Glamour Diaries

Makeup Storage, Lack Thereof

2010-01-27T16:17:00.001-04:00

Lately I have been watching YouTube videos and reading blog posts displaying how individuals are storing their makeup collection. And I have been taking some notes.

As of right now, I am so unorganized with all my stuff. I could never do a post about how I organize my makeup or storage because it's just a big 'ol mess. I've been living with my boyfriend for about a year now. And just the other day I brought some more things over, like my bed. But my makeup vanity/table is still at my mom's place. I've pretty much dominated the bathroom.

Soon enough my bf and I will be re-organzing everything, bringing out stuff together, and his house is a bit unfinished so we'll be painting and decorating as well.

So the past year or so I have been doing my makeup in the bathroom, which there i sufficent lightening. But everything - makeup, face cleansers, moisturizers, hair products, etc - are messily scattered all over the counter, in the drawers, the medicine cabinet, and underneath the sink. Which really is not good because sometimes I forget about my coastal scent palettes under the sink or my bare Escentuals bronzer behind the medicine cabinet.

Truthfully, it's not just my makeup that needs to be organized, I have a lot that needs to be organized and cleaned up in my life. Including my clothes, shoes, perfumes, jewlery (I have a pretty nice jewlery box my mom gave me a few Christmases ago, but the inside should be sorted... and organized! If I didn't say that word enough already).

So in the meantime, I've been getting some ideas from these lovely ladies!

YouTube

Lisa

Blogs

My dirty blue makeup bag with things I use most often

A travel roll stuff with a bit of makeup...

...Which usually hangs on the back of the bathroom door

I should probably get rid of some expired mascaras

A Hollister shopping bag in my closet...

...With some more makeup

Underneath the bathroom sink is another bag of makeup, CS palettes, & a bare Escentuals kit

Later on, once we've "renovated" the bedroom and it looks pretty, I shall do a makeup storage/collection post (not much of a collection). I'll try to take before and after photos, too.

Thanks for reading & have a wonderful day! Muah!

♥M

Mac Haul: Warm & Cozy

2010-01-14T00:59:00.000-04:00

I indulged myself in a few new makeup goodies, specifically from MAC Cosmetics. Everything I got - which is not a lot - is mostly from the Warm & Cozy collection, one thing from Love Lace, and nothing from the All Ages, All Races, All Sexes. And as for MAC in Lillyland, I'm really liking a lot of stuff in that collection like the lipgelees and the cremeblend blushes. If you're getting anything, let me know what and if you have already, how it is?

I got three eyeshadows in the limited edition colors of Warm and Cozy: Chamomile, Modelette, and Mulled Cider. I didn't get Embark because I have other dark brown shades that are similar. I did use all three shadows yesterday to put together a very basic, everyday neutral look that I wore to work. I've been wearing these shades for a good week now, and I'm really loving them! I especially like Modelette, a warm mid-tone caramel, as I don't own anything like it.

L-R: Chamomile, Modelette, Mulled Cider

Dreadful swatches

Then I got the Mineralized Skinfinish in the color By Candlelight. It creates a really nice glowy, highlight effect on the cheekbones. It's a shimmery pink with gold veining. I love the color combo, especially because I don't have anything like it. That's just because I only own Cheeky Bronze when it comes to MSFs. I usually stay away from anything with gold in it, I'm not sure why. I think it has to do with my taste in jewlery; I don't like yellow gold, but I like white gold, therefore, silvery colors. I guess. But I am totally happy with this and what it does for my fair-medium skin! It just produces a really nice warm glow. And I will not shy away from goldy colors from now on.

MSF in By Candlelight

Attempt to Swatch this MSF

The last thing from the Warm & Cozy collection I got the nail laquer in Blissed Out. I wore it a couple times (I'll take pictures when I have it on again and post it). It's a really light peachy-nude shade. And it's a cream, so it applies quite nicely, no streaks, and a decent opaqueness after two coats. It's like "my nails, but better". It's simply natural and makes for a very polished look. It is a bit sheer so I would want to use two coats for sure. And it dries amazingly fast! My nails were completely dry within 5-10 minutes after my second coat. The one thing I hate, is waiting for my nail polish to dry.

Nail Laquer in Blissed Out

And finally, I got a lipglass from the Love Lace collection, Icescape. It's a sheer pale pink pearl. If you don't enjoy the pearlized or frosty shades on your lips, you may not like this.

Lipglass in Icescape

Oh yes, and I also got a MSF Natural in Medium Plus. I should have just went with the shade Medium (which I had and used it all up). That's always an error on my end, is that I often think I have just a bit of a darker skin tone than I actually do. Admittedly I am pale and wish I were just a bit darker. But the Medium Plus will be fine for spring and summer.

MSF Natural L-R: Medium, Medium Plus

C'est tout for now! I shall be back with a couple of reviews from L'Occitane and, of course, Lush. And maybe a few other posts including some tags, perfume and nail polish collections.

♥M

My Favorites of Oh Nine

2010-01-03T20:17:00.007-04:00

These are a few things that I loved and used throughout the past year. You might notice that I'm particular to just a few brands. However, I have been branching out lately in trying new things, new brands. Below I simply linked all of the items to websites when you can either purchase (depending on your region) or find out more information. I didn't really feel like putting up a picture for each thing, hehe, sorry!

Eyeliners

MAC's fluidline in blacktrack

I've finally gave this a shot a few months ago. I tried it a couple times and hated it right away. But after a bit more practice I fell in love. It's amazing formula that, once you've become familiar with it, is so easy to work with. And it's easy to wing out and be creative. I've used it before applying fake lashes and the gel formula hides any gaps I might have missed when applying the falsies.

Eye Shadows & Primers

Urban Decay Eye Shadow Primer Potion

This stuff is holy grail for eye shadow bases! Highly recommended. The only thing I hate about this is it's stupid packaging. If you didn't already know, a ton of product gets left over in the in the base and the belly of the tube. But I haven't tried it yet with the new curved-tip wand, so maybe it's better.

MAC Eyeshadow refill pans

I really enjoy a lot of MAC's eyeshadow colors and its different formulas such as Satin Taupe, Bronze, Sumptious Olive, Hush, Naked Lunch, Nehru, and many others!

MAC Paint Pots

These are great on their own and most of them work great as bases. Some days I just use painterly instead of my UDPP. Some of my favorites are Painterly, Bare Study, and Constructivist.

Mascaras

GOSH Show Me Volume

I haven't actually used it in a couple months because I'm always looking to try new things. But I discovered it in '09 and I remembered I quite liked it, lol. It's also my sister's favorite.

Maybelline Lash Stiletto

I love this mascara for length! It really does lengthen very well. And the formula goes on super nicely. I know there are split reviews on this one, some hate, some love it. I happen to lahve it!

Concealers

GOSH Touch Up Concealer

I have this one in #2. It only comes in #1 or #2. It does a great job for covering up under eye circles. I find it is pretty comparable to Maybelline's Mineral Power concealer (which might be more available to some people and less expensive). I discovered it in mid of '09 and haven't gone back to the Power Mineral. This concealer also does not cake! Whoo hoo!

Cover FX Conceal FX Camouflage Concealer

I have been using and liking this for covering up scars and other dark areas on my face, like around my mouth and nose. It has a built in primer, "water-resistant", opaque formula, and a tiny bit for a long way. I would not use this under my eyes! I have and it just wasn't pretty at the end of the day.

Blush & Highlight & Bronze

TIGI Bed Head Player Blush in Glowing

I bought this blush from a store exclusive to licensed estheticians. You can probably find it at salons and other shops that sell Bed Head. I especially like this shade during the winter when I'm pale because it shows up well, just like a natural, healthy flush. If I'm tanned it will just blend right into my skin and not show up. I enjoy it because it's not your typical pinky or mauve color; it's a tan, somewhat peachy, brown shade (not a bronzer!)

Red Earth Cheeky Flirt Soft Velvet Blush in Cherry Blossom

Well, I got this baby in a clearout sale. I don't know what I was thinking. Now I love it and I'll be sad when I've used it all up. I can't even find where to buy it online. I better start looking for a dupe I guess.

Benefit's High Beam

Lovely highlighter for the cheek bones. And this product is very versatile so you can't go wrong with it! You can mix it with your foundation for a dewy look, mix a tiny bit with concealer for a brightening effect, and use it to highlight the brow bone. I put it on over moisturizer/primer, but underneath foundation (sometimes I'll still put it overtop of foundation before setting). It leaves a nice shimmery sheen without being sparkly or glittery so it's wearable everyday. It'll make you look young and fresh! No lie.

MAC MSF in Cheeky Bronze

This MSF came out in MAC's Color Crafted collection, I believe. It's a really nice highlight color in the summertime, when I have a tan.

Physician's Formula Powder Palette Multi-Colored Face Powder
I liked this bronzer. I didn't try a whole of bronzers, this one did what I wanted so I stuck with it. I have to use something in the summer and into the fall because I wash my face often so it's much paler than the rest of my body, I want it to match. It's also probably due to some SPFs in foundations and moisturizers I use.

Lipstick & Lipgloss

MAC Lipstick in Hue
JLO nude lip? Check! This is my go-to lip shade. It's not to pink, not to beige, a perfect nude pour moi!

MAC Lipglass

I love the formula with these lipglasses and I know some would beg to differ as it's fairly sticky. But it's all a preference in the end. A few of my all time favorite shades would be Underage, C-Thru, and Viva Glam VI.

GOSH On Stage Cool Lip Jam in 106

If you don't like sticky lipglosses, steer clear from this one! I personally don't mind the stickiness, I find they last longer anyway. This is a very glossy, vinyl-like, finish. The colors look really cool in the tube, especially color 106, my fave.

♥M

Update! Happy 2010!

2010-01-02T10:42:00.001-04:00

MIA much? My sincere apologies! December has been a rather busy month for me, what with the holiday festivities and a new job that I'm trying to do well at.

So, I hope that your holiday - whatever it is that you celebrate - was magical! My Christmas was great! It's becoming a tradition now, since my sister and her husband bought their house a few years ago, that they'll host a Christmas Eve party. And we invite everyone, friends and family. We had finger foods, drinks (mmm, tequila sunrise), played games, and good times all around. It's probably my favorite thing about the holiday, our Christmas Eve party.

My sister went to bed at around 2am and was up at 5am, ready to open gifts! I guess some things never change, lol. She's 6 years older than me but I think she's very much a kiddie at heart around Christmas time. Luckily, this year, she let us sleep in until 7am (she called me, my mom, and step dad, then we all drove over to her place, that's where my family and I open our gifts, is at my sister's; we all live away from each other in the same city). Needless to say, after the gifts were opened, we looked and played a little with what we got, and after we had brunch, I went home and took a long nap. Then, my mom made a delicious turkey dinner for the family, some friends, their spouses and kids. There were 14 people in total.

I'll share a little bit of what I received in gifts, starting with my Crock Pot! I had mentioned this in my wishlist post earlier. Yippie! And I also got a few games to add to my collection! Including the Wow version of Cranium, Scrabble, and What's Your Like? I got a book that was also on my blog wishlist, Half Broke Horses. And I got a really nice surprise gift from my mom: a Wii! I was not expecting that at all. I love it! My sister and I exchange stockings, so I also got a bunch of really neat, cute, useful, and pretty things! Perhaps I will feature a few of those goodies in some upcoming posts!

I'm not sure if I'm going to do a month end favorites. I might. I should. If I do it'll be posted later on today or tomorrow.

I also hope you all had a fun and safe New Years Eve! Whether you went out with friends, to a house party, or perhaps stayed in like your good 'ol homebody self, Happy New Year! I went to a friends after work - but get this! I got off work at 12 midnight!! Wtf, I don't know. Whatever. It was still a fun night. We played I've Never... A drinking board game.

So if 2009 was fantastic for you or maybe a rather regretful year, I just hope 2010 will be so much better! I want to make this year a productive one for myself, I've got to get things done in my life! I'm almost 22 years young, and it just seems like time is flyin' by.

I've gotta jet for now! In the new year we can expect more regular posting. Yay!

Happy New Year!

♥M

LUSH Holiday Bath Bomb Review: Cinders

2009-12-15T22:30:00.005-04:00

The scent of spice, orange, and cinnamon is really nice, especially as it lingers on afterwards. This is the sole reason as to why I bought and enjoyed Cinders. This bath bomb is equal to the warmth of a crackling fire on a dull and dreary evening. I took my bath using Cinders during the late afternoon while strong winds ran gustily against my window at 63/km an hour outside. I was thankful to be inside and in a hot, comforting bath!

Lush describes it as: "The warming, sweet cinnamon and orange fragrance was inspired by a comforting yuletide drink in Sweden and is utterly irresistible on a chilly evening. Cinders is the color of a glowing ember and crackles like wood on the fire (just like the fire that Cinderella slept beside in the fairytale)."

I had used Cinders at two different times and had slightly varying experiences in regards to the pop rocks. The bomb with the most pop rocks showing (see picture below) did not give off a crackling sound that I could hear. However, the one with the least did. But I wasn't in the tub for the first one, only the second. Maybe that would make a difference. I thought it was the water dripping when I heard it. But nope. It was the pop rocks! So if you'd like to enjoy that, I would recommend to actually be in the tub to listen (and not be taking pictures). It also fizzes quite a bit.

(these pictures were taken with a flash so the color of the water appears a little bit brighter than IRL)

Unfortunately, it leaves some residue. I'm not quite sure what that stuff is; it was like floaty and soft. I thought it may have been undissolved rocks, but it wasn't hard. I'm not sure! I wasn't too worried about it though.

There are a few downfalls I should mention. One, it made my skin feel sticky. It may have just been me, all in my head. Maybe I was paranoid about bathing in candy. I'm not sure. Let me know if you've had a similar experience. Two, it left a yellow ring around the tub while bathing. It wasn't the most appealing thing but it's easy to wipe down afterwards. And three, I had on a sheer pink nail polish. Towards the end of my bath I noticed that my nails were developing a yellow tinge to them. I probably wouldn't use this if you've just got an expensive manicure, just in case.

The water was a transparent amber color. There are no bubbles, as it's a bath ballistic. The best thing about this is it's scent! Which is exactly why I got it. If you're after a Christmass-y, winter theme bath, then definitely check this out. I hadn't noticed any significant benefits to my skin afterwards (just the stickiness). Although Cinders does contain sodium bicarbonate which, I believe, is to promote circulation and skin softening.

Now, no two things are alike. Not with these babies anyway. One I ordered online and the other came from a store. They are slightly different colors with a difference in its texturized look, and varying in the amounts of pop rocks.

I purchased these two only and probably will not re-purcahse again. It is a nice treat for the a cold winter day and I loved the scent. But it's not something I would not use often. I'd rather use bath bombs containing moisturizing agents and whatnot than nothing at all.

♥M

My Christmas Wishlist

2009-12-09T10:37:00.003-04:00

First and foremost, I want to thank all of you 42 beauties that are following my blog! You guys are the bestest! I started writing on Blogger only a few months ago and I never thought people would really care to read what I wrote. I still get excited every time I see that number go up. I don't know; it's just a nice feeling. Yay! Perhaps I shall have a little giveaway type thing in the near future. Let me know if you'd be up for that. But honestly, who wouldn't be up for a chance to get some free stuffies!? Hello!

Now on to other pressing matters.

There have been a few 'Christmas Wishlist' blog posts going around. And I personally enjoy reading them. I like to see what the girlies are yearning for this season.

So, I have a few things I would love to own as well, someday (soon). They're not all beauty related, as you'll notice. And I absolutely do not expect to get any of these things for Christmas by any means. This is merely just for fun.

First up, a pink typewriter! How cute, right!? I want to own a type-writer because I love old, vintage things. And this one has got a modern flare to it. Very girly. I could write thank you notes or poems to my friends and family on it. Not that I write poems now, but I could start.

Cranium! I've never played this game before, but I heard it's fun. I love board games! And I want to start a little collection of games. Last year I received Monopoly: The World Edition from my mom. But it's hard to find people to play with because it can be a pretty long game.

I love this scent, it's one of my favorites. But I've never actually owned a bottle of Givenchy's Hot Couture. Whenever I go to the store I spray some on and then ask for samples.

I randomly picked this up to have a whiff and was pleasantly surprised. A lot of fragrances (in my opinon) have a chemical smell to them and I don't like that. However, this one smells delicious in the bottle, even before it's on the skin. It's Parisienne by Yves St Laurent. I'm sure there are scent descriptions online some where if you'd like.

I swatched the NARS Multiple in Luxor while I was at their counter during my recent travels and I liked it so much! I should have gotten it while it was right in front of me. But it was $47. And I'm not an impulse buyer. But now I can't just go back and pick it up. I'd have to order it online. I also swatched a few other multiple highlighters, including Copacabana, but Luxor was my fave.

This is also a pricier item, considering it is a mascara. I was talking to one of the sales woman in the Bay and she had very beautiful brown eyes with lashes nicely coated in a deep blue mascara. Her brown eyes popped. So I commented on that and she went to go get me the YSL Faux CIls in color #6, a blackened navy blue. But they didn't have any in stock. Bummer. I really wanted it.

A crock pot so I can finally cook meals! I like simple. No muss no fuss. I currently do not cook aside from a couple fried eyes (wow, edit! eyes? I meant eggs) or a grilled sausage. I'm learning.

I love books. Just as much as I love makeup. I know, who would have thought, right!? I really enjoyed Jeannette Walls' first memoir The Glass Castle. It was hard to get into at the beginning, but hold on, it does get much better. It's an amazing story. So I'd really like to read her 2nd book, Half Broke Horses, a real-life novel about her grandmother.

That's it for now! Well, I also need a pair of boots for the snow... I really need to stop because, unfortunately, this list could be longer if I wanted. But I've got to jet to my hair appointment! I'm just getting a trim, nothing major. Maybe I'll do a hair post sometime.

I hope you're all enjoying the festivities of whichever holiday you celebrate, if you celebrate any. Thanks again for reading! And if you have a list up, let me know, I'd love to check it out! Have a wonderful day!

♥M

A Tragical Incident You Can Avoid (Graphic content!)

2009-12-05T20:29:00.004-04:00

I'm so upset. Why me?

This is about a mishap with my Creme Cup lipstick. This has happened before with one of my other Mac lipsticks (the beloved Hue). And of course, other things like dropping one of my favorite blushes and it's all broken into pieces. Grr. It happens to the best of us, right?

Creme Cup is one of my favorite colors. I just don't wear it as often now because it's difficult to apply (you'll see). It's a muted baby pink color, by the way. Natural looking; not "in-your-face" baby pink lips. I wore it on Halloween night.

Two pieces of advice I can give so that you can avoid this from happening to you:

1) Do Not store your prized lipstick in your bra while out at the clubs. I don't know about you, but I find it such a pain if I bring a clutch out with me. It makes dancing a little awkward if I have to hold onto a purse. Anyway, my lipstick was warm from the heat I was generating while it was stashed in my bra. And whenI applied it, it smooshed and bent.

2) Do Not twist the lipstick all the way up to put it on. Especially if you're in the sort of state in which you're unable to judge how much strength to utilize as you apply the lipstick. If you know what I mean.

Next time I think I'll just stick to lipgloss if I go out. Not as fragile.

The pictures below are quite frightening, so be warned! This incident happened on a night out with the girls (possibly a tad bit inebriated). I also swatched the color for you.

It's such a mess. But itsn't it a pretty color!? It completely broke at the base but I tried to salvage it as best as possible. There's still a lot left, too, as it happened shortly after I bought it. Oh well, you live you learn!

♥M

LUSH Holiday Bath Bomb Review: So White

2009-12-03T15:17:00.001-04:00

I personally don't think this is one of lush's finest.

It smelled of a delicious green apple scent in the store. But in the tub? Not so much. The fresh scent did not deliver very well when completely dissolved in the water. It was quite faint; it didn't lingered very long, unless my nose just got use to its subtle fragrance. That was just a little disappointing but it wasn't what totally made this one a downer.

So White bath bomb has a bit of bubble bar built in. As the bath bomb sizzles in the water it also creates a few tiny bubbles. So it does make for a sight-fully pleasing drop-of-the-ball. But that's it. After a few minutes of being in the tub, all this dissolves and completely fades away into nothing. So White is also the smaller sized bath bombs that Lush makes. But I'm sure size has nothing to do with the results, it's more so the formulation, I think.

Anyway, it's as if I never even added anything into the tub. A regular 'ol bath. The water ended up clear with no bubbles and the scent was weak. It was not exceptional in any way. In fact, quite boring. If you want to see what I mean, help yourself to it. But I wouldn't recommend it.

Lush has a lot of other nice Holiday choices to choose from. I really can't wait to use Cinders because I love its scent.

♥M

LUSH Holiday Bath Melt Review: Star Melt

2009-12-01T15:10:00.006-04:00

This is a delicious bath item that would make a sweet treat for yourself or as a gift, especially for a girly girl (think stocking stuffer perhaps). If you enjoy the vanilla and candy fragrance of Snow Fairy shower gel, you will love this.

This product's moisturizing ingredients include starflower oil, shea butter, and cocoa butter. It is also made with some icing sugar which helps create a silky texture in the water. And if it weren't already so delectable, the icing sugar sure does amp up the sweetness factor.

As this began to melt away in the water I had picked it up and it felt like a glob of soft icing mixture. There were no sparkles in mine but it did leave my skin gleaming while in the tub. I found it certainly moisturizing but, in my experience, it didn't quite have the lasting effects of the Mr Butterball bath bomb, which left my skin feeling more soft and supple after the bath. Also, the Star Melt turned my water into a nice foggy baby pink color.

After the bath I took a shower to rinse off the icing sugar (I personally didn't like the idea of icing sugar sinking into my skin). And of course, it pairs perfectly with the snow fairy shower gel!

You could probably get away with cutting it in half if you wanted a little more for your money. But I would prefer to use the whole thing at once. It wouldn't be as strong of a scent and you'd only get half of the oils and its moisturizing goodness.

I would re-purchase this Star Melt bath melt time and again if not only just for the scent! The sweet scent, the pink shimmering water, its moisturizing aspects definitely make for a luscious bath. If you are one for sweet scents I would highly recommend you give this one a try.

FTC Mandatory Questions:

1. Did you get this item sent to you for free or did you buy them yourself?

I bought it myself.

2. Are you affiliated with the company in any way?

No.

3. Are you being paid or compensated by this company for your review?

No.

4. Is this your honest opinion or a paid review?

This is my honest review.

For your information: I have never received any products for free to review. This review, along with all past reviews on this blog, have always been my honest review. The products reviewed on my blog are purchased with my own money. I am not here to help out a company. I am here because this is what I enjoy doing and I am not seeking anything in return. And if I do help a consumer make a decision, even better. But I'm not here to get free stuff, make money, or whatever. If, however, I ever do receive a free product to review (if I choose to review it) I will ensure to let everyone know, if that's the case. And with everything else, I will continue to provide honest feedback from my own experience. Thanks for reading and have a great one!

♥M

Favorites of November

2009-11-30T20:22:00.001-04:00

Okay, so frankly there were not as many makeup favorites this month. My cosmetic favorites have pretty much remained the same since the previous month. However, there are a couple little beauty-related things as well as some other items that I have been partial to during this month of November.

MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack

I prefer this gel formula when it comes to eye liner. If I use any other eye liner - like a pencil liner, MAC technakohl liner - it will transfer to the upper part of my eye lid. Fluidline doesn't do that. And it's also ideal when using false lashes.

Pure Liquid Vitamin E

I like to use this at night on my lips, around the eye area, any dry patches on my skin,nails and cuticles. Vitamin E is vital for healthy, shiny hair, nails, and skin. So in its pure liquid form I can apply it directly to those certain areas. I got mine from Shopper's Drug Mart.

Botanics Night Cream

This stuff is heaven. I love the way it feels, it's like a fluffy cream texture. It works well in moisturizing and repairing my skin during the night. And it's a drugstore product!

Tea: Green, White, and Mint

I've been drinking quite a bit of tea in the past couple months, especially these three kinds. Green tea because of its health benefits. I picked up Tazo's Berryblossom White Tea because it sounded good and I have proved that it is in fact good. And mint is a good one to drink after dinner, especially if what you ate isn't settling well, because it aids in digestion. Tea also makes for a warm and healthy treat in these coolers months.

Snow Fairy Shower Gel

Smells so good; vanilla and candy. I want to eat it.

And..

Breakfast at Tiffany's, The Movie

I watched this film for the first time while in Montreal. I loved it! I can't wait to watch it again and again.

♥M

LUSH Holiday Bath Bomb Review: Mr Butterball

2009-11-29T12:41:00.000-04:00

One of my favorites. Mr. Butterball is super moisturizing and serene! It's also limited edition so I will need to stock up before it's too late.

I had used this shortly before going to bed one evening, which I think is the best time to use it. The vanilla and ylang ylang scent really aids in relaxation and unwinding before going to sleep.

This bath bomb contains chucks of cocoa butter, a skin softening ingredient. When I got out of the tub and into my PJs, my skin felt so smooth and soft to the touch and I hadn't even used any body moisturizer. I don't believe there are any color dyes added and the water is natural; a bit foggy, but still transparent. If you enjoy bathing in pretty colors, you may not enjoy this one as much.

You can see the oils floating in the water. I like to massage my legs, arms, or any dry areas to really allow my skin to absorb in the cocoa butter goodness. If you're not a fan of oils or a greasy feeling you may want to steer clear of this one.

The only downfall about this item is that it did leave a little tub residue. As I was laying there, I could see the ring of oil that was developing around the tub. Just be sure to take a rag and wipe it out afterwards to ensure it doesn't collect other grime and to prevent slippage.

If you have dry skin or live in a cooler climate during the winter, I would highly, highly recommend the Mr. Butterball bath bomb. I want to stock up on these and use them during times I want/need that extra skin-quenching, especially throughout the winter.

♥M

Mon voyage à Montréal, Québec

2009-11-27T20:13:00.002-04:00

My apologies for the lack of posting! I had planned to write a few entries before leaving on my week-long trip to Montréal, Québec and then posting them while I was there. However, I didn't really quite do any such thing. Oopsies :( But, but, but! I wanted to take in the whole experience! Including sitting on my bum in the apartment, eating ice cream while watching Breakfast at Tiffany's and Uncle Buck in Montréal.

A few things that I did: I traveled up and down r ue Sainte-Catherine quite a bit. It is one of the main streets of downtown Montreal which is lined with many restaurants, two malls (Montreal Trust and the Eaton Center), as well as many various stores. Stores include - but are not limited to -The Bay (which include cosmetic counters of YSL, Chanel, Dior, MAC, MUFE, Guerlain, and many more), Lush, Jacob, Apple Store, Parasuco, Urban Outfitters, Louis Vuitton (just off of St Catherine) and so many more. I really didn't do all that much shopping because I was so overwhelmed by it all.

I didn't tour around McGill University but I was around the campus and I did go into one building, I forget the name of it. We walked through the Plateau, on la rue Saint-Denis. I experienced a bit of the Underground City as well. We also checked out Old Montreal which has the most beautiful buildings. And if you're ever in the city I would recommend you check out the House of Jazz. A friend and I went there and enjoyed a live band and some drinks. Oh, and most importantly, the Bio-dome! It was so much fun, I love animals. I also ate at some great restaurants including Zero 8, Le Commensal, and Bofinger.

On my next trip to Montreal I will ensure to check out the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. We made three attempts to get to the museum but there was always something preventing us from doing so. The first time we looked it up on the map (but it was the incorrect location) then rode the bus for a while to get there, in the dark and in the rain. We couldn't find it so we decided to go home and catch a movie at the cinema instead. The next day we found the right location but it was closed due to some "Velvet Ball" being hosted. And then the last time we tried to visit, the place was closing at 5 pm, the time we had arrived. So I gave up and I'll try again next time.

I did pick a few things up at the Lush store. One of my purchases included a small bottle of Snow Fairy shower gel for my sister. But it was taken away from me at the airport! I took out the wrong bag from my suitcase to pack in my carry on because the suitcase was overweight. Needless to say, I tried to get away with it in my carry-on. You're not allowed liquids over 30 ml. Never again will I ever try to sneak in a bottle of liquids more than 30 ml. It's not worth it. Not even for Snow Fairy. Ugh. And I was "randomly" chosen for a body search and then they searched through my backpack because they had seen the water bottle-shaped image in the "x-ray" scan. It was a little embarrassing. Stupid move on my part. I should have chucked it (my suitcase was gone by the time I realized what I had taken out). You live and you learn, even though you knew better to begin with. The things we do for our beloved cosmetics.

In conclusion, I must say, I do love the French culture of Montreal and the bilingualism there is really great. People are very friendly and nice. It's a big city but it is pretty well laidback. I could see myself living there! It's beautiful. I also live in an official bilingual province and Montreal has inspired me to learn French again.

This was a rather large post. Again, my apologies. Some posts you can expect in the near future:

- Lush Cosmetic product reviews

- November Favorites

- Winter Beauty Aids

Rue Sainte-Catherine

Rue Sainte-Denis

Subway

Old Montréal

Le Biodôme de Montréal

♥M

World Wine & Food Expo

2009-11-09T16:43:00.002-04:00

This year a group of friends got together to attend the 19th year of the World Wine & Food Expo. This would be my 3rd year attending. There were hundreds of different wines and 3 hours to taste! The wine festival is always a ball with meeting new people, seeing familiar faces, and trying new and different wines. After the event, a bunch of us went to a restaurant for appetizers and more drinks. And then to a nearby place for some dancing.

Here are just a few pictures from Saturday night that I deemed blog appropriate.

My sister and I (don't you hate it when your bangs split like that? Grr.) Oh, and those are some of our friends posing in the background there.

A group of girlfriends

My sis & I

A little wine buzz going on here

At the restaurant

One of the dishes we got

Oup. Guacamole on my ring. You might be able to dress me up, but you can't take me out.

♥M

A Review: LUSH Comforter Bubble Bar

2009-11-05T15:13:00.007-04:00

First off I want to say I wish there was a Lush store in my area! The nearest one is 3 hours away and I don't go up that way very often. I think I would love to walk around the store, smelling everything and buying everything. So just for your reference I make my Lush purchases online.

This was my first ever Lush experience and I'm pleased to announce it was a good one! I had placed an order online and the day I received my goodies in the mail I tried out The Comforter Bubble Bar right away. This one was free because of a promo Lush was having with their online store. It's value is around $8 for this generous size that I got. This is one of their best sellers and I can see why.

The Comforter bubble bar produces a good amount of bubbles. I won't say it's over-flowing with bubbles or anything but its a good hefty amount. However, what I did notice was the bubbles lasted a super long time. I was in the tub for quite a while (45 minutes, maybe an hour, refilling with hot water) and there were still bubbles by the time I was draining out all the water. Usually with the supermarket bubble bath I'll pour in a ton of it to make mountains of bubbles but then they're long gone at the end of a bath.

I loved that the water turned to a bright, opaque pink. Very pretty and girly. I used the entire bubble bar but I could probably get away with only using half of it by cutting it with a good kitchen knife. I thought that the bubbles, aroma, and the color were more than enough when I was running it under the tap and the whole thing wasn't even gone yet.

Although the smell was delightful, I found it was just a bit strong at the beginning of the bath. Perhaps that's just me. The website describes it as "cypress and bergamot oils soothe skin while cassis adds a mysterious and seductive aroma". And while it is a berry and cream aroma there was a hint of spice which, after the bath, lingers on the skin which was also soft to the touch. It was nice to slather on some moisturizer - which I always do after a bath - on my body after using this bubble bar.

I'd also like to note that there was no left over residue in the tub. However, mine was a bit slippery afterwards, so just be careful.

Will I repurchase this? I would love to repurchase The Comforter again. But first, I'm going to continue to try some different ones in the near future. What I'll do to get more out of my money is cut the bar in half. It is one of the more expensive ones and you really don't need the whole thing for one bath.

If you were like me and have not yet tried The Comforter or if you're looking to make your first purchase with Lush I would certainly recommend this one. I think it's a safe bet.

♥M

One Lovely Blog Award

2009-11-04T20:16:00.006-04:00

My blog is fairly new, I've only been posting for a couple months now, so I was pleasantly surprised when two kind beauties, Kathy and Eve, chose to nominate me for this award. Thank you! In all honestly, I'm not entirely sure what it is or what to do really. However, it seems simple enough. I will kindly accept this (even though I'm so new) but more importantly I'd like to also share with everyone some amazing blogs that I check regularly.

To accept this award: Post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link. Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

Now I nominate the following ladies whom have rockin' blogs and I highly recommend you check 'em out if you haven't done so already:

Liparazzi

Laura

Paula

Tali

Emilie

Natalie

Mel

Crystal

Nicole

Lacy

Sandra

♥M

Hair Inspirations

2009-11-03T15:56:00.003-04:00

I really want to do something different with my hair. I am bored, so very bored of my hair these days.

I am not going to cut it unless it is for a trim or more layers because I am wanting to keep the length and grow it out even longer. Right now my hair just about reaches the middle of my back.

I have only ever dyed my hair twice, not including temporary dyes. I loved the temporary dye by ColorPulse in Espresso but I think they discontinued that color because I cannot find it anywhere. I once dyed my entire head of hair in grade 8 in a burgundy shade that came in a box from the drugstore. And then more recently, a few months back, I had used box dye again in a deep, dark brown. Although it said it was permanent, I'm pretty sure it is safe to say that all the color is gone. My hair is its normal medium brown color. I'm not sure what happened there, but it's okay.

Now, all I want are some highlights to add dimension. So when I make a braid or wear my hair wavy you can actually see the styles better. I was thinking fine highlights all throughout the hair in a much lighter brown, almost blond.

I added the photos that have been fueling my desire for a change. Keep in mind that I do not want to go completely blond, just highlights. These are merely inspirations for either color, cut, or/and style.

All of these photos have been "reblogged" onto my tumblr page. I just add or reblog photos that I like from all over the 'net.

Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day!

♥M

Halloween '09: David Copperfield & Kitty Ears

2009-11-02T11:02:00.002-04:00

I had a pretty good Halloween this year. However, my sister and I have agreed that no matter what we are doing on Halloween of 2010, whether we are going to a house party, downtown, or to a show, we are dressing up! No matter what!

A bunch of our friends got together to see a David Copperfield show. It was amazing!!! He is a very talented illusionist and super hilarious! I was amazed by the acts. I am very satisfied with his excellent and memorable performance. If David Copperfield is putting on a show in your area I highly recommend you check it out, it is worth the money.

After the show we went to a couple places downtown. First we went to a more low key pub where Snow White was our server and we met some interesting characters including the Hulk, Scary Mask Dude, and also spotted a Witch and a Lady Bug. Then we went to a more up beat bar/pub with 80s music and dancing. There we met some Chip n Dale dancers and a couple Zombies!

There were so many amazing costumes all over the place, even at the Copperfield show people were decked out. I'm already thinking and planning what I am going to be next year for Halloween.

Also, my sister had picked up some kitten ears for the both of us. So at least we had a little something going on. I took only a few pictures of the night because my camera sucks and I hate using it. I'm considering in getting a new camera very soon.

This is the outfit I wore along with the kitty ears. The shirt is from RW&Co.

A silly shot

My sister and I

Scary Mask Dude

The Hulk

Snow White

Witch and Lady Bug

Inside the 2nd pub we went to

Chip n Dale Dancers

Zombie girl!

Zombies outside our window

And that's about it for now! I hope you all had a fun, enjoyable Halloween. Right now I'm checking out pictures all over the net of everyone's costumes (blogs and Facebook). People are so fun and creative :)

♥M

October Favorites

2009-10-31T14:13:00.001-03:00

i.d. bareMinerals All Over Face Color in Warmth (and brush)

I can't believe how orange this looks in the picture! That's terrible. It really is very brown, quite a dark brown. I only use a little bit to give me a sun-kissed glow. I am in love with the all over face color in Warmth! It contains super fine shimmer (mica I believe) so it gives off a beautiful glow without being too sparkley or chunky glitter like other shimmer bronzers. It's not muddy on me. And I think because of the formulation, the minerals and it being a loose power, it's a dream to blend it onto the skin; I'll use it on my face, neck, chest, or/and anywhere else I feel I need it.

MAC 168 Contouring brush

I have been using and loving this brush for my blushes!

Red Earth Cherry Blossom Blush in Cheeky Flirt

Too bad Shoppers Drug Mart no longer carriers Red Earth Cosmetics. I bought this blush a year or two ago when it was marked down for clearing out. I bought some other items as well and it really is a great brand. However, nobody gave it any attention before (myself included) until everything was marked down. This shade is a matte light mauve color. Hopefully I can find a good dupe or at least another new favorite :)

MAC Paint Pot in Painterly

This should be in my favorites every month, but I'm not going to do that. This one will go without saying. I think this is a must-have, especially for any beginner's makeup bag. It's a matte skin-tone color to even out the eye lid area. It's lovely alone by itself or to enhance eye shadow colors and their longevity. I hear that not all MAC paint pots are creasless (like Blackground, however I haven't tried it for myself) but you don't have to worry about any creasing with Painterly.

Sally Hansen Salon Strength Nail Polish Remover

The best nail polish remover ever! It removes any last traces of dark nail polishes effortlessly. I got mine at Wall-mart. I find moisturizing formulas are pointless. I have to use more swipes to get the polish off as oppose to 2-3 easy swipes of a stronger remover. Eventually, a moisturizing remover is drying my nails out after all the rubbing I have to do.

Sally Hansen Vitamin E Moisturizing Nail and Cuticle Oil

I need something to treat my nails after all that acetone. Any nail cream or oil would surely work just fine. I've had this one around for a while and I always use it. I paint the oil on and massage it in until dry. My nails are quenched and healthy looking. I only use polish again the next day if I'm going to paint my nails again.

Color Corrector Slimline

I got this from Sally's Beauty Supply. This truely does beat the q-tip-dipped-in-nail polish remover trick. The tip on this polish corrector is hard and it's not dripping with remover like a q-tip would. So it's very precise and you're not removing more color than you had wanted.

Botanics Skin Conditioning Body Scrub

This is an "invigorating salt scrub with moisturizing ginseng extract" and it really works. I tried some salt scrubs from The Body Shop but I found that it disolved too quickly while in the shower. This formula here is thicker and doesn't dissolve so easily. I was able to scrub longer and slough away those dead skin cells. The scent isn't amazing, but it's not bad either nor strong. Although I'm not too concerned about the fragrance anyway because this stuff does the job wonderfully. My skin is really soft afterwards.

Samples

And finally, who doesn't love samples!? Especially free samples? The only sample I paid for was the argon oil from Sally's Beauty Supply. And by the way, those Benefit samples (Erase Paste & Some Kind-a Goregous) are super generous sizes!

I hope everyone has a safe, fun, and happy Halloween! I can't wait to see everyone's costumes in pictures tomorrow! I'm not dressing up this year :( I'm actually going to see a David Copperfield show tonight. Anyway, take care!

♥M

My First LUSH Haul

2009-10-30T23:31:00.003-03:00

My first online purchase from Lush! Unfortunately, there is no Lush store in my province and the nearest one would be 3 hours away. I was super excited to get my package in the mail; the box smelled scrumptious!

There was a promo online to receive a free bubble bar ($8-9 value) with your purchase. I choose The Comfort. It was huge and I was so excited to try it out! And I did just that. That's why you'll see that this is the only one not pictured in the haul photos because I had used it right away that evening.

I've only tried the one bubble bar so far - which I'll be posting a review on very shortly - and so far I'm quite satisfied. Even with the scents of these products alone make me happy. My favorite scented items that I received include cinders, lush lil pud, jacko (which smells like candy and autumn spices). And Mr. Butterball smells great, too (vanilla & musk). I think Mr Butterball is going to be a good one in the tub, I read a lot of good reviews on it.

Here's all of what I got this round:

Bubble Bars

Holiday

Flosty Gritter

The Comfort (freebie)

Bath Bombs

Lil' LUSH Pud

Satsumo Santa

Christmas Party

Jingle Spells

Cinders

Jacko Ballistic

Mr. Butterball

Other

Snow Fairy Shower Gel

Jungle Solid Conditioner (free sample)

Honey Waffle Soap (free sample)

The Satsumo Santa

Lil Lush Pud, Cinders

Flosty Gritter, Holiday

Jacko Ballistic

I think the next thing I'll try is the Jacko Bath Bomb on Halloween day (tomorrow)! So deliciously appropriate.

Free bubble bar promo ends Nov 2nd '09 Promo code: BBSFREE

♥M

A Beautiful Nail Color for Fall & Winter: Manicurist of Seville, A Review

2009-10-27T15:31:00.001-03:00

A quick, quick post/review featuring my nail color.

OPI's Manicurist of Seville from the Espana collection

I love this color so much! It is a deep purpley red.

I got this a while ago (a couple months) and this is the first time that I'm wearing it. I painted two thin layers and, true to form of OPI, the pigmentation was fantastic! As well as the fast drying aspect of this laquer, as I am not one to wait for my polish to dry. And with any polish, just be sure to use thin layers, otherwise, it will never dry. Go over it if you need to 2-3 times. However, with this color, you only need one coat, but I used two to be sure it was opaque.

I sealed the color with a top coat from L'Oreal. I've only been wearing this for 2 days, but so far, no chips. I don't realize how rough I am on my nails until I paint them. I tend to use them as tools sometimes and which is not good. But when I paint them, I'm more attentive to what I'm doing so that I don't ruin or chip them.

My Verdict? I would give this a 5/5. The color is beautiful, a unique twist on your classic red. It dries fast. And the pigmentation is outstanding.

Here are a few snapshots I took using my built in Macbook webcam. So I do apologize about the lack of quality. And it is a little bit darker in person; the 2nd photo is more true to the real deal.

♥M

Hair Care: Protect Your Hair Against Heat 2 in 1 Review

2009-10-22T13:09:00.003-03:00

In keeping with the "theme" of my previous post, hair care, I will share with you the heat protectants I'm currently using. I try to use heat minimally but I will always use something to protect my strands. Note: I will spray a nourishing de-tangler (like that of John Frieda's), air-dry about 80% of the way, and finish with a blow dry.

What I typically use on wet hair - beacuse it is a silicone serum - is Cherry Bomb, 'your blow drying buddy'. I love its sweet smell of cherries, like candy. I'll use about a quarter-sized dallop - for shorter hair you wouldn't need as much, I have long hair - rub it on both hands, and smooth throughout my damp hair. I'll blow dry it & then curl or straighten. Sometimes I don't add anything else after the blow dry, before I curl/straighten my hair. And then sometimes I may add just a tiny bit more or I'll use the Toni&Guy spray on the ends after its dried. But I try not to ruin the smell of cherries with the Toni&Guy mist. The Cherry Bomb does work great for me, it leaves my hair smooth and shiny.

You can find the Cherry Bomb exclusively in drugstores or beauty boutiques. I searched around the net, in case you were interested, and only found the one place to buy it online. Unfortunately. But check out your salons and beauty boutiques.

Next up, from the drugstore, is TONI&GUY Protein Protection Mist. This is about $8-$11 (CAD) at the drugstore. I have to say, I'm not a fan of this product's scent. It's kind of gross. It smells like a man's cologne. I don't want my hair smelling like that! I rarely use this because of that one factor, its disgusting fragrance. If you use this, your hair will definitely reek of the scent long afterwards. But the stuff works. It doesn't leave my hair shiny or smelling as lovely as the Cherry bomb.

My Verdict? Cherry Bomb = YAY. TONI&GUY = NAY.

Other heat protectants that do the job well:

Redken Satinwear 02 Ultimate Blow-Dry Lotion

TRESemme Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Spray

I hear these are good too:

Retro-Chic Glazz

CHI 44 Iron Guard Thermal Protection Spray

Have you tried any of those mentioned above? How do you feel about the product?

What is your favorite one to use?

♥M

Hair Care: John Frieda Root Awakening Health Kick Detangling Spray

2009-10-21T16:06:00.002-03:00

I've been using this product by John Frieda for about a good month or more now and I just had to share this with all of you.

This is going to be a product rave for the Root Awakening Health Kick Detangling Spray. I got this one, along with some other John Frieda products (a mousse and curl spray), because they were on sale/promotion at my local drugstore for a little more than 50% off. John Frieda products are pretty good quality but are a little more on the expensive end for a drugstore item. I've tried other leave in detangling products, including the Sleek & Shine Leave In Conditioning Cream from Garnier Fructis which didn't cut it for my hair. The Root Awakening Spray is about $10 regular price (CAD) and similar products, like the Garnier Fructis, is about $3-4 (CAD). So, I got the spray at a great price but I would absolutely pay full retail value for this (but I'll still look out for the sales and stock up then, because that's just me).

First of all, the texture of my hair is rather course, dry, and dead-looking. It's not curly but it has a bit of a natural wave. And I've only dyed my hair twice in my lifetime. My sister once said to me "I wish I had dead hair so I could do stuff with it, mine's too healthy". Lol, Thanks, Sis! My sister really does have silky smooth hair. And I wanted my hair like that! Funny how we always want what the other one has. I tried all sorts of different things with my hair, but this Root Awakening has truly done it for me.

Claims: Nourishes & protects from roots to ends for healthy-looking hair; with heat protection. With natural Eucalyptus. Health Kick Detangling Spray, with vitamins, nourishes hair from roots to ends from dramatically silkier, more manageable hair.

I notice now that my hair is actually silky, shiny, and smooth to the touch. Albeit, it's been a month but I see the difference now! My goal with my hair is to grow it as long as I can or down to my bum and to achieve this I am air drying it more often and using as little heat as possible. However, once my hair was air-dried, it was so frizzy and course. Not pretty. So I always carried a frizz cream to smooth it down. But with this spray, I think as long as I use it regularly, I won't have that problem. So far, so good after a month.

I spray this all over my damp hair, focusing on the ends. Then I rub it in and through my hair with my fingers. And then I let it air dry. If I am going to style with heat, I'll air-dry it 80%. The spray is from the line Root Awakening, which comes with it's matching shampoos and conditioners, but I didn't use those. I just stuck to what I was already using (Yes to Carrots and Herbal Essences). The spray also has a nice scent, but if you're sensitive to fragrances, I might steer clear. Although, It's not overly strong.

My Verdict? It works. Well, it worked wonders for my dry, course, frizzy hair! I'm very pleased with this product. Therefore, after I've finished the bottle, I'll be going back for more. FYI, I still have half a bottle left of product (bottle is 175 ml) and I've been using this for a month on my long thick hair. Not too bad. I would recommend this if you suffer from the same hair type as I do.

If you have already tried this out or you plan to try it out, please let me know what you thought and how it worked for you.

Thanks for reading! And have a good one!

♥M

Update!

2009-10-17T16:41:00.002-03:00

I have pretty well neglected this blog. But I have been in dispose, you could say. Allow me to explain.

First of all, I had sprained my ankle about a month ago now and it's still under recovery. It is still too painful to walk in heels, which makes me quite sad. I hope the ankle will be good to go for November 7th, for the wine festival. So I was bed-ridden/couch-ridden for a couple weeks and so I didn't get up much nor do a whole lot.

Secondly, just as my ankle was starting to feel better, after 3 to 4 weeks, my throat started to feel sore. I thought it was just a regular sore throat, the beginning of a cold or whatnot. So I was taking lozenges, but it wasn't helping at all. After a few days I decided to take a look at it for myself. Sure enough, there was some white stuff in the back - a throat infection. It even hurt to swallow my own saliva (tmi? my bad). Soo, got a prescription for some meds to help the curing process.

Lastly, I find out that I'm actually allergic to these meds - the hard way! I break out in hives all over and mouth was swollen. So I took allergy relief meds for just a day or two, which makes you super drowsy.

But now, we're all good in the hood! Therefore, you can expect to see more posts coming up! And not all MAC related either. Speaking of MAC, I'm really not diggin' the Holiday '09 collection, Magic, Mirth, and Mischief! What I am looking forward to, though, is this collection ! I absolutely adore the packaging!

Below are just some snapshots from this morning, me putting on my face for the day. I look pretty tired (hello under eye bags, gaah). And this first picture looks like it says "bi", hehe, but it's i.d. mineral foundation.

♥M

Another MAC Haul (DSquared2)

2009-10-02T13:18:00.016-03:00

Here I go again with the MAC purchases. It's not my fault MAC comes out with a collection every week! But seriously, this should be it for a while. Where have we heard this before? Anywho, moving right along.

I got some things from the Dsquared² collection, the regular line, and a Dazzleglass Creme.

Dsquared² 165 Tapered Cheek/Highlight Brush

I haven't used this yet, but I will probably use it for contouring and highlighting. And I would like to see how well it applies blush as I had been looking for a smaller blush brush and this may be it.

Dsquared² Lip Erase in Dim

This simply pales out the color of your natural lip pigmentation. It's a fleshy beige shade. It's matte meaning it is shine and texture free. You could wear it just like that, just matte, or I would put a nude and light pink color gloss over top of it. It's a great product for those who love the nude lip.

My bare lips (L or top) Lip Erase (R or bottom)

Dsquared² Lipstick in Nude Rose

It's a pretty, light neutral pink that goes on sheer. I find you can't really build up the color too much as it is quite sheer. It is different from Hue, for example, as it's not as pigmented, Nude Rose is glossier, and not as pale. I really like it though, it'll be good.

Dazzleglass Creme in My Favorite Pink

This is a pretty bright pink in the tube but I don't think it's really that pigmented on the lips. It may be more pigmented than the original Dazzleglasses. However, I've had other glosses in which are a lot more pigmented and brighter than the Cremes like the L'Oreal Paris Colorjuice in Tutti Fruitti. Although the Colorjuice is quite sticky and does not have that sprakle like the Dazzleglass. I chose My Favorite Pink because it's a light blue pink, which might make my teeth appear whiter! What I've done is put a bit of the Lip Erase on and then the Dazzleglass to make the pink appear brighter.

Nude Rose (L) My Fav Pink (R)

Eyeshadow in Satin Taupe

This color is a taupe brown with silvery bronze and I love this shade! I'm so happy I've finally got it! I think this will be an everyday color. I would probably pair it with Esspresso and Shroom for an everyday look. Pretty!

Let me know if you've picked up anything from any of the recent collections and how you like them (or not). Thanks for reading lovelies!

♥M

September Favorites

2009-09-30T21:53:00.000-03:00

Hey Everyone!

Here they are, my September Faves! Enjoy!

Almay One Coat Nourishing Triple Effect Mascara

I had used this mascara in the past, a few years ago, and re-purchased again recently. I've been trying out some other drugstore brands, including a variety of rubber bristles. I decided to go back to my favorite trusty drugstore mascara because it simply does what it says. It works best in both volumizing and lengthening. And it's nourishing (apparently) so that's always good - not that I can really tell a difference in regards to that. And the brush itself is a bit different. The magic's in the brush for sure. One side of the brush is for volume while the other is for separating and lengthening. And it's not very clumpy at all, like the Maybelline Oscillating mascara I find to be a bit too clumpy.

Benefit's Box Blush in CORALista

This was a relatively recent purchase, about a month or so ago, and I have been using almost all month. I had wanted this for a while and finally indulged myself. I use a couple different brushes to apply this blush (including the one that it came with) depending on how much pigmentation I want. I appreciate that this blush is not glittery like some other boxed blushes can be, but it's rather a fine shimmer, providing a sheen to the cheeks. It's a very pretty and unique color. And it smells great! Oddly enough.

Bed Head TIGI Blush in Glowing

I've had this blush kicking around for a while - I must have purchased it around spring 09. It's a medium brown matte shade. Iit is a blush, not like a bronzer. It simply adds some life and color to my face, especially if I'm just doing quick makeup or I want to be minimal. It simulates a natural glow without the pinks and the shimmer.

Borghese Nail Laquer in Bambina Pink

What I love most about this polish is that it dries so quickly! I've used up about half the bottle now. I'll have to purchase a back-up soon. The color is a sheer pink and it's very natural looking which is great for everyday, it will go with whatever I'm wearing and whatnot. I also use this when I give myself a French manicure.

MAC's Paint Pot in Constructivist

I just recently got this. And I'm loving it! I think it's a great base for brown e/s looks or I have worn it just by itself too.

Cuticle Clippers

Is this weird that this is in my faves? Hah, whatever! I have been all about my nails lately. And I mean just taking care of them, grooming them, trying to make them look effortlessly gorgeous. I find that I have naturally disgusting nails if I don't manage them. Therefore, I do file them often to keep the desired length and shape. I use a nail & cuticle oil (by Sally Hansen) and massage that in. Then, I push back my cuticles and snip 'em off! It looks so much cleaner this way! I'm actually addicting to cutting off my cuticles.

♥M