review: morphe make it big plumping lip gloss

In the earlier days of my makeup obsession, plumping lip glosses were all the rage...and I wanted to try each and every product on the market. I loved the idea that my (much smaller) top lip could look plump and beautiful, so I tried all sorts of different products from Hard Candy, Lise Watier, Avon, and at least a half dozen others. I desperately wanted that plump pout! Unfortunately, I am also an advocate for comfortable beauty products, and most plumping products tend to either smell or sting. Despite my history with plumping lip products, my curiosity was piqued when the Make It Big Plumping Lip Gloss from Morphe was gifted to me over the holiday season. (Yes, it is the end of May and I am still reviewing beauty products that were given to me at Christmastime. What can I say? My friends and family members knew exactly what types of items to spoil me with.) I wondered whether the lip gloss would work, if it would be comfortable, and whether it might reignite a beauty obsession from the past. Ready to find out? Here is everything you need to know about this Morphe lip plumper. 

pat mcgrath labs x bridgerton (haul + mini reviews)

As someone who loves television a lot...there are countless shows on my list of loves. Some are higher up on that list than others, but each one has a special place in my heart. For example? Bridgerton. This show is an absolute phenomenon, with 193 million hours of the show watched in the premiere weekend for season two. This show is hugely successful and for good reason. Not only is there a stellar cast, incredible costumes, and compelling storytelling, but this show does romance well. After becoming totally obsessed with season one, it was difficult for me to believe that season two could be better. But it was. Way better. Season two is actually my preferred season so far. Clearly, I have a total obsession with all things Bridgerton. So, when my mom gifted me some Pat McGrath Labs x Bridgerton items, it was especially exciting. Ready to take a peek at those products? Find out how they perform? Here is a closer look at some of the items from the themed collection. 

the five most important things to do before the end of spring.

There is still time to savor spring and all of the beauty that comes with it. The last day of the season is just under a month away...which means right now is the perfect time to focus on all the seasonal offerings connected to this time of year. Are there a few tasks you've been putting off lately? Maybe a bit of spring cleaning or taking care of your garden? Are you feeling a little unsure about your wardrobe as you prepare to transition from one season to another? Let me be your guide! Yes, it is time to take a look at five of the most important things to do before the end of the spring season. 

testing out the bite beauty feast your eyes set

I haven't written about Bite Beauty since 2014. Eight years ago, I tried out a matte lip crayon from the brand and included it in a post dedicated to purple lipsticks. Though that lip crayon was a favourite for a very long time...I never tried anything else from the brand. There was no specific reason for this. I suppose the truth is that nothing caught my eye during the Sephora trips that followed. Well, fast forward eight years and I have been using the Feast Your Eyes set from Bite Beauty. It certainly renewed my interest in the Canadian brand. Unfortunately, I just found out that Bite Beauty will be closing down after ten years. Talk about bad timing. At any rate, I wanted to share my thoughts on the two products included in the set. Who knows? There may still be time to pick up a few items from the brand before it shuts down for good. 

essence bronzed this way eyeshadow palette (review)

Affordable products make me happy. Especially when they are nicely themed and work well. Though there is always something thrilling about a trip to Sephora or some high-end makeup purchase...there are some truly incredible offerings at the drugstore as well. As a beauty enthusiast, I love to try a little bit of everything. That includes higher end items, drugstore items, and even dollar store items. It is always fun to see what works, what doesn't, and what falls somewhere in between. When it comes to the Bronzed This Way Eyeshadow Palette from Essence? Well, there is an awful lot to love. 

tweety bird candle (charmed aroma review + reveal)

Charmed Aroma candles make me happy for many reasons. In addition to the adorable packaging, the candle scents, and the themes...there are also gorgeous accessories tucked inside each candle as well. As someone who loves both candles and jewellery, this is a match made in heaven. One of my friends first introduced me to the brand in 2019 (you can check out my first Charmed Aroma review here) and it has been full steam ahead ever since then. I've enjoyed candles of all shapes and sizes and have been able to incorporate lots of beautiful pieces into my accessories collection. There is a lot to love! The latest Charmed Aroma review and reveal is all about Tweety Bird. Yes, this beloved Looney Tunes character has been given the candle treatment. Ready to find out more? Keep reading for a full review and a peek at the themed accessory inside.

testing out jlo beauty skin care products

Skin care has become more popular than ever. The pandemic shifted an awful lot of beauty habits, and there is now a renewed desire to focus on pampering the skin. With that came several different celebrity skin care lines...including J Lo Beauty. (Check out my first review on the brand here.) Being a fan of Jennifer Lopez, it was only a matter of time before a product or two was incorporated into my regular skin care routine. Over the holidays, this J Lo Beauty set was gifted to me and I have been using it ever since! The set included two different products: That Blockbuster Wonder Cream and That J Lo Glow Serum. Wondering how these items perform? Here are some mini reviews of both J Lo Beauty products.

review: nyx money heist color palette

The watch list on my Netflix account is out of control. One example? I went to start the new season of The Circle...only to discover that I never finished the last season of The Circle. Oops. It is difficult to stay on top of everything. Especially since there are so many different streaming services these days. Honestly? I love television shows and movies an awful lot. If it were up to me, I would watch things all day every day, but alas, there are always other things that need to be done. Hopefully one day soon, I will be able to whittle down my list and watch another show that I have long been meaning to tackle: Money Heist. I've heard incredible things about it and very much want to watch. Until that time, I will have to satisfy my curiosity with the Money Heist Color Palette from NYX. My husband treated me to this, because he knew that the eyeshadow shades were ones that would get a lot of use from me. He was right! I have been putting this nine-shadow palette to the test and the colours are definitely in my wheelhouse. Ready to take a look inside? Here is everything you need to know about this drugstore release. 

bath & body works haul (may 2022)

It is no secret that I love Bath & Body Works products a lot. An awful lot. During the pandemic shut downs, I was desperately missing the foaming hand soaps from the brand. I ran out and wasn't comfortable heading to the mall to buy more for quite some time. Thankfully, in the last six months or so, I've been able to stock up on the foaming hand soaps and was even gifted an assortment of Bath & Body Works items over the holidays. Recently, a standalone Bath & Body Works store opened not too far from where I live. That meant that I was able to stock up on a few more items without having to deal with mall crowds and a lot of people. In fact, the store was essentially empty when I visited. Though there was an awful lot that I wanted to take home with me, I focused on filling in some of the gaps instead. The end result? A little Bath & Body Works haul. 

current obsession: bh cosmetics optimistic AF eyeshadow palette

Optimism isn't necessarily my go-to mood. Especially over the last few years. There are days when I feel like sunshine and rainbows....and there are days when I feel like rain clouds and thunderstorms. It is probably because there are so many unknowns still! Going out isn't something that is comfortable for me currently, but it is something that I am trying to wrap my head around. Despite everything, I keep hoping for wonderful spring and summer memories. Maybe I am more optimistic than I realize. Speaking of optimism, the Optimistic AF eyeshadow palette from BH Cosmetics has been high up on my list of loves lately. Not only is there a beautiful colour story, but the palette acts as a reminder to find the joy in life. Even amidst all of the uncertainty. Ready to take a peek at this affordable product? Keep reading to check out a healthy dose of seasonal colours.

love it or leave it? ashlee simpson

There has been a lot of Ashlee Simpson music playing in my home recently. I have always loved her, but lately, her music has been even more of a must. Not only is her voice incredible, but her songs are fantastic and take me back in the best possible way. Her style has always been iconic. When I was younger, I wanted my hair like hers, my makeup like hers, and my style to be just like hers. So it only makes sense to focus on Ashlee for the latest edition of love it or leave it? Check out her latest look...

updated review: hard candy glamoflauge pro full coverage concealer

Emily Noel first introduced me to the Glamoflauge concealer from Hard Candy in 2014. I've been watching her YouTube videos for at least ten years now and continue to trust her reviews to this day. Why? She is always right. The Glamoflauge concealer is just one such example. It is without a doubt the most full coverage concealer at the drugstore. Not to mention the fact that it is ultra affordable! This is a product that I have been using on a regular basis since that introduction back in 2014. More recently, this iconic drugstore product has had a bit of a makeover. So, it only made sense to do an updated review here on the creation of beauty is art. Here is everything you need to know about this must-have concealer. 

#FOTD + mini review (milani gilded terra eyeshadow palette)

Editing Note: Since Milani chose to contribute to a campaign that involved the harassment and bullying of a domestic violence survivor, I no longer support the brand and do not recommend their products. Spend your money wisely and look elsewhere. And be sure to watch the video below for additional information.

It has been a while. In the past, Milani products were an essential part of my everyday makeup routine. The blushes? Incredible. The eyeshadows? Beautiful. The brow products? Easy to use and effective. And yet...it has been a few years since anything new from Milani has been added to my makeup collection. There is no specific reason for this. Other blushes have been used, different eyeshadows have been on my radar, and new favourites have replaced old favourites. It happens! While at the drugstore recently, the Gilded Terra Eyeshadow Palette from Milani caught my eye. Described as a hyper-pigmented eyeshadow palette with a combination of dusty rose shades, earthy neutrals, and serene shades of sage...it was hard to resist. The cost was fairly high for a drugstore palette ($27 CDN) but temptation got the best of me! Ready to see this palette in action? Find out what it can do? It is time for a #FOTD look and a mini review of this drugstore release. 

new in: john denver merchandise

John Denver takes me to another place entirely. Though life can feel stressful, overwhelming, and hectic at times...his music makes the world seem peaceful and safe. Suddenly, I am understood. Suddenly, everything is going to be okay. I have been a fan of John Denver for a very long time, but several years back, his music became an essential part of my being. It brought fuzzy things into focus. It gave me hope, purpose, and comfort. Needless to say, my record player (or CD player or iPod or whatever else) is often playing his music! Perhaps this is why my husband decided to treat me to a few items from the John Denver online store. I had sent him a link to a hat that caught my eye and he ended up purchasing the hat as well as a few other things he thought I would like. It was such a sweet gesture and his thoughtfulness made these already special items feel extra special. Ready to take a closer look at this John Denver merchandise? Keep reading...

positive affirmations to start the month off right

May is no ordinary month. Named after the Greek goddess, Maia, this month is all about flowers in bloom, warmer weather, and new beginnings. Maybe last month felt challenging or you have a bit of anxiety about the days ahead. This is the perfect time to refocus your mind. Positive affirmations are one way to do just that! Affirmations are positive statements, which are said either aloud or in your head. These statements make it possible to overcome limiting beliefs, can shift your mindset, boost your mood, and increase confidence levels. With a new month just beginning, it is more important than ever to welcome in the positive. Ready to start the month off right? Here are some positive affirmations to incorporate into each and every May day.