100 Follower Giveaway- Final Day!!

Hey, everyone! Just thought I'd post a quick reminder that tomorrow is the final day of my 100 Follower Giveaway, featuring lovely goodies from Revlon, Urban Decay, NYX, O.P.I., and more! The giveaway closes Thursday, February 28th at 11:59pm, so make sure to submit your entry before the deadline! You can enter the giveaway  HERE!

Also, I'm taking votes for my next makeup look tutorial, based on the ultra-glamorous looks at the Oscars. Who wore your favourite makeup look on the red carpet? Cast your vote here!

As always, thanks so much for your continued readership, feedback, and enthusiasm about my blog. Means so much to me! xoxo

Oscars 2013 Makeup: Vote for My Next Tutorial!

Hi, everyone! Last night's Oscars ceremony celebrated the very finest in film. While I was excited to witness the fates of my favourite movies (Argo and Django Unchained, in particular), I must admit that my central focus was on the incredible glamour on the red carpet. So many stunning beauties in fabulous gowns and, most pertinently, breathtaking makeup!

I've been getting some requests for more makeup tutorials lately (it's been a while since I've done a proper one), so I thought I'd use the glamour of the Oscars as an excuse to get some feedback on one you'd like to see! Below I've featured my most favourite looks from last night's show. I'd love to hear your take on who's makeup you'd like me to re-create in my next tutorial. You can cast your votes in the comments section below!

Here are my picks:

1) Adele- as always, Adele's feminine, retro-inspired look totally knocked my socks off. Her makeup on the red carpet and during her amazing performance centered around dramatic liner and lashes, chiseled cheeks, and a rosy nude lip.

And for her award acceptance, she stepped it up a notch, adding a vibrant red lip. Stunning! I'd be happy to incorporate both looks into a tutorial :)

2) Amanda Seyfried- This bright-eyed beauty looked incredibly lovely on the red carpet last night. Her makeup focused on glowy skin, softly smokey purple eye shadow, and glossy pink lips. Such a beautiful look for spring!

3) Charlize Theron- Charlize not only stepped out with a show-stopping new hair cut, her makeup also turned heads (mine, at least!). Her look featured luminous skin, soft pink cheeks and lips, lush lashes, and silvery pink eye shadow. She always looks lovely, but this look complemented her features so well!

4) Jennifer Lawrence- instantly loveable (and now an Oscar winner, yay!), Jennifer opted for a makeup look that was soft, pretty, and approachable, with just a touch of drama. She paired a smokey, yet wearable silvery-purple smokey eye with soft pink cheeks and lips and nearly matte skin. For this look, the Silver Linings around her eyes packed the perfect amount of punch! (So sorry for the cheesy pun ;)

5) Jessica Chastain- one of the few to opt for red lips, she completely channeled old Hollywood for this look. Soft, champagne eyes, tawny, sculpted cheeks and a matte red lip colour worked to reiterate that Jessica is a true siren of the silver screen. She looked incredible!

6) Naomi Watts- Naomi's metallic dress was definitely a killer choice, and her glowy, luminous makeup was the perfect complement! The look was characterized by dewy skin and fresh pink and silver accents. Another perfect look for spring!

Again, I'd love for you to cast your vote for which makeup look you'd like me to re-create for my next tutorial. Let me know what you'd like to see and I'll get the post in the works!

Also, I'd love to hear who sported your favourite makeup looks last night. Any stunning makeup that I didn't feature here?

Also, don't forget to peek at my 100 Follower Giveaway, here! It ends on Thursday, so make sure to enter before the deadline!

Thanks for reading! :)

Veracious Product Review: Chanel Joues Contraste Blush in Frivole

Hi, lovelies! Today's product review hones in on a beautiful item that I'm super excited about. It's no secret that I'm a card-carrying blush fiend who fawns over a plethora of cheek colours, but once in a while a new blush emerges that instantly commands my attention. Like the strike of cupid's arrow, I'm immediately smitten.

Perhaps I'm being a bit dramatic, but there's no denying that Chanel Joues Cotraste Blush in Frivole is one of the most gorgeous products amidst a sea of freshly hatched Spring 2013 offerings.  Here's a peek at it:

Chanel Joues Contrast Blush in Frivole

Touted by Chanel as a "luminous apricot", Frivole is a highly warm-toned apricot peachy-coral with a nearly-matte, yet glowy finish. Springy, flirty, and bold!

As with all Chanel products, the packaging is sleek, classy, and luxurious:

The packaging also has a penchant for dust-collection, so my apologies for the dusty touches in the photos!

Now onto more pictures of the blush itself. It is housed in a mirrored compact with a small, included brush and a logo-embossed plastic dome to protect the product:

The blush itself is also dome-shaped, with a slightly veined pattern to it.

And for a closeup:

The blush photographed slightly darker and more orange than its true-to-life hue, but the swatches below are quite accurate! As you can see, the finish is mostly matte with a slight, non-shimmery glow. It is highly pigmented, but can be applied with a light hand for a softer look. I find it to be the perfect balance of boldness and sophistication! 

On the left, swatched heavily, and on the right, blended out:

Chanel Joues Contraste Blush in Frivole (L) swatched heavily and (R) blended out against my NC15-20 skin tone 

And here are a few photos of me wearing the blush recently:

Here's a quick breakdown of my impressions:

Pros:

• Highly pigmented, yet buildable colour
• Unique, beautiful shade suitable for fair and deeper skin tones
• Excellent staying power- sticks around all day!
• Perfect for those who want a glowy, yet shimmer-free finish
• Sleek, luxurious packaging

Cons:

• At nearly $50 CAD, this is quite expensive!
• Very warm-toned, so may not be suitable for those with strong cool, pink undertones in their skin

Overall, I am totally thrilled with this blush! The formula is top-notch and the shade is quite unique and so incredibly perfect for spring. Seriously- don't let the shade in the pan intimidate you! As the photos above demonstrate, it can be worn in quite a soft, demure way. Though, I'm sure I'll be amping up the colour next time I wear it- what else would any card-carrying blush fiend do? :)

Finally, my 100 Follower Giveaway wraps up in just one week! Make sure to check it out and submit your entry here!

Thanks for reading! xoxo

Samples Galore! (What I'm Testing at the Moment)

Hey, everyone! I recently realized that I have a ton of skin care and makeup samples on the go at the moment, so I thought I'd feature them here, along with my initial impressions. They won't be comprehensive reviews, as many of my thoughts are a bit preliminary, but I'll do my best to briefly describe the product and offer a quick take on each. Maybe I'll just pique your interest in a few of these goodies!

If there are any of the products below that you'd like to see more detailed reviews of, let me know and I'll get some posts in the works!

Here they are:

Chantecaille Magnolia, Jasmine, and Lily Healing Emulsion

A brand new offering from Chantecaille, this rich moisturizer is designed to soothe the skin and calm redness and irritation. With the cult status of the brand's Jasmine and Lily Healing mask, it's no surprise that the range is being expanded. I've only used this once so far, applying a generous layer before bed. I definitely woke to find more soothed, calm skin, so I'm eager to try this again!



Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Mega-Bright Skin Tone Correcting Serum

This serum from Origins' Dr. Weil line is one of the many on the market claiming to brighten skin tone and tone down pigmentation in the skin. I've been using this nightly for the past couple weeks and I have to say that I'm rather smitten! Smells lovely (like black licorice), hasn't broken me out, and leaves my skin looking fresh and glowy. A full review to come soon for sure!

Caudalie Divine Oil

This isn't a sample per se, but rather a mini-sized version of this luxe body oil. Caudalie touts their Divine Oil as a versatile, multi-purpose oil suited to moisturize the body, hair, and face. I've used this a couple of times so far as a post-shower treat on my arms and legs and have been really impressed with the lush, sophisticated scent and the way it leaves my skin feeling moisturized but not at all greasy. Luxurious, indeed!



Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Remover

I used this popular pigmentation-lightening serum for just over a week around the holidays. It did leave my skin a bit brighter and the texture was pleasant; however, I'm fairly certain this was responsible for a few subsequent breakouts. Didn't want to keep testing that hypothesis, so this sample has been sidelined for awhile now.



Tata Harper Hydrating Floral Essence Moisturizing Toner

I purchased this as part of Tata Harper's Jet Set Survival Kit just before the holidays and used it up over a few weeks last month. Although touted as a moisturizing toner, I actually found it to be quite toning and clarifying on my combination-oily skin. It had an absolutely amazing scent and really left my face feeling bright and even. Will be tempted to buy a full size of this for the summertime!



Ojon Damage Reverse Instant Restorative Hair Serum 

Hair oils have been all the rage of late, and this offering from Ojon has been adding to the hype. This particular treatment promises to moisturize and repair damaged tresses, which led me to select it as a Sephora Beauty Insider freebie earlier this month. I've used this a couple times so far and, while it was a pleasure to use, I wasn't blown away by the results. But will definitely give this a few more chances to wow me!



Givenchy Mister Mat Mattifying Powder Gel Velvety Smooth Complexion

Because of my skin's oily tendencies, I've had to shun many a foundation due to lack of staying power. Consequently, I'm always on the lookout for a good mattifying primer! I snagged a sample of this from Sephora recently, but have not yet given it a go. Read a couple reviews that said this triggered some breakouts, which has made me a bit wary. Will definitely try it out eventually, though. Will keep you posted!



Dr. Brandt Dark Spots No More Serum Concentrate

Yet another pigmentation-lightening serum! I've had issues with post-acne marks for years now, so the bevy of brightening products currently on the market are actually right up my alley! Haven't tried this out yet, as I'm waiting to finish my Origins Mega Bright first. Excited to give this a spin afterwards, though, as I've read some promising reviews!



Fresh Rose Face Mask Hydrating Mask with Rose Petals

Even though my skin is oily and acne-prone, it can still suffer from dryness, redness, and irritation, especially during the harsh winter months. I grabbed a sample of this at Sephora recently because it promised to soothe, tone, and moisturize skin. The texture also looked incredibly unique and luxurious (a lightweight jelly chalk-full of rose petals), so I was dying to test it out. I've used this one one occasion and it was definitely a nice treat, though it didn't leave any lasting results that would warrant the high price tag. Will gladly use up the rest of the sample, but won't likely purchase the full size.



Boscia Bright White Face Mask

I'm testing out so many brightening serums, why not a luminizing mask as well?! Boscia promises that this mask dramatically brightens the complexion while moisturizing and correcting hyperpigmentation. The texture is incredibly thick (as you can see from the photo above!), which was intruiging since this is a peel-off mask! I tested it once so far- while it was a bit tricky (and painful, ouch!) to remove, it did leave my skin looking bright and luminous afterwards. I woke with a couple of breakouts the next morning, however, so I'm a bit hesitant to try this out again!



Armani Maestro Fusion Makeup SPF15 (Shade#3)
Perhaps the most unique foundation I've ever tried. This oil-based, but lightweight foundation promises uber natural-looking coverage, a luminous finish, and long-wear. I've worn this on a couple occasions and am definitely in the midst of a love-hate relationship with it. I find the application to be quite tricky and time-consuming, but when I stick with it the results can be utterly flawless. Have a full review of this one in the works already!

Smashbox Studio Skin 15 Hour Wear Founation (Shade 1.2)
This is definitely one of the most promising foundations I've tried in a while! I asked the sales associate at Sephora to recommend a long-wearing, oily skin-friendly foundation with light to moderate coverage and a semi-matte finish. She quickly rushed to this and I'm glad she did. The formula fits the above specifications quite perfectly- flawless, but not cakey coverage that is long-wearing and doesn't leave my skin looking flat. This definitely challenges my long-beloved Revlon ColourStay!

Phew! That was a ton of products! It's been fun testing them out and treating myself to some new and interesting beauty goodies. It's always great to try before I buy! Hope I featured something that might be up your alley as well!

And as I mentioned above, if you'd like to see a full review of any of these productss- let me know!

Thanks for reading, and don't forget to check out my 100 Follower Giveaway, here!