes it easy to sculpt them (since I can’t feel the pain). Leave me a comment below if you want me to write a post on why I can’t feel my abs.

Nonetheless, difficult or not, these are my top target areas I want to focus on in 2018.

Goal #2
Strengthen my upper body

My favourite workouts are triceps, shoulders & biceps – exactly in that order. There’s just something about beautifully sculpted arms that are capped with a strong shoulder that make it all worth it.

Goal #3
Nutrition

Ugh. Yep, that’s pretty much all I have to say about that. All of my life I have used food as a way to stay alive – which is good, if you know a thing or two about nutrition. I don’t. I am clueless when it comes to food. Also, another problem I have is that many times, I forget to eat.

Now I’m determined to learn how to eat well.

Goal #4
Do it alone

Ok, this may not be an actual fitness goal, but my thought is that if I learn to workout alone, I won’t struggle when there’s a change-up with my gym partner. Working out with friends is always a bonus, but I think I need to be comfortable with being alone at the gym.

Goal #5
Train for a competition

I wasn’t going to include this in my post, but I decided to anyway. I am not actually interested in competing – there’s so many reasons why – but I am interested in focusing on bringing my body to a place that I desire it to be. When I started working out back in 2016, I adopted this plan as my routine – 2 hours, 6 days a week. I loved it.

Those are the goals I’m starting with. I will try to keep you posted on my progress.

As a bonus, I’m throwing in my YouTube video about what I’ll be toting with me in my gym bag.

Rowena Francis YouTube Launch Video

Published on July 4, 2018July 3, 2018 by Rowena FrancisLeave a comment

Guys.

I am so excited to launch my YouTube channel!

I’ve actually been sitting on it for a few months now because I wasn’t even sure I knew what I was doing – or getting in to.

Let me tell you! It’s so much fun.

I started this blog because I needed something that I did just because I simply enjoyed it. No obligations. No frustrations. Just something I love.

Now imagine talking to a camera. It’s almost like therapy. Except no bill. You can say everything you’ve ever thought…then edit it out.

Genius. Pure genius.

With that, here’s my launch video:

Comment below with videos you’d like to see me do.

Rowena Francis is COMING SOON to YouTube!

Published on June 29, 2018June 29, 2018 by Rowena FrancisLeave a comment

Well, well, well.

Maybe I’m crazy.

Maybe I’m not.

I have no idea what I’m doing, but Rowena Francis is about to branch out on YouTube!

Check out my teaser video below.

Please subscribe to my channel.

Comment below if you have a YouTube channel. I’d love to check it out.

30 Beauty Questions Tag

Published on June 27, 2018June 27, 2018 by Rowena Francis4 Comments

I’ve seen this tag on a few blogs lately and thought it would be fun to do. I copied the questions from Imperfect Beauty so head over to her blog and check out her answers (and give her a follow).

1.) Do you remember your first makeup item?

Maybelline Watermelon Kissing Koolers and Maybelline Bubble Gum Kissing Potion when I was 7 or 8. Apparently I was keen on the idea of kissing.

Does that count?

I also used to borrow all of my mom’s Mary Kay and Avon makeup.

Does that count?

Ok, how about that green Sephora corrector I bought when I was in my twenties? We’ll go with that.

2.) Describe your perfect mascara. Have you found one that fits your specifications?

I have high expectations from mascaras. My perfect mascara would be a blackest-black, non-waterproof formula that is thick enough to coat my lashes individually without clumping them together. I have tried A LOT of mascaras and would only classify 2 of them as perfect – L’Oréal X-Fiber and well, I don’t remember the name of the other one (it was discontinued about 10 years ago).

3.) What kind of coverage do you prefer from a foundation?

Summertime = Light coverage
Wintertime = Full coverage

4.) Favourite high-end brand?

Too Faced.

5.) What cosmetic brands have you always wanted to try but still haven’t?

Mac. I haven’t tried a single thing from Mac. Comment below on what you think my first Mac purchase should be.

6.) Favourite drugstore brand?

I really do love so many drugstore brands, but I think I favour L’Oréal overall.

7.) Do you wear fake eyelashes?

No. My natural eyelashes are longer than some fake ones, so I’ve never seen the point. Maybe I should try them?

8.) Is there any kind of makeup you can’t leave the house without?

Lips and mascara, but sunglasses can always sub in for mascara.

9.) What is your most cherished beauty product?

I’m not sure, but I’m going to say Dune by Christian Dior. Reminds me of when Brian fell in love with me 20 years ago.

10) How often do you shop for makeup? Do you like to pick up an item here and there or get lots of goodies at once?

I probably shop every. single. day. However, I don’t actually buy products that often. My general rule of thumb is to buy enough for free shipping, but not too much that it would cause Brian to question my need for makeup.

11.) Do you have a “beauty budget” or you spend freely?

I mostly spend freely – as long as it fits into my general rule (see question 10).

12.) Do you utilize coupons, rewards cards and sales when you shop for cosmetics?

100% yes. If it’s not a deal, I’m not buying.

13.) What type of product do you buy the most of?

Mascara.

14.) Is there a brand that you absolutely can’t stand?

Not particularly, but there are some brands that I avoid buying.

15.) Do you avoid certain ingredients in cosmetics like parabens or sulfates?

No, but it is something I’ve started thinking a lot about lately.

16.) Do you have a favourite place to shop for makeup?

Not really, but I do shop at Sephora, Ulta, Walmart and Shopper’s Drug Mart.

17.) Do you like trying new skincare products or do you keep a certain routine?

I can get pretty finicky with skin care products. So, usually if I find something great, I stick with it until my skin changes. Check out my current skin care routine here.

18) Favourite bath and body brand?

L’Oréal has been my long-time go-to. I’ve also started loving Briogeo, but it is on the high-end, so I use the products sparsely.

19) If you could only buy from one brand, which brand would you choose?

L’Oréal – they carry my favourite hair colour, hair care, makeup, etc.

20) What brand do you think has the best packaging?

I’ve never really understood the idea of evaluating packaging, but recently I found myself ooh-ing and ahh-ing at some Hard Candy packaging.

21.) Which celebrity always has great makeup?

I’m really not much of a celebrity follower, but I really like the way Katy (Lustrelux) does her makeup. She always looks flawless.

22.) Do you belong to any online makeup communities?

Influenster is the main one right now. I’d like to join up with Canadian Beauty Bloggers when I gain a bit more influence.

23.) 5 Favorite Beauty Gurus?

Kelly Strack, Katy, Desi Perkins, Jaclyn Hill, Tati

24.) Do you like multifunctional products like lip and cheek stains?

No.

25.) Are you clumsy in putting on makeup?

I don’t think so, but I’m far from perfect.

26.) Do you use makeup base/primer for the eyes?

Don’t judge me, but I’ve only used eyeshadow a handful of times. This is the area I’m attempting to learn.

27.) How many hair products do you use on a typical day?

If that typical day includes a shower, 6. If it doesn’t, 0.

28.) What do you apply first, concealer or foundation?

Foundation, then concealer.

29.) Do you ever consider taking makeup classes?

I definitely think about it.

30.) What do you love about makeup?

I love that makeup can accentuate or transform, depending on how you want to use it. It’s creative and I love everything about that.

I guess that’s it, 30 questions. I don’t know the first idea of who to nominate, but if you’re reading this and you want to do it, tag me, I’d love to read your answers!

Don’t forget to comment below on what you think my first ever Mac purchase should be.

Makeup Essentials for Beginners

Published on June 23, 2018 by Rowena Francis1 Comment

In the world of makeup, there is so much competition out there and if you don’t keep up on new releases, you could blink your eyes and your makeup may be outdated. So, I can imagine that if you are just starting out with makeup, it could prove to be a bit daunting – especially if you don’t have the extra funds to try all the high-end products. Makeup is expensive. When I first wanted to explore with makeup, I had no idea where to start.

This list is what I would recommend to myself, if I was looking back to those first makeup bags I was trying to fill.

Primer
Becca Backight Priming Filter
($46 Sephora)
Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser
($9.96 Walmart)

Primer was something that I started with high-end products, so I don’t have any solid thoughts yet on drugstore brands. I’ve only tried the Baby Skin primer once, but it kind of reminded me of Smashbox – it has a gel-like consistency and is meant to fill and minimize the appearance of your pores.

Becca First Light Primer has more of a moisturizer feel to it and it gives your skin a beautiful glow. It is a great prep and really sets the stage for the rest of your makeup.

Foundation
Too Faced Born This Way
($49 Sephora)

Too Faced wasn’t my first high-end foundation, but it is definitely my ongoing favourite. You guys know how fair my skin got over the winter and I wasn’t able to use it. However, summer is officially here and so is my normal skin colour. This makes me happy because I’ve been exclusively using the Born This Way foundation every day. I just simply love it. It’s easy to apply, blends seamlessly and gives a flawless finish – even if you have no idea how to apply it.

Concealer
Tarte Shape Tape
($35 Tarte)

Tarte Shape Tape is a staple for me. It’s expensive, but it has lasted me a while, so I’m ok with that. I’ve tried other concealers and this just seems to be the easiest to use – which is absolutely great for beginners. It’s also full-coverage, so it is great if your eyes tend to give away your stress or sleeping habits.

On a side note, I’m super stoked because Too Faced just announced that they will soon be releasing the Born This Way Multi Use Sculpting Concealer! From all the videos I’ve watched, it seems to be comparable to Tarte Shape Tape.

Under Eye Powder
Wet N Wild Colour Icon Reserve Your Cabana
($4.97 Walmart)

Even if you’re just starting out with makeup, it is so important to set your concealer. If you don’t set it, your under-eyes will crease in all the wrong ways (although I’m pretty sure any way is the wrong way).

I know this product is actually a bronzer, but I saw that Kelly Strack uses this to set under her eyes and so I figured I would try it. Honestly, you can’t go wrong with this one.

Contour
NYX Wonderstick
($14 NXY)

NYX is such a great brand to start out with because they really offer quality products at great price points. I used the Wonderstick for about a year before I even thought about trying any other contour. This stick is easy to travel with as well.

Blush
Tarte Amazon Clay Blush
($38 Sephora)

I really wanted to give you a drugstore blush, but these Tarte blushes are stunning. They blend easily and the colour lasts all day long. So, it’s expensive for starting out, but worth it since you won’t be using a ton of it.

Highlight
Hard Candy Highlighter Trio
($9.98 Walmart)

This is actually a recent purchase for me, but I loved it enough to put it in this post. The price is great and you get 3 highlighters in it. The highlighters are crazy pigmented so you don’t need a lot of it. It’s simply an all around great highlighter – starter or otherwise.

Brows
NYX Micro Brow Pencil
($12 NYX)

The very first brow product I used was Anastasia Brow Wiz. I only had a small sample size pencil, so it didn’t last forever. I needed something similar, but I didn’t want to splurge when I didn’t even know the first thing about brows.

All that to say, this NYX brow pencil is comparable and the price point is great for any budget.

Lashes
L’Oreal X-Fiber Mascara
($10.76 Walmart)

Mascara is one of those items that I have a hard time splurging on because there are so many great drugstore brands out there. Also, you should be replacing your mascara at least every 3 months, so I have a hard time throwing out a product that cost me 3x more

Lips
NYX Lip Lingerie
($10 NYX)
NYC Color Expert Lip Color
($1.77 Walmart)

Nude lipsticks are great to start out with. I really found that the NYX Lip Lingerie lippies were great before I really knew what colours to wear. Once I was comfortable putting on liquid lipstick, I started buying some high-end lipsticks. Also, NYC has some great lipsticks and they are so inexpensive!

I know I left out products to do eyeshadow/liner, but when you’re first starting out, you don’t necessarily know how to do your eyes. So, for me it was an add-on, not a basic.

Also, as far as brushes go, personal preference is key. I got my set from Zulily and I love them. For foundation, I prefer applying it with a damp beauty sponge (I got mine at Costco).

I would suggest that if you want to go right in and buy high-end makeup, go to your local Sephora and ask for samples – they’re free. Also, read reviews on products and watch some YouTube reviews.

Let me know in the comments if you’ve tried any of the products I’ve mentioned, I’d love to know if they worked for you.