revisiting cover girl trunaked palettes

Cover Girl and I have history. This was one of the first (if not the first) makeup brands I ever tried. Over the years, there have been an awful lot of reviews on the creation of beauty is art. featuring items from this drugstore company. Why? Price point and quality. In the early days, it was because Cover Girl was a recognizable brand and my bank account was limited. As time went on, it had to do with the overall quality of products. They have continued to elevate their game. From my all-time favourite mascara, The Super Sizer to their TruNaked eyeshadow palettes...there is a lot to love. Speaking of those TruNaked palettes! Lately, I have been focused on using the makeup currently in my collection. That means less buying and more enjoying. Which is exactly what I have been doing with a handful of Cover Girl eyeshadow sets. Today, I wanted to do updated reviews of some of the TruNaked palettes and do a look or two with a few of my favourites.

paris hilton beauty sponge + holder review (and cleaning + care tips)

Did my collection need another beauty sponge? No. Has that ever stopped me before? Again, no. At the moment, there are beauty sponges of every imaginable size and shape sitting in my beauty room. These tools can make the application of both cream and powder products easier - and give your skin that airbrushed flawless finish. For a long time, I struggled with using beauty sponges. It took a while to get the technique down pat but once I did? It made a huge difference. That being said, a lot of the time, brushes are my go-to. But when I want to spend a little extra time on my makeup? Do everything I can to make sure it looks picture perfect? Those beauty sponges are a real asset. More recently, the Paris Hilton Cosmetics Beauty Sponge & Holder was added to my routine. Despite the many sponges in my collection...I had been without a holder for far too long. Given the affordable price point (and the fact that I continue to be a fan of Paris Hilton) this seemed like the best option. How does it work? And how can you clean and care for your own beauty sponges? Keep reading to find out.

mickey and minnie charmed aroma candles (review + reveal)

It is no secret. I am a Disney fanatic. So many of my happiest memories involve Disney in one way or another. From seeing a movie for the first time when I was a kid (it was The Little Mermaid, for the record) to my Cinderella themed wedding to Disney trips, movie nights, and decades of love, hope, and happiness...Disney is a part of me. Which is why the release of Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse candles from Charmed Aroma was so exciting. Lucky for me, my mom is an ever bigger Disney fanatic than I am. She was ready to buy those candles the second they were released! And extra lucky for me, she gifted me a pair of them. Want to find out how the candles look? Smell? What was inside? Here is everything you need to know....

inspired by: britney spears (mood ring)

Lately, music has really been inspiring my days. Especially the powerhouses of pop. Take Britney Spears as a prime example. This is one musician that has been a part of my life for decades. (And one that has been featured on my blog over and over again.) Her music always manages to inspire and lift me up. More recently, she officially released a song that was initially an international bonus track on her last album, Glory. It quickly went to number one on the iTunes charts and has racked up nearly a million streams on YouTube. Quite frankly...the song is incredible. It also inspired my post for today. It got me thinking about actual mood rings. These nostalgic pieces of jewellery have a unique and undeniable place in the fashion and beauty world. So, today I wanted to take a look back at this icon jewellery design and highlight a handful of mood ring inspired items.

does it work?? quo beauty flash dry nail colour

When it comes to nail polish, patience is something I struggle with. A lot. Over the years, I've worn countless different colours from a wide array of brands. Most of them take ages to dry. And even after it seems like they're dry, they can still smudge or get ruined several hours after application. This is why I often prefer the Sally Hansen Insta-Dry (read my review on the shade Expresso here) or other similar formulas. Quite frankly, I want my polish to look good and dry quickly. Is that so much to ask? Recently, I was able to try the new Quo Beauty Flash Dry Nail Colour. Since I am a fan of quick drying nail polish formulas, this seemed like the perfect addition to my nail polish collection. Did it actually work? Or was it a lackluster release? Here is everything you need know about the line.

review: drybar detox brunette dry shampoo

It has been a while. A long while. The last time I went into a Sephora was back in March, well before there were any sort of social distancing measures in place. I didn't know at the time that it would be my last time setting foot inside a shopping mall for a long stretch of time. Back then, it was just another Saturday afternoon. Now? I think back and marvel at how simple things were. How easy it was to just walk around a Sephora, swatch beauty products, and purchase whatever struck my fancy. The world has certainly changed. However, on that last fateful trip to Sephora, there were a few items that I purchased. One of those items was the Drybar Detox Brunette Dry Shampoo. Immediately, I was intrigued. A dry shampoo designed for dark hair? Yes, please! Curious about how this unique hair product performs? Here is a full review of this high end item.

gothic + grey makeup (inspired by jeffree star cremated palette)

Is anyone else feeling inspired? When the latest Jeffree Star collection launched, there was an awful lot of buzz. Some of it was good and some of it? Not so much. Some felt the overall theme of the collection was ill-timed, given everything happening in the world in the last little while. (You can read about some of the controversy here.) Was it ill-timed? Sure. Was it an intentional decision to get as much press as possible? Doubtful. Makeup release dates are usually planned way ahead of time and this seems like just a poorly timed coincidence. However you feel about the release or the brand in general, one thing is certain: grey is back in style. This gothic inspired palette includes many shades of grey, black, and white in a variety of finishes. The Cremated palette certainly has a compelling colour story.

first impressions: cover girl exhibitionist uncensored mascara

Cover Girl is one of the first (if not the first) makeup brands that ever entered my makeup collection. I can still remember pouring over the shelves of beauty products at the drugstore. It was overwhelming. Despite all of the options available...I wound up going home with a Cover Girl foundation, a single black eyeshadow, and a Lash Blast mascara. Since then? I have continued to use and enjoy a wide array of Cover Girl products. Including my all-time favourite mascara, The Super Sizer. Most recently, the Exhibitionist Uncensored Mascara entered my life. Even though I wasn't looking for a new mascara, part of me was curious about how another Cover Girl mascara would perform. Want to find out how it works? If it performs better than other Cover Girl products? Here is a first impressions review with all the information.

which sunglasses are right for you?

Sunglasses aren’t just a way to protect your eyes from the sun. They are also one of the summer seasons best accessories. The right pair can totally transform your look. Sunglasses can add a pop of colour to your outfit, flatter your face shape, and infuse your favourite summer outfit with an extra dose of personality. With so many shapes and styles to choose from….it can be a little overwhelming. How can you make sure you've chosen the right style? Which sunglasses will look best? This guide will make the process of shopping for sunglasses seem a whole lot simpler.

testing out drugstore lipsticks + try on video

A little lipstick goes a long way. It has the power to totally transform or pull together a makeup look. Though there is no denying the beauty of a good lipstick...I can honestly say there are too many lip products in my makeup collection. More than I could possibly finish. Though I have largely stopped purchasing additional lip products for the most part, a couple of new items made their way into my life. The first is a cream lipstick from Maybelline and the other is a matte liquid lipstick from Revolution. Want to see how they perform? Find out more about the formulas? Here is a review of each lipstick along with try on video featuring both of these drugstore items.

nine years of the creation of beauty is art.

You know what they say: time flies when you're having fun. It's hard to believe that I am already writing another blog anniversary post. It seems like only yesterday, I was celebrating that eight year milestone. However, today marks the nine year anniversary of my very first post here on the creation of beauty is art. In that time, there have been a whopping 1675 posts related to all of the things that I find beautiful. That includes makeup, fashion, travel, fitness, photography, writing, and a number of other inspiring topics. This beauty blog has been my safe space and passion project for almost a decade....and I am so proud of everything it represents in my life.

mini review: mermaid brush set

Sometimes, items look too pretty to actually use. No wonder this mermaid brush set has been sitting in my beauty room since the holiday season. A friend generously gifted me this beautiful 8 Piece Premium Brush Set for Christmas, where all of the brushes are shaped like mermaid tails. It was just so cute that I was hesitant to take the brushes out of the box and put them to use. So, it sat there. I would look at it. Admire it. Think about how pretty the brushes are. Well, eventually, I made the decision that the items in my home were there to be used and not just admired. So, it was time to open up that box, pull out those mermaid brushes, and start incorporating them into my regular makeup routine. Curious about the set? How they perform? Here is a mini review of these beautiful mermaid inspired makeup brushes.

2 looks 1 palette: wet n wild 32-pan eyeshadow palette

Reviewing beauty products is always fun...but putting those beauty products to good use is the best part. There is nothing more thrilling than opening up an eyeshadow palette and getting creative. Some days, I know exactly what kind of look I wanted to do. Other times, I open a palette at random and wait for inspiration to hit. There is no right or wrong way to go about it. The most important thing is to have fun and express yourself! For me, makeup has always been about that creative expression. Though a look may not always turn out the way I wanted or imagined it would, the process is rewarding and worthwhile. A while back, I added the ColorIcon 32-Pan Eyeshadow Palette from Wet n Wild to my makeup collection. (If you missed my review and YouTube video dedicated to the palette, you can check it out here.) Since then, I've been using it to create lots and lots of different makeup looks. Here are two of the most recent.

wet n wild 32-pan eyeshadow palette (review, swatches, and video)

Wet n Wild has been part of my makeup routine since the early days. For a long time, my favourite eyeshadow trio (because palettes simply were not a thing in my collection back then) was their Walking on Eggshells trio. I'd purchased and re-purchased it over and over again. It was an absolute must-have. Since then, there have been an awful lot of wonderful products from the brand. And a handful of disappointing ones. Most recently, disappointing ones included workout inspired items that missed the mark. Despite some inconsistencies...their eyeshadows have always managed to impress. So, when I came across a 32-pan eyeshadow palette a while back, it was an easy decision. It cost less than $20 CDN and included dozens of exciting shades. Ready to take a look inside? Find out how the palette performs? Keep reading for a full review, swatches, and a video featuring this drugstore palette.

#FOTD feat. kkw beauty and good american

There haven't been a lot of reasons to dress up lately. My uniform for a long while was a combination of t-shirts and sweatpants. It made me miss putting together the perfect outfit. (Even though those comfy at-home ensembles were fabulous in their own right.) Which is why I took a little extra time to pull together a casual yet glam outfit. It was the best of both worlds. Plus, it gave me the opportunity to wear some of my new pieces from Good American. In case you missed that mini haul and review, you can check it out here. For this particular look, I wanted something simple but still made me feel all decked out. Keep reading for a breakdown of the look and some #FOTD makeup photos.

wishing you a very happy canada day

Usually, this is a busy time of year. After all, today is Canada Day and in a few days, it will be my five year wedding anniversary. Normally there would be festivities planned. Fireworks to see. Picnics. Events. Short getaway vacations. This year? Everything is decidedly more muted. Public celebrations have been cancelled and everything feels a little lackluster. Despite that, I am determined to make the most of this time. This is simply an opportunity to get creative and do things in a different way. So, I'll be baking some sweet treats, going for an afternoon walk (while observing social distancing, of course), talking to family members on the phone, and enjoying a wonderful meal with my husband.