I love holidays and loathe summer. Perhaps that is the reason the Summerween trend has been making me smile lately. It adds a little bit of what I love (holidays and spooky season) into something that I do not (scorching temperatures and mosquitos). Originally from the animated series, Gravity Falls, Summerween has become a summer trend for all. It is essentially a summer version of Halloween. Think skeleton inflatables in the swimming pool, carving a "Jack-O-Melon" instead of a Jack-O-Lantern, and chilled pumpkin flavoured beverages. Keep reading to find out how I have been enjoying this fun twist on a fall holiday.
Friday, August 1, 2025
Wednesday, July 30, 2025
psyduck (pokemon) inspired makeup look
Monday, July 28, 2025
accessories that i have been loving lately.
Friday, July 25, 2025
christmas in july part two: holiday movie mini reviews
Over the years, many Christmas themed movies have been highlighted on the creation of beauty is art. My collection grows and I continue to watch these movies, cartoons, and holiday specials over and over throughout the year. Lately, I have been giving extra thought to why these movies mean so much to me. The world is often cruel, dark, and selfish. It is a place where people lie, cheat, steal, and harm. In Christmas movies, selfish people become generous and giving. Liars become honest. Harmful people learn to be better and make amends for their past actions. The world is so rarely like this...so when I watch a Christmas movie, it is the ultimate escape from the way things tend to be. I can pretend for a little while that good wins out, that kindness matters, and that miracles happen. On that note, to celebrate Christmas In July this year, it seemed right to focus on some new-to-me holiday movie reviews. My husband found all sorts of discounted Christmas movies for sale and asked me a very dangerous question: Do you want any? Of course, the answer was yes. Keep reading for all sorts of mini movie reviews.
Wednesday, July 23, 2025
christmas in july part one: bath and body works semi-annual sale
Christmas In July is officially celebrated on July 25th, but thanks to an unexpected holiday release from Bath & Body Works, there are going to be two Christmas In July posts this year on the creation of beauty is art. My husband and I were out running errands a few weeks back and saw that Bath & Body Works was having a semi-annual sale. I love Bath & Body Works products (everything smells so good) but normally stock up in the fall and winter because the seasonal scents are my preference. We decided to walk through just to browse...but then found there were all sorts of Christmas In July themed items available.
Monday, July 21, 2025
love it or leave it? lana condor
Friday, July 18, 2025
life lately: pop 2000s tour and ottawa getaway
Life has been busy lately. Busy, but fun. Most of the time, my preference is for life to be slow and steady....quiet and calm. However, it has been nice to mix things up a bit in recent weeks. (Though the idea of slow, steady, quiet, and calm sounds appealing again, as there is a need to recharge after so much social activity.) In a short span, I've been able to see a movie with a friend, spend a few hours shopping with my parents, go to a concert, and visit Ottawa for a couple of days. With so much happening in the last little while, it seemed appropriate to share a few of those highlights in this life lately post.
Wednesday, July 16, 2025
current music obsession: beautiful chaos from katseye
It seems my current music obsession is one that many others have as well. Recently, the global girl group, KATSEYE, announced a number of tour dates in the fall. I tried my best to purchase one ticket for the show nearest me during the presale...and found that I was number 21,380 in the Ticketmaster queue for a venue that holds 5,000. Thankfully, my luck was much better during the general sale and I happened to refresh at the exact right moment. I will be seeing KATSEYE this fall! Even though I will be at the very back of the venue, I am so exited to be able to attend. In the meantime, their new album, Beautiful Chaos will be keeping me entertained. Since the KATSEYE releases come with all sorts of fun extras, it seemed only right to share some of the items that were included in my version of the Beautiful Chaos album and talk about the newly released music.
Monday, July 14, 2025
beyond the gates inspired makeup looks.
There is an alarm set on my phone for 1:58 p.m. each weekday. That alarm is my reminder to turn on the latest episode of Beyond The Gates. Ever since this soap opera premiered at the end of February, it has become a full blown obsession. I love the drama, the characters, the sets, and the style. Speaking of style...the wardrobe is out of this world amazing and so is the makeup. Every time an episode airs, I am wowed by the incredible looks that the characters are wearing. Everything is so bold and elegant. Since makeup is another one of my obsessions, it was only a matter of time before an attempt was made to combine the two. Lately, I have been doing my best to recreate some of these stunning soap opera makeup looks.
Friday, July 11, 2025
my first order from main street melts candle co.
The post-Walt Disney World blues have been extreme this time around. After a visit to the most magical place on Earth, it is common for me to feel a little sad adjusting back to the real world. However, knowing there will not be a return trip for several years really got me in my feelings. That is how I found myself searching for Walt Disney World inspired scents on Etsy shortly after returning back home. Enter the Main Street Melts Candle Co. The company has all sorts of Disney inspired items, including candles, melts, room sprays, and oils. Since I have a diffuser that has been neglected in recent months, it seemed wise to focus on some of the available oils. Though there were many that caught my eye (and many that will be ordered in the future) my first order included ten different essential oil blends. It took about twenty three days for the oils to arrive, which was not too bad, and everything was well packed. Each essential oil bottle has a cute Disney inspired label and there is a generous amount of oil provided. Keep reading for a mini review of each Main Street Melts Candle Co. item in my order.
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
fourteen years of the creation of beauty is art.
the creation of beauty is art. will turn fourteen tomorrow. What a strange sentence to write. It never occurred to me way back in 2011 that this beauty blog would become such a significant part of my life, but it has become something that makes me extremely proud. It remains a creative outlet, a passion, and a safe place to land. My life has changed so much since that first post was shared, but one thing remains the same: the creation of beauty is art. Though many of the older posts make me cringe when I look back at them, those posts show how far I have come. It is kind of nice to see where I was before and compare it to where I am now. I am a little older and possibly a little wiser....and I finally like the person I am becoming.
Monday, July 7, 2025
benefit: porefessional deep retreat pore-cleaning clay mask (review)
Every now and then, a face mask is a must. It is a nice way to pamper myself and focus on some much needed self care. Since I had a sample of the POREfessional Deep Retreat Pore-Cleaning Clay Mask from Benefit sitting around, it made sense to incorporate it into a recent relaxing evening. (For the record, that relaxing evening included pizza, season two of The Ultimatum: Queer Love, and sweatpants.) Ready to find out how this clay mask performs? Keep reading for a skin care review.
Friday, July 4, 2025
review: kylie cosmetics hybrid blush in slow jam
My husband and I officially celebrate our ten year wedding anniversary today, but truth be told, we have been celebrating it for the last little while. Instead of doing something special on our actual anniversary, we took a vacation to Walt Disney World at the end of May. We also took a day trip to a random shopping mall and visited Ottawa for Canada Day. There have certainly been some special days spent together over the last little while. While visiting that random shopping mall, which was a fairly lengthy drive, we found a few fun items. One example? My husband treated me to the new Hybrid Blush from Kylie Cosmetics.
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
home is where the maple leaf is.
Happy Canada Day! Across the country, there will be barbecues, get togethers, and fireworks. July 1st is always a time to celebrate where I live...but the celebration feels even more important this year. For many months, the President of the United States has made threats against Canada, referring to it as the "51st State." There have also been illogical tariffs implemented that have harmed hard working people in both Canada and the United States. Travelers visiting the US are encouraged to use caution, take burner phones, and delete social media apps. A lot has changed since the start of the year. That being said, it has been meaningful to see Canadians come together against these threats. For example, there is the Buy Canadian movement, which has benefited Canadian brands as well as non-US brands from around the globe. It focuses on spending thoughtfully. In a society that is often individualistic and divisive, it has been nice to see people come together and focus on the collective good.
Friday, June 27, 2025
does it work?? electronic makeup brush cleaner
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
affirmations and journal prompts to make the summer season special.
Summer is here. That means sunshine, warm temperatures, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Whether this is your favourite time of year or your least favourite...you deserve to make the most of the season. It can be difficult to do that when your schedule seems too full or there are obstacles in your way. So, do what you can to refocus your mind, reflect, and make the most of the next few months. Here are some positive affirmations and journal prompts to make that process a little bit easier.
Monday, June 23, 2025
r.e.m. beauty x wicked (so popular ph adaptive lip oil)
The countdown is on. There are 151 days until Wicked: For Good is released in movie theatres. The much buzzed about second half of Wicked is sure to have some stand out moments. Recently, the trailer was released (check that trailer out here if you missed it) and it looks fantastic. I cannot wait to see how it all ends on screen for Elphaba and Glinda. I was treated to a Wicked inspired product from r.e.m. beauty a little while back and with the recent release of the movie trailer, it seemed like an appropriate time for a product review. Keep reading to find out how the So Popular pH Adaptive Lip Oil performs...
Friday, June 20, 2025
shop my stash: summer inspired makeup look
It is officially the first day of summer. Maybe you have all sorts of exciting summer plans. Or maybe you are simply hoping to get through the season without a sunburn. Wherever you fall, here is hoping the next couple of months will be memorable for all the right reasons. Lately, my focus has been largely on beauty products that I already own, so I went through some of my palettes to find one that had lots of seasonal colours. In the end, it was the 24K Birthday Collection Eyeshadow Palette from Kylie Cosmetics that won out. The eyeshadow palette includes all sorts of warm colours that are ideally suited to the season.
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
random things making me smile lately.
Finding happiness in this broken world of ours can be difficult. There are constantly disappointing people and upsetting world events making headlines. That is the reason it is extra important to hold onto beautiful, happy, uncomplicated things that add a little bit of joy to each day. On that note, here are some of the random things that are making me smile lately.
Monday, June 16, 2025
revisited review: love is love palette (danessa myricks beauty)
Happy Pride Month! The world seems to be worse than usual lately, but that highlights why it is so important to celebrate Pride Month and Pride Season. This is a time to honour the past and celebrate the resilience of the LGBTQQIP2SAA community. It is a time to remember, reflect, and look ahead. My hope is that this world we live in will stop being so regressive and divisive. My hope is that the best days are still out in front of us. This month, do what you can to show your support, learn more, and make the world a better place for all. In honour of this important celebration, it seemed only right to create a colourful makeup look using the Love Is Love Illuminating Eye and Face Pigments palette from Danessa Myricks Beauty. Here is a revisited review...
Friday, June 13, 2025
walt disney world week: beauty products i took with me on vacation
Wednesday, June 11, 2025
walt disney world week: souvenirs
Monday, June 9, 2025
walt disney world week: vacation highlights
Friday, June 6, 2025
current favourites (accessories, perfume, skin care, and more)
It is time for a current favourites post. Sometimes, it is nice to focus on the little things that make life feel more beautiful. There have been all sorts of items that I have been for enjoying and reaching for lately...from accessories to perfumes to action figures and so much more. Here is a closer look at some recent favourites that have been making my days brighter.
Wednesday, June 4, 2025
review: the kissu lip mask from tatcha
Monday, June 2, 2025
chase your dreams but know the road that will lead you home.
So much goes into a vacation. There is all of the planning, preparing, and packing beforehand. Then once you get home, there is laundry, work, and an endless to-do list of everything that has been neglected in your absence. Now that the fairy dust has settled and I am back home again, it is time for me to tackle that aforementioned to-do list. I look forward to sharing Walt Disney World themed posts here on the creation of beauty is art. next week. (Expect to see some vacation photos, some of the souvenirs that came home with me, and even a post about the makeup that I took with me on vacation.) In the meantime, there will be some beauty related posts shared and I will do my best to catch up on comments and all the rest. I hope you have all been well this last week. Feel free to share some of your recent highlights in the comment section below.
What are you looking forward to this week? Do you have any vacations planned?
Monday, May 26, 2025
when you wish upon a star...
Friday, May 23, 2025
drugstore lip product try on (marcelle, revlon, and elf)
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
does it work?? 24-hr brow setter from benefit
Back in the fall, there were all sorts of products from the Back to School Beauty Bundle highlighted. The set included fourteen different items, including makeup, perfume, and skin care. Some products have already been reviewed on the creation of beauty is art. and some reviews are still outstanding. It is time to focus on another sample from the set....the 24-Hr Brow Setter from Benefit. There is something very nostalgic to me about Benefit. During my earliest years as a makeup enthusiast, it was the Benefit section of Sephora that thrilled me most. I loved the cheek tints, the themed sets, and the blushes. Over the years, the brand seems to be a little less innovative and colourful, but there are still some fantastic staple products. These days, Benefit is mostly known for their mascaras and eyebrow products (my personal favourite brow product from the brand is the Goof Proof Brow Pencil). Ready to find out how this clear brow gel performs? Keep reading for all of the details.
Monday, May 19, 2025
review: kylie cosmetics lip kit in angel
When it comes to the iconic lip kits from Kylie Cosmetics, I have certainly been spoiled lately. In my Easter basket this year, there was the shade Angel (along with holiday chocolate and some other goodies). This is the kind of warm neutral colour that the brand is known for. Ready to take a closer look? Here is a review of the Kylie Cosmetics Lip Kit in the shade Angel.
Friday, May 16, 2025
shop my stash: tarte glamour eyeshadow palette
The world is an interesting place these days. Quite frankly, it is hard to envision what the future will look like. That is one of the reasons I am choosing to slow down on beauty related purchases. There are still products that I have not reviewed on the creation of beauty is art. including items that loved ones have gifted me over the last little while. (Stay tuned for those posts in the weeks and months to come.) That said, it has been quite some time since I actually purchased makeup for myself. I am doing my best to focus on what I already own. The "shop my stash" idea has been around for many years and essentially means using what you already have instead of constantly purchasing more. Since there are all sorts of wonderful items in my makeup collection already, it seems appropriate not only to use those items in my day to day life, but also to post about them here. Every now and then, there will be a shop my stash post that features different products from my makeup collection. The first shop my stash post features everyday favourites and the Glamour palette from the Amazonian Clay Eyeshadow Wardrobe.
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
affirmations and quotes for difficult days.
To quote Olivia Rodrigo, it's always one step forward and three steps back. As mentioned in previous posts, a loved one has been in and out of the hospital over the last few months, with the longest stay being about three weeks. It seemed like everything was slowly getting back on track. There was non-linear healing, but positive progress all around. And then it all came crashing down. There is so much uncertainty, not to mention the trauma of watching a loved one struggle both physically and mentally. I am not okay. Life has not been okay lately. It seems that as soon as I start to piece myself back together, as soon as I start to feel some sense of normality creep back in, it all crumbles. So, this post is dedicated to hope. I certainly need it and maybe someone else out there needs it, too. Here are quotes and affirmations to add a little bit of hope to difficult days.
Monday, May 12, 2025
hair product haul: haircare haven beauty bundle
The relationship with my hair has been complicated lately. Now that I am needing to dye it on a semi-regular basis (thanks to the grey hairs that have decided to take over)...there have been all sorts of frustrations. Like the medium brown hair dye that I used several months back. Despite the name "medium brown," it turned my hair almost black. I was looking for something similar to my natural colour, but this was not at all similar, and the colour refused to fade. More recently, attempts have been made to address the dark colour, but the results have been mixed. All of the products used (like Color Oops) have left my hair feeling dry and looking a little frizzy. Thankfully, my mom gifted me the Haircare Haven Beauty Bundle for Easter. It includes all sorts of haircare products. As I continue to work on addressing the hair colour issue, it is important to focus on the overall condition of my hair as well. This post is a little show and tell to highlight the products included in this set. In the future, there will be a review of all the different haircare products. Ready to take a look inside? Here is everything that was included...
Friday, May 9, 2025
inspired by all things amber.
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
nostalgia is a powerful feeling. it can drown out anything.
I fell down the rabbit hole recently (as I so often do) and watched hours and hours of compilation videos on YouTube. The videos featured all sorts of television shows from the 80s and 90s - complete with the original commercials. It was a wild and nostalgic ride. These days, familiarity seems to be my focus. Whether I am listening to music, choosing a movie, or watching a television show, more often than not, I am gravitating towards what was. New releases do not seem to have the same hold on me. I have been thinking a lot about why this is the case and I think it comes down to safety. With the world being so turbulent, it feels especially sweet to return to a time where I did not have to worry about bills or politics or what was happening outside of my little bubble. I still believed that most people were good and that evil would never win. I was more innocent then and certainly more naive. Perhaps there is part of me that is missing that state of being...that uncomplicated hope. But life happens and learning more inevitably means losing some of that innocence. Thank goodness for all of the television shows from my youth. These shows help me remember who I used to be and what I used to believe in.
Monday, May 5, 2025
review: elf power grip primer + 4% niacinamide
Preparation is key, especially when it comes to increasing the longevity of a makeup look. The right skin care products and primers can make all the difference. With certain products on hand, makeup application can become easier and products will stay put throughout the day. After hearing rave reviews about the Power Grip Primer from elf, it seemed like time to put this much buzzed about item to the test. There are a few versions of the Power Grip Primer available, but I decided on the Power Grip Primer + 4% Niacinamide. Ready for a review of this popular makeup primer? Keep reading for all the details.
Friday, May 2, 2025
#FOTD and mini review: love at 1st sight eyeshadow palette
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
does it work?? heaven's dew all over glimmer (stila)
Monday, April 28, 2025
nail polish review: sally hansen good. kind. pure. lasting color
There were several weeks where my nails were bare. This is not the norm, because I love to have my nails painted. However, life became more complicated and full, so my nails became less important. Now that things are starting to straighten out a bit, it seemed like a good time to paint my nails a nice springtime blue. The shade Blue Moonstone from the Good. Kind. Pure. line from Sally Hansen seemed like the appropriate choice. The bright colour instantly caught my eye. Find out how it performs...
Friday, April 25, 2025
current obsession: kylie cosmetics lip kit in exposed
Wednesday, April 23, 2025
keys soulcare (truly becoming multi-benefit peptide serum)
Monday, April 21, 2025
spring #FOTD: nicole miller (rosy pinks and golden nudes)
Friday, April 18, 2025
review: golden ticket eyeshadow palette (revolution)
Confession: I have been waiting to post about this eyeshadow palette for quite some time. For whatever reason, the 1971 movie, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, has always been an Easter staple for me. Maybe it has to do with all of the candy and chocolate...but it is something that I watch on and around Easter every single year. There are other Easter movies that I like to watch (like Easter Egg Mornin' and Peter Cottontail) but it just would not be Easter without a little Willy Wonka. The Golden Ticket Eyeshadow Palette from Revolution was found many months back at Marshalls for about $10 CDN. Given the theme, the affordable price, and the positive experiences I have had with Revolution products in the past, it was a must.
Wednesday, April 16, 2025
took everything i loved and crushed it in between your fingers.
I came across a blog post recently that bothered me. Several days later, it is still on my mind. For politeness reasons, I will not link to the post, but it was about a young actress who has been the target of an online hate campaign for some time now. This actress has been relentlessly criticized for using her voice. The blog post in question stated that this actress should shut up and smile. Be grateful. Be more feminine. Be sweet. It also compared her directly to another actress. One was positioned as "bad" and the other as "good." Quite frankly, the whole thing made my skin crawl. It is painful when women choose to participate in gendered smear campaigns and attempt to force rigid standards of femininity onto others. Given that this disappointing blog post stirred something up in me, it seemed only appropriate to dedicate my own post to some thoughts that I have about expectations and comparisons. Maybe this post will help me process the frustration that I feel after witnessing such casual cruelty. On the other hand, maybe it won't. But at least I can feel better knowing that I did not shut up and smile.
Monday, April 14, 2025
testing out quo beauty products (eyeshadow, blush, and lip oil)
A lot has changed in the last several months. There have been tariffs and outright threats to the country that I live in thanks to certain politicians across the border. It has changed some things for me. Though there are fair few beauty products that I have purchased already (and will be reviewing over the next little while here on the creation of beauty is art.) my future purchases are likely to look a little bit different. Or slow down altogether. With the Buy Canadian movement underway as a response to the threats made, it seemed like an appropriate time to highlight some products from a Canadian brand: Quo Beauty.
Friday, April 11, 2025
my new portable cd player + current music favourites
My first portable CD player was silver. I loved it dearly and used it all the time. It was only replaced when anti-skip technology came out. Suddenly, it was possible to listen to CDs on-the-go without them skipping. What a thrill! I still have my second portable CD player, though it doesn't work anymore. I feel very nostalgic about it, so that is one piece of old technology that it is difficult to part with. More recently, I asked my husband about a CD player for the shower (I used to have one of those, too. Am I completing dating myself with this post?) since I don't like to stream music. He couldn't find one, but found something even better: a new and improved portable CD player with built in speakers. It was an instant love and it has been keeping me company ever since. Keep reading to take a closer look at the CD player and some of the CDs that I am loving lately.