review: milani colour statement lipstick

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. 

 

I've been trying to buy less lip products and use more of the ones that I already have. But that plan quickly went out the window when I found these Colour Statement Lipsticks from Milani! I have a few things from this brand, and what I do have, I love. So....I went for it. And honestly, I'm glad that I did.

There were a few different shades to choose from but Flamingo Pose and Naturally Chic stood out to me the most. Why? Flamingo Pose was this super vibrant pinkish red. I love how bright, fun, and bold it is! I find myself wearing this one when I want a wearable pop of colour. As for Naturally Chic, it's a really deep brownish red. I think this is going to be one I reach for a lot during Fall. It's such a rich shade!

Here are the swatches: (Left: Flamingo Pose, Right: Naturally Chic)

When it comes to the colours themselves, I just love them. It's also fantastic that the colour really builds, so it can be as bold as you want! Plus, the packaging is really pretty and glam...always a good thing. They definitely are great additions to my lipstick collection.

My only issue is that these lipsticks aren't particularly moisturizing on the lips. This probably won't affect most people, but I happen to have dry lips...which means that I always need to add chapstick over top. (Story of my life!) If this isn't a problem for you, then you will absolutely love these fabulous shades. They last well and look great.

Have you tried anything from Milani? What do you think of these lipstick shades?

xo Shannon

success is about enjoying the process.

Today's post is kind of special to me. Why? I'm celebrating 100, 000 page views for my blog! It's hard to believe, but I've finally reached that milestone. I still remember when I first started out....I had ten, ten views. I couldn't get over it - it was so exciting to me. Now, here I am with over 100, 000 page views. Crazy.

I just wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you! The fact that anyone reads this blog (or continues to read it!) means the absolute world to me. This has certainly been a labour of love and I appreciate all of the support you've shown over the last couple of years. In short? Thank you, thank you, thank you.


xo Shannon

love it or leave it?

Oh, Emma. What happened? I've mentioned on this blog before (and in previous love it or leave it? posts), I adore Emma Watson. Not only is she a super talented actress, but she has stunning style. I definitely admire her bold fashion choices....most of the time.

At the GQ Men of the Year Awards, Emma hit the red carpet wearing.....this ensemble. Eeesh. Since it's Emma, I wanted to love what she wore. Unfortunately, I just couldn't. Between the cream crop top and that awful cape, everything about this look misses. Plus, there are the ill-fitting pants to consider. They flare out and then bunch around the ankles - and they are super loose and unflattering at the back. Not a good look.

Why was this such a miss? Instead of looking chic and fashion forward, I felt that this whole look looked old fashioned and just plain ugly.  Sadly, I'm also not a fan of those clunky black shoes or even her makeup. Nothing seemed to come together right.

So, what did I love? Well, nothing. With this red carpet look, I think every single aspect of it was a definite leave it. Such a shame! But hey - that's just my opinion. Now, I'm ready to hear yours!

What do you think of Emma Watson's red carpet look....love it or leave it?

xo Shannon

review: benefit the rich is back!

Who doesn't love Benefit? I swear, the more products that I try from them, the more I fall in love! I am always so impressed with the quality of their makeup. I've tried a lot of face stuff by Benefit - primers, highlights and that sort of thing. (I'm also obsessed with the They're Real! mascara. It's just so good!) But I just can't resist little sets like this. Plus, it was on sale at Sephora for $28 - crazy!

So, I picked up Benefit's The Rich is Back set. Ready to find out my thoughts and check out some swatches? Here goes!

The set included 4 shimmery eyeshadows, one mini They're Real! mascara, the Inferno lipgloss, and one powder blush (along with a blush brush). That's a lot of products for such a great price! Now for my review.

The Shadows:

I have to say, I was super impressed by the eyeshadows. I've never tried any shadows from Benefit before, but I'm glad that I did! The texture is super soft and each of the shadows are really pigmented. They go on easily and last really well. So impressed! The colours are gorgeous as well. There is an emerald green, shimmery white, brown, and gold shade. They are definitely my kind of colours.

Here are the swatches:

The Mascara:

I've raved about They're Real! in the past. Mostly, because it's amazing. It creates gorgeous, full looking lashes with tons of length. It lasts so well too - in fact, it doesn't budge at all. I'm also a big fan of the rubber bristled wand. It is the perfect mascara! It's always handy to have an extra one around.

The Lipgloss:

When it comes to lipglosses, I'm always kind of hesitant. This is because generally, I'm not a huge fan. I hate glosses that feel sticky - which a lot of them do. My favourites are NARS - they are perfectly pigmented and not sticky. I was super excited to find out that the same can be said for Benefit's Inferno! It is a gorgeous deep red shade that doesn't feel sticky. It's the perfect pop of glamorous colour.

The Blush: 

I am a blush addict. To say the least! So, I always love trying out different shades. I was hesitant at first, to be honest. In the pan, this blush looks a little too neutral for me - but it actually packs a lot of punch! It has a gorgeous rich colour and a silky texture. I was definitely pleased with this blush colour.

Here are swatches of the lipgloss and blush:

If you couldn't tell - I love this set from Benefit. I find myself reaching for it an awful lot - and I have a feeling I'll be taking this one away when I travel. It's compact, sturdy, and has a lot of versatility...what more do you need?

Since I've been so into this set lately, I decided to take a picture of one of the makeup looks I created with it! I love that subtle pop of colour the emerald gives. Gorgeous! Here is my finished look:

Do you have this set? What are your favourite Benefit products?

xo Shannon

life without a phone is riskier, lonelier, more vivid.

The impossible has happened....I've upgraded my phone! For a normal person, this isn't a big deal. For me, it's shocking. I have had 3 cell phones in my lifetime. Yup, just three. The last phone I had was so awful that it lost signal at random and started roaming in my bedroom. It was just so bad...which is why I finally decided to get a new one.

I chose the Blackberry Curve. I've never had a smart phone before, so baby steps! Also, I like that it has buttons, since I'm awful with touch screen anything. It didn't hurt that there was a super great deal on it as well. So far, I am really happy with my decision. I can text, get my emails, and check my Facebook and Twitter. Who knew?

Since I'm all excited about my new phone, I thought I would share pictures of my phone covers. I wanted something girly and pink. Success!

What do you think of these phone covers? What kind of phone do you have?

xo Shannon

if the colour fits, wear it.

It's time for another nail post! Last time, I went for a super neutral tan. This time? I chose a colour that was a little more...me.

Honestly, I am still getting used to having my nails done. While I can't be nearly as adventurous as I'd like, it feels really good to be pampered sometimes. Since I work pretty much all the time, I love being able to have that time to focus on myself. It's definitely a good thing!

As for my current colour? Perfection. It's a mix between mint green and Tiffany blue. It's super pretty but it still feels really current and trendy. This is a nail colour I can see myself getting again in the future.

Ready to see my latest nail colour?

What do you think of this nail polish colour? What do your nails look like right now?

xo Shannon

the summer night is like a perfection of thought.

Wow, it's September. Somehow this month snuck up on me even faster than usual. There's something about the beginning of September that always makes me a little sad. Summer is clinging to its last days and fall is approaching...fast.

I think I find fall especially difficult, because summer always feels a little more carefree. Even though I spent this summer working (for the most part. I did manage to have a lot of fun days, too!) - it seems easier to make plans, go do fun activities, and generally enjoy life a little bit more. Once fall hits, it always feels like a major dose of reality. There are less fun days out to distract from the constant workload and pressure.

That's probably why I'm always a little hesitant about fall. I want to be excited, but outside of gorgeous fall fashion, there's a whole lot less to look forward to. Sigh. I suppose this post is a little less optimistic as I hoped! It's just a little sad when those beautiful summer days and perfect summer evenings come to a close.

On a more positive note, I have some truly wonderful memories from this summer. Some of my highlights are going on random rollerblading treks with my boyfriend and celebrating our year and a half anniversary together.

In one last-ditch celebration of summer, here is a collage with some of my favourite pictures from the season.

There shall be eternal summer in the grateful heart. 

- Celia Thaxter

What will you miss the most about summer? Did you have any summer highlights?

xo Shannon