Bazar D'mila

Spring is just beginning here in Toronto, but I see summer skies on the horizon! My skin is starting to behave now that the weather is turning a bit warmer which means I can put away my heavier foundations! I've been living on tinted moisturizers since April, but my skin is still needing a bit of coverage. If you're deciding to make the switch to a tinted moisturizer, there's a few things to keep in mind. 

Are tinted moisturizers created equal? I've been test driving 3 since March and each one has their good and not-so-good features. Here's what I thought and what worked for me and will hopefully work for you!

The Tints:

mark by Avon Get A Tint Tinted Moisturizer Lotion SPF 15 ($10 USD): Light-weight and oil-free. Gives enough coverage and shimmer for a balanced glow. Unique skin-balancing formula hydrates while it prevents shine in those spots prone to excess oil. Available in Ivory/Nude, Buff/Natural, Honey/Golden, Almond/Mocha.

Clinique Moisture Surge Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 ($30 CAD): Light-weight hydrating formula that protects the skin with SPF and covers imperfections naturally for a no-makeup look. Available in 6 shades. 

Cover FX Skintint FX Treatment and Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30 ($39 CAD): Rejuvenating liquid mineral treatment. Pearlized minerals provide tinted sun-kissed looking skin. Perfect for dry, sallow, sensitive or sun-damaged skin. Oil-free, fragrance-free, and paraben-free. Available in C Light, C Deep, E Light, E Deep, M Light, and M Deep. 

The Coverage (T-B in photo):

mark by Avon in Buff/Natural: The most economical out of the 3, this tint actually gives some coverage! The formula didn't feel heavy or greasy and evened out my skin tone pretty good. On darker blemishes, I did have to apply a separate concealer for more coverage. The Buff shade works for my skin tone right now, but probably won't as I get darker. When first applied, the shimmer seemed very noticeable and I found myself trying to brush it or sponge it away. I was scared that as the day wore on, I would end up looking like an oily mess. Surprisingly, the shimmery particles faded to a sheen leaving my skin glowing and didn't make me shinier. For oilier skin types, however, I'm not sure if the results will be the same. Any oily lovelies that can weigh in? I think this would work great on the decolletage for a sexy glow and on the legs especially if you need to hide any nicks or bruises.

Clinique Moisture Surge Tinted Moisturizer in #3: In March, I was actually light enough to use this shade which is for more fair skinned beauties. The downside - the shade doesn't work for me now. The upside? I'm getting more tanned! Yay! Out of the 3, the Clinique version provides the best coverage yet still looked natural. I didn't have to use a separate concealer over my blemishes or red spots. I really liked the light-weight feel to it. Those that are oilier will appreciate the non-shimmery formula.

Cover FX Skintint FX in M Light: This has been my go-to TM for the past month or so. I love the golden tint it gives my skin! Out of the 3, the finish is the closest to looking like your natural skin. I love the mousse-like texture - it feels like air when applied. It has a pearlized texture rather than shimmer so you're left with skin that glows. The downside? My skin isn't the most perfect right now and I find it doesn't offer enough coverage. My solution? I've been mixing this with Cover FX's Natural FX Water-Based Liquid Foundation SPF 15. The combo gives me enough coverage while still feeling and looking like a TM. It's the pricier option of the 3, but all Cover FX products have ingredients that repair and heal the skin. Perfect for both normal or more problematic skin.

Meredith from her lovely blog, et tu and you, did a post about tinted moisturizers and debated whether switching to one would work for her (click on link above to read). She asked me to weigh in on it and I'm so glad she did!

Wearing a TM really depends on your skin type and your lifestyle. There are ones that offer more coverage and in my experience the ones I love are tarte's Smooth Operator and Clinique's Moisture Surge. These are great options especially if you are used to a full coverage foundation. However, mixing your moisturizer with your favourite foundation also does the trick. I've fallen in love with mixing my Cover FX Skintint with the Natural FX. 

As I said in my reply to her, there is a time and place for everything. If you're working out and still want a bit of coverage (for fear of running into that hottie or ex), a TM is your best friend. Nothing is worst than foundation dripping off your face and onto the workout equipment! If I'm running errands, I usually slap on a bit of concealer with my TM. If I'm attending an event that requires long lasting makeup, I will use a full coverage foundation. If you normally have flawless skin (damn you!), then you can get away with wearing a TM all year round. But if you're less fortunate like me, I use a heavier foundation in the winter months and switch to a TM in the warmer months.

And as always, I am never without a face primer. Make sure you apply a primer (mattifying one if oily) first to keep your TM on all day. Since they don't offer as much coverage, the chances of it fading is greater. Don't be afraid to do a light dusting of translucent powder to set it.

What is your favourite tinted moisturizer? Do you prefer it over a full coverage foundation? Have you tried any of the 3?

I have such fond memories of Easter - from painting eggs, to hunting for chocolate in the grass, to making fun and yummy desserts! I still love all of that, but instead of painting eggs I'm painting my nails in Easter-perfect shades!

Pastels are so in trend right now. If you're on the hunt for some Easter-friendly polishes here are 5 to throw in your basket! I'm still on the fence about which shade I want to wear this weekend but I'm leaning towards the yellow or mint green polishes - thoughts?

Joe Fresh Nail Polish in Marshmallow ($4 CAD): Light, fluffy, and soft - marshmallow. It's a neutral so you can't go wrong plus it gives your nails a really clean look. I applied 3 coats to get a nice full colour. Perfect for Easter dinner with the family!

O.P.I. In The Spotlight Pink - Femme de Cirque ($10.50 CAD): Pretty in soft pink! Another great neutral that gives you a kiss of pink on the nails. I used 3 coats again to get for a full colour. It will look completely feminine with a floral dress!

Nubar Lemon Sherbet Polish ($10.50 CAD): I absolutely love this sunny and happy polish from Nubar! I prefer a pastel yellow over one that has warmer undertones. Lemon Sherbet really pops against the skin and makes me look tanner than I really am. The only thing I wish was that the brush was a little wider. I also used 3 coats for a fuller colour. This one is definitely a contender for this weekend!

O.P.I. Planks A Lot - Pirates of the Caribbean ($10.50 CAD): I don't usually gravitate towards lavender shades, but this version is a little deeper. This shade totally reminds me of the paint we used to colour our Easter eggs with!

mark by Avon Mini Nail Lacquer in Mojito - Ibiza summer collection ($7 CAD for 2): Mint green is my favourite shade of the season! Mojito from mark. is new for summer, but you'll be happy to know there are many dupes on the market right now. I love how mini the bottle is and it actually applies pretty well. I only needed 2 coats to get a full colour. It's a toss up between this one and Lemon Sherbet!

What pastel shades are you loving right now? What shade will you be wearing for Easter?

Valentine's Day is fast approaching! How many of you really celebrate V-Day? For me, the only thing I love about it is the heart-shaped chocolates! My husband and I don't go all out like we used to now that we're married - not to say that we don't have any romance - but we don't need one day to show how much we love each other because we show each other everyday. Go ahead and gag but we really do! I do, however, love to make it fun for my son. So, it will be heart-shaped cookies and cupcakes for him (who am I kidding - and for me too!).

If you still love wooing your special someone or looking to lock hearts, you'll need to decide if you want to look flirty, girly or seductive (or all 3)!

A flutter of the lashes can get any guy all hot and bothered! However, you might not get the same reaction if your lashes are close to non-existent. Give your lashes a boost with some flirty falsies. Right now, I am loving Ardell's #110 Demi Black lashes. They are similar to my go-to Quo #803's. I think feathery looking lashes are super sexy and flirty and also really natural looking. The separated style also makes it ideal for creating a customized look. Cut in half and just add to the corners for a Marilyn-esque vibe. The separation of the lashes also allow your individual lashes to mix in with the fake lashes.

For a step-by-step on how to apply lashes check out a past post here. 

Girly Girl:

Nothing makes a gal look more girly than a youthful pink flush on the cheeks. I really love Kristen Bell's pink cheeks in this photo. It just looks so fresh and pretty.

I love to layer liquid and cream blushes underneath a powder blush. Your blush lasts longer and pumps up a sheer blush. Benefit Posietint is lovely pink liquid blush that gives a sheer girly flush. On my skin tone, I have to apply a few layers for it to show, but I love the soft pink glow it leaves on my cheeks. If you're going to be doing a little smoochin', it also doubles as a lip tint so kiss away!

When I want the colour to be stronger, I love to layer Stila's Custom Color Blush on top of Posietint. Stila claims that this blush is a one-colour-suits-all by customizing the perfect shade of pink based on your skin's pH. I was skeptical but at IMATS Toronto the bright pink caught my eye and had to have it. I've only tried it on my skin tone so I don't know if it really creates the perfect pink on everyone but I love the shade of pink it makes on me! Word of caution: the blush is highly pigmented so start with a light application and wait a few minutes before applying another layer. I found that it would go brighter after adjusting to my skin.

Seductive Girl:

With red, pouty lips like these it'll be hard for him to focus on anything else. When I wear a red lip, I instantly feel more confident and sexy. If you've never worn a red lip before, but are contemplating taking the plunge this V-Day you might want to work your way up to full bold lip.

My lips are typically on the drier side and most long-lasting lip colours can be a bit drying. I adore mark. by Avon Gloss Gorgeous Lip Stains because it brings the best of both worlds together: lip stain and gloss! Can't get any more perfect than that! These fabulous lip pens apply sheer at first but layer a few more swipes and you get full-colour glossy goodness! Lolli is a juicy red that works for all skin tones. After the shine wears off, you'll still have a beautiful stain left on your lips. What's even more to love? The $10 price tag! I snatched up all 4 shades and love 'em! 

This one is for all you gals who love to get a rise out of people. Sephora's Cream Lip Stains are serrrrrious! Full, bold, rich colour that won't budge. Always Red is a beautiful matte true red. I definitely recommend lining the lips first and applying the cream stain with a lip brush for precise application. The wand can get a little messy - clown lips are not pretty. Dab excess colour off with a tissue and your colour will not kiss off all night.

Combine the red lips, pink girly cheeks, and flirty lashes for true glamour this V-Day or go for some hot come-hither smokey eyes! Happy Valentine's Day!