December 29, 2013

NOTD: December 29, 2013


I love this. Exactly the kind of holo polish I was looking for! This is two coats of Nails Inc. Disco Lane (from this haul) over my Orly Top2Bottom base coat.

This was really sparkly and would have looked better with a top coat! I definitely don't regret this purchase at all!

A great contender for a night on the town! What polish do you reach for when going out dancing?

Thanks for reading!

December 28, 2013

December 28 Haul

Back row L to R: Sephora Favorites Glitz and Glam, Tinsel Twinkle Perfection Sample Bag, Algenist Pore Corrector Anti-Aging Primer
Front row L to R: Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment, Bond No. 9 I Love New York for All, Nails Inc. The After Party, and Boscia One Step Wonders


I'll start with the Sephora Favorites Glitz and Glam set, since it was the main reason for the purchase.


Lancôme Hypnose Star Mascara - always a favourite and wanted a backup
Too Faced 3-Way Lashlining Tool - definitely intriguing, and will let you know how it fares once I start using it


Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadow in Space Cowboy - I was intrigued to try more UD eyeshadow, and thought this shade looked suitable for work.


Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelee in Pink Escape - Since I've begun my foray into blush, I've been intrigued by cream or gel blush so I thought I'd give this a go. I love the shade, perfect for my pale skin tone and it's quite easy to blend so that you don't end up looking like a clown. Glad I picked this up!


Sephora False Eyelashes in Celebrity - I did end up gifting these, but I love how natural they look!


Stila Stay All Day 10-in-1 HD Illuminating Beauty Balm - I love BB creams, and will let you know how this offering from Stila works out!

NARS Larger Than Life Lipgloss in Gold Digger - Can't wait to try this out, such a pretty shimmery nude colour!

Nails Inc. Kensington Caviar Gel Effect Plumping Top Coat - You can never have too many top coats!


Nails Inc. The After Party includes: Disco Lane, Covent Garden Market, and Soho Street
I've been quite impressed with the Nails Inc. polish I've tried so far and this was $7 for 3 full size nail polish!


Bosica One Step Wonders includes: Luminizing Black Mask, Tsubaki Beauty Oil, and Bright White Mask
I redeemed 500 points for this set, and am glad I did! I'm really enjoying the beauty oil which isn't too oily that you can use both day and night!


Tinsel Twinkle Perfection back row L to R: Philosophy Living Grace, Sephora Age Defy Moisture Cream, Murad Blackhead and Pore Clearing Duo, Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal, Living Proof Prime Style Extender

Tinsel Twinkle Perfection front row L to R: Lancôme Hypnose Star Mascara, Smashbox Camera Ready CC Cream

Wow. Soo many pictures! More big hauls to come!

Thanks for reading!






December 27, 2013

NOTD: December 27, 2013


Another attempt at nail art! This is NYC Greenwich Village (from this haul) over Revlon Multi-Care Base+Top Coat with Quo by Orly Instant Artist in Dark Purple used for the stripes on the accent nail.

Not too bad right? I was really impressed by the NYC nail polish, it dried quickly, had great shine and lasted longer than expected!

Thanks for reading!

December 22, 2013

Julep December Maven Box


What I received this month from Julep! Twistband hair ties, Andrea, Cara, 40% off code, Sweep Eyeshadow Palette


Sweep Eyeshadow Palette L to R: Tiramisu, Glow, Dusk, Toffee, Cocoa

I've been loving this eyeshadow palette, great nudes, soo smooth and creamy, easy to work with!

Definitely glad I picked up this month's Maven box! The colours are perfect for the season, I love the beauty item, and the extra was great in my opinion (longer lasting than the usual candy!).

For more about Julep see this post.

December 21, 2013

NOTD: December 21, 2013

 

A sparkly golden mani! This is two coats of Sephora by OPI Looks Like Rain, Dear (from this haul) over my Orly Top2Bottom base coat. I love this! So festive and sooo much sparkles!

What gold nail polish do you love?

Thanks for reading!

December 19, 2013

NOTD: December 19, 2013


Now this is a perfect Christmas colour!

This mani is two coats of Zoya Giovanna (from this haul) over butter London Nail Foundation.

I love it! Such a great jewel tone for winter!

Thanks for reading!

December 16, 2013

Influenster Maple VoxBox


My first Influenster VoxBox!

Note: I received these products complimentary for testing purposes from Influenster.

I've been a member of Influenster since April, and this is the first set of samples I received, it was a bit of a shock to receive the box at my house since I'd filled out the survey but never got confirmation that I would receive the inaugural Maple VoxBox.

Anyways, on to the goodies I received:

Skinny Cow Milk Chocolate Flavour Heavenly Crisp and Skinny Cow Milk Chocolate Dreamy Clusters

I have food allergies, and was therefore only able to test out the clusters, man were they good! If the price was low enough I would definitely buy these again! Milk chocolate + caramel sells me and the crunchy rice crisps make them more interesting!

Ice Breakers DUO in Raspberry

Not going to lie I was a bit scared of these. Raspberry + Mint just doesn't appeal to me. However I just finished my first one and loved the subtle raspberry flavour and it definitely did also refresh my breath! Awesome!

Montagne Jeunesse Red Earth Clay Spa Mask

I've yet to use this since I've been hoarding facial masks recently and have been too lazy to actually do any. I was pleased to receive this in order to compare against my hoard! I'll post a review once I've used it up!

Broadway Nails impress Press-On Manicure in Lovestruck

Now this I wasn't too excited about. Not only is this quite bright, not work appropriate, or seasonally appropriate, but I've also been wary of fake nails since my middle school days when I'd do the long French manicure kind. I will try this, I just wished the pattern would be more to my taste.

My favourites from the VoxBox: NYC Coupons, NYC Big Bold Plumping Lip Gloss and NYC Big Bold Curl Mascara

Disclaimer: I've yet to use any of these, as my mascara hoard is massive and needs to be worked through before I open a new one. Also, my lips have been chapped lately due to the cold weather, so I'm working on healing them before opening this.

Any ideas on which NYC products I should pick up when I use these coupons?

Thanks for reading!






December 15, 2013

NOTD: December 15, 2013



This is two coats of L'Oreal The Mystic's Fortune (from this haul) over and under my Revlon Multi-Care Base+Top Coat.

I love this blue-toned dark purple, but was sad that the shimmer in the bottle didn't translate on my nails.

To me purple is perfect as a winter appropriate mani choice and this is definitely vampy!

Thanks for reading!

December 14, 2013

NOTD: December 14, 2013


Since it's so snowy here today's mani is simple and timeless.  This is three coats of Sephora by OPI A True Romantic (from this haul), I also used my Revlon Multi-Care Base+Top Coat to start this mani.

Hope everyone is keeping warm!

Thanks for reading!

December 12, 2013

December 12 Haul!


Back row L to R: Holly Jolly Nourishment Sample Bag, Sephora Collection Rose Gold Mineral Brush Set
Front row L to R: Sephora Collection Instant Radiance Foundation in Ivory, Tarte Thoughtful Treasures Bestseller Kit

My main reason for the purchase: the Tarte Thoughtful Treasures Bestseller Kit which includes Tarte Pur Maracuja Oil (which I already have a sample of and really enjoy), Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Thankful, and Tarte LipSurgence Skintuitive Lip Tint in Energy.
I love the LipSurgence products so wanted to test out this unique colour that changes colour based on your skin chemistry and body heat, and I've heard so many great things about Tarte blush so I knew I couldn't pass up this kit!

Sephora Instant Radiance Foundation in Ivory, this was on sale for $11 so I figured why not try it out.  I've yet to open it since I'm trying to finish up other face products first.


My brush kit case: isn't it pretty?

The contents L to R: Stippling brush, powder brush, eye shadow brush, smudge brush, eye liner brush.
These are all super soft, I'm definitely impressed with the quality!

Holly Jolly Nourishment Sample Bag L to R: Living Proof Nourishing Style Cream, Fresh Sugar Lip Balm in Petal, Origins Plantscription Anti-aging cream, Urban Decay Vitamin-infused Complexion Prep Spray, Too Faced Tinted Beauty Balm, Peter Thomas Roth Oilless Oil, Clean Perfume, Buxom Lash Mascara

So many new items to try! I'm definitely excited and will let you know my thoughts!

Free samples: Prada Candy, Korres Greek Yoghurt Advanced Nourishing Sleeping Facial, Perricone MD Photo Plasma

Great haul right! In the holiday spirit I have quite a few more goodies to show you in the coming weeks!

Have you bought anything lately?

Thanks for reading!







December 06, 2013

NOTD: December 6, 2013


Another perfect winter mani!

This is two coats of Sephora by OPI On Stage (from this haul) with two coats of Sephora by OPI Metro Chic (from this haul) as the accent nail.  I used my Revlon Multi-care Base + Top coat to start off this mani.

What do you think?

Thanks for reading!

December 03, 2013

NOTD: December 3, 2013


This is 2 coats of Wet N' Wild Silvivor (from this haul) over my Orly Top2Bottom base coat.

I think silver is perfect for this time of year because not only does it look like snow, as I've said earlier, metallic just seem Christmas-y to me!

Thanks for reading!

December 02, 2013

NOTD: December 2, 2013


This is 2 coats of Julep Cleopatra (from this Maven box) a latex finish black polish (similar to matte in that it dries quite quickly without a shiny finish). I then used a coat to Wet N' Wild Psycho over all but the accent nail. And of course I used my Orly Top2Bottom base coat.

I really like the way this turned out! I don't own any other black polish, so this gives me the versatility of a matte or shiny finish!

Also I wanted to point out that in the bottle, Wet N' Wild Psycho looks white with hints of blue and green, but here it's completely blue and green...interesting!

Do you have any surprise glitter polish that change shades?

Thanks for reading!

December 01, 2013

December 1, 2013 Haul!

 
A few weeks back I did a one-day shopping trip in the States with a friend, these are the goodies I came back with!
L to R front row: Nails Inc. Topping Lane, Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Maya, Sephora Collection False Eyelashes in Paparazzi
L to R back row: Butter London Backstage Basics, Urban Decay Book of Shadows IV, Wet N' Wild Mini Fast Dry Nail Collection 
 
 

This is Nails Inc. special effects nail polish in Topping Lane, isn't it adorable! Found this is the clearance section of a local Shoppers Drugmart for $5, not bad considering Sephora sells this brand for $11.50 a bottle!


Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Maya, I have a mini of Trooper (the black shade), and it helped me overcome my fear of liquid eyeliners, so when I found Maya (chocolate brown) for sale for $4.99 at Sephora in JCP I snatched it up immediately! I love this eyeliner, I was slightly worried that it would be dried up since it was in the clearance section, but it isn't! Gorgeous chocolate brown shade perfect for a more work appropriate cat eye!


Sephora Collection False Eyelashes in Paparazzi, were also kicking around the clearance section of Sephora in JCP for $2.99! I couldn't resist, even though I've yet to wear them. I'll have to figure out more places to go to get some use out of these!


Butter London Backstage Basics set includes L to R: Hardwear PD Quick Dry Topcoat, Nail Foundation Flawless Basecoat, Powder Room Lacquer Remover, Rosie Lee, and a nail file.

I'd been humming and hawing on this set for a while, the Canadian price always seems too high, so when I was browsing a Macy's and I was told there were only 2 more of this set left, I grabbed it and proceeded to figure out which polish I'd add.  Rosie Lee has been on my list for a while, and I don't have other rose gold type polishes so that's what I went with!


Wet N' Wild Mini Fast Dry Nail Collection Includes: Everybody Loves Redmond, The Gold & the Beautiful, SaGreena the Teenage Witch, Saved by the Blue, Buffy the Violet Slayer, Silvivor, Party of Five Glitters, and Clear Coat

This was $9.99 at Wegman's and since Wet N' Wild are scarce here in Canada I picked it up.  My experience so far is quite positive, as the colours I've tried have been fast-drying and pretty long-wearing! This set would be a great gift for a nail polish lover or a teenager just getting into makeup!


Finally from Ulta I picked up the new Urban Decay Book of Shadows IV, isn't it gorgeous?


It includes 16 eye shadows, liquid eyeliner in black, a deluxe size mascara, a deluxe size primer potion, and a mini-speaker key chain.

I'm loving the eye shadows here and finally understand why everyone raves about the quality and creaminess of these shadows! I also like that this is a more neutral palette, since I don't find myself using bright colours too often for eye shadow.

What have you picked up lately?

Thanks for reading!