current obsession: dove body wash mousse

It isn't often that a new body wash totally knocks my socks off. Though there are an awful lot that I've tried over the years (from a wide variety of brands)...few body washes are products that I would actually consider must haves. Sure, I enjoy some more than others but there isn't one specific type or brand that has become an essential part of my shopping list. Until now. Fairly recently, Dove released a line of the Body Wash Mousse body washes and they have been a total game changer for me. In fact, I have already repurchased this product! Want to find out more about the Body Wash Mousse? Here is everything you need to know about the latest skin care release from Dove.

five wardrobe essentials that never go out of style

Let’s be honest: trends are fun. Each season, there are fresh new trends to try out. This can make it extra tempting to buy new things and stuff your wardrobe full of disposable, trendy items. While trends can be a lot of fun, it is important to have classic items in your closet as well. Those classic pieces will last a whole lot longer than the flavour of the month (or season). Is it time to whip your wardrobe into shape? Don't worry. It isn't so hard. All you need to do is add in some essential pieces and be thoughtful about those trendier purchases. Need a little help? Here are five wardrobe essentials that never go out of style. 

2 looks 1 palette: urban decay naked ultraviolet eyeshadow palette

Has the Urban Decay Naked Ultraviolet Eyeshadow Palette been sitting in your online shopping cart? Is it on your wish list? Have you been wondering how it performs? The latest release from Urban Decay has certainly been making waves. Some beauty lovers adore it and others have mixed feelings. Personally, this palette has been on my latest list of loves. Mostly because of the exciting colour story. Essentially, I see the Ultraviolet palette as being split into two halves. The first is all about warm neutrals and the second half is loaded with gorgeous purple shades. In the middle there are two holographic shades to round it all out. With a mixture of matte, shimmer, glitter, and holographic eyeshadows...this eyeshadow palette has a little bit of everything going on. (In case you missed it, be sure to check out my full review of the Urban Decay Naked Ultraviolet Eyeshadow Palette.) With two very different colour stories, it only made sense to create two different makeup looks.

looking back: summer highlights and seasonal memories

Somehow, summer is over. Officially. The season definitely seemed to zoom by. Though my mind has been focused on fall lately (the early fall tag is a prime example of that)...a part of me will still be sad to see summer leave. Mostly because this summer was a little unconventional. Normally, there would've been concerts and visits to the CNE. Instead, it was largely spent indoors, attempting to stay as safe as possible. That being said, there were some summer highlights. And since each year, I like to look back at those meaningful seasonal memories, this seemed like the perfect opportunity to do so. So without further ado, here are some of the memories made over the last few months.

nude by nature lip trio (review + video)

Surprises are not my favourite. I am someone that likes to know what is coming and when. In fact, I am guilty of reading spoilers for television shows and reading movie summaries before heading to a theater. There is comfort in knowing. Despite this, it was especially surprising (in a good way) when my husband came home with a Nude by Nature Lip Trio. He knew that I had been missing some of the simple things in life. Like being able to see friends without social distance, heading to the nearest shopping mall, and seasonal attractions. So, even though he couldn't fix the world....he could bring a smile to my face with some unexpected makeup. On that note! Today's post is all about the Nude by Nature Lip Trio in the shade Dusk. Take a closer look at what was inside, see some swatches, a YouTube video, and find out whether these products wowed.

does it work?? morgan taylor nail polish (plum tuckered out)

Now that September is here...my mindset is shifting towards darker and deeper colours. Especially when it comes to nail polish. A lot of times, the start of September has me desperately clinging onto the last lingering moments of summer. I would find myself painting my nails a bright pink or neon orange as a way to symbolically prove that summer wasn't over just yet.  Not this year. This year, the summer season seemed a little lackluster thanks to world events. So in a way,  I am looking forward to fall. It will be nice to move away from the summertime associations (and all of the things that were missed) and welcome in something fresh and new instead. Something perfect for fall? A dark plum nail polish from Morgan Taylor. This was my first experience with the brand, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Would it work? Be a total failure? Here is everything you need to know about the Morgan Taylor nail polish in the shade Plum Tuckered Out.

warm + cool makeup look (feat. too faced and kvd vegan beauty)

When it comes to makeup...there are no rules. Or at least there shouldn't be when it comes to colour combinations. For the most part, I tend to separate my looks into warm, cool, or colourful. Rarely do those categories come together. But lately, I have been mixing and matching. For me, that meant reaching for warm eyeshadow shades and cheek products but then finishing it all off with an ultra cool-toned lipstick shade. This was the first time in a while that I felt inspired to incorporate both warm and cool tones into a makeup look. Want to see how it turned out? Find out what products helped pull it all together? Here is a warm and cool makeup look featuring some high end products from Too Faced and Kat Von D.

early autumn tag + the palette tag youtube video

Me? Excited about fall? Okay...maybe just a little. The new season feels like a fresh start and nothing could be more thrilling than that. The first official day of fall is just a few days away. That means before long, the months will be all about sweater weather, warm beverages, and pumpkin scented candles. What could be better than that? To prepare for the beginning of fall, it only makes sense to do a seasonal tag here on the creation of beauty is art. The first is going to include twenty fall themed questions and after that there will be my latest YouTube video. The latter is the Eyeshadow Palette Tag, where you can see some favourites and flops from my makeup collection. Ready to get started and embrace autumn? Here goes...

high end beauty samples (mini reviews)

Testing new product samples can be a lot of fun. But it can also be educational. What better way to find out whether a new beauty item is worth the splurge? If it performs well? If it checks off all the boxes? Luckily, a handful of makeup and skin care samples made their way into my life recently. Those high end beauty samples included: Benefit's Goof Proof Brow Pencil, Shea Moisture's Soothing Body Lotion, and Glam Glow's Supermud Clearing Treatment. Over the last little while, I have been putting these items to the test. Want to find out how they performed? If any of them have been added to my future purchase list? Here are a few mini reviews dedicated to these high end makeup and skin care samples.

review: urban decay (naked ultraviolet eyeshadow palette)

"Have you seen the new Urban Decay palette?" That was the text my friend sent me a few months back. Though I am typically pretty up-to-date with most of new beauty releases, the Urban Decay Naked Ultraviolet Eyeshadow Palette seemed to have eluded me. Luckily, my friend sent me screenshots of the email she had received from the brand. And there it was. The latest Naked palette in all its glory. The moment I laid eyes on it, I was in awe. The colours looked absolutely gorgeous. Unfortunately, another eyeshadow palette wasn't exactly on my to-buy list. As I have mentioned on here in the last little while, my goal is to use more of what I own instead of always rushing after the latest releases. I decided to live vicariously through my friend, since she was planning to purchase it for herself. Turns out? I wouldn't have to. My mom actually ordered me the palette as an anniversary present. It was such a wonderful surprise. One I have really been appreciating lately. So...if you've been curious about the latest release from Urban Decay, look no further. Here are swatches, a full review of the palette and double-ended brush, and a makeup look using the Urban Decay Naked Ultraviolet eyeshadow palette. 

five vampy lipsticks for fall

Fall is right around the corner....though I am struggling to believe it. These days, the seasons seem to be shorter and shorter. It feels like summer just began! Yet somehow, it is September. Perhaps the seasons feel shorter lately because the amount of time we have spent outside has been limited. Though many things are open and some people are choosing to go here, there, and everywhere, the majority of my days are still spent at home. This has certainly warped my sense of time. Plus the fact that the usual markings of the summer season have been put on hold. There were no visits to the CNE, no shopping trips to the mall, and no weekends in Niagara Falls. Though it doesn't feel like a new season is on the way, it is. The fall season means warmer colours and darker makeup. One of the best ways to embrace fall is with a bold and vampy lipstick shade. Here are five of my personal favourite drugstore and high end colours.

2 looks 1 palette (avon oh what fun makeup mega palette)

My last post was all about the Oh What Fun Makeup Mega Palette from Avon. The compact but over loaded palette had an awful lot going on. There were 66 eyeshadows, 5 blushes, 4 lip glosses, and 2 highlights in total...so when I say a lot going on, I really mean it! (In case you missed that review, you can check it out here.) With dozens upon dozens of eyeshadow colours to choose from, it only made sense to do a 2 looks 1 palette post. The Mega Palette itself was separated into multiple layers. The top layer had neutral eyeshadow shades and the second layer had colourful eyeshadows. Then the last level contained all of the cheek and lip products. So, for this 2 looks 1 palette post, there will be one neutral makeup look and one more colourful creation. Ready to see how they turned out? Here goes...

review: avon oh what fun makeup mega palette

Who doesn't love an all-in-one beauty item? Multi-product palettes are especially useful for travel (not that I have any immediate travel plans...but a girl can dream) and can also save space in your beauty area (which is always a good thing). Quite a while ago, the Oh What Fun Mega Makeup Palette from Avon was given to me as a gift. Though I had been meaning to put it to good use, the pandemic put a crimp in my makeup usage for a little while. These days, I have established a daily routine and that routine involves makeup! So, I finally had the opportunity to see how the Oh What Fun palette holds up. There is an awful lot to discuss here, so let's get started. Here is everything you need to know about this compact but jam-packed product.