review: hard candy sheer envy instant eye fix (under eye treatment)

I'll give Hard Candy this: they never become complacent. Out of all the drugstore brands out there...Hard Candy impresses me most. Not because every single product is a winner, but because they never stop creating. Is there a new beauty trend? Hard Candy is on it. A high end item that is making waves? Hard Candy is there. I love that they take things that used to be exclusive to higher end stores and make them accessible to the masses. For instance, Hard Candy is the first drugstore brand I ever saw release rainbow coloured lipsticks and the first to release a Strobing Kit. The list goes on and on! So, when I saw their latest release, I bought it almost immediately. Though not everything from the brand works flawlessly (check out my recent review of their matte-aholic line for proof of that)....I have immense respect for the brand and what it stands for.

how to wear smokey eye makeup on your wedding day

Nice and neutral or sultry and smokey? This is a question every bride to be will ask themselves at one point or another. The way you look on your wedding day is important. Not only will all eyes be on you – but you want to feel confident in everything from your hair to your dress to the makeup. Making a decision about your wedding makeup isn’t always easy. It takes a lot of thought, care, and consideration. For instance, you might wonder if a smokey eye is the best bet. You might hear from others: Not too much! Pretty and soft! Natural is better! However, if you've decided to go for something sultry and smokey rather than ultra soft and natural....this post is for you. Keep reading to find out how to wear smokey makeup on your big day. 

testing high end beauty samples (chloe, philosophy, and hourglass)

There are a lot of samples floating around my beauty collection at the moment. Partly because I am terrible at using this up and partly because of all the Sephora events I've attended in the last while. It's always exciting to get a new sample - especially a high end one - but making sure they actually get used up is another task altogether. So, with a fresh dose of determination, I have set a personal goal to use up all (yes, all) of the beauty samples currently in my possession. To kick things off, I am focusing my attention on a roller ball perfume from Chloe, a Philosophy moisturizer, and a mini mascara from Hourglass.

eastern canada vacation (pictures + trip highlights)

Vacations are good for the soul. Perhaps that is why travel is such an important part of my life. It excites, thrills, and renews. Recently, my husband and I checked an item off of our travel bucket lists: explore Eastern Canada. Ever since I was a little girl, I have dreamed of visiting Prince Edward Island. (I've been a fan of Anne of Green Gables for as long as I can remember.) So when my husband suggested a vacation within our own country rather than jetting off elsewhere, PEI was at the top of my list. Luckily, we were able to spend time in PEI, Moncton, Fredericton, and Nova Scotia. Here are some photos and travel highlights from our latest adventure.

love it or leave it? candace cameron bure (teen choice awards 2019)

Every now and then...a red carpet look just makes you pause. It gives you an immediate reaction. Sometimes that reaction is good and other times, not so much. Recently, Candace Cameron Bure stepped out at the Teen Choice Awards for 2019 and everything about her look made me pause. Immediately, I knew it needed to be featured on my blog. So I decided to bring it to the jury in another love it or leave it? post. If you've been reading my blog for a while then you are probably aware of my Candace Cameron Bure obsession. I have featured her style before, I've talked about her book, Staying Stylish, and have included her film and television work in favourites posts. There is just something about Candace that speaks to me. She just shines! So...without further ado, it is time to take a look at her Teen Choice Awards outfit - and find out whether it's a love it or leave it.

milani review: flowers of love blush set

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. 

 

When it comes to blush, Milani always seems to wow. In the past, I've tried (and loved) several different blushes from the brand. That includes the Milani Powder Blush and the Milani Baked Blush. Both types impressed me with their beautiful designs and bold pigmentation. It just goes to show...you don't need to spend a fortune on makeup to create a look that stands out. More recently, I have been incorporating the Milani Flowers of Love blush trio into my makeup looks. How does it perform? Here is all the essential information on this cheek product set.

drink yourself healthy with green smoothies

Lately, my mornings are all smoothies all the time. In the last several months, I've been working out hard and have made serious changes to my diet. One of the main changes has been swapping out my morning bagel (I literally would eat a bagel with cheese for breakfast every single morning) for a smoothie. It has made a huge difference! I have more energy, sleep better at night, and I've lost weight. So today I wanted to break from my usual makeup and fashion related posts for something a little bit different: a post on green smoothies.

beauty bookshelf: 10-minute hairstyles by andre martens

Here it is...the second edition of Beauty Bookshelf. This is a series dedicated to beauty-related reads. The books featured in this series can be about makeup, hair, lifestyle, photography, or anything else tied to beauty. The last time I did a post like this, I included a style book. This time, it is all about hair. Though many beauty lovers are wonderfully talented and creative when it comes to hair, I am not. Makeup is definitely my strong suit. Not hair! Typically I wear it straight, half-up-half-down, or in a ponytail. Which is why whenever a special occasion arises (or I want to try something different), I reach for the book, 10-Minute Hairstyles: 50 step-by-step looks by Andre Martens.

hard candy matte-a-holic velvet mousse lip color (review + swatches)

Ahh, Hard Candy. What a long and beautiful relationship we have had. In fact, my very first Hard Candy related post dates back to September 2011. It was a drugstore haul that included one of their fabulous baked blushes. My latest was from just last month, where I reviewed the Body Luminizers. Throughout the years, there have been many many posts related to this brand. And many YouTube videos as well! There are several reasons for this: the brand is affordable, they are always releasing new products, and have a ton of fabulous items. More recently, I noticed a line of matte lip colours at the drugstore and was immediately intrigued. Mainly because I adore the Velvet Mousse line from Hard Candy and have had a lot of success with their lip products in the past. So...how does the matte-aholic Velvet Mousse Lip Color hold up?

my favourite statement earrings + tips to wear them

Statement earrings are accessories that make me smile. It's incredible the way a bold pair of earrings can elevate an ordinary look or add a healthy dose of personality to any and all ensembles. Typically, my earrings are fairly modest in size (but never lacking in colour or sparkle) but every now and then...it is fun to veer on the more dramatic side. Today, I wanted to show you four of my favourite pairs of statement earrings and share a few tips on how to incorporate your own statement earrings into any fabulous fashion look. Here goes....

review: bobbi brown primer plus radiance SPF 35

Never underestimate the power of a good primer. It has the ability to keep your makeup in place and ease your mind in the process. There is nothing worse than going out in the warm summer weather and worrying endlessly about your makeup. Is it still in place? Does it look okay? Having a primer you can rely on is an absolute must during extreme weather conditions. Which is exactly why the Bobbi Brown Primer Plus Radiance SPF 35 seemed like the perfect addition to my beauty routine. Find out how this high end product performed and if it was worth the hefty price tag.

beginner series: going bright with your makeup

When I first started wearing makeup, colour was on the back burner. I was really hesitant to wear bright makeup at first. One wrong move and I could wind up looking like a Barbie doll from the 80s. I envisioned garish streaks of pink along the cheekbones, super bright lipstick, and one harsh eyeshadow shade all over the eyelid.  Not exactly soft and subtle. Despite my fear of bright makeup shades…I have been branching out over the last several years. A blue eyeshadow here. A purple lipstick there. Before long, I was saying so long to neutrals and had managed to incorporate colour into many of my makeup looks. If you are just getting started, bright colours may not be something you gravitate towards naturally. It is time for that to change. There are so many reasons to go bright with your makeup. Here are a few to consider. 

current obsession: st ives skin care products

As much as I adore this time of year, there are a few drawbacks. Namely, mosquitoes. Or mosquito bites to be more specific. They have been making my summer memorable, that's for sure. I currently have over twenty bites...despite being fully clothed at all times. Thankfully, there is St Ives. Their Soothing + Smoothing products have really come in handy. Since I've been ultra itchy - and my skin has become irritated as a result - I've had to be extra cautious about the skin care products in my current routine. For now, the beautifully scented Bath & Bodyworks body washes are out and it is all St Ives all the time. Their line of gentle soothing products is ideal for my mosquito bitten skin. If you've been dealing with bug bites or sensitive skin issues, keep reading. Here are three mini reviews of a few St Ives skin care products.

life is about creating yourself.

It's hard to believe but summer is already halfway over. There have been many years where I have boldly declared: this summer will be the best summer ever! Only, that never seemed to happen. Sure, the summer would be alright but it never reached best-summer-ever level. Even though I've said the same thing, year after year, this year....I actually believed the summer would be special. And so far, it has been. I've been able to make lots of wonderful memories, spend time with people I love, and achieve several personal goals. In honour of what just might be the best summer ever, here are a few highlights from the last several weeks.

love it or leave it? britney spears (once upon a time in hollywood)

A Britney Spears obsession? Me? ....okay, maybe. I might have mentioned Britney a time or two (or three or four or five) on my blog over the years. I am definitely a fan. Which is why it was so thrilling to see that Miss "It's Britney Bitch" Spears stepped out on the red carpet recently. She attended the premiere of the new movie, Once Upon a Time In Hollywood. Her surprise appearance certainly created tons of buzz. Which is why Britney Spears is the latest starlet to be featured in my love it or leave it? series. Let's take a look at her red carpet outfit.

makeup and beauty favourites (july 2019)

Everyone has their favourites. For me, those favourites tend to change periodically. I'll use one beauty product religiously then switch to something else, based on the season, new product launches, and current preferences. That is what inspired today's blog post. I wanted to show you a few of my current makeup and beauty favourites from July 2019. Here goes...