the skinnyblondegirl blog / canadian personal style blog / makeup and beauty reviews

What I Wore: American Eagle Festival Skirt & Forever 21 Love T-Shirt

2013-05-21T08:00:00.000-04:00

Top: Forever 21 (old) / Skirt: American Eagle (current) / Sunglasses: Westward Leaning /

Wedges: Aldo Shoes (old) / Bracelets: Aldo Accessories (old) /

I've been trying to do more outside photos but the weather has been working against me as of late and in a major way. Rain, rain and more rain! Hopefully I can duck outdoors sometime this week as I've got plenty of photos I need snapped and posts that need to get written. Over the next couple of weeks I'll be sharing a dress from MUSE Apparel, dress from London Times, a Herve Leger dress from Vixen Dresses, and a handful of other times. I plan to be a little MIA from the blogging world from May 30th-June 5th ish as I recover from laser eye surgery but should have some things scheduled to go live during that time to give you something to read! :)

This is the new skirt I grabbed from American Eagle over the weekend. I picked it up in the city's East end at Place D'Orléans and really love it. American Eagle was having a 40% off sale so I went in, though I normally don't find myself too drawn into AE. They actually have a lot in store right now that I could see myself wearing so I plan to return shortly. I also grabbed a new pair of wedges (not pictured) from Aldo from the same mall that I can't wait to show you. They're absolutely adorable!

Anyways, I'm just coming off of a long weekend and trying to get excited to be back at work. I had my brother and mom up to visit and we went and ate lots, had a few Caesars, saw Iron Man 3, and did a little walking around and shopping. It was really nice and got me excited to fly home next month for another visit. I can't wait to live closer to them (I live 7 hours away at the moment) so I can visit more often.

Hope you all had a fantastic weekend and are enjoying more sunshine than I am. It's gotta come eventually, right? Let me know what you think of my new purchase in a comment below. Seriously go check out the AE 40% off sale if it's still on where you live because I was really surprised - and impressed. :) xoxo

The Three Best Dry Shampoos Ever (IMO)

2013-05-20T09:38:00.002-04:00

Batiste Original / Batiste Wild / Cake Beauty Satin Sugar

I can't tell you how often people ask about my hair care routine. They're bewildered at the idea of me washing my hair only once every 5-7 days and never seem to grasp how I manage to avoid looking like I was dunked upside down into a toilet by day 3. To be honest, I don't do anything remarkable to make it last. I spent a few weeks in high school "training" my hair and getting it used to a once-a-week wash cycle and it's just been that way ever since.

When you first cut back washings for your hair, you will have really greasy hair for a couple of weeks - maybe even a month. But, then it sort of just clicks and you naturally produce less oil since your scalp doesn't get as dehydrated from washing as often. Our bodies adapt - surprise, surprise. If you think back, showering and washing your hair everyday is a very new concept compared to all the years of human existence. Back in olden times, people were lucky to get a bath once a month. Although I'm not quite ready to go that extreme (we also use a lot more product that build up a lot faster), I really don't see the point in subjecting my hair and skin to unnecessary strain and wasting more water than needed.

On the days I can't imagine stepping out in public, I reach for one of my three favourite dry shampoos of all time. They are lifesavers and completely transform my hair from being too greasy to just right every single time. In my opinion, they are the three best dry shampoos ever - and I've tried a lot of dry shampoos. They are Batiste Original, Batiste Wild, and Cake Beauty Satin Sugar.

The first two, Batiste Original and Batiste Wild, are aerosol hair powders. You shake the can well, section your hair, and apply near the root. Let it sit in your hair for 30 seconds then rub your fingers through to disperse the product. Your hair will smell fresher, look cleaner, and have more volume. If you're worried about the powder's white colour being too light for your hair, Batiste does offer options for blondes, brunettes, and red heads. I usually grab my bottles from Homesense (same company as Winners, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, etc.) but you can find them online and in almost any drugstore. Original has a clean, shower-fresh smell and Wild has a more exotic, spice and flower scent that's great for nights out.

The third dry shampoo is a hair and body powder from Canadian company Cake Beauty. Available online or at Sephora, Cake's Satin Sugar is a brown sugar-smelling ultra fine powder. I never fail to get asked what perfume I'm wearing after I've used this dry shampoo - it smells that good. There are tiny flecks of glitter in it, too, so it leaves your hair looking shiny and not dull and matte like other dry shampoos can sometimes do (if you use too much by accident). Plus, you can also rub it onto your arms for a little freshening up and a hint of sparkle.

Have you tried any of these dry shampoos? Do you have another that you love? Let me know in a comment or tweet me. I'm seriously a dry shampoo addict and will go out and try it ASAP!

My Style Guide: Sherwood Micro Collection from PopBasic.com

2013-05-17T22:20:00.000-04:00

Find all the item links on my Polyvore

Popbasic.com is an honest to goodness really cool concept. Basically, the site releases a "micro collection" periodically (I believe it will start being once a month when they're fully up and running) containing three items. I missed out on purchasing the micro collection last time around, unfortunately, but was contacted to contribute to the current collection's style guide and am really excited to scoop this one up as soon as it's made available.

The Sherwood Micro Collection comes with an emerald green maxi skirt, gorgeous statement necklace, and grey t-shirt. For my take on the collection, I dropped the t-shirt and put in a white muscle tank (go figure), bright pink cut out Rebecca Minkoff MAC bag, and metallic chunky heel. I think it's a fun outfit, bursts with colour (watermelon, anyone?) and shows off the diversity of the collection.

I'm also getting seriously addicted to Polyvore, so brace yourselves for some more outfit inspiration posts like this. If you enjoy them, I'll keep doing them, so let me know. Thanks for reading!

Summer Sunglasses Wishlist - Ray Ban, Marc Jacobs & more Ray Ban

2013-05-16T08:00:00.000-04:00

Click the images to be taken to item listings on Polyvore!
I recently blogged (and vlogged) about my upcoming laser vision corrective surgery. The surgery date is growing nearer and nearer and I'm getting more excited. When people ask me what I'm most excited for, they're sometimes taken aback by my response. I'm really excited to finally be able to wear sunglasses.
I've obviously worn sunglasses before, but I've never been able to throw them on while driving (I usually just wince and deal with the sun beaming in through my windshield) or grab a pair and head out on a Saturday afternoon to hide the fact I'm too lazy to put on makeup. Unless I have contacts in, which I'm not supposed to wear more than a few times a week for less than 8 hours at a time, I'm wearing my glasses. So, yes, I'm really excited to be able to wear sunglasses.
I've narrowed down my purchase to the above three, but I'm still not 100% certain which I should go with. The first pair is the Ray Ban Erika, which goes for $115 on my favourite new online designer sunglass shop Smartbuyglasses.ca (thank you to O My Heart Kate for introducing me to them!). They're really punchy, fun, and I know they make a statement.
The second pair is another from Ray Ban, the classic Ray Ban Clubmaster frame. I've been in love with these frames for as long as I can remember. They're iconic, in my opinion, and I love that the bottom is rimless. They have a really retro feel and would add glamour to even jeans and a t-shirt. The Clubmaster frames go for $141 on the same website.
The last pair is the Marc Jacobs MJ 016/S. I've always wanted a pair of aviator sunglasses but can never find a pair that suits me, but I think these would be awesome because the frame is slightly more rectangular than a lot of other aviators. I have a diamond shaped face, so I really can't go for something too triangular... it just doesn't work. The Marc Jacobs pair is listed at $228, making it the most expensive out of the three.
So, I ask you... what should I do? Please let me know what you think in a comment. I want a pair of sunglasses I'll love wearing, and since the prices are extremely reasonable I'm not overly concerned about them being in-fashion for longer than a year or two. Thanks in advance! :)

My 4 Skin Care Faves - May

2013-05-15T08:00:00.002-04:00

Watch my latest YouTube video above and get to know the four skincare products I've fallen in love with. All the links are on my YouTube channel if you'd like to order any of them for yourself. Thanks for watching and have a great day! PS This was filmed on Mother's Day, in case you're wondering about the intro! ;)

Monochrome in Papaya ft Vince Camuto Spring Collection [& giveaway!]

2013-05-12T13:13:00.000-04:00

Top: c/o Vince Camuto / Shorts: c/o Vince Camuto /

Denim Vest: c/o Two by Vince Camuto / Shoes: Aldo (worn here too) /

Bracelet: c/o JewelMint / Sunglasses: Westward Leaning /

Hair: GHD Classic Flat Iron / Lips: Nars Heat Wave /

The weekend has been pretty rainy, but there were a few hours of sunshine during which we popped outside to grab these shots. I'm wearing two pieces (top and shorts) from Vince Camuto's spring collection, and a denim vest from Two by Vince Camuto's spring collection. Both spring collections feature a lot of yellow, papaya, prints, denim, blues and greens. The dresses (love this one) are beautiful, the shorts the perfect length, and basically I can envision myself wearing it all.

I've been stepping out of my normal routine (neutrals, black, white, etc.) and wearing a lot more mixed prints and colour. I love this look because it's so colourful and polished, but also appreciate how the denim vest makes it look a little more casual, too. I find the papaya colour to be very flattering against many skin tones, since it gives a little more colour to us pasty girls and really shows off a tan if you're lucky enough to be naturally darker.

To celebrate the arrival of warmer weather, I'm giving away a bottle of Vince Camuto's fragrance: VINCE CAMUTO Eau de Parfum. This contest is open to Canadian residents only at this time (stay tuned international readers, I promise to have something for you shortly) and it's super easy to enter. As per usual, just use the Rafflecopter below and do the extra tasks to gain extra entries. At absolute minimum, you need to leave a blog post telling me about your favourite thing to do in spring/summer to be entered. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The "Tattoos & Piercings" Post

2013-05-11T08:00:00.000-04:00

I've seen a handful of "my tattoos and piercings" YouTube videos and love them. I love getting to know what my favourite YouTubers have, what they used to have, and why they got it. I haven't, however, seen any bloggers take that idea and translate it to a post. So, I thought I'd give it a go. This post talks all about my tattoos and piercings - when and why I got each and how I like them now.

Earrings

Surprise, surprise! I actually didn't get them done until I was somewhere in between 8-10 years old, however, while many of my girlfriends had earrings since they were little babies. I remember getting my first holes pierced with a gun at a hair salon and it hurting SO badly. I suppose I learned early that beauty is pain! I love having pierced ears, though I ended up eventually getting a second hole and then a third hole and wish I had stopped at one. I've let the third and second grow in mostly, but I suppose I could still get earrings through if I really wanted. I did a post a while ago on my favorite everyday earrings, and still wear my Angellic earrings from Swarovski almost everyday!

Naval (Belly Button)

When I was 14, I went with my mom, best friend, and my best friend's mom to get my belly button pierced. It really didn't hurt, and I did really love it. Early this year I took it out because I'm just over it and no longer like the look of belly button rings (on me at least). I got it when I was 14, and I feel I still look like a teenager with it in! Unfortunately, it will never really heal over. Luckily, I have a lot of freckles and "beauty marks" so it sort of just looks like another one and blends in pretty well.

Nose

I used to love nose piercings and went out one day while at the beach and got it done. I was 17 at the time. My dad flipped and told me I'd regret it (after not speaking to me for a while) and boy was he right. Turns out, I had a reaction to a metal in one of the rings I had in it and I was left with a discoloured scar. I've since been doing laser treatments to remove the discoloured scar. I should have taken better care of the piercing and worn higher quality jewelry, but I just didn't care and was a teenager and now have to deal with the aftermath. You probably haven't noticed before because makeup really does cover it up well, but it bothers me a lot.

Tragus

This is by far my favourite piercing. I love my tragus piercing! I got it done at a place called Perfect Image in London, Ontario when I was 18. I've ordered tragus/labret jewelry from an online shop named FreshTrends for over a year now. My favourite earring for my tragus is probably the bioplast/steel infinity stud. Plus, now that I'm totally addicted to the TV show Revenge, I'm even more in love it (the main character has a double infinity symbol tattoo on her wrist). I've never had an infection, the piercing looks great, and I always get compliments on the earring.

Wrist Tattoo

I have a small cursive "k" tattooed on the outside of my left wrist. I got this when I was 19 at a place called Living Colour where I live. I had to go back and had them retouch it once it finished healing because some of the ink left with an area that scabbed slightly, but I really do love the tattoo. I chose the font "Chopin" from dafont.com and brought it in for a custom stencil.

Back Tattoo

I should really rephrase, as it's not quite a back tattoo. It's more at the side and runs across my natural waist. It's a quote from the many works of Aristotle and says, "Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies." I got this one when I was 20/21 at a place called Planet Ink. I still love the tattoo and like its untraditional placement. The artist sort of curved the writing to travel up and around my natural waist so you can see part of it from the side and part of it from the back.

Well, that's it! I know I have a lot more than some people, but a lot less than others. Either way, I hope you've enjoyed this post and getting to know my piercing/tattoo past and present some more. Let me know if you have any questions or anything like that in a comment. :)

What I'm Wearing: Zen Dreams Silk Scarf, Black Dress, Shades & Gold

2013-05-10T09:00:00.000-04:00

Dress: Inlovewithfashion / Scarf: Louis Jane* / Shoes: Kate & Mel via Town Shoes /

Bracelets: Marshalls* / Sunglasses: Westward Leaning / Bag: Rebecca Minkoff /

Earrings: Swarovski / Rings: Peoples Jewellers / Belt: Forever 21 (out of stock) /

I've been dying to get outside and shoot another OOTD all week! Go figure, last night called for rain. We rushed outside to grab these shots before the rain clouds moved in, however, so it all worked out in the end. The whole thing ended up really going along with the outfit I wore, from the black dress and shoes to the gorgeous gradient silk scarf from Louis Jane. I looked like a stormy sunset myself, you could say.

I received the Zen Dreams Long Silk Scarf from Louis Jane earlier this week and knew I wanted to shoot it in a unique way. Plus, you know I'm all about versatility so I thought long and hard about how I wanted to style it for these photos. In the end, I went with one of my favourite ways to wear a scarf - belted. It's honestly the easiest thing to do and changes your entire look. It takes a plain black dress (for example) and makes it something special. The scarf itself is made of organic pure silk and is an original work of art from the Pasadena, California based studio.

As I've been wearing a lot lately, I have on my go-to Children of California shades form Westward Leaning and have my Rebecca Minkoff M.A.C. on my arm. To compliment the gold belt, I put on a few thin gold bangles and pushed them up my arm. If you're wondering what lipstick I've got on, it's Magnetism by Illamasqua. It's a plum-pink and I loved the way it popped against the outfit.

To snag 20% off your own scarf, use code Save20 at Louisjane.com

Let me know what you think of the outfit and be sure to check out Louis Jane. Have a lovely evening, everyone - rain or shine. :)

Aquafresh White Trays Review - At Home Teeth Whitening System

2013-05-09T09:00:00.000-04:00

Aquafresh White Trays via Shoppers Drug Mart - $34.99

I take pride in my teeth and love a fresh, white smile. With that being said, I haven't actually used any whitening strips or other systems since I was 16 or 17. I did two days' worth of white strips before my wedding, but was just too stressed to really remember to use them enough to make a difference. Don't get me wrong, my teeth are white - but lately they haven't been as "bright". If that makes any sense!

I learned about Zoom Whitening's at-home kit called Day White from a Canadian-Australian vlogger I subscribe to, but couldn't get my hands on it anywhere in Canada. I suppose I could order it in, but I Would feel a lot better using something that strong if I were to be set up with it at a dentist's office at least to begin with. So, I looked for something else.

I've used almost all different types of Crest Whitestrips in the past, including the ones that are a bit thicker and don't slide all over your mouth. My main pet peeve is how few teeth they actually cover, and their tendency to sort of slide around on your teeth and taste all-around disgusting. I ended up grabbing a box of Aquafresh White Trays from the drugstore nearby and decided to give them a try. The kit was $34.99 and came with 7 upper and 7 lower pre-filled trays. They are little silicone-type trays that have a line of tooth whitening gel inside of them.

Overall, it's a good product for the price point. The upper tray is fantastic and doesn't budge, but the lower tray is just too loose for my lower teeth and was sort of a pain to keep in my mouth for 30-45 minutes a day. I've since read many reviews saying the same thing, and it seems a lot of people love the fit of the upper tray but were disappointed at how loose the bottom one was. Hello, Aquafresh - please fix!

The gel is flavoured like mint so the trays don't taste gross, and I experienced very little gum sensitivity. I've used them for three days so far and have already noticed my teeth looking brighter. I have without a doubt noticed a larger difference than I had ever seen when using Crest Whitestrips so that's fantastic in my opinion. I still have four more days to go so I'll definitely come back and edit this if anything happens to drastically change my opinion of them.

Let me know if you have a favourite at-home teeth whitening system, or think you know of one I'd love for the next time around. Thanks for reading!

How to Use Hair Chalk ft. Dippity-Do ColorPop in Posh Pink

2013-05-07T08:00:00.000-04:00

Posh Pink ColorPop by Dippity-Do*

My Instagram and Twitter followers likely already know I've been having fun playing around with hair chalk over the last couple weeks. When I first heard about it, I started scouring the Internet to find something that's both affordable (the Kevin Murphy Color Bug works great, but at $21+ isn't in everyone's budget for a once-in-a-while pop of colour) and effective. I came across Dippity-Do's ColorPops after reading a review on Beauty Reflections.

I was sent both the Posh Pink ColorPop and ColorGel. In the above photo and video, I've used the ColorPop (hair chalk). It's really pigmented, easy to apply, and builds up colour much quicker than other chalks I've tried. It also helps that the actual coloured hair chalk is in a slight dome shape within the holder, so you don't have to push your hair into it as much as some other brands. This one's available at a handful of drugstores, grocery stores, and superstores for less than $8.

In the above photo, you can see I've used the hair chalk to get temporary pink streaks in my hair. To be honest, I'd classify it more as a magenta than a true pink, but it's still lots of fun. I know some of you probably won't like it, but I think it's really fun for a night out on the town, music festival, or out at the beach with friends. And, for those of you who are worried, it does wash out. Anytime I've used it, it's washed out with a single wash and normal shampoo lathering. :)

How to Use Any Hair Chalk

1. Brush your hair and then section it to free up the pieces with which you'd like to start. If you're going for coloured tips like I did, I'd recommend doing your hair in four sections in order to ensure you get all the hair and can apply the colour evenly. If you're going for a single streak, you'll want to isolate the piece you want to colour.

2. Apply the hair chalk directly to the hair by holding the piece of hair you want to colour in one hand, the hair chalk in the other, and sliding the hair chalk down the piece of hair from top to bottom. You want to move from top to bottom - never bottom to top. Moving from bottom to top can result in split or broken hairs if you're not careful!

3. Distribute the hair chalk throughout the section of hair using either hand. Your hand is going to get brightly coloured, but don't worry - it washes right off with water.

4. Set and lock in the hair chalk with a spritz of hair spray. You're done!

Now It's Your Turn.. Enter to Win!

Dippity-Do and I want you to try out a hair chalk, and colour gel too! Enter using the Rafflecopter application below for your chance to win a Purple Power ColorGel or True Blue ColorPop. I'll be randomly selecting two winners from the entries, and there are plenty of ways to gain additional entries. This giveaway is limited to those located within Canada. Giveaway closes May 15th 2013.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

In the City: Orange Crop Top & Ripped High Waisted Jeans

2013-05-05T10:30:00.000-04:00

Top: H&M / Shorts: One Teaspoon via Schad / Shoes: Aldo /

Bracelets: Marshalls / Necklace: House of Harlow 1960 /
Sunglasses: Westward Leaning / Clutch: Aldo /

Rings: Peoples Jewellers /

Today is a a gorgeous Sunday filled with sunshine, a warm breeze, and just about everything a perfect day entails. The market is flooded with people (a good mix of locals and tourists) and I can feel the city coming back to life. It's really nice to hear people chatting out on patios and music leaving cars from rolled-down windows. All in all, it means that summer has arrived.

In these photos I'm wearing one of my favourite tops from H&M, a new pair of shorts by the much coveted Aussie brand One Teaspoon, and a pair of sky high wedges from Aldo. As I suspect I'll do for most of the summer, I'm wearing my Children of California sunglasses from Westward Leaning.

I'll be spending the evening doing a little editing and going for a long walk with the dog. My allergies have been acting up quite a bit so I don't plan on doing all that much today, but I'm hoping to start up watching Downton Abbey. Everyone's talking about it, but I still haven't gotten around to actually sitting down and watching any of it just yet.

I'll be trying to get outside for some more outfit posts this summer. It can be tricky to go out at a good time and find a good location, so I'll still be shooting in my loft in between for consistency (and easiness) sake. Hope you enjoy! xo

What I'm Wearing: Two tigers, a Wishbone, and a Pair of Denim shorts

2013-05-04T12:33:00.001-04:00

Top: Forever 21 (sold out) / Shorts: American Apparel / Shoes: Payless (similar) /

Agate Necklace: Rania Designs / Wishbone Necklace: House of Harlow 1960 /

Happy Saturday, everyone. :) This is the outfit I'm wearing today to grab some very late breakfast and do a little more blogging. This afternoon I'm heading outside to try to get some outdoor outfit photos (I did them a bit last year and really loved how much colour they have vs. indoor ones) so hopefully that goes well and I have something else to post tomorrow morning for you. I also need to get around to doing a hair chalk tutorial because I've got a giveaway for you for one hair chalk and one coloured gel. So much to do, so little time!

The weather is gorgeous outside with not a cloud in sight. There's a light breeze but it too is warm, so I think it's going to be a fantastic day. I'd love to go sit on the patio for a little while somewhere and enjoy a big bloody caesar - by far the best drink that exists in the world. Anyways, hope you enjoy the outfit. Bye for now!

Ottawa News: Get Ready to "Maximize Your Life" with Jillian Michaels

2013-05-03T09:00:00.000-04:00

Tickets for the Ottawa show range from $53-$163 depending on seating and availability.

Jillian Michaels is coming to Ottawa on her Maximize Your Life tour this May. She'll be speaking at the National Arts Centre in the city's gorgeous downtown area on Saturday, May 18th at 7:30pm. I'll be attending with my mom, and suggest you consider going as well. With winter finally behind us and bikini season just a few weeks away, what better time is there to get a little extra motivation and a different perspective on getting fit, staying healthy, and improving your life?

I've been a vegetarian for almost two full years now and can honestly say making that change in my everyday diet has substantially changed my outlook on food, health, and fitness. Knowing what I'm putting into my body and taking greater control over my meal prep has done wonders for my energy level, skin, and overall body. When you don't eat meat, you need to get a little creative in the kitchen and force yourself to try new things. There's no more popping in an oven sheet covered in chicken fingers.

Now, I obviously don't recommend a vegetarian diet or any specific way of eating for anyone. You've got to find what works for you. I'm also not a health and fitness guru by any means (I haven't been to the gym since October - augh!) so I recommend you buy your tickets and check out Jillian Michaels' presentation. I'm hoping to come out of it having bonded with my mom, found motivation to hit the gym once again, and stick with a more regular workout schedule. My personal goals don't include losing weight, but a girl can't say no to some toned arms, lean legs, and a healthy heart and lungs.

The Jillian Michaels Maximize Your Life tour is hitting cities large and small all over the United States and Canada in between early April and end of May. To find out more information or purchase tickets for the Jillian Michaels Maximize Your Life tour, check out the following link: http://bit.ly/15RYLr4.

New York Color Cosmetics Giveaway

2013-05-02T09:00:00.000-04:00

New York Color Nail Polishes:
298 High Line Green / 234 Wall Street / 238 MoMa / 205 Columbus Circle Crimson
Eye Makeup:
790 Concrete Jungle Eyeshadow Trio /
883 You've Got the Power Eyeliner Duet / 847 Extreme Black Show Time Mascara
Lip Products:
476 Colossal Cacao / 471 Supersized Red / 350 Blushing Golden / 354 Apple Blossom

Earlier this year I did a video tutorial in collaboration with New York Color Cosmetics and Vrep. Recently, I was sent a "thank you" bag filled with the above NYC goodies. I'm in love with the nail polishes especially, as some of my most favourite nail polishes of all time are from NYC. Also, the Applelicious Glossy Lip Balms have become regular parts of my spring makeup routine. They're incredibly easy and quick to use, and give my lips just the right amount of colour without any colour bleeding or any drying out.

Now for the news you'll love the most... I'm giving away a second set of products just like the ones shown above to one lucky reader. As long as you're a resident of Canada and enter using the Rafflecopter application at the bottom of this post, you'll be entered for your chance to win a goody bag filled with NYC products - perfect timing for the arrival of spring.

To give you a little makeup inspiration and to get you excited for the giveaway, check out my tutorial below including a few of the products above (in different shades, but you get the idea)! Don't forget to enter at the bottom of this post. Giveaway closes May 15th, 2013. Winner will be chosen with the Rafflecopter and I'll be in touch via email. If I don't hear back within 48 hours, I'll choose another winner and will continue this process until I'm able to get a hold of someone and get their prize out to them. :) Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Get Spring-Ready with Me and Schick Intuition

2013-05-01T08:54:00.001-04:00

Dress: Old Navy (similar cut) / Sandals: Aldo (post here) /

Necklace: Forever 21 / Sunglasses: Westward Leaning /

Legs: Schick Intuition Moisturizing Care Pack Limited Edition* via Vrep & Schick

Guys have it far too easy, in my opinion. When spring hits, they change up their pants for shorts and their sweaters for t-shirts and they're good to go. Without a care in the world, they bare their legs and head out into the sunshine (well, unless you live where I do and it hasn't stopped raining for weeks - augh!). Girls, on the other hand, have it just a tiny but harder. Take hair removal, for one example, it can be a real pain - literally.

I'll admit - and why not, it's only the Internet - I'm horrible when it comes to shaving my legs in the winter. Much to my husband's dismay, I'm only more than happy to go a week, sometimes more, in between shaving. My hair is very blonde so it's not all that visible, especially considering I'm buried beneath layers and layers all winter long. Spring has sprung, however, and I am dying to don my cutest skirts and most adorable dresses. Hairy legs just won't do!

I'm getting spring-ready this time around with Schick Intuition in collaboration with Verve Girl Magazine's Vrep program. Schick was kind enough to send me over some amazing goodies - including the Schick Intuition Moisturizing Care Pack and a bunch of refills (will introduce those further down in this post). I can honestly say I had never tried an Intuition razor before this, but was excited to give it a try. I never remember to buy shaving cream, don't particularly like the added step in the shaving process, and sometimes my legs even get rashes from shaving creams with too much fragrance in them. Needless to say, the Schick Intuition razor arrived at just the right time.

The shave was an absolute dream. I used the razor and accompanying Advanced Moisture blade/cream solid last night around 7pm and my legs are still just as soft as when I hopped out of the shower. The razor is amazing. The "Skin Moisturizing Solid" aka the built-in shave cream lathers just enough to moisturize your skin and allow the razor to glide smoothly, but not so much that you have to rinse out your razor constantly just to see the blades again. I even found it easy to use around my ankle and over my knee, something I normally struggle with (I regularly wore a bandage on my ankle bone in high school...augh).

When I got out of the shower, my legs were baby smooth and incredibly soft. There was seriously no need to moisturize. To get a little dressed up today, I hopped into this aqua blue sun dress and paired it with some cognac leather sandals I picked up last summer. To finish it off, I did my hair in a Katniss Everdeen-style sideways braid. I plan on spending the rest of the day doing a little bit of blogging, then will be heading out to grab a late lunch and hit the movies to watch The Place Beyond the Pines.

Also, I should mention that I was sent a handful of refills from Schick. I'm showing them off in the second picture down. I haven't used them yet, and don't think I'll get around to it for a while as I believe each refill lasts a pretty long time, but I'm especially excited to try out the Schick Intuition Naturals Sensitive Care (made with 100% natural aloe and vitamin E). I also have Schick Intuition Pure Nourishment, Schick Intuition Renewing Moisture, and Schick Intuition Advanced Moisture. I'll do separate reviews for each refill as they've been used, and will update this post with those links in the future! Thanks to Schick for sending the many extra refills, as this will give me a much better chance to really get to know the product and review it properly.

Let me know your thoughts on the Intuition razor, or any of your funny shaving habits. Are you as bad as me when it comes to hair removal? I'd love to know I'm not alone! Also, feel free to watch my video review below (and subscribe to my YouTube channel!)

This is a sponsored post. For information on my disclosure policy, click here.

Summer Grunge Outfit / Back to the Future Tank

2013-04-29T08:00:00.000-04:00

Tank: Forever 21 / Jeans: GAP / Shoes: Steve Madden via Swell /

Sunglasses: Westward Leaning / Lips: NARS Heat Wave /

In the spirit of full disclosure, I took these photos on Sunday afternoon to post for my Monday update. In real life, I'm at the office today working away. The weekend was fantastic and the weather on Sunday was beautiful. I went and saw Oblivion, which was an overall decent movie aside from the typical Tom Cruise narcissism that plagued the plot. The man seriously thinks he is Xenu's chosen one and an irreplaceable gift to Earth. Which sucks, considering he really is a good actor.

This outfit is sort of grungy and exceptionally comfortable. I wore it running some errands yesterday afternoon. I managed to scoop up an adorable pair of One Teaspoon denim shorts from Schad on Sussex (you can buy them online here) and we also went for a nice, long walk over the bridge into Quebec with our little doggy. The sun was shining, the breeze was lovely, and I wish I could be out of the office enjoying it today! Alas, bills do have to be paid and that means work.

Let me know what you think of the outfit as well as what you'd like me to style or blog about next. I love your suggestions. Also, be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel! :)

If you live in Ottawa or the surrounding area, you should be entering to win a $500 shopping gift card from Place D'Orleans. To enter is simple, you just pin your favourite look out of the three shown on the contest page here to one of your boards on Pinterest and then fill in the entry form.

Day Date Outfit ft. Asymmetrical Skirt & Holy Chic Tank

2013-04-28T09:00:00.000-04:00

Top: Forever 21 / Bra: La Senza /

Skirt: Urban Outfitters (similar) / Bracelets: Aldo Accessories /

Shoes: Payless Shoes (similar) / Earrings: Aldo Accessories /

Wedding Rings: Peoples Jewellers /

Happy Sunday, lovely readers! Today I'm sharing with you a more summer-ready look since the weather is gorgeous outside and I've been dying to wear some of my new pieces from Forever 21. The top is my "Holy Chic" tank I wore in my latest YouTube video and the skirt is from Urban Outfitters (last year). I've paired it with a pair of nude sandals to keep it feeling feminine and am sure I'll throw on my faux leather jacket when heading out later today on a little day date.

My husband and I are going to the movies to catch Oblivion and will probably grab a drink downtown afterwards. Speaking of husband, our second wedding anniversary is on the horizon and we've got to figure out a way to celebrate. I'm guessing we'll do a dinner date and exchange small gifts. I'd love to hear your gift suggestions! I'll be going in for laser eye surgery at the end of May so I don't want to spend too, too much money. With that being said, I couldn't say no to a little something sparkly.

I've had my eye on a pair of yellow gold diamond earrings I'd love to add to my jewelry collection. I have a lot of silver and white gold earrings, and think it may be the perfect time (and excuse) to grab something with a real diamond and in yellow gold. :) I doubt a pair of diamond earrings would be his ideal gift, however, so I'll have to keep thinking of what I should grab for him. I've already given him way too many watches, and he's all set in the world of tech gear and game console nonsense.

Anyways, let me know what you think of the outfit as well as what you're getting up to on this gorgeous Saturday. Whatever it may be, I hope you have a great one. Thanks for reading!

Beauty Review: Veet Easywax Face Precision Wax & Care / Veet Hair Removal Kit Sensitive Formula

2013-04-27T10:25:00.000-04:00

Veet Easywax Face Precision Wax & Care* /
Veet Hair Removal Kit Sensitive Formula* /

I literally just used the Veet Easywax Face Precision Wax & Care last night so I wanted to get this post out to you before I forget anything about the experience! I received both of these products from Veet last week and just didn't get the chance to use them until now. To be clear, I haven't actually used the second product, the cream, just yet. I'm not 100% sold on it since I have very little...erm...armpit grooming needed. I have been, however, in dire need of an eyebrow wax so this came at the perfect time.

After my shower on Friday evening, I popped a mug of water in the microwave and took it out just before it started boiling (a kettle would work for this too). Then, I slid the dual sided wax/cream stick into the mug with the pink wax downwards. The instructions said to leave it sitting in "just boiled water" for one minute. Since I know my skin and know how I react to that hot of wax, I opted to not wait for the water to boil. After a minute, I took out the wax and started at my eyebrows.

The kit comes with a small plastic spatula that almost looks like a cuticle pusher. I applied the wax to this little spatula and then used it to apply the wax to my eyebrow. I think you could apply the wax directly from the tube since it essentially looks like a tube of lip gloss and has a little hole that would allow you fairly precise application - I just prefer to use a smaller applicator to ensure I don't accidentally take out a chunk of my eyebrow.

I did two sections per eyebrow and then tackled the dreaded unibrow. I worked from the tail of the eyebrow inwards, applying wax in the direction of hair growth and then pulling the strip off in the opposite direction. I had to use a couple strips for each line of wax because the strip didn't quite get it all off. Thankfully, the wax comes off your skin with a little warm water so you don't have to worry too much if you don't pull it all off during the waxing process. When I was finished with the wax, I tidied up with a pair of tweezers and then applied the soothing aloe cream on the opposite end of the wax applicator.

My eyebrows were very red when I finished, but that happens every time I get my eyebrows waxed anywhere. I clearly have very pale skin so it shows absolutely every speck of redness - yippee! What was different, however, is the redness faded in less than an hour and a half. Normally my skin stays red for at least three hours, so I was rather impressed. As far as the finished results go, I was impressed. I'm not the most skilled at eyebrow shaping, so I just did a little clean up rather than sculpting, and I think this is a great product for anyone in need of a quick fix-me-up. If you are thinking of trying out a whole new shape, I would seriously leave that up to a professional.

I believe the eyebrow wax kit retails for about $15 and you do get multiple (read: many) applications from a single kit. I personally will continue having my eyebrows done professionally, but will have no fear to tackle any strays in between with this kit. It's easy, fast, and affordable.

What do you think? Have you ever tried waxing yourself? Share your stories in a comment. :)

5 Swimsuits That are Sexy, Not Slu##y, And Perfect for Summer 2013

2013-04-26T09:00:00.000-04:00

Block Party Bikini - Nasty Gal / Andromeda Bikini Nebula - Nasty Gal /

Vivienne Bikini - Nasty Gal /

Like It Like That One Piece Bathing Suit - Lulus / Mink Pink Maya One Piece - Lulus /

My 2013 quest to find the perfect bathing suit for summer all began when I was chatting with a friend about her upcoming trip to Portugal. She's going with her boyfriend and is in desperate need of a bathing suit that isn't too revealing but still shows off her figure (she's completely gorgeous and has a style much like Agness Deyn meets Miss Honey from Matilda). We got to talking about how ridiculously hard it is to find a bathing suit, particularly a two piece, that is more than two triangles attached with some string. Moreover, how hard it is to find a flattering one-piece that doesn't look like you borrowed from your grandmother.

Early this week, I took a look at the new arrivals for swimwear from both Nasty Gal and Lulus.com and was so happy to see their buyers were keeping girls like us in mind when stocking the sites this season. I was able to find five suits in total that are so incredibly beautiful, very sexy, but not overly revealing.

As a Canadian girl who spends the majority of the year buried beneath sweaters, jeans, and a coat - doing a total 180° and stepping out in something that offers less coverage than a bra and underwear just feels so strange. And, yes, in some areas of the world it's totally normal to wear very little clothing and men and women are used to seeing barely there swimwear. I just don't feel it's very "me", and never feel 100% comfortable being that exposed. I'm very happy with my body, but not so happy with feeling naked in front of a beach full of people.

The above five suits are what I think of when I think of sexy. They're stylish, you could toss a maxi skirt and head into a beach side restaurant, stroll into town while on vacation, and you wouldn't look or feel out of place. I also love how unique they are. You could be almost certain that no one else would have the same suit as you.

What do you think, girls and guys? Do you feel the same way as me about swimwear or are you totally comfortable with showing it all off? Let me know in a comment, and feel free to link me to any other bathing suits you think I should add to my list. So far, I think my fave is the bottom right but would love to see a few more before shopping for myself!

Yardley London English Rose Eau de Toilette Vaporisateur

2013-04-25T18:59:00.000-04:00

English Rose Eau de Toilette Vaporisateur by Yardley London - $18.99/50mL bottle*

Today I want to share with you my latest fragrance discovery - English Rose by Yardley London. The perfume smells like pure summer, beginning light and fresh and later deepening into a slightly more musky fragrance. To me, the perfume smells like sweet roses and a hint of baby powder (in the best sense possible, as I love the smell of baby powder) and reminds me of a perfume my mom used to keep in her closet when I was a little girl.

English Rose has top notes of rose (surprise!) and chamomile, mid-notes of rosebud, geranium, jasmine petals and magnolia blossom, and bottom notes of rosewood, sandalwood and musk. I personally love it the deeper the fragrance gets because it smells like a garden in the middle of summer. English Rose is a very romantic, beautiful fragrance - something which is again quite fitting as the world celebrates Duke and Duchess' second wedding anniversary on April 29th. If you haven't guessed it, Yardley London is made in London, England.

With Mother's Day quickly approaching (it's on Sunday, May 12th everyone!) I wanted to share this little gem with you because it would make the perfect gift to give. It retails for $18.99 at Shoppers Drug Mart and is the sort of fragrance you can give almost anyone because the scent is so universal and, well, lovely. Although I'm only a mom to my Yorkshire Terrier, I'd certainly be happy receiving a few Yardley London English Rose products and a beautiful candle for Mother's Day. I'm sure the mothers in your life would love it, too.

Let me know what you're getting your mom this Mother's Day, or what you think of Yardley London if you've tried any of their products. Once again, thank you so much for reading! Please subscribe using the button below. :)

Forever 21 Canada Haul Video - I'm on YouTube!

2013-04-24T09:28:00.000-04:00

I've recently been doing some more work on my YouTube channel and wanted to share my latest video with you. I filmed a quick Forever 21 Canada haul in which I share some of my latest buys featuring a bird-printed dress, a few muscle tanks, a bit of jewelry, and an everyday belt. I hope you enjoy and encourage you to please subscribe and like my videos! I'd really appreciate it. Thanks everyone, have a great day! Also, let me know what you want me to film about next. Suggestions welcome!

Beauty Review: Michael Van Clarke 3 More Inches Thickening Blow Dry Spray

2013-04-23T09:00:00.000-04:00

Michael Van Clarke 3 More Inches Thickening Blow Dry Spray*

$24 (available online here for USA/Canada)

I have now posted about Michael Van Clarke's 3 More Inches hair care range three times, if you include this post. I cannot rave about it enough. I'm still deeply in love with the 3 More Inches Pre Wash Treatment (review here), use the Paddle Brush (review here) every single day, and am now blown away (no pun intended) by this Thickening Blow Dry Spray. My hair has never looked so well taken care of, and I love the positive attention it's getting!

This blow dry spray is unlike many others. A lot of other blow dry sprays claim to offer both heat protection as well as faster blow dry time - two things that really don't go together. The Michael Van Clarke Thickening Blow Dry Spray offers hair intense nourishment and heat protection, and is an effective way to slow down your hair's aging process. When you slow down the aging process and fight structural disintegration, you're able to grow your hair longer because you're experience less breakage.

As far as thickening goes, the spray definitely lives up to the name. My hair feels quite a bit thicker and looks nice and full. I've read on other sites some people experienced hair twice as thick, but I don't think that's possible for my hair - it's just too naturally fine! The cashmere proteins and plant extracts within the spray definitely left my hair feeling touchably soft and incredibly shiny, and left me as a consumer impressed.

I'm planning on doing a hair care routine video for my YouTube channel soon and you'll absolutely, 100% be seeing this blow dry spray in that video. I'll try to remember to come back to this post and put the link to the video here. But, if I forget, you can search for it on my YouTube channel by clicking here and typing "blow dry spray" into the search box. It should be up sometime at the end of April.

Let me know if my review was helpful or not, and feel free to share any other product recommendations you think I should hear about. Thanks for reading!

See this product in my latest YouTube video below!

Beauty Review: Moroccan Oil Treatment Light for Fine or Light-Colored Hair

2013-04-22T09:00:00.000-04:00

Moroccan Oil Treatment LIGHT for Fine or Light-Colored Hair - $18

I purchased mine from the Exclusive Beauty Boutique at The Loft

Last February I went to Ottawa Fashion Week and received a goody bag filled with Moroccan Oil products. I also was lucky enough to receive a few Moroccan Oil gifts from a PR company in Toronto, and have since never stopped using the Moroccan Oil Light treatment as well as the Luminous Hairsprays (review here). I recently realized I've never actually reviewed the Moroccan Oil Light treatment, so figured I'd do that today. Hope you enjoy!

If you haven't heard of Moroccan Oil products by now, you've likely been living under a rock. They're absolutely everywhere, in nearly every salon, and have a true following of both salon professionals and consumers alike - myself included. Personally, I find the regular Moroccan Oil treatment to be a little heavy for regular use, which is why I love the light version. It's lighter in weight but still ultra nourishing, so I get all the perks without any of the weighing down. I have quite fine strands (I have lots of them, hair stylists always complain about how long it takes to put foils all over my head) but I have to be careful not to use any products geared towards people with thicker, coarser hair. This product is a God send for fine haired people!

I also prefer the light version because it's actually lighter in colour. Sometimes, especially when I've recently had my hair done and it's extra white-blonde for a little while after, the regular Moroccan Oil treatment can look almost yellowy in my hair. This one doesn't do that at all, and would probably be great for anyone with white hair or silver hair for that same reason.

Anyways, there's not all that much more to say except for how amazing it is, how healthy my hair looks and feels, and how much better my ends look with a drop or two of Moroccan Oil dispersed through them. Let me know in a comment if you love Moroccan Oil, if you've tried the light version, or if you prefer using an alternative (such as this one). Thanks for reading!

Beauty Review: Sweet Leaf Facial Exfoliating Polish

2013-04-21T11:27:00.001-04:00

Adzuki Bean & Rice Bran Face Polish* - $16.95 - Sweet Leaf Bath Company

I always love receiving goodies in the mail, particularly when they're unexpected, and even more so when they're made with all natural ingredients. When I got home last week, I found a package containing the Adzuki Bean & Rice Bran exfoliating facial polish from Sweet Leaf Bath Company. Having recently experienced a nasty little break out, it came at the perfect time. As a side note, I'm not sure if the break out was due to stress, allergies, or applying St Tropez Bronzing Mousse on my face... if it turns out to be the bronzing mousse I'll let you know so you can avoid doing that!

Anyways, back to the face polish. The actual product is a finely ground powder and comes in a screw-top container. I'm fairly accustomed to exfoliating products being gritty, so I wasn't sure how well this one would work. I actually really quite liked the feel of it, though. The fine powder thickens up a bit once wet. It feels more like a gentle buffing rather than a scrubbing, and didn't leave my face red or irritated like other facial products can easily do.

The product is supposed to buff away dead skin cells, improve blood flow, and encourage a healthy and radiant glow. I feel confident that it does all three of those things, but does them very gently. This would be a fabulous exfoliating polish for anyone with sensitive skin, whether it be sensitive in nature or sensitive to certain products. The main ingredients are fresh ground adzuki bean, rice bran powder, cucumber seed extract, ginkgo Bilbao, and apple powder. None of Sweet Leaf Bath Company's products contain any petroleum-based ingredients, sulfates, detergents, synthetic preservatives, artificial colours, or artificial fragrances.

If you'd like to learn more about the brand, click here to visit Sweet Leaf Bath Company's website now. The company was started in 2007 by a mother/daughter duo and continues to offer all natural body and face products from Toronto, Canada. They're one of very few companies in Canada currently licensed by Fairtrade Canada and take pride in their commitment to fair trade products.

Beauty Review: Michael Van Clarke 3 More Inches Paddle Brush

2013-04-20T17:06:00.000-04:00

Michael Van Clarke 3 More Inches Paddle Brush* - $39 (available online here)

Michael Van Clarke is a fairly new brand to my personal line-up, but one that I'm obsessed with at the moment. It all started when I started using the incredible Michael Van Clarke 3 More Inches Pre Wash Treatment (I reviewed it here). I'm absolutely convinced the pre wash treatment has helped me get my hair back to health and has let me achieve optimal regrowth. My hair is always extra shiny, incredibly manageable, and just looks great after using it. Now, I'm loving another item from the 3 More Inches line - the Paddle Brush.

The brush is expertly crafted and incredibly luxurious. Everything from the handle to the bristles is perfection. If you have short hair, this brush probably isn't for you as it's best for long hair and you might simply find it too large for your needs. However, it would be great for someone with mid-length hair with thick hair - or anyone with hair longer than shoulder length, really.

This brush differs from other paddle brushes by offering both short and long bristles - the short being more bristle-like and the long being ballpoint pinned bristles. The two types work together, with the long massaging the scalp and improving blood flow and the short working to smooth and create natural shine. Even three or four-day old hair looks refreshed and smoothed after using the brush, something I love since I restrict my hair washing to once every five to seven days.

All in all, I'm loving the brush. Michael Van Clarke was generous enough to send me both this as well as the Thickening Blow Dry Spray, something I'll be reviewing in the upcoming weeks and including in my upcoming hair routine video for my YouTube channel. For now, check out my video showing off three of my favourite hair products below. Enjoy!

the skinnyblondegirl blog / canadian personal style blog / makeup and beauty reviews

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Yardley London English Rose Eau de Toilette Vaporisateur

Forever 21 Canada Haul Video - I'm on YouTube!

Beauty Review: Michael Van Clarke 3 More Inches Thickening Blow Dry Spray

See this product in my latest YouTube video below!

Beauty Review: Moroccan Oil Treatment Light for Fine or Light-Colored Hair

Beauty Review: Sweet Leaf Facial Exfoliating Polish

Beauty Review: Michael Van Clarke 3 More Inches Paddle Brush