review: MYNC Beauty

Sometimes, blogging has its perks. Okay, for the most part it's a total labour of love....but every so often you get the opportunity to do something a little bit different. That is exactly what happened to me recently when I stopped by MYNC to get my makeup done. I was invited to get the complimentary service at their downtown Toronto location! It turned out to be an interesting experience, for sure!

Here's the thing: I love doing my own makeup. There is something so fun about imagining a makeup look and watching it come to life. So, it's probably not surprising that I rarely let anyone else touch my face. In the name of trying new things, I tried to let go and embrace the experience. I'm glad that I did. It was actually pretty cool.

The morning of, I tried to keep my makeup super simple - but it was a struggle! On a day to day basis, I am all about dramatic eye makeup...but this is the makeup I started my day with:

That morning, I met up with my friend Jen (from "The Writing On The Wall" blog) and we took the subway over to Yonge Street. When we got to MYNC, I was a little nervous. I had never had a full face of makeup done by someone else! But the moment we walked into the lash and beauty bar, I felt better. Everything looked amazing! Pink, white, and black decor - with Mean Girls playing on a flat screen TV. Pictures of beauty icons like Audrey Hepburn and Lea Michelle lined the walls. Plus, everyone was super nice.

My makeup was done by Janey, who was super nice. She didn't rush and definitely made the experience super relaxing. As she took off my makeup and gave me my new look, she even took the time to explain what each of the products were. She definitely knew her stuff! Some of the products I liked and some didn't totally work for my skin. (Mostly the foundation, which I found to be drying.) But overall, I was impressed with the quality.

From start to finish, the whole process took about forty five minutes. The makeup look she gave me was a soft neutral eye with a bold lip. On the eyes she applied some matte brown shades, a hint of liquid liner, and some mascara. There was a bit of bronzer on the cheeks along with a soft rose blush to finish it off.

The real drama came from the lips - which were very bright. Right up my alley! I absolutely fell in love with the colour she chose (which was "Pop Art," a bright pink-ish red). The only thing I wasn't crazy about was the lip liner. When I use liner, I like to keep it pretty natural. I felt like my lips looked way too full and unnatural...but that is probably just personal preference.

Here is a peek at the lipstick colour, "Pop Art." I absolutely fell in love with it the moment I saw my makeup in the mirror. So much so that I ended up buying it. It's just so different to anything else that I I have in my collection. It is also really creamy and moisturizing on the lips. Well worth the splurge!

Now you've heard all about my afternoon at MYNC - and you've seen the lipstick shade I fell in love with - so the only thing left to do is check out the finished product! I apologize that the picture doesn't totally showcase the makeup, but it should give you a pretty good idea.

Overall, this was a really fun experience. It pushed me out of my comfort zone a little - and I picked up a great new lipstick shade in the process! If you live in the Toronto area, definitely check out MYNC. They offer eyelash extensions, makeup services, and are also a brow and wax bar. Tons of ways to spoil yourself!

What do you think of this makeup look? Have you ever had your makeup done?

xo Shannon

its a new era in fashion...there are no rules.

By now, you've probably heard all about the Peter Pilotto for Target line - or even bought some of it yourself! Bold prints, colours, and patterns galore! There were definitely some memorable pieces to choose from. Some of them, I absolutely fell in love with, and others weren't quite my style. I ended up buying quite a bit from the collection because the designs were so different to anything else I'd seen. This Target collection definitely lets you make a statement!

Even though this all went down last month, I am just now getting around to writing about the experience. It started very early on a Sunday morning. It was -20 out and my mom and I stood in line for 45 minutes before the doors open. (Along with a handful of other die-hard fashionistas, of course!) Before we got in there, we already had a plan of action. There were certain must-have items that we were after first. Anything else was a bonus!

Unlike the Phillip Lim for Target launch, people didn't run and hoard. It was more of a controlled chaos. There were a few pieces that I didn't manage to get to quickly enough, but the red dress I was lusting after was mine....victory! Despite the long wait and the endless line to try everything on, it was a really fun morning. After my mom and I finished shopping, we grabbed a drink and gabbed a bit. It was nice to spend that time together.

So, are you ready to see what pieces I bought from the collection? It totally hurt my bank account - but I was okay with that, somehow!

Long-sleeved yellow, blue, and black 

floral printed dress with belt. 

Sleeveless red, blue, and black peplum top.

Printed knit crop top with ruffled skirt.

My favourite - the red and black floral

printed dress with black belt. 

Accessories: two printed clutches, canvas sneakers,

and round printed sunglasses.

As you can see from my Peter Pilotto haul, I managed to get plenty of gorgeous new clothes. Now if only the weather would improve so I can wear them! One thing is for sure: my wardrobe is totally spring ready.

What do you think of the Peter Pilotto for Target collection? Did you buy anything?

xo Shannon Boyce

life is love. enjoy it.

March already? Geez, time is really flying by this year! It seems like my days lately are largely full of work, work, and more work...but occasionally, I do get to head out and have some fun.

In the past little while, I have been able to see a performance of Les Miserables with my dad, went to a Cassadee Pope concert with a friend, and spent a day at the car show with my boyfriend. I'm trying to focus on all of the fun things I've been up to lately (instead of all the work!) so, I thought that I would show you all a few pictures from my life.

Les Miserables:

 

Cassadee Pope Concert: 

 

 

Car Show: 

 

There you have it! That is a little glimpse into the highlights of my life lately. It's always nice to have a little balance between responsibilities and fun days out.

What have you been up to lately? Any plans for the weekend?

xo Shannon

lost time is never found again.

If you're reading this, you probably love fashion and accessories just as much as I do. There is something indescribable about putting together the perfect outfit that reflects your mood! While I have a lot of things in my wardrobe (and my jewellery case), there was one thing I was missing: a watch.

Yup, believe it or not, I didn't actually own a watch. It was always on my to-get list but I just never got around to it. Instead, I used my cell phone to find out the time. Well, that has changed, thanks to Born Pretty. They were kind enough to send me a gorgeous - and fashionable -  women's watch to wear and review.

Haven't heard of Born Pretty before? They are a fantastic website that offers a range of fashion, beauty, and lifestyle products. On their website, you can find things like nail accessories, an iPhone 5 case, watches, clothes and more! Best of all? They have affordable prices and high-quality products. Now that you know a little bit more about Born Pretty, it's time to see the watch I chose:

The moment I saw this wrist watch, I fell in love with it. Why? I love how pretty and feminine it is. It's got a little bit of colour (I chose blue but there is also red, pink, and a bunch of other colours as well!) and sparkle, but it still looks fashionable and elegant. Plus, it goes with just about every type of outfit I could possible put together. I've been wearing it a lot lately simply because - it's gorgeous! I was definitely impressed with the quality and the style. 

If you love this watch as much as I do, you can check it out here: Pretty Rhinestone Watch. If anything else on the site strikes your fancy, be sure to use the 10% coupon code below, courtesy of Born Pretty!

One thing is for sure: I absolutely love my new watch. It is so pretty! So, if you haven't taken a look at what Born Pretty has to offer, take a minute to head over to their website.

What do you think of this watch?

xo Shannon

every celebration ends with something sweet.

It's a milestone I've been waiting on for a while - and finally, it's here. Yes, this is my 500th post! It's hard to believe that just a couple of years ago I was sitting down to write my very first post. Now? Well, I've written 500 of them! It's crazy how time flies...and how many things you can write about.

Since I started this blog, I've posted about makeup, fashion, music, books, and anything else that struck my fancy. the creation of beauty is art. has definitely been a labor of love. I am so proud of how it has grown, though. I can only hope that by the time I hit 1000 posts, this little blog has grown even more.

Maybe 500 posts isn't a huge deal to everyone, but it is super exciting to me! I just wanted to take a moment to sit back and celebrate the moment. To 500 posts....

xo Shannon

real success is being totally indulgent about your own trip.

Any Betsey fans out there? By this point, you probably know that I am a massive Betsey Johnson fanatic. I just love her design aesthetic. It's fun, flirty, and in your face. Plus, none of her pieces take themselves too seriously. I guess I'm a kid at heart...and sometimes, I like my wardrobe to reflect that!

My mom, my sister, and I all have one thing in common: we adore Betsey Johnson. Clothing, jewellery, purses. Well, anything we can get our hands on is fair game. That is why I was so excited to receive the Eau De Parfum by Betsey Johnson gift set for Christmas this year. The set itself came with a 100ML bottle of the perfume and a 200ML body lotion. Love! Ready to take a peek? Here is what the perfume and body lotion look like:

What do I think of this perfume? I am definitely a fan of the scent. It is a light floral scent that is perfect for daytime. When I wear it, I find that it lasts really well (especially if you layer it with the body lotion) but doesn't come off too strong either. There is a really nice balance! I think this has a sweet but flirty kind of appeal, which is something that I really enjoy.

Perfume for me, is all about showcasing your mood. On days that I feel a bit sexy, I might wear Hidden Fantasy by Britney Spears. If I am going out dancing, it's got to be Snooki's signature scent.  So, what occasions do I reach for this fragrance? If I am heading out to a movie, go to the mall, or see friends, I think this perfume is absolutely perfect. It is just such a light, pretty scent.

Something else that I really enjoy about this Betsey Johnson gift set has to be the packaging. The floral print everywhere is super cute. Perfect for springtime, too. And the bottle itself is fantastic. I love the decorative pink flower that sits on the top. That really adds a lot of glamour to my perfume shelf. Though, I confess, it takes up a lot of space....such is life! Overall, this is a fragrance that I am glad to own.

Have you tried this perfume? What did you think of it?

xo Shannon

i'm addicted to bronzer, boys, and alcohol.

Review time! I feel like in the last couple of months I have been trying out a ton of new makeup products. (Which, let's be honest, I live for.) So, it only makes sense that I should review some of them! You may have noticed this next product at your local drugstore. Cover Girl has put out a few new things lately, including truMAGIC: The Sunkisser. I actually don't have a ton of stuff from Cover Girl, but this cream bronzer caught my eye.

So, what is it? This balm is essentially a creamy bronzer that can be worn underneath makeup or on top of your foundation. As you can see from the picture below, the packaging is pretty simple. The case is sturdy (which is great for someone like me who drops everything!) and has a little sponge inside. Honestly? Not a fan of the sponge. It gets kind of gunky and it isn't very effective at applying the product. It's not great for precision, either! I would recommend that you use a foundation brush or your fingers, instead.

Now, let's get into the nitty gritty. Is this product a hit or a total dud? Well, it's neither, really. I quite like the product....but I wouldn't say it's the be all end all of cream bronzers. You really can't beat the price, though! If you're looking for something that works well but isn't going to break the bank, The Sunkisser is for you. For a little more pigmentation and staying power, I'd recommend The Multipe Bronzer by NARS instead.

Pros? The colour is really pretty, the texture is silky, and the product blends out really well. It adds a beautiful glow to the skin. It can be used to layer underneath a powder product or just worn alone. Plus, it's easy to toss into your makeup bag.

The cons largely have to do with staying power. This isn't going to last you all day long without touch ups. You really do need to layer it with a powder to make the colour stay. Another downside is that there is only one shade available. The shade works for my skin but if you have medium to dark skin tones, this isn't going to do a lot for you.

So, you know what I think about the product. Ready to see it in action?

Overall, The Sunkisser is a nice product to wear on a comfy date night. It's quick and looks really pretty....but chances are, it's not going to be your new favourite beauty product.

Have you tried this bronzer? What did you think of it?

xo Shannon