too faced enchanted wonderland collection (mini reviews)

Themed makeup is always hard to resist. Especially when that theme involves animals and glamour! The Too Faced Enchanted Wonderland holiday set had all of that and so much more. It included three separate mini palettes (with bejeweled animals on the front of each) and a mini mascara. Compact and cute...and wonderfully whimsical...the Enchanted Wonderland release was truly something special. Want to take a look inside? Find out how each of these items perform? Keep reading to find out more about the Too Faced Enchanted Wonderland Limited Edition Makeup Collection.

review and reveal: charmed aroma penguin candle

Cute doesn't even begin to describe the Penguin Candle from Charmed Aroma. This seasonal release is beyond adorable! The ceramic container features an oh-so-sweet penguin wearing a faux knitted hat. Have you ever seen anything so wonderful? It was the perfect way to enjoy the winter season. As you may know, Charmed Aroma candles always make me happy. Which is probably why they are often given to me as gifts. The Penguin Candle was the holiday gift that keeps on giving. Ready to see what was inside? Here is everything you need to know about this seasonal release.

current obsession: color club nail polish

Beautiful nails have a way of making each day seem brighter. Especially when they involve a splash of colour. Since the month of January has been pretty bleak and dreary so far...something fun and colourful was definitely in order. Thankfully, the Color Club Nail Polish duo was ready and waiting. This is a set that has been sitting around in my makeup room for a while, but hadn't yet been put to use. Finally, I took the plunge. There are two colours included in this set: I Object! (a bright neon pink) and Bougie Baby (a glittery blue). These Color Club nail polishes have become a current obsession.

too faced pretty rich eyeshadow palette (video + makeup look)

Makeup is always exciting. Discounted makeup? Even better. It was several months ago now...but a while back, a very brief visit to Winners took place. (This is essentially a discount store, similar to something like Marshalls or TJ Maxx.) During that time, there was some holiday shopping for loved ones...and a little for myself. It wasn't my fault! I stumbled upon a Too Faced palette for a mere $20. And well, Too Faced is my favourite high-end makeup brand. The Pretty Rich palette caught my eye because of the price, the brand, and the lovely pink packaging. It wasn't a release that I remembered seeing at Sephora, so I must've missed it at the time. Thanks to this mini shopping session, I was able to check out the Pretty Rich Diamond Light Eyeshadow Palette for myself. Here is everything you need to know about this Too Faced eyeshadow palette.

skin care week: generation clay + purlisse face masks (review)

Samples are a girl's best friend. Especially skin care samples! It is a wonderful way to test out different items and determine which ones are worth purchasing. More recently, the two samples (shown above) have been put to the test. One is from Generation Clay and the other is from Purlisse. Neither are brands that I have tried in the past...so it was extra exciting to see how these brands would perform. Ready to find out how they did? Keep reading for all of the details. 

skin care week: laneige kiss me at midnight set (review)

Hydration matters. As someone with dry skin, many of my favourite skin care products are lotions, moisturizers, and anything that adds extra hydration. Which is why it has been so exciting to put the Laneige Kiss Me At Midnight set to good use. Hydrated lips are essential. This three-piece set includes three different versions of the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask. Now, the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask is something that I have reviewed before. (In case you missed it, that review can be found here.) And quite frankly, I absolutely loved the lip mask. How does this set compare? Does Laneige continue to exceed my expectations? Find out in the latest skin care week post here on the creation of beauty is art. 

achieve fabulous style with wiggins hair

Times have certainly changed. Visits to the hair salon used to be common place. These days? They are next to impossible. Depending on where you live...salons may be closed entirely or they may only be offering limited services. Talk about stressful. Especially if you are used to getting your hair done regularly. Just because the world is different right now doesn't mean you need to give up on the idea of beautiful, lustrous, head-turning hair. There are so many possibilities. Instead of heading to the salon to talk about your options, look online instead. Gorgeous hair can be yours with the click of a button! Best of all? You don't even need to leave the house to snag it. Wiggins Hair is a well-known online retailer that carries a wide array of wigs and hair bundles. The key is to find something that suits your style and makes you feel your absolute best. 

skin care week: pixi collagen tonic (review)

Pixi is a brand that tends to receive an awful lot of praise. Despite this, Pixi isn't a brand that I am overly familiar with. Only a handful of their products have made their way into my beauty collection over the years (including an eyeshadow palette and a highlight set). As for skin care products from the brand? None. The Pixi Collagen Tonic was a first for me. Ready to find out how it performed? If it is worth the price? Here is a full review as skin care week continues here on the creation of beauty is art.

skin care week: life brand replenishing clay face mask (review)

It is skin care week on the creation of beauty is art. That means all of the blog posts this week will be dedicated to different skin care items that have become a part of my recent routine. Each year, I love to set different New Year's Resolutions. Some are personal, some are related to health and fitness, and some are even beauty resolutions. This year? One of my beauty-related goals is to focus more on skin care. There are many reasons for this! It is partly because I am home so often these days (courtesy of the pandemic and lockdowns) so it seems like as good a time as any to give my skin some much needed TLC. It is also because skin care has always been my lowest priority. Some people live and breathe skin care. Not me. I am all about the instant gratification. Makeup delivers an immediate splash of colour and glamour. Skin care requires long-term dedication. Despite this....I really am trying to make skin care a focus in 2021. Which is why skin care week is starting with a review.

#FOTD feat. hard candy blushing on you

Hard Candy holiday sets go hand in hand with the season. Each year, there are multiple sets to choose from. Some are massive and some are stocking stuffer size. At least one of them tends to be added to my makeup collection. (Partly because I love a lot of Hard Candy products and partly because the prices are ridiculously affordable.) It is always fun to test them out. This year, the Blushing On You set struck my fancy. Why? There were six warm and wearable makeup products. Want to see them in action? This #FOTD features this beautiful blush set from the drugstore.

review and reveal: charmed aroma fireside s'mores candle

My all-time favourite Bath & Body Works candle scent is Marshmallow Fireside. Not only did it make my list of holiday favourites this year, but it remains a staple in my candle collection. There is something about the scent that I absolutely adore. (Maybe it's the fact that it smells like toasted marshmallows....yum!) What does this have to do with Charmed Aroma? Their Fireside S'mores candle smells almost identical. Plus, it comes with a bracelet. That means the candle has an incredible scent and a fabulous accessory hidden inside. Not a bad way to start off 2021. It is time to take a peek inside. Here is a review and reveal of the Charmed Aroma Fireside S'mores candle.

snow globe snowflake palette (i heart revolution)

Cute packaging? Holiday theme? Sold. It doesn't take much to win me over. Yes, it was a love-at-first-sight kind of moment with the I Heart Revolution Snow Globe Snowflake eyeshadow palette. I had never seen anything quite like it before. The front of the palette mimicked a festive snow globe in a fun and unexpected way. It didn't even matter what was inside! Needless to say, there was no doubt about it: that palette was coming home with me. Thankfully, it was both cute and ridiculously affordable. Want to find out more about this seasonal release? Here is everything you need to know about this unusual winter palette.

inside my beauty advent calendar (Q-KI 12 days of beauty)

One of my favourite things about December? Advent calendars! There is something so exciting about waking up each morning and knowing that there is a special surprise waiting. The last few years, beauty advent calendars have become something of a tradition. Last year, I had the Makeup Revolution Advent Calendar and a few years before, I had the w7 Advent Calendar. Some calendars are better than others. But the fun for me is the surprise element. It's knowing that there is something to look forward behind each little door. With everything happening this year...I didn't anticipate there would be an advent calendar in my December. Luckily, there were two! My mom gifted me a Frozen sock calendar (which was loaded with lots of Frozen-themed socks) and the Q-KI 12 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar. Ready to take a peek inside the Q-KI beauty advent? It was loaded with lots of makeup goodies. Here goes....

benefit brow pencil (precisely, my brow pencil)

Talk about an unusual product name! Benefit has an awful lot of eyebrow-related products to choose from. (Including the Goof Proof Brow Pencil, which has become one of my all-time favourites.) One that is new to me is the Precisely, My Brow Pencil. While the name is a bit lengthy and slightly unusual...it was certainly exciting to test and try this brow pencil. Want to find out how it performs? If the claims are accurate? Here is everything you need to know about this high end brow product.

review: essence bonjour montreal eyeshadow palette

Good makeup doesn't have to drain your bank account. There are more and more drugstore releases that are not only noteworthy...but give high end brands a run for their money! One example is the Bonjour Montreal eyeshadow palette from Essence. It was shockingly impressive. And shockingly inexpensive. It included nine buttery eyeshadows with intense pigmentation for only $12 CDN. Though Essence has had an awful lot of hits and misses, this themed eyeshadow palette is without question a must-have. In fact, it is the best Essence product I have ever tried. Ready to take a look inside the Bonjour Montreal eyeshadow palette? Find out what makes it so special? Here is everything you need to know.

important organizations and resources.

Since beauty is so much more than what is on the surface, there are some resources, organizations, and charities that will be highlighted on the creation of beauty is art. from here on out. Have a suggestion? Be sure to comment below.

Michael Cuccione Foundation. Make a difference and support the fight against childhood cancer. 

Amber Heard Open Letter. Stand with over 300 domestic violence organizations and experts in the fight against injustice. 

The Trevor Project. Learn more with this "Guide to Being an Ally to Transgender and Nonbinary Young People."

Planned Parenthood Action Fund. Fight back against politicians intent on stripping away our rights.

United Nations. Learn more about how to fight racism and stand against discrimination.  

GLAAD. Support the LGBTQ+ community, get educated, and make the world a more accepting place. 

Doctor Ramani. Find out more about narcissists, narcissistic relationships, and how to heal.   

Annuity - Financial Abuse Information. Learn how to recognize financial abuse, create an exit strategy, and rebuild. 

Women and Financial Literacy. Information is power. Learn more about saving, finances, and the gender wage gap. 

The world isn't always beautiful...but we can make it better. Use your voice and stand for what is right.

how to tackle dark under eye circles

Maybe you’ve been pulling a lot of extra hours lately or you can’t seem to get a good night of sleep. Or perhaps all of that holiday activity and excitement has finally caught up with you. Whatever the reason, one thing is clear: you’re exhausted. Whenever you feel especially drained, it can take a toll on your emotional health. Guess what? This level of exhaustion can also show up on your face…. like underneath your eyes, for example. Dark under eye circles happen to all of us at some point or another. However, they don’t have to be the focal point of your oh-so-stunning face. Instead of piling on more and more makeup to mask those under eye circles, it is a good idea to find ways to deal with this pesky beauty problem. Here are some solutions that tackle dark under eye circles. They can help you regain that well-rested glow in no time.

this is the beginning of anything you want.

This is always a day of reflection. A time to look back and look ahead. As I reflect on the year that has passed...it is all too clear that 2020 can essentially be summed up as, "Man plans. God laughs." Needless to say, 2020 didn't quite meet my expectations. I decided to look back at my New Years post from last year and I had waxed poetic about living with passion and purpose. About spending time on the projects and tasks that made me excited. Well, I suppose that happened. Though it certainly didn't happen the way I anticipated. At the start of last year, my vision was this: keep working at the same job as always and make more time to fit passion projects into my life. What 2020 delivered was drastically different.