YouTube: Almay Healthy Glow Foundation Review

With an upcoming trip to Las Vegas, one thing has been on my mind: a tan. I avoid tanning in the sun as much as possible (because skin cancer is bad. Oh, and I burn like a crisp) so fake tanner is an essential part of my spring and summer routine. My go-to products are always ready during this time of year....but I was intrigued by the Almay Healthy Glow Makeup & Gradual Self Tan Foundation.

It seemed like an effortless way to warm up my skin before my getaway. And not nearly as laborious as a full blown tanning routine! As long as I ended up with gorgeous glowing skin, I would be more than happy with the product. If only that happened. This did not meet my expectations whatsoever.

Want to find out why? See how it performed? Then take a look at the latest YouTube video on the creation of beauty is art. It is a full review of the Almay Healthy Glow Foundation.



I really wanted this product to be my go-to summer foundation. Sadly, it did not deliver on most of the claims. My skin was not tanned. At all. If it didn't say "gradual tanner" on the front of the bottle, I never would have known it was supposed to be anything more than a standard foundation. This was a letdown for sure. And a pricey one at that!

Have you tried this product? Did it work for you?

xo Shannon

new in: mall haul

Shopping is more than just a pastime...it is a passion. I love finding new treasures, uncovering great deals, and spending time with a friend or family member. For me, shopping is a way of life. It had been a long time since I'd had a proper day out at the mall, though. Three months to be exact. Despite the fact that my wallet was jumping for joy during the shopping hiatus, my spirit was less than impressed.

Last weekend, I finally went out for a little retail therapy. At first, I felt rusty. I was struggling to get into the experience and afraid to spend money. By the end of the day? I'd returned to my shopping splendor. Which is why today's post is all about my long overdue mall haul. There were trips to Sephora, H&M, Forever 21, Hot Topic, and so much more!

Lately, I have not been feeling my wardrobe. I needed a few new things to spice it up. That is how I wound up with some cute sweatshirts, a cut out top, some new shoes, and a David Bowie jacket. These are the perfect ways to add personality to my next look!

Then there was Hot Topic. This store is my biggest weakness because I want everything they sell there. They had a massive Disney section at the front, so I treated myself to a Beauty and The Beast tank, a Pocahontas tee, a Moana shirt, some Pop figures, a Stitch bow, Beauty and the Beast earrings, and a few other odds and ends.

Oh, Sephora. I have been trying very hard not to go in lately, because it would be impossible not to spend money. Turns out, that was all too true. I picked up the new NARS eyeshadow duo, the Kat Von D Alchemist Palette, and the Too Faced white chocolate chip palette. (Don't worry! Full reviews will be appearing on the blog in the weeks to come!)

Here are a few of the other things I picked up, including a zebra print dress, a DVD set and shirt (from HMV, my favourite store, which is sadly closing), and a Clinique sample set.

Boy, do I love to shop! I had a blast hanging out at the mall and adding new pieces to my wardrobe. (And new makeup to my always growing collection!) It was a much needed experience.

Do you love to shop? What have you picked up recently?

xo Shannon

happiness is believing in unicorns.

Have you ever had one of those days? Your to do list is endless, there are a million things on your mind, and yet you feel completely and totally out of it? That happened to me recently. Even though there were things I could be doing (like editing YouTube videos, working on articles, or catching up on cleaning/organizing)....I sat around doing nothing at all. My mind was unfocused and my energy was non-existent. Begrudgingly, I pulled out my laptop. Maybe there was a new video to watch. Or some celebrity gossip to catch up on. Before I knew it, I was creating a unicorn inspired outfit. That's right. Unicorn fashion.

This trend is one that always makes me smile. As does the emoji trend. There is something so whimsical and fun about the bright colours and shapes. It takes me back to my youth, for sure! With winter on the way out (despite the fact that it keeps snowing and the temperatures are below freezing....I am optimistic about the return of spring), bright, pretty colours are at the forefront of my mind. Which you can definitely tell by the outfit that I whipped up.

Be sure to take a look and let me know what you think of this unicorn inspired ensemble.

As you can see, this look is all about colour. There are pastel shades, glitter, and bold accessories. I cannot think of anything better! Especially with spring right around the corner. Want to create your own unicorn inspired outfit? Get playful with makeup colours (and don't be afraid of a statement lipstick), wear lots and lots of glitter, and embrace softer shades. You will look amazing!

By the time I finished putting together this little unicorn look...my mood dramatically improved. That blah feeling had faded - and I felt focused and optimistic. It's amazing what makeup and fashion can do. They are constant sources of inspiration, joy, and excitement. On that note, I hope you enjoyed this unicorn inspired look.

What inspires you? Do you like the unicorn trend?

xo Shannon

music is an outburst of the soul.

It has been a while. Five years, to be exact. My best friend and I went to see Simple Plan in concert...and dressed up like our teenage selves. There were trucker hats, band t-shirts, and old-school accessories. This is a band that has been a part of my life since my high school days. In the past, I have seen them in concerts, gone to TV tapings, and even sat on the pavement for eight hours in the middle of winter just to meet them. So...when Simple Plan announced they were coming to town, we knew that we had to be there.

This concert has been a long time coming. Not only had it been five years since we last saw them....but this show was re-scheduled and pushed back four months. Finally it happened. We spent the day playing with makeup, getting dressed up in our punk-pop ensembles, and reminiscing about old times. It was a blast. Before long, we were making the trip downtown to see Simple Plan in concert.

The show itself was phenomenal - but I knew it would be. (And not just because I peeked at the set list beforehand!) My friend and I had spent so much time plotting, planning, and getting excited about the show. There was no way it was going to disappoint. We were in the right head space and were eager for an extraordinary night out. That is exactly what we got. The best part? When we showed our tickets to get inside....we were upgraded to a closer section. Then once we got to our section and the show started, we were upgraded again. Somehow, we went from the 300 section to fifth row. It was incredible. It was a fun surprise that added to the excitement of the evening.

For today's post, I wanted to share a couple of concert photos with you.... and give you a peek at my makeup and outfit choice. My inspiration for the makeup was grunge makeup and rust shades. As for the outfit, it was high school me (black and white Vans, giant white studs, and skulls galore) with my hairstyle inspired by my emo days. It was fun to play around and get creative!

So, without further ado, here are some concert highlights....

Simple Plan is a big part of my life. Their music has been there for me in good and bad times - and I am proud to call myself a fan. The only thing better than seeing one of their shows? Seeing it with my best friend. It was an incredible night.

Do you like going to concerts? What is the last one you went to?

xo Shannon

review: artdeco eyeshadow base

I tend to cheap out on makeup essentials. It's bad, I know, but there is something so unexciting about a primer, moisturizer, and concealer. Don't get me wrong...these products are important. In fact, they can make or break your overall look. But they just don't excite me the way a stunning eyeshadow shade does or a beautiful new blush. I feel the same way about clothes. My wardrobe tends to lack many essential items because I find them so dull. I prefer to spend my money on fun things rather than practical necessities.

Which explains why my favourite eyeshadow primer comes from E.l.f. Simply put, it is cheap and works well. Why bother trying anything else? In the past, I have used other eyeshadow primers from Benefit, Too Faced, and Urban Decay. Typically, I'd have a sample or they had been included in an eyeshadow set. I liked them fine, but didn't see a noticeable difference. Especially when you consider the price difference. Spending the extra money just didn't seem worth it.

Then my husband brought home the ARTDECO Eyeshadow Base. He had seen it at work and thought I might like to give it a try. How sweet! Unfortunately, the eye primer worked better than anything I had ever used before. The bottle is small and easy to use, the product glides on effortlessly, makes my eyeshadows pop, and helps them last all day without creasing. It is pretty much the perfect product. Except that it costs $15 for a small jar of primer. Sigh! Now I am left with the ultimate beauty dilemma....to repurchase or not to repurchase?

Let's break it down. There is a $10 price difference. Both products are easy to use. Each one works well but the ARTDECO base is silky, smooth, and pure perfection. So, is is time to up the anty on my eyeshadow primer? I am on the fence. Part of me wants to continue using my trusty (and affordable) E.l.f. primer while the other part wants to splurge on this fabulous ARTDECO primer.

Help me out here! Which primer should I use? E.l.f. or ARTDECO?

xo Shannon

new in: nyx liquid suede

The easiest way to my heart? Makeup. Which is exactly why my husband skips bouquets of flowers and brings me makeup instead. Earlier in the week, he did just that, treating me to a set of NYX Liquid Suede cream lipsticks. Talk about true love! The set included the shades: Respect The Pink, Sway, and Subversive Socialite. The first was a bright Barbie doll kind of pink, the second, a bright purple, and the last a deep vampy purple.

In the past, I have tried a handful of the Liquid Suede shades and love them. The formula is creamy, easy to apply, and comfortable on the lips. Plus, the pigmentation is always on point. These are high-quality lipsticks that last well and look amazing. After trying these three new shades, I have to say, Respect The Pink is my all-time favourite from the Liquid Suede line. It is bright, bold, and so fun. I feel confident whenever I put it on. Sway is another favourite. This colour is bold and bright as well...but super easy to wear. It will be a must have once springtime rolls around. The last, Subversive Socialite, is ultra vampy and would be great for fall.

Since I already had my colourful Kim K look going on from my last post...I decided to snap a few pictures of the NYX shades in action. Take a look and let me know which colour you like best.

Left to Right: Respect The Pink, Sway, and Subversive Socialite. 

NYX is a brand that continues to impress me. Which is probably why there are so many NYX products in my makeup collection! These shades are drop dead gorgeous - and I cannot wait to wear them over and over again.

If you're looking for some more colour inspiration, be sure to check out my latest YouTube video. It is a review of the Too Faced Totally Cute palette. The best part? It features three different looks created with the eyeshadow shades! Take a look if you get a moment...

What do you think of these shades? Are you a fan of NYX?

xo Shannon

inspired by: kim kardashian's snapchat makeup

It isn't too often that something really catches my attention on Snapchat. Sure, I love to follow my favourite celebrities and see what they're up to. But it's not often that I bother to screenshot something. But then a little while back, Kim Kardashian posted the makeup look, shown above. It immediately took my breath away. There was something about the bright colours and that ultra contoured face that just struck me. I knew right away that I wanted to try to re-create the look for myself. 

My reasoning? To follow through with some of my beauty resolutions. One of them was to be more adventurous when it comes to makeup. There are certain types of looks that I love to do - and wear often. But I want to continue to grow, learn, and sharpen my skills. That means continuing to try new things and really get out of my comfort zone. This Kim Kardashian Snapchat makeup seemed like the perfect place to start. It was full of bold, mermaid-like colours. What could be better than that? 

So...without further ado. Here is my version of this ultra bold, glamorous, and bright makeup look. Definitely let me know what you think of it. 

It can be a lot of fun to get creative and do something different. Being playful with colour is something that is constantly on my to-do list...and this Kim Kardashian makeup look was a great place to start. 

What do you think of this makeup look? Do you like to wear bright colours?

xo Shannon