#FOTD: soft pink makeup look (feat. holiday products)

Officially, winter doesn't start until December 21st, but in my mind, the season is already here. This might have to do with the fact that there are Christmas decorations everywhere you look. Or perhaps it has to do with the snow that has already fallen. Whatever the reason, my heart is full of seasonal joy. A lot of people love the summer months, but I tend to thrive during the fall and winter. Currently, my home is decorated and I am tackling my holiday to-do list. I have watched a ton of festive movies and have listened to hours upon hours of Christmas songs. There is so much to love about this time of year! Since I am fully immersed in all things winter, it only made sense to use a few holiday beauty products to create a recent #FOTD. 

current obsession: ariana grande cloud holiday gift set

Who can resist a holiday gift set? Not me. There is something so thrilling about seeing items you love perfectly packaged. Not too long ago, my husband was out and about and saw the Ariana Grande Cloud Holiday Gift Set on display. He snapped a photo and sent it to me. Honestly? It was love at first look. Lucky for me, he decided to treat me to the Ariana Grande gift set. Since then, all of the items inside have been put to good use. Ready to take a look inside the set? Find out what was so intriguing about the seasonal release? Here is everything you need to know about this celebrity perfume set.

visiting frankenmuth and bronner's christmas wonderland

It seems that travel continues to be a part of my life. Though my discomfort has not eased any...my loved ones are set on venturing out into the world. That means sometimes, I am taken along for the ride. Most recently, that resulted in a three-day bus tour of the Frankenmuth area. This was a trip that my mom and I had discussed in previous years...mainly because it was Christmas focused and we both adore the holiday season. Finally, we were able to visit the area. This included Bronner's Christmas Wonderland (dubbed the world's largest Christmas store) and a bit of local shopping. 

first impressions: revolution lift & define 5D lash extra dimension

Some people love a bold statement lip. Others are all about show stopping cheeks. For me? The eyes are everything. Though I love a beautiful lip colour and a gorgeous blush to pull a makeup look together...the eyes are always the main focus. I feel most creatively fulfilled when there are different eyeshadow shades and finishes involved. Then there is often lots of contrast with black liner and mascara. To this day, my favourite mascara remains The Super Sizer from Cover Girl, but every now and then, I have the opportunity to test out something different. (Friends and family members are well aware of my makeup obsession and often gift me makeup for birthdays and holidays.) For instance, the Revolution Lift & Define 5D Lash Extra Dimension Mascara. Curious about this lengthening drugstore mascara? Keep reading for all the claims and a first impressions review.

skin care week: glowoasis milkdew pH balancing milk toner

It is the last skin care week post here on the creation of beauty is art. Though makeup is always my preference (I love the colours, glitter, and drama)...it is important to focus on the skin underneath the makeup as well. So, since my friend gifted me a product from glowoasis, it only made sense to put it to good use. The Milkdew pH Balancing Moisture Milk Toner was intriguing to me right away. I really love the Kylie Skin Milk Toner and was open to trying something similar from another brand. Curious about this skin care product? Here is everything you need to know about the toner.

skin care week: dove mini reviews (cleanser and lotion)

Skin care week is well underway here on the creation of beauty is art. So far, there have been posts dedicated to a skin care set and even makeup removing wipes. Now, it is time to look at a couple of items from a tried and tested brand: Dove. This is a brand that has always kind of been around. I remember there being Dove products in my house growing up...and now there are some in my home as an adult. There are some items from the brand that I prefer over others, but this time, I wanted to test out a new body cleanser and a lotion. Keep reading to find out how these drugstore products performed. 

skin care week: burt's bees hydrating facial towelettes.

It is time for another skin care related post here on the creation of beauty is art. The last post was dedicated to a regimen set from Mission Luxereve, but today, it is all about Burt's Bees. Despite this brand receiving a lot of praise from beauty lovers, my experience with their products has been inconsistent at best. A lot of the items that I've tried have not been great. At all. However, I keep hoping that there will be something that wows. Since I was looking for some new face wipes (and these were on sale)...the Burt's Bees Hydrating Facial Towelettes with Watermelon came home with me. So, how did they perform? 

skin care week: mission luxereve regimen set

Welcome to another theme week here on the creation of beauty is art. This time? It is all about skin care. With fall well underway and winter on the horizon...it is more important than ever to focus on all things skin related. There have been a handful of additional skin care products in my routine lately. This includes serums, cleansers, and makeup remover wipes. And this week, all of those items will be reviewed as part of skin care week. Kicking things off is the Mission Luxereve Regimen Set. This was gifted to me by my mom a while back, but it wasn't something that I actually put to use until somewhat recently. Being completely honest, my skin care routine was, well, a routine over the summer. I focused on the basic steps and nothing more. Now that the temperatures are starting to drop, it is essential to refocus my efforts. Ready to start off skin care week? Here is everything you need to know about this skin care set from Mission Luxereve. 

my first time visiting the retro festive store.

Is it Christmas yet? Okay, maybe not, but my mind is already focused on all things festive. This is without a doubt, my favourite time of year. Admittedly, I am a bit of a Christmas addict. I watch holiday movies all year round, listen to instrumental Christmas music while I write, and find myself browsing the holiday subreddit in the middle of summer. There is something so special about all things seasonal. From the decorations to the movies, food, and traditions...I love it all. Perhaps this is why my favourite online store is Retro Festive. This is a Canadian run business that focuses on holiday, retro, and popular culture items. Not only does this store have all the things that I love most, but it is also located within Canada. Since things normally cost a fortune to ship here (and take forever to arrive) it is an absolute delight to have something nearby. Items usually arrive within a day or two and the prices are all in Canadian dollars. Hooray! Needless to say, I place several orders there each year. 

new in: kylie cosmetics makeup (eyeshadow palette and lip kit)

It is hard for me to resist Kylie Cosmetics products...especially when I see them in a store. This is still a novelty! For years, Kylie Cosmetics was only available online for Canadians. Even when the brand launched at Shoppers Drug Mart, it was online only. Slowly, but surely, items from the brand have been making their way into stores. A few lip kits here and a few lip kits there...and now there are full blown displays. During a recent stop off at Shoppers Drug Mart, my eyes locked onto one of those beautiful displays and it was gave over. Though I wanted absolutely everything, only two items came home with me: an eyeshadow palette and a new lip kit. Ready to take a peek at these new items? Keep reading for all of the details.

fab or fail? essence hello, good stuff (3-in-1 face mist)

Life can be hard, so sometimes, it is nice to have a skin care item that is easy. That is why I love sprays, mists, and all-in-one items. Lately, I have been using a face mist from Essence an awful lot. The Hello, Good Stuff! 3-in-1 Face Mist, to be exact. With a watermelon scent and 90% natural ingredients, there is a lot to like right off the bat...but how does this product actually perform? Keep reading to find out if this affordable skin care item from Essence is fab or a total fail. 

fall inspired #FOTD (featuring beauty bakerie sweet potato pie)

My obsession with the fall season continues. November is here and that means my mind is slowly starting to shift to what lies ahead...like snow, winter coats, and the holiday season. For now? It is all fall all the time. To be honest, I have been hesitant to take down the fall themed decor items in my home. They are so warm and welcoming! Similarly, I have been hesitant to move away from fall themed makeup looks. There are certain colours associated with this time of year and each one seems to fill my heart with joy. Well, several months back, Winners had the Sweet Potato Pie Bite Size Eyeshadow Palette from Beauty Bakerie on sale for a mere $5. Given the warm fall shade selection and low price point, it came home with me. It also inspired this #FOTD. Keep reading for a mini review of the Beauty Bakerie palette and a fall themed makeup look.

vacation highlights part two (disneyland)

Travel can feel stressful and overwhelming at times...but there are always lots of wonderful memories to look back on. Looking for a dose of magic and wonder? Disney is the perfect place for that. Though my absolute favourite place to be is Walt Disney World, my mom wanted to visit Disneyland after about five years away. So, my parents, my brother, my husband, and I all flew to California for our first international trip since the pandemic. It was a lot. There were way too many people and it was certainly an adjustment, but there were also some good moments. So, on that note, here are some vacation highlights.

vacation highlights part one (legoland california)

Travel is an important part of life. Whether you are headed to a different city or a different country altogether, there is something magical that happens when you leave behind routine and focus on making memories. In the past, travel was significant to me. I would spend months and months eagerly looking forward to some sort of vacation or special experience. Then the pandemic happened. Suddenly, travel felt unsafe. It felt like something to be avoided at all costs. Honestly, it has been really difficult to shift that mentality. The way I viewed travel previously and the way I view travel now are so drastically different. I often wonder if things will ever return to 'normal' for me. Despite all of this uncertainty and fear... despite the fact that the way I think about travel has shifted...I did do some traveling recently. Some of my family members went to California to visit Legoland and Disneyland. Over the next couple of days, I'll be sharing some vacation highlights.