Battle of the Highlighters: Powder Edition

by Brittany Lauren in


I picked my top four favourite highlighters from my collection to bring you battle of the highlighters. Why you ask? Why not is my answer.  

I wanted to talk about them a little more in depth to possibly help those of you in the market to purchase a new one (or first, yay!). 

 

First up, we have a pressed shimmering skin perfector by Becca, in the shade Opal. It is described as "ultrafine luminescent pearls that absorb, reflect, and refract light so your natural radiance is never lost." This powder is indeed ultrafine, and loaded with shimmer - not to be confused with glitter. 

Opal by Becca - $46

Opal by Becca - $46

I especially love this one in the summer when I have more of a tan. I find in the winter months that it is almost too dark for my complexion, giving my skin an almost muddy appearance. However, when I have more colour to my skin, this is the one I gravitate towards. It lasts for at least 8 hours, and gives the strong highlighted look that I love.  

Next in the lineup, we have a mineralize skinfinish by MAC in the shade soft and gentle. This one is well-loved, as you can see from my photo below. It is described as "a luxorious power with 77-mineral complex that adds highlights to the face and body." This is one of MAC's best sellers, and for good reason.   

 

Soft and Gentle by MAC - $37

Soft and Gentle by MAC - $37

Soft and gentle is a neutral tan shade with a silver sheen, and can be worn with all skin tones. It is finely milled, but not quite as fine and smooth as Becca's shimmering skin perfectors. When applied with a light hand, this can give the most beautiful glow. I recommend this one to the girl who is just adventuring into the highlighting world and wants something that will pair well with any makeup look. 

 

Hot Sensation by MAC is next in the mix, which is part of their beauty powder range. This is described as a "sheer pale peach highlighter" , but I personally think it leans a lot more pink. On me, it has more of a brightening effect than it does a true highlighting effect. It is very finely milled, and soft without being powdery.  

Hot sensation by MAC - $31

Hot sensation by MAC - $31

I love this one when I'm wanting to create the Kim Kardashian style highlight. By that I mean adding more brightness instead of shimmer. Hot sensation might not be your pick if you have a darker skin tone, as it may look more ashy. This would be a perfect pick for the girl with a light to medium skin tone, or for someone who is concerned about fine lines. Sometimes, shimmer can settle into fine lines and actually make them appear more drastic than they actually are. If that is the case for you, stick to a highlight with less shimmer, like this one! 

 

Last but not last, a cult favourite. Albatross by NARS. This was one of my first purchases when initially diving into the beauty world, and I don't regret it!

 

Albatross by NARS - $37

Albatross by NARS - $37

Albatross gives a sheer light golden sheen, and must be applied with a light hand unless you plan on being mistaken for a walking disco ball. I am all for a strong highlight, but not so much for glitter on the face. When applied properly with a fan brush, for example, this highlight can truly give you the most perfect sun kissed glow. Its golden undertones match well with warmer skin tones. ​Another way I like to use this is to layer over a blush to give an overall sheen to the face. This highlighter is perfect for someone who wants something versatile, or something that makes a statement. 

Below are swatches of the highlighters in natural light. ​

soft and gentle, albatross, hot sensation, opal  

soft and gentle, albatross, hot sensation, opal  

 

I wish you the best of luck in your future highlighting endeavours!

 

Brittany x


Top 5 Fall Must Haves

by Brittany Lauren in


Yep, I said it. Fall. 

Now that summer's most dreaded F-word is out of the way, I will be free to talk about my favorite season - THE FALL. I know everyone says they loooove it, but I swear to you, my personal obsession with autumn is very real. It's the clothing, the fall-themed food, even the scent in the air. All of it. 

Although there are many aspects that I love, it's the fashion and trends that most excite me. With that, I bring you my top 5 Fall Must Haves:

 

1) Patterned Coat

Although I don't consider myself the biggest lover of colored clothing (black & white lovers, unite!), I fell in love with this piece. I find that although the dark red is eye-catching, the black will still allow this piece to work with virtually anything in my black and white dominated wardrobe. You will most likely find me wearing this with a some distressed black denim, or perhaps a pair of liquid leggings. Its thick wooly texture was exactly what I was looking for. This one is the "Pellam" coat from Aritzia.

photo: aritzia

photo: aritzia

photo: aritzia

photo: aritzia

 

2) Black Booties

I know, no surprise here. There's something to be said about these fashion staples if EVERYONE has a pair. They're perfect, and can be worn with anything. To spice things up a bit, I'm on the hunt for an edgy pair with cut-outs. Here are a few of my favorite finds:

Jeffrey Campbell "Orwell" Bootie via Nordstrom

Jeffrey Campbell "Orwell" Bootie via Nordstrom

Topshop "BOSTON" cutout boots

Topshop "BOSTON" cutout boots

Jeffrey Campbell "MUSKRAT" boot

Jeffrey Campbell "MUSKRAT" boot

3) Statement Scarf

I am no newcomer to the scarf game, however, it was last year that I discovered my all time favorite one. The "Diamond Mosiac Blanket Scarf" from Aritzia. These scarves are thick, high quality, and make a statement. Everytime I wear one, I am sure to have someone compliment it. They are $85 CDN, and will last you for a lifetime. My two favorites are pictured below:

4) Dark Lipstick

They say it's not acceptable to wear dark lip colors in the summer months, so I suppose I have been breaking this law all summer long. Now with fall approaching, I can feel at ease knowing that my lips will be accepted, yet again. One of my all time favorites is by MAC, which is called Viva Glam III. It is a matte finish, and is the perfect shade for those who are just starting to venture into the dark lip realm. For the seasoned veterans, I recommend "Train Bleu" by NARS. This color is sure to turn some heads, and in a good way. It is a very deep plum shade, and also has a matte finish.

NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in TRAIN BLEU

NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in TRAIN BLEU

MAC Viva Glam III 

MAC Viva Glam III 

5) Black Statement Hat

This is a trend that I am still fairly new to, as I am still on the hunt for my perfect hat. It is quite the adventure finding the perfect one, as the hats fit quite different on everyone. I have a few in my collection as of now, but none that I am in LOVE with. Below are some inspiration pictures capturing what I would like to find in my perfect hat. 

I hope you enjoyed my first fashion post, and found at least a smidge of fall inspiration! 

 

Brittany x


Mark Tiu x Brittany Lauren

by Brittany Lauren


Back in May, I received a very exciting message from one of Saskatoon's most sought after photographers - Mark Tiu! He wanted to collaborate, and it most certainly made my entire week that he even considered me. Little did he know, I was, and still am, the BIGGEST fan of his work. 

We decided to drive out towards a somewhat deserted road on the outskirts of the city and hope for the best. I was extremely nervous, as I have little to no experience with modelling. Mark's feed is flooded with stunning photos of established models, and I was very nervous to be pictured next to them. With that being said, I tried my best to put my nerves aside. These are some of the final products that Mark was able to capture:

That sunset, though.

That sunset, though.

Pretty amazing work, right?

Mark made me feel extremely comfortable, was clear with direction, and was very friendly. His talent is evident in his work, but he is a genuinely kind person whose passion for creating is contagious.

He is currently nearing the end of a 90 day portrait project. If you have time, I highly suggest you take the time to check out his instagram (@markjosephtiu) and take a look at his project. It features the faces of many people along with a description of how Mark met each person. This project is a ton of work, as he takes time out of each day to craft a perfect portrait for each person, all free of charge. If that doesn't speak tons about his character, then I don't know what will! 

I was lucky enough to be featured on day 15!

 

He has a Facebook page as well as Instagram, and I will leave both links below so you can go leave some love for a well-deserving person!

Insta: @MarkJosephTiu

Facebook: facebook.com/MarkTiuPhotography

 

Brittany x

 

 


Who Am I?

by Brittany Lauren


My name is Brittany Laurén Schneider (hence BrittanyLaurenS), and I reside in Saskatoon, SK, Canada. It is a small but beautiful city, and I am proud to call it home.

I haven't always been a "girly" girl. It wasn't until my young adult life that I found what it was that I was most passionate about - fashion & beauty. It was through YouTube videos that I discovered the underworld, if you will, of girls all around the world who shared the same interests as me. I would watch girls for days (literally) talk about everything fashion and beauty related. From OOTDs, makeup reviews, new MAC collections, and get ready with me videos -- I loved them all. 

Another hobby of mine is writing. If only there was a place where I could combine those two passions, fashion & writing...

And here we are.

Thank you so much for taking the time to visit and get a glimpse into this journey of mine. I hope you come back soon!

 

Brittany x