too faced christmas cookie house party collection (review part two)

The Christmas Cookie House Party collection from Too Faced has an awful lot going on. It includes three mini products, a face palette, and two different eyeshadow palettes. Which is why my review is broken up into two different parts. My last post focused on reviewing the mini products, the face palette, and the glitter eyeshadow palette. (You can read those reviews here.) Today is all about digging into that large breakaway eyeshadow palette. It has twenty eyeshadows in a variety of finishes...and lots of holiday glitz. Take a look inside, see swatches, and check out a recent makeup look created with the eyeshadows and a Gingerbread Man liquid lipstick from Too Faced.

too faced christmas cookie house party collection (review part one)

Every year I wonder how they will do it. How will Too Faced top their holiday collection from the year before? It always seems impossible... and yet their latest release has managed to surpass last year's stellar Christmas Dreams collection. Shocking! At this point, I should probably expect the holiday collections to be excellent. Each year, Too Faced releases makeup that is festive, fun, ultra glittery and still warm and wearable. The limited edition Christmas Cookie House Party set includes a wide array of products with a fabulous theme and creative packaging. Want to take a peek inside? See what the set includes? This is part one of a two part product review. Find out what is included in this holiday release and how a handful of products perform.

discount shopping trip (experience + mini makeup haul)

It is something of a tradition. For the last four years, my mom and I have taken a bus trip to Eerie, Pennsylvania. This mini getaway has become the unofficial start of the holiday season for us! Not only is there lots of Christmas shopping on the trip itself but we tend to start the process of decorating, wrapping gifts, and holiday-movie-watching shortly after we return home. Last year, the trip did not go exactly as planned. An unexpected snow storm left our bus stranded - and our rescue bus wound up getting stuck in the snow as well. (Read all about that adventure here.) This year was far more successful, weather wise. Keep reading to find out how this years trip went - and take a peek at a few of the items that came home with me.

too faced review (gingerbread bronzed and kissed)

When it comes to holiday makeup, Too Faced is the absolute best. Few brands even come close to competing with the glitz, glitter, and festive feels. Last year, I fell head over heels for their Christmas Dreams holiday set. This year? I've been testing and trying their latest seasonal items. First up in this little review series is the Gingerbread Bronzed & Kissed. This bronzer and lipstick set includes a makeup bag, bronzer, and lipstick...all themed around gingerbread. Makeup and gingerbread? Sign me up. Gingerbread is one of my all-time favourite things about the holiday season. So anything gingerbread themed and scented is totally up my alley. Want to know how this set performs? Wondering if this set is worth splurging on this holiday season? Here is everything you need to know.

new in: real techniques brushes + makeup tools

Having a solid set of makeup tools is essential. The right brush (or brush set) makes it possible to create a wide array of fabulous looks. From everyday to a glamorous night out...the tools you have on hand can make the task super simple or somewhat frustrating. When it comes to brushes, everyone has their own preferences. For me? I am all about Real Techniques. In my opinion, this is the absolute best brand for the price. The brushes are affordable, the quality is impressive, and the brushes last for ages before needing to be replaced. In fact, according to an old blog post here on the creation of beauty is art. I purchased my first set of Real Techniques brushes back in 2012. Though I have added several to my collection since then...I've still been using those original brushes daily. And they still work perfectly! Despite the fact that the bristles are intact and the brushes work well, I decided to add some newer brush sets into the mix. Here is a peek at two Real Techniques brush sets and a brush holder from Urban Butterfly.

charmed aroma review: once upon a time fairy tale ring collection

It has become a bit of an addiction. Last year for Christmas, a friend gifted me a Charmed Aroma candle. It came in a pink velvet case with a fluffy pink pom pom charm on top. Inside was a stunning pink ring that always makes me feel beautiful when I wear it. (Check out that review and the ring inside the candle in my first Charmed Aroma post.) Since then, there have been several more of these candles - and accessories - in my life. From holiday designs to earring sets....there is something so thrilling about a fabulous scented candle and a surprise accessory. As both a candle lover and an accessories fanatic, this is a brand that is right up my alley. Most recently, I picked up the Once Upon a Time candle from the Fairytale Ring Collection. All of the example rings looked beautiful (and fairy tales make me happy in general) so I decided to take the plunge. How was the candle? And what ring design was inside? Here is everything you need to know about my latest Charmed Aroma experience.

three reasons to start your resolutions now

The holiday season is a time of indulgence. There are peppermint lattes, gingerbread cookies, Christmas cakes, and chocolates lurking around every corner. (And at every seasonal party!) Not to mention overspending and all of those extra trips to the grocery store. While the holiday season is undoubtedly a time to relax and enjoy life…. many of us tend to overdo it. Which is why those New Years Resolutions always come at the perfect time. Here’s an idea as we approach the holiday season: start your New Years Resolutions now! Sound crazy? Think it's too early to start thinking about resolutions? Here are a few of the most important reasons to begin your resolutions well before January 1st rolls around.

testing out high end beauty samples ...again!

It seems like there have been a lot of Sephora trips in my life lately. This is partly because I have a serious obsession with beauty products and partly because a new Sephora location opened up nearby. Which is both a blessing and a curse. Recently, I added a few new items to my makeup collection (more on those items in future blog posts) and since it was a special VIB Rouge event, there was a goodie bag included with the purchase. Which products were included? How did they perform? Are they worth purchasing? Here is a breakdown of some recent high end beauty samples from Sephora - and whether or not they are worth splurging on the full sized product.

morphe x jeffree star artistry palette (demo and video review)

Since the Conspiracy Collection sold out almost immediately...I am trying to enjoy my Morphe x Jeffree Star Artistry palette just a little bit more. It seems like it will be the only Jeffree makeup I have for a little while at least! Though my fingers are crossed that there will be a re-stock sometime soon, this gives me the opportunity to really dig into this Jeffree collaboration before adding something new to my collection. (Yes, that is me attempting to be positive.) Yesterday I shared a review and a couple of makeup looks using the Morphe x Jeffree Star Artistry Eyeshadow palette. Today? I want to share a couple of videos that will show you the palette a little bit more in depth.

morphe x jeffree star eyeshadow palette (review and makeup looks)

Jeffree Star has been on everyone's mind lately. Thanks to his ultra successful series with Shane Dawson and the recent release of the Conspiracy Collection, it seems Jeffree is reaching new heights in the beauty community. Plus, there is his latest collaboration with Morphe. It includes a brush set, liquid lipstick sets, a setting spray, and an eyeshadow palette. Being the eyeshadow junkie that I am...when I saw the collection at my local Sephora, I knew that palette had to be mind. So, is it good? Bad? In between? Here is everything you need to know about how the Morphe x Jeffree Star palette performs and the different looks you can create.

review: essie celebrating moments nail polish (congrats)

Some moments are about celebration. When certain milestones happen in life, people have their own unique ways of celebrating them. It might include a dinner out with friends or a full day of family time. It might mean splurging on a designer handbag or adding a sparkly piece of jewellery to your collection. For me? It all comes down to beauty products. When I was promoted at work a few months back, my husband picked up a nail polish from Essie. It was part of their Celebrating Moments collection. The collection included shades like Birthday Girl, Mani Thanks, Nailed It!, Sheer Luck, and The Best-Est. The name of the nail polish shade my husband bought for me was Congrats! It is a sparkly confetti glitter nail polish shade - and it certainly stands out. Find out how Celebrate looks, the quality of the formula, and most importantly how long it lasts.

warm fall makeup look (feat. bh cosmetics it's my raye raye palette)

It's rare that an ultra affordable makeup palette takes your breath away. Takes over your day-to-day looks. Replaces comparable high-end and luxury products. However, that is exactly what happened when I picked up the bh Cosmetics "It's My Raye Raye" palette. It included contouring products, blinding highlights (some of the best I have ever tried), and a selection of warm eyeshadow shades. The obsession was immediate. Which explains why I have been reaching for this palette pretty consistently in recent months. Even if I'm not using the eyeshadow shades...those highlighting products are absolute must-wears. Today, I wanted to share a few of my thoughts on this palette and highlight a recent warm fall makeup look created using the products included in the set.

good american denim review + #OOTD

Since the launch of Good American denim a few years ago (where the brand made a whopping million dollars in a single day)....I have been dreaming of these jeans. I wondered what they were like. How the materials would hold up. What the styles would look like in person. Despite all of my wondering, it seemed I would never have the answers. Why? Good American was not sold in Canada. Though you could order items online, it seemed like too much of a gamble for such expensive pieces. I wouldn't be able to try them on ahead of time to get an idea of sizing - and returns would be complicated. Not to mention the ultra high price point once the US price was converted into Canadian dollars. Yikes! Luckily, the brand recently launched in Canada. And even more luckily for me, I received a pair of Good American jeans for my birthday. Here is a full review and a recent #OOTD featuring the brand.

revlon highlighting palette (rose glow highlight review)

One thing I am not in need of? Highlighting products. There are plenty filling up my existing makeup collection. From high end to drugstore and even dollar store finds....there is no shortage of ways to make the skin glow. These days, fantastic highlighting products are easier and easier to find. Whether you are searching for a subtle shine or want a full blown glittery sparkle, there are products (at all price points) to consider. More recently, I picked up the Revlon Highlighting Palette in the shade 020 Rose Glow. The reason? It was at a steeply discounted price and I was curious about how it would perform. So...here is everything you need to know about this drugstore highlight.

love it or leave it? paris hilton

It just wouldn't be a love it or leave it? without a little Paris Hilton. Though there have been many celebrities featured in this series, one of my favourite style icons has to be Paris. Her outfits are (almost always) on point. Plus, her looks tend to have lots of personality and are thoughtful about accessories. Recently, the iconic star stepped out in an all black ensemble. Was it good? Bad? In between? It is time to find out in the latest installment of love it or leave it?