Beauty Squared Round-Up - Sunday, April 26, 2015

Hello lovelies! It's time for our weekly round-up. And I feel like I should add a note about the lack of posts lately. Both Beauty Squared ladies have been very busy lately and blogging has proven challenging, but we're aiming to bring you some posts very soon. Stay tuned! In the meantime, we'll keep bringing you this weekly round-up, so you can see what the internet is talking about where it comes to beauty and skincare and haircare. 

Let's go!

• Keratosis Pilaris is a skin condition that's getting a fair bit of buzz lately, mainly because it seems to be something many people have but didn't realize it was an actual condition and could be treated. I actually just realized that Keratosis Pilaris is what I have on my upper arms, after about 20 years of being embarrassed by the red, bumpy skin there. If you've got patches of skin that look a bit like chicken skin, it might be Keratosis Pilaris.
  
• Blackheads are better known than Keratosis Pilaris, but they're no less problematic. If you have them, you'll want to read this article that explains what they are, what causes them and how you get rid of them.
  
• From one beauty issue to another (and another). Dark undereye circles are something most of us deal with, and there really isn't a whole lot than be done about them apart from trying to avoid them if they're caused by dehydration, lack of sleep, etc or concealing them. Here are some tips to minimize their appearance from treatment to concealing.
  
• It's that time of year when many of us are turning into sun worshippers after a long, cold winter but forgetting that even when it's not that hot, it can burn our skin. You really should be wearing sunscreen on any exposed skin during all seasons of the year, but if you're not fastidious like that and occasionally get too much sun, here's how to cover up sunburn without irritating the damaged skin any further.
  
• If you kind of like the look of a bit of sunburn on your face but would rather not burn your flesh to get the effect, here's how to do it with makeup.
  
• Here's a fresh, bright way to wear colourful eyeliner this season.
  
• Red lipstick is typically a winter/fall trend, but you don't have to stop wearing it when the weather warms up. Here's how to wear red lipstick in the spring and summer.
  
• Fashion Magazine's Beauty Panel talks about how they groom their eyebrows. Lots of tips here!
  
• Have you tried Nudestix? They're a new line of versatile cosmetic pencils with a view on simple, natural looks. Learn about the teenagers behind the line.
  
• Temptalia's review of yet another nude eyeshadow palette, this one containing five very wearable matte shades from Becca.
  
• MUA Lisa Eldridge talks about the beauty tricks she uses while travelling.
  
• We all want to save money. Buzzfeed has a post on doing so with your beauty products.
  
•  Beyonce's MUA Sir John Barnett has been tapped as L'Oreal Paris' new celebrity makeup artist. Here he talks about his new role for L'Oreal, his techniques and shares some secrets.
  
• Time for some hair talk!
• How to fight frizz, no matter your hair type. 
• Sideburns for women? Yup, have a read. 
• Waking up with perfect hair. Yes, it's apparently possible. 
• Are you an unnatural redhead? Do you emphasize your natural red with a bit of colour? You'll want to read this about how to keep your red from fading. 

Beauty Squared Round-Up for April 19, 2015

Happy Sunday and hello from Beauty Squared. It's that time again. Here are our picks for must-see links related to all things beauty. Let's go!

• Spring 2015 Beauty Trend: Doll-like makeup. We're talking perfect skin, lashes and pink lips.
  
• Summer is coming and that means many of us will be cropping our hair shorter for the warmer weather. Thinking of going short-short? Or maybe you're already way ahead of the trend and rocking short hair? Here are some short hair inspirations.
  
• Do you dye your own hair? If so, you know how messy it can be. Here are some helpful tips on cleaning up during and after dying your hair.
  
• You know how to keep your skin clean and clear from breakouts, right? No? Here you go.
  
• Do you exfoliate your skin? You should and here's how.
  
• A product that can banish your puffy eyes with minimal effort?
  
• Products that can minimize those pesky large pores that can prevent you from having a smooth complexion are all the rage right now. This is what you should know about them.
  
• Tempted by bold eye makeup looks but a little intimidated? This post might help.
  
• Speaking of bold eye makeup looks: how about using metallic flakes (think gold leaf) in your eye looks?
  
• Travelling and makeup - what to pack.
  
• If you'll be travelling somewhere warm soon, or you've maybe overdone it enjoying the warm spring sunshine, this is for you - Five Tips for Sunburn.
  
• Ease off on the contouring, kids. Read what MUA Patti Dubroff has to say about the heavy contouring running rampant on Instagram and YouTube and what you should be doing instead.
  
• And on that note, here's how to get a flattering, natural-looking brow that suits you and doesn't look like you've put it on with a Sharpie.
  
• MAC Senior Artist Melissa Gibson tells us how to handle the overabundance of limited edition collections without feeling the need to buy them all. She should know, working for MAC, who has limited edition collections out every few weeks!
  
• Sam and Nic from Pixiwoo and Real Techniques sits down with their idol, the fantastic MUA Val Garland for a chat.
  
• Read about (and see) what happened when a woman went to eight different makeup counters and asked for a natural make-up look. 

Beauty Squared Round-Up for April 12, 2015

Good morning, lovelies!

It's Beauty Squared Round-Up time. Settle in and enjoy!

• The Up the Rollercoaster blog's  concealer library. It's helpful for a number of reasons - - talking about the types of concealers you need for different concealing purposes, and the types of concealers that are especially good for different concealing purposes.
  
• We all love drugstore dupes for high end products. Here's a new round!
  
• Curly hair is like denim.
  
• Are you intrigued by but a little scared by blue eyeshadow? (I am). Here are some new shades and how to wear them that might inspire you out of that fear.
  
• Maybe more people would wear sunscreen if it didn't smell like sunscreen? Here are some of the best-smelling sunscreens.
  
• Relevant to me (and maybe you), beauty things to pack for travelling.
  
• Skincare ingredients you might not be using, but should be.
  
• Do you lips need a bit of TLC? Here are some of the best lip products to give them new life.
  
• Beauty mysteries, like why does the salon shampoo feel so much better than when you do it yourself? Is your "Hmmmm?" moment on the list?
  
• Nic from Pixiwoo has two great basics videos up on their YouTube channel right now.
• Top tips for colour correcting
• How to contour

MAC is Beauty Lipsticks Reviews, Swatches and Photos

Today I have three of the LE lipsticks from the latest MAC is Beauty collection for review. The MAC is Beauty lipsticks are primarily a mix of pastel and neutral shades. I purchased Call the Hairdresser!, Catty and French Twist - all Lustre formulations. All photos in natural light on NC 35/40 skin.

Call the Hairdresser!, Catty and French Twist

Call the Hairdresser! - Is a medium pigmented sheer red coral.

Catty - Is a sheer, pale yellow based pink.

French Twist - Is a sheer, classic warm peach-beige nude.

I know a lot of bloggers dislike sheer lipstick formulations but I personally love them. I have full, very pigmented (red) lips and I often find full coverage lipsticks - particularly pale or bright shades - make my lips stand out like a neon sign. The Lustre formula allows me to wear less natural shades without having them look like a sticker on my face.

Call the Hairdresser!, Catty and French Twist

All three shades have limited wear time (about 1- 2 hours) and provide a softly shiny finish. MAC's Lustre formula is glossy but not moisturizing, so I recommend a good lip balm underneath. Out of the three shades I purchased, Call the Hairdresser is my favourite and has the longest wear time because it was more strongly pigmented. Overall, if you like sheer lipsticks then you will find these shades soft, pretty and versatile.

Grade: B

MAC is Beauty Limited Edition Eye Shadow Review, Swatches and Photos

A while back I mentioned that I wasn't hopping on the MAC LE collection bandwagon as frequently as I usually do, but this week with the new MAC is Beauty Collection I found  myself indulging. I'm not usually one for pastel colours, particularly eye shadows, but I had a few Back to MAC recyclables and thought why not?

The three new LE eye shadows in the collection are minty green Preening,  peachy-pink Bouffant and Easter egg lilac Wow Factor. Photos in natural light, swatches on NC 35/40 skin.

Clockwise from top: Preening, Bouffant and Wow Factor

MAC Wow Factor Eye Shadow (Matte)

MAC Preening Eye Shadow (Satin)

MAC Bouffant Eye Shadow (Veluxe Pearl)

MAC Wow Factor, Preening and Bouffant

Wow Factor - A soft, pale matte pink toned lilac with medium pigmentation and a soft, creamy, blendable matte texture.

Preening - A soft, pale, satin mint green which leans yellow. Pigmentation is on the sheerer side but it is easily buildable through layering. The fine shimmer keeps this shade luminous and not chalky.

Bouffant - A sheeny peachy pink with a pink iridescence. This shadow is a little harder than other Veluxe Pearl formulas but I think it's due to a very firm press of the product in the pan as texture wise it is smooth. 

I'm surprise how much I like these shades - both Wow Factor and Preening have very nice, buildable textures and don't appear chalky on my medium/medium-deep skin tone. Bouffant is also nice as well for bringing light and brightness to the eyes as well as layering nicely on top of the other shades. Because these shades are pale and soft, to get "true to pan" colour you will best wear a pale or white base beneath (such as NYX Milk or MAC Paint Pot in Painterly), otherwise the shades will mix with your skin tone.

For spring I think these are wearable pastels that would play very well with neutrals. I think Wow Factor would look smashing paired with a soft brown, while Preening would work beautifully with a silvery taupe.

Grade: B

  

Beauty Squared Round-Up for April 5, 2015

Happy Easter! Happy Passover! Happy Sunday! Happy whatever-else-you-are-or-feel-like-celebrating today!

If you're looking for suggestions, how about celebrating this week's Beauty Squared Round-Up?

• Is there anything better than being able to make your own skin care from ingredients in your fridge and pantry? This way you know exactly what goes into what you're putting on your face, you can make it yourself, it's completely natural and fresh, it's inexpensive, and you don't need to leave the house!
• Five DIY Beauty Recipes For Flawless Skin
• Fifteen Ways To Make a Face Mask From the Fridge
  
• Beauty oils are having a moment lately, but they have been around for thousands of years. Here's everything you should know about using beauty oils on your hair and skin.
  
• Spring is here (looks out window, sees snow falling). No really, it is. Close the curtains and stay inside today. Here are some runway-inspired and spring-inspired eye makeup looks to try.
  
• Here are some more runway beauty tips (including manicures) from New York Fashion Week for you. They don't have to wait until fall.
  
• Is blush a bit of a challenge for you? Trust, you're not the only one who might struggle with how and wear to apply it. Here's a post that shows you how to wear blush four ways - two fairly standards, and two a little more unconventional. Who knows, they might work on you!
  
• Fashion Magazine's Beauty Panel shares their tips for handling a bad hair day.
  
• Thinking of growing out your bangs? Bookmark this link.
  
• Someday you'll be able to reorder your favourite items, including beauty products, through the touch of a button. An Amazon Dash Button, programmed by you for automatic reorders.
  
• Artist Donald Robertson has teamed up with Smashbox Cosmetics to design the packaging for a limited release of matte lipsticks and gel eyeliners.
  
• If you have been watching CBC's Schitt's Creek (POP in the U.S.), starring Catherine O'Hara, Annie Murphy, Dan Levy and Eugene Levy, you've probably noticed Catherine's amazing style. Her personal make-up artist for the shoot was Lucky Bromhead and 29Secrets.com talked to Lucky about what it's like to be Lucky, what it was like to be on set for Schitt's Creek, and what she thinks should be in everyone's makeup kit.
  
• If you'll be in London this summer, you might want to check out the Warpaint: Alexander McQueen and Make-Up, the satellite exhibit for the V&A's McQueen exhibit.