Rowena Francis

The Sweet Truth | Hershey’s Crunchers

Published on June 9, 2018June 5, 2018 by Rowena Francis2 Comments

***Disclaimer: These products were sent to me free of charge for testing purposes. Although they didn’t cost me anything, these are all our own opinions.

Who doesn’t love getting packages in the mail? I know I do. It’s like Christmas morning when I get to the mailbox and see that large red key in my slot. I know that means something was too big to fit in my slot.

Before we left for Niagara Falls, I decided to check the mail.

Sure enough, Christmas came.

This time it was chocolate. Hershey’s Crunchers, to be exact.

Sometimes companies (like Influenster) send out free products to be reviewed. I mean, twist my arm. Chocolate is a hard sell for me to review.

Ok, true, I haven’t really had sugar over the last 7 years, but I’m not opposed to eating some chocolate occasionally. You know, for testing purposes. Plus, I’m trying to learn how to do things in moderation. Quite possibly, this may be the best place to start.

This time around I incorporated my kids in my taste testings. It may have had a bit to do with the fact that they kept bringing me the bags to ask if they could have some.

Let’s just say, they know how to wear me down. Also, let’s be real here, kids have no problem giving their brutally honest opinions.

That being said, here are our reviews.

Cookies and Cream Crunchers
170g Bag
Per 15 pieces (40g)
200 Calories
9g Fat
17g Sugar
150mg Sodium

Vincent
Score 7/10
Straight up a seven out of ten. Nothing more, nothing less.

Violet
Score 10/10
It kind of tastes like smores, but without the marshmallow and with white chocolate. It tastes good. *said in a lingering giggle*

Reese’s Crunchers
170g Bag
Per 14 pieces (40g)
200 Calories
11g Fat
17g Sugar
95mg Sodium

Vincent
Score 10/10
Those are good, but they make me drink a lot of water.

Violet
Score 9/10
They taste like Ferrero Rocher, but I think I like the cookies and cream better.

Overall, Violet loved the Cookies and Cream Crunchers the best while Vincent loved the Reese’s Crunchers the best. Obviously, I needed to see who was right. Although, I admit, I’m a bit biased to anything with a peanut butter and chocolate combo. I was kind of shocked at my findings.

The sweet truth? I loved both of them. The Cookies and Cream Crunchers probably took the lead on it, though. Then, when I read that you could use them as ice cream toppers, that was it, I was sold on the Cookies and Cream ones.

Literally my only negative thing to say is that when they came, we were going through a heat wave and they melted. Although that may have taken away from the look of them and made it hard to determine the nutritional value (maybe that’s not a problem), it didn’t take away from the taste by any means.

Have you tried Hershey’s Crunchers? Let me know your thoughts below in the comments.

May Empties | 2018

Published on June 6, 2018June 5, 2018 by Rowena Francis4 Comments

May Empties 1 Pictures — Photo by Arnel Hasanovic on Unsplash

May has been a long month for me. Summer is just around the corner and soon the kids will be home. I’m interested to see how my schedule will work once they are out of school, but I’m fairly excited to spend some quality time doing some new adventures with them this summer.

Because of the busyness that May dumped in my lap, I didn’t have many opportunities to try new products. However, when I looked in my ’empties’ basket, I realized that I used up a few really great products. Some of them are samples, but I loved them enough to barrel through them in May.

Biore Baking Soda Cleansing Scrub
$7.97 CDN (Walmart)

I bought this originally for my trip to Israel, because I wanted to pack in a carry-on and was limited with my liquids. It quickly became my absolute favourite for removing my makeup. It evicts every particle of dirt or makeup from my pores and my face feels so fresh after cleansing. The odd time it leaves me a bit dry, so if you have dry skin, you might not want this as a daily cleanser.

Tatcha The Water Cream
$82 CDN (Sephora)

Skin care has been a big priority for me this year and Tatcha does not disappoint. Yes, I’ve talked about this before, but it is an amazing moisturizer. I was quite sad when I ran out. That being said, I think I would like to try some more moisturizers before deciding if I would repurchase this again. Leave me some suggestions in the comments, I’d love to know what you’re using.

Becca Backlight Priming Filter
$46 CDN (Sephora)

This probably doesn’t come as a surprise for you since I’ve already talked about it in other posts. I absolutely love this primer. It just makes you glow beyond complexion. I decided not to buy it for summer because I thought it might be too heavy in the heat, but I really miss it and so I’m sure I will break down and buy a full bottle of it soon.

Briogeo Rosarco Milk reparative leave-in conditioning spray
$26 CDN (Sephora)

This was a product I received in my FabFitFun subscription box last year. At first, I wasn’t sure about it. I had never heard of the brand and the first time I used it, I wasn’t sure it was anything special. Then, I had an issue where my hair was so dry and damaged that I was sure I was going to have to chop it off and start fresh. I remembered about this and dug it out of hiding. I started using it and all I can say is WOW. Not only did it help me brush through my long locks after a shower without any breakage, it also began to restore my damaged ends. I usually don’t love leave in conditioners, but this one never leaves my hair feeling greasy or heavy. I can spritz this on my hair after a shower, brush it and let it air dry with minimal frizz. I was a bit worried about going through this because I was afraid I was falling in love with an expensive product, but let me tell you – WORTH EVERY PENNY! I absolutely will be repurchasing this for summer!

That brings me to the end of my May Empties. I’d love to know some of your favourite products to try.

Puppy Love | Charles Whitford

Published on June 2, 2018June 1, 2018 by Rowena Francis3 Comments

(Photo Credit Kenrick Mills on Unsplash)

I don’t know if you’re anything like me, but the thought of having a puppy seemed super cute. My emotions couldn’t help but be sucked into this whirlwind of puppy cuteness overload!

Then, I’d have this small sense of logic pop in my mind. Puppies are like babies and you are out of the baby stage.

Just like that, my decision was made.

Until…

Until my daughter dog sat (is that even a thing?) little Mya. She absolutely fell in love and her mind was made up. We were getting a dog.

I figured it would pass, but with every passing moment, her desire got stronger and stronger. She would go to my brother in law’s and pick up dog poop for him.

After 2 years of her persistence, I told her that if we could all agree on a breed, we would get a dog.

**My suggestion was a little sketch because I knew Brian and I disagreed terribly about dog breeds. So, I figured it would never happen.

One day, I was cooking dinner and I saw my daughter sneak downstairs with paper and a pen. I didn’t think much about it until she proudly marched up the stairs 15 minutes later and announced that we were getting a dog.

Confused, but not wanting to immediately burst her bubble, I sternly asked my hubby to join me in a friendly conversation in the bedroom.

Apparently, she did her research and found a dog she knew I would approve of. Then she put together her logical argument for her father in which she got him to say he approved of the dog.

It was finished.

We were getting a dog.

Coton de Tulear, to be exact.

Most people make me repeat it over again because they don’t recognize the breed.

The first breeder I talked to kept me on the phone for an hour grilling me about how I would care for the dog. It was the most intense interview I have ever had.

So, I kept looking. I didn’t know a lot about caring for a dog, but I did know that we had a promise to keep and that this was the only breed acceptable.

I’m so glad I kept looking because I found an absolutely amazing breeder just north of Toronto – Strawberry Cotons.

I fell in love with the pictures of the puppies and I put a deposit down.

This was really happening.

We were able to pick up the puppy and surprise our kids entirely.

It’s now been 2 years since Charles became a part of our family and I can’t imagine how life was without him.

He is the most playful, energetic, loving and caring pups. On days when any of us are having a rough go, he will literally nudge you until you pick him up so he can hug you.

If I had to do it all over again, I would choose him every time. I love my daughter and her persistent logic, because without it our lives would be missing this piece.

She’s since started working on her logic for us having another baby…

Do you have a dog? Comment below on your favourite breed.

Le Petit Marseillais Body Wash

Published on May 30, 2018May 29, 2018 by Rowena FrancisLeave a comment

When I was a kid, I gave my baby-sitters a run for their money – specifically when my aunt baby sat us. She was the most patient and loving woman, but I would push the limits with her.

Every. Single. Time.

My parents would give us the ‘talk’ before they’d leave for their bowling league. We would put on our cutesy smiles and agree like the little angels that my aunt portrayed us to be when they got home.

I specifically remember this one time my mom told me that I absolutely had to take a bath while they were gone. I told her I would, but when my aunt told me it was bath time, I straight up refused. She literally chased me around the house, grabbing me one piece of clothing at a time until I was in my birthday suit and dodging her every move. When she finally decided it wasn’t worth it and retreated to her bedroom (I’m literally cringing), I relented. I walked proudly into the bathroom and rub a dub dub, I was in the tub.

**To my Aunt, if you are reading this…you are a superhero. Anyone who can endure what I put them through as a child, deserves a medal. Thank you for not killing me. I’m sure that would’ve been hard to explain, given the fact that I had everyone convinced I was an angel. I’m sure once you had your own kids, it was probably a breeze. I’m also beyond grateful that my ‘angelic’ childhood didn’t trickle down and make an appearance in my own kids. So, if you’re reading this, I’m still so sorry and I owe you BIG TIME!**

Thankfully, I’ve grown a bit since then and although I can still be stubborn, I love my shower time.

This week I received a Vox Box* from Influenster and lo and behold, it was a body wash sample. Influenster is a company that sends you products for free in return for reviews or product exposure, etc. Although I’m not required to blog about the product, I thought it might be nice to share my experience with this one.

Le Petit Marseillais
Mandarin and Lime Body Wash
$4.97 (walmart.ca)
400ml

Product Claims:
(As written on the website)
“LE PETIT MARSEILLAIS® Mandarin & Lime Body Wash gently cleans your skin. Its light and easy to rinse foam releases a zesty and citrus fragrance. Skin is left feeling soft, moisturized and refreshed.
The extra gentle pH neutral formula makes this body wash suitable for everyday use.
Paraben free. Phthalate free.”

Ingredients:
Water (Eau), Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Glycerin, Fragrance (Parfum), Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Propylene Glycol, Polyquaternium-7, Sodium Hydroxide, Citrus Nobilis (Mandarin Orange) Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Fruit Extract, Yellow 5, Blue 1

My Review:
First things first, packaging. I don’t have a full-size bottle in front of me, but I’m a bit disappointed at first glance of the pictures. It reminds me of something I would find at the dollar store. However, after trying it, I loved the smell. It reminded me of when I used to buy a bunch of bath products from Fruits & Passion when I was a teenager. It brings back some good memories. It lathered nicely, which is a big deal to me. I like a good lather. It also felt nice on my skin and didn’t dry it out after my shower. I would’ve liked the scent to linger on my skin after my shower, but it didn’t. Overall I was fairly pleased with this body wash. I will buy a full bottle of it since Influenster sent me a coupon for $2 off, but since the full price is more than my current favourite body wash, I probably will only buy it again if it goes on sale.

Rating: 4/5

Have you tried Le Petit Marseillais Body Wash? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

*I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

Rowena’s Reviews | The Etherealist Foundation by Kevyn Aucoin

Published on May 26, 2018May 26, 2018 by Rowena FrancisLeave a comment

One of the great things about ordering online with Sephora is that you get to pick samples that ship with your order. I recently received a sample of The Etherealist foundation by Kevyn Aucoin with my most recent order. I decided to try it out and let you all in on my thoughts about it.

Kevyn Aucoin
The Etherealist Foundation
$70 (CDN)/$58 (US)
Shade Range – 16 shades

Packaging
I can’t really comment on the packaging as I used a sample packet I received with a Sephora order.

Consistency
The consistency is fairly thin and ran down the back of my hand when applied.

Application
I used a damp beauty sponge to apply the foundation. It blended ok, but it looked a bit patchy. The first layer I used the shade Light EF 02, but it was too light, which could be why it was patchy. When I applied the second layer with the shade Medium EF 06, the colour matched well and it blended better.

Coverage
This is definitely a medium coverage foundation. I didn’t find that it evened out my skin tone in my chin area, but it covered well for the rest of my face.

Finished face
After my makeup was finished, my foundation looked a bit cakey up close, but from a step back it looked flawless – almost airbrushed. I’m curious to see if the cakey finish had to do with the fact that I applied two layers (see my final thoughts).

First Impressions Wear test (9am)
This foundation feels smooth and light on my skin, maybe even like it turns to a light powder. It doesn’t feel heavy or thick.

5-hour wear test (2pm)
After a few hours, my foundation was still in tact. It seemed to be wearing off near my lips and chin area. It still felt light and airbrushed.

10-hour wear test (7pm)
10 hours was too long for me. Even though I set it with the Urban Decay All Nighter setting spray, by the time it hit the 10 hour mark my foundation was separating, settling into the lines around my nose and chin, and the coverage seemed light at best.

Final thoughts
After writing my first impressions down, I went to Sephora’s website and checked out the claims this foundations makes. As I read the claims, I realized that my review was fairly consistent with the claims – medium coverage, airbrush finish, etc. I tried wearing the foundation again, this time using one layer of the medium shade and using a foundation brush. It looked flawless and not cakey at all. That being said, I liked the foundation and would absolutely use it for shorter days, like a Sunday morning at church. Also, since it feels so light on the skin, I think it could possibly be a beautiful summer foundation. However, it’s definitely on the high end for pricing, so I’d really have to think about whether it would be worth buying for only a day each week.

My Final Score 7/10

Have you tried The Etherealist foundation? Did you love it or pass? Comment below.

Battle of the Blondes

Published on May 23, 2018May 19, 2018 by Rowena Francis9 Comments

When my son was born, his hair was so blonde that it actually looked like he was sporting a halo, straight from above.

It wasn’t surprising as I was a bleach blonde baby as well. Over the years my hair started darkening to a dirty blonde.

When I was 12, all my friends started colouring their hair and I was intrigued. My sister and I convinced my mom to bring us to the drugstore and let us pick whatever we wanted.

Black. I picked black. It had a bluish hue to it, kind of like Veronica in the Archie comics.

Apparently that wasn’t a good choice. Or so my mom said.

So, I went with blonde.

We went home and started the process.

Guess what?

It came out orange.

Why in the world would my hair not turn out as beautiful as the one on the box?

My hair pulls red. That’s why.

Over the years, I’ve been from bleach blonde to orange to red, back to blonde, dabbled with black and I have now settled back in with the bleach blonde.

I’m not one to go to the salon to get my hair done. My hair grows so fast that it would cost me an arm and a leg to keep up with the blonde professionally.

So, I have learned to perfect (or at least manage) the at-home blonde locks.

Here lies the Battle of the Blondes.

I have managed to find two products that bring my blonde to the colour I love.

L’Oreal Paris Superior Performance (Les Blondissimes)
LB01 Light Ash Blonde
$$ – under $15

This one is my absolute favourite and the one that I gravitate toward because it doesn’t tear my hair to shreds while it lightens it. My scalp is super sensitive so I blister every single time I colour my hair, regardless of the colour, brand or product. Out of every product I’ve used, this one leaves me with the least amount of blisters.

Because my hair pulls red, this leaves my hair in a more natural golden blonde state. I can usually tone this with a purple shampoo and it works great.

Garnier Nutrisse Cream
D+ – Extra Bleach
$ – under $10

Ok, this is a product that I can put right on my hair and within 30 minutes my hair is the absolute perfect platinum – no toning needed. The red undertones in my hair don’t stand a chance with this. I love it. The only downfalls of this is that the resulting blisters are so intense that I can’t wash or brush my hair for at least a week.

That’s where dry shampoo and an Elsa braid come in handy.

I recently used the Garnier colour because I wanted to even out my locks. I had one too many comments about the ‘cool’ way my hair went back and forth from platinum to golden.

One of the battles with being blonde is keeping my hair from frying. My hair is long and so it needs some tender loving care.

Although these next products aren’t specific to blondes, they are things that I use to keep my locks in check and my strands strong.

Infusium Conditioner
I may be partial to this because it was the very first conditioner I fell in love with, but there’s just something about it that works. My hair can feel like the Sahara, but after using this, the texture becomes so much smoother. I also love that I can use this every single wash.

Redken No Blow Dry Cream
I was originally using a drying cream from Schwarzkopf, but they discontinued it and it left me in search of something just as good. I decided to try a sample of the No Blow Dry Cream and to my extreme pleasure, I found it to be exactly what I was looking for!
You see, my hair is straight, but if I let it air dry, it poofs out to another galaxy. However, I don’t love using too much heat on my hair. The alternative? An air dry cream. This not only cuts down on drying time, but it also keeps your hair tame while it air dries – without the feeling of a greasy product in my hair.

Olaplex
I first tried this unintentionally. My stylist wanted to give me some purple shampoo and all she had was an almost empty bottle of Olaplex. Mind you, when I tried it, it was mixed with that shampoo, but let me tell you! Baby soft! This treatment transforms your hair into commercial-worthy hair. I may or may not have been walking around tossing my hair off my shoulders into the air in slow-mo. We’ll never know. Nonetheless, I ran out of this and it is on my list to repurchase.

Do you colour your hair a lot? Comment below with your favourite hair colour brands.

A Royal Wedding

Published on May 18, 2018 by Rowena Francis1 Comment

Tea crumpets — Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

I bolted out of bed this morning, thinking I just missed the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Royal Weddings don’t come along all that often and although I believe people should have their privacy, I may be a teeny bit obsessed with anything Royal.

I was grateful to find out that I wasn’t late to the viewing, but rather a day early. So, with that I decided to plan a fantastic viewing party with my daughter where we will use words like crumpet and drink our tea with our pinkies in the air.

I might have to bribe her to get out of bed at 4am, but she’ll soon learn that it’s so worth it!

First things first.

We need a royal name.

I used this website to generate our royal names. I will absolutely expect anyone who interacts with us tomorrow to address us as follows:

Sedona Calhoun, Countess of London

Voila Calhoun, Lady of Windsor

Since it will be super early in the morning for us, I only have plans to stay snuggled in our pyjamas. However, if it wasn’t so early morning, we would be donning our Sunday finest complete with fascinators and five inch heels.

I will break out our treasured tea cups and saucers. I will steep the earl grey tea in the teapot and set it on a tray over a stunning white tablecloth. The scones will be arranged perfectly on a china plate.

Table set — Photo by Carli Jeen on Unsplash

Half of our living room will look like a bedroom.

Half of our living room will look like we are having high tea.

We are going to “ooh” and “ahh” over all the beautiful guests and mostly, we are going to watch an incredible vow of love between two people beginning an incredible journey.

It’s almost Wedding Day!

I know I’m just a small voice in a small town, but I want to extend my best wishes to the happy couple. May their years be blessed and their time together be cherished.

From my heart to theirs, Congratulations!

Will you be watching the Royal Wedding? Comment below.

Sephora Haul | Throwback Edition

Published on May 16, 2018May 16, 2018 by Rowena Francis3 Comments

SH First Image — Photo by Julia Janeta on Unsplash

Ok, technically this was my second Sephora haul, but the first one was 20 years ago and all I bought was a green correcting primer.

I was never a spender. I rarely spent money and I most definitely didn’t spend it on makeup.

Until.

I was sitting at work and my friend and co-worker showed me an email from Sephora. It said something along the lines of ‘spend $30 and get all these products free.’

I’ll warn you now, those are hook emails. They hook you with all the free stuff you’ll get.

Well, it hooked me.

There we were, together, attempting to each purchase $30 of makeup from Sephora. I had no idea where to even start! I think I asked her a million times what I should buy for my first makeup purchase.

I quickly added the Estée Edit Flash Illuminator. I think it gave me enough to hit the $30 mark, but then as I started the checkout, I realized shipping wasn’t free.

Well, I guess that means that I need to add things to my cart until I get free shipping. It’s like getting more free products because the money you would’ve spent on shipping, now you are spending on makeup.

Such a deal. Or at least that’s what my logic stated.

Needless to say, I got my cart to $51 before taxes and I was getting lots of product.

…but I still didn’t know a thing about what it was or how to use it.

Let’s just say, that’s probably where my YouTube addiction started.

Don’t tell my husband.

Alright, moving on.

Coming to you straight from October 2016, here is my very first official Sephora Haul!

the Estée Edit by Estée Lauder
Flash Illumintor
Colour: 02 Morning Light
$32 (no longer available)

Ok, I’m not mad at this purchase. I just swatched this on the back of my hand and I’m not gonna lie, it’s a bit mesmerizing. If this brand was still around, I would probably repurchase this illuminator.

Sephora Collection
Make You Blush! Colorful Cheek Ink Gel Trio
Colour: 01 Peony/04 Lotus/06 Dahlia
$13 (trio no longer available)

I don’t think I actually used any of these blushes. I swatched them a few times and just couldn’t blend them easy enough. There always seemed to be an outline of the stain. These blushes are still available individually, but I wouldn’t repurchase them.

Sephora Collection
Wonderful Cushion Matte Lip Cream
Colour: 01 Wonderful Rosy
$6.00 (no longer available)

I love lipstick. I’m not gonna lie, I only added this to my cart because it was on sale and it gave me the free shipping qualification. I can’t say I hate this, but I can’t say I love this. I still throw this in my makeup bag to use as a ‘no makeup’ lip blush – you know, just something to give you a hint of colour while keeping the natural look. I like it and I really like the cushion, but I probably wouldn’t repurchase. (That being said, I did buy a second shade of this back in 2016)

Since I spent $30, I received a Sephora mini makeup clutch with samples inside. I don’t remember what the samples were, but I always set my samples aside to take with me on vacations (stay tuned for a travel makeup post).

Do you remember your first big makeup purchase? What did you get? Comment below.

Mother’s Day | 2018

Published on May 12, 2018May 11, 2018 by Rowena FrancisLeave a comment

Mother’s Day. It comes every year. Every year I feel a little more sentimental than the last. 2018 has been one of those periods of time where I’ve needed the comfort, love and support of a mother.

I am so thankful to have the privilege of having 3 beautiful mothers in my life. They have each deposited genuine things in my life for which I’m grateful. If I can live up to a fraction of who they are, I know it will leave a lasting impact on the precious lives with whom I’ve been entrusted.

Then there are those who aren’t my actual mothers, but have left an incredible impact on my future. These are women who pray for me, offer advice when I’m struggling as well as thriving and who care deeply for the well-being of my family.

Now picture all my friends and peers who are also mothers. I find we sharpen each other like iron sharpens iron. We learn from each other’s successes and failures. We pick each other up when the rough days come. We speak encouragement on days we just want to ‘move to Kentucky.’ There’s no judgment when it’s 3pm and pjs are still being donned. These are the women who I’m grateful to have beside me.

To my sisters. I was blessed to grow up close with my sister and then I’ve gained 6 beautiful ones as the years have grown on. Each of these women have a special place in my heart. They laugh with me, cry with me, get stronger with me. They love with me. 2018 is changing a few dynamics as distance tries to settle in. I’m grateful for these treasures and even if I don’t know how to pick up a phone, I do know how to text. Plus, I know how to vacation, so you won’t get tired of seeing my face.

Now to my daughter, who I pray will learn from all my struggles, pick up where I left off without missing a beat and soar to heights beyond her wildest dreams. When you become a mother, I pray you see your children as the most precious gifts that have ever been bestowed upon you. I can’t imagine how life was before you. My wildest dream in life was to be a wife and mother. I’m so grateful that I have been given that gift.

To all these women, to all the mothers, you are true superheroes. Let me be the one to say, Thank You.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Spring Makeup Routine

Published on May 9, 2018May 9, 2018 by Rowena Francis4 Comments

I went to get my nails done the other day. When it came to a design, I told him to surprise me.

Vacation nails.

He gave me vacation nails.

How did he know I need to be on vacation right now?

Well, this year, vacation has to stay between the type of nails I’m doting and the sweet memories that are popping up on Facebook.

So, while I’m home and not actually on vacation, I might as well let you in on my spring makeup routine.

So, without further ado, here is my go-to spring makeup routine.

Primer
Becca Backlight Priming Filter

This primer takes your dull, lifeless skin and turns it into a beautiful glow. I mean, if you wore it without makeup over top, people might think you have that ‘special’ glow.

If you know what I mean…

Foundation
Maybelline Fit Me – Matte & Poreless
Shade – Classic Ivory

I was on a high-end foundation kick for a few years – and I probably would still be if it weren’t for my skin turning 50 shades of white this winter. For real, this girl doesn’t have the pocket change to splurge on multiple foundations throughout a season.

Welcome to Maybelline. I mean, there is nothing I don’t love about this foundation. It is lightweight, goes on smooth, blends seamlessly, looks flawless and lasts all day.

Concealer
Tarte Shape Tape
Shade – Light-Medium

Brian laughs at me when I get to this step. He tells me I look like I have war paint on my face and asks me what I’m fighting for.

Him, of course. I fight for him.

I don’t have a lot of experience with concealer. This is probably the first real concealer I’ve used.

I love it, so it works.

I set my under eyes with Wet n Wild Bronzer in the shade Reserve Your Cabana.

(**don’t judge me on my concealer being darker than my foundation. Y’all know my struggle with the shades of my skin this year. Ergo, I’m making it work**)

Contour
Ulta Make Me Blush (I got this as a free gift with purchase from Ulta, I don’t know how to link it)
Shade – Cool Bronzer

I just carve out a bit of a cheekbone and chisel somewhat of a jaw line with my contour. I’m still learning, but it seems to be working well, so we’ll go with it.

Who knew you could mould your face shape with just a bit of contour?

Blush
Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-hour Blush
Shade – Paaarty

I love a pink blush. I constantly tell myself I should buy some more diverse shades of blush, but when it comes down to it, I will almost always revert back to a true pink.

The Tarte blush goes on smooth and blends so easily. It is the longest lasting blush I’ve ever used (although it is my first high-end blush) and although it’s not a poppin’ pink, the colour is perfect for my skin tone.

(**I totally forgot to include my Tarte blush in my pics, but there happens to be a pink blush in my contour palette.**)

Brows
Tarte Busy Gal Brows
Shade – Taupe
Annabelle Skinny Brow Liner
Shade – Universal Dark

I come from an era where we wanted the least amount of hair on our brows. Now, I never got on the waxing train because every time I’d go to get them done, the lady would turn me away. Why? I don’t know why?

A few months ago, I decided I would try to learn how to brow. Is that a thing? Browing?

Anyway, I typically outline my brows with a brow pencil and then fill them with brow gel. I run a quick spoolie through them and they’re good to go. I think.

Now, if only I could find a colour that works – Taupe is too taupe, Brown is too dark. I just don’t know yet.

Mascara
L’Oreal Voluminous X-Fiber Mascara

I never do eye makeup on the daily – only mascara. Who am I kidding? I can probably count on one hand how many times I’ve had eye shadow on my eyes. Don’t even get me started with adding lashes. I can’t yet figure them out and plus Brian always says he likes my natural lashes best.

Boring.

Unless you use X-Fiber. For real, guys! This brings my lashes to a whole new level. I am very particular about my mascara and this hits every standard that I have.

Highlighter
Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter Mini
Shade – Opal

This highlighter is poppin’. Can I say that? Is that still a thing? Yeah, well I pop a bit of this on the tip of my nose, my cupid’s bow and on the high points of my cheeks.

Wam. Bam. Kazam.

The lights are on.

Lips
Rimmel Exaggerate Automatic Lip Liner
Shade – You’re All Mine
Tarte H20 Lip Gloss
Shade – Zipline

I wasn’t sold on this liner at first, but the colour was exactly what I wanted for spring. However, when I started using it, I quickly realized how great it is. It is so creamy and feels so nice on my lips. I throw on the Tarte Lip Gloss and I’m ready to go.

Setting Spray
Urban Decay All Nighter

You all know my thoughts on this product. Simply the best. Spritz this on your face, then dab, dab, dab with your damp beauty sponge. Shellac for your makeup? Quite possibly.

There you have it. My basic Spring Makeup Look. I think it took this picture before I put on my lips, but you don’t mind, right?

Do you do a full face of makeup everyday or are you more of the minimal makeup type? Comment below.