Fall Essentials 2014

Hello! 

Once again I have unintentionally taken a big blogging break! I don't really know why - I'm not sure if I have just been uninspired or just didn't think I had anything to say that was blog-worthy. 

Well I remembered how much I loved blogging and have decided to put my mind to some new ideas and am going to start it back up with some fall essentials (I totally missed September and October favorites so I figured I would lump them all together!).  Fall has quickly turned to winter here in Canada - but since it is still technically fall, I will share some of my favorites with you! 

1: Nail Polish: Essie - Take It Outside, Bahama Mama & Penny Talk

L: Bahama Mama, R: Penny Talk

Essie: Take It Outside (I realized I lent mine to my Mom!) Photo Cred: nailsave.com

I have been wearing these three colors non stop this fall (and I'm not usually a repeat polish offender - I tend to always switch it up). 

"Take It Outside" is a neutral greige from the Essie Fall 2014 collection.  It matches with everything and manages to be the perfect fall shade without being too dark or too light (if you love the classic "Chinchilly", this is a lighter version). 

"Bahama Mama" is a gorgeous purple/plum shade from the regular collection so no need to worry about it being limited edition.  There is just something special about this color - it's a deep cream berry shade and somehow looks pink, purple, wine and plum all at once.  It applies beautifully in two easy coats and although it's deeper it doesn't feel like a dark scary polish.  This shade also looks gorgeous on any skin tone. 

How pretty is "Penny Talk"!!

"Penny Talk" is a polish that totally plays into the trend of the past year of rose gold.  Rose gold is gorgeous and although it felt like a fad early on I have a feeling it isn't going anywhere - I still love it just as much as ever.  Rose gold jewelry may not be for everyone but adding it into your life with a nail polish is a great way start!  It would be pretty any time of year but just screams fall and holidays to me.       

2. Lipstick: Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey 

Top to Bottom: One, two then three swipes - see how build able it is, you can  choose your intensity 

I love the Clinique Almost Lipsticks - they are like a mixture between a lip balm and lipstick.  The color "Black Honey" initially looks a little scary (it totally looks almost black in the tube!) but when you swatch it it becomes the most beautiful berry/wine stain that looks different on everyone.  This was developed to be the "perfect" shade for every woman.  I don't remember where, but I did read that it is almost meant to resemble dried blood (AAHH gross I know! ... Sorry!) and that is the reason it looks good on everyone.  It enhances your natural lip tone beautifully.  It is also really build-able -because you can lightly put it on for a sheer wash of color, or layer it on its own or with a lip liner to intensify the pigment.  This quickly became a holy grail lip product for me.  So easy to throw in your bag and just put on at any time!   Don't be scared by the tube - I almost was but asked the Clinique rep. if I could test it and once I saw it on I immediately fell in love. 

3. Eyeshadow: Clinique Black Honey & Urban Decay Naked Palette 

Clinique Eyeshadow: Black Honey

When I purchased the Clinique lipstick I also checked out the "Black Honey" eyeshadow.  It is a beautiful warm burgundy/brown shade with a satin finish.  Clinique describes it as a "super shimmer" but I definitely don't find the shimmer overwhelming.  It's a beautiful shade for fall and I like wearing it lightly all over the lid then deepening the color in my crease.  I then take any matte cream shade to my brow bone and I'm good to go!  Super easy look for fall. 

Urban Decay Naked Palette

I have also been using my Urban Decay Naked palette a lot this fall.  I use it all year round but it's just perfect for fall with the warm brown and golden/bronze shades.  I love using "Naked" and "Buck" in my crease with "Darkhorse" on the outer half of my eye and on my lower lash line.  I also like to take "Smog" (a gorgeous bronze) and just put it all over my lid and add mascara for a quick eye look.  "Half Baked" is also the most beautiful gold and always a favorite - another one that I love to put on my lower lash line just to make the eyes glow!.  

4. Blush: Milani Baked Blush in Berry Amore & Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette

Milani Baked Blush: Berry Amore

The Milani blush in Berry Amore is gorgeous all year but I have been reaching for it a lot this fall. It's a pretty shimmery berry shade with some gold flecks.  I forgot about it during summer but reached for it again a couple weeks ago and have been wearing it non stop since! 

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette

The Hourglass Ambient Lighting blush palette is not cheap, I will warn you of that now ... hey I gave you a drugstore favorite with Milani so you can't be mad at me ;) However ... it is gorgeous!  So, if you want to treat yourself to something special and you love blush I highly recommend this.  The Hourglass blushes are about $45 each, but you can buy this palette of three for $59.  I wrote about the Ambient Lighting palette in this blog post so you can check that out to learn more about the ambient lighting system.  Basically they are designed to make you look like certain types of light are cast on your skin. The blush comes with "luminous flush", "incandescent flush" and "mood exposure" and I really love them all!

5. Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream

 I purchased this face cream in the summer because I was in need of something new.  I am really loving this stuff and have been using it as both my day and night cream.  I usually have dry skin but can get more normal/oily throughout the day so typically I don't like to use a cream I would use at night, during the day.  This stuff smells gorgeous (almost like fresh cucumber) and just smooths out my skin. It doesn't irritate (I do have sensitive skin when it comes to scented face products) and keeps it nicely hydrated all day without feeling greasy.  My make-up applies so nice and smooth after using this.  I never thought I would be able to find something good for both day and night but I did with this and I justify the higher price for that reason.  Plus, I never mind splurging on skin care - I have learned it is so worth it and my skin has totally thanked me for it. 

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So there are just a few of the things I have been loving this fall! Let me know if you have tried any of these or some of your fall favorites! 

Thanks for reading and sticking with me and my blog through a lengthy break! With the holidays just around the corner I am definitely planning some fun new blog posts!

I'm Baaacckk!! Spring Favorites

Hello lovelies!

Wow ... it has been a while since my last blog post!  A lot has been going on in my life these past  few months but I figured the best way to get back to being myself is to get back to beauty blogging! 

Since I am two months behind on monthly favorites I figured I would share some Spring Favorites and take you through the things I've been loving this season! 

This is a long one ... so grab a coffee, grab a snack and let's get started!!

1. Sephora Formula X Nail Polish

I have heard a lot of raves about this polish and being the nail junkie that I am I knew I had to try it.  This stuff is absolutely amazing and the hype is definitely worth it!  I am tempted to just sell all of my current polishes and buy every color of these (there are SO many to choose from)!  

Let me tell you something about me ... I have been searching for the perfect pink/nude/white/neutral nail color basically my entire life (first world problems, I know).  I have every Essie and OPI in that sheer pink shade just searching for the right one but am never totally satisfied.  I always find them too pink, too nude, too sheer, too opaque, etc.  With most, I need three to four coats to get the shade I want and then am stuck with nails that never dry and end up being forever tacky.  Ohhhh the hardships in life!  Well, enter Sephora Formula X in the shade "Remarkable".  In just two beautiful , easy and fast-drying coats I found myself praising the angels from above for sending this heavenly polish to find me (okay, okay, the dramatics can stop now).  Basically, I'll just end this now with .... try this polish people!! It's amazing!  I promise you won't be disappointed.         

2. Too Faced - Chocolate Bar Eye-shadow Palette

Photo Credit: Sephora.com

This is a recent favorite of mine as I only picked it up about two weeks ago but found I have been reaching for nothing else.  I love how versatile this palette is with mainly chocolate inspired browns with some pops of color mixed throughout.  I'll usually use one of the lighter brown matte shades in my crease and accent the outer corner with one of the darker shimmers. The bonus is this really does smell like chocolate since they use cocoa powder in their formula!  These colors blend SO beautifully and I have gotten many compliments on my eye looks with it that are so easy to create.  The palette also has two highlight shades (matte and pearl) that are in a larger pan.  I love this because those shades always get used the most as they typically can get put all over the lid or even used in other areas of the face for highlighting.  Check out my picture below with swatches of all the shades!  

3. Orla Kiely Garden Weekender Travel Bag (from Target)

Photo Credit: Target.com

 

This is a non-beauty favorite but is used to hold beauty products!  In the last two months I have traveled to both Florida and California and this bag was great for both trips.  As you can probably tell from this blog I like to use a lot of products so it can sometimes be hard for me to pack light - but this bag holds so much in a nice compact way.  It also has a brush holder in the middle which was great in helping me pack a smaller makeup bag.  I love the pattern and the fabric has a very nice and durable feel to it.  Since purchasing this bag I have also picked up two more in different styles that I'm loving just as much!  I recommend anything from the Orla Kiely line for Target and can definitely see myself getting more! 

Photo Credit: Target.com

4. Too Faced Perfect Lips Liner in Perfect Nude 

I find my natural lip lines kind of fade at the edges so this lip liner is great to just fill them in and create a nice natural looking line.  I have some other lip liner favorites (Stripdown from Mac is one) but I have found this one looks the most natural - it really is the "perfect nude"! Whether you have the same lip fading issue as me or you just need a new lip liner I think anyone would be very pleased with this one!  This is great with a nude lip but I use it with all of my everyday colors and it works as a perfect base.  The construction of this pencil is great too with a twist-up tip to always stay sharp and a comfort grip to help with precise lines.     

5. Bite Beauty Luminous Creme Lipstick in Fig

This is for sure a new holy grail lip color for me - the perfect neutral, rosy "your lips but better" pink.  Not only is this shade beautiful but the formula is in my top two favorites (MAC is my #1!).  One of my favorite parts of this brand is they use all food grade ingredients that are actually healthy enough to eat!  Considering we end up eating so much of our lip products this is pretty cool.  I find I'm always skeptical about "all natural" products actually working well but this is amazing ... I might even dare say they are better than MAC!  The formula is SO rich and creamy yet long wearing.  I find a lot of lipsticks can be very drying but haven't found that with Bite.  I had a chance to look at all of their shades the last time I was in Sephora and they are all beautiful!  If you are looking for the perfect nude I would check out "Retsina", and "Quinta" for another really pretty and neutral pink.  I wanted to purchase these shades but unfortunately the Sephora I was at was out of stock on many of them - a testament to this brand's popularity!

        

6. Tarte Amazonian Butter Lipstick

This is another great lipstick I recently tried and is wonderful for fuss-free everyday looks. The colors are very pigmented and bright but aren't too opaque so they aren't difficult to apply.  The term "butter" is so bang on as it literally feels like butter on your lips!  They have a minty feel/taste to them so they are almost a bit refreshing for summer.  I picked up the shades "Pink Peony" and "Watermelon" and my cousin purchased "Poppy" while we were out shopping.  These are all gorgeous bright summer shades and I have some swatches below.  The next one on my list is "Angelic Nude" - so pretty!  Oh ... and can we take a minute to appreciate the adorable packaging!  Too cute!! 

7. Caudalie Beauty Elixir

This is one of those products that is hard to explain.  This is a very expensive and fancy facial spray that I fell into the hype of.  I tried not to ... I tried to resist it and tell myself it was a ridiculous product that I did not need.  (Ok, maybe I didn't try that hard!)  I did pretty good and bought the travel size bottle (still, $20 for a small bottle is kind of crazy!) and, well, I fell in love.  I can't say what this has done for my skin, if anything ... but what I can say, is that when you need to freshen up your makeup halfway through the day, or if you need that extra pick-me-up for an early morning, or just that spa-like feeling after a great face mask ... this stuff is for you!  This literally smells like a spa.  Like ... if there were a perfume invented called "Spa" ... this would be it.  Last night for example, I was heading out to Target (as per usual) and felt like my face just needed to be refreshed.  I had worked a full day and was at the point where I just wanted to wash my face, but wanted to wait until I got home.  I simply sprayed some of this super sheer mist on and just felt so much better!  My makeup just looked fresh again and no longer felt so heavy.  Again, this could be all in my head but either way, I love it and it makes me feel good which is all that matters to me. :) 

8. The Balm Blush in Frat Boy

I've had this blush for a while and meant to mention it in previous favorites but then kind of forgot about it.  With the warmer months finally arriving I have been pulling this out more and find this shade really pretty for summer!  It looks great with natural skin tones or with a tan.   This finely-milled formula applies really smooth and creates a beautiful natural look.  This shade in particular is a peachy-coral matte but has a slight hint of shimmer to help give you a gorgeous glow.  The Balm  also has adorable packaging so that doesn't hurt either ;)

9.  Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub

I picked this up a couple weeks ago because I needed a new body scrub and once you get one sniff of this you literally cannot leave it in the store.  I was happy to find out it actually works too so it's more than just a pretty face ... or ... pretty smelling scrub? You get the idea. :) 

The description of this from Soap and Glory is pretty great so I'll skip my attempt to describe it and just show you theirs:

Soap & Glory’s cult-classic Sugar Crush™ Body fuses freshly-squeezed sweet lime, 

sparkling lemons, sweet vanilla musk and almond oil, with sea salt, smashed brown sugar,

 glycerin and macadamia oils to leave your skin feeling smooth, supple, and sexy.

It smells amazing ... it works ... what more can I say!  If you are in the market for a new body scrub (especially with summer coming!), check this one out!  

10. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette

I had to save the best for last here.  
 
First, a little back story for you: 

I have been wanting to try the Hourglass Ambient Lighting powders forever (ok, since Christmas ... so 6 months - but that feels like forever to a makeup lover!) but didn't know if I wanted the price tag that comes along with them (one powder retails for $52!).  I also could never commit on a shade so didn't want to spend that much if I wasn't sure on what shade I wanted.  Basically the ambient lighting powders are super soft and finely milled setting powders and highlighters that mimic certain shades of light on your face.  To give you an idea, the shade names are; dim light, incandescent light, radiant light, diffused light, ethereal light, mood light and luminous light.  Check out Sephora's website for a great description of each.  

Well, when the limited edition palette that came out at Christmas had an online re-release due to popular demand (you get three shades in a palette for $67!) ... and it was my birthday month ... well it was basically like the heavens aligned just for me!  It was like, "Ohhh hey Alison, no big deal but we just re-released this palette you have been kicking yourself for not getting at Christmas just for your birthday ... you're welcome!"  Eeeek! Happy birthday to me!! 

Anyways ... back to the actual product.  The palette comes with Dim Light (a soft beige powder great for setting foundation and blurring imperfections), Incandescent Light (a beautiful highlighting pearl powder that is not at all shimmery but gives the most beautiful glow) and Radiant Light (a sun kissed golden beige to add a nice warmth to the complexion).  

I have to be 100% honest and say the first time I used these I didn't notice much of a difference.  I mean I noticed a subtle glow but nothing life changing.  I did notice they felt absolutely amazing on the skin and the packaging itself felt very luxurious. I knew the result was going to be natural and subtle and I didn't think it was something anyone else would take notice in.  I was starting to doubt the hype ... until one day after finishing my makeup and giving the powder another try,  ... my husband noticed it!!  Now, don't get me wrong he is very sweet and always compliments my makeup since he knows it's my passion.  He definitely always notices bigger changes like extra eyeliner, a different eye technique, a bolder lip ... but something subtle like this I wasn't expecting him to notice.  

He didn't know anything about this powder and had no idea what the purpose of it was but when I came downstairs told me my face looked like "beauty face".  If you have used a newer Samsung phone, you know what beauty face is.  Beauty face is a photo filter that basically softens your face, evens skin tone and blurs imperfections.  Hmmm, doesn't that sound exactly like my description of what this powder is meant to do!!???  Little did my sweet husband realize that he just convinced me that I now NEED every single ambient lighting powder!!  Sorry hubby ... your fault! ;) 

So after that extremely long winded explanation of the Hourglass Ambient Lighting powders, I will say that I am in love with these and they are totally worth the hype! 

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That's it for my Spring favorites!!  Hope you enjoyed this extremely long post and are inspired to try out some new products too!  I promise I have a lot more fun posts planned and coming your way soon! 

March 2014 Favorites

I can't believe it is already April 1st!  Today's post is all about some new discoveries and old favorites!  Here is what I have been loving this past month:

1. It's a 10 Miracle Leave-In Product

This is a really amazing leave in conditioner.  My hair is typically very dry and damaged (it is naturally very curly and course) so I always love using a leave in conditioner when I get out of the shower.  This one literally does it all!  It would be easiest if I just list the 10 things this stuff claims to do:

repairs dry, damaged hair

adds shine

detangles

control frizz

seals and protects hair color

prevents split ends

stops hair breakage 

creates silkiness 

enhances natural body

flat iron spray & thermal protector

So who knows if it really does all of that - all I know is when I use this product my hair just feels so much healthier.  I ran out of it in the middle of the month and waited until a few days ago to finally repurchase and realized even more how much I love it!! Definitely worth a try if you are looking to give your hair some TLC!  Check it out here. 

2. Tarte Maracuja C-Brighter Eye Treatment

The day after the 'spring forward' time change, Tarte (one of my new favorite makeup brands) posted a one day flash sale on their Instagram page!  I had been wanting to try this eye cream for a while due to the great reviews I had read so thought what a perfect time.  I had been using a new one from the "Boots No. 7" brand and was not noticing any difference (and was even noticing a burning feeling now and then - not good!) so it was a great excuse to take advantage of the sale.  I already love this stuff.  I know that usually you should wait at least a month to give a good review on a skincare product but I have been using it for two weeks and can really notice my eyes being a bit brighter!  I like using this morning and night to hydrate the skin around my eyes and like I said brighten dark circles.  I'm really interested to try the Tarte Maracuja Oil on my face as well (same idea as the Josie Maran Argan Oil which I discussed in this post).  So far I am really impressed with everything from Tarte!  You can find this product by clicking here!

3. Nars Eyeshadow Duo in 'Key Largo'

This was a random find at the store Winners (same idea as TJ Maxx if you are in the US). These duos usually sell for $40 (a little crazy for two eyeshadows considering my Lorac Pro Palette of eyeshadows was only $42 and is literally my favorite collections of shadows ever)! Although I have tried many other Nars producs (and love them all), I still hadn't tried any eye shadows.  The Winners price for this was $29.99.  Still expensive but much better than regular price!  They only had this one shade to choose from (Key Largo) so that is why I chose it but I am loving it.  I think this will be really pretty for spring and summer as it is a warm bronze/brown shade and a lighter peachy nude color.  I can understand the price once using these as they are sooooo easily blend-able and have amazing pigmentation quality.  I have used them in a couple ways - sometimes with the light shade all over my lid and the darker one just lightly in the crease, or more dramatic with the darker shade all over the lid.  With only two shades I really am able to create a lot of different looks with them which is awesome.  I am looking forward to traveling with this little guy as it is versatile and again will be perfect for summer! Check out my swatches below!  If you feel like splurging on some shadows definitely check out Nars (and I'm such a sucker for their packaging - so classic).  

 
4. L'Oreal Infallible 24 hr. Eyeshadow

I was browsing the cosmetic section at Target as I usually do (anytime I go there haha!) I noticed these little eye shadows that I remembered hearing about somewhere in the beauty blogging world.  I opened up a color and was immediately reminded of the texture and feeling of my Stila eyeshadow in 'kitten'.   I know my Mom has been wanting to try that shadow ever since I wrote about it here so I thought, hey, maybe I can find a dupe here!  I did find one fairly similar but not quite close enough in color to be a dupe ... but I also found the one I have pictured here in 'Amber Rush' and immediately fell in love.   This is a gorgeous reddish copper color that would look gorgeous on so many skin tones.  It can be applied really light for a subtle look or more concentrated for an intense look.  As with the Nars shades, I am really excited to wear this in the spring and summer!  The 24 hour infallible line is long wearing, crease resistant and fade resistant.  This really lives up to those things! I can't wait to get more shades because these are really amazing quality for drugstore eye shadow!     

"Amber Rush" in regular daylight

'Amber Rush' shown in direct sunlight - how pretty is that!

5. Lush Ocean Salt

This is an old favorite that I rediscovered this month when I decided I needed a new exfoliator for my face.  I have been using the Clarisonic face cleansing system (a little gadget with a brush head that you use with your cleanser to wash your face) for a while now but found all of a sudden it was causing a lot of breakouts.  Maybe with the seasons beginning to change my skin just got a little extra sensitive.  I gave that a break but wanted something to give my face a good deep clean at least once a week and remembered how much I used to love the Lush Ocean Salt! This stuff has big chunks of sea salt with minerals to soften the skin and give you a good deep clean feeling.  The avocado and coconut in it hydrate the skin while the lime and vodka cleanse and help out with blackheads or clogged pores.  I also love using this scrub on my legs or underarms before shaving just to get rid of any dead skin and get the closest shave ever! If you are looking for a new exfoliator give this one a try. It also doesn't hurt that it's a gorgeous sea blue color!     

6. Roses de Chloe Perfume

I really wanted a new perfume this month and have been checking out this one for a while (i.e.: sprayed it on myself anytime I passed a perfume counter).  I finally decided to pick up a bottle and am so happy I did.  Scent is very personal but if you're looking for something new and you like feminine floral scents give this one a try.  I won't even attempt to describe the scent and instead will give you Sephora's description: 

Roses de Chloé is an invitation to grace. Luminous and subtle, it inspires and evokes a unique facet of the signature Chloé rose, capturing the spirit of the Chloé woman. The fragrance exudes an immediate and incredible freshness, derived from the top note bergamot. This sensation is gradually joined by a heart of Damascena rose essence, modernized with a magnolia accord. The trail on the skin is of white musk and amber, the signature base of the Chloé house.    

I am not a huge fan of plain rose scented things but mixed in perfumes like this along with the other notes I love it.  Again scent is such a personal choice but check this one out if the description interests you!  

That's it for my March favorites!  Hope you enjoyed reading these and I will be back this week with a kitchen update (I promise!!)  :)

  

February 2014 Favorites

Where did February go!!?? Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining - with February over it means we are one month closer to Spring!  The month of February brought me some new favorites in the beauty world and one old classic that I rediscovered!  

1. Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter - Pink Truffle

I recently discovered the Revlon Lip Butters and love them.  I have a few colors so I might do a review and swatch blog post just to give you an idea of some of the shades - but this one in particular has been a favorite this month!  Pink truffle is a pretty neutral pink/nude that has sort of a 'your lips but better' look to it which makes it really easy for every day wear.  I love these this time of year because they contain hydrating mango, shea and coconut butter for super soft lips (a must in cold winter months!) plus a pretty dose of color.  I like that the colors aren't too intense but are definitely build-able - so as I said, great for every day wear!  These retail for about $8.99 and like I said have a large variety of very pretty shades! Check out my swatch of 'Pink Truffle' below:

2. Soap & Glory Hand Food Hand Cream

Photo Credit: www.soapandglory.com

I heard a lot of raves about this hand cream so when it was on sale at my local Shoppers Drug Mart I decided to give it a try (the 50mL size is usually $5.00 and it was on sale for about $3.50).  I really am loving this!  This hand cream is so moisturizing but soaks right in, eliminating that greasy feeling a lot of hand creams can leave.  It makes my hands feel so good and has totally helped out my parched winter skin!  I gave one of these to my Mom and she is loving it too.  The cream also has a pretty fresh scent that I can't quite put my finger on for a description - I just like it!  The cream contains shea butter, macadamia oil and marshmallow.  Wait ... marshmallow!!??  Yeah ... not quite sure what that does, but whatever it is ... it's magic!  If you live in Canada you can buy Soap & Glory products at Shoppers Drug Mart or Sephora.  

3. Maybelline Master Hi-Light - Nude

This was something interesting I spotted that is unique to the drugstore makeup world.   Not many drugstore brands carry a good highlighter in my opinion.  If they have one at all, I usually find it is way too shimmery.  This one is gorgeous.  It is a "hi-lighting blush" but I find the 'Nude' shade works as a beautiful highlight for the face.  It reminds me a lot of MAC's famous cult classic highlighter in 'Soft & Gentle'.  If I am wearing a matte blush I like to dust this on my cheekbones and center of my face to bring a subtle glow without being too shimmery.  There are about six shades in total and some would work well as a shimmery blush while others would be great for a bronze glow.  Below is a close up of the blush and a swatch.   For lighter skin tones this might be better as just a blush but I find for my Medium tone it is a perfect highlighter for day to day wear.

4. Anastasia Brow Wiz 

Photo Credit: www.nordstrom.com

I didn't know I could love a brow pencil this much.  A brow powder, maybe, but a pencil!? This pencil is perfection.  It retails for around $27 at Sephora which seems crazy for a little brow pencil but I promise you it will change your life.  Ok ... as usual that is a tad dramatic but it really is amazing.  This has the tiniest ultrafine tip which makes it so easy to create a gorgeous and natural brow look by mimicking your brow hairs.  The formula is great because it is hard enough so you can build up a natural look without accidentally going overboard which is so easy with brows!  This is also smear proof and literally stays on all day long.  I have been using a MAC powder for my brows for a long time and have tried many pencils but nothing compares to this.  If you are intimidated by a brow pencil you have to try this - again the superfine tip makes it so easy.  I have the shade 'medium ash' but there is a large variety which can be seen on the Sephora website here.  Remember when choosing an eyebrow shade, pick something a little lighter than your actual brow color to keep them looking more natural! 

5. OPI Nail Envy

Photo Credit: Amazon.com

This was the old favorite that I re-discovered.  I always have my nails painted and it is very rare I give them much of a break.  With the dry winter weather that comes along with the month of February I decided it was time to give my nails and hands a little TLC!  I started using this stuff again and it is amazing.  This is a maximum strength formula with protein and calcium to help nails grow harder and stronger as well as help them resist peeling, cracking and splitting.  The formula also gives a pretty shine to the nails.  The best way to use this is to apply two coats initially and follow that up with another coat every two days.  I also tried this as a base coat and it worked great! 

6. L'oreal Gentle Micellar Solution

Photo Credit: Amazon.com

Ok so I definitely saved the best for last here!  If anyone remembers my favorite skincare items post  I have a great love for Bioderma.  Well ladies, I have found a possible dupe!! I found this at Target for around $10 for 200mL vs. about $22 for 250mL of Bioderma.  I find it works just the same so far leaving my skin feeling nice and clean with no fragrance and causes no sensitivity.  Also important for me (and a reason I love Bioderma) is that it doesn't dry out my skin.  I like using this to remove my makeup before I go in with a cleanser to really deep clean my skin.  I have tried to go back to makeup wipes (when I didn't feel like spending the money on Bioderma) and just find them so irritating to my skin and don't work well for me.  I was so happy when I found this! I'm sure I will re-purchase Bioderma again since it was my first love but for now I am really loving this stuff!! 

Hope you you enjoyed my reviews on some new products I have been loving this past month!  Happy March! 

My First Ipsy Bag!

About a month ago my friend Lauren and I signed up for a beauty subscription service called "Ipsy" that delivers a small bag of five beauty related goodies to your door once a month!  

I first heard of Ipsy a while back and have wanted to sign up for long time but as things like that go, I forgot about it.  We were together one night and I started to inquire about it and fill out my on-line questionnaire and Lauren quickly got interested too!  The sign up process starts as I said by filling out an on-line quiz so Ipsy can get a better idea of what you may like including your skin tone, hair colour, eye colour, what type of products you are interested in trying and more.  

This service is only $10 per month and as I said you receive five products. Ipsy calls these "deluxe samples" and as you will see they are much more than samples!! A fun extra is you get a cute little fabric bag each month - great for throwing some make-up in your purse or for travel!  I am a sucker for little travel toiletry bags so this part alone excites me! :)  

I think this is such a great way to try out some new products and hey, who doesn't like getting packages in the mail!? (especially ones in hot pink envelopes!!)

One last thing I love that I discovered after I received my bag was that you can review your products to give an idea of what you like or don't like.  For example, I was able to say that I liked receiving an eye liner, but did not like the colour I got (more on that later!).  This way I can try to avoid getting things I don't like in the future! 

If you have any interest in signing up for Ipsy or just want to check out a review on some new products then keep reading! 

*I should note ... this is not a sponsored post - I am just simply loving this service and was excited to share it with you! 

1. POP Beauty Plump Pout Mini in "Peony Petal"

I have heard of POP Beauty but never tried any products.  This was an exciting find and as Lauren agrees one of the best lip glosses we have ever tried!! It is so creamy, not sticky, and very highly pigmented.  I love the shade chosen for me any time of year but am excited to wear it in the Spring!  I don't mind sticky lip gloss because it usually means it will last longer (MAC Lipglass is my all time favorite and as anyone who tried it knows it is very sticky) - but this one is very long lasting considering how smooth it feels on the lips!  Again I would not consider this a "sample" - this will last a long time.  Check out my swatch below! 

2. ZOYA Nail Polish in "Odette" 

 

This is a gorgeous colour that is so wearable in any season.  It is described as an "orchid maroon cream" which is pretty spot on but I would probably describe it as a warm pinky/mauve to give you another idea of the shade.   I have never tried Zoya polish since I usually stick to my all time favourite brands like Essie, OPI and Julep - but have heard wonderful things about Zoya!  This polish applied beautifully and was opaque in just two easy coats.  I can't comment yet on the wear since it has only been on my nails for about a day but so far is great!  I'm not too worried though since I usually change up my polish every few days (it's my relaxing me-time and I just love doing it!) 

3. J.Cat brand False Eyelashes 

False lashes are so fun for a night out or special occasion.  Both Lauren and I didn't totally luck out with these as hers look extremely long and although mine are shorter, they are really thick and dramatic.  I do think these are a great addition to my make-up collection anyways and I will probably save mine for a fun girls night out!   Considering the price for all of this stuff was only $10 I'm not disappointed with these!

4. Mally Beauty Waterproof Eyeliner in "Starlight"

This was my "whomp-whomp" item. I was excited to see that I got a waterproof eyeliner but silver!? Not my favorite shade.  I will say that the formula feels great but I haven't tested the longevity of it yet. It isn't all that bad though - I'm sure I can make this work as an accent to a grey or purple smoky eye look!  Again I am a make-up lover and like to have a ton of variety so I'm sure there will come a day I will use this! In my review I was able to say I liked the eyeliner and brand but didn't like the shade. I love that I can give Ipsy some feedback so they can easier customize my bag in the future! 

5. City Color Be Matte Blush in "Fresh Melon"

This stuff totally makes up for the bad eyeliner!! I love matte blush because I can then add my own highlighter to my cheekbones - or none at all for the days I want no shimmer! This is such a pretty colour and again will be really great for Spring! When I first swatched this I was worried it looked too powdery and chalky - but it applied beautifully with a brush! I am not joking this blush sells for only $2.99! I would never normally test out a blush that inexpensive (I guess I just wouldn't trust the quality) so getting it in this bag was wonderful! I now know that I love the formula and pigmentation and will definitely be ordering more shades.  I also learned not to be so judgmental on something just based on the price! ;)


How great was all of that!  I know I've said this enough - but I can't believe I got all of that for $10!  If you want to sign up head on over to www.ipsy.com.  Unfortunately there is a wait list but when we signed up they asked us to share it on Facebook to skip to the top of the list!  So there's a tip if you are signing up - pay attention to the fine print! 

Hope you enjoyed this fun little post!  Tomorrow is Family Day here in Canada so Jay and I are excited to spend the day with each other and our pup Ivy - hope you have a great day too!