15 steps, then a beauty blog

Armani Eyes To Kill Excess Mascara

2012-02-23T00:01:00.003-05:00

This was my first dip into Giorgio Armani mascaras - they offer a few varieties, with the "Eyes To Kill" range being geared towards voluminous lashes. Volume is probably my most sought-after characteristic in a mascara. I had heard a few people rave about these mascaras so I made the purchase. At $30 it is in the same price range as YSL mascara. (Note: I got mine from the USA. I'm assuming in Canada it's more expensive. In Canada you can find Giorgio Armani Cosmetics at select Holt Renfrew department stores.)

Before I get into it, I'd like to again let you know what other mascaras I love, just to give you an idea. I know that not all of us need or like the same types of mascara because we have different lashes, so here goes. My favourite mascara to date: Makeup Forever Smoky Lash. Other honourable mentions include YSL Faux Cils (the regular one, not the Noir Radical or the Shocking), Prestige My Blackest Lashes and L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black.

So with that being said, you will get the idea of what I am comparing this mascara against.

They do have an "Eyes to Kill" regular version of this mascara, but this is the "Excess" which is meant to be blacker and more va-va-voom, I suppose.

Packaging is all black, nice and sleek. The tube is made of metal, it feels like. It's quite heavy and feel sturdy in the hand, which I really liked.

The part of the lid holding up the wand is heavy, which offers increased stability and easy application.

The wand is medium-sized, with different sizes of bristles in a rough spiral shape.

The formula doesn't smell like anything in particular.

Here is what it looks like on - left eye has nothing on, right eye has Armani Eyes To Kill Excess mascara. Lashes were curled beforehand.

The verdict: I liked this mascara. I don't like it enough to bump Makeup Forever Smoky Lash off the top spot in my heart, but it is a nice product. Here's why:

1 - the formula stayed consistent throughout the lifespan of the mascara. It worked great at the start of the tube, and it didn't get "better with age" nor did it get annoyingly dry *cough* like Smoky Lash *cough*

The only way I can tell that it's nearing the end is that it's starting to flake and transfer by the end of the day, which is something it didn't do in the first 2 months of use. Now we are approaching month 3 and it's time to say goodbye.

2 - it's buildable without getting super clumpy

3 - easy to remove at night

4 - didn't transfer or flake (which is a huge issue with me and most mascaras, it's the reason L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black doesn't get any love from me anymore... that sucker transfers within an hour on my oily skin). Like I said, it only started to transfer towards the end of the tube.

What I didn't like about it:

1 - takes more effort to get more volume out of it. I am lazy and I don't like to coat mascara on until the sun goes down. I like one coat and go. This needs 2-3 coats in order to get similar volume that I get from MUFE Smoky Lash or others.

2 - it's not that black. It may say "excess" but it dries with a slight sheen. You can't tell in basic natural light, but with flash or sunlight it's more apparent.

3 - now this is both a pro and con... it's more lengthening, which is fine if that's what you love in a mascara. But it gives more length than volume, while I would prefer volume first, length second... if that makes any sense. I find that because it adds more length, it doesn't hold a curl as well since it weighs the lashes more at the top than at the root. After about 6 hours the curl drops.

4 - this mascara needs a curled lash before application. While with Prestige or MUFE Smoky lash or Faux Cils I was able to get away without curling, using Eyes To Kill Excess on an uncurled lash is just blah. It doesn't lift the lashes at the root without any help from a curler.

I can't compare it to the original Eyes To Kill since I haven't tried that yet, but the good news is that I do own that one too now so I will be able to start testing it out soon, and I will report back as always.

I hope you found this review helpful if you were considering this mascara.

All in all, I did like it. Takes a bit more effort but it does offer a tad bit more length in return. Would I repurchase? Probably not, but I don't regret trying it.

You can purchase this mascara online here. Not sure where they carry Giorgio Armani Cosmetics overseas - in Germany I have seen it at select Douglas stores. In the USA you can find it at select department stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue or Neiman Marcus.

All sorts of amazing... the Veda Jasper Jacket

2012-02-18T08:04:00.000-05:00

I'd like to present you with my current clothing crush; and like my previous one from a couple of months prior, it has leather sleeves... I never got to satisfy that leather sleeve fixation I had.
I was in the process of ordering a gorgeous leather sleeved sweater in December when I kept getting postal code entry errors, then my size sold out. Worst. Luck. Ever.

So I am back to my leather sleeve love, as seen here on the Jasper jacket by Veda.

yes

please

I saw a similar jacket by the same brand featured on one of my favourite fashion blogs The Man Repeller, but by the time I had crawled under a rock to search for it, it had sold out.

Fun fact: the one she got a couple of seasons ago and is wearing so beautifully here retailed for $398. This one, although shorter, costs almost double now *evil glare*

Anyway, that won't stop me from stalking it like a vulture until
a) I find something similar in New York
b) I get distracted by something shiny
c) it goes on sale
d) I cave

Hope you're having a fantastic weekend.
x

Shopaholics Anonymous

2012-02-17T08:00:00.000-05:00

I've picked up a few things in the small bits of time I had available this week (aka I went to the mall during my hour lunch breaks from work and did some damage).

I had a gift card left over from Christmas to The Bay, it was 20x the points on beauty at Shoppers Drug Mart and a "redeem 40,000 points for $90 off" event the next day... long story short, this had to happen!

3 things were boring but necessary repurchases: Shiseido facial cotton which is totally worth the money, La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo which is my holy grail spot treatment for acne, and La Roche Posay Effaclar K which is reformulated and has a weird scent... it no longer has lactic acid in it and its exfoliating powers are supposed to be improved - we'll see!

I also needed a new eye cream and while so many of your have recommended Origins I just have not had the time to head on over to the USA to check out an Origins counter. I refuse to pay the inflated Canadian retail/shipping prices if I know I can get it for less elsewhere, so Hydraphase by La Roche Posay will have to do. I am so far really happy with it. Expect a skincare update video in the coming weeks.

Now for the more exciting bits, a new perfume - the one I had been lusting for as of late - Chanel Chance Eau Tendre. It's beautiful, light floral and has some of my favourite elements: grapefruit, jasmine, musk and some cedarwood. Yum.

A new foundation...

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua - this was a total impulse buy. I had sampled this foundation twice before and LOVED it both times but the first sample broke me out horribly. The second time I got a sample it didn't break me out at all...

So here's hoping third time is a charm! The colour B20 is a perfect perfect match for me right now and the finish and coverage of this foundation is gorgeous. Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum reminds me a bit of this (albeit that one is a touch more dewey) yet unfortunately that one ended up irritating my skin after regular use so I had to stop using it.

Final goody is this new under-eye concealer. I used up the Collection 2000 concealer I was using beforehand and I figured I should try something new. Lisa Eldridge uses this quite frequently in her tutorials and I was curious to give it a try. Will report back once I try it out!

Over all I am quite pleased with everything I got - now I'm back in "use up products mode" and I also have a few things that I sadly never reach for so expect a little blog sale soon. I am in the process of getting it organized, sanitizing and photographing the products and then we'll be on a roll.

Happy Friday!

The Uniform (what I've been wearing lately)

2012-02-15T16:19:00.001-05:00

I've been wearing some sort of variation of this outfit steadily for the past week or so. When pressed for time and hopping on the freeway from work to school and vice versa, a simple, comfortable yet put together outfit is my go-to. My key components have been:

flat over the knee leather boots
slightly oversized (and super warm) sweater
some sort of statement scarf
black leggings/slim black trousers

Here's one of my favourite mixes, with pieces that I am sure you have seen in previous posts.

My sweater is by Vince, from a collection a couple of years ago. It's cashmere and ridiculously warm. It is no longer available unfortunately but I highly recommend the brand Vince for knitwear. They are pricey but they wear beautifully and can be worn for multiple seasons.

I also found a very similar sweater style on sale online (here's the link), in a variety of colours, also made of cashmere and at 50% off if you are interested. I'd probably buy it 1 or 2 sizes larger since I love oversized knits but that's just my suggestion :)

Scarf - Zara (last year's collection)

Leggings - Only Hearts (I've blogged about them. They're the "So Fine" black long leggings and they are my holy grail leggings, if there ever was such a thing!)

I get mine from Shopbop/Revolve but they are both sold out at the moment. They periodically restock them though :)

Boots - I LOVE THESE. A black pair of flat leather over the knee boots can do no wrong. Mine are by Tahari and are no longer available but I found a super similar pair at a great price by Report here. Some other beautiful similar pairs also here, here and here. As you can tell, I have a small obsession with over the knee boots at the moment. I saw some droolworthy Stuart Weitzman ones in store the other day, but that's another story. Sigh.

I hope your week is going by quickly, I sure hope mine will. I have next week off from school and I have a trip to New York City that I planned for next weekend. Exciting times ahead :)

Updates R Us

2012-02-09T21:55:00.002-05:00

I feel like I've been a bad blogger recently and that must be rectified.

I've been a busy bee but I feel like a few minutes must be taken aside to catch up... via point form because it's more simple:

Laura Mercier Almond Coconut body butter is totally rocking my world. Smells amazing and the scent lingers for hours on the skin. Not to mention the packaging looks so beautiful as well :)

yummy yummy yummy

how good has the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills reunion been? It's funny and interesting how some of them come off completely different when they are on screen versus in that reunion room. Also, can someone please hire Adrienne a new makeup artist/stylist? Girlfriend looks like Malibu Barbie gone horribly wrong.

I bought my first Sigma brush! Woohoo! The F80 (sounds like I bought a car or something)... I have yet to use it but first impression is positive. Looks nice and sturdy, and did not shed after the first wash.

I've been on a jewelry craze lately and I blame Dara (BelleDuJourNYC) for it. She constantly takes pictures of the more gorgeous things on Instagram and it makes me grow increasingly unsatisfied with the jewelry I own haha. I'm also 100% convinced I need one of those Tiffany & Co. "Diamonds by the yard" necklaces. I'm not a necklace person but every once in a while a dainty beautiful piece comes along and steals my heart.

Accounting is my worst enemy.

Hope you're all doing well!! I am looking forward to the weekend and to a new perfume. I'm gonna need a pick-me-up by the end of this week! :)

I smell spring!

2012-02-03T23:21:00.001-05:00

I'm slowly getting out of the winter rut and looking forward to spring. For me, that marks the first time I paint my nails with a colour that reminds me of warmer weather - Essie Van D'Go. Not sure if it's part of their permanent collection now since it came out a couple of years ago in one of their limited edition releases but it's a gorgeous pastel peach that never fails to put a smile on my face.

Now that I'm in the spring mindset I can start musing over new things to buy! I thought that this season for sure I'd be all over Chanel's Spring 2012 makeup collection but I found myself rather disappointed and walked away empty handed. It looked pretty but the two things I was interested in - Flirt Rouge Coco Shine and June nail polish - just didn't work on my skin tone. Flirt barely showed up on my pigmented lips and June did not flatter my hands. Orange Fizz or Miami Peach would probably be better matches for me. The other two nail polishes in the collection called May and April, although I love the names and the colours, were rather basic.

On the other hand, one surprising thing that isn't really "spring" but it feels light, brightening and refreshing (which are quite spring-like adjectives so there's my excuse) is this sample I have been using of the Clarins Extra Firming Day Cream. I have been using this as my eye cream for the past week and WOW. It smells great, it's light yet it makes my under-eye area plump and hydrated.

It's geared as an all-over face cream for women in their 40s but it has been such a nice eye cream for me! I had been using a Boscia eye cream for the past couple of months and I hate it. It's too greasy and does nothing for my under-eye area. So moral of the story is - use up your dinky samples of products because you might find a pleasant surprise in there :)

Now that the under-eye area is nice and bright, let's focus on wardrobe! I have tried to avoid it for ages but the time has finally come - I need "dress pants". I hate the term, I hate every pair of dress pants I have ever tried on or owned, but as my school career is coming to an end and I have to give numerous presentations in "formal business attire", I cannot avoid it any longer. Pencil skirts, blouses and blazers I own and love, but trousers have always been a mystery for me. I heard good things about the J Crew "Minnie" trousers, so I have added them to my list of things to consider. If you have any advice, it's very welcome. (Many people recommend Express but their editor pants just don't suit my body type at all. Boo)

Let's throw in a light, airy, spring blouse... by Equipment. A brand for blouses that I absolutely love. They are not cheap but they feel lovely, they are comfortable and effortlessly beautiful.

Of course last but not least, with a new season comes a new fragrance! I'm eyeing this one right now

(along with Jo Malone Wild Bluebell and Elie Saab because I'm still obsessed).

What gets you in the spring mood?

January Favourites

2012-01-30T23:34:00.001-05:00

My favourites this month are about as exciting as watching paint dry - Laura Mercier Secret Brightener, Collection 2000 concealer, Armani corrector, Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint, La Roche Posay Toleriane lotion, Effaclar Duo... all on heavy rotation as always.

I thought I would forgo a video and instead bring to your attention the one product that I haven't really mentioned before and that has totally rocked my socks (and cheeks) ever since I received it from the company in December. The product is Benefit's Hervana and here I am wearing it in all its glory:

I am wearing it quite sheer. The finish is gorgeous - matte bordering on slightly satin. The finish and texture of the powder is probably my favourite thing about this blush. If you are a fan of Well Dressed blush by MAC and Madly by NARS, consider Hervana somewhere in the middle of both. I love the fact that it's such a versatile blush, it can literally go with any makeup look.

the pretty design doesn't budge as you swirl your brush around to get all the colours

You can wear it sheer like I am or you can build it up if you want to put more focus on your cheeks.

The packaging is quirky and standard Benefit. You all know how I feel about the boxes (I am Hoola's biggest fan but the packaging drove me nuts). They have changed the packaging slightly to offer a little mirror and the lid has a magnetic closure as opposed to completely coming off as before.

I'm still not the biggest fan of the boxes but I know that many women love the quirky design and like to collect them. They are cute, especially with the little sayings on the sides like on Hervana, but just not as portable/travel-friendly as I'd like. I don't store my makeup in a way that it's displayed (I basically throw everything into a drawer separated into "eyes, lips face" and call it a day) so the cardboard boxes tend to get a bit beat up. But, with some products, I just have to make an exception. I've been really missing Hoola as well since it worked so well with my skin tone both in summer and winter.

Anyway, enough rambling. I have been wearing this blush almost daily since its release. The powder smells nice too, slightly floral. I have seen it at Sephora here - who now lowered the Canadian order limit to $75 for free shipping which made me happy, it was $120 before! Of course you can order it from Benefit's website or Ulta as well if you're in the US.

As for the rest of my makeup, I wore:

Chanel Perfection Lumiere foundation in shade B30 (it photographs nicely but don't be fooled, this foundation is a b*tch to apply), Chanel loose powder in shade 30, Bourjois Chocolate Bronzer in shade 52, Benefit Hervana blush.

MAC Brulee eyeshadow all over the eyelid, MAC Wedge eyeshadow in the crease, Giorgio Armani Maestro liquid liner and Eyes to Kill Excess mascara.

On my lips I busted out an oldie - MAC Jazzed from the In the Groove collection from a couple of summers ago.

Hope your January was great! Mine was stressful and February is shaping up to be the same. However, if you have Instagram, I am planning on doing the "#febphotoaday" challenge: one photo per day, following a particular theme, if you search for the tag in the program you will see more about it. It seemed fun so follow me on there if you'd like, my username is "tt5andra" because weirdly enough both "ttsandra" and "5andra" were taken by other users *evil stare*.

If you're not part of the iWorld or don't care about Instagram, I may do a summary of it on here and I will tweet the pictures as well!

Currently Loving - Chanel Loose Powder

2012-01-22T19:21:00.000-05:00

As the title suggests, I've been really loving my latest cosmetic purchase and I figured that it deserves its own review. Going to keep this one short and to the point.

The subject: Chanel Natural Finish Loose Powder (I got it in shade 30)

As you'd expect from Chanel it comes in sleek and pretty packaging. You get a nicely sized tub and pretty powder puff.

Although it comes in a variety of shades, colour matching shouldn't really be a big problem since the product has very minimal coverage and the pigment of the powder isn't that obvious on the skin. Now having said that, you probably won't be able to wear it by itself or anything (the coverage is less than MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural, for example) but it is a beautiful setting powder and it does its job very well in my opinion!

PROS

- you get 30g of product, which is great compared to most loose powders

- extremely finely milled

- natural skin-like finish

- doesn't look caky throughout the day

- pretty packaging and comes with a quality powder puff
- decent oil control
- doesn't accentuate dry patches
- doesn't oxidize

CONS
- the price; this baby will set you back $56 if you are in Canada (plus tax, so just over $60 altogether) or $52 in the USA
- won't keep you matte throughout the day (if that's what you are looking for in a setting powder!)
- shade selection is pretty dismal. It only comes in 4 shades, ranging from fair-medium. Although the pigmentation isn't strong, if you had a very deep skin tone it might leave a light cast on your face if you used the lighter shades. I wish they had a translucent option as well but from what I can see on the website, they do not. Warning: the one shade they have called "Feerie" is SHIMMERY. So stay away if you don't want to look like, well, a fairy.

Here is what it looks like on my skin right after application (I don't remember what blush I was wearing, so apologies in advance if I can't answer that question)

Here is what it looks like after about 6 hours of wear:

For reference, I wore it with my Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint (a tinted moisturizer) that has zero oil control capabilities by itself just to show the powers of the powder :)
As you can see it lets some oils shine through but it doesn't look bad - it diffuses them and it just results in a nice natural glow. You can add more powder to touch up after a while and it won't cake up.

In conclusion, I love this loose powder! It does a great job at setting foundation. Previous setting powders that I have tried are Laura Mercier Translucent loose powder, MAC Select Sheer loose powder, MAC Blot powder, Bobbi Brown Pale Yellow loose powder.

If you'd like to buy it and have no Chanel counter nearby - click here. I got mine at a Chanel counter at The Bay.

What's in my shopping bag?

2012-01-21T18:33:00.000-05:00

I though this would be a fun little post to do - not sure if you are like me but I often peruse the Internet in search for cute and affordable clothes. Forever21 is one of those sites I have a love/hate relationship with but I must admit that when I do buy from them, I end up being happy and satisfied with my purchase. Now, here's one of my online shopping tricks to make sure that what I do end up buying, I really do love. I fill my virtual shopping bag and save it. I step away from the site for about a week and if I remember and care enough to go back to it in a week, check the saved shopping bag and if I'm still into the clothes (or some of them, at least) I buy! It means they passed the test in my mind and that they are worthy.

So without further ado, here's my little shopping bag at Forever21 at the moment -

LINK

how cute would this be 1 size larger and worn off the shoulder? :)

LINK

I'm so adventurous when it comes to colour, aren't I? ha ha

In and Out - 20.01.12

2012-01-19T23:06:00.002-05:00

IN

- Attention, Canadian ladies!!
The Bay's "Beauty Trade" program! Now until January 26th, visit your The Bay store with 1 or 2 empty or old skincare bottles and get a $10 or $20 off voucher for beauty/cosmetics! Such a fun initiative and I'll definitely be taking part in it this weekend. Click here for more info and I'd like to thank one of my subscribers on YouTube for letting me know about this!

best basic leggings evAr

- buying another pair of my favourite Only Hearts "So Fine" leggings. I love these things SO much. My favourite basic pair of leggings. I got my first pair about a year and a half ago and it was the only black pair of leggings I needed. I wore them to bed, I wore them to the gym, I wore them out. It was time for a new pair so I ordered one a couple of weeks ago. I highly recommend you check them out. You can order them from Shopbop or Revolve, I have used both - depending on whoever has them in stock at the time!

- Kraft "Whipped" peanut butter. Peanut butter with a much lighter, fluffier texture. I've been overdosing on it all week.

- The "Satsuma" range from The Body Shop. I ran out of the shower gel and I have some Philosophy ones to go through first, but it is hands down THE BEST shower gel/lotion fragrance if you like to shower in the mornings before you get your day going. It smells so refreshing. I really wish they made candles. I might have to settle on the oil fragrance version for the home.

- New Girl. If you're looking for a fun, short, new TV show to waste your tuesday evenings on... tune in to New Girl. It's my favourite show at the moment and it just started up again after the holiday hiatus.

OUT

- Tassimo coffee. I love the idea of my Tassimo coffeemaker but the coffee options are awful. Everything is so strong and bitter and burnt-tasting. Don't get me started on those mysterious condensed milk containers. French Vanilla and the hot chocolate are the only things I like (and I have to add copious amounts of almond milk to both). I'm disappointed.

- I'm in a brush rut. I'm eyeing the Bobbi Brown bronzer brush but I have had zero time to get anywhere near a counter that sells the products - and buying online is out of the question since shipping to Canada is extortionate. Must be patient.

Hope your week was a good one!!

Skincare Saviours!

2012-01-16T09:00:00.000-05:00

One product is new, one product is old... but La Roche Posay is keeping me happy :)

If you follow me on Twitter, you will know that during the past couple of weeks my skin started reacting negatively to something. I can't quite pin-point the cause since I haven't used any exfoliating acids in a long time or anything. But there had been 3 heavily fragranced products, 1 lotion and 2 Bourjois foundations, that I had been using daily since my big flare-up so I just blamed those.

At night my skin would get so red and irritated even after cleansing with the gentle cleansers I've used for a long time. It would feel sore and tight no matter how gentle I cleansed. I had dry patches where my breakouts had started to clear (with the help of another one of my La Roche Posay staples - Effaclar Duo spot treatment) so on them I used Cicaplast, as I usually do.

I am not sure if I mentioned this product before, but I have owned it for a while now ever since I saw it used as a makeup primer in Lisa Eldridge's acne covering video. It is a gentle and effective skincare product designed for irritated skin (post procedures like chemical peels, etc.) and it acts like a protective barrier that boosts the skin's capability to repair itself. I use it at night on any flaky over-exfoliated sensitive areas and it's great.

However, my skin was still feeling awful, it needed something more. Since I discontinued the use to my super-fragranced lotion and my skin was feeling tight, I perused the aisles of Shoppers Drug Mart in search of a rescue. Naturally I turned to La Roche Posay again. I chose the soothing protective skincare lotion from the Toleriane range and I was NOT disappointed.

Dare I say this is the best lotion I've ever used? I chose the version for normal/combination skin since I am quite oily, but they also have an "ultra" formula for dry skins.

The texture is milky, it's gentle, it soothes the skin instantly, and it sinks in without leaving any greasy residue. It also has no scent at all. I am obsessed. After 2 days of using it morning and night, my redness has almost completely subsided.

If you suffer from sensitive yet oily/combination skin like me and are in search of a new lotion - check this one out. I am SO happy that I did.

Under-eye Concealing Combination

2012-01-14T08:30:00.000-05:00

Last month I posted a video in which I talked about how I conceal my under-eye circles. I am still using those products and have received a few requests to do a more detailed post on them, so here goes!

The three products are:

1. Giorgio Armani Master Corrector shade #1, which I apply first in order to neutralize the purple/blue tones of my under-eye circles. I purchased mine at Saks Fifth Avenue in the US. In Canada, the only place I can think of where you can find Armani cosmetics is Holt Renfrew... or you can order online from Saks here.

2. Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer shade #2, this is not available in North America as far as I know, but there are many similar products out there. I got mine in a swap from the UK - it is a product that is quite easy to find at drugstores there. This concealer isn't the greatest on blemishes since it can get a bit cakey and drying, but under the eyes mixed with the third product I'm about to show you, it works like a charm :)

3. Laura Mercier Secret Brightener shade #2 - this is a highlighter "pen" type of product, that has very very minimal coverage. I love blending it with the concealer because it makes it perfect for the under-eye area and it adds a slight amount of light reflection which makes the area look lifted and bright. Just one click of this is all you need. I got mine at Sephora.

I'd like to try the Giorgio Armani under-eye concealer as well, but for now I am working with products I already own (a theme you will see in my posts... I am really trying to use up stuff before I buy something new) and the results are keeping me satisfied. It is quite buildable, too.

For daytime, I use a very thin layer of concealer. Here are some creepy close-up photos:

before...

after!

For night-time I like to build it up a bit more, and the result is nice and bright!

I like to set it with Benefit Powderflage since, as you know, I have quite oily skin.

Any under-eye products you've been loving lately? I'm underwhelmed with my Boscia eye cream and as soon as that baby is used up I think I am going back to my Chantecaille Vital Essence. It's funny how that stuff isn't even an eye cream (it's a face & eye serum) yet it worked so well for me. I miss it!

Studs and Coats

2012-01-12T00:12:00.000-05:00

I'm getting really creative with these post titles, aren't I?

Joking aside, there isn't really a whole lot more I can tell you about today's outfit. It's freakishly warm here for being in the "dead of winter" - in previous years we'd be buried in snow and freezing rain by now but this year it's uncommonly warm (here comes grandma Sandra talking about the weather again). I'm just not used to this above freezing temperature in January thing, so today I busted out a coat that's usually reserved for early fall times.

It's a coat by Guess that I've owned for many years and it's still holding up so well! While I've been eyeing my next coat to buy (it's been about 2 years since I've purchased one and it's time), it's not really a bad thing to "shop my closet" so to speak and enjoy what's already there and has been there for years.

I paired it with shorts, opaque tights, some gold and silver accessories and a funky mustard-meets-lime coloured sweater! Some details:

Sweater - Forever21 (you can always find simple, good ol' basics in their knit top section here)

Blouse - H&M (old)

Bracelets - Pandora, Forever21, Anthropologie

Shorts - DKNY

Tights - H&M

Nail Polish - MAC Light Affair

And, of course, the trusty black studded "Wink" loafers by Dolce Vita. They still have 2 sizes left on the Nordstrom website here and they're 50% off, if you're interested. I clearly love mine very much :)

--- edit: they now seem to be sold out on Nordstrom but they are available in Pink and on sale at ASOS here and the black ones are still available on the Bloomingdale's site! yay!

That's about it for me today, I purchased a couple of new skincare items in the hopes of calming down my skin - I am having some sort of irritation/reaction to something. I am experiencing redness like never before, and some breakouts which are now on their way out thanks to my trusty La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo. So, any anti-redness skincare items you recommend, throw them my way!

Hope you've had a wonderful week... I am ready for the weekend, is it Friday yet?

The Pink Kevin Murphy Color Bug

2012-01-08T20:55:00.000-05:00

I have been fascinated from afar by this product ever since I saw it featured in a magazine shoot with one of my favourite models. The idea seems so cool - a completely temporary intense pigment that gives you fun colour with no commitment! Last month I took the plunge and purchased one, in pink.

It's basically one giant eyeshadow for your hair. Completely washable and temporary while still delivering intense colour results.

this is the picture that got me intrigued!

I could drone on and on about how to use it, but I found this awesome video by the master himself, Kevin Murphy, explaining how to use the product on a variety of shades of hair.

I've become a big fan of his products recently and I would have never even have thought to check out the brand hadn't it been for my hairstylist who recommended it to me. I have been hooked since.

The Color Bug was no different. Easy to use and it definitely showed up on my super dark brown hair. I applied a small amount of Kevin Murphy Hair Resort (which is basically a sea salt spray type of thing, in gel form) to the ends of my hair where I wanted the colour to deposit and then I went to town! I was in a total rush to get out and never got the chance to photograph it with my DSLR camera, but I did manage to carefully crop myself out of one of the photos my friend took with her camera, so you can see how well it showed up on my dark hair:

Would I recommend them? Absolutely! It was easy to use (I watched the video above for instructions although it comes with simple and easy to follow instructions in the packaging) and it lasts all day, and completely washes out afterwards. One word of warning, though, definitely put a dark towel on your shoulders as you're rubbing it into the hair since it does get quite messy and you have quite a bit of fallout when you first apply it, before it sets. I would also recommend not wearing your favourite light coloured blouse since you might have some transfer. It does completely wash out of fabric, but still. Better be safe than sorry.

You can find them at any salon that carries Kevin Murphy (using the salon locator on their website http://www.kevinmurphy.com.au or if you don't have any nearby, they are available on eBay from various trusty sellers here. They come in pink, orange and purple. I think the orange one would be my next choice. A red would be nice too!

In and Out, 03.01.12

2012-01-03T12:44:00.000-05:00

I love the start of a new year. Over the past year I've become someone who always tries to challenge herself at the start of every month, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant the challenge. Sometimes, like last month, it's makeup related or sometimes it's on a more personal level. The past year was definitely a year of growth in a lot of aspects of my life. What better way to continue on my little journey than with the start of a new year? :)

So in with the positivity, in with quest to be more organized (my closet literally looks like a bomb exploded inside, I wouldn't be surprised if there was a small family of squirrels hiding in the corners and munching on old forgotten pieces of my 2005 wardrobe that I keep hoarding) and, more importantly, in with health! Drinking more water, eating better, exercising and all that jazz... I have had an incredibly tough last couple of months and haven't taken proper care of myself. My skin is a disaster, I barely drank 2 cups of water a day let along 2 litres and I've been surviving on refined carbohydrates. Gross.

Anyways, enough with the ramble and on to some more entertaining IN and OUTS!

- getting hair cut and the colour touched up. It feels thick and looks shiny and healthy. Win.

- Gossip Girl. I am SO happy I caught up with the current season over winter break. It's amazing and has re-stored my faith in the sinking ship that used to be that show! If you were a Gossip Girl fan and have abandoned the ship, please hop back aboard because you won't be sorry. You'll want to cause severe physical harm to a certain prince of Monaco, but you won't be sorry.

- Chanel Chance. I got an e-mail showing these cute purse sprays coming out this year with all the Chance fragrances (and I am obsessed with them all, I own Eau Fraiche but have currently been surviving off of samples of Chance original). I want all of these! How beautiful are they? I can only hope that they'll be available in Canada soon.

- finding the sequin dresses I loved on the runway at Phoenix Fashion week! They were featured in the closing show of the week, Blaque Label, and they looked incredible on the models. So eye catching and beautiful. I found them online today in a few different colours and I was pleasantly surprised that the price tag was more than reasonable (compared to very similar offerings by Brian Lichtenberg which cost 5 times as much... plus I'm kinda sick of those extreme shoulder pads).

Anyways isn't this beautiful? They look stunning in person, I promise. I know that New Years eve has passed but there are plenty of fun occasions to celebrate throughout the year, so this baby is saved in my shopping cart. If you are interested, you can find them here or even better priced (thanks Kelly) HERE

- Peanut butter and Nutella

- Using products up

- no longer being on a nail polish ban *evil laughter*

OUT

- 2011. Don't let the door hit you on your way out :)

I want.

2011-12-26T20:42:00.003-05:00

This. Shirt. Is. Perfect.

I've been drooling for something like this for months and it just popped up in the post-Christmas sales.

Hello, 3.1 Phillip Lim beautiful top!

It's my kind of thing. On one hand we have soft, delicate knit. On the other we have badass lambskin leather sleeves.

There's 1 left in stock, it's $525 (reduced) and in a size 4. Naturally it's not in my size or price range at the moment but I know that many of you reading share my taste in clothing and if I can help anyone make their wardrobe more fabulous by posting about a droolworthy item, then I've done my job!

You can get it here.

And I'll be jealous forever.

xox

Sandra

Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree

2011-12-25T13:31:00.001-05:00

First of all, I want to wish all my readers a very merry Christmas (if you celebrate)! I hope you all have a very happy and healthy holiday season with your families and friends.

It doesn't really feel like Christmas here today because it's sunny and all the snow from 2 days ago has melted but I've got an arsenal of Christmas films to watch that will keep me in the mood.

I've been wearing the same makeup for the past few days, I really wanted to wear a red lip today but with the copious amounts of food available for breakfast, lunch and dinner, a light natural lip colour was the most sensible option :)

Face:
Chanel Perfection Lumiere Foundation (shade B30)
Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel Bronzer
NARS Mounia Blush
Laura Mercier Rose Rendezvous Illuminator

Eyes:
Chanel Illusion D'Ombre in "Illusoire" as a base
Le Metier De Beaute eyeshadow in "Corinthian"
NARS Demon Lover eyeshadow (the deep matte purple) in the crease
Shu Uemura Painting Liner in black
Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill Excess Mascara

Lips:
that same Dior lip gloss in colour #137 that I've been trying to use up all month!

Hope you're all having a great day. It's my first Christmas as a vegetarian so it won't be as interesting as other years but bring on the potato salads!!

pre-Christmas silliness with friends ^_^

Things I'm loving

2011-12-20T08:30:00.000-05:00

Not sure about you, but I am a big fan of these "Polyvore" type posts. I like to see what some of my favourite bloggers are looking at and how they would pair it together.

So today I decided to combine a little list of some items I've been keeping my eye on online - one of which I haven't been able to spot in stores just yet - and I wanted to show you... maybe it contains some items you've been looking for as well :)

1. H&M fake leather leggings. Sadly these aren't available online but they are in the current H&M collection. I've seen a couple of ladies on YouTube feature these in their hauls and while I haven't seen them pop up in my local H&M (which is so poorly stocked it makes me wanna cry, but that's another story) but if I do I will most definitely be trying them on or purchasing. I love the paneling on the side.

2. Joseph mohair color-block sweater. Currently available and on sale here. There's just something special about a fine knit sweater. This one is classic yet not dull or boring. Me likey.

3. Aigle Ecuyer boots. Can be found online at JCrew here and they currently have a 30% off and free shipping promotion. If I told you how many times I've had these things in my shopping cart you'd laugh at me. All it takes is another week of non stop rain and I'm pushing the "check out" button. Aigle is a French company that specializes in equestrian-style rubber boots. I like the fact that they look much more refined than Hunter boots. They use natural rubber and are made in France. There is a cool video on YouTube featuring their manufacturing process, too! Might be info you don't care about but I personally like knowing little stories about a company's history, I like to know what's behind the products I buy, if I can.

4. Pendant necklace, Forever 21, currently in stock (link). Has a "house of harlow" feel to it for about a fraction of the price. Forever 21 remains one of my favourite places for little trendy jewelry cravings.

5. Mulberry Lily bag. I am having a moment with these - I keep admiring them online and I haven't seen many people with them which makes me like them even more. They are the perfect piece that you can wear day or night with anything from leggings and a sweater (like I have them featured here) to a cocktail dress.

Getting My Cake Face On

2011-12-19T08:00:00.000-05:00

When I was in the middle of final exam pre/holiday stress, I could feel my face getting aggravated and I could feel clogged pores brewing. So I took a little break, walked my butt over to LUSH and their fresh face mask stand. I was about to reach for my trusty Cosmetic Warrior mask (which I mentioned in videos before, it smells like hummus, garlic, and dirt) but then I felt adventurous and I opted for a new one instead - Cupcake.

Cupcake looks and smells a lot more appealing than Cosmetic Warrior. They are both geared towards oily skin with imperfections. Cupcake smells and looks exactly like chocolate cupcake batter with a bit of a minty earthy kick due to the clay inside and some of the plant extracts.

Unfortunately though, for me, Cupcake fell short. It did leave my face feeling very soft and clean, but it also dried it out too much, and the smell lingers onto the skin but just in a sickly sweet way, even after I wash my face of it twice. It didn't really improve the condition of my skin other than making it feel extra "clean", which is something I can accomplish just as easily and with less mess with my Clarisonic.

In conclusion, I won't be repurchasing this. You can give it a try if you're feeling adventurous - I do know of people who saw great results from this. For me, though, Cosmetic Warrior is my warrior of choice. That one didn't make my skin feel dry, and it actually left the skin luminous and bright due to the antioxidant power of the garlic in it. It may not look or smell as fabulous but it's dear to my heart :)

Have you been trying out any face masks lately?
I'm also LOVING the Dior HydraLife Rehydrating mask that I got a month ago, so keep an eye out for a post on that as well.

I'm a big fan of masks so I wouldn't mind your recommendations either.

Girly Blouse & Winter Shorts - an outfit post

2011-12-17T19:42:00.000-05:00

By now you all probably know that I can't resist a nude blouse. This one has a soft and comfortable jersey body, delicate ruffle detailing with silk chiffon at the shoulders and chiffon semi-sheer sleeves. Love.

I love pairing delicate feminine tops like this with a not so feminine bottom - in this case, dark grey shorts!

Since it's below 0 outside, opaque black tights are a must underneath. Add some winter-proof ankle boots, a fun necklace and that is my outfit for the evening :)

blouse - bought at Winners, and the brand is something I can't even read, something I've never heard of. I found something similar here (similar detailing at the shoulders, and comes in different colours!)

necklace - no brand, from a jewelry stand in Arizona

shorts - Guess

opaque black tights - DNKY from Nordstrom

silver bracelet - Pandora

My ankle boots are by Miss Sixty, and they're one of my favourite fall/winter shoes. I bought them in 2009 and have worn them so many times! This exact style is no longer available but they have a very similar pair here if you're interested in something like this.

Hope you're all having a great weekend :)

Yep, I'm writing about my underwear

2011-12-14T22:23:00.000-05:00

This post might border into "too much information" territory but I'm stepping into it anyway.
For the past couple of years I kept hearing about Hanky Panky underwear and I brushed them off. The words "overpriced" "one size fits all? really?" and "what a silly brand name" often came to mind.

Until one day, after a fit of anger because none of the underwear I had in my drawer seemed to be comfortable or seamless enough for a particular outfit, I caved and ordered a pair of the Hanky Panky lace low rise thong.
First let me tell you, I'm a "lacy cute boy shorts" kind of girl. I always buy them in a myriad of cute prints 3 for $30 at Victoria's Secret. I find them flattering and cute. I am not a "thong" girl. I wear those when I have to but I do not enjoy it, I just find them uncomfortable. Some of them cut at unflattering areas of the hip, etc.
The Hanky Panky thongs are SO comfortable. They wear and wash well and I have just purchased my 4th pair. At $18 each they're pricy and there are similar panties on the market - La Senza and Victoria's Secret tried to make "dupes" of it but I owned both versions and they don't hold up after multiple washes and dryer tumbles, nor are they as comfortable as these.

This is the pair I just got in today, I order mine from Shopbop (link to them here).
Sometimes you can get lucky and find them on sale at Nordstrom/Saks/Neimans outlets.
They come in many different colours, and they are one size fits all. They don't cut off at any unflattering part of the hips, they don't have seams showing through, and I just love them!

I figured with holiday party season looming and any sort of tight dresses/skirt options out there, I should mention that these are definitely worth a try. Especially if you're a "thongs are the devil but sometimes I have to" girl like me.

Hope your day was less rainy than mine!
xox

Sandra

PS: I had lots of requests to do a Facebook Page so I did - I figured it will be a great way to streamline new updates on both my YouTube Channel and the blog. Some people don't know I have both, some don't like subscribing to too many things, etc... so I figured it was good to have. I will post mini beauty product thoughts on there as well since sometimes I feel like I pollute my twitter feed with too many obsessive product rants.
Link to the page is here http://www.facebook.com/ttsandra

Matte Daytime Smoky Eyes - FOTD

2011-12-12T20:25:00.001-05:00

I randomly tweeted a picture of my makeup today and I had an overwhelming response to do a FOTD/tutorial on it. Considering I used the "slap it all on with one brush and hope for the best" approach, I am leaving the tutorials to the pros and letting you know the products I used instead, so you can experiment and see how it suits you best :)

moody faces R us

Usually I wear very little (or very light natural shades) on the eyes during daytime, but today my hair was a dirty mess and had to be tucked away at all costs and I figured making the eyes stand out might make me look like I put a little bit more effort into my appearance. Hey - it worked! I had a final today and I had several compliments on my makeup... if they only knew... haha

So here is the low-down on the eye makeup:

the Sleek Makeup "Au Naturel" palette $10.50 and AMAZING

1. Too Faced Shadow Insurance primer all over the lids

2. the matte pale grey eyeshadow (2nd from top left) mixed on the back of my hand with the 3rd from bottom left cool toned brown shade... all over the lid

3. with the same brush I took the matte black shade and the plum shade (first and second from the bottom right) and I mixed them with a bit of the pale grey again and applied it all over the crease and outer corner

4. Chanel Yeux Waterproof eyeliner in black to line top and bottom lash lines

5. MUFE Smoky Lash Mascara

The End!

I know everyone and their grandmother is raving about the Urban Decay Naked2 palette but this natural palette by Sleek is 20% of the price of Naked2 and is so good. I love the fact that it has a lot of matte shades that are pigmented and easy to blend. I got mine in a swap with my lovely friend in the UK, Anna, but the Sleek can be found and ordered online on their site, for $10.50! Yay! LINK.

As for the brush I used, I used just ONE brush for all of this, and it's one of the best eyeshadow brushes I have ever used. It's by Laura Mercier and it's called the "Pony Tail Brush". If you are a fan of the mac 217 and the 224 for blending and quick, easy eyeshadow application... check the Pony Tail out. It's just amazing.

For the rest of my face I stuck to the basics - Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint, my under-eye concealing combination that I just did a video on - will blog about it soon as well,
On my cheeks I used Benefit Hervana. It's their latest powder box invention that I received. It comes out December 14th and I am SO pleasantly surprised by it. It's beautiful, not shimmery - more of a subtle satin finish - and applies like a dream.
On the lips I'm wearing the same Dior gloss (#137) that I've been trying to use up all month.

Hope you enjoyed and don't be afraid to show your matte eyeshadows some love.

xx

In and Out - procrastination edition

2011-12-11T17:28:00.001-05:00

I have a final tomorrow - a long, painful exam focused on the effect of various government policies on a nation's economy blah blah blah... so naturally I'm comprising this In/Out list instead.

IN
- Tom Ford Black Orchid. Makes the cheapest clearance rack sweaters smell like you got them from the second floor of Saks Fifth Avenue (you know, the floor where they keep the fancy clothes and the shop assistants give you the evil glare as you shuffle your feet past the CHANEL boutique door.)

- this dog. Apparently his name is Boo and he has a website. And he's real. If this photo doesn't make you want to cry, smile and want to hug your grandmother at the same time then you're probably not as weird as I am haha... but come on... just look at that face and that fur. He looks like a baby bear.

- the stack of books I'm excited to read this winter break:

Amazon.com and Chapters have kept me a busy bee this season. I got some great gifts for people and for myself.

- Watching my favourite holiday films with friends.

- Peppermint mochas

OUT

- me procrastinating. Must stop this and get back to work. Hope you had a great weekend! xox

Revlon Lip Butter vs. other sheer lipsticks of the world

2011-12-07T13:40:00.001-05:00

Revlon released their new "ColorBurst Lip Butter" lip products in North America a few weeks ago - started off in the USA but they have made their way into Canada now. I'm assuming they'll make their way across the ocean some time early next year.

Everyone seemed to lose their marbles over them.
I'm talking people were hauling like 10 of them in one sitting, displays across the continent were raided within days, etc. I'm a fan of Revlon's regular ColorBurst lipsticks and glosses so I figured I should give these "lip butters" a try. I found them at Superstore, the display looked normal and intact with every shade in stock; maybe because it's a grocery store and people don't really go in with lip products in mind, so check that out first if you're in Canada... they're $8.99 there. The colour I picked up is "Creme Brulee", a wearable beige/brown-based nude. It was the one I knew for sure I would wear the most out of all the other offerings.

Aaaaaand I'm here to tell you to take it easy and don't run over that old lady in the parking lot on your way to raid the display because...
*takes deep breath and prepares to run for cover*
they're really not that special.

Let me start by getting the main thing that bothers me about them off my chest - their name. I'm not sure about you, but when someone tells me "lip butter" I instantly imagine a creamy, hydrating, soft-textured item. Something that improves the condition of my lips and makes them soft and moisturized after it sinks in. The Revlon "lip butters" do none of that.
They're basically a semi-sheer lipstick with a glossy finish. They don't leave your lips any more hydrated than they were when you first apply it, so don't be misled by the name. They actually made my lips feel rather dry after the initial glossiness fades.

Now considering them a sheer lipstick with a glossy finish, which is what they actually are, I thought I'd compare the texture, finish and application with other similar lip products I already own.

So, from left to right we have: Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Evasion ($32), 17 Mirror Shine lipstick in Beehive (UK drugstore product), Revlon Lip Butter in Creme Brulee ($8.99 at drugstores & more), YSL Rouge Pure Shine #26 Natural Beige ($30) and Dior Addict lipstick in Singulier ($28).

Packaging-wise, the Lip Butter without the lid reminds me of the Dior Addict design with the sleek silver, which is nice.

Scent-wise the Revlon smells like some sort of dessert with a hint of plastic, YSL smells like peaches/melon, Chanel smells like roses, Dior has absolutely no scent and the 17 lipstick smells like plastic.

Colour-wise, the Creme Brulee Revlon Lip Butter is most similar to my YSL Rouge Pure Shine in #26. The YSL glides on a bit more smoothly and is a touch more glossy as you can see in the photo.

Now let's see them all against each other:
From left to right - Dior, 17, Revlon, YSL, Chanel.

The pigmentation of them is all good, but keep in mind that different colours in the ranges may be more sheer/more opaque than others. The ones I happen to own all are quite comparable (since I'm not exactly the most adventurous when it comes to lip colours as you can tell!)

If I had to rank them from most pigmented to least I'd say:
1. YSL #26
2. Revlon "Creme Brulee"
3. Chanel "Evasion"
4. Dior "Singuliere"
5. 17 "Beehive"

In terms of smoothness of application, Dior Addict and Chanel Rouge Coco Shine win hands down. They are also the least drying. You can see that they applied smoothly and evenly on my hand while the Revlon, 17 and YSL went on a bit more uneven and grainy in some parts.

top to bottom: Dior Addict, 17 Mirror Shine, Revlon Lip Butter, YSL Rouge Pure Shine, Chanel Rouge Coco Shine

YSL Rouge Pure Shine is the most glossy, followed by the 17, Dior, Chanel and Revlon who were all pretty even in second place.
In terms of drying-ness (totally not a word but you know what I mean), Chanel Coco Shines and Dior Addict are the least drying and left my lips rather comfortable throughout. The other 3 (Revlon, YSL and 17) all leave my lips slightly dry as they wear out - I'd recommend applying a lip balm and then the lipstick as you reapply throughout the day for the best results.

So, there we have it - my take on the uber popular Revlon Lip Butter.
I think it's a good product, especially in terms of price and colour selection. It performs well against its more high end counterparts - but if you are like me and prefer quality over quantity, treat yourself to a Dior Addict/Chanel Rouge Coco Shine lipstick instead for a similar effect but superior performance... or maybe add one to your Christmas list :)

Bundled up and currently loving...

2011-12-05T16:53:00.001-05:00

The Christmas music is softly playing in the background, the decorations are slowly coming out of the storage room and I am counting down the days until I am done exams and can have a bit of peace of mind.
Just thought I'd share some things I am enjoying at the moment:

- infinity scarves
They are so easy to throw on and go, and so warm. Mine is from H&M and I got it last year.

makeup is almost exactly the same as the one in my "December Challenge FOTD" post, except with Chanel Safari and some matte shades from the Sleek Au Naturel pallete

- Philosophy shower gels

The little "Happy Birthday" bottle in the photo I got for free from Sephora in the summer as my birthday gift. I recently started using it and have really fallen for it. It smells like vanilla birthday cake, lathers well and leaves the skin soft and doesn't dry out the skin... so it enabled me to try more!

I nearly jumped for joy when I saw that my local The Bay department store has a Philosophy counter/section. Today I got a box with these 2 minis of their limited edition holiday gels Twinkle Berry and Holiday Lights Aglow. THEY SMELL SO GOOD.

They smell fruity and fresh, not really gourmand scents like the cake one. Holiday Lights Aglow is described as "winter green citrus". Twinkle Berry is "bright raspberry punch"; it also has some subtle shimmer throughout. I can't wait to use them :)

You can find them at Sephora online if you're interested or on the Philosophy site, where they ship internationally but for a pretty penny.

yum yum yum

- the first snow

I'm sure I will curse and hate snow come January when I'm stuck indoors and can't even get to my car, but for now seeing the first snowfall made me all happy and cozy feeling. I tried to capture it against the evergreen tree we have growing by my window but it just looks like gross long raindrops. Sorry.
(is there some sort of snowfall camera setting that I am missing? haha)