October 26, 2013

I know every blog has been posting fall favourites for the past 2 months. But fall really started here about 3 weeks ago, and I live in cold Ottawa, Canada. By fall I mean actual cold weather (temperature below 10deg), leaves all turning orange and cold rain....so I'm "technically" not late with my fall favourites post :)

Some of these products are new (well to my stash) and some I've been enjoying for a few years. I just have rediscovered them:



1. Nars Brousse eyeshadow duo - This duo is a favourite because I love smokey eyes, especially softer shades of smokey for fall. I usually wear the black violet shade on my lid, the sable shade in the crease and then smudge a black liner close to my lashline. It's a very easy duo to wear and the result is HOT! This is a product I come back to every fall.

2. Chanel Plum Attraction blush - another old favourite, Plum Attraction looks very bold in the pan but I use a powder brush to apply a bit on my cheekbones and love the effect it gives. It goes very well with Nars Brousse on the eyes too ;)

3. Dior Etoile fusion mono eyeshadow - I've been eyeing the Dior fusion shadow for months and two weeks ago I finally pulled the plug on shade Etoile, a gorgeous shimmering white. Etoile looks amazing on the tearduct or as an overall wash on the lid with my favourite matte shade in the crease (usually UD Naked or MAC Plum Poison). I debated between the Dior or the nearly identical Chanel product but went with Dior in the end as this particular shade was more pigmented and also you pay less for more product with Dior.

4. Makeup Forever Aqua Liner #4L - I'm a huge fan of the MUFE aqua liner for pigmentation and durability and 4L in particular gets a lot os use as I adore burgundy with my amber shade eyes. I usually wear this liner on the lower lashline and then smudge with MAC 229 brush.

5. Annabelle Cherry pencil - This shade is totally me, it's a reddened plum and goes with all the makeup described above. I get a good 4 hour wear with these pencils and the pigmentation is phenomenal. Definitely a drugstore gem!

6. YSL #27 (Peche chera-cola) Rouge Pur Couture - Another product it took me a while to try but glad I did. It's a pricy lip product but I love how soft and creamy this feel on my lips and it truly lasts a long time. I also usually have a hard time with peach shade but this one is very flattering on cool complexions.

Some swatches for you guys:





Oh and in other news I put in an order over at Sephora with my friends and family 20% coupon. I caved in and got the Hourglass powder palette and one of Nars eye paints. Cannot wait to get them and play. Did any of you guys get something from Sephora lately?

June 27, 2013

Hi guys! I'm very minimal with makeup these days but still love me at least a few beauty products per day :D Thought I share my early summer favourites with you guys:

Lip Products



My favourite category!! Summer is the only season where I actually wear lipgloss. I love Nars Babe as it's a gorgeous pigmented warm red gloss and is not sticky. Another rediscovery is my ancient MAC Sock Hop (LE - Heatherette, 2008) which is a beautiful light coral cream. When it comes to lipsticks, I also go for warmer and creamier. Guerlain Rose Bengal Rouge Automatique is a warm rose that applies with some shimmer but is not gritty. Chanel Antigone Rouge Coco Shine is a lightly pigmented strawberry red and MUFE #37 Rouge Artist is a loud pink coral that will definitely make your lips stand out.

Swatches:

Left to right: Guerlain Rose Bengal, Chanel Antigone, MUFE #37, MAC Sock Hop,  Nars Babe

Eye Products



I'm currently a fan of one product only eye makeup and hence gravitate towards cream shadows and bright eyeliners. L'Oreal Permanent Khaki Colour Infalliable is a shimmery olive green that is great as a lid colour blended up. Maybelline Barely Branded Color Tattoo (light golden beige) is an awesome all over colour and eye brightener. Chanel Illusoire Illusion d'Ombre is a tres chic sparkling mauve, love this one smoked out with a dark matte purple for the night. Shiseido H4 cream shadow (DC'd) is a unique blend of warm pink with green flash that looks wet when applied to the eyes. MUFE #22 aqua cream pot is the most gorgeous emerald green that I love applying on as a liner, base for green shadow or for the sparkling Lise Watier Golden Green Eye Glitter. I tend to apply Gosh Blue Lagoon Velvet Touch eyeliner on my lower lashline to elevate a neutral look.


Swatches:

Left to right: LW Golden Gree, Gosh Blue Lagoon, Chanel Illusoire, MUFE #22, L'Oreal Permanent Khaki, Maybelline Barely Branded, Shiseido H4

Face Products



I'm super low maintenance with face products in the warmer months. Lately been loving my Lancome Teint Miracle foundation (I use shade 4C - Buff) as it's light and natural on. I also apply MUFE Full Cover concealer ins shade #6 under my eyes and on scars and go a bit overload with Nars Laguna bronzer (another rediscovery in my stash). I need to bronze a lot these days as I did a spray tan on my body and now my face and body don't match, lol!


Nail Products



I'm traditional so in the summer I go nuts over brights and neons. I've also been loving a full on white manicure using OPI Alpine Snow, so elegant and goes with everything. My current fave neons are Zoya Lola (gorgeous bright pink) and China Glaze I'm with the Lifeguard (super neon green, great on toes). I also enjoy the bright orange red that is Essie Meet me at the Sunset.

What are your current favourite beauty products?

October 30, 2012

Hi guys! With fall on full swing, I thought I share some of my favourite fall fragrances with you. I don't switch my fragrances too often; once I find one I like, I keep going back to it again and again. I do however wear different scents in fall/winter than spring/summer. Since I love heavy and musky scents, fall is my favourite season for fragrance. All of these are my second (or even third) bottles :D



1. Dior J'Adore EDP - I wear this on a night out which isn't very often for me anymore. It opens up more velvety and then settles into a subtle floral/powder scent. J'Adore was my first grown up scent so it has sentimental value for me. It is also the closest to floral I'd go and as it is an eau de perfume, it's very long lasting.

2. Aqualina Pink Sugar - This is my weekend fall scent. It smells like candy to me with some hints of vanilla. I would say Pink Sugar is the cheaper/less grown up version of Hypnotic Poison (see below); it's just less complex and doesn't last as long. It's pretty inexpensive and though I'm not the biggest fan of sweet scents, I like this enough for weekend wear to keep repurchasing.

3. Chanel Coco EDP- I know they say Coco is for the older ladies and Coco Mademoiselle for the young ones but this young lady much prefers Coco to Mademoiselle. If I wear to pick one scent as my all time favourite, this is it!! A little goes a super long way with Coco so spritz sparingly. It starts very strong but settles to the most intoxicating blend of oriental/musk/vanilla scent after about 10 minutes. Coco is warm, elegant and beautifully blended. It would make you think of a ball gown, a mahogany table, dark chocolate or rich velvet sheets...anything luxurious and fabulous!

4. Dior Hypnotic Poison EDP - where Pink Sugar fails, Hypnotic excels, mainly on the dry down notes. The notes are musk, vanilla (see a theme here?), oriental spice and a bit of jasmine. It's the softest of the "Poison" scents by Dior and makes me think of a comfortable cashmere sweater. Hypnotic Poison is my every day fall/winter scent and this is my third bottle :)

What are some of your cold weather favourite scents? Knowing my taste for musky/vanilla scents, what
perfumes would you recommend to me?

September 12, 2012

Hello beauties! I'm typing this post with one hand and reassuring my almost 3 week old baby with the other. She seems to be cranky always just when I want to do something fun, lol!

I don't know about where you live, but here in Ottawa fall is at full swing. I'm in a great mood despite my sleep deprivation, just not needing the AC every night and feeling a cool breeze on my skin calls for celebration in my book. It's that special time of the year for glamourous and vampy lips. I have selected my favourite dark lipsticks to show you on this occasion (pictures of me wearing the lipstick is included in each case).

Dark lipsticks are not for everyone, yours truly has been wearing them since she was 15 though so this is familiar territory for me. I believe that all the selected shades can be worn by anyone. Just use a good lip liner and a killer attitude: Chanel La Sensuelle Rouge Allure Velvet, MAC Red Pepper (Pro), MAC Rebel, Make Up Forever Rouge Intense Artist #48, Chanel Rouge Noir Rouge Coco and Nars Train Bleu Matte Velvet Pencil.

MAC Rebel - is one of MAC's best selling dark lipsticks and I can see why. Rebel is a darkened magenta with super creamy texture and looks good on just about anyone!


me wearing MAC Rebel (fall 2011)

Chanel La Sensuelle - is a very sophisticated matte dark blue red. Like all mattes you need to moisturize your lips well before applying. The formula feels slightly satiny and lasts on my lips 6-7 hours.


me wearing Chanel La Senseulle (Fall 2011)

MAC Red Pepper - is another matte texture lipstick but this one is a slightly browned red. This lipstick is fairly unique from what I've seen and definitely one that gets looked over. The matte texture is smooth and none drying.


me wearing MAC Red Pepper (fall 2011)

MUFE #48 - is the most beautiful burgundy red in my possession. I love the texture of the MUFE rouge intense lipstick line, they pull on the lips slightly but are creamy on and last as long as 8 hours for me.


me wearing MUFE #48 (fall 2012)

Chanel Rouge Noir - this is a classic Chanel, a dark plum with strong brown/red undertone. This one is definitely not for the faint of heart but is one of my favourite Chanel lipsticks of all time!


me wearing Chanel Rouge Noir (Fall 2010)

Nars Train Bleu - the darkest shade of this series, Train Bleu is a dark smokey purple. The red undertones make it wearable though (at least for me). I've said it before and will say it again, Nars matte velvet pencil is my favourite lipstick formula in the market.


me wearing Nars Train Bleu (Fall 2011)

All my lovelies:

Some swatches:


Left to right - Chanel La Sensuelle Rouge Allure Velvet, MAC Red Pepper (Pro)


Left to right - Make Up Forever Rouge Intense Artist #48, Chanel Rouge Noir Rouge Coco and Nars Train Bleu Matte Velvet Pencil

Do you own any of the listed products? Do you wear dark lips? And what are some of your favourite vampy lipsticks?

July 5, 2012

Hello beauties! I'm not one to really change my makeup looks based on season. I don't personally believe that there are colours of eyeshadow or lipstick that are better for summer than winter. I wear what I feel like, depending on my mood and not the season.

However, I do change my face routine. I switch to a lighter moisturizer, heavier sunscreen (I wear SPF50 on a daily basis) and different texture of foundation. I also wear more bronzers and illuminators. I live in Ottawa, where the summers are brutally hot and humid. A cakey foundation on my face is just not gonna cut it! Here are some of my fave face products:

Foundations: I alternate between these two products. Some days I wear Nars Tinted Moisturizer (shade Alaska) which I've reviewed in details here. It lasts 7-8 hours on me and the finish is gorgeous. Other times I go to my trustee MAC Face and Body foundation (shade N3) as it is also very light and blendable. I do have to set this one with powder though:




Bronzers/blushes: I bronze my skin pretty much every single day. I do switch to darker shades in the summer though. Nars Irressistiblement is gorgeous on light to medium skintones and I adore the terracotta shade. I also use my Too Faced Sun Bunny frequently when I'm too lazy to wear any other makeup. It's shimmery but very flattering. I alternate my blushes based on what I'm wearing but MAC Instant Chic (LE - light pinky coral) gets the most use:



Highlighters: I do not leave the house without my bronzer/highlighter combos. Bobbi Brown Nude Shimmer Brick is gorgeous on its own or over any neutral blush. MAC Sunspill loose beauty powder (Pro) is a beautiful lit from within shimmering golden peach. I absolutely adore MAC's loose beauty powders (but not sure if they're still available). Another summer face is MAC Chez Chez Lame (LE) which is a pale golden shade. Not shimmery, just sophisticated glow:

Hope you find this post helpful. What are some of your favourite summer face products?

June 12, 2012

Hello my lovelies! I thought of doing a series of my summer time favourite products throughout the next few weeks. I will start with lipsticks, because well lipsticks are my favourite makeup products. Then I'll do one on face products and finally a nail polish one.

Since lipsticks are my favourite makeup products, this was the hardest category as well. Here's what I've handpicked for you:


Left to Right: Lancome Violet Coquette Rouge in Love, Chanel Super Rouge Allure, YSL Nude Beige (No.1) Rouge Volupte, Nars Heat Wave lipstick, MAC Morange lipstick, Guerlain Rose Bengal Rouge Automatique

And here's why each of them deserve their top spot:

Lancome Violet Coquette Rouge in Love - this is the perfect plummy purple shade and applies with pink undertones on my red pigmented lips, very unique shade to my stash. The texture is light but the product is pigmented. Not drying at all and wears amazing in the summer days. See my full review here.



Chanel Super Rouge Allure - I adore the rouge allure formula and love Super specifically as it is a bold fuchsia but the creamy texture keeps it from being too severe. This was unfortunately LE, wish Chanel would add it to their perm line.




YSL Nude Beige Rouge Voulpte - I love the creaminess of the Rouge Volupte formula but I find them sometimes a bit too creamy, lol! In the summer though I consider it a plus. Nude Beige is an awesome nude for my skintone (currently NW25) and I am reaching the end of my tube :(


Nars Heat Wave Lipstick - Heat Wave is the boss of all orange toned red lipsticks! I kid you not I have tried plenty and always come back to this. Nars makes a winner formula lipstick generally (I adore all sheer, semi matte and matte versions). Their lipsticks also don't melt or change even in the most extreme of heat and humidity. MAC Lady Danger is similar but I prefer Heat Wave.


MAC Morange Lipsticks - this one is not for the faint of heart. I resisted this bold orange shade forever and finally caved and got it and boy am I glad I did. It has definitely become a summer staple and I love the creamy texture of MAC amp cream lipsticks. See my full review here.



Guerlain Rose Bengal Rouge Automatique - This one is a beautiful shimmering rosy coral, that's the best I can describe it. It's very unique to my stash and the weartime is awesome (7-8 hours). And I must say I love the packaging, no lid required!


Some swatches on NW25 skintone:



Left to Right: Lancome Violet Coquette Rouge in Love, Chanel Super Rouge Allure, YSL Nude Beige (No.1) Rouge Volupte, Nars Heat Wave lipstick, MAC Morange lipstick, Guerlain Rose Bengal Rouge Automatique

What are some of your favourite summer lipsticks?

May 1, 2012

Hi beauties! I haven't done a monthly favourite in ages so I thought instead of a routine monthly post I do seasonal favourites whenever I discover a nice product or I find myself going back to a specific item frequently. These are just some of the products I've been loving for the last 2-3 months or so:

Skin Products:

Kiehl's Creme de Corps - I've had this jar since last summer but really started using in late winter into spring. It's the most moisturizing body lotion I've ever tried with a heavenly scent and luxurious feel.

Biotherm Sunscreen SPF 50 - I've been blessed with skin that burns super quick and since becoming pregnant, my skin is even more sensitive. I slather this on in the am under my foundation everyday.

Origins Ginger Body Scrub - I had a sample of this before and loved it so I went for the big size jar. The ginger scent is very refreshing and the scrub is very gritty which I like. I use this once a week on my whole body.

Lush Figs and Leaves Soap - is my latest Lush love. I always have one of their soaps amongst my bath products and I'm loving the smell of this one.

Hair Products:

Macadamia Hair Mask - I actually am loving this more than my longtime hair mask love, Moroccanoil. The texture is very thick and my hair feels very soft after each use. I use this once a week only.

Bumble n Bumble Finishing Shine Spray- this was in my Sephora point gift bag and I know I'll purchase a full size one when I run out. I use this on my hair when it's slicked back and it gets rid of my flyways and holds amazingly well. Not to mention that I adore the scent (so does the hubby).

Beyond Zone Power Lift Spray - Got this from Sally's and have been getting best results with it. It's more of a foam shape than spray but I just use a bit on my roots when I tease my hair and helps minimize the actual teasing and increase the volume, LOVE!

Tresemme Fresh Start Dry Shampoo - I've been washing my hair twice a week in winter and three times in summer since last year and my hair has never been healthier. This dry shampoo helps me zap the oilies in my growing bangs in between washes. I also use it when I need more texture in my hair for updos and braids.

Makeup:

Nars Tinted Moisturizer (Alaska) - As it gets warmer, my foundation of choice is the lighter version. This one spreads very well yet offers good coverage. I get up to 8 hours of wear without use of setting powder on my combination skin.

Lancome Rouge in Love in Violette Coquette - I've raved about this Lancome formula on my blog before so I won't repeat it. But I adore the purpley pink colour, especially in contrast with warm smokey eyes that I tend to do a lot lately.

Chanel Illusoire Iluusion d'Ombre -  aaaah this is the best single eyeshadow in my stash! It's so easy to throw on, no need for base and I just smudge the edges with my fingers and go. It's a lovely shimmery purple gray with hints of brown which goes with everything.

Estee Lauder Blackened Cocoa Kohl pencil - I'm loving this pencil as it's a deep dark brown that glides on amd it's smudgeable easily and hence great for smokey eyes. Yet it lasts on me until I take it off!

MAC Florida Cremeblend blush - Got this with one of the LE collections a few months ago and have been hooked to its beautiful rosy glow. Despite the bold shade, it looks a bit translucent and more like a flush of colour on my skintone when applied with a stifler brush like MAC 188. Great product for spring and summer.



Hope you guys enjoyed this post. Do you own any of these products? What are some of your latest favourite products in hair, skin and makeup?

February 23, 2012

December 12, 2011

December 6, 2011

November 28, 2011

July 17, 2011

July 11, 2011

June 28, 2011

April 12, 2011

Spring is finally here! I know I've alreday done a few spring related posts but today was actually the first day here that I felt spring was in the air. As you know bright lips and neons are a big trend this spring (kinda like last spring). I personally have no problem going bright on my lips but I know a lot of the ladies out there prefer something more subtle. So I decided to make a post about my latest lip obsession - watermelon lips. Watermelon shades are a lot more wearable than the neon trend and they are flattering on every skintone and age group. I just feel so pretty when I wear this shade. I like that they are a cross between pink and red, but with the best of both world!

Here's are some of my fave watermelon lip products. All swatches are on unlined pigmented (pretty much red) lips, NW20-25 skin:

1. Nars Baroque glossy velvet pencil - this shade was introduced in spring and is been my go-to for the last month. Baroque is shinty and slightely shimmery raspberry red. It has tiny gold flecks in it that are soooo gorgeous in sunlight. The chubby pencil shape makes Baroque very easy to apply. I find that this product lasts a good 5 hours on me despite it been really a lip gloss more than a lipstick:


Nars Baroque glossy velvet pencil

2. Chanel Emoi Rouge Allure Extrait de Gloss - I've had this lipgloss for about 6 months and only lately I've become upset with it. the Extrait de gloss is a thicker lipgloss with a super creamy texture. This product feels amazing on the lips and is a beautiful shade of watermelon pink. I find that with this product though you need to use a lipliner to make it last 5-6 hours:


Chanel Emoi Rouge Allure Extrait de Gloss

3. Marcelle Cleopatra Rouge Xpression - This lipstick is a bit brighter and more pink than red than the previous two. But gosh is it a gorgeous pink! Cleopatra is hands down what spring lips look like to me. The formula is creamy and comfortable wearing and it lasts a good 4 hours on me. If you live in Canada, definitely have a look at the Rouge Xpression line, what a bargain and what gorgeous colours!


Marcelle Cleopatra Rouge Xpresion

And here we have them all swatched on my arm:


Left to right: Baroque, Emoi, Cleopatra

Hope you guys will find this post helpful. What are some of your fabourite watermelon shade lip products?

March 27, 2011

Happy Sunday everyone! Here's another edition of my top 5 nail polishes. This one focuses on "traditional" colours; red and pink. It may sound boring to you but in my opinion red and pink are the best shades for nail polish. They look good on everyone and you can wear them all year long. Here's a list of my faves:

1. Top 5 Red Nail polishes - sultry reds will forever have a place in my heart. Just like red lipstick, I tend to accumulate a lot of red nail polishes. I never have enough as in my opinion red goes with everything!


Essie Laquered Up - bright tomato red, I looove this for spring!
Essie Fishnet Stockings - This is a deeper sexy red, just like the name suggests. There's a swatch of this shade here.
OPI Dutch Tulip - Pinky red, very pretty and reminds me of Chanel Cambon Rouge Coco. You can see my NOTD here.
OPI Malaga Wine - My all time fave nail polish, this is my third bottle of this blood red shade.
Color Club Fast Woman - this burgundy red is hands down the sexiest red shade in my stash. Perfect for the fall/winter season.

Top 5 Pink Nail Polishes - The first nail polish my mom ever gave me was a light seashell pink when I was 5. That's how long I've actually been painting my nails! I love the simplicity of pink from light mod pinks to bright pop of strawberry pink.


OPI Mod About You - this is an unusual but HOT shade of pink, very light but opaque pink.
OPI Strawberry Martguerita - My go-to pink all summer long, awesome formula too! Check out my NOTD here.
China Glaze Strawberry Fields - This medium pink infused with golden shimmer in a glass finish just makes me happy. My fave China Glaze nail polish of all time!
Color Club Ultra Violet - this is more of a violet pink with blue reflects; very unique and very petty. I'm wearing Ultra Violet here.
Zoya Bijou - This is a warmer pink and looks awesome on toes. Another one of those shades that just make you happy. See my NOTD here.

What are some of your favourite nail polishes in these two colour categories?

March 23, 2011

Hey lovelies! This is part #2 of my top 5 nail polishes organized by colour categories. Hope you Enjoy this post!

1. Top 5 Blue Polishes - I included anything from light blue to navy in this section. Blue nail polish is one of my favourite colours to wear and I think blue is a shade that works with all skintones.


Misa Pour me Something Tall and Strong - gorgeous neon medium blue, excellent summer choice.
China Glaze Caribbean Blue - This is prob my most worn blue polish, beautiful light blue with micro gold shimmer.
China Glaze Frost Bite - This is a deeper bright royal blue, my hubby's fave shade of nail polish on me. See a swatch of the Rally blue here.
Zoya Crystal - Crystal is more of a teal blue and it has silver and gold, absolutely beautiful! See my swatch here.
OPI Russian Navy - This is a classic navy, it has hints of purple and is soooo chic!

2. Top 5 Green Polishes - I must admit, unlike many nail fanatics, green is not a colour I like to wear on my nails. I do wear it but I'm picky! I only go for darker greens and avoid anything grassy or yellow toned (yellow clashes baaaad with my cooler undertones).


OPI Jade is the New Black - This is the perfect medium green, not all yellow toned, lol! Have a look at my swatch here.
Misa Grass is Greener on the Other Side - Neon medium green, I only wear this on my toes.
Misa Toxic Seduction - This is a beautiful shimmery forst green, application is excellent. One of my fall faves and absolutely sexy. Check out my swatch here.
Zoya Edyta - Edyta is a deep olive green with beautiful micro gold shimmer. I adore this one!
Zoya Envy - I love that Envy is super dark yet distinctly green and not black, even indoors.

3. Top 5 Purple Polishes - oh how I love purples! I have a preference for lilac toned ones. Either way this category took me a while to decide on. I tend to buy a lot of purple nail polishes.


American Apparel Dynastie - My favourite purple hands down! Gorgeous light purple with cream finish.
OPI Parlez Vous OPI? Dusty light purple again with a cream finish. I'm on my second bottle!
Color Club Wild at Heart - This is how holos should be done. With a purple base and tones of fine silver shimmer. Check out my swatch here.
Orly Cashmere Cardigan - This is more of a perwinkle shade, it screams spring to me. Excellent formula and you can see a swatch of it here.
OPI Louvre me Louvre me Not - My fave red toned purple. OPI does great purples, every single one I have is a hit.

What are some of your favourite nail polishes in these three categories?