Microbeads

So the microbead nail trend is nothing new, but I decided to try it out in a new way by doing a cross pattern instead of the whole nail. 

Here's a little preview, I'll do a DIY post soon with better pictures!

E.L.F. Haul

I was so excited when I woke up to my ELF order at my door this morning. I've recently discovered ELF after watching Lisa Eldridge's videos about some of her favourite products. Lisa Eldridge is a make-up artist to all the big stars. Her videos are great, you can check them out here!

My first picks are the Contouring Blush & Bronzer in blushed/bronzed ($3), Blush in Pink Passion ($3) and Complexion Perfection ($3). I'm loving these so far, the packaging of all three reminds me of NARS and the colours are quite matte and well pigmented. I'm always afraid of ordering powders on line in the fear that they are shimmery but these are great. 

My next pick was something that Lisa Eldridge talked about specifically - The Flawless Face Palette. This set has four highlight shades (top row), four concealer shades (middle) and a blush and bronzer. The blush and bronzer seem to be similar from the duo above.  I chose this because I'd like to play around with highlighting. I also needed a variety of concealer shades to mix for when I'm darker in the summer.  I'm not crazy about the packaging of this, it has sparkles on the front which I can see getting everywhere. For the price it's great, I believe it was $5 (sold out online).

For lip products I bought the Matte Lip Colour ($3) in coral, praline and natural, the Mineral Moisturizing Lip Tint ($3) in natural, and the Hypershine Gloss ($1) in blossom and fairy. I'm really excited about the matte lip colours. The pencil application always wins me over, it's easy, quick and can be thrown in any bag. I'm happy with the colours overall. 

Here are the lip shades swatched: (Left to Right) praline, natural, coral, natural lip balm, blossom, fairy

The last few things I bought are the Mineral Infused Mascara ($3), the Mineral Blemish Powder with brush ($8), the Zit Zapper ($1) and the Mineral Infused Face Primer ($6). I bought the mascara because all of the reviews said it was the best marscara they've tried. I haven't tried it yet but the brush looks promising, similar to one of my favorites Lash Exact by CoverGirl.  I was really excited when I saw the Blemish Powder because Bare Minerals has one that hasn't hit my local stores yet. The brush that comes with it is very good quality, similar to the Bare Minerals brush. The zit zapper I bought for the heck of it, for $1 I figure I can throw it in my bag. Finally the primer I bought because I just ran out of my Arbonne primer and this one has quite good reviews online.

As you can see the prices are amazing. I'm excited to see how the products work! I'll have reviews up soon!

xo

Oldies, Newbies and Goodies

Todays post is about some of the products I am always coming back to, as well as some new productss I'm loving. When I find something I'm really crazy about I feel the need to share them, because I'm pretty hard to please. This is because I want to see results quickly, and with skin care that's not easy to come by.

First up is my brand new Clairsonic Mia, I bought it on a 20x the points day at Shopper's (can't wait for the next redeem your points day). I've been using this for only three days and I am loving the results. My skin feels smoother and more even, also it does a great job at taking off any makeup that may be left behind. It feels like your going over your face with an electric toothbrush... in a good way. Can't wait to see the results after using it longer.

Next is my favourite setting powder by Vichy Dermablend. Vichy partnered with Dermablend to make Dermablend's products more useable and available to it's users, instead of being tailored to make up artists. Since I've been breaking out over the past 6 months (holy crap I need to see the dermatologist) I was looking for a setting powder that would be great for over concealed areas. This works wonders. It came with a puff but to avoid the bacterial breeding grounds that those are I dab it on problem areas using a disposable cotton pad and then give a light dusting on my T-zone. One thing to note with this is that it's not a finishing powder so you have to be careful about how much you use (or you'll end up with white cast in) photos similar to MUF HD Translucent Setting Powder.

Next are three facial products I have continually used up and re-purcased: 

Lancome Pure Focus Scrub - This scrub uses microbeads to exfoliate as opposed to rough uneven particles, which avoids any of the scratching damage that can result from other scrubs. It is tailored to those with oily or combination skin. My skin feels smooth and refreshed after using this. I use it everyday, but for those with more sensitive skin I would recommend 3 times per week. 

The next item Lancome Creme Radiance is my favourite cleanser ever. It starts off creamy and works into a lovely foamy lather. My skin feels incredibly clean after using this and I always go back to this after other cleaners make me break out. I took a sample sized bottle of this to the Bahamas one year and my boyfriend used it in the shower and even said how much he loved it. So if a guy appreciates it, you can imagine how great it is. 

Thirdly, my miracle worker, Vichy Norma Derm Night Anti-Imperfections. When you have problem skin you truly appreciate finding a moisturizer that acts double duty as a blemish, uneven tone, large pore fighter. This has almost a powdery feeling when you apply it, mattifying your skin immediately, and working through the night. Of all the Norma Derm products, this and the mattifying concentrate are my favourites. 

Next is a product I've been using since November. Arbonne's Re9 Cellular Renewal Mask. I use this a couple times a week, more when my skin is going haywire and it really helps the skin turnover time (as the name states). This line is targeted as an anti-ageing line, but I also love it for it's skin evening and healing properties. As soon as I take off this mask I notice my skin is more even and my pores are smaller and any post blemish damage heals faster.

Next up are eye shadow pencils. I'm a huge fan, they are quick and easy, have a lovely creamy texture, are great as a base for other shadows and look great on their own. In the photo from left to right: Urban Decay 24/7 glide on Shadow Pencil in Rehab, Joe Eye Crayon in Beige and Nars Soft Touch Shadow Pencil in Skorpios. I love all three of them, but obviously the Joe Eye Crayon is much nicer on the budget. 

Lastly here are some of my current favourite lip colours for spring: (from left to right) Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick In Airy Fairy (070), Mac Snob, Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick Matte in Mauve it Over (003) and Lancome Colour Design Creme in Wannabe.

If you've tried any of these products or have some personal favourites you think I should try out let me know! 

xo

Like!

Hi friends! If you guys could like my posts on bloglovin I would really appreciate it! That way I can get more readers, which leads to getting sent free stuff! I know it's only my close friends who read this right now so I don't feel bad asking :) Thaaanks

Ombre Nails

So today's avoid studying activity was ombre nails. It takes about 10 minutes, and is super easy!  I don't like the look of ombre nails that are painted on because it's impossible to get the colours to blend or get a straight line between colours unless you use tape ect. which is time consuming. So to avoid those issues I painted my colours on to a makeup sponge and stamped my nails to make the ombre look much more cohesive. Then I cleaned up the edges and finished with top coat!

Sponge with painted on colours used to stamp nails.

Final result

Looking forward to playing around with this! Happy hump day!

xo

Hair Chalking DIY

So I thought I would try hair chalking after exams, but procrastination leads me to do this now instead of study for biochem - huge surprise.  I looked up some videos on youtube on how to do this and it's super easy. All you need are some soft chalk pastels (not oil), water, a brush and a heat source (curler, straightener, blowdryer). I found my chalks at Michael's for $6.99, and with a 50% off coupon I ended up with 36 colours for 3.49! To chalk hair wet either the chalk or the hair strand and just rub it on to the hair. Then brush the section and apply your heat source. That's it. Really. Chalk away!

The set of pastels. I used the middle bottom coral colour. 

Can't wait to try out some of the other colours. This time after exams... maybe.

xo

currently loving

Starting from the left:

Hair chalking - I love the look of coloured hair but could never commit, so I will definitely be attempting this for a temporary splash of colour. I'm thinking coral instead of the multi-colour shown.

Sam Edelman sandals - I bought them already, just can't wait for the weather to be nice enough to wear them!

Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray -  I've heard nothing but great things about this and can't wait to try it for beachy waves

Blue polish - needing a blue ombre mani asap. Enough said.

Lancome Rouge in Love Lipsticks - the entire collection is fan-freaking-tabulous.

Dannijo x ManRepeller - pretty much anything Dannijo would be a much welcomed addition to my jewellery wardrobe. Grad present perhaps? (hint hint)

Floral Jeans - Looking for the perfect pair for summer. These ones are from ASOS.

Monday Inspiration

Hair, makeup, colour and summer inspiration. Are exams over yet?

Review: Clinique Redness Solutions Makeup

As promised, here is a review of one of the products I wrote about in my first post.  I've been using this foundation since I bought it and have truly fallen in love with it. I had never used Clinique foundation before, but figured I would give it a try since my skin has been bonkers lately. I have broken capillaries around my nose from allergies, and after blemishes I'm left with a red mark for weeks or months. So redness is a big problem for me. This makeup not only has ingredients that decrease your redness when you're not wearing it, but it also covers redness amazingly well. I also used this on my mom since redness is also one of her problems (thanks for passing that along mother) and it covered no problem, no cover up needed.

As for wear, it's middle of the road I would say. When used with a mattifying primer and following with a powder (my faves are Benefit's the Pore Professsional Primer and Makeup Forever HD Translucent Setting Powder) I can get all day wear.

I liked this foundation so much I went out and bought another Clinique foundation Even Better that I can't wait to try. If you have redness issues I strongly suggest this foundation, definitely one of the best foundations I've ever tried (and I've tried alot).

Project Organize Complete

Phew. Glad that's done. I managed to sort through my makeup drawers, clean them up and reorganize. Here's how it looks now!

My vanity and make-up closet (both from Ikea). I'd like to add something above the vanity since it looks a bit bare now. I was thinking a floating shelf to put pictures on. Any ideas?

Lower drawer with most of my makeup. I know, I have a lot.

Upper drawer with skin care products and brushes.

Now to keep it this way....

xo

Project Organize

Those who know me know that I like to be organized. Things should have their place and be easy to find. They should also be clean and ready for use. But every know and then  quite often there is a major disconnect between how I like things to be, and what I actually do. Currently there are about 10 articles of clothing thrown over my vanity chair, bras, hats, scarves and pjs on the floor, kleenexes, nyquil packets and bobbypins everywhere, and makeup strewn all over my vanity. It makes me anxious. So today I am taking on the task of organizing my room. I will post before and after pictures... or maybe just afters because the before is truly horrifying! Wish me luck.

xo

Nail D.I.Y.

Hey guys!

I know it's been a while since my last post. I've been busy having fun after my medical school interviews and exams and also celebrated a birthday. So I'm back at it and thought I would get started with a fun DIY. Leopard nails! I used neutral colours, but I can't wait to add a bit of neon for spring!

Start with your usual polish prep routine. For me that means shaping, cleaning, cuticle removing, buffing and applying a base coat. Next choose a background colour, I chose Chinchilly by Essie, and apply two coats.

For the next step I used Sally Hansen Nail Art Pens in Gold and Black. You could also use a dotting tool and any regular nail polish. For a tutorial of how to make a simple dotting tool at home click here!

Apply the first colour in irregular circular/oval shapes on your nails. Try to consistent with the size as you go from nail to nail. 

 It always helps to have a cute puppy in your lap! 

 Next apply the second colour around the first, sometimes going all the way around, sometimes only 3/4, ect. 

 And here's the final result!

Ta-daa! Try it out and let me know how it goes! xo

Back from Mexico

Well Mexico was a blast, how could it not be? Myself and eleven of my girlfriends spent a week in Playa del Carmen, where we had muchos mojitos and amazing weather. From a make-up perspective I wasn't quite up to blogger standards... I forgot my entire bag of brushes, lipsticks and pencils. Luckily I had two fabulous roomies who let me borrow their things. I wore bare minerals most of the week since it has SPF and stays on better than liquids in the heat (at least on my oily skin). Warmth by Bare Escentuals was my other go to since it added the red/brown tone I needed to match my tan. Here are some pictures of the week.

Myself, Tracey and Kelsey (my roomies)

The whole group!

I did Genevieve, Tracey and Kelsey's make up this night... not the best makeup shot.

Genevieve, me, Larissa, Tracey, Kelsey and Sinead

xo

Naked

Super excited to have picked up the much-blogged-about Naked 2 palette by Urban Decay. I picked it, as well as a couple other things up, yesterday in preparation for my trip to Mexico! Here's what I got!

Naked 2 Palette by Urban Decay, Make Up Forever Face & Body Foundation and Hypnose Mascara (waterproof) by Lancome

The Palette has 12 neutral shades and comes with a double ended brush.

The colours swatched. Aren't they pretty!

This palette will be the only eye shadow I'm bringing to Mexico, it has everything I need which I love. The foundation I bought in a shade too dark to mix with my moisturizer to give my legs a bit of colour. Got that hint from a magazine! The mascara is my all time favourite, I've been using it for years. Waterproof is a must for Mexico!

My iPod just broke so I should go figure that out and finish up packing! Leaving in a couple hours woo!

Shoppers Haul

Hello there!

So for anyone who is not on the Shoppers Drug Mart bandwagon - hop on! Today was a redeem your points day, which means I got $200 of free stuff! If you are new to Shoppers I will give you the DL as an experienced SDM alumni - the key is shopping on 20x the points days so you rack up your points, then going on redeem your points days where they up the reward for redeeming. Got it? Good.

So lets get to the good stuff.

Skin Care Purchases: Avene Clearance Purifying Mask, and La Roche Posay Ceralip and Effaclar K

Make-up Purchases: Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Tutti Futti (left) and Strawberry Shortcake (right), Clinique Redness Solutions foundation in 04, Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Moss in 13 and finally Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in Peach Satin and Pink Frosting

Swatch of Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush Pink Frosting (left) and Peach Satin (right)

Swatches (from top to bottom) of Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Moss in 13, Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Tutti Futti and Strawberry Shortcake.

I will get reviews up soon!

xo