Christmas morning 2015

Christmas morning 2015 by kenzi-alex featuring maybelline makeup

Hello everybody!
Sorry for my loafting on posting this month. I've been very busy!! I also managed to completely break my phone- which is how I take photo's for my blog. So i've had some draft posts that are ready to go up once I can take photo's of the products! Well, Ad christmas is TOMORROW (!!) I decided to create a little inspiration board for tomorrow morning. Christmas is a great excuse to stay in your pajama's all day and that's why I think wearing your cutest set to bed is KEY. That way when you're immortalized in family photo's you can avoid the "I just rolled out of bed and i'm only wearing underwear/haven't brushed my hair in a week" look that's all too memorable from your childhood christmas albums. (Wait, was that only me??) If you're an adult and you can take the extra 5 minutes before coming down in the morning, maybe conceal the dark circles (because let's face it, who can sleep before christmas). Add some cute tinted lip balm, it's super natural but also moisturizes and adds a little bit of a 'flushed' look that's very "I just rolled out of bed but I look so gooooood and you have no proof this isn't natural, Ha!" I personally LOVE the fresh Sugar lip balms. They're actually my favourite lip balms at the moment and they come in a variety of tinted colours, as well as clear if you're not feeling any colour vibes. (Also, Sidenote: they're selling a red cased Fresh Sugar lip balm that's clear that's says "Suga(RED)" and the proceeds go to help aids!!- sold at Sephora.)
Beyond that, throw your hair up in a messy ponytail or bun add a comfortable sweater and long socks if it's cold where you live. Normally at this time of year it's FREEZING in Toronto, but it's super warm with zero snow, so socks are optional this year! Anyways MERRY CHRISTMAS!  And If I don't talk to you guys this before the new year-- Happy New Year!!  I hope everyone has had a lovely 2015 with big strides towards goals/self improvement and that they will continue on into 2016 with tenacity and the inspiration to do well!

Until next time,
Luna.

Stila eyeshadow haul/first impressions

Hello everybody!
Today I picked up 2 new Stila eyeshadows (at Marshall's for a fraction of the price.) And thought it was a perfect time to make a haul/first impressions for you!

Stila 'Black Diamond'

So I've owned the first Stila eyeshadow in 'Black Diamond' for a few years. But when I got it (as a christmas present) it was already smashed. I think their eyeshadows are really soft so them getting smashed it really easy. It's a black shadow with silver sparkles that I have barely used (sorry!). Whenever I open it, product just gets everywhere and I have other black shadows I reach for more often. With that being said it's a really beautiful shadow that swatches easily and is opaque after one swipe.

Stila 'Dahlia'

Yesterday I picked up 2 new single eyeshadows. One shadow in 'Dahlia' that's a dark matte purple. The formula (as I said) really soft but chalky. I had to pack on product a few times to get an opaque swatch. The colour is a really dark purple that could read as a dark brown/black from far away. That makes it easier to use as it's not such a bright obvious colour.

Stila 'Pigalle'

The next colour I picked up was 'Pigalle' a rusty oxblood colour with a sheen. This was the colour I was most excited about. I wish it was matte though! I've been seeing a lot of colour washes/smokey eyes using just an oxblood shadow and I LOVE the look. I think I could still try it with this even though it has the sheen finish. Even still this will be a really great colour for many different looks and i'm excited to add it to my collection. This shadow seems more pigmented than 'Dahlia', having less needed to be packed on for the swatch. Even though I always lean towards matte eyeshadows, i'm more excited for 'Pigalle'. I like the consistency of it, it seems less chalky and applies more smoothly and opaque.

What do you think? Have you tried Stila eyeshadows? Which swatch do you like the most?

Until next time,
Luna.

Lime Crime liquid liner in Lunar Sea ~ review

Hello everybody!
So in 2014 while I was in beauty school at George Brown College for Makeup I finally got the courage to place a Lime Crime order! I have never been much for purchasing things online (I always doubt everything and they end up "in my cart" but never bought...online shopping purgatory, shall we say.) I had been hearing about this brand for a few years and loved all the unusual colours and the packaging---oh the packaging!
I ended up getting a lipstick in "chinchilla" and a liquid liner in "Lunar Sea". For this review I want to focus on the liquid liner, but if anyone is interested in reading a review on lime crime lipstick, let me know!
So I have truly put this liner to the test. I have used it in various settings (personal & professional), for different things (eyeliner & festival face paint details) and really got a feel for how this product performs.
First off, the colour is vibrant white. I was really into liquid liner at the time and this was the first white one I had seen. I was so excited to get creative with it. Using it can be a little tricky at first because it's REALLY liquid-y and the tip is a soft/small brush and I had been used to pen-like tips. With that being said I ended up figuring out how to use the brush and it was okay. As I said before, the formula is really watery so when I put it on it somehow travels down onto the roots of my lashes and makes it really difficult when I want to cover it with mascara. It just seemed like it made the process of doing makeup more difficult because now I had to spend extra time going over and over my lashes trying to get the black mascara to cover the white lashes, without getting any mascara on my lid. On top of that, if it 'skips' (meaning the product seemed to 'skip' over your skin and isn't opaque in one area), which does happen sometimes, going over your liner twice with this product is not the best idea. It seems like it gets cakey and not only doesn't feel very nice but also makes the next issue more prevalent. The last and worst part of me trying this product out was the FLAKING. I can't stress this enough, this product seemed to flake off within 20 minutes. First the wings would go, and then the rest in random patchy areas on the lid. And if you have oily skin ~ it looks flaky within 10/15 minutes, like it didn't adhere to the skin at all and you could just peel it or scratch it off with a light touch.
I had used this at a festival in BC to do other peoples makeup as well. Mostly people wanted face paint-esque things like dotting on the face or full out pictures drawn. This seemed like a good product to use for this because in my mind maybe the less your skin was moving the more likely it was to stay put. (foreheads seem to move less than eyelids.. or at least.. mine does??).
Applying this on the skin was no problem and made detailing easier. With that said it also flaked off and ended up looking awful. I'm sorry to say it, but the formula leaves some SERIOUS things to be desired. I was so sad that this product didn't pan out because I had such high expectations. I have since learned that Stila makes a white liquid liner, so next time i'm on the market for one, that's where i'll be heading.

 The soft brush, ( Also how cute is the squirrel in the background of these photo's?!)

(Also my nail polish is the Dermelect peptide infused polish I got in my Ipsy bag for November (this month). I used a matte topcoat with it. I have noticed chipping, i've been wearing it for 3 days. I really like the colour. It's a lot more brown than I originally thought. But I really appreciate the mauve undertone. Reminds me of a Kiley Jenner lip colour. Very on trend!)

 Unicorn logo detail on the top of the packaging. So cute!

Since yesterday was Black Friday, Lime Crime was having a big sale (their biggest sale yet!). The liquid liner's were only 5$! (Regularly priced 14$). I wasn't interested in trying the liner again, but I really wanted to try their liquid lipstick. I tried to place an order but wasn't being allowed to check out. I've emailed the company twice and sent instagram comments seeking help for the issue, but so far no help. I ended up placing a large order on the Morphe Brushes website, and if I make it for the Lime Crime sale (it's still going on) I will still place my order. If not, then I guess it's not meant to be.

Have you tried Lime Crime's liquid liner? Did yours work as well as it claimed?

Until next time,
Luna.

PS. here's a weird snapchat video I took last year while wearing the liner. This was the best I had ever gotten this product to look. But as always, it did end up flaking off later :(. ( Also, Die Antwoord playing, anyone else a fan? haha.)

MAC Viva Glam Miley Cyrus

Hello Everybody!
As a massive Miley Cyrus fan I was so excited when they announced Miley was going to be the new face of Viva Glam 2015. She has always been a huge supporter of charities and recently with her Happy Hippy Foundation she has been helping LGBTQ youth & youth homelessness.Giving back has always been important to Miley. Her recent crusade to break down gender stereotypes as well as educate people about current issues makes Miley the perfect candidate to be the face of Viva Glam! Let's get into the reviews,shall we?

Viva Glam Miley Cyrus

Her first lipstick & lipgloss duo was HOT. And by that I mean, hot pink. The bright pink amplified lipstick has a slight blue undertone and a satin sheen finish. Personally I would have loved this lipstick more if it was matte, but in an interview Miley mentioned it was really important how the lipstick felt. As we all know, Mac matte lipsticks can be really drying. Because of the satin finish the lipstick is really smooth and comfortable to wear.

The lipglass that came out with the first lipstick was a hot pink with pink and blue sparkles/shimmer. This lipglass is PACKED with sparkle. Miley said she wanted it to be like a disco ball. Because of all the sparkle, this lipglass is something i've never seen before. Wearing this on it's own is really pretty. Miley said in an interview that she wanted something her younger fans could wear. Apparently when she was a kid she wasn't allowed to wear makeup, but her Mom would let her wear lipgloss. I love that she was thinking about them as separate products but that they go together so well. Wear them together for a big impact, bright, hot pink, sparkley lips. The lipglass was my favourite part of this first collection.

Swatch (lipstick on left, lipglass on right):

Mac Viva Glam Miley Cyrus 2

The 2nd lipglass and lipstick duo that came out was an orange duo. The lipstick is a bright orange with a semi matte finish. It reads as matte but has a creamy feeling and isn't drying which I love! The lipglass is also bright orange with shimmer. The hot pink lipglass has WAY more glitter than this one. Wear them together or wear them on their own, you're sure to make a bright, bold statement.

Swatches, ( lipglass on left, lipstick on right.) :

Final Thoughts:
My favourite lipglass was the first that came out, the pink glittery one. And my favourite lipstick was the second Viva Glam Miley2 (The orange one.)
Regardless, It's worth picking up this collection while it lasts-It's limited edition and 100% of the funds go towards the MAC Aids Fund.
Get glam while giving back! what could be better?!
Thanks Miley! Thanks Mac Aids Fund!

Swatches next to each other, (Viva Glam Miley Cyrus2 on left , and Viva Glam Miley on right.) :

Until next time,
Luna.

Fall 2015 Beauty inspiration

Fall 2015 Beauty inspiration by kenzi-alex featuring mac cosmetics

Polyvore~ 50 shades of Barbie

50 shades of Barbie by kenzi-alex featuring a pink bag

Hello everybody!

Does anyone remember Polyvore?! The website where you can create collages for fashion/beauty inspiration. I joined the website 3 years ago and recently started creating on it again. It's a great way to get creative with fashion/beauty and not spend a dime! (As well as find some cool online brands you may not have already known about.)

Click here to see what i've been up to on Polyvore! 

Until next time, 

Luna.

MAC Blush Haul

Hello Everybody!
I've been doing some major makeup hauls recently, as well as major shopping in general. I have been thinking about doing some fashion hauls as well, but am unsure at the moment.
There is a MAC cosmetic outlet store a few hours from my house. Because it's so far, I don't get to go often. But I was so excited to have the opportunity to go I couldn't hold back! I ended up leaving with a discontinued eyeshadow palette as well as 2 blushes. This post is going to focus on the blushes.

Mac "Rosy Outlook" Pro Long wear blush

This reads as a soft pink, it swatches a lot lighter than it is in the pot with an undertone of peach. The formula is buildable but a little chalky. It has a gentle sheen, with a little shimmer that doesn't translate onto skin. It looks more matte, but up close you can see the sheen detail. I have a really light skin tone (NC15 in Mac) and this colour is something I could see myself using for everyday use.


Mac "Just A Wisp" Mineralize blush

This is  true baby pink, it's really bright and highly pigmented. It has a high glittery sheen with a frosty finish. Reminds me of a 1990's Barbie. It has a slight purple undertone. Almost like like a highlight in blush form. I'm not sure how it would translate onto darker skin tones, but I would be interested to see. This would look nice in the summer or for character / youth makeup. A little goes a long way!

(Mac Just a wisp on top, and Mac Rosy outlook on bottom.)

Until Next time,
Luna.

Ipsy vs.Glossybox ~ November 2015

Hello everybody!
Yesterday morning I woke up to something really exciting on my doorstep.. that's right! my Ipsy glam bag and my Glossybox came on the same day!!!
For those of you who don't know , Ipsy & Glossybox are beauty subscription boxes that send you luxury samples once a month. Ipsy costs 10$ a month where as Glossybox is 21$ a month.

Glossybox

This Month I received (from left to right):

1.Crabtree & Evelyn LA SOURCE ultra moisturizing hand therapy.
This hand cream is really moisturizing and works as it should. Unfortunately the scent is what really turned me off. It smells like a man's cologne, spicy and strong. Once you've had it on for a while it fades and actually smells okay. But I can't help thinking about a men's cologne or a rich person's bathroom soap while wearing it. Because of that I will be passing it on to someone else who will appreciate it more.
2.Marsk Mineral Eyeshadow in "you're toasted".
This loose eyeshadow is BEYOND BEAUTIFUL. It's a sparkly champagne gold. When I swatched this mineral shadow I actually screeched. This is one of my favourite products for this month's Glossybox. (Also this is an Australian company- which I thought was really cool! I love trying things I wouldn't normally even know about.)
3.Beauty For Real D-fine universal definition lip pencil 
This product boasts "the only lip pencil you'll ever need". When I first saw this product I thought it would be like the "no more bleeding lips" wax lip liner. No colour, Just helps keep things in line. But no! This has actual colour and I actually really really like it. It's waxy and smooth- Great formula, as well as it's matte. It's a mauve/brown colour, but it's universal (seriously I am the palest form of pale and it looks good on me). It says online that you can use this lip liner with any colour of lipstick. I haven't tried it yet (because I was too hyped to write this post.) But I will try it out and post something on my beauty instagram when I have the time. ( @makeupbykenzi )
4.Estee Lauder Revitalizing Supreme Global Anti-Aging creme 
This product is for all skin types. The scent is lightly perfumed. The cream itself is thick. I'll be honest, I haven't tried this yet. It's an anti aging cream and I am 22. I understand the benefits of starting with anti aging products when you're young but I can't help but feel my Mum will appreciate this way more than me. (The full size of this product is a whopping $50.00). I am still contemplating trying this or just passing it on.
5.Florapy floral therapy facial sheet : yarrow lavender sweet dreams mask
This mask is infused with Lavender to promote relaxation and a restful sleep. I know that lavender is used to combat anxiety, the smell is calming. I was really excited about this product. The package says "experience ultimate hydration with the restorative powers of flowers and essential oils." You let it sit on your face to 15-20 minutes before removing and allowing the remaining formula to sink into your skin. I can't wait to try this out. As there is only one sheet, I am saving it fo a special occasion.



Ipsy Glam Bag

This was my first Ipsy bag ever! I was so excited to try this bag out as I've been hearing about it for years in the beauty community. It came in a really cool space themed bag. This month I received (from left to right):

1.Beaute Basics Eye Crayon in BEC03 "Sahara Gold"
This Cream eyeshadow stick feels really oily. It applies lightly leaving a slight gold shine behind. Personally, I am not a fan of cream eyeshadows as I have very hooded eyes that tend to crease. On top of that I have oily lids so using an oily product won't do me any justice. You can use this as an eyeliner as well, so I think that's what i'll do with this product.As well as use it for client makeup. (With that being said, I would never purchase this myself.)
2.Dermelect peptide infused nail lacquer
I wasn't that pleased to receive a nail polish in my bag, as I have a very large nailpolish collection as is and I would rather receive makeup or makeup tools. With that being said I am excited to try out this polish as it's peptide infused and boasts being chip resistant, water + detergent resistant and UV protected. Supposedly has " superior extended wear". The colour I received is "Commando" a nude with a purple undertone that reminds me a lot of the J.LO for L'oreal polish collection. This would look great with a matte topcoat or high shine! A very on trend colour and I can't wait to put it to the test and see if it does everything it's claiming!
3.Smashbox full exposure mascara in jet black
I love getting mascara samples. You can throw them in your purse, do your makeup on the go or travel without the big bulk of a full sized product. I am looking forward to trying this Smashbox mascara as I haven't tried this brands mascara before. The wand is MASSIVE, taking up the entire inside of the container. Which makes me feel like Smashbox is trying to give you an authentic taste of what it would be like to buy the full sized product. Something I always recommend for professional makeup artists is to save sample mascaras. When doing a clients makeup, use the sample and allow them to keep it at the end of their beauty treatment. It will seal the deal and end everything on a good note.
4.treStique mini matte lip crayon in "florence fig"
I must admit when I saw this in my bag my heart did a little flutter, I thought the top had fallen off! But no, that's just the lid. The lid looks like an open product, a lip pencil. But when you take the lid off it's actually a twist up lip crayon. The nude colour is really on trend and I love that it's matte! Using a matte product makes it possible to overdraw your lips without your natural lip line being as obvious. I'm glad I received this product.
5.Tucker Ashley perfecting moisturizer
What it says on the package: "A unique oil-free moisturizer that contains ceramides and all-natural water binding mechanisms for skin. Improves skin barrier function and provides long lasting moisture reservoirs." This cream smells awful, but only if you get up and personal and really SMELL. I've only swatched it and I can say it did make my hand super soft and silky smooth. I will try this, but I have so many moisturizers I still have to use up. So it may take a while to get around to using this one.

Final thoughts:
This month, I was most excited about my Glossybox. I saw the other products the other ipsy subscribers were getting and I was a little jealous I didn't get any of the brushes or the colour pop eyeshadow. I also need to take into account that GlossyBox is double the price of Ipsy.
I think if you're young and want to try out new products , Ipsy is perfect. If you're a little older and want something more luxurious I would recommend Glossybox. I think I'm on the edge of that, being 22 and a makeup artist. I am still young, I want to try new products but I love opening my Glossybox up. Just undoing the ribbon and opening up the surprise box is worth the extra 10 in my books. This month The products in the Glossybox were far better in my mind. That Marsk eyeshadow! So beautiful! And the Beauty for real lip liner. (Insert heart eye emoji).
I can't wait until next month's box/bag and until then i'll be using these new products! Who knows.. next month my favourite could be Ipsy!

Until Next time,
Luna.

October 2015 Glossybox

Hello everybody,

Sorry for the lack of good photos, but as this was my first Glossybox in years , I tore into it without abandon. I managed to snap some quick photos but nothing that spectacular. I can't even express how excited I was and how excited I am for next month's Glossybox (and the Ipsy bag I ordered!!). This month's box was designed by Jamie Lee Reardin, who draws for Christian Dior! The box is absolutely stunning and all the details make this a box to keep! I already have mine on display on my book shelf. The theme was Paris. 

As always the packaging killed it. Glossybox always makes each month feel like you're opening a luxurious gift. This month I received:

• A Phyto leave in conditioner and heat protectant. It smells so nice and I could tell the difference in brushing through my hair right away.
• A Vichy Idealia Skin Sleep facial night cream. The packaging is really cute, It's pink and the cream matches! It smells like roses as well.
• A Le Soft Perfume Paris in the scent Parissian Rhapsody. Honestly I am NOT a perfume girl. But this actually smells really good. It's a light enough floral scent that doesn't cloud me. Just something special for someone who's actually close enough to smell it. (Namely,me, lolz.) It's a solid perfume which I thought was more unique. This is one of my favourite things I received this month. The perfume stick is actually pink! So cute!
• A red lipgloss by De Bruyere Paris. This lipgloss is highly pigmented and has an amazing formula. For some reason it looked really red in the package (and in other peoples swatches i've seen.) But on me it looked more like a hot pink. I am not complaining at all though as the colour is beautiful.
• A red nail polish by Lollipop Paris. I haven't tried this polish yet, but I can tell you it will be perfect this holiday season.

That's everything I received and I can't wait for next month! Below are all the 'quick snaps' I managed to take. I didn't want to wait any longer to take photo's, I just wanted to post this! Everything has already been organized into my collection, ready for use.

I hope you like the photo's below! 

Au revoir!

Luna.

Beauty Instagram

Hello Everybody!
I've been posting lots on my beauty instagram, @makeupbykenzi. I wanted to share some of the photo's i've posted recently. I also have a few exciting posts I plan on doing when I have the proper time. My instagram is a good place for heads up on posts, as I usually can't help my excitement and will post a photo on there well before a post is up on here!

1.

2.

                                                       3.

4.

1.I've been really loving making facecharts. I have a whole binder of finished ones, they really help to organize your thoughts and makes you remember what products you used to create a look. Also when you have a finished facechart for a client you look professional and put together.

2. flawless skin! products used (from L-R):

• Makeup forever full coverage concealer
• Mac cosmetics studio fix foundation powder
• Givenchy Teint Couture fluid foundation
• Maybelline baby skin pore eraser 
• Hourglass Veil mineral oil free primer

3. Doing some research for a contest Sephora is having. "Sephora sweepstakes" is in celebration of their gem and the holograms collection. You had to create a 1980s look and you could win their entire gem and the holograms beauty collection as well as some other Sephora brand goodies. 

4. The last photo is the look I created for the sweepstake. I used blue eyeshadow in tribute to the popular colour of the era. I used a purple/fuschia lip colour that I mixed myself with 2 different lipsticks. I wanted to pay homage to Gem, how she always wore fuschia. I later found out that I couldn't enter the contest at all (lol) because it was only open to US citizens (ugh.) But it was still fun to create the look and be excited over it for a little while. 

Anyways, follow my makeup instagram @makeupbykenzi for more photos and inspiration! 

Until next time, 

Luna.

Toronto fashion week 2015

My friend Maija and I had the pleasure of attending the Kollar clothing show at Toronto fashion week. Juicy couture was there handing out perfume samples and cotton candy, yum! 

After the show I came home and had a really relaxing Lush comforter bubble bath. Was a really fun day! I absolutely LOVED the Kollar clothing pants I saw a few of the models wearing. I think it's a men's line, but I could totally kick it with those babies. Kollar clothing has a website that's totally worth checking out! Nice ass clothing & some male model eye candy, yes please! 

(Also,this is the  first time I've straightened or middle parted my hair IN YEARS! It's nice to try something new and fresh every once in a while.) 

Anyways it's late here so I'm cozying up for the night! 

Until next time,

Luna. 

Beauty Haul

I decided it was finally time to add some new brushes to my collection. I really focused on face brushes that were a little denser so I could apply creams, foundations and contour. The smaller pointed brush I bought with the intention to use it for detailing in FX makeup.
I also picked up a travel size Clinique makeup remover thats formulated for lids, lashes, and lips.
BRUSHES:
(from L-R)
- Real techniques sculpting brush
-Real Techniques expert face brush
-Sephora Multitasker contour (contouring multi-textures) #55
-Sephora PRO Angled contour #75
-Sephora PRO Pointed brow #35

I can't wait to get creative with all my new tools!
Until Next time,
Luna.

October!

October is here!!!! October is one of my

most favourite months of the year. Being a makeup artist, I find that this month hits me with much inspiration to try out more out of kit effects and create characters. I actually just finished watching 'the corpse bride' , feeling AMPED to just create. Unfortunately it's 2 AM and I have no energy. But I thought I would share this look I did a few weeks ago. It has a very "clown from your nightmare" feel to it. I kept thinking about the happy face murderer while in it. (Who was,if you don't know, a real serial killer... But didn't look anything like this, don't worry.) 

I created the cuts with latex to create fake skin and then filled it with a base paint from kryolan's burn wheel. I then added cinema secrets fake blood and voila! Cuts! I added breakdown by adding redness around the nose, eyes and on the lips. Makes everything look a bit sore/sickly or like I haven't slept. 

Anyways I will be posting more like this soon so I hope you enjoyed! Happy hallows everyone!!

Also, if you like makeup posts you can follow my makeup Instagram @makeupbykenzi 

Wrap party

The lewk from the wrap party. Overall was really fun to catch up with everyone. They played the trailer for the show and I got super emotional. So proud. Everyone in that room contributed to making something magical! So cool. Seeing things being filmed in front of your eyes- you forget how much post production work goes into it and how INSANELY GOOD things can look when they're done. Anyways, congratulations Shadowhunters season 1!!! So proud to have been a part of that. A tiny little minuscule part, but a part all the same. 

Can't wait for everyone to see what the cast & crew have all worked so hard to create! I can tell you one thing for sure, the cast the characters PERFECTLY. As a fan of the books, I am truly excited for all the fans to see everyone brought to life. 

Until next time, 

Luna. 

Today's fall lip

NARS matte lip pencil in cruella with Bourjois brilliance 3D lipgloss in 64. 

Explorin' part 1

karen elson

Karen Elson is one of my favourite artists. Her debut album, which came out TIME ago, is still one of the best. Spooky but sweet. It's an interesting sound. The lyrics are worth paying attention too as well. If you haven't heard of this gem I would really recommend youtubing her. :-)

Thinking of you..