blue is the warmest colour.

It is amazing how easily makeup products get lost. I store them, try out new things, and forget about those old favourites. Perhaps this is the (only!) drawback of having a lot of makeup. It can be difficult to keep track of it all...let alone use it on a regular basis. Recently I have been buying less and using more. Rather than heading to the makeup counter, I've been digging through my existing collection. Which is how I came across a forgotten favourite, Blues Cafe from NYC. This eyeshadow trio is a drugstore gem, featuring a light blue, medium brown, and a navy shade. The unique combination of colours easily creates a bold yet wearable smokey eye.

Honestly? I haven't tried a ton of NYC products. The ones I have tried though, have really impressed me. The lipsticks? Beautiful? The primer? Winner. But the best of the best has to be the gorgeous eyeshadows. They are extremely affordable - but still have a really beautiful colour payoff. The same was true of the Blues Cafe trio. The shades were nicely pigmented and easy to build. That means a dramatic smokey eye in no time flat. Perfect when you are in a rush but still want to look great.

Now it is time to see those colours in actions. There is the light blue (which is more like a soft blue/white shimmer), the medium brown (which is a little bronzey), and that gorgeous navy. The swatch below will give you a better idea of what the colours look like - and the level of pigmentation.

Now for the makeup look! I used this eyeshadow trio to create a date night look. It was easy to do but added just a hint of glamour. I applied the brown shade all over the lid using a flat brush then used a pencil brush to start adding in the navy. I applied it to the crease and along my lower lash line. The light blue shimmery shade was used on the inner corner and just under the brow bone. The combination of these colours was gorgeous - and I absolutely love how the look turned out. To finish it all off, I created a dramatic cat-eye using my favourite black eyeliner of the moment (the Kat Von D Tattoo Liner. So good!), and added on a bit of mascara. As for the rest of the face, I opted for soft rosy shades on the cheeks and lips.

Are you ready to see the finished look? This is what I created using the Blues Cafe trio from NYC....

I am feeling very good about re-discovering this eyeshadow trio. After all, it helped inspire this makeup look! As I continue to dig through my makeup collection - I am sure there will be plenty more re-discovered favourites making me smile.

What do you think of this makeup look? Have you tried this eyeshadow trio?

xo Shannon

why fit in when you were born to stand out?

Honestly? Things have been stressful and overwhelming lately. I have spent the last couple of weeks reflecting on my past and thinking about the future. What I want, where I hope to go, and what really matters to me. There are a lot of changes ahead of me - and I am in the middle of figuring everything out. Especially in terms of my career. For the last several years, I have dedicated myself to building a writing career, applying for jobs, and chasing after my dream. But it gets harder and harder to push through. At this point? I just want to live the happiest, most fulfilling life possible. So, I am trying to figure out the best way to make that happen.

With so much going on internally, I have dedicated more time to things that make me happy. Like doing my makeup, getting ready to go out, seeing friends, hanging out with my family, and reading. Those little things have reminded me that life is so much more than work. Life is about the memories you make, the people you make them with, and the laughs you have along the way.

Right now, I am trying to make the most of every moment. To focus on beauty both inside and out. Which brings me to today's post. Now that spring is here, I have been all about spring fashion. There is something about the joy, the colours, the fun, that has lifted my spirits considerably. The pastels, the layering.....yes please!

Even though spring is here, the weather has still been pretty chilly. In fact, it was snowing just a week ago! Hard to believe now that we are at the end of April. That is why I created an outfit that would keep me warm - but still embrace spring. I wore a fuzzy bomber jacket over a pastel pink tee with my favourite pair of skinny jeans. Paired with a simple bun and a smokey eye look, it was casual but seasonal. Ready to see my spring inspired look? Here it is!

Life is full of decisions and transitions. But ultimately, it is about finding happiness. Simple things (like putting together an outfit!) are making me happy right now.

What makes you happy? What do you think of this spring outfit?

xo Shannon

YouTube: Before and After - Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer

Guess what? Another video is up! Hard to believe but this is now my fifth video on YouTube. I feel a huge sense of pride about each and every video I have posted. Even though I am still finding my footing…. I really love doing this. In fact, I already have a massive list of video ideas for the months to come. It’s just a matter of finding time in my schedule to film. (Easier said than done when there are always people around!)

My latest is all about the Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer. This is one of my all-time favourite beauty products. Especially once spring and summer roll around. This moisturizer is by far the best gradual tanner on the market. It creates gorgeous glowing skin – without any streaks or unnatural looking areas. It is so easy to apply, too! No wonder I keep coming back to it each and every time the sun starts shining.

Me personally? I am really pale. I mean, really pale. I often struggle to find foundations light enough for my skin. (Anyone else deal with this problem? So annoying!) In the past I tried other self-tanning products but they all made my skin look a little more orange than tan. Not with the Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer! I just love the way it looks. This is seriously a confidence boost in a bottle.

Want to find out more about the Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer? My latest YouTube video is a review – and a before and after of the product in action. If you can, please take a look, comment, like, and subscribe! 

Spring is here. And so is my tan! I couldn’t be happier with the way this product delivers. Year after year I find myself stocking up and re-applying. It is affordable, effective, and easy to use. What more could I possibly ask for? Be sure to check out the creation of beauty is art. YouTube channel to find out more and to check out my other videos!

Do you use self-tanners? Which is your favourite?

xo Shannon

review: hard candy glamoflauge foundation

I remember the first time I tried the Glamoflauge concealer from Hard Candy. After a rave review from one of my favourite YouTube gurus....I simply had to try it. It quickly became one of my holy grail products. I am absolutely obsessed with the coverage. It is by far the best concealer at the drugstore. So, when I saw that Hard Candy had expanded the Glamoflauge line to include a foundation? I was beyond intrigued. Would it have the same amount of coverage? Could it be a full coverage drugstore foundation? Without thinking, I added it to my shopping cart.

The downside? The lighter shades were gone. While I absolutely love Hard Candy for putting out some lighter shades (many other brands fail to do this - which is frustrating for a pale skinned girl like me!) they sold out too fast. Despite this, I bought the lightest shade they had. Just to give it a while. A few weeks later, there were lighter shades back in stock. That means I am now the proud owner of two different shades. One for my normal skin tone and one for when I have my spring/summer tan on. I suppose it worked out alright!

Now to talk about the Glamoflauge foundation. How did it work? The claims are as follows. It is designed with "superfine pigments for a seamless full coverage look." It is meant to give tons of coverage without looking cakey or unnatural, has oil absorption, and 12 hour staying power.

I wanted this foundation to be my new favourite. The one to beat all of the others. Was it? Not so much. While I have read some rave reviews about the foundation, my experience was good but not overwhelmingly wonderful. Unlike the Glamoflauge concealer, the foundation is not intensely pigmented. The coverage is medium. Normally that would be more than fine....but I expected a fuller coverage foundation. Especially given the name! The product goes on smoothly and looks great on the skin. As for the staying power? Average. Certainly not 12 hours worth.

My feelings on this foundation are mixed. I love the way it looks on my skin but it doesn't provide the full coverage I was hoping for. Sigh! I think this is a great foundation for sunny spring days and a date night at the movies. If you are looking for a medium foundation that won't look cakey or heavy, go for the Glamoflauge. Otherwise, stick to your regularly scheduled favourite.

Below is a picture of the Glamoflauge foundation in action....

I admit. I am picky about foundations. I find I feel so-so about most of them, with only a few that I actually love. Despite my hopes that this foundation would be my new fav....it isn't. But that doesn't mean I don't like it! I have no doubt I will be wearing it all season long.

Have you tried the Glamoflauge foundation yet? What did you think of it?

xo Shannon

no spring skips its turn.

Words cannot describe my love affair with spring. There is something magical about it all. Watching the flowers start to bloom....seeing the grass get greener....and getting to wear spring clothes! Okay, I admit. That is by far my favourite part. All winter long, I wore bulky sweater after bulky sweater. Then spring began but the weather was still chilly and miserable. That meant more bulky sweaters! No wonder I am so head over heels in love with spring right now.

Since I am feeling so spring-centric, I thought I would make today's post all about spring fashion. What are my favourite looks? Personally, I love lightweight tops and distressed jeans. Bold accessories. Bright lipstick shades. Flirty floral dresses. Open toe shoes. These are the types of things I have been craving all winter long. Now that spring is here I can actually wear them. Thank goodness for that!

Spring is in the air. That is why I decided to create my ultimate spring outfit. It features: a white lace top, distressed skinny jeans, a statement necklace, a pastel bag, pink pastel pumps, gold bangles, and a soft pink blush. The combination? Simple but statement.

There is something about spring fashion. It is fun, flirty, and easy to wear. Now that the sun is shining and the birds are chirping....it is time to embrace gorgeous seasonal styles. This is my ultimate springtime outfit. What does yours look like?

xo Shannon

what is now called vintage was once brand new.

Retro. Vintage. Old school. Whatever you want to call it, there is something special about fashions from decades past. Me personally? I adore 50s and 60s inspired styles. Think housewives and picnics in the park. I love watching old movies and TV shows where the styles are full of glitz, glamour, and just a hint of flirty sophistication. Which is how I wound up spending over an hour in a retro inspired clothing store. My mom and I were downtown. We had a few hours to kill before checking out a theater performance. Then we came across Tatyana. The window was full of vintage dresses, cute purses, and parasols. Cue excitement!

(Below is a picture of the store window that caught our eye. Amazing, right? Especially that blue printed jump suit. I wanted it so badly but they didn't have it in my size. Alas.)

From that point on, we were like kids in a candy store. My mom and I flitted from rack to rack, gushing over the bold colours and stunning prints. The gorgeous details. The incredible accessories. There was so much to look at, it was like a sensory overload. We tried on dress after dress, just hoping to find the perfect one. And then I did.

It was red with white buttons, a white belt, and white trim. It went past the knee and had a gorgeous full skirt. I didn't stop there. Then I found an equally beautiful purse to go with the bag. It was navy blue with a sparkly white detail and a classic shape. And then there was the scarf. I picked up a black and white scarf with a white bow print. I loved the idea of wearing the pieces together to create a head to toe retro look. Quite frankly, I felt like a million bucks.

Despite the fact that I spent way too much money.....I was over the moon. I spent the rest of the afternoon picturing all of the places I could wear my perfect retro outfit. Thanks to truly awful weather (rainy and cold) I haven't been able to wear it yet. But I will. Oh, I will. And once I do, I will be sure to do a detailed outfit post! For now, here is a peek at the pieces I picked up.

Yes, I love vintage designs. They look amazing and manage to instantly boost my confidence. I honestly cannot wait to wear this outfit. I love the bold red shade and the stunning accessories. My favourite piece? That purse. The shape is identical to one my grandmother used to have in her closet. Every time I hold it, I feel a little closer to her. And that means more than I can describe.

Stumbling upon a fantastic vintage clothing shop? Amazing. The only downside is that I will have to force myself to stay away. Too much time spend in Tatyana will lead to a seriously empty bank account!

What do you think of the new pieces in my wardrobe? Do you love retro styles?

xo Shannon

a smooth sea never made for a skilled sailor.

Life isn't always easy. Especially when you throw in an unexpected curve ball like a rip, tear, broken zipper, or stain. Sound familiar? These are definitely things I have dealt with before. Like the time I spilled my drink during a birthday dinner. Or when the zipper on my purse got stuck.....on the way to my destination. Those unexpected fashion disasters can be frustrating to deal with. And sometimes downright awful! Which is why I am always looking for handy life hacks to make things easier. Anything from how to deal with fly away hairs to how to speed up my morning routine.

It can be challenging to make the most of every moment - and twice as challenging to be prepared for those unexpected moments. Thankfully, there are ways to deal with even the biggest fashion emergencies. From a missing button to an unsightly stain. All it takes is a little creativity. Oh, and a few expert tips! After checking out this infographic from Paul Fredrick, I was instantly impressed. There were some fantastic life hacks to make those mini-emergencies a thing of the past.

So, on that note....here is the infographic. Take a look and get ready to say goodbye to the pesky dress shirt mishaps.

These are just a few ideas to make your life a little bit simpler. Whether you are dealing with a dilemma at the office or find yourself cursing that super cute button down post-dinner reservation.....these life hacks will be here to help. My personal favourite has to be the ink stain removal tip. I like to write things by hand rather than type absolutely everything. So I am known to deal with those annoying ink stains every now and again. No more! Thank goodness for that.

Have you tried out any of these tips? How do you deal with fashion emergencies?

xo Shannon