Blonde Ambition Beauty

Blonde Ambition Beauty

Hello Everyone! Welcome back to another installment of favorites! March was a great month and I’m excited to share all of these wonderous things with all of you!

First up is an unusual face product for women, I first saw this after seeing YouTube beauty guru NikkieTutorials raving about it! Decided why not give it a try for myself?! Nivea Men After Shave Balm, due to it’s high glycerin content it works like a charm as a primer. In the makeup world, glycerin is like super glue, everything you apply on top of it sticks really well. I initially tried using it with my Estee Lauder Double Wear and didn’t love it, but with every other foundation I have it works amazing! It is super moisturizing, prolongs the wear of my makeup and only costs $6.50. It’s a winner in my books!

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As most women I know, I feel that leggings are one of the greatest things to come into my life! The problem with leggings is finding a pair that aren’t completely see through. It’s not as huge of a problem if wearing them with longer tunics, sweaters or dresses that cover your rump and lady parts, but if you’re like me and leggings are your wardrobe staple then you need to find yourself a great pair! Which I did! I bring you the Lululemon Align Pant, for reals the greatest leggings you will ever purchase in your life!

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Last but certainly not least, as soon I as saw this was available to order from Sephora, I clicked that add to basket button sooner than you can say amazeballs. The Anastasia Glow Kit comes in two options, both of which come complete with 4 different highlighters, since I love myself a good sparkle, how could I resist? I ordered the Gleam Glow Kit, which I thought would work best with my lack of skin pigmentation. Boy was I right, this kit is seriously the bomb.com. Not only is the product amazing, but It also gets bonus points for being a made by an awesome company. I posted a picture of the product on Instagram and the president of the company liked and commented on my picture, obviously making me feel like an instant celebrity! Great product, great company, whats not to love? Order yours here!

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Stay Beautiful

Sondra

Stella & dot

Strangely enough one of the biggest obstacles you face as a Stella & dot Stylist is booking Trunk Shows. Why? You ask. It seems like a no brainer, especially when you have previously attended Trunk Shows and you know that they’re a blast! For those of you that have never attended one or have no idea even what a Trunk Show is, then this is for you! I’m going to take you through the whole process and hopefully answer all your questions and ease your concerns about hosting!

First off, what is a Trunk Show?

In the Stella & Dot world, a Trunk Show is a pop up shop in your living room, kitchen, garage, back yard, lunch room at the office or anywhere where you decide you would like it to be. There are no rules when it comes to location! Whoever your S&D Stylist is will be happy to set up wherever it works for you!

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Does it cost me anything?

No! In fact, the majority of Hostesses earn free product credit as well as discounts to the entire Stella line. So not only is it free to host, you actually walk away with fabulous new accessories!

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How long is a Trunk Show?

Generally speaking a Trunk Show will last from 2-3 hours, but once again this is entirely up to you as the host. If you would like a lunch hour Trunk Show at the office, then an hour it will be!

What if I don’t know enough people to invite or what if no one comes?

When booking Trunk Shows I encourage Hostesses to invite 40-50 guests, knowing that not all of them will be able to make it. Often people voice they feel they don’t know enough people and unless you’ve moved to a brand new country, then you definitely know that many people. Invite your family, your co-workers, your neighbors, your close friends, you’re not so close friends that you usually only talk to on Facebook. Reach out and make a connection, I know that life gets busy and often people loose connections they once had, but I guarantee if you reach out to them, they will be delighted to hear from you!

Are my guests required to make a purchase?

Absolutely Not! Your guests are more than welcome to just come out, try things on and socialize. There is zero pressure to purchase anything. Although the S&D collection is so beautiful it is hard to resist! I like to remind everyone that half of S&D’s product line is actually under $50 and there is also a number of beautiful pieces under $30, I truly feel there is something for everyone regardless of your current finances!

So what are the drawbacks to hosting a Trunk Show?

There are none!

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In a nutshell that’s it! That’s all there is too it! You simply invite over you friends, sip, shop and socialize! Take a couple hours out of the day to catch up with people in your life and shop in the comfort of your home! Bring your babies, bring your toddlers, bring your husband for his credit card! There are no rules!

Feel free to contact me with any additional questions, and lets get your Trunk Show booked! Stay Beautiful!

Sondra

Blonde Ambition Beauty

Welcome Back! This weeks post is going to be dedicated to my all time favorite, tried and true hair care products! I have to be honest and say I was definitely a hair girl before I was a makeup girl, therefore I have tried soooo many different hair care products! Now I’m not claiming to be an expert but I think I can certainly offer up some decent intel! I’m going to be breaking this up into subcategories and I’m sure you’ll find I’m partial to one specific brand, this is only my opinion and this is in no way, shape or form a sponsored post, I just happen to REALLY like them! One last thing to keep in mind is the difference between Professional/Salon products and Drugstore Products. Besides the obvious price factor, Salon products often contain less “fillers” than Drugstore ones. Meaning less of the stuff you don’t want such as sulfates and water and more of the stuff you do want, like minerals and oils and hair healthy goodness. If you’re a female who regularly blow dries, flat iron, curls or colors your hair, I 100% recommend using professional products! If you are a male or a female who just has naturally glorious hair, you can probably get away with Drugstore Shampoo’s and Conditioners! Now that that’s out of the way, on wards!

Shampoo’s

Best all around for every hair type :

CHI – Infra Shampoo

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Best Volumizing :

CHI – Magnified Volume

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Best Curly Hair :

Catwalk – Curls Rock

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Best Travel Friendly :

Lush – Shampoo Bars

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Conditioners

Best all around for every hair type :

CHI – Infra Treatment

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Best Volumizing :

CHI – Magnified Volume

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Best Curly Hair :

Catwalk – Curls Rock

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Best Travel Friendly :

Lush – Big Solid Conditioner

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Best Deep Conditioner :

CHI – Nourish Intense

CHI-Nourish-Intense-Silk-16-ounce-Coarse-Hair-Masque-07138169-19e3-417f-912d-a215e589c978_600

Best Leave in Conditioner :

Healthy Sexy Hair – Soy Tri-Wheat Leave In Conditioner

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Hair Sprays

Best Everyday :

CHI – Infra Texture

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Strong Hold :

CHI – Helmet Head

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Humidity Proof :

Kenra – Volume Spray

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Best Hair Serum

CHI – Silk Infusion

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*Note if you take only one thing away from this post, let it be this! It’s a-m-a-z-i-n-g

Best Dry Shampoo

Johnson’s – Baby Powder

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*Legit, works better than any aerosol dry shampoo and is way cheaper!

Best Heat Protectant Spray

Kenra – Hot Spray

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That’s all folks! If you have questions about anything listed please don’t hesitate to ask! Stay Beautiful!

 

 

Stella & dot

As part of my Stella & dot favorites, I’ve decided to make a Look Book of sorts and incorporate my selected jewelry and accessories with outfit choices to give everyone a vision of how certain looks can be created and styled. This month’s look is about being Styled & Chic, keeping it minimalist yet adding a pop of glamour! The accessories really pull the whole look together and of course I would happily flaunt this everyday! To shop this outfit click here and to shop Stella & dot click here. Stay Beautiful!y

 

Blonde Ambition Beauty

#pursegate2016

I recently joined a Facebook group called Just Glam it, a page where other makeup and beauty enthusiasts can post pictures, ask questions, give advice etc. on all beauty and makeup related topics. Shortly after my joining, I started to notice my feed being filled with pictures of purses. At first it was just members posting photo’s of a cute purse that closely resembled a Michael Kors bag for a fraction of the price. Now they aren’t ‘knock offs’ just purses with similar shape and function. They had purchased them at Payless Shoe Source as there was a huge 50% off bags promotion plus many people had additional discount codes. It started off sweet an innocent, a “hey look at this cute purse I got for $20” and turned into a full blown obsession. Before I had even caught on, every single post was a picture from a different girl and the bag she bought. Soon it wasn’t even just one bag, girls were buying multiples, different colors, ordering them online if their local Payless didn’t have them, it was chaos!

Now I own a few Michael Kors purses of my own, mostly purchased at outlets as I know they can be quite pricey. So at first I thought yeah that’s a cute bag, but I already have the Michael Kors version so why would I want the look alike version? Well day after day of seeing these purses being posted, in all the different colors, at such great prices, I felt myself being sucked in! I started out slow and discrete, just looking at the website, checking out the colors. Then I thought well hey why not just go look at them in the store? So after a coffee date with a friend, I sauntered on over to my closest Payless to have a look at this purse. To my disappointment that particular location didn’t even have the purse, so I perused through the store and found a cute pair of pumps also on sale for $19.99. Alas that location did not have my size, so the ever so lovely sales associate got onto her computer and found my size at the next nearest location. She even called over, had them place them on hold for me and gave me a $6.00 off coupon for the ‘inconvenience’ of having to visit a different store. Well inconvenienced I was not as I was secretly thrilled for an excuse to visit another location and find my purse. A short 10 minute drive later I was there, I hurried inside, over to the bag section and there it was. I’m pretty sure there was one of those sun shining down breaking through the clouds, choir singing awwwwww moments when I saw it. I grabbed that purse like it was a bottle of water and I hadn’t drank in days, it was the only one there and it was mine! Up to the cashier I went, asked for the shoes I had on hold and paid all in a matter of minutes. I didn’t even think twice about buying this bag that I clearly didn’t need but I had become obsessed with having! It was a great deal and the bag is actually very lovely and I will most definitely use it.

The moral of this story you ask? Well it’s the huge role that social media and attention on a specific product play in our everyday life. It’s amazing how so many people talking and loving and wanting a specific item can make you want it just as much. It’s peer pressure ala the 21st century. So I guess what I’m trying to get at, is just because something is popular and everyone has it, wants it, loves it, doesn’t mean you have to as well. Advice that I clearly need to take! I have now dubbed this #pursegate2016, I encourage everyone who also fell into the hype and purchased the bag to comment and post on here or Instagram your bag with the #pursegate2016! Might as well spread the love of the Payless Purse! Stay Beautiful!

Sondra

Blonde Ambition Beauty

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#pursegate2016

Blonde Ambition Beauty

February Favorites!

Welcome back! I’ve decided to start a new mini blog series in which at the beginning of every month, I’m going to be posting a highly coveted selection of everything I loved in the previous month! Not just makeup items but clothing, shoes, purses, wines and pretty much anything that struck my fancy over the last month! If I liked it and thought it was mention worthy you’ll find it here! Check back every month to see what I’ve been loving and hopefully you’ll love it as much as I do!

First up, a very anticipated, in my books at least, Netflix series! Fuller House! I feel like I have pretty much been waiting for this since I was 11, and I must say it did not disappoint! Brought back a warm fuzzy nostalgia feeling and I think everyone needs to see it! Plus I’ve had the opening credits theme song stuck in my head for the past week and it would be nice to have someone to harmonize with! Two thumbs up for Fuller House! I won’t be mad if you take a break from reading this to go watch it 😉

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Next up! The cutest pair I shoes I discovered in February! I guess if I’m being totally honest my sister actually discovered them first, but since she doesn’t have a blog I’m taking credit! I purchased them here and I won’t mind if you buy them too so we can be shoe twins!

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http://www.asos.com/park-lane/park-lane-love-suede-slipper-shoes/prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=5733581&clr=Black&SearchQuery=love&pgesize=21&pge=0&totalstyles=21&gridsize=3&gridrow=5&gridcolumn=2

Lastly but certainly not least, because I am an old soul and 90 year old lady at heart, I love me some good ol’ crochet! I stumbled upon this pattern on Pinterest and loved it so much because it reminded me of a stained glass window! The link from Pinterest was in another language, just my luck, but google chrome has a handy translate button and because the pattern consists of only granny squares it was easy enough to figure out! Here is the link from Pinterest and a picture of my work!

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http://kungenomajkis.blogspot.ca/2013/12/virkad-grannywheelsquare-plad.html

That’s all folks! Thanks for reading, stay beautiful!

Sondra

Blonde Ambition Beauty

Stella & dot

BIG NEWS!

Hi Darlings, I have a huge announcement!!!! Well maybe not that huge but huge for me! I’ve decided to become a Stella & dot stylist! I recently attended my very first Stella & dot trunk show and it was so much fun! Not only did I have the chance to spend the evening with friends, but I also had the opportunity to have a shopping experience in the comfort of my friend’s home. Sipping wine, catching up with friends and looking at fabulous jewelry, what could be better? After the party I went home thinking about how much fun it would be to take part in! I did a lot of googling and research on the company and discovered it’s so much more than just selling jewelry to your friends. I have been asked to take part in a lot of sell at home products but I can say with 100% certainty that this is one company that I am truly excited and happy to be a part of! I’m not going to go and promote it as the “perfect stay at home mom get paid to do nothing” type of gig because I am not a stay at home mom nor is it a get rich quick scheme. It’s a company designed to help anyone who loves quality jewelry, spending time with friends and making new ones, do what they love! I am going to take this and incorporate it into my existing beauty business and seamlessly blend the two together! Once a month I’ll be posting my favorite items from their collection in a blog post to show you all which ones I love and how to use them! That way if you’ve never heard of the company or cannot attend a party you can still see all the products in action! If jewelry and accessories aren’t your thing, no worries, I will still be posting other beauty tips and tricks throughout the month! Please don’t hesitate to ask me any questions you have about the company or products! Also if you see tons of jewelry you want and don’t want to put down the big bucks, think about hosting your own party and getting the products for free! All you need to do is invite your friends over to sip, socialize and smile your way to beautiful new accessories! Below is the link to my online shop so you can browse and pick all your favorites! Contact me through my contact page if you have any questions or would like to host your own trunk show! Stay Beautiful!

Sondra

Blonde Ambition Beauty

http://www.stelladot.com/sites/blondeambitionbeauty

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Blonde Ambition Beauty

Pre-Event Skin Care

Skin care should be a vital part of everyone’s daily routine. Your skin is your body’s biggest organ and a part of you that you expose to the world. While it is important to maintain a proper skin care routine daily, there are also a few extra steps you should take prior to any big event! I will share those here with you now!

Tip 1. Don’t start any new acne or skin care practices in the weeks leading up your event. Although I will be encouraging many products throughout this post I always recommend trying it out on your skin months prior to your event. Certain products and skin care regimes can contain ingredients that don’t agree with your skin or that you may be allergic to. Not to mention no product works magically overnight, and often your skin goes through a ‘purge’ phase where it actually becomes worse before it gets better. You don’t want to start a new routine and have your skin in the ‘purge’ phase on your wedding day. If you feel like your skin requires extra attention or new products start them at least 6 months before your event.

Tip 2. Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate! Not just your face but also your entire body. Buff off all the dead skin cells that are taking up space and making your skin look dull! Using a salt or sugar scrub on your body is ideal. Using a microdermabrasion scrub on your face is a must, often foundation and other makeup with stick and settle into dry patches on your face. When your face is freshly buffed your makeup will look flawless and glowing!

Tip 3. Use sunscreen! Protecting your skin from sun damage is the most important step you should be taking daily. Regardless of the type of sunscreen you choose just make sure you use it. Often the SPF in makeup alone is not enough coverage especially if the UV index is high. It is common for people to think they will not achieve a tan while wearing sunscreen and opt out in order to get their bronze on. This is a HUGE mistake! Not only will it prematurely age your skin but it puts you at a huge risk for developing melanoma and other forms of skin cancer. Protect, don’t regret!

Tip 4. Although it may seem unrelated, skin care also starts with what you put in your body. Water is #1, make sure you drink at least 8 glasses a day. That doesn’t include coffee or lattes or wine lol! Drink at least 8 glasses of pure water a day and your skin will thank you! Next up, cleanses. Often people like to do juice cleanses or tea detoxes prior to events to help drop a few pounds. What most people don’t realize though, while most of the toxins are excreted via bodily functions, they will also be excreted via your skin. Primarily your face, front and center! Save the detoxes for another time!

Tip 5. Don’t use a new self tanner or get a spray tan for the first time. If you’re a seasoned self tanner or know a reputable spray tan facility, you’ll probably be fine. But if you haven’t done if before or are unaware of how certain products will perform, I definitely recommend avoiding it. No one wants to look orange or patchy for their special event!

Lastly, finding the perfect regime for your skin can be daunting, it takes a lot of trial and error. It helps to know your skin type and what your skin needs. If you are unsure, I encourage you to visit a licensed esthetician and have you skin evaluated. Also don’t be afraid to ask for samples when at major department stores or boutiques. They will gladly offer up their expertise and samples to try different products on yourself prior to committing to a potentially pricey purchase. Don’t think of am and pm skin routines as chores, think of them more as mini spa treatments, you skin will thank you! Stay Beautiful!

Sondra

Blonde Ambition Beauty

Blonde Ambition Beauty

Best of Beauty

Grab some popcorn folks, this is gonna be a long one…..

As I was contemplating what my next blog post should be about, I got a text from one of my best friends asking me about product advice. The lightbulb went off and I decided I was going to compile a list of my all-time favorite Holy Grail products and spread the word! Keep in mind certain things like foundations and powders that work fabulously on my skin may not work the same on yours. So as usual before purchasing something I encourage you to sample it on your skin first! Enjoy!

Primer:

If you plan on wearing your foundation for longer than an hour a day, then you should most definitely be using a primer. There are a ton of different primer options, all of which offer different results and are suited for different skin types. My holy grail primer is Dr. Brandt Pores No More. Not only do I use it on myself but I also carry it in my kit and use it on 80% of clients. This primer may not work for you if your skin is extremely dry as it slightly mattifying, but it mostly smoothes out your skin, fills in your pores and I find, even adds some color correction. You can purchase it and read more about it here.

http://www.sephora.com/pores-no-more-pore-refiner-P376480?skuId=1730134

Foundation:

Once again this one is tough because there are so many variables when it comes to skin, but having myself tried foundation after foundation my go to, I know it will last all day and looks beautiful is my Estee Lauder Double Wear. I feel as though it took me awhile before I jumped on the Estee Lauder wagon as I always associated Estee Lauder with my grandmother haha. Since the company has been around for so long I always assumed it was the makeup I would start using when I had grandchildren. Little did I know, that when a company has been around that long, they are obviously doing something right and clearly know what it takes to make the perfect product!

This foundation is very full coverage, you don’t need a lot to get a flawless face! If you try it and feel that it is too heavy on your skin they also offer a light version of the same foundation. You can also try mixing the double wear with a face cream to thin it out and get a lighter coverage if that is what you like. I wore this foundation on my own wedding day in +32 weather and it lasted! If a foundation can pass that test it’s a winner in my books! Read more about it and purchase it here.

http://www.sephora.com/double-wear-stay-in-place-makeup-P378284?skuId=1465327

Concealer:

If you are not a makeup person or just don’t have time to do a full face of makeup, I always recommend using a little concealer under your eyes. It can really make a difference on how bright and awake you look! Naturally the majority of people have under eye darkness, this is because the skin under your eyes is much thinner than the rest of your face. It is also the first area of skin that loses collagen and elastin and tends to be significantly dryer than the rest of your skin. Without going into too much detail about color correcting and skin care, the best concealer I’ve found for under eyes is MAC Pro Longwear. I use it on myself and in my kit as well and love love love it! Lasts all day, comes in every shade as is relatively inexpensive when it comes to professional/high end makeup. Read more and purchase it here.

https://www.maccosmetics.ca/product/13844/10181/Products/Makeup/Face/Concealer/Pro-Longwear-Concealer

Under eye Setting Powder:

I might start to lose you here now, as this is likely a step that you’ve never done before. Whenever you use a liquid product you need to set it with a powder to ensure it stays where you’ve placed it. If you take the 5 minutes every day to apply concealer you want to make sure it’s going to last. Now a lot of concealers claim to be ‘crease proof’ and ‘long lasting’ but in my experience this is only the case when set with a powder. Technically if you have a face powder that you love, it will work, but these two under eye setting powders are phenomenal!

  1. Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder

http://www.sephora.com/secret-brightening-powder-P109911?keyword=LAURA%20MERCIER%20Secret%20Brightening%20Powder%20P109911&skuId=870675&country_switch=ca&_requestid=238460

2. MAC Shaping Powder Pro in Emphasize

https://www.maccosmetics.ca/product/13849/1624/Products/Makeup/Face/Powder/Shaping-Powder-Pro-Palette#/shade/Emphasize

Note: This is a pro product that can only be purchased in pro stores or online, but can be purchased by anyone online even if you’re not a pro 🙂

Face Setting Powder:

As I mentioned above, when using a liquid or cream foundation, you need to set it with a powder to ensure it stays in place. My favorite universal setting powder is Laura Mercier Translucent Powder, although you can also find really nice powders at the drug store. Maybelline Fit me line has many options all at a lower price point and also work great! Read more about the Laura Mercier and purchase it here.

http://www.sephora.com/translucent-loose-setting-powder-P109908?skuId=1635176&icid2=laura_mercier_bestsellers_carousel_brand%3Alaura%20mercier_p109908_image

Mascara:

100% hands down no seconds thoughts, Yves Saint Laurent Babydoll. It’s amazing, volumizing, lengthening and lasts all day! If your lashes have a difficult time maintaining their curl after you have spent the time curling them, then this is your mascara! It’s a little bit dryer than other formulas allowing it to dry faster on your lashes therefore maintaining the curl rather than dragging it out! They also have a waterproof variety that is equally as amazing plus its waterproof, need I say more? Find them here.

Regular:

http://www.sephora.com/mascara-volume-effet-faux-cils-babydoll-P378656?keyword=YVES%20SAINT%20LAURENT%20Mascara%20Volume%20Effet%20Faux%20Cils%20Babydoll%20P378656&skuId=1520220&country_switch=ca&_requestid=244119

Waterproof:

http://www.sephora.com/mascara-volume-effet-faux-cils-luxurious-mascara-P393427?skuId=1430354

Liquid Eyeliner:

Liquid eyeliner is my jam, I’ve tried pencils and creams and gels but nothing beats liquid liner. The best one is definitely Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Liner. Gives you the perfect wing, lasts all day, never smudges and hell I even use it to tightline! Buy it, don’t look back!

http://www.sephora.com/stay-all-day-waterproof-liquid-eye-liner-P253818?skuId=1221084

Finishing Powder:

Now you’re thinking whoa girl, you already encouraged me to buy 2 separate face powders and here you are talking about a third! Yes, yes I am. If you have dry skin, you can honestly skip the setting powder and just come right down to this one. If your oily and have already set with a regular powder you still need this in your life! Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders are A-M-A-Z-I-N-G, specifically Dim Light. They are pretty much photoshop in makeup form, they make your skin look glowy and amazing. I will post the link so you can read more about them but you should probably just buy it, it’s that good!

http://www.sephora.com/ambient-lighting-powder-P377723?skuId=1483502

Lip Gloss:

No brainer again on this one, Buxom Full-On Lip Creams are the best. They are technically ‘plumping’ lip glosses so they have a minty tingly sensation and when worn out in the winter make your lips feel a little bit too cold. But they offer a huge range of shades and look and wear beautifully. Anyone who I’ve recommended them to has also loved them! It’s best to look at the shades in store, but here is the link.

http://www.sephora.com/buxom-full-on-lip-cream-P305132?skuId=1668995

Eye shadows:

This category would be way to long, I don’t even think I could pick just one palette or just one brand. I will happily give suggestions though. If you’re looking for an all matte eye shadow palette, the Tarte Tartlette palette is really nice. They also just released another palette called Tartlette in Bloom which has a variety of Matte and Shimmer shadows. You can find them at Sephora here.

http://www.sephora.com/tartelette-amazonian-clay-matte-eyeshadow-palette-P391759?skuId=1659424

Two other brands of eye shadows I absolutely love are ColourPop and Makeup Geek. Unfortunately these are not sold in stores, they can only be purchased online. ColourPop eye shadows are so amazing though and they are also only $5. They are all sold as individual pots and are a creamy mousse like texture. If you like shimmer and metallic eye shadows they are da bomb! Find them here.

https://colourpop.com/product-category/shadows-pigments/shadowsandpigments/

Makeup Geek shadows are all individual pans which allows you to customize a palette to your liking. Although this means you do have to purchase an empty palette to place them in to keep them sanitary and clean. They sell matte and shimmer shadows but my favorite from them are the foiled eye shadows. Once again beyond shimmery and metallic and amazeballs! FYI if I’ve done your makeup for an event I’ve likely used them on you. I heart them and you will too! Find them here.

https://www.makeupgeek.com/store/eye-products/eyeshadows/makeup-geek-foiled-eyeshadows.html?limit=all

EyeLashes:

If you have an event, such as a wedding or graduation or anything you’re going to be photographed in, I highly recommend wearing strip lashes. Strip lashes are good, because you are able to take them off at the end of the night without having to worry about maintenance or upkeep. Plus they are inexpensive when it comes to alternatives such as eyelash extensions. What many people don’t know when it comes to strip lashes is that there are so many varieties. The most popular and lowest price point are synthetic and human hair lashes. If you really want to amp it up though I recommend mink lashes as they can be worn from 30-40 times and the best ones I’ve found are actually from a local company called Crème de la Crème. You can find them here, and if you have any questions about style recommendations I would be happy to help! P.S All of their lashes are cruelty free so no minks were harmed in the making of them!

http://maisoncremedelacreme.com/

When it comes to blushes, bronzers and lipsticks, it’s the shade that’s more important. There are many many options out there when it comes to these and as long as you like the color you’re good to go. Don’t think they are not important though! If you are using a full coverage foundation and setting with a powder your face can end up looking flat and lacking dimension. It is always good to add some bronzer and blush to bring that dimension, color and warmth back to your face. Blush and bronzer do not have to be expensive and are a must when using foundation!

If you’ve made it this far, congratulations! I’ve think I’ve covered the majority of products I love, but I would also love to hear you favorites and recommendations!? Thanks for reading! Stay Beautiful!

Sondra

Blonde Ambition Beauty

Blonde Ambition Beauty

Review : Becca Aqua Luminous Perfecting Foundation

Product Info : As Per Sephora Website

http://www.sephora.com/aqua-luminous-perfecting-foundation-P404106?skuId=1783653

What it is:

A light, buildable, liquid foundation that imparts subtle luminosity with a weightless feel.

What it does:
Smooth on foundation coverage that feels ultra-light and buildable, while it evens and perfects your complexion. Every weightless drop of fluid imparts subtle luminosity that blurs imperfections and leaves a soft-focused glow. The foundation features a curated array of eight flexible shades that flatter all skintones.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
– Parabens
– Sulfates
– Phthalates

My Opinion:

First off this foundation retails for $53.00 CAD, which is definitely at the higher price point. As with all my new foundations, I always visit my local Sephora for a free sample. I HIGHLY recommend doing this if you live near a Sephora in order to test products prior to shelling out the big bucks and committing.

The color selection for this foundation is not superb, I picked the lightest shade available which is fair and it was still slightly too dark on me with a very warm undertone. Once it oxidized on my skin it did blend in slightly better but still not a perfect match. For the record I am quite fair with a cool neutral undertone.

I found application for this foundation worked best with a damp beauty blender. I initially used a flat top kabuki brush which left it very streaky so I went over it with a damp beauty blender which smoothed it out. Coverage is very very light, the foundation claims to be buildable but I found it started to look “cakey” around my nose and chin where I attempted to build it up. I don’t even think I achieved a medium coverage. The finish of the foundation was initially extremely nice and dewy, I did set it with an illuminating powder to maintain the dew. I have combination skin which means I am dry on my cheeks and oily in my t-zone and didn’t find that it made me look oily just dewy.

I wore the foundation over my primed face for about 8 hours, by the 6 hour mark it started to look very messy, it was super oily looking over my entire face and after attempting to blot and powder still looked awful. During this 8 hour time frame all I did was clean my kitchen, watch the Bachelor and drink wine. Clearly nothing strenuous haha. For me foundation needs to last at least 12 hours to be buy worthy in my books.

Verdict: I would not purchase this foundation as I found for the price point it’s just not worth it. While the initial finish is nice, you can achieve similar finishes with drug store foundations or bb creams and get higher coverage and lasting power from other foundations.

Disclaimer: This is only my personal opinion, I am in no way affiliated with Becca Cosmetics or Sephora. If you are interested in a specific product I encourage you to sample it on your own skin and see how it works!

Sondra

Blonde Ambition Beauty

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