November 2015 Favorites


November has gone, can you believe it? and now we're onto December - which means there's only 25 days left til  Christmas! Have any of you started your Christmas Shopping yet? I have to say, I'm actually 90% done! so I don't need to go and push around the mall with the last minute shoppers.

My favorites this month contain some repeats (which only means that I truly love them!):
1. Smashbox - Photo Finish Pore Minimizing Primer
This has become a must have in my makeup routine - as the name suggests, it fills my pores and doesn't leave a greasy residue. Perfect canvas for makeup application after.

2. Maybelline Fit Me! - Hydrate and Smooth Foundation
My first time using a drug store foundation since my teens that I actually like! My shade is 220 and I combine it with a little bit of Charlotte Tilbury's wonderglow to give it even more of a dewy finish. 

3. Embryolisse - lait-Creme Concentre
Adds an amazing level of hydration to the skin in the morning before I put on my makeup. It's lightly scented, reminiscent of jasmine? I am definitely ordering more after.

4. Laneige - Water Sleeping Mask
 I use this every night now that the weather is much colder. I wake up with baby soft skin. I recently gifted the Laneige skin set to my girlfriend to try since I love so many Laneige products! I even started using the foaming cleanser and toner!

5. GinZeng - Refreshing Eye Cream
Salmon tinted and not overly greasy for my under eyes! Love it!

6. Aveda - Shampure Dry Shampo
This is my newest discovery when I went to Aveda during Black Friday to restock on the Volumizing tonic. It doesn't have an aerosol can and comes straight from the tube. It's herbally scented and plant derived. It volumizes the hair slightly while works to absorb the hair grease!

7. Cover Girl - The Super Sizer Mascara
The wand of this mascara is quite interesting, it's an inverted triangle and has short plastic points instead of a brush. Somehow, this adds a lot of volume and length and I can get away with two coats of this and no liner and my eyes still look existent!

8. no name brand foundation brush from Phoenix Beauty that I bought for 9.99
Even though this is no name brand, I had to include this as my monthly favorite only to prove a point to my fellow readers. I wanted to let you know that sometimes, you do not need to buy high end brushes just because you think they will be better than no named brand ones in the market. I got this from Phoenix Beauty at Pacific Mall for 9.99 and it works better than my Sephora Pro Airbrush Foundation Brush which cost triple that amount! 

What have been some of your monthly favorites? Can't wait to hear from you! 

Until next time - XO, M.


Estée Lauder Limited Edition Modern Muse Le Rouge Makeup Collection

The holiday season in the beauty world brings around lots of different value sets, beauty sets in pretty packaging and of course, limited edition sets. Estée Lauder is excited to announce the launch of their Limited Edition Modern Muse Le Rouge Makeup Collection exclusive to Hudson's Bay

The collection is inspired by the gorgeous high-impact pop of red in the iconic Modern Muse Le Rouge fragrance bottle. The products allow you to create a beautiful neutral eye and to add a pop color to your lips with the various lip colors included in this collection. Also, no look is created for the holidays until your nails are adorned with red polish. 




The collection includes:


- Pure Color Envy Sculpting Lipstick in Envious, Red Ego and Carnal $34 each.
- Pure Color Nail Lacquer in Envious - $25
- Pure Color Envy Sculpting Eyeshadow Palette in Pink Mink $55
- Modern Muse Le Rouge: 3.4oz/100ml EDP $122, 1.7oz / 50ml EDP $90 and 1.0oz/30ml EDP $68.








Are you eyeing anything in the collection? If so - which ones? Stay tuned for some holiday makeup looks coming soon on Miranda Loves!

Until next time, XO - M.

Reversa Anti-Wrinkle Cream SPF 30*


If you are like me, the thought of forgetting to use SPF on your face comes quite often. I always remember to put SPF on my body, but never remembering that my face is equally, if not, more important. The reason that I have been guilt of neglecting SPF is because I do not like to put excessive layers of product on my face and having it feel greasy after. Imagine layering on your toner, serum, moisturizer, SPF .. THEN primer? please... ain't nobody got time for that! Secondly, the products that I have tried in the past, either have a white cast/flash back in flash photography, or break me out.

That is why when I was contacted to try out Reversa, I thought what do I have to lose? and gave it a go! This face cream contains SPF 30 as well as ant-wrinkle properties. The benefits include:
- Reduction of the appearance of lines and wrinkles.
- Exfoliates, moisturizes, softens and smooths the skin
- Filters UVA/UVB rays and helps sunburn
- Non-greasy, leaves a pleasant silky feeling on skin
- Ideal for daily urban activities #urbanprotection.

The product is housed in a practical and elegant airless-pump bottle and allows you to see how much product you've used so you know when to re-stock before you run out! It is available in most Canadian drugstores and a 50 ml bottle is $45 approx. In the same line, there is also a anti-wrinkle eye contour cream with SPF 15, and anti-wrinkle fluid with SPF 15.

My thoughts and would I repurchase this?
Yes! 100% yes! I really loved the weightless texture of this product. When dispensed, it is like any ordinary white-tinted cream. However, when applied thoroughly to your skin/face it dries to almost a satin/powder textured finish. It doesn't ball up when applying primer or foundation. There is no flashback when using flash photography and well its great to have a product that serves two purposes - SPF + moisturizer. It says to apply this at least 15 minutes before you head out the door and get exposed to the sun.. so I wouldn't say that's unreasonable consider you put it on after your skincare routine, put on your makeup then get dressed etc .. so that's more than enough time...

Until next time, XO - M.

Beauty Haul from Korea & Japan


My weakness in beauty products is cosmetics from Asia. When my sister in law recently went to Hong Kong, Japan and Korea, she was kind enough to pick up some goodies for me and I thought I'd share them with you! Most of these products are items that I know I'd like, as I've tried them before when I went to Tokyo 3 years ago and bought them. I was so sad I couldn't get my hands on them that I had to ask Jen to pick me up multiples!

The below face masks are a gift by Jen, she actually bought 100+ face masks while she was in Korea. She told me that Horse Fat is really good? It's said to be ultra hydrating - can't wait to try it! 

Have any of you triede the Baby Lips formula in Asia? It's absolutely different than that of Canada/America. The version in Asia is ultra hydrating, almost wet in texture like it instantly melts onto your lips and really does provide moisture. I bought one in Tokyo three years ago, and upon using it after I bought it - I had to double back and go get another. They are super inexpensive, about $2 cdn or less? So glad Jen found me so many different flavors!! ahh! 

What next, the Beauty Charge Honey Milk hand lotion. It's really hydrating, and the scent alone brings me back to my trip to Asia. So nostalgic. It doesn't irritate my eczema prone hands in the colder winter months in Canada. LOVE it!

Three other items include the Sugar Syrup lip balm (smells like candies and is coral tinted), Etude House (Blooming Lipstick) and Clio Kill Black Liquid Liner. The Clio liner is the first time I've tried it, but it is BETTER than the Kat Von D Trooper liner. More precise, darker, more pigmented and does not budge at all! 

Yes, candies - black currant pastilles to be exact, the Hong Kong version tastes different and is shaped differently as well. Trust me, if you love these candies, you have to get the Hong Kong version, it's tons better!


Lastly, Jen gifted me these two pairs of socks - Totoro! AHH! and a cute fat owl.. too cute!

The two colors of the lip products I got :)


Hope you guys enjoyed my short haul post! What are some of your asian beauty favorites? Would love to hear em!

Until next time, XO - M!

Makeup Monday: Fall Mauve Makeup Tutorial


Hello lovelies! I'd like to apologize in advance for the week I took off last week as my schedule just became too busy and overwhelmed with work and I really didn't want to deliver anything half-a-sed for you guys and thought to just take a break entirely and start fresh today with an all new Makeup Monday look.

This look is inspired by the colder temperature now in Toronto and with fall in the air, I thought a pretty mauve look would be ideal.

Two shadows is all this took so for those of you who are shy when it comes to makeup, it can totally work for you. It's also neutral enough that you can wear this at work too if you wanted! Totally day time appropriate! :)
Products Used:
1. Smashbox - Photo Finish Primer ~ to hydrate and prep the skin for a dewy glow.
2. Giorgio Armani - Luminous Silk Foundation (5.75) ~ my ultimate go-to foundation, 4 years + going!
3. Urban Decay Primer Potion for the eyes 
4. Sephora - Bright Future Gel Serum Concealer  (no. 11) ~ I LOVE this stuff! Great coverage and not heavy/cakey!
5. Buxom Eyeshadow - Lingerie Lover all over the lid and Invite Only on the crease. 
6. Kat Von D Liner in Trooper
7. Marcelle Xtension Plus Curl Mascara ~ gives you a perfect lift
8.  to set the under eye, I used MAC - Emphasize
9. to contour, I used MAC - Sculpt
10. for blush, I opted for a darker plum color for the fall season, and that is MAC - Blushbaby
11. finished off the look with a pair of lashes from KOKO lashes - 205
12. The best discovery is the Esquido Companion Lash Glue* - at $10 USD it's honestly a steal. It's in the size of a lipgloss container and comes with a very fine tip for application. Also, you don't need to wait it out to get tacky before applying to your current lashes You can brush the glue on, and immediately set it onto your lashes. I LOVE IT! and it stays put all day!


Until next time, XO - M.