About
My name is Mikayla! I'm a 22 year old University Graduate with a passion for all things beauty. I stumbled into the online beauty community a year ago and have been obsessed with youtube videos and blogs ever since. After watching hundreds of videos over the past year I figured it was about time I joined the community and posted my own thoughts in my own little space. I'm also recently graduated, unemployed and headed for college in September.I really enjoy all things beauty, and I really like telling my friends what I think about products so writing them down just felt natural. To me, make up isn't something that you wear to make yourself look prettier, it's something you do on yourself for yourself. It has the power to give you strength to tackle a rough day, the courage to find your inner confidence and sparkle like every girl is meant too.
Other than beauty, I love fashion. Beauty and Fashion are the keys to my heart, along with a great deal. I'm all about a decent deal, and budget shopping is my favourite.
I can't wait to start this journey with the internet and all of you!
Disclaimer
Just a general disclaimer:I am not a professional makeup artist, I am completely self taught, any posts on beauty products are purely personal opinion and should not be taken as fact.
Beauty items shown on this blog are purchased by myself, or as a gift from family members.
Any and all reviews on products are based on my opinions alone.
Everyday Essentials Drawers
Labels: beauty, benefit, covergirl, ELF, everyday essentials, garner, lush, nix, Pixi, rimmel, too faced, urban decay
What are some of your everyday essentials? I would love to hear about them!
September Favourites!
Labels: Chloe, ELF, Elizabeth Mott, Irresistible Me, lush, maybelline, Midi Rings, monthly favourites, Pearl Earrings, urban decay
This month, I've been working a lot, so having a routine for my skincare as well as a pretty basic daily routine for my makeup has helped me not only be efficient in the morning but still have room for some creativity. I've found that most mornings I've been reaching for my Urban Decay Naked Palette as it is flexible in terms of colour range and I can really do a lot with it, and that the neutral colours are appropriate for an office. I've also been dealing with a bit of acne and some dark spots under my eyes great eh? and I've been reaching for my Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in 10 Light I absolutely love this concealer, and I kept the package around just for this picture, I love the consistency and the coverage and the durability of it, all around I <3 it! For my inner corner and my brow highlight I've been reaching for my Elizabeth Mott All Over Shadow Brush that I got in my ipsy bag months ago when I still had it. I was doing my makeup one morning and wanted a clean brush to do my inner corner and grabbed it by chance- and I've used it every day since. I've also been obsessed with subtle highlighting no strobbing for me and I've been reaching for my ELF Baked Blush it's not really a blush and at first I was quite disappointed with it, but then I reimagined it as a highlighter and I really like the effect, especially on top of powder (because then I'm not putting a cream on top of powder)
Sitting at my desk every morning doing my makeup, I always look at this cute little notebook just sitting there I haven't written in it, but I do love it it really matches the decor of my room which is very London themed and I've always loved the message of "Keep Calm and Carry On" as a massive history lover. I've finally replaced my beloved Lush Vanillary Solid Perfume after it melted in the summer heat- seriously it happened, they have changed the packaging for their solid perfumes into a tin that I might seriously think is a lip balm at one point, but it smells the same and it's just absolutely amazing. When I haven't been wearing my Lush perfume I've been wearing this Chloe sample. I used 250 of my points at Sephora on this honestly because the bottle is ADORABLE but I wear it because I love the scent.
Finally my daily staples this month have been midi rings I got mine from LC by Lauren Conrad at Khols in America, and they are the only ones I have been able to find that fit my super skinny fingers the way they are supposed to. I've been wearing at least one of them pretty much every day. I've also been trying to wear earrings more often to really complete an outfit, I've had my ears pierced my entire life but I've never really been in the habit of wearing earrings. My go to ones are small pearl earrings I have no idea where or when I got these ones, but I love them because they are small and don't weigh a lot. Last but not least, I've been using this Irresistible Me 8 in 1 Curling Wand with the medium width wand every time I have curled my hair- this is an incredible wand, and you can expect a full review coming next week!
What have you been loving last month? I'm doing blogtober this year with a post every day for the month of October and I have lots of posts planned, so be sure to check back tomorrow!
Travel Skincare Essentials
Labels: amie, bblogger, beauty, clean and clear, lush, Travel essentials
Recently I went on a weekend trip to visit a friend from high school who had a baby (She's precious!!) and visit my grandparents. For this trip I was only gone for 3 nights so it wasn't necessary to bring a lot of products or things with me. For skincare I've been keeping it simple, as I've discovered that simple is what my skin prefers.
Amie New Bloom Facial Cleansing Wipes I was recently sent these as a sample and I'm enjoying them, they get the job done, and remove my makeup easily, they also don't make my skin feel irritated after using them. My only issue, like with other wipes is that the first few wipes are not as saturated as the wipes lower down. This is something the brand cannot help however and it doesn't effect the quality of the wipes if you flip them upside down and let them sit for a couple of hours when you first get them to ensure an even distribution of the formula.
Amie Petal Perfect 2 in 1 Cleanser and Toner The wonderful people at Amie have created a product that not only makes your skin feel clean and refreshed but one that does not require water. As a cleanser and a toner, I use this after removing my makeup on a cotton round. It comes out like a lotion as do a lot of Amie's cleansing products and really makes my skin feel clean, but not clean to the point it aches this happens to me with most 2 in 1 cleansing and toner products I have tried.
Lush Breath of Fresh Air Toner Water I've been using this product for over a year, and it is the one thing that has remained constant in my skincare routine. I really like it because it has Aloe Vera in it which is cooling and soothing to the skin, especially if I have really had to clean my face. I like that it is a mist and sprays evenly on my face, and that it is relaxing feeling and calming. It is also great on a hot day to mist on your face to cool down momentarily not that I suggest misting this on your face multiple times a day!
Amie Morning Light Hydrating Daily Moisturizer I have featured this product in my January favourites, and I'm still loving it. It's moisturizing without being greasy, and it's a thicker lotion which is more hydrating and better for the winter.
Clean and Clear Advantage Acne Spot Treatment This was recommended to me by a friend, and I can't believe I didn't buy this sooner. Just a small dap on a spot and it instantly starts working to reduce the appearance and redness of any spot on your face. I use this on spots that have already appeared and the ones I can feel coming you know when you just know you're going to get a spot- and it's the most annoying feeling in the world- combat it with this stuff!
Amie Bright Eyes Eye Makeup Remover I brought this along just in case some of my makeup was a little harder to remove, and I didn't want to scrub with a wipe. I really like that it isn't greasy and that it doesn't leave my skin feeling irritated.
I know this post was heavily featured by the brand Amie, but they are quickly becoming a brand I really trust with my skin, and it is products that are genuinely working on my face, and not making it irritated- which happens frequently.
Each Peach Massage Bar: LUSH
Labels: Each Peach, lush, review
Avocado and Mango peels mixed with fair trade cocoa butter and created using a new aeration techniques to melt easier into the skin.
My thoughts:
I do not find that the Lush massage bars are as moisturizing as they should be, or if I am just not warm enough to melt the bar to actually get the principle to work properly. For those of you who don't know, massage bars are supposed to melt from your body heat to moisturize the skin. I'm not entirely sure if my body just doesn't radiate enough heat or what, but it really drags along my skin and it doesn't really moisturize as much as I would like.
5 Year-Round Vanilla Scents
Labels: 5 year round vanilla scents, bath and body works, lush, one direction, our moment, pacifica, perfume
I have no idea why I am drawn to vanilla, but I absolutely adore the smell, I've been consistently wearing vanilla scented perfumes or body splashes since I was in High School.
#1 The Long Time Favourite
Warm Vanilla Sugar captured my heart when I was 15, I have owned one product of it since. In the 7 years since this bottle of amazingness stole my heart I have always returned to it. Bath and Body Works really did a good one with this product- it smells exactly like how it's titled. The scent is a combination of Vanilla, florals and Sandalwood.
#2 The Close Runner Up
Another Bath and Body Works favourite. Black Raspberry Vanilla is a close second to my beloved Warm Vanilla Sugar. This one, is only available online, as they took it out of their stores (which greatly saddens me). Ripe berries and creamy vanilla, such an intoxicating scent. I particularly like this one for Spring/Summer as it is a little more floraly, it smells sweeter then Warm Vanilla Sugar with my body chemistry.
# 3 The Solid Perfume
Last year, LUSH launched their Gorilla Perfumes, a collection of liquid and solid perfumes. I purchased their solid perfume, at the time I was travelling to and from Vancouver every other month, and risking a perfume mess was not an option. Vanillary The second my sister saw this, she thought of me, and immediately told me I HAD to buy it. Needless to say, I am in love. It smells so sweet and delicious, I almost want to eat it. (Side Story: I am almost 100% certain that my cousin, on a recent stay here, believed it was a lip balm and tried to use it as such.. it smells that good I think she tried to eat it!) As is standard with LUSH products, all the ingredients are natural.
#4 The Boyband Perfume
I am a Directioner. There, I said it. I love the 1D boys, I love their music and think they are hilarious. When I first heard they were coming out with a perfume, called Our Moment I said "well here we go *rolls eyes*. Then I sniffed it. I really enjoy this alcoholic beverage called a White Freezie, essentially, an alcoholic melted white freezie (not entirely but that's what it tastes like!), this is related I promise. To me, it smells exactly like that. Almost as if they captured the scent of a white freezie and put it into an adorable bottle. I know that's not the actual ingredients. I wear this all the time, paired with my LUSH Vanillary or on it's own.
#5 The Roll On, Ipsy gift
Ipsy rocks, I love nearly everything I get in the bag each month. I believe it was last summer that I received Island Vanilla Perfume Roll On by Pacifica, I love the convenience of a roll on perfume. On top of the convenience of the roll on, the scent is really intriguing especially in the summer. During the winter, this product buries itself amongst all my other body smelling things but in the summer, especially this summer, it's a front runner for daily perfuming! This product is also vegan.
All in all, I love these scents. All 5 of them, and I wear all 5 of them on a regular basis.
Bonus Photo.. My dog being super adorable when I was trying to take the pictures!
Review: Lush FUN
I don't use FUN as a soap, rather a shaving cream. The first FUN I discovered this on was "Sweet As Can Be", the pink FUN. I didn't have shaving cream, I didn't want to go out and buy any, and I needed to shave. I looked into my little stash of Lush goodies and saw the package of pink moldable goodness that I hadn't used yet. Because it's moldable it's great to use on your legs, you can mold it to hold onto it better and it is super moisturizing.
I currently have two different FUN products- "Sweet As Can Be" and the Christmas limited edition scent "What A Softy".
Pros:
- Really great moisturization
- Moldable awesomeness
- Cute packaging (biodegradable)
- Vegan, all natural ingredients
- Smells amazing
- Travels great
Cons:
- Unable to reuse packaging (have to find other storage solutions)
Literally, that is my only con. I absolutely adore this product, and will not shave without it. It's really moisturizing, which is good for shaving, as it repairs any damage shaving can do to your skin. It makes my legs so smooth, and like I said, it was a complete act of desperation that made me use it, and I am so happy I did.
FUN is available online Here for the price of $6.95 CAD
My Skin Care Favourites!
Labels: beauty, blogger, cleansers, drugstore, lush, my skin care routine
That was it, in High School I ignored my parents and NEVER took my makeup off, which was terrible- and now even 4 years since I graduated High School I am so displeased with myself. Because I didn't have a problematic complexion, or issues with oil and pimples etc. I justified not taking it off, and falling asleep with it on almost every night.
Since then I have learnt from my bad habits. I wash my face at least every night, and in the shower as well. I experimented and found a reasonably affordable system that really works on my face, it keeps it soft and even though I never had issues with pimples, my one or two has turned into only one. It was really hard for me to get into the habit of washing my face every night because for so long I hadn't, now it's my nightly ritual- me, my ipod, washing my face, and dancing in the bathroom- I actually look forward to it.
Sure, some nights I might not do the whole shebang, infact there has for sure been nights I've accidentally fallen asleep with my makeup on, and let me tell yah, the next morning my skin is not too impressed with me.
That's my skin story, now onto my skin care routine.
I keep everything I use to wash my face in this basket that I got from Dollarama, I use the basket because I go in between the bathroom upstairs (where my bedroom is) and the shower downstairs (where the beauty corner is). Having it all in one place ensures I will use it, and the storage is really great for keeping it all together.
Sephora Brand Cleansing Oil This baby was $17 for the bottle, which I think is a reasonable price granted you need literally a pump of this to remove all your makeup. It is the first oil I have used to remove my makeup, and I like it so much I don't think regular makeup remover will EVER be an option again. I might be a little weird but I love watching my makeup break up and almost like melt off my face. After it's all rubbed into my face, I splash some warm water on it and wipe it off.
Cotton Rounds I got these from Walmart or something, I keep them in an old candle cup (I removed the wax) to keep them separated from the rest of my routine, I use these to wipe off the Cleansing Oil and the stuff that comes off it is crazy! Any cotton rounds work, I never know which ones I'm using, because I take whichever ones are on sale.
Garnier + Gel Cleanser This is the only product I use for a specific reason, I only use this product on my T-Zone, because it's the only place that is where I get pimples (usually on my chin) and around my nose gets dry, especially in the winter. I got this from Shoppers Drugmart for $9.99 on sale, I believe the regular price is around the $11 mark. The grapefruit and pomegranate anti-oxidants really do make your skin smoother. It also smells really good, I may have gotten some in my mouth... it doesn't taste like how it smells. I promise. 
Olay Fresh Effects Shine Shine Go Away This cleanser is used all over my face with the handy little scrubber guy. It suds up really nice, and the batter operated scrubber really gets into your pores and gets everything out. It gently exfoliates, and makes my skin really soft- my old roommate would come up to me and rub my cheeks, until she bought her own. The starter kit retails for $18, which includes a tester of the cleanser, the cleanser on it's own it $9. Overall I've been using this system for a year and I love it. It's also a cheaper alternative (way cheaper) than something like the Clarisonic- that would be a little expensive given how uncomplicated my skin is.
LUSH Breath of Fresh Air Toner Water I love how cooling this is, when I spray it on my face I always get a little chill, you know the good kind, the kind you crave in the summer? It's also really soothing, and it makes me feel a little better about scrubbing my face. It also promotes balanced skin, which I already have, I use this to keep it balanced. I especially love this after using a mask or something really abrasive like LUSH's Ocean Salt.
LUSH Grease Lightning My go to spot treatment. I use this only on areas where I have a pimple, the Tea Tree Oil is awesome for preventing and treating pimples, it is my go to in pimple emergencies. Hands down.
Olay Fresh Effects Long Live Moisture, it's cooling, silicone based and super moisturizing, I use this all over my face and always love the way it feels, you can for sure feel it working the next morning, with how soft your skin is.
I also keep a face cloth in my basket, just to have ready, because I am for sure that person that forgets towels when entering the shower.. I also REALLY hate the feeling of water dripping down my face and neck, so I need this for emergency can't handle it moments.
My lazy one step product. I have gotten into the habit of washing my face every night, but let's say I go out one night, or I've had a long day and am about to crash the second I hit my bed, I reach for LUSH 9-5. This product is great for not needing water, being cleansing, and moisturizing all in 1. Just rub on your face, look like a raccoon, use a cotton round to wipe it off and you're done. I cannot tell you the times I've done this.. in bed, as I'm falling asleep.
Those are my products for my skin care routine, what are yours? Tell me your go to's in the comments!