Thursday, April 29, 2021

part two: beauty sample review (skin care, makeup, and more)

Are you ready for part two of this massive beauty sample review? Here goes! (In case you missed it, part one can be seen here.) After receiving lots and lots of skin care, makeup, beauty samples courtesy of the Mocktails, Makeup and a Movie event, I have been putting them to good use. There were some hits, some misses, and even a few in betweens. Keep reading to find out where the rest of these beauty products stack up. 

Tuesday, April 27, 2021

beauty sample review: skin care, makeup, and more (part one)

It seems like so long ago now...but the Mocktails, Makeup and a Movie event took place at the end of March. (In case you missed it, there was a post about the virtual event on the creation of beauty is art. You can read it here.) The event included a goodie bag overloaded with skin care, makeup, and beauty samples. As you can see from the picture above, there was an awful lot included. Everything from lashes to perfume samples and makeup wipes! I have been putting these products to good use lately. Here is part one of this mini beauty sample review.

Sunday, April 25, 2021

nostalgic hair accessories + spring beauty favourites

Scrunchies are nothing new. They were created in the late 1980s as an alternative to the harsher metal hair ties of the time that caused breakage. Since their creation....scrunchies have become an undeniable part of popular culture. More recently? Their popularity has soared. With everything old becoming new again (nostalgia from the 90s and 00s has taken over) it has never been easier to find these cute and comfortable hair accessories. There are so many to choose from! Different colours, prints, patterns, fabrics mean scrunchies can be paired with any and all outfits. More recently? I've been making the most of these nostalgic hair accessories. In fact, I wear them almost every single day! They effortlessly add a little colour to my life. Take a peek at my current favourite scrunchies and a video overloaded with lots and lots of spring beauty favourites. 

Friday, April 23, 2021

fenty beauty (pro kiss'r lip care set) review

When it comes to skin care, the focus tends to be on the basics: body and face. But it is important not to overlook the details. Taking good care of your lips is a must, especially when weather conditions are severe. Thankfully, there are plenty of products out there to make lip care easier. From lip scrubs to balms and masks...it is always possible to give your lips a little TLC. More recently, I've been putting the Fenty Beauty Pro Kiss'r Lip Care Set to use. The limited edition set includes two different lip care products. Ready to find out more? Here is everything you need to know about these high end items.

Wednesday, April 21, 2021

shoe obsession: ugg fluff yeah slides in rock rose

Trends come and go....but cute and comfortable footwear is timeless. Uggs were ultra popular back in the 2000s, with celebrities like Paris Hilton and Ashley Tisdale rocking the colourful boots on and off the red carpet. They have since experienced a massive surge in popularity thanks to the fact that nostalgia has taken over lately. Me personally? I never stopped wearing my Ugg boots. I've had many pairs over the years in a wide variety of colours. It doesn't matter to me whether they are trendy or not. The fact of the matter is that Uggs are comfortable, look great, and most importantly, are warm. The latter is especially important to combat the cold Canadian winters. 

Monday, April 19, 2021

review: too faced tutti fruitti (sparkling pineapple palette)

Ahh...Too Faced. It is always a surprise to me when YouTube beauty gurus overlook (or downright trash) this brand. There is so much to love! Cute packaging. Fun themes. Impressive quality. Too Faced is without a doubt my favourite high-end makeup brand. The products always make me smile and also make it possible to pull together a wide array of fabulous looks. Speaking of Too Faced! Not too long ago, I was able to do a bit of discount shopping. (Memories. Now we are back in lockdown once again and those types of experiences are a thing of the past.) During that discount shopping trip, there were a couple of Too Faced items that caught my eye. One was the Too Faced Tutti Fruitti Sparkling Pineapple Eye Shadow Palette. 

Saturday, April 17, 2021

beginner series: achieve thicker and fuller eyelashes

There’s nothing quite like thick eyelashes. They always stand out! Unfortunately, we aren’t all blessed with them naturally. Not to worry...there are many ways to make the most of what you’ve got. This beginner series lash guide will: show you how to add thickness to your natural lashes, overview the best ways to promote lash growth, and outline products that will make your lashes look their best. If you’ve been dreaming of photo-ready eyelashes, look no further. A few small changes can make all the difference. Now is the perfect time to maximize your lashes. 

Thursday, April 15, 2021

review: st ives skin care set (glow on the daily)


Each and every holiday season, one thing remains the same: St Ives. This skin care brand is an essential part of my everyday skin care routine. Likely because whenever the holiday season rolls around, there is always a St Ives set is waiting for me underneath the Christmas tree! Thankfully, St Ives has a lot of really wonderful everyday products. For instance, the St Ives Timeless Skin moisturizer is my favourite one to use before primer and foundation. And the line of soothing products (previously reviewed here) is another winner. This year? I received the Glow On The Daily Face Regime Set.  

Tuesday, April 13, 2021

shop my stash: violet voss (the rainbow eye shadow palette)

There are certain benefits to staying indoors all the time. A few examples? Staying safe, wearing sweatpants, and making the most of my existing makeup collection. Though there will always be something exciting about new beauty items….being home more often has made it much easier to appreciate everything that I already have. And much easier to put those items to good use! Since the start of the pandemic, I have used up lots of different mascara samples, brow pencils, foundations, eyeliner pens, and powders. I have also reached for a wide array of eyeshadow palettes that may not have been in my regular rotation. It is certainly a time to experiment and break away from those everyday items.

Sunday, April 11, 2021

new in: guess charm bracelet + discount shopping haul video

I am no stranger to Guess accessories. Over the years, more than a handful of their glitzy pieces have made their way into my collection. When it comes to Guess....some people absolutely love their in-your-face designs while others do not. Clearly, I fall into the love category! Their pieces tend to have all the things that make me happiest: sparkle, shine, and an extra dash of fun. Just take the set pictured above. It certainly checks all of those boxes and then some. 

Saturday, April 10, 2021

change up your look with uniwigs

Hair is on everybody's mind these days. Depending on where you live....salons may be shut down or offering limited services. Or they may be completely backed up and it may be difficult to actually get an appointment. Thanks to everything going on in the world, those little luxuries (like a hair cut and colour) are not necessarily accessible. Thankfully, there are other options to consider. Take UniWigs as an example. This website has everything you need to achieve stunning styles at home. 

Friday, April 9, 2021

mocktails, makeup and a movie (virtual event)

Life has certainly changed a lot in the last year or so. In February of 2020....life was normal. I attended the Mocktails, Makeup and a Movie event for the second year in a row. And it was so much fun! There was a gift bag overloaded with sample beauty products, mocktails (of course), snacks, a silent auction, and a movie at the theatre. There were also different booths with beauty representatives, raffle tickets, and photo opportunities. It was a fabulous night that made people smile and benefited a wonderful cause. But a lot has changed since then. Now, it's hard to even imagine an event like that taking place. This year? It shifted to a virtual format. Certainly different and not nearly as glamorous, but it was exciting all the same. 

Wednesday, April 7, 2021

does it work?? nyx epic ink liner

NYX first launched at drugstores in Canada back in 2016. (In fact, I excitedly posted about my very first NYX haul at that time. It included lots and lots of lip products among other things.) Since then, the brand has become a regular part of my makeup routine. From colourful lipsticks to eyeshadow palettes...NYX has it all. Recently, my eyeliner had run low. There were a few pencil liners left but my liquid and pen liners were all out. This is a rare occurrence! However, since the pandemic started, I really haven't been out much to stock up on those sorts of things. So, I needed something that would work well and was easy to use. The NYX Epic Ink Liner was recommended...but does it work??

Monday, April 5, 2021

perfume review: christian siriano (silhouette in bloom)

Perfume never ceases to amaze. The bottles, the scents, the luxury....bliss! When I was very young, I remember my mom let me choose a perfume bottle from the dollar store. I can still see that bottle in my mind. I can feel it in my hands. It was an old-fashioned style that was made from black porcelain. There were grooves in that porcelain bottle that I used to trace endlessly with my fingertips. On the side was a small black puff that you squeezed to release the scent. On the front of the bottle was a silhouette of a woman with blonde hair and a pearl necklace. Though I can't remember what the perfume inside actually smelled like....I will never forget how that bottle of perfume made me feel. I had never been more beautiful, sophisticated, or grown up. I felt like a million bucks. Though it may sound silly, that moment cemented my love of fragrances. It isn't just a nice smelling scent or a fun little add on. Every time I reach for a perfume bottle, it honours that beloved childhood memory. 

Saturday, April 3, 2021

the great gift of easter is hope.


 Last year, Easter was anything but ordinary. It was the first time in my life that I was unable to spend the holiday with my family. (You can read more about that here.) That was extremely difficult. My parents did an "Easter basket" drop off that included some chocolates and treats. Though the gesture was wonderful...it wasn't the same as spending the day with my loved ones. Normally, the day is spent watching holiday movies, doing Easter crafts, playing games, and then eating dinner together. It was heartbreaking to be separated from my immediate family last Easter. But this year, we should be able to mostly celebrate together on the Saturday rather than the Sunday. (Where I live, we are going back into a full lockdown Saturday night. Sigh.) But I will take what I can get at this point. 

Thursday, April 1, 2021

current obsession: hayu streaming service

There are many different ways to destress and unwind. Sometimes, that involves some relaxing music and a good book. Other times, television is the clear winner. When it comes to the latter....my focus lately has been on reality shows of all kinds. Why? One word: hayu. This streaming service is a recent (and temporary) addition to my home. It had been on my radar for quite some time. Why? Anything with every season of Keeping Up With the Kardashians is solid in my book. However, it wasn't something that I ever seriously considered signing up for. Mostly because my husband and I already have more than enough streaming services to go around. Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime, Stack TV.....it's too much! But here is what happened. I watched season 1-3 of Chrisley Knows Best on Amazon Prime. Season 4-8 were on hayu. I fell right into their trap and we decided to sign up for the 30-day free trial. Well, it has been more than 30 days and we still have hayu. But in my defense, I am trying to watch as much as possible so this doesn't become a permanent addition to our streaming services.