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What's In My Travel Makeup Bag: NYC?!

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Hey Everyone, 

Today I am off to New York City with my Dad to celebrate my birthday. While I don't know where we are staying exactly (my Dad is keeping that as a surprise), we have a lot of fun activities planned including a TMZ bus tour, seeing The Book of Mormon on Broadway, visiting the 9/11 memorial and of course, a lot of shopping. 

To kick off my trip to NYC, I thought it would be fun to show you what makeup I chose to bring with me. Personally, I think I did a good job at packing lightly, as I managed to fit all of my toiletries (skincare, body care, hair care) and makeup in one bag. To see what I am bringing, check out the video below:




I have four great guest posts planned for the remainder of the week and of course will be sharing pictures from my trip via InstagramTwitter and Facebook

Have a great week! 

L'Oreal Extraordinaire Liquid Lipsticks: Review + Swatches (Guest Post)

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**While I am away, I have asked some of my favourite bloggers to guest post on Funny Face Beauty. Today's post is from Jenn of 
A Beautiful Zen, a fellow Canadian beauty blogger and friend, whose review of L'Oreal's new Extraordinaire Lip Products has me adding to my NYC shopping list**

Hey, it’s Jenn again, posting while Alicia is on vacay. Since I loved the Maybelline Elixir gloss I had previously picked up, I wanted to try out the L'Oreal versions as a comparision. Thankfully Shoppers was quite happy to help me out with this since they went on sale a few weeks ago.

The L'Oreal Extraordinaire lip products ($13-14CDN) are advertised as dramatic and lustrious lip colors which offers shine and smooths the appearance of your lips. The applicator offers a smooth glide on lip experience. I picked up the colors in Orange Tempo (an orange) and Rouge Allegro (a blue toned red)




Some swatches of the L'Oreal and Maybelline glosses.



Much like the Maybelline glosses, the L'Oreal version offers a great deal of shine. However, the pigmentation is more immediately intense than Maybelline's. Both products sit quite well on the lips but I feel like L'Oreal's is slightly heavier, not a deal breaker and only something to mention if I'm being really nit-picky.

I'm the worst tester when it come to wear. I'm always eating or drinking something so of course colors will wash off. But having said that, the L'Oreal glosses performed well and I didn't really feel the need to constantly reapply. Both products stain slightly and have slightly sticky and gel-like textures. The gloss on the L'Oreal ones don't last as long but stain remained for many hours.

In general, when it comes down to it....they're both similar enough. For me, the differences are slight and I would purchase this on color and price. I believe the Maybelline ones are slightly cheaper but both go on sale regularly at SDM so this is not really a thing.

Have you tried either formulas? Do you have a favorite?


Be sure to follow Jenn on:

Mint and Rose Gold 'Dotticure' Nail Art Tutorial (Guest Post)

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** While I am away I have asked some of my favourite beauty loving ladies to guest post on Funny Face Beauty. Today's post is from Ann-Kristin a budding Instagram nail artist, whose beginner nail art tutorial has me inspired to create my own 'dotticure' (wish me luck!)**
Hello Ladies,

My name is Ann-Kristin and I am a 19 year old German nail artist. I'd like to thank Alicia for giving me the opportunity to upload a guest post on her blog! Thanks dear :) 

Today I wanted to share with you one of my favourite beginner nail art looks...the 'dotticure'. Let's get started, shall we?



For today's manicure, I used two nail polishes: Butter London's 'Fiver' (Mint) and Essie's 'Penny Talk' (Copper). I really love both shades, and think mint and (rose-)gold look great together! 

To recreate the 'dotticure' it helps to have a dotting tool but, if you don't have one, you can create your own using the tip of a bobby pin instead.

Step One: Start off with a basecoat. Please, NEVER polish your nails without a basecoat, it protects your nails from the nail polish and prevents staining! 
Step Two: Apply two coats of Butter London 'Fiver'.
Step Three: Drop a bit of Essie's 'Penny Talk' on a small piece of aluminium foil.
Step Four: Dip your dotting tool into the polish and start making dots on your nails (use the larger tip for larger dots and the smaller tip for smaller, more intricate dots).
Step Five: After allowing your nails to dry for a few minutes, apply a coat of fast drying topcoat.

And that is it!



I really hope you like the look and would love if you tried to re-create it. 

If you'd like to see some of my other nail art creations, be sure to check out my Instagram (@annkristin0) and leave me a comment :) It really makes my day ! 

Have a lovely day,
Ann-Kristin


Follow Ann-Kristin on Instagram (seriously her nail art is amazing)

Golden Green Drastic Smoky Eye (Guest Post)

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**While I am away, I have asked some of my favourite beauty bloggers to guest post on Funny Face Beauty. Today's post is from Leticia of Cosmetics Aficionado, whose stunning eye looks (seriously they are amazing), always have me longing for better blending skills**

Hey Everyone, 

As soon as I saw this green eyeshadow look on a Russian blog I knew I wanted to do something similar. I was looking through all of my greens, and I came across a stunning green from L’Oreal that I purchased months ago but had forgotten about when it got pushed to the back of one of my pigment drawers. This one is going to make regular appearances in my eyeshadow rotation from now on.



Here’s what I used:

Face

  • Rimmel Stay Matte Primer
  • Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation
  • Estee Lauder Concealer
  • MAC MSF in Dark/Natural
  • L’Oreal True Match Blush in Innocent Flush

Eyes

  • Elizabeth Arden Eye-Fix Primer
  • Urban Decay Bootycall Eyeshadow (brow highlight)
  • MAC Soft Btown and Swiss Chocolate in the crease
  • L’Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow in Golden Emerald on the lid (applied wet)
  • Sugarpill Chromalust in Goldilux on the inner corner
  • MAC Carbon to smoke out the look
  • Jesse’s Girl Waterproof Liquid Liner
  • Maybelline Define-a-Lash Volume Mascara
  • Eyelene Dark Fairy Lashes
  • Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow in Ebony

Lips

  • Ulta Retractable Lip Liner in Flesh
  • Maybelline Wet Shine Gloss (unfortunately long gone from shelves) in Clearly Coral

Be sure to follow Leticia on: 

Outfit of the Day: Spring Sequins (Guest Post)

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** While I am away, I have asked a few of my favourite beauty and fashion bloggers to guest post on Funny Face Beauty. Today's post is from Elise of Blush Is The New Black, a fellow Canadian blogger whose incredible sense of style seriously has me wishing I could hire her to revamp my wardrobe.**
Hey Everyone, 

Alicia's blog was one of the first blogs I ever started following and she has influenced more purchases than I care to admit (the latest one being a Dior Fluid Stick). When she asked if I wanted to do a guest post here on Funny Face Beauty, the first word out of my mouth was, 'duh!' How eloquent, right? Alicia - thank you so much for thinking of me! 

This crazy weather has done pretty ridiculous things to my sense of style. My outfits have become very bizarre and I've sort of come to the conclusion that the lines have been blurred this spring. I have no rules as to what I can or cannot wear. When it's sunny one second, hailing the next, and snowing after that, everything is fair game. No one knows how to dress for this weather, so why not have some fun with it? 

Sequins are such a staple for special occasions - the holidays, big birthdays, Vegas, and weddings. But we shouldn't have to reserve sequins for holiday parties and special parties. Why not wear a sequin skirt on a beautiful(ly frigid) Spring day? 





Leather jacket: Club Monaco
Sweater: Joe Fresh
Skirt: Express
Shoes: Keds espadrilles
Ring: Dean Davidson Castle ring
Handbag: Alexander Wang Rocco (rose gold)


It actually seems very fitting that I would wear sequins, seeing as how Alicia is in NYC for some birthday festivities. These sequins are for you, Alicia! 

If the weather can't decide on a season, why should we? Bulky winter sweater and Keds espadrilles? Yeah, that'll do. 

Thank you so much for reading! 


Be sure to check out Elise on: 

My Week in Instagram Pictures #59

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 1) My surprise NYC hotel 'The Quin' with complimentary champagne, birthday cake and Fresh Beauty products. 
2) The first night in NYC was just a little windy...oops!
3) Salty peanut tartufo at Otto Pizzeria (so good!). 
4) A little birthday treat I bought myself from Henri Bendel. 
 5) TMZ Tour in NYC...my Dad was thrilled. 
6) Despite claiming he was not a TMZ fan, my Dad managed to win himself a TMZ tour t-shirt. 
7) The best macarons I have ever had at Bouchon Bakery. 
8) The Book of Mormon on Broadway. Wish I could see it again and again. 
 9) A little afternoon Laduree break in Central Park (have to say I was not a fan of their macarons). 
10) My Dad and I hanging out on the High Line in NYC. 
11) Birthday dinner at Buddakan in NYC where Carrie and Mr. Big had their rehearsal dinner. 
12) Spiced carrot cake and cream cheese ice-cream (amazing!). 
13) A tower of cupcakes from Crumbs Bakeshop (the best cupcakes you will ever try!). 
14) My starbucks name...Nisha. 
15) Loving this nail polish and bracelet combo from Mark. 
16) Kat Von D's 'Saint' eyeshadow palette, a birthday present from my sisters. 

GOSH 'Forever Eyeshadow Sticks' (Review+Swatches)

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Hey Everyone, 

This Spring, GOSH Cosmetics wants to make eyes sparkle and shine with their new  'Forever Eyeshadow Sticks'. With a bold, highly pigmented metallic finish, these super creamy pencils blend beautifully for a smooth, crease-free look (even my crepey lids don't crease). Once set, these water repellent pencils lock into place, and do not budge without the use of a good makeup remover. 

While I, personally, like to top any cream shadow with a similarly coloured powder shadow, the new GOSH Forever Eyeshadow Sticks definitely have enough pigmentation to be worn on their own, and look great applied both, all over the lid, as well as, along the upper and lower lash lines. 

Although I love the look of all eight shades packed on the lid, there are a couple of shades that, when blended out, lose pigmentation leaving behind an eyelid full of glitter (something I personally am not a fan of). With that said, the remaining six shades are absolutely stunning, giving the lids a beautiful high-shine finish. 

Below is a closer look at all eight of GOSH's new 'Forever Eyeshadow Sticks':
GOSH Forever Eyeshadow Stick in '01 Silver Rose': 
A silver-taupe with both purple and brown undertones, 'Silver Rose' is, without a doubt, my favourite shade from the new collection and looks great packed onto the lid, or blended out in the crease for some added definition. 

GOSH Forever Eyeshadow Stick in '02 Beige': 
A light, beige-toned gold with iridescent gold glitter, 'Beige' looks beautiful packed onto the lid, but, unfortunately, loses pigmentation when blended out, leaving behind a lot of fairly chunky glitter (not my favourite look). 

 GOSH Forever Eyeshadow Stick in '03 Light Copper': 
A stunning metallic copper with strong brown undertones and finely milled golden shimmer, 'Light Copper' makes for a great daytime smoky eyed look when blended out both on the lid and along the lower lash line. 
GOSH Forever Eyeshadow Stick in '04 Brown': 
A deep, cool-toned chocolate brown packed with iridescent silver and gold shimmer, 'Brown' works nicely as both an all over lid shade and an eyeliner, when used with an angled liner brush. 

 GOSH Forever Eyeshadow Stick in '05 Grey':
A deep smoky charcoal packed with large chunks of silver shimmer, 'Grey' contains a little too much shimmer for my personal taste, losing pigmentation and leaving behind a eyeful of glitter when blended out. 

GOSH Forever Eyeshadow Stick in '06 Plum': 
A deep, cool-toned purple with very strong silver undertones and finely milled iridescent silver and purple shimmer, 'Plum' makes for a beautiful, simple smoky eyed look. 
GOSH Forever Eyeshadow Stick in '07 Blue': 
A deep navy with grey undertones and finely milled iridescent blue shimmer, 'Blue' blends beautifully for a stunning and sophisticated soft smoky look. 
GOSH Forever Eyeshadow Stick in '08 Green': 
A deep forest green with iridescent olive shimmer, 'Green' works surprisingly well as a beautiful pop of colour on both the upper and lower lash lines (as you may know, I'm not usually a fan of green eyeshadows). 

Silver Rose, Beige, Light Copper, Brown


Grey, Plum, Blue, Green

The new GOSH Forever Eyeshadow Sticks retail for $14 CND/0.1oz  and can be found at Shoppers Drug Mart stores nationwide as of this month.

What do you think of GOSH's new 'Forever Eyeshadow Sticks'? Do you like the metallic finish or do you prefer something a little more matte? Which of the shades above would you most like to get your hands on? Be sure to let me know in the comment section below. 

NOTD: Graffiti Nails

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Hey Everyone, 

Happy Tuesday! This morning Mother Nature decided it was time to shake things up a bit, and after a couple of days of beautiful Spring weather, hit us with frigid temperatures and more snow (will Spring ever get here?!). 

To help cure my Winter blues, I decided it was a good day to play around with some of my new nail products and, after a little experimenting (note to self, nail wraps are not your friend), came up with a fun graffiti-like combination I absolutely love. 


To start my graffiti nail look, I used two coats of Dior's new Spring 2014 nail polish in 'Junon'. A gorgeous dusty blue-grey, this creamy polish applies beautifully and opaquely in two coats (you could probably get away with one, as this polish is very well pigmented). 


After letting the base coat dry for a couple of minutes, I applied two coats of Formula X's Nail Effects Top Coat in 'Turbulent', one of the items I picked up while in NYC. A clear base with various sized turquoise and black matte glitter, 'Turbulent' is one of the coolest nail polishes I have ever used, giving the nails a splattered paint, graffiti-like finish (I seriously want this top coat in every shade available). 


While not your typical Spring pastel look, I absolutely love this nail combination and will be rocking this look throughout the Easter weekend. I have, at this point, had nothing but good luck with the Formula X brand and, if you are a nail polish addict like me, highly recommend checking the line out. 

What do you think of my 'graffiti nail' look? Have you tried any of the polishes from the Formula X brand? Any shades you recommend I check out? What will you be wearing on your nails this Easter weekend? Be sure to let me know in the comment section below. 

My Huge NYC Haul

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Hey Everyone, 

Happy Thursday! As most of you know, I spent last week in New York City celebrating my birthday with my Dad. The trip was amazing and I had so much fun exploring the city, seeing 'The Book of Mormon' on Broadway (this is a must see show!) and hanging out on the TMZ Tour Bus (my Dad even won himself a TMZ T-shirt). Of course, a lot of our time was spent shopping, and I managed to pick up A LOT of makeup and accessories. Below is a haul video showing you everything I bought on my trip to NYC. Enjoy!

NOTD: My Red Wings-Inspired 'Dotticure'

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Hey Everyone, 

Happy Tuesday! I hope you all had a great Easter weekend. My Easter weekend consisted of time at my cottage (the weather was amazing!), a Raptors basketball game, organizing an Easter egg hunt for my little cousins, and consuming way too much cheap chocolate (I honestly woke up with a chocolate hangover this morning...time to get my clean eating back on track). 


Besides buying and playing with makeup, baking yummy clean eating treats and watching copious amount of trashy reality TV, one of my favourite things to do is to watch, and cheer on my hockey team, the Detroit Redwings. Having been a fan for over 20 years, I have been lucky enough to go to my fair share of Redwings games, and have been known to force my family and friends to wear some fairly embarrassing, Redwings-inspired outfits (see collage above). 


This Thursday my sisters, my Dad I will be driving to Detroit to see the Red Wings play the Boston Bruins in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Having already planned our outfits (we will be recycling some of our old 'costumes') and our sign 'Girls Don't Get Flirty With Bruins Who Play Dirty' (rhyming with the word dirty is harder than you would think), I decided I wanted to do something fun and 'festive' with my nails. So, what better than a red and white 'dotticure'?!


To create this look, I, or rather my nail lady, started with two coats of Dior's 'Captain', a beautiful cherry-toned red that is set to release with Dior's new Summer 2014 'Transat Collection'. Next, she used my favourite double-ended dotting tool, essence's 'Duo Stylist Nail Tool' and a thick white nail polish (sorry I didn't get the name) to create a smattering of various sized dots. 

While the look is fairly simple (nail art for dummies), I love it and can't wait to show off my nails at the game on Thursday (because the Red Wings will obviously looking into the stands to see who has the best manicure). 


What do you think of my Red Wings inspired 'dotticure'? Are you a hockey fan? Who is your favourite team? Be sure to let me know in the comment section below. 

Smashbox The Santigolden Age Eyeshadow Collage in 'Earth As We Know It'

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Hey Everyone, 

This Summer, Smashbox Cosmetics has teamed up with artist, musician and muse, Santigold, to create a vivid and colourful collection inspired by the 'post 2012-Golden Age'. With a variety of products including two eyeshadow collage palettes, two double-ended eyeliners, two lip glosses, nail art stickers and the most gorgeous lipstick statement ring (I want!), the new 'Santigolden Age Collection' is incredibly unique, making it one of the most exciting Summer 2014 beauty launches. 

I was recently sent the new five shade Eyeshadow Collage Palette in 'Earth As We Know It' and couldn't wait to share my thoughts. 


Let's be honest, I am a sucker when it comes to great packaging and this palette is no exception. With bold bright colours, a collage-like aztec design, and, of course, the inside eyeshadow snake design, the 'Earth As We Know It' palette is one of the most gorgeous palettes I have ever seen. 

Below is a closer look at each of the five shades in the 'Earth As We Know It' palette, which can be used both wet (I like to spray my brush with MAC's 'Fix Plus') or dry: 



Kelly Green:
 A shimmering kelly green with yellow undertones and extremely finely milled golden shimmer. 

Soft Sparkling Cream: 
A shimmering light beige/cream with large flecks of iridescent gold and white glitter. 

Dark Matte Blue: 
A deep, matte, smoky navy blue with purple undertones. 

Sparkly Forest Green: 
A deep, shimmering forest green packed with chunky iridescent gold and green glitter. 

Raisin with Rose Gold Pearl: 
A deep, matte smoky plum with large pieces of iridescent gold and rose gold glitter. 


Despite the gorgeous packaging, I'll be honest, in saying I wasn't overly excited by the eyeshadow shades themselves upon first look. While all of the shades look pretty in the pan, I've never been a huge fan of green eyeshadow (they always make my eyes look red) or shadows that have a lot of fairly chunky glitter. After testing the palette out, however, all of my initial feelings changed. 

Not only are all of the shadows incredibly well pigmented (we are talking great colour payoff), the three main shades in the 'Earth As We Know It' palette are incredibly smooth and buttery, don't have much fallout (despite having some shimmer and glitter), and blend like a dream. As for the two smaller, more glittery shades, they do have a fair amount of fallout (to be expected with larger flecks of glitter), but are easily packed onto the lid (wet or dry) for an added touch of sparkle. 



While I really like all of the shades individually (even the Kelly Green shade looks surprisingly nice on my lids), I have yet to figure out an eye look that nicely combines all of the colours, the only real drawback in my opinion (it's hard to get a full look from just this palette). With that said, the shades themselves are beautiful (the navy blue and raisin shades are absolutely stunning!), making the entire palette a piece of art, and something I would definitely recommend checking out. 

The new Santigolden Age Eyeshdow Collage Palette in 'Earth As We Know It' palette retails for $42CND/$36USD and can be found at Shoppers Drugmart and Sephora stores nation-wide. 

What do you think of Smashbox's new 'Earth As We Know It' palette?  Will you be picking anything up from the new Santigolden Age Collection? Be sure to let me know in the comment section below. 

My Week In Instagram Photos #60

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 1) Purple sushi?!
2) Graffiti nails using Formula X's 'Turbulent'. 
3) Mixing some camo and neon. 
4) Umm... is this not the creepiest Easter chocolate you have ever seen?!
 5) Went a little overboard planning the kiddie Easter egg hunt this year. 
6) Eyeshadow and mini eggs, thank you Almay!
7) Hanging out with my sisters at the Raptors game. 
8) Outfit of the Day: Leggings- JC Penny, Top- Penningtons, Jewelry- Ali Express, Forever21 and Henri Bendel. 
9) Mini Easter/birthday cheesecakes. 
10) My cottage cuddly buddy. 
11) A sunny, beautiful day at the cottage. 
12) More Easter cheesecake. 
 13) Yep, my dog has his own Red Wings jersey. 
14) Throw Back Thursday: my super blonde, mushroom cut. 
15) Outfit of the Day: Leggings- JC Penny, T-Shirt- Addition Elle, Jacket- Jessica Simpson, Jewelry/Watch- AliExpress, Forever21 and Henri Bendel. 
16) At the Red Wings game with my sisters. 
 17) How gorgeous is this palette?!
18) Can't wait to share the new Dior Transat collection. 
19) New accessories: Rebecca Minkoff purse and Henri Bendel bracelet. 
20) Avon's new 'Express Dual Eye System'...I hope this is the miracle I need. 
21) Candy and hair chalk...I want to go blue!
22) Even better than flowers...eos 'Strawberry Sorbet' and 'Passionfruit'. 
23) Thanks to two of my friends for feeding my blush addiction. 
24) I did a bad, bad thing...It Cosmetics 'Naturally Pretty' palette. 

NOTD: Formula X Nail Effects in 'Explosive'

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Hi Everyone, 

Happy Monday! I hope you all had a great weekend. Today, I wanted to share my newest nail look with you. As you may have seen in my NYC haul post, I recently picked up two new polishes from the Formula X line. While I had sworn not to buy any more nail polish for a while, I was overcome by the beauty of the Formula X line, and couldn't help but pick up of their most stunning shades (who didn't see that coming from a mile away?!). Having already shared my first NYC pick in last week's 'Graffiti Nails' post, I wanted to give you a closer look at the second polish I picked up on my trip. 


One of five shades from Formula X's Superwatts collection, 'Explosive' is a gorgeous jelly-based black polish PACKED full of various sized multi-coloured, holographic, hexagonal glitter (say that ten times fast!). Opaque in two to three coats (I went for three because I wanted to layer on as much glitter as possible), 'Explosive's formula is on the thicker side, meaning it's best if you take your time with application (it can get chunky if you don't allow each coat to dry for 20-30 seconds). 


Like all of Formula X's polishes, 'Explosive' is three-free (no DBP, Formaldehyde or Toluene), paraben-free and comes with a short, fairly thin brush 'engineered to compliment [the polishes] highly pigmented formulas, giving you the most even and precise lacquer application' (in other words, even I can apply these polishes fairly evenly, without a lot of mess). 


While I would like to be able to tell you that I will, hereby, be sticking to my 'no buying nail polish' rule, the Formula X line has definitely been feeding my polish addiction and I already have my eyes on a few more shades I NEED to add to my collection (yes, it's a need, not a want).  

Have you tried any of Formula X's nail polishes? Any shades you really want to add to your collection? Any you think I should try out? Be sure to let me know in the comment section below. 

Beauty Spotlight: Hayden Panettiere

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Which of these Hayden Panettiere beauty looks is your favourite?

Avon 'Perfect Nude Shades True Color Eyeshadow Quads' (Review+Swatches)

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Hey Everyone, 

As I'm sure you know by now, I am a complete sucker when it comes to a good neutral eyeshadow palette (a girl can never have too many neutral palettes). From soft and subtle to smoky and sophisticated, a good neutral palette can easily take you from day to night any day of the week. Well, neutral lovers rejoice, because today, I have not one, but two of Avon's new 'Perfect Nude Shades True Colour Eyeshadow Quads' to share with you. 

Retailing at only $10 CND/each (trust me, they are a total steal), the new Avon True Colour Quads combine four rich, neutral, co-ordinating shades, perfect for creating a variety of stunning eye looks. Marked with numbers 1-4, each palette provides a step-by-step guide to applying the shadows (1: brow bone, 2: inner corner, 3: outer corner, 4: lash line)), but those, who like me, like to break a few rules, can throw caution to the wind, creating their own personalized look. 


While I'm not always the biggest fan of drugstore-priced eyeshadow palettes (I find the majority to be chalky, dry and not very pigmented), Avon's newest True Colour Eyeshadow Quads are incredibly well formulated with shadows that are very well pigmented, incredibly soft (they feel like silk) and easy to blend. 

I've been using both 'Perfect Nude Shades Eyeshadow Quads' for the past month, and can honestly say they are worth every penny. Below is a closer look at all of the shades contained in each palette: 


Avon Perfect Nude Shades True Color Eyeshadow Quad in 'Naked Truth'

Shimmering Beige: 
A shimmering light beige (almost white), this shade makes for the perfect brow-bone highlight (I've been using this particular shade every day for the past month). 

Peach Sparkle: 
A soft, shimmering light peach with golden undertones, this shade makes for  beautiful inner corner highlight (I also like to place this along the lower water for a brightening glow). 

Glimmering Sand: 
A soft brown with strong rose undertones and a slight sheen, this shade is definitely my favourite, and works beautifully in the crease, warming up any eye look. 

Coffee: 
An icy, cool-toned taupe with subtle olive undertones, this stunning colour makes for the perfect all over lid shade (add a touch of mascara and liquid eyeliner and you are good to go). 


Avon Perfect Nude Shades True Colour Eyeshadow Quad in 'Grin and Bare It'

Bronzed: 
A shimmering golden-bronze, this shade looks amazing placed on the centre of the lid creating a beautiful glow. 

Burnished Copper: 
A deep chocolate brown with copper undertones, this shade is perfect for creating a daytime smoky eye. 

Patina: 
A deep olive with golden undertones and a light sheen, this absolutely stunning shade look great worn all over the lid. 

Sahara Sunset: 
A dark, cool-toned chocolate brown, this shade makes for a great eyeliner both on the upper and lower lash lines. 

 Naked Truth

Grin and Bare It

With four gorgeous, co-ordinating shades (you can definitely get a whole eye look with each of these palettes), these amazingly well formulated quads are a neutral lovers dream, and definitely worth a closer look. The new Avon Perfect Nude Shades True Color Eyeshadow Quads are available on the Avon website as of the beginning of May. 

Are you a neutral palette lover? What do you think of Avon's new 'Perfect Nude Shades' Quads? Will you be picking one up? What is your all time favourite neutral eyeshadow palette? Be sure to let me know in the comment section below. 

Giveaway: Mary Kay At Play Spring 2014

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Hey Everyone, 

I hope you are all having a wonderful week. My week has been a little rough, to say the least. With a very sick dog, a broken down car, gloomy weather, and a detox diet/pill regimen that is currently kicking my butt (more to come in my next weight loss update post), I've been a little down in the dumps. So, I figured what better way to get over the blues than host a fun and very colourful giveaway. 

Over the past couple of years, Mary Kay has gone from a brand that I, personally, always thought of as out-dated and very 'old lady', to a brand that continues to wow me with a variety of great quality and very on-trend products. One of Mary Kay's most recent endeavours is their 'At Play' line which, while targeted at young adults, is fun for anyone wanting to add colour colour to their collection. Mary Kay's Spring 2014 collection added a number of new products to the 'At Play' line including the following eight giveaway prizes: 

PRIZES



1) Mary Kay At Play Baked Eye Trio in 'Electric Spring':
 With shimmering purple, turquoise and icy white, this eyeshadow trio makes for a fun, colourful Spring eye look. 

2) Mary Kay At Play Baked Eye Trio in 'Sunset Beach': 
With a light lavender, a shimmering beige and a deep copper, this palette is perfect for making blue/green eyes pop. 
3) Mary Kay At Play Eye Crayon in 'Teal Me More':
A mix between a chubby eyeliner and cream eyeshadow, this shimmering teal pencil looks amazing worn along the lower lash line. 

4) Mark Kay At Play Eye Crayon in 'Over The Taupe': 
 A shimmering bronze-taupe, this pencil makes for the perfect smoky eye. 
 5) Mary Kay At Play Jelly Lip Gloss in 'Poppy Love':
A bold coral orange, this jelly-like lipgloss is the perfect shade for summer. 

6) Mary Kay At Play Jelly Lip Gloss in 'Violet Vixen': 
A bold purple with fuchsia undertones, this is a must have 'radiant orchid' colour for 2014. 

7) Mary Kay At Play Lip Crayon in 'Purple Punch': 
A deep purple with flecks of iridescent fuchsia shimmer, this lip crayon is definitely not for the faint of heart. 

8) Mary Kay At Play Lip Crayon in 'Coral Me Crazy': 
A bright coral orange with pink undertones, this chubby lip pencil makes for easy, on the go application

RULES
1) This giveaway is international. Anyone can win. 
2) Mandatory Entry: In the comment section below, let me know which of the Mary Kay At Play products you would most like to get your hands on (worth 5 entries). 
3) This giveaway will end on May 12th, 2014. 

Extra Entries
1) Follow me on Facebook (worth 3 entries)
2) Follow me on Twitter (worth 3 entries)
3) Follow me on Instagram (worth 3 entries)

Good Luck!

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Weight Loss Update: Taking a Naturopathic Approach

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Hey Everyone, 

I hope you all had a great weekend. While, I don't have much to update in terms of my actual  weight loss (I've been bouncing between 40lbs and 45lbs lost for the past year), I have been going through some major lifestyle changes the past couple of weeks and thought now would be a good time to share. 

Despite feeling extremely discouraged by the last meeting I had with the surgeon who performed my lap band surgery and the dietician who works at the clinic where I had my surgery (if you remember I was told to cut my diet back to 800 calories a day), I was determined to continue trying to lose weight by clean eating. Unfortunately, despite eating what I would consider to be a healthy diet (no white flour, no white sugar, no processed food), I had no significant weight loss, and after three months of trying, actually noticed myself starting to gain some weight. 

This, combined with both the physical (insane amounts of pain) and cognitive (I have been having difficulty with reading, writing and sometimes, speaking) symptoms of Fibromyalgia (this winter was rough on my body), truthfully, had me feeling like giving up. 

While I have, for the most part, always been someone with a fairly good self-esteem, the fact that I haven't able to lose as much weight as I would like has really left me feeling self-conscious, and although I realize that a 40 to 45 lbs weight loss is huge accomplishment, I can honestly say I felt better about my body before having the surgery than I do now. 

After exhausting every possible traditional medical option, both for my weight loss issues and my chronic pain condition, my Mom suggested I try going to a naturopathic clinic out of Toronto, she had read about. Desperate to try anything that might help, I agreed. 

To say I was anxious going into the first meeting with the naturopath would be an understatement. Having felt so judged, not only by the people at my weight loss clinic, but also some people in my personal life, I was really scared that I would once again be judged for my inability to lose weight. 

I am happy to say, this was not the case. While the naturopath acknowledged that I was eating a very good diet for most people, she explained that it was not the right diet for my body as I have struggled with insulin resistance and various hormonal issues throughout my life. You see, while I had, for the most part, cut out 'the bad sugars' from my diet with clean eating, my body has a really hard time processing any type of sugar (including those found in even healthy carbohydrates), therefore preventing me from losing weight. 

So, what to do? Well, the first thing I have done is go on a two week detox diet to see if any food allergens might be at play when it comes to my pain levels and inability to lose weight. For two weeks (I finished week one today), I am not able to eat any gluten, dairy, caffeine, citrus or sugar. I also need to limit the amount of soy I eat (difficult seeing as I have been a vegetarian for 19 years). Surprisingly, I haven't found myself craving any of the items I had to cut out of my diet (okay, I kind of miss my greek yogurt and froyo), but really need to work on getting more protein in throughout the day (I spoke with a very nice dietician today who is going to help me work on this).  Once the two weeks are up, I slowly introduce these items back into my diet (one day at a time) to see if I have any major reactions to them. After that, my naturopath and dietician will put together a customized diet plan (very high protein, very low carb) that should hopefully have me losing weight, help get rid of my migraines and relieve some of my Fibromyalgia symptoms.

The second thing I have been doing is taking a lot of vitamins and supplements to help balance my hormones. While at first I thought this was going to be almost impossible (I'm really good at taking pills, but these look like horse tranquilizers), I've gotten pretty good at taking all 35+ pills a day and am ready to add more after my next appointment. 

While I haven't lost a significant amount of weight in the first week of the detox (I'm down 0.6lbs), I am very determined to follow through (my family has been impressed with my willpower) with this plan for the next month, until I see the naturopath again. 

Taking into consideration that I will be going to Nashville for 10 days at the beginning of next month and won't be able to/want to stick to such a strict diet (luckily the Naturopath has acknowledged that eating this way is almost impossible when on a fun family vacation,  living out of a kitchen-less hotel in a city that doesn't have many vegetarian options), I really believe I can make these lifestyle changes long-term. 

I'll be honest, while this all sounds like fairly positive news, I would be lying if I said this hasn't been an emotional couple of weeks (I've definitely shed a few tears). Despite the fact that the diet and supplement schedule has been going well, it is, quite honestly, really hard feeling like your body isn't 'normal' and constantly rebelling against you, and I definitely need some time to take things in and adjust.

I will be sure to update after my next naturopath appointment. Fingers crossed, I'm not allergic to greek yogurt or froyo. 


"Some people succeed because they are destined but most because they are determined"-unknown

As always, thank you so much for your support! xx

New Soap & Glory Product Launches: Sit Tight, Heel Genius and Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Sticks

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Hey Everyone, 

As I'm sure you know by now, I am a huge fan of the Soap & Glory brand. So, I was more than a little excited when given the chance to attend a webinar hosted by Soap & Glory's founder, Marcia Kilgore, discussing a number of new Canadian products now in stores. From a lower body firming cream that works while you sit (yes, sit) to three super moisturizing, 3D plumping lip pencils, Soap & Glory's newest Canadian launches are sure to be instant favourites. 

Below is more information on three of the new products: 


Soap & Glory 'Sit Tight Intense XS' Firming Body Cream ($38CND/125ml):
A huge hit in both the UK and the US, Soap & Glory Canada introduces their new sit-activated lower body firming cream, 'Sit Tight'. With a multi-active combination of caffeine and xymenyic (from sandalwood seeds), this firming body cream is activated upon sitting, slowly releasing caffeine and 'puffdrain82' to help firm, hydrate and smooth lower body bulge. 

Designed with a triple massage roller, which helps to stimulate circulation, 'Sit Tight' aims to make skin firmer, tighter and less dimply in just four weeks. While I have yet to try this new firming cream myself, I will be giving it to my sister and Mom to try, and will be sure to report back on their results. 


Soap & Glory 'Heel Genius' Foot Cream ($16/125ml): 
With Summer just around the corner (fingers crossed Summer actually gets here this year), I'm scrambling to get my dry, cracked heels ready for flip flop season (they aren't looking so great at the moment). Lucky for me, Soap & Glory just launched their cult-favourite foot cream/mask, 'Heel Genius' in Canada. Loaded with moisturizing macadamia oil, menthol, bilberry, glycerin and orange and lemon acid smoothers, this incredibly hydrating cream works overnight (slather it on, put on some socks and let it work its magic) to soften and repair dry damaged heels. A Summer must have in my books!

Soap & Glory 'Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Sticks' ($16 CND/0.09oz): 
The most exciting product launch in Soap & Glory's new Canadian line is, in my opinion, the long awaited 'Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Sticks' (I swear I was ready to hop a plane to the UK just to get my hands on these). Lightweight, non-sticky and nicely hydrating, these new 'collagen-boosting' pencils give lips a beautifully plumped, very pigmented, high-shine finish. 

Unlike their Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss counterparts, which can make lips a little sore upon first application (okay, a lot sore...they burn!), the new Gloss Sticks add '3D Volume' and moisture without the annoying tingle. Below is a closer look at all three of the new 'Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Stick' shades: 

Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Stick in 'Nudist': 
A light nude brown with strong peach undertones, 'Nudist' is the perfect every day shade for any skin tone (think your lips, but better). Love!


Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Stick in 'Fuchsia-ristic': 
A bright pink with strong coral undertones, 'Fuchsia-ristic' gives lips a bold pop of colour perfect for Summer (expect to see me wearing this shade a lot!). 


Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Sticks in 'Plum Jam': 
A deep berry-red with plum undertones, 'Plum Jam' (seriously, the perfect name for this shade) makes for an easy, on-the-go red-toned lip.  


Nudist, Fuchsia-ristic, Plum Jam

The new lineup of Soap & Glory products can be found exclusively at Shoppers Drug Mart stores nationwide. 

Are you a Soap & Glory fan? Which of the three new products are you most excited to try? What is your all time favourite Soap & Glory product. Be sure to let me know in the comment section below. 

Met Gala 2014: My Top 10 Favourite Looks

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Hey Everyone, 

This past Monday marked the 43rd annual Met Gala, and a chance for some of today's hottest celebrities to flaunt their bold fashion choices on the red carpet. Unlike like last year's 'punk' themed gala, which saw a number of daring, over-the-top looks, this year's gala had a much classier, white-tie feel. Below are my picks for the top 10 best celebrity looks on the Met Gala red carpet. 

Olivia Munn in DVF 

Blake Lively in Gucci 

Emmy Rossum in Carolina Herrera 

Dita Von Teese in Zac Posen 

Emma Stone in Thakoon 

Rihanna in Stella McCartney 

Suki Waterhouse in Burberry 

Rachel McAdams in Ralph Lauren 

Naomi Watts in Givenchy 

Colbie Smuthers in Reed Krakoff

What were your favourite celebrity red carpet looks from this year's Met Gala? Be sure to let me know in the comment section below. 

essence Cosmetics 'Bloom Me Up! Collection' (Review + Swatches)

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Hey Everyone, 

This Spring, essence cosmetics celebrates the beginning of warm weather (umm...finally!) with their new 'Bloom Me Up!' Collection. With delicate lace packaging, floral engraved products, and light shimmering pastels, the new 'Bloom Up Up! Collection (okay is it just me or does anyone else keep repeating 'Bloom Me Up Scotty' in their head?) takes a soft, very feminine approach to the season.  

I was recently sent four products from the new collection and wanted to share to share my thoughts. 


essence Bloom Me Up! Eyeshadow
Incredibly soft and smooth, essence's new Bloom Me Up! eyeshadows apply and blend beautifully, giving eyes a light wash of colour and a gorgeous, shimmering, iridescent sheen. While nicely pigmented, these shadows aren't boldly coloured and instead, give eyes a soft, delicate feel. Below is a closer look at the three new Bloom Me Up! eyeshadow shades: 



essence Bloom Me Up! Eyeshadow in '01 Bloomylicious': 
A shimmering creamy beige with opalescent pink undertones, 'Bloomylicious' makes for a beautiful brow bone and/or inner corner highlight. 


essence Bloom Me Up! Eyeshadow in '02 Rose It Up': 
A soft baby pink with a gorgeous iridescent sheen, 'Rose It Up' makes for both a beautiful brow bone highlight and all-over-lid colour, creating a light, natural look (throw on some eyeliner and mascara and you are good to go). 


essence Bloom It Up! Eyeshadow in '03 Blow My Mint': 
A super light, shimmering mint green with an iridescent sheen, 'Blow My Mint' looks gorgeous worn along the lower lash line, making eyes appear larger and brighter. 


essence Bloom Me Up!  Shimmer Powder in '01 Bloomylicious': 
A gorgeous, very light pink with a soft iridescent sheen, essence's 'Bloomylicious' shimmer powder gives cheeks a stunning, natural-looking glow. Incredibly smooth (this is not at all chunky), this highlighting powder blends beautifully on to the skin without drawing any attention to imperfections (love!). 

Bloomylicious (eyeshadow), Rose It Up, Blow My Mint, Bloomylicious (powder)

essence's beautiful new Bloom Me Up! collection is available exclusively at Shoppers Drug Mart stores nationwide. 

What do you think of essence's new Bloom Me Up! collection? Will you be picking anything up? Which of the four products above would you most like to get your hands on? Be sure to let me know in the comment section below. 
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