Life Recently...

Hi, everyone! I thought I'd do something a bit different today and share some photos I've taken over the past month, many of which aren't makeup or beauty related. I don't do lifestyle entries often, but I've been having some fun with my new camera and thought I'd post some of the favourite pictures I've snapped over the past month or so. January has been quite a stressful and busy month for me, but these photos remind me that it has been packed with many fun, exciting, colourful moments as well. Hope you enjoy them!

The view from my boyfriend's condo, looking out over Lake Ontario. What an incredible sky! 

Some of my favourite necklaces hanging from my desk lamp and a very old photo of my sister and I :) 

The bf makes the most delicious (and beautiful!) breakfasts ever. I am spoiled, really. 

Look! It's the North Pole in my freezer! Hope Santa likes Korean dumplings and frozen sweet potato fries :) 

Of course I had to include a couple makeup photos! Got this Tarte Amazonian Clay eyeliner set for Christmas and have been loving it! More pics and a review to come soon :)

Sadie really loves my Santa toilet seat cover. Somewhere warm for her to sit when she's watching me brush my teeth! :) 

My boyfriend got me a vintage typewriter for our three-year anniversary. Such a thoughtful gift, as I always swoon over old typewriters in thrift shops. And it's bright red!

Got a super adorable and quirky desk calendar for 2013. Check out January!

My sister got me this great little book for Christmas. I love reading about makeup history and techniques and trends over the decades, so I've been devouring this (in the figurative sense, of course ;)

Went up to the top of the CN Tower here in Toronto over the weekend. Such an incredible view! 

Toronto's downtown core, from the top of the CN Tower

BF, taking in the scenery :)

Me, on top of the world :)

And that's it! Let me know if you'd like to see more posts like this in the future! Makeup and beauty-related posts will always be my focus, but I'm happy to include more lifestyle tidbits if there's enough interest :)

What have all of you been up to this January?

Cheers xoxo

Nail of the Day: Essie Mint Candy Apple

Hi, everyone! Time for another 'Nail of the Day'. Today's installment features one of my new favourite shades for winter, Essie Mint Candy Apple. Although I first witnessed bloggers touting this shade over the summer (it really is quite bright and cheery!), I picked this up in December and actually find it to be a great complement to the cold weather. To me, the cool minty-blue hue conjures up images of frost, ice, and other highlights of a chilly winter landscape. Though I love deeper, vampy shades during fall and winter, steering away from the usual can often pay off and Mint Candy Apple is an example of just that!

As you can see, Mint Candy Apple is a cool-toned, nearly pastel greenish blue with an opaque, slightly shiny finish. I like to apply 2-3 coats for full opacity and colour payoff, but you could definitely get away with one solid coat if you're in a rush or  prefer a sheerer look. Here are a few more photos!

And I apologize for the somewhat sloppy manicure. I wore this over the holidays and I think the laziness inherent in Christmas relaxation dulled my ability to apply the polish neatly. Oh well! Hope this still gives you a good idea of the shade and finish :)

Have any of you tried Essie Mint Candy Apple? Thoughts? Any other pastel-like shades that you enjoy wearing during the colder months?

Impromptu Kitty Photo Shoot

Just a quick little post to hopefully bring a smile to your face (since many of us likely have a case of the Mondays today). This is what happens as soon as I take my makeup out of my photo studio:

She really is quite photogenic :) Happy Monday, everyone!

Lipsticks For... When You want to give Barbie a Run for Her Money

This installment of arranging my lipstick collection by colour family (check out these links if you're interested in my vampy or coral lipsticks) features perhaps my most-loved ranged of shades: hot pinks. From bright bubble gums to vivid violets and every iteration of fuchsia in between. Despite the bold and vibrant nature of the lipsticks below, I surprisingly find them among the easiest to wear. These tones really brighten up my complexion and bring with them an immediate aura of fun, flirtiness, and femininity. And alliteration, apparently ;)

I find that pairing a bright fuchsia lip with dramatic black liner is a simple and fool-proof way to instantly create a bit of drama and edginess without having to slave over a smokey eye or contend with a high-maintenance red lipstick. I turn to any of the lovely shades below when I want to let my lips to the talking (since that's what lips do best!). 

Here they are:

(L-R): MAC Amplified Lipstick in Chatterbox, Anna Sui Lip Rouge V #361, MAC Amplified Lipstick in Impassioned, Lush Emotional Brilliance Liquid Lipstick in Believe, MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Lickable, NARS Semi-Matte Lipstick in Schiap, Lush Emotional Brilliance Liquid Lipstick in Passionate, YSL Rouge Volupte in Rose Culte 

Some closer-up views of the lipsticks:

(L-R): MAC Amplified Lipstick in Chatterbox, Anna Sui Lip Rouge V #361, MAC Amplified Lipstick in Impassioned 

(L-R): Lush Emotional Brilliance Liquid Lipstick in Believe, MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Lickable, NARS Semi-Matte Lipstick in Schiap 

(L-R): NARS Semi-Matte Lipstick in Schiap (also in last photo), Lush Emotional Brilliance Liquid Lipstick in Passionate, YSL Rouge Volpute in Rose Culte

And swatches!

(L-R): MAC Amplified Lipstick in Chatterbox, Anna Sui Lip Rouge V #361, MAC Amplified Lipstick in Impassioned, Lush Emotional Brilliance Liquid Lipstick in Believe, MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Lickable, NARS Semi-Matte Lipstick in Schiap, Lush Emotional Brilliance Liquid Lipstick in Passionate, YSL Rouge Volupte in Rose Culte 

Closeups of the swatches:

(L-R): MAC Amplified Lipstick in Chatterbox, Anna Sui Lip Rouge V #361, MAC Amplified Lipstick in Impassioned, Lush Emotional Brilliance Liquid Lipstick in Believe

(L-R): MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Lickable, NARS Semi-Matte Lipstick in Schiap, Lush Emotional Brilliance Liquid Lipstick in Passionate, YSL Rouge Volupte in Rose Culte 

Amazingly, I've featured 7 of the 8 lipstick shades from this post in previous blog entries, so I've linked them after the reviews!

MAC Amplified Lipstick in Chatterbox is a perky bubblegum pink with a nearly-opaque, semi-matte finish. It's just yellow-toned enough that it avoids the dreaded silvery-icy-pink look. Quite fresh and pretty! You can see a review and photos of it here.
Anna Sui Lip Rouge V #361 is a semi-sheer, yet vibrant warm pink that really brightens up the face. You can see a review of it here!
MAC Amplified Lipstick in Impassioned is among my favourite MAC lipsticks. It's a yellow-toned hot pink with excellent pigmentation. The perfect bright summer shade that's not for the feint of heart! See a review and pictures of it here.
Lush Emotional Brilliance Liquid Lipstick in Believe is a warm, vivid red-toned pink that offers an intesne colour payoff and long wear. I picked this up recently and am so glad I did!
MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Lickable is a shade that I bought years ago and has been a mainstay in my collection since. It's a slightly cool-toned cherry fuchsia with great pigmentation and a slightly shiny finish. Yummy! You can see me wearing it here.
NARS Semi-Matte Lipstick in Schiap is such an iconic shade. Its semi-matte finish and cool, violet-toned fuchsia hue make it truly unique! Edgy, but uber feminine. See my "ode" to it, here!
Lush Emotional Brilliance Liquid Lipstick in Passionate is a full-fledged, deep, cool fuchsia that packs a serious punch of colour. The longest-wearing of all the hot pink lipsticks I've featured, by far. You can see me wearing it (plus read my initial impressions of the Emotional Brilliance line) here!
YSL Rouge Volupte in Rose Culte is a deep, berry-toned shade that is just bright enough that it fell in the hot pink category, rather than being nestled in with the vampy shades. It offers opaque, but shiny colour that feels great on the lips. You can see a review and photos of it here!

And here is a photo of me wearing Lush Emotional Brilliance Liquid Lipstick in Believe, the only shade I haven't linked above. It's the newest addition to my collection of bright pinks and I quite like it. Vibrant, indeed!

Me wearing Lush Emotional Brilliance Lipstick in Believe

And finally, a couple extra-large shots of the lipsticks and the corresponding swatches:

(L-R): MAC Amplified Lipstick in Chatterbox, Anna Sui Lip Rouge V #361, MAC Amplified Lipstick in Impassioned, Lush Emotional Brilliance Liquid Lipstick in Believe, MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Lickable, NARS Semi-Matte Lipstick in Schiap, Lush Emotional Brilliance Liquid Lipstick in Passionate, YSL Rouge Volupte in Rose Culte 

There it is! This was really a fun post to put together, since bright pinks, fuchsias, and berries have a special place in my collection. They're an instant pick-me up!

Do you have and love (or hate?) any of the shades I've featured here? Any other all-time favourite, must-have hot pink shades in your own collection?

Thanks for reading :)

Look of the Day: Beg for Bronze

Hey, everyone! Today's look of the day features a smokey bronze eye and flushed, coral cheek. This is definitely more dramatic than my everyday look, but I think it would still be quite easy to pull this off for daytime. By balancing the eye and cheek with a soft, subtle lip, it stays sultry, but wearable!

The stars of this look are the NARS Cordura Eye Shadow Duo and Illamasqua Powder Blush in Beg. The Cordura duo features a warm, mid-tone orange brown and a deep, bronzy chocolate shade. They work so well together to create a brown smokey eye! I've paired the duo with the unique golden-white shimmer of Shu Uemura Pressed Eye Shadow in IR911. They blend so well together! Illamasqua Beg was a purchase made late last year when Illamasqua finally made its way to Canada (a banner day, let me tell you!). I had been dying to try a couple of their other blushes (Lover and Hussy, specifically), but it was Beg that caught my eye that day. It was the perfect warm, caramel-toned coral shade that didn't look like anything else in my collection. I had to have it!

Here is a closeup of the eye makeup, demonstrating how well the Cordura Duo and Shu IR911 work together. Not the clearest photo, unfortunately, but hopefully you get the idea!

And now, a breakdown of what I used!

Foundation: Revlon ColourStay Whipped Creme Makeup in Buff
Concealer: NYX Above and Beyond Full Coverage Concealer in 03 Light
Powder: Lush Emotional Brilliance Translucent Face Powder
Bronzer: Hard Candy So Baked Bronzer in Hula Hula
Blush: Illamasqua Powder Blush in Beg

Brows: Anastasia Brow Powder Duo in Ash Blonde
Primer: Urban Decay Primer Potion in Eden
Eye Shadows: NARS Cordura Eye Shadow Duo (lighter brown shade generously on crease and outer corner; deeper bronze shade precisely in crease to add definition) and Shu Uemura Pressed Eye Shadow in IR911 (as a highlight on brow bone, inner corners of the eye, and centre of the lid)
Eyeliner: Holika Holika Jewel-Light Waterproof Eyeliner in 01 (Black)
Mascara: Clinique Lash Doubling in Black

Lips: MAC Modesty Lipstick topped with Bourjois Effect 3D Les Nudes Lip Gloss in #36 Fleur d'Oranger Poetic

And a few more views of the look:

What are some of your favourite eye shadows to create a brown smokey eye? Any Illamasqua blushes that you can't live without?

Thanks for reading! xoxo

Veracious Product Review: Lush Popcorn Lip Scrub

Hi, everyone! Sorry for the relative lack of posts lately. School has been quite demanding over the past few weeks, but I'm finally reaching a bit of a lull (well, as much of a lull as grad school allows), so I'm hoping to be more prolific in the coming weeks!

Today's post is a review to a little product that I bought back in November and have been using religiously since. A treat quite small and unassuming, but incredibly unique and effective! From the picture below I'm sure you've gathered that this lovely treat is Lush Popcorn Lip Scrub. As noted in the description, it's a lip exfoliant that has a popcorn scent that's a delectable mix of sweet and salty goodness. Mmmm....

The scrub is contained in a cute little glass jar that's compact enough to fit in my bag, but weighty enough to feel a bit luxe. Looking at the ingredients, I was pleased to see that the list was relatively brief and that the contents were largely recognizable and natural. The main ingredients in the scrub are sugar, jojoba oil, salt, corn meal, coconut oil, and (maybe the most unique ingredient ever!), fizzy candy. This concoction makes for a truly sweet and salty treat that feels nourishing on the lips. And it's vegan!

Lush Popcorn Lip Scrub Ingredient List

Here's a photo to demonstrate the texture of the scrub. As you can see, it's definitely grainy (due to the sugar and salt) and has a drier texture than expected. Despite the oils in the formula, the product doesn't feel overly oily on the lips. Instead, the oils subtly blend into the lips as the scrubby bits dissolve.

Lush Popcorn Lip Scrub

Here's a bit of a 'before and after' to show the amazing results of the scrub. First, a "before" shot of my lips. Not the clearest photo ever (was still adjusting to my new camera), but you can tell that my lips look slightly chapped, dull, and pale.

And here is a photo of the lip scrub on my lips. As you can see, the texture really is of salt and sugar. Grainy, but the oils in the formula prevent it from being too harsh. I rub the formula into my lips for several seconds to get the exfoliation going, then (as Lush recommends, since the ingredients are all natural), I just lick off the excess. Easy!

And here's a shot of my lips after using the Popcorn scrub. They're definitely smoother, softer, and rosier! I've used lip scrubs in the past that don't do much except offer a pleasant fragrance, so it was fantastic to see that this product actually made a difference!

Here's a breakdown of the ups and downs of this great little product:

Pros:

• A highly effective lip exfoliator! Makes a difference that you can see and feel!
• A little goes a long way, so this tiny pot will last forever!
• Smells incredible. Not exactly like popcorn as Lush suggests, but still an incredible mix of sweet and salty goodness.
• Tastes delicious. Yes, the purpose of this scrub is not to eat it, but it's nice for a lip product to have a pleasant flavour. Who wants a lip scrub that tastes of wax or chemicals?
• Vegan and cruelty-free. Always a bonus!
• Leaves lips moisturized without a greasy feel.

Cons

• Doesn't quite smell like popcorn. Not too much of a negative for me, but may disappoint those who are seeking that authentic movie theatre scent.
• Slightly messy to use. Because it isn't smooth and creamy, the dry texture makes it difficult to get a good amount of product onto your finger, and there's always a bit of fallout when transferring it onto the lips.
• Limited edition, so it might be hard to track down nowadays. 

Overall, I've really been happy with this product. This sweet, salty offering from Lush has been a saviour for my dry, chapped lips this winter. Although it's a bit difficult to use, the awkwardness of application is made up for by its incredible this effectiveness and scent! It's quite disappointing that this was a limited edition Holiday product, as the scent would definitely be appealing year-round (and because I hate touting products that may be currently difficult to find). I really hope this makes an appearance next Christmas as well!

My crush on this product makes me really curious about the other lip scrubs that Lush in in its roster. They offer a few other scents that really pique my interest (Mint Julep? Yes, please!) but I'm curious about whether these other  varieties have equally effective formulas. Have any of you tried any of the Lush Lip Scrubs? Any favourites?

Thanks for reading :)

Lipsticks for... When you crave Citrus and Coral

Hi, everyone! If you read my last post, you'll know that I'm in the process or organizing, swatching, and photographing all of my lipsticks by colour family. Not a small task, but what better way to appreciate my collection!? The goal is to put these lovely lip colours on display, remind myself that I don't need a tenth berry-toned lipstick, and, of course, to share them with you in hopes that you might find the perfect shade you've been lusting after! To see my previous post on deep, vampy lipsticks, see here!

Today's post features the lipsticks in my collection that are guaranteed to make you feel a bit tropical. Amdist the chill and shadows of winter, what better way to fake a bit of warmth than with lip colours that mimic the hues of citrus and coral? The lipsticks below range from true, bold oranges to softer, pink-toned corals. All of them are warm, summery, and fun! Hope you find a shade that you like! Let's get to it:

(L-R) MAC Supreme Sheen Lipstick in Korean Candy, Revlon Moon Drops Lipstick in Orange Flip, Lush Emotional Brilliance Lipstick in Power, MAC Amplified Lipstick in Vegas Volt, Hourglass Femme Rouge in Muse, NARS Satin Lipstick in Niagara, Lush Emotional Brilliance Lipstick in Vibrance, Mark Full Colour Lipstick in Coral Fixation, MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Crosswires

Some closer-up shots of the lipsticks:

(L-R): MAC Supreme Sheen Lipstick in Korean Candy, Revlon Moon Drops Lipstick in Orange Flip, Lush Emotional Brillaince Liquid Lipstick in Power, MAC Amplified Lipstick in Vegas Volt

(L-R): MAC Amplified Lipstick in Vegas Volt (carried over from last photo), Hourglass Femme Rouge in Muse, NARS Satin Lipstick in Niagara

(L-R): Lush Emotional Brilliance Liquid Lipstick in Vibrance, Mark Full Colour Lipstick in Coral Fixation, MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Crosswires 

And now for some swatches! The lipsticks are in the exact same order as the above pictures, left to right:

(L-R) MAC Supreme Sheen Lipstick in Korean Candy, Revlon Moon Drops Lipstick in Orange Flip, Lush Emotional Brilliance Lipstick in Power, MAC Amplified Lipstick in Vegas Volt, Hourglass Femme Rouge in Muse, NARS Satin Lipstick in Niagara, Lush Emotional Brilliance Lipstick in Vibrance, Mark Full Colour Lipstick in Coral Fixation, MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Crosswires

Some closer-up views of the swatches:

(L-R) MAC Supreme Sheen Lipstick in Korean Candy, Revlon Moon Drops Lipstick in Orange Flip, Lush Emotional Brilliance Lipstick in Power, MAC Amplified Lipstick in Vegas Volt, Hourglass Femme Rouge in Muse

(L-R): Hourglass Femme Rouge in Muse, NARS Satin Lipstick in Niagara, Lush Emotional Brilliance Lipstick in Vibrance, Mark Full Colour Lipstick in Coral Fixation, MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Crosswires

As with the last post, I haven't included photos of each of the lipsticks on my lips, but I've included links below to where I've photographed myself wearing some of the colours in the past. If there are any shades you'd really like to see featured in an upcoming "Look of the Day", let me know and I''ll keep it in mind :)

MAC Supreme Sheen Lipstick in Korean Candy is a rich, slightly glossy reddened-orange shade. The closest to a true orange that I have in my collection. Quite vibrant, but the slightly sheer, shiny finish makes it surprisingly wearable!
Revlon Moon Drops Lipstick in Orange Flip is a mostly matte, reddish-orange with a strong colour payoff. Quite similar in shade to MAC Korean Candy, but with less shine and more intense pigmentation. You can see it on my lips, here!
Lush Emotional Brilliance Lipstick in Power is a bold orange-red with a long-wearing, yet moisturizing finish. Highly pigmented, with a subtle orange sheen. Quite unique! You can see me wearing it (mixed with Lush Emotional Brilliance Lipstick in Ambition) here.
MAC Amplified Lipstick in Vegas Volt was perhaps my favourite new lipstick last summer. I got it free as a result of the Back2MAC program, so can't complain! It's a gorgeous, highly-pigmented orange-rich coral with a bold, nearly matte finish. Not for the timid, but can be sheered down for a more wearable look.
Hourglass Femme Rouge in Muse is a rich, deep coral with orange and red undertones. The colour payoff is intense, with a lush, satiny finish. Makes me feel like a 1940s screen siren.
NARS Satin Lipstick in Niagara- speaking of screen sirens, this shade was created in honour of Marilyn Monroe's starring role in the 1953 film Niagara. A flirty pinked-coral, the formula is semi-sheer and moisturizing and would be flattering on a variety of skin tones. It's nice to know you can emulate Norma Jean without having to reach for a red lipstick!
Lush Emotional Brilliance Lipstick in Vibrance is perhaps the least wearable of my lipsticks in this colour family, as it is a true, sheer orange-gold with dazzling gold shimmer. Difficult to wear on its own, but looks lovely layered over top of more flat, matte orange and coral shades.
Mark Full Colour Lipstick in Coral Fixation is a lovely pink-toned coral from a highly affordable and underrated brand. It offers fairly pigmented colour that feels comfortable on the lips. Would be flattering on many! For a review and photos of me wearing it, click here!
MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Crosswires is similar in tone to Mark Coral Fixation and NARS Niagara, but with a more opaque, creamy consistency. The warm, slightly coral undertones keep it in the coral-orange family; it's a bit more complex than your typical bright pink! For a review and photos of this lovely lippie, see here.

Here is a photo of me wearing NARS Niagara. After swatching it for this post I remembered how lovely the shade and texture are, so I had to apply it, pronto!

Me wearing NARS Satin Lipstick in Niagara

And a few more photos, for variety:

(L-R) MAC Supreme Sheen Lipstick in Korean Candy, Revlon Moon Drops Lipstick in Orange Flip, Lush Emotional Brilliance Lipstick in Power, MAC Amplified Lipstick in Vegas Volt, Hourglass Femme Rouge in Muse, NARS Satin Lipstick in Niagara, Lush Emotional Brilliance Lipstick in Vibrance, Mark Full Colour Lipstick in Coral Fixation, MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Crosswires

And that's it! (Am I allowed to say that after such a long post!?). See any shades here that pique your interest? That you already own and love? What are some of your other favourite coral and orange shades?

And PS- I used the blue backdrop of my photo studio for this shoot, since I thought it would really make the orange shades pop. Bright corals against blue water was the thinking. It definitely made for a stark contrast, but I think I like the white background (that I used in my last post) better. What do you think?

Thanks for reading! xoxo