MAC Modern Twist Lash Chlorafill Lime Mascara

Recently I thought I would treat myself to some new makeup so I hit up the MAC counter. My intention was to try out the Studio Fix liquid foundation, but the MAC lady decided it would be good for me to try on an entire makeup look...

You know, MAC is sometimes too overwhelming for me. All I wanted was to be color-matched for foundation and the lady insisted on doing my whole makeup. It's fine, I like having my makeup done and I wasn't going to object, but sometimes too much is too much. I felt quite pressured to spend lots of money on products I didn't need, and her disappointment in me saying I only wanted the foundation confirmed it. I get it, the goal is to sell products, but overwhelming the customer in the process is probably not a good idea.

Anyway, she insisted on trying out this god-awful lime green mascara on me, so I'm here today to implore you not to buy it.

Just look at this crusty Shrek mascara. Why MAC decided this would be a fun color for a mascara is beyond me. It looks like mold grew on my eyelashes.

The idea is that you put on black mascara as a base for the lashes and then coat them with the green, but it turns out it just becomes a clumpy mess. The only plus side is that the brush is quite interesting and it was nice before she added the snot, so I would actually consider buying this mascara in black. Or heck even in purple or navy! But the lime? Definitely not. And DEFINITELY not for $24... Are these people crazy?

And in case you're wondering what came about from the foundation, well she sold me a shade that was way too orange for my skintone. Either that or it oxidized weird after wearing it for a while. You can probably tell I'm a little less than thrilled with my experience at the MAC counter.

July Favourites 2014

I haven't done a favourites post in SO long which is a shame because I love making them and since I have some time off work/school, I thought I'd write one up. Let's get started!

My first favorite is the Tarte Lip Surgence in "Energy". This has been one of the only lip colors I wore throughout July. It's supposed to adapt to every person's lips differently, but from what I've noticed it usually turns into a bright pink color. Really pretty!

Orly Bonder base coat is a-mazing. If you have trouble with nail polish chipping, I highly recommend this base coat because it seems to glue the nail polish to your nail and it makes it last much, much longer.

White nails have always been a staple for summer, and my all-time favorite one is OPI Alpine Snow. It does need 2-3 coats to get it opaque but once it's on, it stays on for days and the color is a great, crisp white.

My next favorite is this mini version of the Kiehl's "aromatic blend" in the scent Fig leaf & sage. I think it blends really well with my natural scent and I catch myself getting whiffs of it throughout the day so I know it lasts a while. It came in the above package with another 4 assorted minis.

Next I have an amazing neon/rose gold chain necklace from Persunmall that I got a little while back. It adds a pop of color to basically any outfit and I've found myself wearing it a lot.

My book favorite of the month is Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. I was originally reading the Hunger Games series as Collins was releasing the books, but when Mockingjay was finally released, I read the first ten pages and was instantly confused because I couldn't remember what had happened in Catching Fire. BUT since the Catching Fire movie has been released, I thought I could finally read Mockingjay and understand it. I have to say I really liked it. I thought it was gripping and interesting to read, and it got me really pumped up for the movie which I believe comes out in November.

Annabelle Big Show mascara has been my favorite mascara not only for July, but for the past like, 6 months. I just think it's absolutely great. It reminds me of Benefit BadGal without the ridiculously huge brush.

EOS lip balms have always been a hit/miss for me, but I've found a way to love them. I think they work most effectively if you apply it consistently/every day. My lips have been super smooth lately and it's thanks to this! I keep one in my makeup drawer and one in my bag. My favorite is the green one (I think it's melon flavor?).

Marc Jacobs "Gatsby" is a really beautiful nail polish. It's a coppery-rose gold color and I think it's super unique and fun to wear.

I love wearing bright necklaces in the summer (and year-round too but mostly in the summer), and this is one I have loved for ages. I got it in 2009 at For Love 21 in Los Angeles and have worn it non-stop since. It makes any outfit instantly more exciting.

My favourite summer blush (and it has been for many summers prior) is Mac Pinch 'o' Peach. It's a peachy pink blush that I find really flattering and I would recommend it for anyone with a light-medium skintone.

Because I'm such a sucker for iPhone games, I have to admit that my favorite app of the month is Kim Kardashian Hollywood. It's just so much fun!!! I love any kind of Sims-esque game, and all you have to do is complete photoshoots and other career opportunities in order to gain fans. Above is an event I'm working on at the moment, and you might notice my arch nemesis Willow Pape is there (ugh).

My number one television show of the month is hands down Orphan Black. It's a sci-fi thriller which admittedly is not my favorite genre, but it's just. so. good. All the friends I've made watch it have loved it as well. It keeps you on your toes, and the main actress Tatiana Maslany is brilliant. There are two seasons out already and you can find them online and on Norway Netflix. If you start it, be sure to watch all the way until the final episode of season 2 because your mind will be blown.

Of course, Orange is the New Black season 2 came out on Netflix and you know I loved it. I thought it was just as great as the first season and I can't wait for season 3. I'm really pleased with Piper's character development because it seems as though she's becoming less flippant and more well-rounded (or is it just me?). Anyway, love it.

That concludes my July favorites! Let me know in the comments what you've been loving :)

The One and Only TAG

Hey everyone! Back to beauty stuff for today's post. I had this tag saved in my drafts for a while and I thought it was finally time to give it life. I got it from Coffee and Cosmetics, and it's called "the One and Only Tag".

The idea is simple, you just have to answer the same question for all categories: If you could only have one ____, what would it be and why?

Primer - This is easy. The only face primer I have ever used and absolutely loved is the L'Oreal Magic Perfecting Base. I've said it again and again, but nothing else I've tried even compares! It's on the more expensive end of drugstore products (around $20 in Canada), but it's still cheaper than Sephora brands. I don't know why, but my face really responds well to it! Definitely try it out if your skin tends to get oily throughout the day.

Base Product - Also easy. My number one foundation has to be the Marcelle Hydra-C Foundation. I'm still so dumbfounded that they've discontinued it. I'm on my last bottle and I'm super bummed about it. The shade I use, Natural Beige, is the perfect match for my skin, and it's full-coverage without feeling too heavy.

Blush - I tend to vary my blushes a lot, but one that I constantly gravitate towards is the MAC blush in Pinch O' Peach. It's one of the only pink-toned blushes I use, and what I like about it is that it's quite sheer so it doesn't come on too strong, but it still shows up on your cheeks. If you're new to makeup I would recommend this one because it's very easy to manage.

Highlighter - MAC Soft & Gentle is pretty much the only highlighter I use. I've tried out liquid highlighters in the past, but they don't really do it for me. Soft & Gentle is subtle, but noticeable in the sunlight, and the champagne-y shade doesn't look too harsh. I find whiter/pinkier highlighters tend to be too much against my skintone.

Eyebrow product - My eyebrows are naturally quite thick and dark, so I can definitely go without filling them in, but what I do love to use is a good brow gel to keep them in place throughout the day. I've been using Maybelline Great Lash clear mascara for as long as I can remember, and it definitely does the trick. I don't think I could ever justify buying the Anastasia brow gel, because the Maybelline clear mascara is inexpensive, but effective.

Mascara - Mascara is definitely something I like to switch up in my makeup stash. I'm currently loving one from Annabelle, but my all-time favorite has to be Benefit They're Real. The formula is perfect, the wand separates the lashes incredibly, and nothing gives you the "false lash" look quite like it (...aside from wearing false eyelashes haha).

Concealer - I have to say, concealer is something I tend to struggle with. It's only as of recently that I found one I really enjoy, and it's the NARS creamy concealer in Vanilla. I think it blends really nicely and can be built up for maximum coverage. My only issue is that it's not a color that works all over my face... It covers up the redness near my nose, but if I use it close to my chin/jawline it looks too orange. Still, the formulation is great and it's the best concealer I've used thus far.

Powder - My all-time favorite powder is Rimmel Stay Matte in translucent. It's just the best. It's cheap, it works, and I haven't yet found myself craving a higher end setting powder at all. It works well enough to keep me satisfied, and I feel incomplete without it in the morning.

Bronzer - I've tried a few drugstore products in hopes to find a match for it, but NARS Laguna remains the best bronzer for me. If you go back in the archives of this blog, I'm pretty sure you'll find that I was using and loving Laguna since the very beginning. It's the perfect shade, and it has a slight shimmer that doesn't look crazy, but gives you just the right amount of glow. Really perfect product.

Makeup brush - A brush that I absolutely love using every day is the Real Techniques Multi Task brush. I personally use it for blush, but it can definitely be used for setting powder or bronzer as well. I think it's the perfect density for just about every face product - not too fluffy that it lacks precision, but not too thick that it applies product heavily. It's just great.

Eye shadow - If I had to pick a single eyeshadow it would be "Naked" from the Urban Decay Naked palette. I sometimes just swipe this all over my lids and it gives them just the right amount of depth for a simple every day look. I even used it to fill in my brows (before I got my hands on the Anastasia brow pencil). It's a really good, multi-purpose shade.

Eyeliner - My favorite eyeliner remains, to this day, the Lancome Artliner. I've always preferred liquid liner over pencil or gel, because I feel like it gives me a precise line most efficiently. The black one is really good, but they also do an eggplant shade that's a nice alternative to your standard black eyeliner. It is pricey, and the Maybelline Stiletto liquid liner is a close match to it, but the Artliner lasts much longer than the Maybelline one.

Lip gloss - I'm not much of a lipgloss gal because I find them a bit fussy, but one that I actually like very much is the Buxom lip gloss in "Dolly". It's a great nude shade for my skintone, and it has that tingly sensation (not for everyone, but I like it). If they made a lipstick version of it, I'd be all over that because I love the color.

Lipstick - I don't wear lipstick very often and I change it up too much to actually have a favorite, but if you made me pick I would go ahead and say MAC Plumful. It's super versatile; you can sheer it out or build it up.

I hope you enjoyed this tag! If you do it yourself, please leave me a comment below as I would love to read your answers.

New Mac lipstick: Instigator

Hey everyone! With the Mac giftcard I received on Christmas, I decided to pick up a new Mac lipstick in the shade "Instigator" from the Punk Couture collection. I saw the lipstick on Temptalia and knew I wanted it right away.

It's one of Mac's "retro-matte" finishes, meaning it applies without shine or gloss. I found this to be true. Because of the finish it was a little difficult to apply, but with a good lip liner (i.e. Mac Nightmoth), it isn't too bad. The wear on it is really good - lasts multiple hours without budging. The only thing you need to make sure of is that your lips are properly hydrated, otherwise the lipstick will stick to dry patches.

The color is a very deep plum color (definitely black in certain lights). I admit it can be intimidating in the bullet, but paired with a smokey eye this lipstick is killer. Don't let it scare you! What's great about the color is that it works on all skin tones.

Overall score: A-

2013 Beauty Favorites

I originally wasn't going to do one of these, but I figured that didn't comply too well with my "blog more" resolution for the new year so I decided, why not! These are my favorite products of 2013. Some of them are more recent, but I've been using many of them year-long. I use these products daily and I'm impressed with their quality over and over.

Mac Soft & Gentle: I honestly wasn't too sure about this product in the beginning. I didn't notice a difference when I used it, but now I've come to love it. The effect is very subtle, making it perfect for everyday use as a cheek highlighter.

Maybelline Super Stay 10 Stain Gloss: These stain glosses have to be my favorite lip product of the year. I think they're so easy to apply. They're long lasting, and they stay put throughout the day - no need to worry about smudging.

Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in RSVP: I picked this up on Boxing Day last year and I could not be happier with it. It's the perfect base for virtually any eyeshadow look, and it's so easy to blend on. It really is creaseless too!

L'Oreal Studio Perfecting Base: I picked this up because I ran out of my Stila primer, and I have to say, this does a better job. It smooths out your skin like none other, and it has that soft silicone finish. For the price, you really can't go wrong with this.

Essie "Bouncer It's Me": I have to admit, the formulation of this polish is atrocious BUT luckily I'm a very patient person, and 3 coats is no big deal to me. The color is so vibrant and stunning that I can see past the terrible formula. I've worn this multiple times this year because I'm constantly drawn to it.

Models Own "Luis Lemon": This has, hands down, been my favorite polish of 2013. I was really hesitant to buy it, but I'm so glad I did. I think nails are generally a more understated part of someone's "look", so a little pop of neon isn't as scary as I thought it would be... In fact, it's fun and interesting. Love this polish.

Essie "Bahama Mama": Is it cheating if I included this in last year's favorites? Oh well. This polish has been a recurring favorite as I've worn it many times this year. The color and formulation are just unbeatable.

These two brushes have been part of my makeup routine throughout the entire year. I use the angled end of the Sephora brush for bronzer, and the Real Techniques brush for blush. They're really the perfect duo!

That concludes my 2013 beauty favorites! What have been your favorite products this year?

Christmas & Boxing Day Haul 2013

Hey everyone! Happy belated Christmas to all those who celebrate :) I hope you all had a great holiday.  I thought I'd mix in my Boxing Day purchases with my Christmas gifts considering most of what I got was purchased with gift cards haha.

My friends and I always do a gift exchange over the holidays, and this year I received a little Occitane gift set containing all the products on the left of the photo above. Included were mini versions of their Almond Shower Oil (which I've been wanting to try for so long!), Jasmin & Bergamote body milk, Pivoine Flora shower gel, two different sizes of their hand cream, Lavender bubble bath, Anti-aging "Immortelle" cream, and Extra gentle soap.

I also got the Soap & Glory Sugar Crush scrub and body butter which smells SO GOOD. The scent is sweet lime. Can't wait to start using them.

My dad got me a new hair straightener which I didn't really need but appreciate anyway. My current one is starting to get a little crusty and this one looks really high-tech, so I'm happy with it.

My little brother got me two Bath & Body Works candles, Cinnamon & Clove Buds, and Eucalyptus Mint.

My mom got me the amazing red YSL lipstick that I've been wanting. I know it's redundant, but it must be said: THE PACKAGING is incredible. My dad got me a MAC giftcard so I picked up "Instigator" from their new Punk Couture collection along with Night Moth lip liner. It's insanely dark but I love it.

I also got a new Sephora Formula X nail polish in "Boom". It has baby blue flecks that cluster when you apply the nail polish. It seems really cool so I'll try it out soon and post a review.

On Boxing Day I picked up the Laura Mercier Artist Eyes palette. I knew I needed this palette after seeing it on Makeup and Beauty Blog. She mentions that the eyeshadows are easy to over-blend, but I don't foresee that being a problem. I thought the look she created was phenomenal. I also got two of the Makeup Forever Aqua Eyes eyeshadow sticks which were on offer 2 for $12.

My mom also got me the Diptyque Noisetier candle. It's a very crisp spa-like scent, perfect for when you're taking a bath I think :)

My cousin got me this awesome red beanie that I've been wearing every day since Christmas so far. I haven't worn a hat in so long that I forgot how cozy they are. I also got many gift cards including ones for The Bay, Sephora and Mac.

Not pictures above are this amazing oversize knit sweater from Top Shop that I got for 50% off on Boxing Day, as well as a Boogie Board that my mom thought would be cute to get me.

That's it! I'm really pleased with my gifts and am so thankful for all of them. Happy holidays!

Christmas Wishlist 2013: Beauty

I'll just go ahead and say it: I have an irrationally long Christmas list this year. We can just regard this list as a compilation of things I wanted to buy this year but was too poor to afford. Here it goes!

The eyeshadow palette I bought for myself this year is the Urban Decay Vice Palette, but I've also been lusting after Urban Decay Naked3, the Lorac Pro Palette, and the Laura Mercier Artist Eyes Palette. All neutral, but all extra lovely.

My blush pick for this year's list is Mac "Gingerly" because I've been searching for that perfect orange-coral shade. My concealer/foundation pick is the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer. My highlighter pick is the Hourglass "Ambient Light" Palette - because all the online reviews have successfully convinced me that I need this.

I've singlehandedly decided that I need a YSL lipstick in my life, so I'm going for a classic red called "Red Muse". My MAC lipstick pick for this list is "Fixed on Drama", a rich wine retromatte. For good measure, I'm throwing in the elf lip exfoliator, because why not?

For the sheer fact that I've never owned a "high-end" mascara that wasn't a sample, I've included: Benefit "They're Real" (all-time best mascara that I have like 3 used samples of), Tarte "Lights, Camera, Flashes", and Clinique "Bottom Lash" mascara, simply because "bottom lash mascara" seems like a superfluous purchase, but works great as a gift.

Ideally I would like one of every type of the Sephora Formula X nail polishes, but I've included "Boom" for list purposes. Zoya "Payton" looks sooo nice. Want. I'm in need of a good matte top coat so I've chosen the OPI one.

FINALLY, Pharmaprix has begun to stock the Sugar Crush line of Soap & Glory products, so naturally I'm after the Body Buttercream and the Body Scrub. Lush "Lovely Jubblies" (a "breast firming cream"...lol) has been on my wishlist for forever, so it's about time I get my hands on it.

Every year I like to refresh my brush collection in some way or another, so this year I'm asking for the MAC 138 which I'll use for highlighter, the Real Techniques eyeshadow brush set, and the Sigma E65 which I'll use for gel liner.

And, surprise, this is not the end of my list! I'll have a part 2 coming up which will feature my non-beauty items :)

May Favorites 2013

We've reached the end of another months which means it's "Favorites" time! This month I haven't been going crazy on eye makeup - the most I've done is a neutral eye and some mascara. However, I have been focusing on face makeup, meaning concealer, blush, bronzer, highlighter, etc.

FINALLYYYY the Real Techniques brushes have made their way to Quebec! I found this set at the Walmart Superstore near my house, and I am absolutely in love. The pink one is just perfection - it can be used to apply bronzer, blush, powder highlighter, anything. The purple one is meant for eyeshadow but I've been using it to blend cream concealer. The densities of these brushes are spot-on. Well done, Sam Chapman!

My nail polish favorite this month is Essie "Fiji", which I'm sure you've heard me discuss at length. You can find a full review of this nail polish by clicking HERE, but in sum, I think it's the best summer colour. So flattering, and so pretty. Also, Seche Vite is an all-time favorite but I figured it merited an appearance in at least one monthly favorites post. It dries your nails completely in about two minutes. I'm not sure what I'd do without it!

This is the NYC bronzer in "Sunny" which, honestly, I've been neglecting it for a little while! I'm so glad I rediscovered it because I love how matte it is, making it really easy to dust lightly all over the face, giving you an instant tan!

I got this MAC mineralized skinfinish back in March but since I didn't do March or April favorites, here it is - however, I should mention that I've literally been using it every since I got it. It's the perfect highlighter - a really lovely bronzy, champagne color that looks awesome atop the cheekbones. It's subtle enough that you won't look shiny/greasy, but luminous enough that you'd notice a healthy-looking difference in your skin. It makes it look like it sucks the sunlight right to your cheekbones, which is actually really flattering.

This next product is the Ro's Argan Body Conditioner from Lush. I've been using this after every shower on my arms and legs and I've been enjoying it very much. The scent is sooo nice, and it does a good job hydrating your skin. My only problem is that it takes a little while to sink in, but when it does, your skin becomes really soft!

And last but not least, my favorite candle of the month is Espresso Bar from the Bath & Body Works Italy collection. It makes my room smell like a coffee shop! It definitely smells like espresso, but it also has very detectable vanilla-scented sweetness to it. A must-have if you're into sweet dessert scents like I am!

That concludes my monthly favorites! Let me know if you've done a monthly favorites post for May and leave a link in the comments as I would love to read it :)

Target, MAC & BBW Haul!

Hey everyone! As you may know, I was in Florida this past week (which explains the lack of blogging haha)! Although I didn't pick up any of these items actually in Florida, we passed through New York where I had time to get some shopping done. Shockingly, I'd never actually shopped in Target before, so that was definitely a must. I also picked up one item at the MAC counter in Macy's, a few Bath & Body Works candles, and one nail polish at a beauty specialty store.

Yes to Tomatoes Clear Skin Mask (Target - $15): I have this on as I'm typing this blog post, and I must say I'm enjoying it! Very refreshing and clean-feeling. I bought this because I was itching for a good face mask and we don't have much of the Yes To range here in Canada (we only have the face wipes I think), so I thought this would be a good choice. Liking it so far!

St. Ives Apricot Scrub + Bonus travel size lotion (Target - like $3): I really like this scrub a lot, and although I don't use an exfoliator every day, this is definitely a nice one to have. Honestly I think this huge size cost maybe a dollar more than the travel sized one I got here... So cheap.

Elf eyelash curler (Target - $1): So these are kinda heavy-duty and not very gentle at all, but I needed a new eyelash curler and it was a dollar, you guys. A dollar.

Maybelline Gel Liner Blackest Black (Target - $8): Apparently some gurus like this gel liner more than the MAC one, and I've honestly never used gel liner before, so I thought I'd give it a shot. The brush it comes with looked pretty shitty so I also got an Elf liner brush for good measure which was also a dollar. Not much else to say about that!

MAC Mineralized Skin Finish in Soft and Gentle (Macy's - $30): I've been lusting after this product for sooo long now. Actually, I've been lusting after any powder highlighter because I don't own one, but especially this one. With tax, this baby came out to $32 as opposed to $40 I'd pay here. Not too bad!

Covergirl Clump Crusher Mascara (Target - $7): Unfortunately I got this in brown (*facepalm*), but I really just wanted to see if it would clump or not. Verdict - no clumps! I might just go out and buy this in black, but don't hold me to it...

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder (Target - $4 maybe?): Repurchase. Hit pan on my current one. Love this stuff.

Essie Sand Tropez (Target - $8): I've been searching for a beautiful nude color far and wide and I thought I'd give this a shot. It's a little on the brown side but I'm eager to see how it fairs.

OPI Vant To Bite My Neck (Beauty Store - $7.50): This is an absolutely gorgeous eggplant creme that I've looked up countless swatches of, so when I saw that OPI is under $10 in the States I jumped at the chance to get it! I would have also picked up Bubble Bath if they had it but, alas, they didn't. :( Swatch to come!

Carmex (Walmart - $1): My lips were feeling a little dry so I went ahead and got this while we were doing grocery shopping at Walmart. It does the trick.

Bath & Body Works Pear & Market Peach Candles (2 for $22): These smell so so so yummy! I love them!

So that concludes the beauty & candle portion of the stuff I bought while in America! Just as a side note - I got a pale blue denim polka-dotted shirt and maroon leggings from Target, dark blue jeans and a pink shirt ($15 vs. $40 here...!!!) from Old Navy, and some new Nikes from The Shoe Dept. :) I also got some other bits & bobs before leaving but those will be featured in a later collective haul. Hope you enjoyed!

February Favorites

Hey everyone! Can't believe my birthday month has already come to an end. Sad, sad. However, that means it's time for February Favorites! I'm adding non-beauty favorites to this post because I don't actually have that many beauty favorites, so here goes...

TRESemme Keratin Smooth Heat Protectant Spray: I got this as a Klout perk at the beginning of the month and have been really loving it. I got it with the shampoo & conditioner from this line so I'll be reviewing the trio soon!

Bumble and bumble Surf Spray: You guys probably could have predicted that this would be in my favorites this month because I gave it such a positive review. Seriously though, it does great things for my hair.

Soap & Glory Hand Food: My hands have been soooo soo dry this month and this has been my go-to hand cream. Do I think it's particularly life-changing? No, it's a hand cream. But it smells nice and does the job, so I'm happy with it.

MAC Lustre lipstick in "Syrop": I got this as a birthday gift and have been wearing it everyday since. It's such a nice, subtle color and I think it matches my skin tone really well. It's pretty sheer too since it's a Lustre finish, making it really easy to reapply throughout the day. Love!

OPI Liquid Sand in "Get Your Number": Guys. This stuff is SO cool. I haven't been on my NOTD game lately so I haven't photographed it (unfortunately), but I did snap a quick Instagram - CLICK HERE to see it. The application is just unreal and the texture is awesome. I really would love to purchase another one but I've been going a bit nail polish-happy this month, so unfortunately I'll have to refrain...

Bath & Body Works Candle in "Winter": This is my only "empty" for this month, and for good reason. This was such an amazing candle and I'm so sad to see it gone. It was the perfect combination of sweet and spicy with a little bit of fresh pine scent. It wasn't overbearing whatsoever and made the house smell fresh and cozy.

iPhone 4: I got this in the middle of the month and of course, it has been my number one favorite. It's so much more user-friendly compared to my Blackberry so I've been really happy with it. That also means I've got a few app favorites this month...

Apps Gone Free: This is an app that offers paid apps for free on one-day-only promotions. I've gotten some great games and utility apps out of it so it's definitely worth the download. It's awesome for iPad too!

Instagram: Of course, I had to get an Instagram. (Link to follow me is in the left sidebar). I actually much prefer Instagram for my NOTDs lately so if you want a sneak peek of what I've been wearing on my nails - check it out!

Icon Pop Quiz: I had this app on my iPad for a while now and actually beat all the levels, but they seem to have updated it and added some new ones. Basically you have to guess what each image corresponds to. All of the themes are pop culture-related. It's really had me hooked!



This has been my absolute favorite YouTube video this month - Tyler Oakley featured on You Deserve a Drink. It made me laugh so hard, I must have watched it at least 7 times.



If you are interested in the whole YouTube phenomena, I highly suggest ninebrassmonkeys' documentary series on the topic. This week's video has proved to be incredibly controversial (I too have some issues with it - especially his opinion on makeup gurus), but the core argument is valid in my opinion. Have a look for yourself!

So that concludes the February favorites! Please leave links to your "favorites" posts in the comments below, and please recommend some good apps for me to download!

January Beauty Favorites (Finally!)

Hey everyone! Long time no blog! I'm finally finished my most hectic week of school (apart from final exams), so I thought I'd finally post my January favorites. I didn't have too many favorites this month because I didn't usually have time to focus on my makeup in the mornings, so most of these products would be nice to use if you're in a rush (and I'll tell you exactly how & why I use them).

Bioderma Micellaire Solution: I received this for Christmas and have used it almost every day since. It does an incredible job at removing eye makeup (waterproof as well!), and I also use it as a toner. If, let's say, I already washed my face in the morning, but I'm only getting ready in the afternoon, instead of washing my face again before makeup I'll put some Bioderma on a cotton pad and quickly sweep it onto my face. I'm kind of sad about how fast I'm using up this product considering how expensive it is, but I would definitely say it's worth it!

Marcelle Hydra-C Foundation: This foundation was on sale at Pharmaprix this month so I decided to pick it up instead of my Marcelle matte foundation, and I have been really enjoying it. My favorite part is the packaging. It's not a pump or a screw top, it's a squeeze tube, so you can control exactly how much product you need. It's super practical!

Blistex Lip Medex: I haven't been putting too much color on my lips lately because they've been sore and dry, so I mostly just reached for my Blistex. It does a really good job at moisturizing, and sometimes I'll put it on right before bed and wake up with really soft lips. Definitely a staple product.

Dual-Ended Sephora Face Brush: I picked this up at Sephora on Boxing Day for $12 and have found it very practical. I've been wanting to get the MAC 168 angled blush brush for a while now, but I really feel like this Sephora one has remedied that need. I don't use the round side as I find it too dense for powders, but the angled side is perfect for blush, bronzer, and contouring.

MAC 217 brush: Now I know why Tanya Burr has like 10 of these bad boys. They're so practical for eye makeup - be it for an all-over wash of color, contouring, or blending. I've even seen this used as a concealer brush which is just astounding. It's so multi-purpose and incredible, I highly recommend it.

NARS Laguna bronzer: I've said before and I'll say it again, I adore this bronzer. I've been going back and forth between this and my NYC Sunny bronzer, but I have to say there is really no comparison. This one is just 100% better. It's the perfect shade for my skintone, it's super sheer, and it makes my skin look really healthy. I swear by this stuff.

Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in "RSVP": I think I wore this almost every day in January. I patted some on to my lids with my finger, contoured a little with some matte brown eyeshadow - using my 217 ;), added some mascara and called it a day. I think it's really comparable to Urban Decay's Sin (but I'll probably do a full post on that). It's really convenient and a nice shimmery nude for every day.

So that's it for my January favorites! Now onto February (my birthday month)!

Wishlist Pt. 2: Christmas Edition!

Hey everyone! Long time no talk! To be honest, I thought I'd be posting on here way more this month... I guess it's just been a crazy couple of days. I finished off the last of my exams on Saturday and I was out yesterday, so today is looking like the opportune day to get back in the blogging game.

Anyhow, I have my second wishlist I've ever posted on this blog to share with you (click here to see the first one). These are some items I would love to receive for Christmas, and hopefully it gives you a few ideas for last-minute Christmas shopping. These are perfect for a friend or daughter or anyone into beauty (with perhaps the exception of the last three items).

OPI nail polish in "Golden Eye": This nail polish is from the OPI Skyfall collection (inspired by James Bond, of course), and it's a really pretty gold shimmer. I don't have one of these in my collection and I think it's just a nice, luxurious color to have. I would even treat it as a neutral because it could match so many different outfits.

Dior Shimmer Star in "Amber Diamond": I've been kind of obsessed with powder highlighters lately and it seems to me like this is just the ultimate. Everything about it seems incredible. The pigmentation (I've swatched it in-store many times), the pattern on the product, the packaging, everything. This is definitely more high-end given the price, but it would be such a lovely gift.

Bioderma Solution Micellaire: This product is hailed by the online beauty community as the best makeup remover in existence (lol). I guess the price is a point I'd like to address. This is not available in the United States, and can only be purchased in Europe (UK and France for sure, I'm not certain about other Euro countries) and Canada, and from what I know about exchange rates, it's marginally cheaper in Canada. That said, $22 for a makeup remover is a hell of a lot. It does seem like an incredible product, though, and I'm dying to try it.

Benefit POREfessional: The annoying thing about pores is that they're genetic, so any kind of serum that claims to remove pores is a scam. However, there are products available that reduce the look of pores, such as this one. I would be interested in trying it out to see how I'd make do with it, because it can be a hit or miss product. It's gotten generally good reviews, though, so I'm intrigued!

BeautyBlender: This is a product that is meant to seamlessly blend foundation. I don't know why it's $26; I can't really justify buying that for a sponge, but concept really peaks my interest. I still have a problem with streaky/patchy foundation if I don't spend ample time applying it, so this would be a wonder to have on days when I'm in a rush.

MAC 217 Brush: Okay, I love my Sigma blending brush, but this brush is likely one of the most-talked-about brushes in the beauty community. It seems more stiff than the Sigma one, so I bet it's a lot more precise. It can also be used to apply eyeshadow, and I think it would be an all-around great brush to own.

Giftcards: I think giftcards are a great gift, because it shows a person that you're atune to their needs and interests, while still giving them the opportunity to go shopping for themselves. Personally, I'm in serious need of a new bra (hope that's not TMI), and I've been having issues with Victoria's Secret lately, so Aerie is my new go-to. It's actually American Eagle's lingerie line. Really, though, I could make use out of any giftcard, be it Walmart, Pharmaprix, Sephora (of course), Bath & Body Works, Forever 21, etc.

Divergent by Veronica Roth: I'm in need of new books to read, and I've heard great things about this one. A lot of beauty gurus have read it (Tanya Burr and Amarixe, among the ones I can recall), but John Green has also recommended it, so I'm pretty confident that it's a good one.

H&M Braided Headband: So, I couldn't find the price on this because according to their website, it's sold out (!?), but I've seen it in-store many times so I'm sure they haven't completely vanished. American Apparel has similar styles but I'd rather not give them by business (or that of anyone shopping on my behalf). I just think it's very cute and a nice alternative to wearing a hat.

So that concludes my Christmas wishlist! Hope you enjoyed and please don't be shy to comment below! :)

Fall/Winter Bold Lip Picks

Hey everyone! I felt like showing you guys a few lipsticks that I would wear in the fall/winter months, so here they are. I have one plum-purple color and two red-based ones.

Here are the swatches. I'll go through the formulations and colors individually but this gives you a really good idea in terms of color comparison. 

So the first lipstick I have is this Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick in the shade Vivid Violet. This one applies incredibly smoothly and can be built up for a really dramatic look. The only thing I'm not crazy about is that this formulation seriously clings to any dry skin you have on your lips (you can see a few spots in the photos above). BUT, if you use a scrub and a balm before application, it doesn't really matter.

I feel like these photos make it look a little more fuschia but I can assure you that it is a very deep plum color (as you can see if you look at the photo in the top left corner of the bullet). Lately, I've been wearing this to school dabbed on very lightly and then smoothed out with clear lip balm. The effect is really subtle and pretty.

Okay, so, now I have the Revlon Lip Butter in Red Velvet and, admittedly I wasn't too crazy about this color at first. If you can recall that far back, I even included it in my "products I regret buying" post. To be honest, I really didn't expect the color to be so dark (which doesn't translate well in the photo, but if you scroll up to the swatch, you'll understand). It's an almost-brown lip color and even though it's considered a "butter" this can be seriously built up. This is also the glossiest of my three picks. I think I'd save this color for more of a night out.

Last but not least, I have the infamous Russian Red by MAC. This is one of MAC's matte finishes which makes it very unique from the other two. The reason it's so used up is because my mom and I both use it (she more than I, lol!). I have to say that it applied really nicely and I would quickly like to mention that MAC lipsticks are not overrated in the slightest. They cling to the lips like it's meant to be. I suggest using a lip liner, applying with a thin brush, or lining the edges with concealer to give it that crisp finish. Also, it's a blue-based red meaning the undertones are not orangey or brownish, so it'll make your teeth look super white :)

Here's a (low quality) photo of myself wearing Russian Red last fall with some lip gloss overtop (can't remember which one!).

Yesterday's OOTD/FOTD & Updates (Sept 14)

So, I'm bummed. I haven't been blogging as much as I'd like to... I have tons and tons of ideas for posts but just not enough time to carry them out. I think the only solution is to organize my time better. I started school and my part-time job again, so I need to manage school, homework, work, and blogging, and unfortunately university and work take precedence.

Anyhow, yesterday was my friend Tania's birthday so we all went out for dinner and karaoke at a Korean karaoke place (and yes, Gangnam Style was sung & danced). It's honestly one of the most fun things you could do in Montreal, in my opinion. Basically you reserve a private room and you have thousands of song options, and you can order alcohol whenever you like (just press the red button beside the door and your waitress shows up). The only downside was that it was a billion degrees because their AC was down, but it's all good. I much prefer this as opposed to clubbing or something, because you're with your friends and no one's there to bother you/creep on you (can you tell how anti-social I am?). Some highlights: I Will Survive, You Give Love a Bad Name, and Gangnam Style of course.

I'll end by quickly running through my OOTD & FOTD (I'm in the middle-left).

• Floral skirt: Forever 21
• Black tank: Forever 21
• Orange silk shirt: Michael Kors
• Flats: Michael Kors (see my This or That Beauty Tag for more info)

Face:

• Urban Decay De Slick (sprayed before and after makeup)
• Physician's Formula concealer stick in Light
• Marcelle foundation in True Beige
• Bailey Foundation Duo in Medium (as a setting powder)
• NYC Sunny Bronzer (to contour)
• MAC Pinch 'o' Peach blush

Eyes:

• Urban Decay primer potion in Sin
• Urban Decay Toasted on entire lid
• Urban Decay Chopper on outer third & lower lashline
• Urban Decay Sin on inner third
• Bella Oggi Deep Intense liquid liner in Extra Black
• Rimmel Soft Kohl liner in Jet Black (on water line)

Lips:

• Rimmel London Lasting Finish lipstick in Balistic
• Korres Lip Butter in Wild Rose over top

Hair:

• Herbal Essences volumizing mousse on semi-wet hair
• Hot Tools 1-inch curling iron, hold each strand for 15 seconds
• Sebastian Re-Shaper Strong Hold hairspray

...It takes a lot of time and patience to look good, doesn't it...

How I Clean My Brushes

Only two more days to enter my giveaway!

Well hi everyone! I've been putting off brush cleaning for a while now (I know, bad beauty blogger award), and I figured I'd photograph my process and exactly how I clean my brushes because I love seeing how other people do this. I've picked up tips from various beauty gurus and I'll let you know them along the way. So let's get started then! :)

These are the brushes that desperately needed cleaning! Most of them are ELF Studio brushes, but I also have two from MAC and one from Sephora's brush range. I think this is a pretty decent collection; the only ones I'd say I'm missing are a tapered blending brush (I currently use a MAC 275 which is fine, but not ideal) and an angled kabuki I'd like to use for foundation. I'm looking into Real Techniques and Sigma, so let me know if you have any suggestions!

I use a mixture of gentle dish soap and extra virgin olive oil to clean my brushes. This is a medium I picked up from Michelle Phan years ago and I've just stuck with it. The idea is that the dish soap will cleanse the brush while the oil will moisturize. Most of my brushes are made of synthetic bristles so I'm not sure how much moisturizing is going on, but I feel like the dish soap might be too harsh without the olive oil, and anyway, I prefer the consistency the oil gives. I know a lot of people use baby shampoo, but honestly, this works perfectly and I have no other use for baby shampoo in my life lol!

You'll also need two sheets of paper towel (one to immediately dry your brushes off and one to place your brushes on to dry).

Step 1: Place your brush under running tap water (cold-lukewarm is fine). Never hold the brush straight up underneath the faucet, otherwise the water will seep into the barrel, loosen the glue, and cause the bristles to fall out (Michelle Phan tip).

Step 2: Swirl the brush in your dish soap and olive oil mixture. This is where the majority of the cleaning will happen.

Step 3: Swirl the brush against the side of the sink to rinse out all the soap and dirt. Now is when you'll be able to see just how dirty your brush was. Yum.

Step 4: Dry your brush off with a sheet of paper towel.

Step 5: Place your brush lying flat on a paper towel, making sure the bristle are off the counter. (I'll explain why later)

For denser powder brushes and kabukis, you're going to want to use your hands/fingers to work the soap in. Also, it's important that you squeeze the water and excess soap out of the brush, otherwise your brush will retain all of it, and as I mentioned, it may seep into the barrel causing shedding. Additionally, if you skip this step, your brushes will take way longer to dry because they'll be so concentrated with water!

This is the largest brush I own (a MAC 134), and I just wanted to show you guys how much pigment it retains. Look at that mess in the sink! I feel like powder brushes appear to be the least dirty in use, but when you actually clean them you see just how gross they really are.

If it seemed like I was using a lot of oil and soap, rest assured that it was all used up! (Ew.)

So as you can see, I place all my brushes with the tips off the counter. The reason for this is because you want your brushes to dry up in their original shape. If you lie them flat on the paper towel, you'll have one 3D side and one flat side. Does that make any sense? Also, You'll want to keep a towel on the floor so any dripping can be soaked up. This is a tip I got from Allison (Amarixe on YouTube and Blogger).

I usually leave my brushes to dry over night, but honestly, for denser brushes it takes longer than that sometimes. If you see that they're not dry after 5-6 hours of air drying, feel free to use a blow dryer (on a very low setting).

And voila! Squeeky clean!

I hope you guys enjoyed reading this because it took me a while to get this post sorted! Brush cleaning is a long process but, alas, it needs to be done at least every couple of months (if you spot clean between washes, that is).

Do you clean your brushes similarly?