Review: Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector BB cream

This product could definitely be used as a replacement for foundation. It's like a tinted moisturizer, but with more skin-calming benefits for toning, pigmentation and overall luminosity. I will most definitely be replacing my $55 Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer with this bb cream. I just think the price and the overall benefits of a bb cream, particularly the Garnier bb cream, outweighs any regular tinted moisturizer. The coverage of this bb cream is the same, if not more, than any tinted moisturizer I've tried, and the finish of it satin-y which I like. The coverage is also build-able without being cakey or looking like there is way too much product on my face. It also smells fantastic! I can't find anything bad to say about this product. Well actually...the "light/medium" shade is definitely too dark for some fairer people out there so this product doesn't really cater to that wide of a demographic.

Another pro is I'm also starting to notice that some of my dark, hyper-pigmented spots on my face are starting to diminish and I've only been using this product for about a month. 
Sometimes, on days when I feel like I need even more coverage, I use this product under my foundation. On those days, I only use foundation in the spots that I need more coverage, like on my chin where I have some really dark spots. I don't find that those two products layered looks cakey; and I also don't notice that staying power is diminished or increase, it's just normal, I guess.

the finish of Garnier's bb cream (on my hand, obvi)

I'm really happy to see more affordable and effective products starting to make their way to the drugstores


xoxoDarlingBuds

Nails: My All-Time Favourite Top Coat

SECHE VITE!

This really is the best top coat! It's a lot thicker in consistency than other brands I've tried, and I think that's what makes it so good. It seals everything up and ensures that nothing will chip for a solid few days. I found mine at Winner's, but I know some drugstore are beginning to sell it now too. Warning: this stuff is toxic smelling! It's the strongest nail product I've ever smelt. It's right up there with 100% Acetone nail polish remover. 

NOTD: featuring Wet n Wild

I featured this nail polish colour in part #5 of my nail polish collection post here.

This is a really awesome duo-chrome colour. It changes from a purple, to a blue, to a greenish-gray. It's so awesome. It's similar to a few other duo-chrome polishes out there, including Deborah Lippmann's "Wicked" which retails for approximately $20CAD, whereas Wet n Wild polishes are typically $2 - $4. 

The staying power of this polish is surprisingly good. But like I said, the main great thing about this polish is the awesome colour. I'm not typically into metallic-duo chrome colours on my nails, but for this colour I'll make an exception. 

I haven't tried any other polishes from Wet n Wild apart from this one, but I definitely want to. They have 3 different ranges of polishes: fastdry, megalast, and another one I can't remember and am too lazy to look up. I've heard really good things about the megalast, so if I find a colour I like, I'll give 'em a go.
Another fun this about this NOTD post is that I used a matte top coat. I thought that it gave a really nice finish to a duo-chrome nail, since there's already so much sheen going on with the colour. I'm into layering glitters with matte top coats because it changes up the effects of the finishes. It's neat! 


Ciao for now!
xoxoDarlingBuds

HOTD: Hair of the Day

MESSY BUN!

I went to bed really late last night because I was studying for a midterm. I fell asleep with my hair in a bun. I woke up super late this morning, and had next to no time to get ready to get to class. Instead of rocking my bed head to class, I decided to go for my go-to messy bun. 

I basically just pile all of my hair on top of my head and tie it into a hair elastic in a random way. All of the bits and pieces that stick out of the elastic, I pin down with bobby pins. Sometimes I stick the pieces of hair back into the middle of the bun (where the elastic is) or I pin them to the side. Does that make sense? 

I like the look. It looks effortless and it actually is! It's not one of those "messy" and "easy" hairstyles that actually takes hours to get together. Trust me: if I can do this, so can you! I can't even braid hair.

And then I just stick a headband on top, and that's it! Off to class I go!

P.S. these photos were after a couple of hours of wear. I would probably re-arrange the bobby pins a little bit to pin up some ends that came loose.

Other than that, this is my go-to messy bun look. Not only is it my go-to messy bun, but it's also the only way how I know how to do a messy bun! It's tried and true

xoxoDarlingBuds