Nail of the Day: Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour in Bel-Argus

Happy Friday, everyone! If you've been following my blog recently, you'll know that I've been no stranger to blue makeup of late. When I got a sneak peek of Chanel's new L'ete Papillon de Chanel Summer 2013 collection last month, I was instantly struck by the beauty of Bel-Argus, a stunning metallic blue nail polish. When I attended a makeover at the Chanel counter a couple weeks ago, I was happy to finally bring it home with me!

To be specific, Bel-Argus is a highly pigmented somewhere-between-navy-and-electric blue with an intense shimmery, metallic finish. Although the rich blue is the most prominent colour in the polish, there is also subtle (but totally beautiful) teal and purple shimmer throughout, which makes the shade quite complex and unique!

It comes in a weighty, rectangular glass bottle that bears the chic aesthetic inherent in all of Chanel's products:

Here's a shot of of the polish in the bottle, which gives you a sense of the shimmery, metallic formula:

Most of the photos I took did not pick up the subtle purple and teal shimmer in this shade, but the flash used in the photo below does reveal that this is no ordinary blue!

The formula of this polish is near opaque. Two thin coats are all that's needed! In combination with Revlon base and top coats, Bel-Argus wears incredibly well with minimal chipping for days!

My manicure might look slightly uneven and messy, but this has much to do with my hurried technique, rather than with the formula itself. The polish applied quite easily, with minimal streaking. It really was a pleasure to use, which is no surprise given that it's made by Chanel! 

And yes, I did go a bit photo-crazy with this one, but Bel-Argus really does look slightly different in every light. So here are a few more shots to give you the full idea of how lovely and complex this shade is:

Overall, I couldn't be happier with this shade. Bel-Argus really is the answer to those who doubt a blue nail polish could also be chic. It really is a sophisticated, fascinating blue. I can't stop staring at my nails! In my opinion, this is the true star of the L'ete Papillon de Chanel collection. So glad to have it in my stash :)

Did any of you snatch up Bel-Argus? What are your favourite blue-toned nail polishes for Summer?

Thanks for reading!

The Big 3-0!

Hi, everyone! This past Monday was my 30th birthday (eek!), so I thought I'd put together a quick post to show you a few shots from the day. Milestone birthdays can be both exciting and depressing (I realized I'm technically entering into my fourth decade on this earth, yikes!), but my friends stepped in and made the day incredibly special. Who knew turning 30 could feel so good?!

Here's a shot of me at the end of the day with my candle-lit birthday dessert, wearing my brand new Diane Von Furstenberg wrap dress (a birthday gift to myself. I love it!). But let's start at the beginning...

The birthday festivities actually started the day before, when my lovely mother took me out for a ladies brunch. I was in my hometown over the weekend for a friends' wedding, so it was wonderful to spend some time with my family pre-birthday and have a delicious meal with my mum to celebrate!

On my actual birthday, the weather in Toronto cooperated in the most beautiful way. My friend planned a picnic on the beach, which was a heavenly way to spend the afternoon.

She's incredibly crafty in the kitchen and the picnic was clear proof of this. She prepared an almond quinoa salad, home-made hummus and chips, and peanut tofu wraps with cilantro pesto. Pair that with lemonade and a variety of trashy magazines, and you have the ultimate girly beach afternoon!

It didn't hurt that we had a beautiful view of the lake while we ate, chatted, and caught up on all the celebrity gossip!

And to my amazement, a swan swam by shortly after we arrived. I know swans aren't really that rare, but whenever I see one I feel like I'm witnessing some sort of mystical creature. So of course I had to take pictures!

The sky and water were blue and beautiful, which was so relaxing and lovely!

Then for the evening, I met up with some friends for dinner at one of my favourite Italian restaurants in the city. Can't go wrong with lots of carbs on your birthday!

I started off sharing a beautiful salad with one of my friends. It featured cambazola cheese, pine nuts, roasted red peppers, and kalamata olives over top of mixed greens, drizzled with honey. Heavenly!

Then onto my favourite pizza...

Roasted red peppers, roasted eggplant, mozzarella, and goat cheese on thin, oven-baked crust. Authentic Italian pizza with fresh, delicious toppings. Mmm....

And then my friends surprised me with an incredibly scrumptious dessert sampler plate!

It included panna cotta with strawberry sauce, custard with caramel, and a warm molten lava cake, surrounded with fresh fruit and biscotti. To-die-for!

I ended the day as an incredibly happy birthday girl! Luckily I'm not feeling any older yet, though maybe a few pounds heavier after that dinner! ;) Thanks to all of my friends who made the Big 3-0 incredibly special! xo

Look of the Day: Frivolous Rendezvous

Hi, everyone! Hope all of your weekends have been spectacular. Today's dramatic LOTD title is derived from two stunning orange-coral makeup products that I've been loving now that the temperatures have finally risen from their frosty wintertime levels. The first is the ultra-lovely Chanel Joues Contraste Powder Blush in Frivole (for a full review, see here), which is seriously the prettiest orange blush I've ever seen. The coral undertones and super subtle shimmer make it incredibly wearable and perfect for summer. The second is one of my favourite frugal finds, Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Rendezvous. To read more about it, see here! I got this beauty for Christmas and have been wearing it religiously since, but with a particular gusto since the warmer weather arrived. It makes my lips scream "summer" without having to open my mouth! ;) 

As you can see, Rendezvous is a warm orange-coral shade with quite high pigmentation and a semi-glossy finish. It is so easy to wear! Below is a picture that demonstrates the true beauty that is Frivole, and highlights how well it pairs with the lip stain. A match made in makeup heaven!

If you saw my last post, you'll know that I recently attended a Chanel makeover event, where I fell deeply in love with an aqua green mascara, Chanel Inimitable Waterproof Mascara in Lime Light, from the brand's new L'Ete Papillon de Chanel Summer 2013 collection. Since I was so instantly smitten, I had to bring it home with me. This look was my first attempt at incorporating the green mascara into a wearable summer face. To complement the coral lips and cheeks and highlight Lime Light, I opted for a generous portion of warm, brown eye makeup. I applied some smokey brown shadow (MAC Bronze) underneath the eye, to contrast the paler shade of the mascara. I think it worked quite well!

Here's a view of the finished eye look, followed by a breakdown of everything I used:

The Breakdown:

Foundation: Revlon ColourStay Liquid Foundation (Combination/Oily formula) in Buff
Concealer: BeneFit Fake-Up in Light (under eyes) and Hard Candy Glamouflage in Light (on blemishes)
Powder: Hard Candy Welcome Matte Translucent Mattifying Powder
Bronzer: Bourjois Delice de Poudre Bronzing Powder #51
Blush: Chanel Joues Contraste Powder Blush in Frivole

Brows: Anastasia Brow Powder Duo in Ash Blonde/Taupe
Primer: Urban Decay Primer Potion in Original
Eye Shadow: MAC Ricepaper eye shadow (all over lid and as a highlight), MAC Bronze eye shadow (on crease, outer corner, and on lower lash line), Chanel Joues Contraste Powder Blush in Reflex (as eye shadow, in centre of lid)
Eyeliner: Tarte emphasEyes Clay Liner in Brown
Mascara: Boots Maximum Volume Mascara (Waterproof) in Black (on top) and Chanel Inimitable Waterproof Mascara in Lime Light (on bottom)

Lips: Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Rendezvous

And a few more shots of the look:

And that's it! Wearing a mix of coral and brown shades is my go-to when I want something warm, sultry, and wearable for summer, and this look embodies it well. I was so happy to incorporate the green mascara this time around to add a touch of something different!

What's your go-to look for summer? What are some your favourite coral-toned blushes and lip colours?

Thanks for reading! xo

Chanel Summer 2013 Makeover featuring L'Ete Papillon de Chanel

Hi, everyone! I attended a Chanel makeover at The Bay a couple months ago and had a fantastic experience, so was eager to sign up for their latest beauty event, featuring the ultra-colourful L'Ete Papillon de Chanel Summer 2013 collection. I got a sneak peek of the collection last month, which a) made me feel like a super secret beauty spy and b) got me really excited to try out the new summer goodies. L'Ete Papillon de Chanel offers a variety of fun, vibrant hues for lips, eyes, and nails; bold, but with the inevitably chic feel that Chanel always brings to the table.

Here's a picture of the collection on display:

L'Ete Papillon de Chanel, Summer 2013 Collection display

The lovely makeup artist, Jennifer, asked me what type of look I was going for. I told her I was super interested in the new summery shades of Inimitable Mascara and would love to create a look that let these vibrant hues stand out. Her makeup artist instincts kicked in, quickly exclaiming "let's play with pinks on the eyes, it'll really make the blue and green mascara stand out!"

And she was right! Here's a closeup of the finished eye look:

As you can see, she used a palette of ivory, pink, and plum eye shadows (Les Quatres Ombres Eye Shadow Quad in Seduction) paired with electric blue and aqua on the lashes (Inimitable Waterproof Mascara in Blue Note and Lime Light). She also used a couple of the new Stylo Eye Shadows to intensify the look. Pink Lagoon was applied as a base and Black Stream was used to add extra smoke to the crease and outer corner. They blended like a dream! I really loved the finished look.

She also added super precise, dramatic winged eyeliner, which is always up my alley. Here's a view of the look with eyes closed:

She kept my skin even and glowy with the help of Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation and Les Beiges de Chanel Healthy Glow Powder. Both products are quite sheer, but they made my skin look great! She opted for subtle, rosy cheeks (Joues Contraste Powder Blush in Rose Initial) and nude glossy lips (Rouge Coco Shine in Idylle and Levres Scintillantes Glossimer in Zephyr) to complement the plummy smokey eye and colourful lashes. 

Here are some shots of the entire look:

Yes, I took these selfies in the mall ;)

Here's a full breakdown of what was used:

Face:
Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation in #10 Beige
Correcteur Perfection Concealer in #10 Beige Clair (underneath eyes and on blemishes)
Les Beiges de Chanel Powder in #20, (to set foundation and add some extra coverage)
Joues Contraste Powder Blush in Rose Initial
Soleil Tan de Chanel Sheer Illuminating Fluid (as a bronzing highlighter on cheekbones)

Eyes:
Crayon Sourcils Sculpting Eyebrow Pencil in #10 Blond Clair
Stylo Eye Shadow in Pink Lagoon (as a base for the powder shadows)
Les Quatres Ombres de Chanel Eye Shadow Quad in Seduction (mix of pink, plum, ivory, and taupe shades)
Stylo Eye Shadow in Black Stream (to add smokiness to the outer corner)
Joues Contraste Powder Blush in Reflex (as a highlight colour in the middle of the lid)
Inimitable Waterproof Mascara in Blue Note (top lashes) and Lime Light (bottom lashes)

Lips:
Rouge Coco Shine Lipstick in Idylle
Levres Scintillantes Glossimer in Zephyr

And here are a few more shots of the look, from when I returned home after the makeover. As you can see, Vitalumiere Aqua had gotten quite dewy on my skin, but I don't fault the foundation because Jennifer had used quite hydrating products underneath it. I'd like to think I looked glowy, rather than oily! :)

Overall, I had a great time at the event and was super happy with the finished look! The eye makeup was especially lovely; so complex and smokey, but totally wearable. And I was definitely wooed by the coloured mascara! I picked up a few goodies from the collection before I left (surprise, surprise), so look out for reviews soon!

Have any of you checked out the new L'Ete Papillon de Chanel summer collection yet? Are you loving it as much as I am? Have you been to any fun beauty events lately?

Thanks for reading! xo

Quickie Review: Tokidoki Lion Pappa Palette

Hi, everyone! Time for a Quickie Review of a super cute palette that I received months ago as a Christmas gift from a good friend of mine. Yes, the same friend who sent me this adorable Korean cosmetics care package quite recently. See a theme emerging? My friend knows I'm a sucker for cuteness, but that I'm a stickler for good quality makeup and the Tokidoki Lion Pappa palette really combines both! Tokidoki is a Japanese-inspired brand that is known for their uber-cute, yet wild, edgy imagery and has collaborated with huge cosmetics brands such as Smashbox. Their makeup is a bit harder to find of late, but my friend tracked this down and I couldn't be happier with it!

As you can see, the front of the palette displays some sort of gangster cartoon fantasy scene (definitely a phrase I've never used before) that is highly bizarre and undoubtedly adorable:

The back of the palette displays a preview of the colours inside and features a few more cartoon images (including a pink grenade shooting a heart cloud? Where else would you see this except for something made by Tokidoki?!):

The palette is sleek and rectangular and closes with a magnetic grip. Opening it reveals a small compact mirror, 4 eye shadow shades, and a blush:

A closeup of the shades:

Despite the wild imagery on the outside, the colours in this palette are actually quite sophisticated and wearable. The eye shadows include a sheer, shimmery pinky white, a nearly-matte taupe, a warm, yellowy-gold, and a neutral deep brown. The blush is a gorgeous shimmery pinky coral. Here are some swatches!

Swatches from the Tokidoki Lion Pappa Palette (L-R): Eye shadows in pinky white, warm taupe, yellow gold, deep brown and blush in pinky coral

And here are a couple shots of a look I created using the palette. I applied the gold shade all over the lid, the taupe shade in the crease, the white shade as a highlight on the brow bone and inner corner, and the dark brown shade as a subtle eyeliner on the upper lash line. And of course I wore the pretty coral blush too!

Overall, I'm really happy with this adorable little palette. All of the shades have lovely pigmentation and are incredibly wearable. Plus the packaging is so fun and unique! This palette really combines my love of neutral makeup shades with wild, outrageous packaging, so I really have no complaints!

Do you have any makeup items from Tokidoki? What products in your collection have super unique packaging?

Thanks for reading! :)

Veracious Product Review: Lush BB Seaweed Fresh Face Mask

Happy weekend, everyone! And happy long weekend to all my Canadian friends :) Today I share with you a review of a face mask that has recently swept me off my feet. Knight-in-shining-armour-style. Definitely a dramatic statement, but I am a sucker for a good face mask and Lush's BB Seaweed really takes the cake.

To give a bit of a background, I've been a devoted fan of Lush for years. Their Fresh Face Masks have always been an absolute pleasure to use, however the vast majority have irritated my skin and broken me out. Badly. The Fresh Masks are jam-packed full of essential oils and fresh foody ingredients, which is fun and amazing, just not for my sensitive skin. But when I visited Lush a couple weeks ago, I was determined to find a Fresh Face Mask that my skin would be happy with.

I described my skin care woes (combination/oily skin that is acne-prone and also sensitive) to the enthusiastic sales associate and she eagerly passed me a pot of BB Seaweed. She insisted that the formula was lovely to use, super effective, yet specially designed for sensitive skin. My past experience with the Fresh Face Masks left me skeptical, but I snatched it up anyways! And I'm quite glad I did.

As you can see from the photo below, BB Seaweed has a thick, creamy oatmeal-like consistency with strips of green seaweed and a few scrubby bits throughout:

Lush describes the mask as "relaxing and reviving mineral-rich mask to cleanse all skin types" (from lush.ca). It claims that the rose absolute will help improve skin tone, the seaweed will work to moisturize and add nutrients, and that the ground almonds will exfoliate sensitive skins without irritation.  

The ingredient list reveals that the  mask is rich with kaolin, honey, aloe, rose, ground almonds, and seaweed, among other soothing, natural ingredients. Amazingly, it was hand-made less than a week before I purchased it and has a shelf-life of about three weeks. The shortened lifespan can be attributed to the fact that it's 100% natural and preservative-free.

When the mask is first applied, it has a thick, creamy-white consistency with obvious strips of seaweed. Really makes me look like a crazy sea monster! The fragrance is a gentle herbal, rose aroma. Pleasant, but not over-powering. 

As it dries, some of the mask seems to sink into the skin and the base takes on more of a yellow-ish tinge:

When removing the mask, it was definitely more of a scrubby, exfoliating feeling than I expected. My skin is generally quite sensitive to manual exfoliants, so I was worried that my face would be left a red, irritated mess. On the contrary, I was so pleased with how my skin looked afterwards! My face looked smooth, calm, and radiant. The redness in my skin had been all but erased!

Honestly, my skin rarely looks better than it does after using this mask. I've had the same result after each time I've used it (4 times so far), so this wasn't a one trick pony!

Here's a quick breakdown of the pros and cons of this mask:

Pros:

• Incredibly friendly to my sensitive skin. Even with the scrubby bits, my skin wasn't left irritated or angry
• Leaves skin incredibly soft and smooth
• Works wonders to immediately eliminate redness in the skin
• Fresh, pleasant scent that isn't over-powering
• Full of fresh, natural ingredients; so fresh, you have to keep it in the fridge
• At only $7, this is quite affordable. I should get about 6 uses out of the little pot.
• Cruelty-free! Animal-friendliness is always a plus in my books :)

Cons:

• The ground almond pieces might be a bit too abrasive for those with ultra-sensitive skin
• Though the scent is relatively light, this is far from fragrance-free. Might be too fragranced for those sensitive to that.
• The seaweed bits are quite chunky and a bit of a pain to clean out of the sink.

Overall, I really couldn't be happier with this mask! My combination, sensitive, acne-prone skin is totally loving it. Few masks have given me such instant, dramatic results! So glad I gave the Fresh Face Masks another go. BB Seaweed is a huge winner in my books!

Hope you found the review helpful! Have you tried any of Lush's Fresh Face Masks? Which is your favourite?

Cheers! xo