at the end of the rainbow waited the pot of gold.

How will you celebrate St. Patrick's Day tomorrow? Will you wear green? Will you enjoy a drink and a nice meal with friends? However you choose to recognize the day, here is hoping it will be a positive experience from start to finish. In truth, I have a soft spot for this holiday because my husband and I met on St. Patrick's Day many years back. Each year, there are themed decorations in our home and there is at least some acknowledgement of the day. Tomorrow, I will be wearing a sweatshirt with four leaf clovers all over it and will do something fun and festive with my makeup. In the last week or so, I have painted my nails a bright festive green and have been reading "Irish Parade Murder" by Leslie Meier. I even watched some St. Patrick's Day themed cartoons on YouTube. Life can be stressful and overwhelming, especially with the world the way it is right now, so creating holiday magic has felt more important than usual. On that note, here is a bold makeup look with lots and lots of green.

at home gel nail polish (opi and modelones review)

Having painted nails always makes me feel better, but it can be a test of my patience waiting for the nail polish to dry completely. That is the reason the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Polishes have long been favourites of mine. The shorter drying time meant that I didn't need to wait too long to get back to the many items on my to-do list. Another alternative was gel nail polish. Many years back, there were visits made to the salon to have gel nail polish applied. Though the results were excellent, my social anxiety made the salon visits feel stressful instead of luxurious. More recently, a decision was made to test out gel nail polish at home. After some research, it was the OPI GELement LED Gel Lamp and polishes from Modelones chosen.

inspired by: zara larsson

There are many celebrities who are downright disappointing. Zara Larsson is not one of them. Not only is her music incredible, but she is consistently on the right side of history, loudly calling out famous abusers, supporting women, and standing against various abuses of power. It is meaningful to see someone with a platform speak out about issues that matter, especially with the world the way it is right now. She is talented, smart, and a true inspiration. Zara is a star on the rise for all the right reasons. In addition to being an outspoken icon, she is also well known for the amazing makeup looks that she wears. These looks are colourful, bold, and interesting. Hopefully in the future, it will be possible to re-create (or at least attempt to re-create) one of these incredible makeup looks on the creation of beauty is art. For now, here is some much needed Zara Larsson inspiration.

what i've been watching lately (sick edition)

It is cold and flu season. I thought it was something that I would be able to avoid this year, but unfortunately, it found me. Unfortunately, I have been under the weather more recently, with my days largely spent in bed coughing and holding a box of Kleenex close. That is the down side. On a more positive note, this has allowed me to spend far too much time watching television shows and movies. Here are some of the things that I have been watching lately while doing my best to recover.

perfume set reviews: xtina and christina aguilera

Even though it is March, many of the reviews here on the creation of beauty is art. take me back to the holiday season. During that time, loved ones gifted me various beauty related items, including makeup, skin care products, and perfume. It is perfume that will be the focus today, because there were two Christina Aguilera sets that were eagerly unwrapped on Christmas morning. It is time to find out more about the scents Xtina and Christina Aguilera from the iconic pop star, Christina Aguilera. 

review: soft pinch cheek and lip trio (rare beauty)

The winter season is starting to wind down. In fact, there are only a few more weeks until spring officially arrives. With warmer weather on the horizon, it seems like an appropriate time to review the Soft Pinch Cheek and Lip Trio from Rare Beauty. This was actually a Christmas gift from a loved one, but I am only now taking the time to write about it here on the creation of beauty is art. There are three different products inside (all in the shade Worth) and the colour is an ideal choice for the upcoming spring season. Keep reading for a full review of each Rare Beauty product included in the Soft Pinch set.

shaun cassidy concert review and makeup look

There are all sorts of records in my record collection, including several from Shaun Cassidy. My introduction to Shaun Cassidy was partly a result of my obsession with his brother, David Cassidy, and partly a result of The Hardy Boys television series that ran in the late 1970s. (I found the series on DVD many years back, bought it on a whim, and fell in love with it.) I have listened to his records so many times over the years, but never imagined it would be possible to see him in concert. Then he announced The Road To Us Tour. Tickets were immediately purchased. Here is a mini review of the show and a concert makeup look.