The Skinny Dip

I've been all about bareMinerals since November when I first laid my hands on their cult favourite Matte Foundation, since then I've tried a few other products and The Skinny Dip bronzer has become a firm favourite! I will admit that this bronzer can appear slightly warm toned orange, but I haven't had any problems on my fair skin looking orange. This bronzer comes in three shades total and I have the lightest one.

I find it warms up my complexion really nicely and looks quite natural. It has such a lovely silky texture that feels so smooth once it is applied to your cheeks and temples. I find you look so sunkissed and glowy which is what everyone wants for these hot summer days! This bronzer is very long lasting so you won't have to worry about your bronzer fading throughout your day or night. Skinny Dip really brings a lot of life back into any complexion when placed on your cheeks and temples.

I wanted to show you the difference between bareMinerals and the famous NARS Laguna Bronzer. Laguna is on the left and Skinny Dip is on the right. As you can see in the pan Laguna is slightly darker and cooler while Skinny Dip is lighter and warmer. I love both bronzers very much and I love how both have the stunning golden shimmer. bareMinerals is $30.00 while NARS is $43.00 and to me that is a huge price gap for a similar bronzer! It's also an added bonus that bareMinerals have three shades that you can choose from to get your perfect bronzing/contouring shade.

---- twitter: @kyrasbeautybag
---- instagram: kyrasbeautybag
---- BLOGLOVIN' 

The Skinny Dip

After Summer Wishlist

A real beauty lover plans a wishlist 3 months in advance...am I right? I haven't bought any beauty products in so many months due to the fact that I knew I wouldn't be wearing much makeup this summer. I've been going on the Sephora website constantly because I am itching to purchase some new items!

I was so excited to hear about the release of the new bareMinerals Bare Skin Serum Foundation that hit shelves recently and all the amazing reviews that I've watched on YouTube. I'm a huge fan of the bareMinerals Matte Foundation so I knew that I would be wanting to purchase the serum foundation eventually! The fact that it is a serum foundation sounds so hydrating and smoothing. Also an added bonus that it has an SPF of 20!

I've been wanting to buy a new (aka first) brow product for ages now! I've been deciding between using a MAC eyeshadow or splurging for the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo...and I think I've made up my mind! What do you suggest? I think at MAC I would use Charcoal Brown and with Anastasia I would use the Medium Brown shade.

I missed out on the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette the first time around and was so gutted that when it was recently released again I know I still have or order it! I'm really trying not to order/buy any makeup until camp is over so I'm basically praying that it is still online in September!

There was no way I could make a wishlist without adding in a Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush...I'm truly obsessed with them! I currently own three which you can find throughout my blog. My friend Alexandra from The A Style  bought the shade Captivating a few months back and she tweeted me a photo of it and I've saved it on my phone since then! It's such a stunning shade and I know I need it!

The Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation was mine for a solid 24 hours before I returned it and seriously regretted it. Since then I've been wanting it back in my life (how dramatic) and when I bought it the first time this past November I was in the shade Cool Beige. The reason I decided to return it was because I purchased the Jouer Matte Moisture Tint later that day and felt like I didn't need two new foundations...but c'mon KYRA! You can never have too many foundations!

I've confessed my love about Marc Jacobs Daisy (the original and Eau So Fresh) several times on my blog. The fresh scent has so many memories attached to it... an entire summer spent with my best friend, as well as memories with my lovely boyfriend who ended up repurchasing a new bottle for me. When I heard about their new summer edition & when I smelt it with my girls Celina and Alexandra it went straight onto my after summer wishlist!

What are you lusting after this summer?

---- twitter: @kyrasbeautybag
---- instagram: kyrasbeautybag
---- BLOGLOVIN' 

After Summer Wishlist

May Favourites

I have to admit, I'm sightly kicking myself because this is eight days late! I've been really trying since January to have my favourites up the first day of the new month, but since I've been away with no internet working at a summer camp it's been a little difficult to be posting regularly.

I've been loving wearing my Pandora Charm Bracelets lately - I own three and I love switching them all up. The one I've worn all of May though is the bracelet photographed. I love the idea of Pandora bracelets as each charm can have some special meaning behind it! I'm already planning on making my fourth!

The lipstick by MAC in the shade Coral Bliss has been my go to lip choice lately. I love the stunning pop of coral on the lips especially now that I'm getting a little more bronze colour to my skin! In the bullet it looks like a pale orange but once it's on your lips you can really see the pink undertones. If you want to see all my MAC lipsticks you can view that post here. 

A product that I've been wearing the most this month is the bareMinerals Matte Foundation. At camp I don't tend to wear much makeup but I do wear sunscreen on my face everyday which can tend to make me look a bit shiny, I apply this powder lightly to my forehead and nose and instantly I get a little more confidence knowing I'm not looking like a shiny head! On my cheeks I love the look of the Josie Maran Cheek Gelee in the shade Poppy Paradise for that natural looking flush of pink. I'm so in love with this product and really need to head to Sephora after camp and pick up more! If you're looking for a natural looking blush that lasts HOURS - this is your new BFF!

Now that school is out I've been wearing nail polish at every chance I get! On my hands I've always loved wearing Essie Topless & Barefoot as it makes your hands look long, tan, and slender! I also wore this polish to my Prom 4 years ago so there's a bit of memories attached to it. On my toes the shade Knock Out Pout is a beautiful vibrant light pink that looks so good! Apparently I'm all about making my body look tanner with colour, cause this colour does that as well! I will say that this shade chips quickly on my hands but nonetheless it is a stunning shade for the 4-5 days that it lasts.

---- twitter: @kyrasbeautybag
---- instagram: kyrasbeautybag
---- BLOGLOVIN' 

May Favourites

MAC Lipstick Agenda

I own six MAC Lipsticks - a good amount. Not too little, not too big, just simply six. I purchased my first one three years ago and have received two with the Back To MAC Program (love that!). I love and wear each and every lipstick so I feel like if I had more that I'd be so overwhelmed! Now, lets get cracking...

In order of the photo below. From top to bottom and left to right!

Creme Cup - Nude pink that works well with so many skin tones. It is part of the Cremesheen formula so it does deliver a very opaque colour. On me it does settle into my lip lines. I generally get a 2-3 hour wear time with this shade.

Hot Gossip - Medium pinky plum. This shade has a slightly berry hue to it and is perfect for the day time wear. It is also part of the Cremesheen formula. Similar to Syrup but more pigmented and creamy.

Coral Bliss - A true coral! This shade has a warm undertone and does have some pink too it. It is such a stunning everyday shade for the spring and summer. And guess what - another Cremesheen! They feel so moisturizing on the lips and this colour lasts ages on me. I do think it is slightly more coral but still similar to the Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in the shade Streak.

Girl About Town - A hot hot pink with blue fuchsia undertones. This is part of their Amplified finish so the colour pigmentation is excellent and will also stain your lips prolonging the wear time. This shade is perfect paired with neutral eyes or for some summer nights! It can be a little messy around your lips so I would recommend heading to the drugstore and picking up the NYX Lip Liner in the shade Fuchsia.

Lustering - My first ever MAC Lipstick! This is a brighter more wearable pink toned red that is perfect for during the day. It is part of their Luster finish so it is more sheer. A close dupe would be the Revlon Lip Butter in the shade Sorbet. I find this looks so stunning on many skin tones and the glossy finish it gives leaves you not needing a gloss! It also does provide.

Syrup - Now this was unintentional but it's almost like I left my favourite for the last! I wear this all the freaking time! It is a stunning pink toned berry shade that is perfect in the fall - yet I literally wear this year round. It's safe to say I will probably forever repurchase Syrup! It is also part of their Luster finish.

What are your favourite MAC lipsticks? Am I missing any of your favourites?

---- twitter: @kyrasbeautybag
---- instagram: kyrasbeautybag
---- BLOGLOVIN' 

MAC Lipstick Agenda

Makeup Medley #5

For today's look I wanted to focus on lashes and glowing skin. For my base I used a product I've been loving so much lately and this is the Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream in the shade Light. I then used Soft & Gentle Mineralize Skin Finish by MAC (review here) on the tops of my cheek bones for some added glow. For blush today I went with the Tarte 12 Hour Amazonian Clay Blush in the shade Exposed. For my eyes I stuck to just simply mascara and I went with L'Oreal Telescopic as usual! This gives me the longest lashes ever while keeping them nice and separated. Lastly for my lips I used the Rouge Coco Shine Lipstick in the shade Boy by Chanel. That's it that's all! Glowing skin and long lashes were achieved!

What makeup did you use today?

---- twitter: @kyrasbeautybag
---- instagram: kyrasbeautybag
---- BLOGLOVIN' 

Makeup Medley #5

Soft & Gentle

MAC Soft & Gentle - a highly talked about cheek highlighter that deserves all the hype it receives. I own only two highlighters, Soft & Gentle and NARS Albatross. They're two very different highlighters but I personally really prefer the MAC offering.

This stunning shade delivers a peachy/bronzey/rosy glow to the tops of your cheek bones to really emphasize your cheek bones and make them stand out. I use this product whenever I wear makeup to give me a bit of a glow and sheen since I do tend to wear more mattifying foundations due to my combination skin type. I personally only use this on the tops of my cheek bones but I do know several people use this on the bridge of their nose and their cupids bow.

Although once being used in the pan it can look very glittery but once applied there are no signs of chunky glitter and just a gentle shimmer. This highlighter isn't subtle or natural looking, but it isn't over the top either. I personally (along with thousands of others!) think that it is so perfect and that you can't find a better highlighter!

Since you use such a small amount as your cheek bones are such a small area - this product has lasted me (and you!) AGES. Like I said, I bought it last year and there is hardly a dent and I use it daily. The only real sign of use is the shimmer around the packaging. I tend to apply mine with a small stippling brush for less product or the Real Techniques Contour Brush if I really want to glooooow.

---- twitter: @kyrasbeautybag
---- instagram: kyrasbeautybag
---- BLOGLOVIN' 

Soft & Gentle

Dry Shampoo for the Brunettes

Alright my brunettes! We've found a winner in the dry shampoo department here! This dry shampoo is basically what I've been searching for for the longest time. Herbal Essences have recently come out with a new line called "Naked", meaning that it is free of all parabens and dyes - wonderful! As most of us know, dry shampoos usually have a powdery white shade to them (great for the blondes!) and if they come in a brunette form they can be super dark, have hints of red, or just completely wrong! Well - here we go...a CLEAR dry shampoo! I had no idea how it would be when I bought it but then as I was on second day hair I decided to just give it a shot. I have been so pleasantly surprised by this product. It really is clear and it doesn't leave that "build up" feeling that some products leave. It leaves you feeling fresh, clean, and less greasy roots!

No where on the bottle does it say anything about giving volume so I'll let it slide that it doesn't boost at the roots or anything. At least it didn't claim to do something that it doesn't right?! It really does make your hair feel cleaner by absorbing the excess oil at your roots and leaving a lovely fresh scent. I mentioned in my "Camp/Summer Must Haves" post that it has notes of White Graprefruit & Mint - it smells so amazing I can't even get over it. Also the scent lasts for hours! I applied this in my hair before my boyfriend & I went to dinner and a movie (The Amazing Spider-Man 2!) and all through the movie and afterwards I could still smell it. It wasn't annoying to me in anyway that the scent lingered, I loved it.

I did read reviews on the Herbal Essences website how girls were saying that the part where the product comes out (clearly can't think of the proper name...sprayer?) was getting stuck and then making the product unusable. That has yet to happen to me so I can't comment too much on that - just wanted to let you know that it has happened to customers.

I definitely recommend this dry shampoo since it is clear, has a low price, smells divine, and absorbs the excess oil. Hello winner!

---- twitter: @kyrasbeautybag
---- instagram: kyrasbeautybag
---- BLOGLOVIN' 

Dry Shampoo for the Brunettes