Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! I can't believe this year is almost over and that New Years Eve is just around the corner! I'm on a break from school and my internship right now and it has been so nice to visit and spend the holidays with family.
This is the outfit I wore on Christmas Eve. Usually I dress up a little more but this year I decided to go for comfort and wear a cozy sweater, black jeans, and a gigantic blanket scarf.
I'm starting to get quite the collection of glitter nail polishes so I thought I would share the three polishes that I will be wearing this holiday season.
Last year I received Essie On A Silver Platter as a Christmas gift and had to wear it immediately. I had to break it out again this year and wore it last week over top Essie Master Plan. On a Silver Platter is described as a gold polish with violet and antique silver holographic glitter. Next up is Essie Jazzy Jubilant. I'm currently wearing this polish over Revlon's Gel Envy polish in Up The Ante. I think this combination would be really fun for New Years as well. Jazzy Jubilant is a confetti-like glitter polish from the Luxeffect collection. Essie describes this polish as space-age glamour. Finally, I have been saving Essie Summit of Style for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Summit of Style is a bronze glitter polish that is also from the Luxeffects collection. I'm still deciding on what to polish to pair it with. I was thinking Essie Cocktail Bling, Urban Jungle, or even maybe a red.
Let me know what polish would you pair Summit of Style with!
I was recently asked to style a pair of glasses from Smart Buy Glasses for the holidays. Although there is a large selection of sunglasses and glasses on the website, it didn't take me long to pick out a pair to style. I have had my mind on a pair of Ray Bans for ages, but just couldn't decide on a style. I decided to browse the Christmas Gift Guides on the website for inspiration and noticed a category for the "Retro Gal". Of course there were a few pairs of Ray Bans in the retro gift guide. I hadn't really looked into the Meteor style before, but I immediately fell for them. Before I decided on the Ray Ban's I was also tempted to grab the Burberry glasses in the style BE2144, which is a style I already own. Smart Buy Glasses has them in a violet shade and I already knew that I adored these glasses, so I was tempted to just grab another pair. In the end I decided to go with the Meteor sunnies, and I am so happy with them! I was also really impressed with how quick my sunglasses shipped to me! If you are like me and are nowhere near finished Christmas shopping and are buying for someone who has sunglasses on their wish list, I suggest checking out Smart Buy Glasses.
On another note, I have gone a little overboard with the plaid, but I just couldn't help but pair my two favourite plaid pieces together for this look. This scarf is seriously so cozy and warm, and I am loving that both the scarf and shirt have mixed prints. The nails don't exactly go with the outfit, but I had to try out the Essie polish in Jazzy Jubilant. I am loving glitter nails for the holidays, and I couldn't resist picking it up when I stopped by Shoppers Drug Mart the others day and noticed the Essie polishes were on sale.
The Maybelline Leather Colour Tattoos have been out for quite a while now and I've been meaning to review the two that I own. The colours that I picked up are #80 Creamy Beige and #95 Chocolate Suede. My favourite of the two is Creamy Beige. This colour is just a really nice base colour under eyeshadows. Chocolate Suede tends to apply a little patchy compared to the other Colour Tattoos I own, but if you blend it out with a brush then it's fine. I always blend out my Colour Tattoos with my Sephora Pro Cream Shadow brush (#28), which evens out the colour and softens the edges beautifully. Once these shadows set they are budge proof all day and really extend the wear of any eyeshadow you wear on top. I love wearing these two Colour Tattoos with my Make Up Forever Trio and the Naked2 Basics Palette. I've seen these described at matte but I wouldn't say they are matte. They lean more on the matte side then some of the other Colour Tattoos, but there is still some shimmer running through them, with Chocolate Suede having more shimmer then Creamy Beige.
Have you tried the Leather Effect Colour Tattoos? Which colour tattoo is your favourite?
So I wanted the L'Oreal Blake lipstick the second I heard about it on UK blogs and YouTube channels. I not-so-patiently waited for its release in Canada, and the second I heard that The Pure Reds Collection had hit drugstores I went in search for it. The Blake shade from the Pure Reds Collection is described as a pure ruby red with a matte finish and hydrating texture. I'm really loving the colour and texture of this lipstick, and the matte finish isn't too drying like some matte lipsticks can be. I think this lipstick is also perfect for the holiday season.
What do you think of the L'Oreal Pure Reds Collection? Which reds are your favourites?
Somehow it completely slipped my mind that I had these photos until now. I feel like these photos were taken ages ago. I decided I should post them before fall becomes too much of a distant memory. Also, I really need to get back into the swing of things with outfit photos.
This little velvet dress is pretty short for me, so I decided to layer it over top my faux leather leggings, then throw a light sweater overtop the dress. I realize now that this whole outfit, minus the boots, is from Aritzia.
These three face products have quickly become my favourite masks, and they are especially great for the winter months!
Neal's Yard Wild Rose Beauty Balm*
I was initially just using this product as a balm cleanser/makeup remover before bed, but lately I have applying a thicker layer and leaving it on for around 15 minutes as a hydrating mask, then removing it with a muslin cloth. You can also just use a little bit of the product as a moisturizer. I adore this beauty balm because it had so many different uses and I think the scent is really soothing and calming. I especially love that I can use it as a mask during the winter months to help keep my skin hydrated.
Skoah Aha Mask* and Skoah Hydradew Mask*
I have typically been using these masks one after the other. I use the Aha Mask in the evening and leave it on for about 15-20 minutes and then apply the Hydradew Mask afterwards and leave it on over night. The Aha Mask is a gentle exfoliant and keeps my skin smooth, while the Hydradew Mask helps my skin stay hydrated.
I feel the combination of using these three masks has been working pretty well for me and my skin. It had been a lot more hydrated then I remember it during previous winters.
What products do you use to keep your skin smooth and hydrated during the winter?
I love finding new lip product combinations. Lately I've been loving Rimmel lip liners, and especially loving the liner in the colour Eastend Snob. Eastend Snob is a mauve pink colour and has a matte finish. One of the combinations that I have been loving with this lip liner is using it with the NYX lipstick in Thalia. The combination gives a nice pinkish-nude colour. I cannot remember where/when I first came across the Rimmel liner in Eastend Snob, but lately I have been seeing it pop up on quite a few blogs, so I thought I would chime in with one of the ways I've been using it.
Do you use lip liners? What are your favourite lip liners and lip product combinations?
Although I don't often use liquid eyeliner, I thought I would share the three that I am currently using and let you know my thoughts on them. The three that I own right now are the Revlon Colourstay Skinny liquid liner, the Maybelline Master Duo liquid eye liner, and the Stila Stay All Day waterproof liquid eye liner. If I had to choose just one of them I would choose the Stila liner just because it is waterproof.
Revlon Colourstay Skinny Liquid Liner
My favourite things about this liner are that it creates a very thin line and that the formula dries matte. What I don't like is that it washes off very easily. This is good news for removing makeup or if you make a mistake, but bad news for watery eyes.
Maybelline Master Duo Liquid Liner
I picked this one up because the felt tip has an interesting shape where you can create a thick or thin line. With this liner you really have to make sure you shake it up good or you will get a really weak black/grey line. This formula also dries with a sheen.
Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner
I love this eyeliner because it is waterproof so you know your makeup won't budge all day. The one thing I'm not a fan of is the fact that it has a sheen to it. When I wear this I usually to tap a matte black eyeshadow overtop to take the shine away.
Do you use any of these eyeliners? Which liquid eyeliners are your favourites?
I was just playing around with the Maybelline The Nudes Palette and came up with this look. I don't recall which shadows I ended up using, but this was the result. It was fun just experimenting with new colour. I paired my Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Mood Exposure and my Bite Beauty High Pigment Pencil in Rhubarb with the look.
What are your favourite eyeshadow palettes? Have you tried the Maybelline The Nudes Palette?
The more I use this palette the more I love it. I've read a lot of mixed reviews on the Maybelline The Nudes Palette*, so I was very curious to check it out for myself. My initial reaction when doing finger swatches was a bit of surprise. The shadows were a lot creamy in texture then I expected! The one downside is that the pigmentation in some of the matte shadows is not totally there, but I would say if you are patient and have a nice brush then this isn't an issue. I don't mind building up the matte colours slowly. The advantage with this is there is not much kick up for fall out. I also found that the more you use the palette the better the shadows get. I think some of them just need a little working in. The two colours that have the least colour pay off are the first and last colour in the palette. The first colour has some glitter in it, but it does have a nice subtle iridescent sheen. The last colour is a black, and it is the only shadow in the palette that I am not a fan of. I find it to be quite patchy. My three favourites are the first on the bottom row, the fourth from the top, and fourth from the bottom. My impression of the palette is based on use with a primer because I always use a primer. I like to use MAC painterly paint pot, or the Maybelline Colour Tattoos a primers with The Nudes Palette. The last thing I like about the palette is there are ideas for colour combinations using 2, 3, and 4 shadows on the back of the palette and on the Maybelline webiste. This is really great for anyone new to eyeshadow to give ideas on several different looks you can create with the palette.
Have you tried the Maybelline The Nudes Palette? What did you think?
This look has been my go to, everyday look lately. I'm really loving the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush colour in Mood Exposure, my Make Up For Ever Artist Shadow trio, and my Chanel Rouge Coco Shine lipstick in Boy. JP bought me my Chanel lipstick for my birthday back in September and I have been wearing it so much ever since! I can't believe that I haven't mentioned it yet on the blog. The Chanel lipstick in Boy is the perfect everyday lipstick, and I love Mood Exposure because it's a great fall and winter colour. I also adore the NARS Sheer Glow Foundation. I really need to track down a pump for it though. That is the one thing that drives me crazy about NARS foundations.
What products have been part of your go-to look lately? Do you have a go-to lipstick?
So I have been really loving Gel-like nail polishes lately, so I was really excited when Revlon sent me some of their new fall and winter Colorstay Gel Envy nail enamel colours to try out! My favourite colour is Black Jack, which is a black colour with very fine blue micro-glitter. On my wish list is the colour Up the Ante, which is a beautiful purple shade.
The Gel-Envy polishes are meant to be a two-step process, starting with the base coat and colour in one step, and finishing with the Diamond top coat. I also have an older version of the Revlon gel top coat called gel-shine and this seems to work well with the Gel Envy polishes too. I have tried the polishes with and without a separate base coat, and I prefer using a base coat. I like using a base coat just because I like the idea of a barrier between my nails and the nail polish colour.
The polishes that were sent to me are, Black Jack, High Stakes, All In, Sure Thing and the Diamond Top Coat. I already owned Checkmate and the Gel-Shine Top Coat (I also own Wild Card which is a stunning blue that you can see in my fall nail polish post!). Also, if you are interested, Estee from Essie Button Just did a post on how the Revlon colour in Checkmate is a dupe for Essie Sand Tropez!
What I really like about the Gel Envy nail polishes is that the formula is pretty thick so it only takes two coats to get your nail polish opaque. I don't usually do thin coats of nail polish, so these polishes really work well for me and the way I apply nail polish. Not only is the formula thicker, but the brush is pretty wide so you can cover more of your nail in one swipe. You can see my nails painted in the colour Checkmate in this post.
Have you tried these polishes? What colours are your favourite?
As I mentioned in my Sephora VIB Event haul, I bought the NARS Audacious Lipstick in Lana, which is described as a vidid orange-red. I had several orange-red lipsticks on my wish list but decided to go with the Audacious Lipstick because I'm a sucker for new launches. I also love the packaging of the Audacious Lipsticks. I think the black packaging is very sleek and I love the magnetic lid. I also love the NARS logo that's stamped into the lipstick. The Audacious Lipsticks are said to be full-coverage, creamy, and long-lasting. I definitely agree with all these claims. The lipstick applied smooth and opaque in one swipe, and the colour lasted for hours. I also found that the formula was not drying on my lips. Definitely need to pick up more of these lipsticks!!
When I saw this Bite Beauty Best Bite Remix Tin on display at Sephora a couple weeks back I could not resist buying it! I'm seriously falling in love with Bite Beauty! This little tin includes four mini High Pigment Pencils. The tin includes two permanent colours, Pomegranate and Rhubarb, as well as two limited edition colours, Winterberry and Sable. Winterberry is described as a deep raspberry, and Sable is described as a peachy nude. Pomegranate is described as a rich red and Rhubarb is described as a plum rose. All the colours are perfect for winter, but my two favourites are Rhubarb and Winterberry. I hesitated for a brief moment before buying this tin and thought of putting it on my Christmas list, but then I thought that it would probably sell out fast. If you are looking for Christmas present ideas though, Bite Beauty has some other cute gift ideas at Sephora!
Have you tried any products from Bite Beauty? Which ones are your favourite?
){kind=link}
